04-09-2007, 04:52 PM
From the Columbus Dispatch:
Quote:A born winner? Tressel Hayes is newest OSU fan
Monday, April 9, 2007 3:29 AM
By Encarnacion Pyle
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
When Buckeye fan Brent Huffines found out his wife was pregnant, he knew only one name would do: Tressel Hayes.
"Tressel Hayes Huffines -- sounds as sweet as an OSU victory over Michigan," Huffines, 27, of Logan, said yesterday while cradling the 3-day-old boy in the neonatal intensive care unit at Ohio State University Medical Center.
Born a month premature, Tressel, who weighed in at 5 pounds, 14 ounces, will stay in the hospital anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
Huffines was so sure he wanted to honor Ohio State football coaches Woody Hayes and Jim Tressel, he pitched the name to wife, Kattie, before they learned she was having a boy.
"I laughed. I thought he was joking," said Mrs. Huffines, 21. "I was shocked to learn he was serious."
But like his favorite team, Huffines remained undeterred, sure he would win Kattie over. After all, he, his father and his grandfather had all worshipped the Buckeyes for as long as they could remember.
"We were at the stadium when OSU beat Michigan for the first time under former coach John Cooper," said Brent's father, Dick Huffines, 54, of Logan. "I'll never forget shaking hands with Archie Griffin."
So Kattie let the name roll off her tongue -- Tressel, Tressel Hayes, Tressel Hayes Huffines. She talked to family and friends. And she considered what naming their first child -- their first son -- after two OSU legends said about her and her husband.
"If nothing else, it assures the Buckeye tradition stays in the family," Mr. Huffines said, laughing. "Can you imagine someone named Tressel Hayes going to Michigan for college?"
Many new parents hate to admit it but they're often influenced by celebrities, popular culture and television shows when picking out names.
One study found two-thirds of parents choose names to honor other people, typically parents but heroes, too.
"I made a promise to the football gods if they let OSU win the national championship in 2002, I'd name my next son Tressel," said Joe Cochran, 38, of Springfield.
The next May, he and his wife, Amy, welcomed Tressel Dean (Dean for his father's middle name) into the family.
"We thought about naming our son Woody, but Woody Cochran didn't sound good," Cochran said.
Coincidentally, Mrs. Cochran gave birth to one of their daughters, Madison, the same day OSU beat Wisconsin. "We couldn't have planned it better," Mr. Cochran said.
At least six Ohio parents have honored the scarlet and gray since 2003 by naming a child Tressel, birth records show.
Even the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium named a newborn Humbolt penguin Tressel on Jan. 22, 2003, saying it seemed fitting since Tressel coached the Youngstown State Penguins before coming to Ohio State.
Dick Huffines meant to tell coach Tressel that his son and daughter-in-law planned to name their baby after him when he met him at the OSU-Michigan basketball home game on Feb. 6.
"I was so excited about meeting him, I totally forgot," he said. "At least they didn't name him 'Li'l Bo.' "
NUT!...