Michigan v. Ohio

Like many other Michiganders and Chelseans I will be watching the football game between the University of Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State University Nuts er . . . Buckeyes. Chelsea is biased toward the Wolverines due to our proximity to the U of M campus in Ann Arbor and the many Chelseans that work for the University. There are many Buckeyes who have settled in the area and both sides enjoy the rivalry in good fun. Our family has a tie to Ohio State. My father-in-law is an Ohio State graduate.

The rivalry between Michigan and Ohio goes back around 170 years ago to the Toledo War, which was a cold war between Michigan and Ohio over the Toledo Strip. The Toledo Strip was a boundary dispute between Michigan and Ohio. Both Ohio and Michigan claimed jurisdiction over this land. When Michigan tried to include this land in its petition for statehood, the Ohio Congressional delegation blocked Michigan's admittance into the Union.

Michigan's and Ohio's governors raised armed militias and mobilized around Toledo determined to shoot it out over Toledo -- go figure. Eventually, Michigan agreed to cede the Toledo Strip in exchange for the western three-quarters of the Upper Peninsula. Personally, I think Michigan got the better end of the deal.

GO BLUE!!