More on traditions,
Ohio State football is rich in traditions, and Coach Tressel has since his hiring made upholding tradition a cornerstone of his program.
[22] The following are football traditions in chronogical order of longevity:
Begun in 1913 by head coach
John Wilce, seniors on the team are recognized at the last practice of the season, either before the Michigan game or before departing Columbus to play in a
bowl game, and hit the
blocking sled a final time.
[23]The winner of the Ohio State-
Illinois game has been awarded the
Illibuck trophy since 1925.
[24]A
gold miniature
charm depicting a pair of football pants is given to all players and coaches following a victory over the Michigan Wolverines. The tradition began as the result of a comment to reporters by newly-hired head coach
Francis Schmidt on
March 2,
1934: "How about Michigan? They put their pants on one leg at a time, the same as we do!" The first gold pants, which were a creation of Simon Lazarus (president of the
Lazarus chain of department stores) and Herbert Levy,
[25] were awarded that year for a 34-0 drubbing of the Wolverines.
[26]1934 also saw the first gathering of former
team captains for breakfast on the Sunday following the
Homecoming game. The event began when local businessman Walter Jeffrey invited twenty former captains to the
Scioto Country Club to honor them, and continues to welcome new captains and award them
mugs bearing their names and season.
[27][28]Begun in 1934, each player who wins "first-team
All-American" honors is recognized by the planting of a buckeye tree and installation of a plaque in Buckeye Grove, now located near the southwestern corner of Ohio Stadium next to Morrill Tower. Trees are planted in ceremonies held prior to the Spring Game. All 125 Buckeye All-Americans dating back to 1914 have been so honored.
[29]Since 1935 the annual game against Michigan has been the final meeting of the regular season for both teams. The week prior to "The Game", known as Michigan Week, is characterized by scheduled school spirit and public service events, such as rallies,
touch football games, and
blood drives;
[30] and by massive displays of school colors and banners in much of Ohio. (In an unofficial culmination to Michigan Week, since 1990 on the Thursday night before "The Game" students have participated in the "Mirror Lake jump", an unofficial gathering at Mirror Lake, a pond between Pomerene Hall and
The Oval, in which masses of students jump into the water.)
[31]During kickoffs at home games, the crowd shouts "O-H-I-O." Occasionally the chant can be heard at away games where there is a large number of Buckeye fans.[
citation needed]
Since 1938 the registered student organization Block O has been the "Official Cheering Section" of the Buckeyes.
"Known for spreading spirit, starting cheers and performing card stunts, Block 'O' was founded...by Clancy Isaac".
[32] They occupy Section 39A in the South
grandstand of
Ohio Stadium, next to the band.
[33][34]The Victory Bell is rung after every Ohio State victory by members of
Alpha Phi Omega, a tradition that began after the Bucks beat
California October 2,
1954. Reputedly the ringing can be heard five miles away "on a calm day." Located 150 feet high in the southeast tower of Ohio Stadium, the bell was a gift of the classes of 1943, 1944 and 1945, and weighs 2,420 pounds.
[35]First played at the Illinois game of
October 9,
1965, the
rock song
Hang On Sloopy is now played by the marching band before the start of the fourth quarter, with fans performing an O-H-I-O chant in the intervals between the
refrains. The song is also played to encourage the team's defensive players when opponents are moving the ball on offense late in a game. This is also played at the end of the third quarter at Cleveland Browns games.
[36]Since 1968 the helmets of Ohio State players have been adorned with white decals approximately the size of a
quarter depicting a
buckeye leaf, awarded for making significant plays and for consistency of performance.
[37]The Tunnel of Pride began with the 1994 Michigan game when all former players who were in attendance formed a tunnel through which the team ran to take the field, and Ohio State beat its rival that day, 22-6.
Rex Kern, quarterback of the
1968 National Championship team, and then Director of Athletics
Andy Geiger together used the concept as a means of connecting current Buckeyes with those who played before them. The Tunnel of Pride was next formed for the
1995 Notre Dame game, which the Buckeyes also won. In each home game against Michigan since, the tradition has been repeated.
[38][39]Instituted by Coach Tressel in 2001, at the conclusion of all home games the coaches, players and cheerleaders gather in the south
end zone next to the marching band to sing the university's alma mater,
Carmen Ohio.
[40]- The Hive and pre-game circle
Tressel brought to the Buckeye football program two pre-game traditions he developed at Youngstown State. Prior to its warmup routine before every football game, the team exits the locker room as a unit in a controlled manner, linked arm-in-arm in a group known as "The Hive". After warmups the team returns to the locker room, and when it next appears, runs onto the field and forms a circle of players around the strength coach, who exhorts the team into a frenzy in which they pummel each other with fists.
[41]Main article: The Ohio State University Marching Band The Marching Band, known by its acronym as "
The
Best
Damn
Band
In
The
Land," is the most visible and possibly best-known tradition of Ohio State football.
[42] Home games are preceded by three much-anticipated traditions, and a fourth, "dotting the 'i'" of
Script Ohio, enjoys a reputation all its own:
[43]
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