This is the third column in a short series on Ohio State Buckeye traditions and rituals. Hopefully, this will provide some answers for those of you who have wondered:
When is this columnist actually going to start writing about the football team?
- or -
What’s so special about the Ohio State program, anyway?
There isn’t a more passionate group of fans in all of college football than Ohio State Buckeye fans. Here’s part of the reason why…
Ohio State vs. M*ch*g*n. This is the trademark tradition of the Ohio State program. It is widely considered the greatest rivalry in all of college football, and some consider it the greatest rivalry in all of American sports. This year’s meeting was the 102nd meeting between Ohio State’s storied program and That State Up North’s wretched band of rejects. M*ch*g*n dominated the series in the “stone age” of college football, pre-Red Grange. In the modern era (post-Grange), the series has taken on a more balanced appearance, with Ohio State’s record coming to 35-43-4 in that period.
What really makes this rivalry go is what has taken place since the arrival of Coach Woody Hayes in 1951. The series is a complete deadlock – 26-26-2 since the beginning of Hayes tenure. The other thing that makes this rivalry important is its impact on the Big Ten and national championship picture. Since the matchup was moved to the back end of the two teams’ schedule 69 years ago, it has had an impact on the Big Ten Championship 43 times. The atmosphere surrounding this game is the same as that of a major bowl or championship game, and its cultural impact is significant, as both schools have substantial numbers of alumni and fans scattered throughout the country.
Gold Pants. This item is symbolic of a Buckeye victory against M*ch*g*n. A gold charm in the shape of a pair of gold pants is given to each player to commemorate a victory in this rivalry. Its significance is similar to that of a championship ring. This tradition began in 1934, when first-year coach Francis Schmidt was approached on the about his team’s chances facing a M*ch*g*n program that Ohio State had played to an all-time record to that point of 6-22-2. Coach Schmidt responded by saying, “They put their pants on one leg at a time just like everybody else.” Schmidt went on to lead the Buckeyes to four consecutive victories over That School Up North. The Gold Pants charm stands as a reminder that the team can achieve anything it sets its collective mind to do, and this years’ upset victory (37-21!) affirms that notion. This year’s senior class is leaving Ohio State with three sets of gold pants – quite an accomplishment!
Senior Tackle. Speaking of the seniors… The following is a tradition that will take place before the team departs for San Antonio. Beginning in 1913, each senior makes one final hit on the blocking sled. This is an emotionally charged event, and will attract thousands of Buckeye fans.
Tunnel of Pride. This tradition began in 1995. Notre Dame was coming to Columbus for the first meeting between the two teams in nearly five decades. In an effort to generate additional excitement, Athletic Director Andy Geiger and legendary Buckeye quarterback Rex Kern reached out to football alumni to return to Ohio Stadium to form a tunnel for the team to run through when it came on the field. The Tunnel of Pride was a great success, and is carried on to this day when M*ch*g*n visits Ohio State every other season.
Illibuck Trophy. Lost amid all of the attention placed on the Ohio State-M*ch*g*n rivalry is Ohio State’s rivalry with Illinois. Illibuck has been a symbol of this rivalry since 1927. In the beginning, Illibuck was a live turtle, which was presented to the winner of the Ohio State-Illinois football game. Illibuck is now a wooden trophy, but the tradition lives on. Illibuck is presented in a halftime ceremony where junior honor societies from each school join to smoke a peace pipe and award the trophy to the previous year’s winner.
Retired Numbers. Like the Tunnel of Pride, this is a new tradition. In 1996, a brash young linebacker named Andy Katzenmoyer arrived on campus. He would create a stir with his ferocious play, but not before he would create a storm off the field. During his recruitment, requested to be able to wear the number ‘45’, which had been unofficially retired by the program, as it was the number worn by legendary two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin. Griffin acquiesced, and Katzenmoyer donned the sacred number, despite the fact that this ruffled a lot of feathers in Columbus. Katzenmoyer left the program for the NFL after the 1998 season, and Ohio State moved quickly to avoid such controversy in the future, officially retiring Griffin’s #45 in 2000.
Since then, Ohio State has retired the numbers of its other four Heisman Trophy winning running backs – Les Horvath (#22), Vic Janowicz (#31), Howard “Hopalong” Cassady (#40) and Eddie George (#27). This season, the Buckeyes also retired the number of Chic Harley (#47), the player who first brought notoriety to Ohio State football during the World War I era. This number is currently worn by A.J. Hawk, but will not be worn again after next season. The names and numbers of all these players are enshrined on the façade of Ohio Stadium’s upper deck, in the stadium’s north (closed) end.
Buckeye Grove. This tradition began in 1934. Ohio State plants a Buckeye Tree in the name of every All-American player. The Buckeye Grove is located just outside the southwest corner of Ohio Stadium, and the trees are planted in a ceremony before Ohio State’s spring game. This season, linebacker A.J. Hawk and placekicker Mike Nugent have earned All-America honors, and will receive their place in the Buckeye Grove.
To wrap this thing up… I’d like to thank the folks at O-State.com for engaging Buckeye Planet in this article exchange. I had a lot of fun writing this, and I’m proud to share it. Ohio State has many great traditions, many of which I had to exclude for the sake of not overwhelming the readers. This process has brought back many great memories for me, and reminded me of why I chose to go to Ohio State – because being on campus and in the community gave me a sense that I was a part of something bigger than the bricks and mortar and books and chairs.
I know many other people feel the same way I do about Ohio State’s tradition. It transcends football fandom. In my limited contact with the Oklahoma State fans I’ve encountered, I get the sense that they regard their school in the same way. Here’s to a great game at the Alamodome, and good times for both schools’ fans!
This is a 3 part piece by jlb1705. Find other information about OSU Traditions in JLB's other articles.
Ohio State Traditions: Buckeye Football
Ohio State Traditions: The Band, the Music, and Game-day Atmosphere
Ohio State Traditions: Buckeye Symbols & Icons
Find other articles (including these) concerning the Alamo Bowl at O-State's "Bowl Central"
O-State's Bowl Central
When is this columnist actually going to start writing about the football team?
- or -
What’s so special about the Ohio State program, anyway?
There isn’t a more passionate group of fans in all of college football than Ohio State Buckeye fans. Here’s part of the reason why…
Ohio State vs. M*ch*g*n. This is the trademark tradition of the Ohio State program. It is widely considered the greatest rivalry in all of college football, and some consider it the greatest rivalry in all of American sports. This year’s meeting was the 102nd meeting between Ohio State’s storied program and That State Up North’s wretched band of rejects. M*ch*g*n dominated the series in the “stone age” of college football, pre-Red Grange. In the modern era (post-Grange), the series has taken on a more balanced appearance, with Ohio State’s record coming to 35-43-4 in that period.
What really makes this rivalry go is what has taken place since the arrival of Coach Woody Hayes in 1951. The series is a complete deadlock – 26-26-2 since the beginning of Hayes tenure. The other thing that makes this rivalry important is its impact on the Big Ten and national championship picture. Since the matchup was moved to the back end of the two teams’ schedule 69 years ago, it has had an impact on the Big Ten Championship 43 times. The atmosphere surrounding this game is the same as that of a major bowl or championship game, and its cultural impact is significant, as both schools have substantial numbers of alumni and fans scattered throughout the country.
Gold Pants. This item is symbolic of a Buckeye victory against M*ch*g*n. A gold charm in the shape of a pair of gold pants is given to each player to commemorate a victory in this rivalry. Its significance is similar to that of a championship ring. This tradition began in 1934, when first-year coach Francis Schmidt was approached on the about his team’s chances facing a M*ch*g*n program that Ohio State had played to an all-time record to that point of 6-22-2. Coach Schmidt responded by saying, “They put their pants on one leg at a time just like everybody else.” Schmidt went on to lead the Buckeyes to four consecutive victories over That School Up North. The Gold Pants charm stands as a reminder that the team can achieve anything it sets its collective mind to do, and this years’ upset victory (37-21!) affirms that notion. This year’s senior class is leaving Ohio State with three sets of gold pants – quite an accomplishment!
Senior Tackle. Speaking of the seniors… The following is a tradition that will take place before the team departs for San Antonio. Beginning in 1913, each senior makes one final hit on the blocking sled. This is an emotionally charged event, and will attract thousands of Buckeye fans.
Tunnel of Pride. This tradition began in 1995. Notre Dame was coming to Columbus for the first meeting between the two teams in nearly five decades. In an effort to generate additional excitement, Athletic Director Andy Geiger and legendary Buckeye quarterback Rex Kern reached out to football alumni to return to Ohio Stadium to form a tunnel for the team to run through when it came on the field. The Tunnel of Pride was a great success, and is carried on to this day when M*ch*g*n visits Ohio State every other season.
Illibuck Trophy. Lost amid all of the attention placed on the Ohio State-M*ch*g*n rivalry is Ohio State’s rivalry with Illinois. Illibuck has been a symbol of this rivalry since 1927. In the beginning, Illibuck was a live turtle, which was presented to the winner of the Ohio State-Illinois football game. Illibuck is now a wooden trophy, but the tradition lives on. Illibuck is presented in a halftime ceremony where junior honor societies from each school join to smoke a peace pipe and award the trophy to the previous year’s winner.
Retired Numbers. Like the Tunnel of Pride, this is a new tradition. In 1996, a brash young linebacker named Andy Katzenmoyer arrived on campus. He would create a stir with his ferocious play, but not before he would create a storm off the field. During his recruitment, requested to be able to wear the number ‘45’, which had been unofficially retired by the program, as it was the number worn by legendary two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin. Griffin acquiesced, and Katzenmoyer donned the sacred number, despite the fact that this ruffled a lot of feathers in Columbus. Katzenmoyer left the program for the NFL after the 1998 season, and Ohio State moved quickly to avoid such controversy in the future, officially retiring Griffin’s #45 in 2000.
Since then, Ohio State has retired the numbers of its other four Heisman Trophy winning running backs – Les Horvath (#22), Vic Janowicz (#31), Howard “Hopalong” Cassady (#40) and Eddie George (#27). This season, the Buckeyes also retired the number of Chic Harley (#47), the player who first brought notoriety to Ohio State football during the World War I era. This number is currently worn by A.J. Hawk, but will not be worn again after next season. The names and numbers of all these players are enshrined on the façade of Ohio Stadium’s upper deck, in the stadium’s north (closed) end.
Buckeye Grove. This tradition began in 1934. Ohio State plants a Buckeye Tree in the name of every All-American player. The Buckeye Grove is located just outside the southwest corner of Ohio Stadium, and the trees are planted in a ceremony before Ohio State’s spring game. This season, linebacker A.J. Hawk and placekicker Mike Nugent have earned All-America honors, and will receive their place in the Buckeye Grove.
To wrap this thing up… I’d like to thank the folks at O-State.com for engaging Buckeye Planet in this article exchange. I had a lot of fun writing this, and I’m proud to share it. Ohio State has many great traditions, many of which I had to exclude for the sake of not overwhelming the readers. This process has brought back many great memories for me, and reminded me of why I chose to go to Ohio State – because being on campus and in the community gave me a sense that I was a part of something bigger than the bricks and mortar and books and chairs.
I know many other people feel the same way I do about Ohio State’s tradition. It transcends football fandom. In my limited contact with the Oklahoma State fans I’ve encountered, I get the sense that they regard their school in the same way. Here’s to a great game at the Alamodome, and good times for both schools’ fans!
This is a 3 part piece by jlb1705. Find other information about OSU Traditions in JLB's other articles.
Ohio State Traditions: Buckeye Football
Ohio State Traditions: The Band, the Music, and Game-day Atmosphere
Ohio State Traditions: Buckeye Symbols & Icons
Find other articles (including these) concerning the Alamo Bowl at O-State's "Bowl Central"
O-State's Bowl Central
