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Traditions of the Buckeyes
Ohio State is a popular school, and not just for sports. It has a terrific Alumni and academic program. Ohio State has several school traditions based off of their football program and players. Simple songs, to ringing a decade old bell; The Ohio State University has it all
A major tradition for the Buckeyes is Carmen Ohio. After every home game, win or lose, the players and coaches join arms and sing Carmen Ohio. Carmen Ohio was created in 1902 by a freshman attending the school. This song is the oldest used song for Ohio State.
Carmen Ohio
Every school has a marching band good, or bad. Ohio State has the best marching band ever. As one coach once called it, "The best dang band in the land." Before every game at home the Ohio State band does a historic march on the field. At the end the band spells "Ohio". Then one member does the walk towards the "i" and dots it. At halftime they are known to make insane shapes and objects from the real world.
Script Ohio
In 1968 Woody Hayes introduced this tradition because he wanted to change the look of their uniforms. This is an iconic tradition because it was a start of a trend that nearly every team does. After a player does something good on or off the field by being recognized with a Buckeye Leaf on their helmet. However it is not just in football where the Buckeye Leaf is used, but in other sports.
The Buckeye Leaves
The Victory Bell is rang after every Ohio State Football victory. It was first rang in 1954 by a group called Alpha Phi Omega. A lot of teams have a victory bell but Ohio State has one of the oldest. The cool thing about our Victory Bell, is that it is a maze to get to it. The creators of the stadium sort of forgot about the path to the bell so it was an afterthought. If you live by the bell, there is no recording and watching the game later, you will here the Victory Bell.
The Victory Bell
Buckeye Grove is possibly the most peaceful place on Ohio State's campus related to football. Buckeye Grove is a park-like place for people to stroll and do homework. The basis for this place is to honor every All- American. Since 1934 OSU has planted 186 buckeye trees in their honor.
Buckeye Grove
The Battle for the Illibuck is a classic rivalry game versus The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Illinois Fighting Illini. The rivalry was created in 1925 and has been played ever since. The trophy is a wooden carving of a big turtle. The name "Illibuck" comes from the combination of the two schools mascots. "Illi" from Illni, and "Buck" from Buckeye.
The Battle for the Illibuck
Retiring jerseys is a thing every sports program does at the college level to pro. It also doesn't have to be football either. Ohio State's basketball team has retired number 21 after Evan Turner. Ohio State's football team is no different. Ohio State has retired a total of 7 jerseys. These 7 numbers are 45, 31, 27, 99, 40, 47, and 22. Ohio State has recently announced that they will not be retiring jerseys anymore but honoring them in the stadium.
Retired Jerseys
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