Joe Biden thinks Delaware could kick Ohio State's ass

September 23, 2:48 PMCollege Sports ExaminerJacob Osterhout

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And Delaware football fans.

Do I think that Delaware can beat Ohio State in football?

No.

(Although, if they'd lost to Ohio two weeks ago, I might've thought twice about my answer. But the Buckeyes didn't lose and even after getting slaughtered by USC I still believe that they'd run the Blue Hens out the stadium.)

Delaware isn't even in the same division as Ohio State, and they've already lost to Maryland this season and the Terrapins were really struggling at the time. Plus, Delaware's starting quarterback Robby Schoenhoft is a former OSU player who transferred to actually get some playing time. So no, I don't think Delaware could challenge Ohio State on the gridiron.

But in the end, what I think doesn't matter. What a vice-presidential candidate thinks, on the other hand, matters a lot. And Joe Biden thinks that Delaware would not only beat Ohio State but, and I'm quoting here, "Kick Ohio State's ass!"

That's what Obama's running mate told members of the University of Delaware football team on Friday at the airport before the Blue Hens' flew to South Carolina for their big game against Furman, which they lost 23-21.

Almost immediately, the media jumped on Biden, questioning how savvy it is for a vice-presidential candidate to alienate football fans in a hotly contested state like Ohio. GOP State chair for Ohio Bob Bennett couldn't resist a Biden jab either. "As if his comments about it being a patriotic duty for Ohioans to pay higher taxes weren't bad enough, now Biden is taking pot shots at the Buckeyes," he said. "Barack Obama and Joe Biden must really think they can win this election without Ohio, because they're doing their best to lose it with stupid comments like these. Keep talking, Joe."

Really? We're going to mix college football and politics? Seems forced. It's hard to imagine some Ohioan not voting for Obama simply because Biden got a little crazy with his hyperboles.

Politics and college sports go as well together as ketchup and cake so let's leave the politics out of this.

That's not to say that Joe Biden should refrain from giving a pep talk to his favorite college football team. On the contrary, pump 'em up, Joe. Let's not forget that Biden is not only a senator from Delaware, but an alum of the University of Delaware. Even an Ohio State fan should understand the loyalty of an alum to his alma mater's football team. We just shouldn't read too far into his comments.

Some people say that Biden brought this on himself by singling out Ohio State, but the Buckeyes were the perfect choice for Biden. The Delaware-OSU match up is both ridiculous and, at the same time, slightly plausible. Logically, Delaware has no chance of beating the Buckeyes to the point where the statement is comical. But, after Appalachian State beat Michigan last year, who's to say what is impossible?

In the end, it is the Ohio State fans that we should be judging - not Biden or the Democrats or the Republicans.

A Buckeye fan that's confident in his team's abilities will shrug off Biden's comment like an elephant swats a fly. But a Buckeye fan that has watched his team get slaughtered by USC and is insecure about Ohio State's ability this season will take offense to Biden's claim because, deep down inside, he's a little nervous that Obama's right-hand man might just be right.