Michigan Once Put Fake Ohio Towns on a State Map to Troll Ohio State

The University of Michigan vs. Ohio State feud and the storied past of "The Game" have created one of sports' most iconic rivalries. It also inspired the creation of two completely fictional towns that only appear in the 1978-79 Official State Map of Michigan.

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Before GPS or even MapQuest, Michiganders would turn to a foldable map of the state roads and cities, usually stuffed in the glovebox, for navigational assistance. On Michigan's 1978-79 state highway map, travelers could find two places near the Ohio border that did not actually exist: "goblu" and "beatosu." These were not failed subdivisions or towns wiped out by some financial crisis. They were a football prank.

Who Put Fake Towns on a Michigan Map

The mastermind was Peter Fletcher, a U of M graduate who chaired the Michigan State Highway Commission during the 1970s. Because Michigan's official map included a narrow strip of northern Ohio, Fletcher saw a blank space and apparently heard opportunity wearing a winged helmet knocking.

At his direction, mapmakers added "goblu" near Toledo and "beatosu" in rural Fulton County. According to the Athletic, Fletcher was an enthusiastic Michigan fan and alum who ironically would later serve on the Michigan State University (MSU) Board of Trustees.

Why Michigan Invented Two Ohio Towns

Fletcher said the map carried three million messages supporting Michigan football. In other words, this was state-funded trolling before social media was even a thought. The stunt drew criticism, but Fletcher insisted it was harmless fun. The commission even reportedly mailed a copy to legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes, which is the very definition of "poking the bear."

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Today, neither town has a sign, a downtown, or a maize-and-blue water tower. "Beatosu" is mostly cornfields and traffic, but the joke remains one of the most gloriously petty chapters in Michigan-Ohio State history. Although we're long overdue for the fictional town of "gogreen."