A MAN CAVE FIT FOR ANY OHIO STATE FAN — Wintersville residents Mike and Beth Warren show their support for the Ohio State Buckeyes on a daily basis. The basement of their home has been turned into what the couple refers to as a man cave. The recreation room includes an elongated sofa with OSU pillows and throws, framed photos of several dozen players, an area rug depicting a football field, several signed jerseys hung along the wall and accessories such as lamps and a train. -- Julie Stenger

Mike Warren adores Ohio State. He has since he was a kid. His parents were never huge fans of college sports; and yet, he grew up liking this team from Ohio. Over the years, he developed a love for the team, although he isn’t sure as to why he made this special connection.

Perhaps it is because they are an amazing football team. Maybe it is because the players have always been generous, going out their way to accommodate fans. Or maybe the Buckeyes simply bring about the best in Ohioans, giving them that feeling of closeness within their families.

Whatever the reasoning, one thing is certain — theirs is a story about both family and togetherness. When Warren married his wife, Beth Rupert, 15 years ago, most of his Ohio State items were in storage. Placed in either totes or boxes and not out on display where they could be admired and cherished.

Beth did not really not know anything about college football, so there really weren’t those sharable moments on Saturday afternoons when the Buckeyes took the field.

FAVORITE PIECE — Mike Warren has had a love for Ohio State since he was a kid. He has acquired numerous articles of clothing and memorabilia throughout the years, which was enough to fill an entire mancave in the basement of his Wintersville home. This Ohio State tree lights up and rotates so as to see all of the various bulbs and ornaments. The wreath is his all-time favorite item, as it was made for him by his mother, who even took the time to hand-paint the signs within the wreath. -- Julie Stenger

But after a while, things started to change. It wasn’t just about watching his favorite football team anymore. It was becoming more about sharing quality family moments which stemmed from Ohio State events.

The Warren’s daughter, Karlee, recalls an Ohio State cheerleading outfit her dad had bought for her. A photograph of her wearing the uniform is placed on the kitchen shelving of their home. Memories made.

Easter meant attending an Easter egg hunt at Ohio State, with the family dressed in their OSU attire — including bunny ears and taking their Easter baskets to Columbus. Family moments. His stepson, Kenny Rupert, began attending shows with him, acquiring autographs and meeting the players. Rupert now takes his 5-year-old son, Liam, to events, passing along what has become a beloved family tradition. 

“It all might look like Ohio State, but there are stories behind it,” Beth commented.

Several red, white and gray signed jerseys hang along the man cave’s wall. Players taking the time to autograph Mike’s possessions include Andy Katzenmoyer, Chris Spielman, A.J. Hawk, Dwayne Haskins Jr., Ryan Shazier, Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, Carlos Hyde, Ezekiel Elliott and Eddie George. He even has a gray “Bosa Bros” one with the signatures of duo Nick and Joey. Perhaps his favorite jersey though, is the one he had framed. The one which hangs upon the wall over his couch and is encased in a clear box. The one which was his first autograph among them all — Archie Griffin’s. Griffin is the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in college football history. He is one of only eight players to have their number retired in Ohio State history. But that isn’t why Warren treasures this autographed piece of clothing.

UNLIKE ANY OTHER OFFICE — The office of Wintersville resident Mike Warren is unlike that of any other office in the area, according to those who know him best. In addition to 22 autographed footballs, signed photos are spaced along the walls. In addition, he has a signed Magic Johnson basketball on display within his office. -- Julie Stenger

Beside the encased jersey also lies a photo. It is a picture of Mike and his former wife, Leslie. It was taken in 2000 when they attended an Ohio State trade show together. Their love for the college team was a special connection between them. She had worked in a gift shop in Wintersville which carried Ohio State merchandise, so many of the items Mike has collected throughout the years came from that shop, he stated.

Mike explained how he and Leslie had gone to the show in order to have the first jersey he ever owned, autographed by Archie Griffin. The photograph is of the couple at Griffin’s table, taken as he was signing the jersey. Leslie passed away from breast cancer in 2005. Many of Mike’s belongings were placed in either boxes or thrown into storage shortly afterwards. After a time, Mike met Beth at a Relay for Life event. “We laughed, cried and prayed together that night,” she remembered, adding it was shortly after that they had gotten together. And they have stayed together since, continuing to laugh, cry and pray.

Married in 2008, their love for one another continued to grow and so did their shared love for Ohio State. They had not been able to share any meaningful football moments together, as Beth still knew little about the subject.

In that same year, however, after the couple was married, Beth found out that she, too, had breast cancer. On their first anniversary, she received her first chemotherapy treatment. She would go on to beat the odds, however, and years later, that photo of Mike and Leslie at the trade show would resurface. She knew what needed to be done. And that picture would soon become something so much more than anyone could have realized. In 2017, Mike and Beth had attended an event where Griffin was again, signing autographs. They had brought along the picture of him signing his jersey for Mike and Leslie. So, Griffin put his John Hancock on that, too, and it was given a special home inside that case next to the jersey.

“People are just so kind at these events,” Beth said, providing the example of when her husband met Esekiel Elliott at an autograph show. She explained how kind he was to everyone. “But it is just so much more than that,” she continued. Usually, it is the fans yelling out words of encouragement to the players. Warren recalls the time when an OSU player gave him the encouragement he had needed.

THE MAN CAVE — The opposite side of the recreation room, otherwise known as the man cave, features numerous signed helmets and many signed jerseys. Among Warren’s favorites, is his first piece of Ohio State merchandise, an Archie Griffin jersey which he had autographed with his late wife, Leslie. -- Julie Stenger

Spielman had attended a Chamber of Commerce event at St. Florian Hall to speak about his wife, Stephanie’s, foundation. Beth, who was a chamber ambassador at the time, was greeting people at the door. Like she did with everyone, she introduced herself and asked his name. Not knowing who he was or even that he was the evening’s guest speaker, is something she still laughs about today when she recalls that embarrassing moment.

Mike was to speak at a cancer fundraiser later in the year but he was extremely hesitant about the task. Spielman had told him he just had to speak at this important event and encouraged him by sharing his own story. So, after conversing for a while, Warren finally agreed to speak at the engagement. He has always appreciated this OSU player taking time away from his purpose of being there and for stopping to address him and for really caring about what he was going through at the time.

The couple recalled how when their son, Kenny, got married, it was on the same day as an Ohio State game. Mike attended, of course, but he wore earbuds so he could catch the game and keep updated on the score. The electronics did come out during the ceremony, he noted. However, the family understood. In fact, many in the bridal party wanted updates on the game, and it quickly became a family affair. “It’s definitely family humor,” he said.

Among the man cave’s office, bathroom, two hallways and large recreation room, there are 22 autographed Ohio State footballs; dozens of small and regulation-sized signed helmets; a spinning, lit OSU tree containing various bulbs and ornaments collected throughout the years; many OSU gloves encased in clear wall boxes, which Mike hand-crafted himself; a train, figurines, a Jim Tressel wooden craft; and more signed, framed photographs than one can even count. There are two framed family photographs of the Warrens. One is with former OSU Coach Jim Tressel when he attended an event at Franciscan University of Steubenville; Another is of the couple with Spielman from the St. Florian fundraiser.

But his favorite belonging — what means more to him than anything else, is the Ohio State wreath that hangs beside his OSU tree. When asked why it holds such sentimental meaning for him, he replied, “My mother made it for me.” He stated she hand-painted each of the signs on the wreath. It is all about family. And, with his family surrounding him and his OSU memorabilia displayed in a way he could never have imagined, Mike Warren truly feels at home. Go Buckeyes!