When someone walks the hallways of Lewis Cass, they meet a lot of friendly faces. From teacher to teacher each one has their own hobbies and interests that influence their classroom and attitude for the students who take the course. The most notable of these rooms is the cream and crimson decorated walls of Mr. Gibson’s classroom. Throughout the year, the college basketball passion spills out, especially during the conference schedule section of the season. To Mr. Gibson, not all conferences are the same, and the Midwest-based Big Ten Conference trumps all others. With this love for Big Ten basketball, Mr. Gibson decided to take his passions to the next level by road-tripping all of the fourteen current schools. Filling out the Lilly Grant form, Gibson’s eye-catching writing skills helped him win the grant and the opportunity of a lifetime. With his winning, he started months’ worth of planning for this trip and worked day and night on his website and Instagram page so his students could follow along his journey. As soon as the final school bell rang on the 2023-2024 school year, Gibson was out the door and ready to begin his dream road trip through the institutions he grew up watching.
On his journey out east, Mr. Gibson flew over the plains of the Midwest and the rolling hills of Appalachia before reaching his first stop, The University of Maryland. From the natural bliss of the Chesapeake Bay to the delicious seafood of the region, The University of Maryland is surrounded by natural beauty in and out of the campus. The Terrapins’ natural habitat is surrounded by historic red brick that built the campus in 1856. From the campus farm to the amazing architecture, Maryland had so much to offer. Being in a city landscape, the outskirts of the campus had many opportunities to learn including galleries and museums. The amount of history overflowed the campus including the seven Testudo, Maryland’s mascot, statues, and a tribute to the creator of the muppets, Jim Henson. The natural scenery of College Park, Maryland froliced through many spots like the Memorial Chapel Gardens and the many fountains around campus. Overall, there are many spots for students to rest and relax during their busy schedules. Out of Maryland’s athletics, its basketball program shines above the rest. With a men’s National Championship in 2002 and a women’s championship in 2006, the historic program has produced greats like Juan Dixon and Marissa Coleman. Their basketball arena, The Xfinity Center is known for its student section, which sits at the west wing and can hold 4,000 students and supporters in a 35-degree incline which helps hold more people and increase the noise during the Terrapins home games. The wall of students is a key reason that road games in College Park, MD are some of the hardest to come out victorious in during the Big Ten schedule of the season. During his time in College Park, Mr. Gibson tried many eateries from local dives like Looney’s Pub and R.J. Bentley’s Filling Station to regional chains like Rita’s Italian Ice and Milk & Honey. There is plenty to try in the Chesapeake Bay, but their area is known for killer seafood and the nearby Washington D.C and Baltimore offer many options for even the pickiest of eaters. Along with the major food scenes, these local cities offer many sporting events and concerts to help you enjoy your journey to your degree. No matter your interests, the “Old Line State” can offer many new experiences for new students.
After leaving Maryland, Gibson drove through the rolling hills of New Jersey until he reached his second destination, Rutgers University. The birthplace of college football has come a long way since the university’s opening in 1766. The campus is carved into New Jersey suburbs, which offers an urban landscape for studies. The streets of New Brunswick were winding and full of new and fun experiences down every corner. One of the few city universities in the Big Ten, Rutgers “has its own atmosphere” according to Gibson when comparing it to others in the same conference. The East Coast vibe provides an old-style look into colonial life with original buildings located in the Queen’s campus of the school. The school’s geology program is one of the nation’s brightest, with many artifacts from all over the world. The Scarlet Knights of Rutgers are surrounded by many statues and historic buildings that helped shape our country into what it is today. With Rutgers being the birthplace of college football, their basketball program packs a punch as well. The famed “Jersey Mike’s Arena” boasts a loud atmosphere that Purdue cannot seem to handle, with multiple losses coming from inside this famed sports complex. This bite of big city life suits many New Jerseans and New Yorkers alike, with close connections to New York City and Newark. With the New York food scene, the Rutgers array of food fits the mold of authentic New Yorker cuisine with spots like RU? Hungry and Stuff Yer Face gives students a look into the Deli’s that help fuel the busy and buzzy New York City. For a big city dreamer who still wants a little bit of midwestern home, Rutgers is the spot to look into.
From the big city lights to the plains of Pennsylvania, Mr. Gibson found himself in Happy Valley at Penn State University. The Nittany Lions have roamed this land since 1855, and have dominated the sports scene as an Independent university before joining the Big Ten in 1993. The small-town atmosphere of Penn State fits well in the Big Ten universe and is a favorite of many Pennsylvanians who better enjoy the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania. The welcoming atmosphere included many art pieces and historical markers that show the true roots and future of this institution. The campus is surrounded by nature and wildlife with many parks and preserves that create a sense of community within the university and beyond. Their famous saying “We Are” goes miles throughout the campus, with many cameos around town. This saying shows that the university believes in each and every one of its students and proves the institution as a unit is together as one. This welcoming environment changes when opposing players walk into Beaver Stadium on a cool Saturday night. Penn State’s football program has been dominant in recent history with legends like Joe Paterno leading the way. Along with their athletic success, the school designates their hardest home game for the “White Out” game where everyone attending puts on all white and screams extra loud for their Lions, along with the playing of “Mo Bamba”. This atmosphere is about impossible to score in, and a victory is tough to pull off. Along with an amazing atmosphere, the food scene is impeccable in Happy Valley. With local spots like The Corner and Champs Downtown, the spirit of the Nittany Lions lives on throughout the streets. A taste of home can be found in Pennsylvania, and Penn State University can provide students with many opportunities throughout its beautiful campus.
On his drive through the Pennsylvania foothills and the rivers of “the Burgh”, Mr. Gibson found himself in Columbus, Ohio at The Ohio State University. The football powerhouse has dominated the Big Ten since its inception and provides a big-city feel within a prominent Midwestern town. The wide range of academics makes OSU a safe haven for many students who want to call Columbus home. The large student body allows for large amounts of networking with peers. The many historical spots across campus help show the intense legends of those who have walked the same streets. From museums to galleries the campus provided many chances to learn about Ohio and the people that make it. The centerpiece of this visit was “The Horseshoe”, which is The Ohio State’s football stadium. Their eight national championships and a long list of NFL hall-of-famers make OSU’s program one of the greats. Their dominance of Big Ten Football shows within the walls with their intense architecture. The Notre Dame, the French one, adds a level of hierarchy to the surrounding area and makes the stadium a key part of the Columbus skyline. With the hometown of Guy Fieri down the road, Columbus is known as the original “Flavortown” with many petitions voting to permanently identify it as such. The many spots around campus show this with places like The Varsity Club and The O on Lane. Hunger should not be a problem in Columbus and neither should boredom. With many concerts taking place on campus, and other sporting events around town, Columbus can be for anyone!
This first stretch of the trip was an action-packed one indeed. With most of the schools visited being new additions to the Big Ten family, the typical midwestern scene has not been explored yet. From the big city lights of OSU or Rutgers to the secluded feel of Penn State, there is something for everyone. This shows the true variety of the Big Ten community along with the different scenes within it. The best is yet to come, and Gibson’s road trip will continue into the true Midwest driving up I-75 to Ann Arbor, Michigan for a true-blue celebration.
If you would like to read more, here is the link to Mr. Gibson’s Pages:
Instagram – @b1gmanoncampus
https://b1gmanoncampus.com
