One of the Great names in College Football, one of the great traditional atmospheres to watch a game................
#6 - THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
Ohio State began playing organized collegiate football in 1890, and have amassed an 808-306-53 record, for a .715 winning percentage. The 808 wins qualify as the fifth most in history, and the Buckeyes are 4th in the nation in all time winning percentage.
Ohio State own a total of 35 Conference Championships - 2 in the Ohio Athletic, and the remaining 33 in the Big 10, spanning the years of 1916-2008. Only Michigan has more Big 10 Championships than the Buckeyes, and OSU has been gaining some ground in recent years.
Ohio State has played in 40 Bowl Games, going 18-22.
Ohio State officially claims National Championships in the following years.............................
1942 - Paul Brown Coached the Buckeyes to a 9-1 record
1954 - Woody Hayes leads OSU to a 10-0 mark and Rose Bowl win, claiming the AP Title.
1957 - Hayes and OSU go 9-1, and win the UPI vote over undefeated Auburn
1961 - OSU is 8-0-1, and named #1 by the Football Writers
1968 - For the 4th time, Hayes wins it all by seeing his team go 10-0
1970 - The Bucks go 9-1, and are selected by the National Football Foundation
2002 - Jim Tressel and OSU go 14-0 and beat Miami to become consensus Champions.
Jim Tressel with the Crystal Trophy
Woody Hayes Victory Ride
Ohio State has also been named by at leats one selector as National Champion in 7 other seasons, which they do not recognize.
The Buckeyes have been graced with a plethora of outstanding football players. Some names you may remember..................................
Art Schlichter, Terry Glenn, Vic Janowicz, "Hopalong" Cassidy, Les Horvath, Eddie George, Bill Willis, Archie Griffin, Paul Warfield, Chris Spielman, Gomer Jones, Jack Tatum, Mike Sensibaugh, Dan Wilkinson, Rex Kern, John Frank, Chris Carter, Tom Cousineau...........
So many great names, and so many not even mentioned.
Some Buckeye Coaching legends.............................
Paul Brown 1941 - 1943 18-8-1 .685
Wayne "Woody" Hayes 1951 - 1978 205-61-10 .761
Earl Bruce 1979 - 1987 81-26-1 .755
John Cooper 1988 - 2000 111-43-4 .715
Jim Tressel Current 83-19-0 .814
Ohio State has produced Heisman Trophy winners, ties with Notre Dame and USC for the most in the nation. Archie Griffin is the only two time winner, joined by Troy Smith, Vic Janowicz, Les Horvath, Eddie George, and Howard "Hopalong" Cassidy.
Archie on the loose
Archie plows through a Wolverine
Hopalong Cassidy
Some Buckey traditions, facts, and trivia...........................
The Scarlet and Gray
Ohio State’s official school colors since 1878, Scarlet and Gray were chosen by a group of three students in a lecture room in University Hall because “it was a pleasing combination...and had not been adopted by any other college,” noted selection committee member Alice Townshend Wing.
“The Best Damn Band in the Land”
is the 225-member, all-brass Ohio State Marching Band that formed in 1879 as a military band. Also known as “The Pride of the Buckeyes,” the band perhaps is best known for the incomparable Script Ohio. Another band tradition of note is the “skull session,” a warmup concert/pep rally in St. John Arena, open to the public before every home football game.
Hang on Sloopy“Hang On Sloopy,” a song performed by Ohioans, The McCoys, evolved into Ohio State’s game day anthem and eventually the state of Ohio’s official rock song. Buckeye fans heard it for the first time at the Oct. 9, 1965 OSU-Illinois game and it has rocked the stands ever since.
From Wikki..........................
Rivalries
While its rivalry with the University of Michigan is its most renowned and intense, Ohio State has two other series marked by their longevity, both Big Ten Conference rivals, those of Indiana and Illinois. The series versus Indiana began as a non-conference matchup, with Indiana going undefeated at 4-0-1. In conference, however, the Buckeyes (despite losing the opening conference game) are 65-8-4 through the 2006 season, the most wins against any opponent. Illinois also began with non-conference games (0-1-1) but became the longest continuous series in 2002 when the schools played in their 89th consecutive year. (That record was tied by Michigan in 2007.) Through 2008 Ohio State's record against the Illini is 61-30-4. In 2007, Ohio State was given their only defeat of the regular season by the Illini.
Penn State was added to the conference football play in 1993, every member was given two designated rivals, teams to be played every year, with the other conference teams rotated out of the schedule at regular intervals. For geographic convenience, the Big Ten named Penn State as Ohio State's new designated rival in addition to Michigan, and Illinois was set to be paired with in-state rival Northwestern and neighboring Indiana, and in doing so undermined Ohio State's historical rivalry with Illinois.
Michigan
The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is the intense rivalry between the University of Michigan and The Ohio State University football teams. It has attracted particular national interest over the last four decades as most of the games have determined the Big Ten Conference title and the resulting Rose Bowl match ups, and many have influenced the outcome of the national collegiate football championship. The game was ranked by ESPN in 2000 as the greatest North American sports rivalry.[1]
The annual match up between the two Midwest state schools has been held at the end of the regular season since 1935 (with exceptions in 1942, 1986, and 1998). Since 1918, the game's site has alternated between Columbus, Ohio, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, and has been played in Ohio Stadium since 1922 and Michigan Stadium since 1927. Since 1935, Ohio State and Michigan have decided the Big Ten Conference championship between themselves on 23 different occasions, and have affected the determination of the conference title an additional 24 times. [2]
During 1835 and 1836, the State of Ohio and the Michigan Territory engaged in a brief and bloodless border dispute known as the Toledo War. Some have proposed that the football rivalry is a modern manifestation of this historical tension.[3]
The two teams have met a total of 105 times, with Michigan holding a 57-42-6 edge - but Ohio State is currently on a 5 game win streak, their longest in the series.
[edit] Buckeye football traditions
Ohio State football is rich in traditions, and Coach Tressel has since his hiring made upholding tradition a cornerstone of his program.[20] The following are football traditions in chronogical order of longevity:
Senior tackle 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.[21]
Gold pants
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,[22] were awarded that year for a 34-0 drubbing of the Wolverines.[23]
Captain's Breakfast
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.[21][24]
Buckeye Grove
Begun in 1934, each player who wins "first-team All-America" 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.
Michigan Week
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;[25] 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.[26]
Block O
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
BLock O in a game in the south stands".[27] They occupy Section 39A in the South grandstand of Ohio Stadium, next to the band.[28][29]
Victory Bell
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.[21]
Brutus Buckeye
Beginning in 1965, Brutus Buckeye has appeared at all Ohio State football games as the live mascot of the Buckeyes. In 2007 he was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame and is now one of the most recognized mascots in the United States.
Hang on Sloopy
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 and Cincinnati Bengals games.[21]
Buckeye leaves
Since 1967, 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.[21] In the 1970s, the decals were approimately the size of a Silver Dollar until the 1979 Season. Most believe that this practice began in 1968 when The Buckeyes switched to their present Silver Helmet design since the decals have become identified with that helmet.
Tunnel of Pride
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.[21][30]
Carmen Ohio
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.[31]
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.[32]
Mirror Lake
Before the Ohio State/Michigan game at the end of the season, OSU students typically jump into Mirror Lake, located on campus, the Thursday night before the game. The tradition is thought to bring good luck to the football team the following gameday.[33]
Marching Band
Famous Script OhioThe Marching Band, known as "The Best Damn Band In The Land" or by the acronym TBDBITL[34] is the most visible and possibly best-known tradition of Ohio State football.[35] Home games are preceded by three much-anticipated traditions, and a fourth, "dotting the 'i'" of Script Ohio, enjoys a reputation all its own:[21]
[
b]History of the "i"-dot
At its first performance, the Script Ohio's "i" was dotted by a trumpet player, with no special attention or honor being given to the movement. When the trumpet player, John Brungart (1933-36), dotted the first Script Ohio "i" October 10, 1936, the march from the top of the "o" to the top of the "i" was just another movement to complete a formation. Brungart simply took his place in a complex single file line drill. Over 60 years later, the honor of dotting the "i" is known throughout the world.
Because director Eugene Weigel provided several new floating formations throughout the 1936 season, the first Script Ohio was seen by bandsmen as just another formation. No charts were used--Weigel simply placed members in their spots. "We knew that we did something different, not started a tradition," Brungart said, "I wasn't picked to dot the 'i', I was just in the right place at the right time." Script Ohio was performed two more times during the 1936 season, both with Brungart dotting the "i".
During a field rehearsal in the fall of 1937, Weigel had a spur-of-the-moment idea, and shouted to Glen R. Johnson, a sousaphone player, "Hey, you! Switch places with the trumpet player in the dot." After several run-throughs with the exchanged positions, the script was ready to be performed. At the game on October 23, 1937, the marching band, led by drum major Wesley Leas, performed with Script Ohio with Johnson dotting the "i". Johnson was in the band from 1937-40, and during all of those years he dotted the "i". From that time forward, the i-dot became the province of the big horns.
The familiar kick, turn, and bow by the sousaphone player at the top of the "i" was an innovation introduced by Johnson at a game in 1938. "(The turn) was an impulse reaction when drum major Myron McKelvey arrived three or four measures too soon at the top of the "i"," Johnson explained, "so I did a big kick, a turn, and a deep bow to use up the music before Buckeye Battle Cry. The crowd roared when this happened, and it became part of the show thereafter."
Having become the object of attention, occasionally the lucky musician dotting the "i" was identified for public notice. In the 1950's, several i-dotters at the Rose Bowl were named in nationwide news releases. Many have been interviewed by local TV stations and national networks during the week before their "dots". The media attention given to the i-dotter has only intensified the thrill this privilege gives.
How an OSUMB sousaphone player becomes an "i"-dotter
To be eligible to dot the "i", a sousaphone player must at least be a fourth-year member of the OSUMB. Since more than one person usually meets this requirement, the sousaphone player who has marched the most pre-game ramps is given the first choice of which script he/she wishes to dot. This is picked from the scheduled performances of Script Ohio for the upcoming season. This process continues until all fourth-year members have chosen a dot.
Fifth-year members are also eligible to dot the "i", but only after all fourth-year members have chosen. Fifth-year members choose their dots from the remaining script performances, following the same method of seniority used by fourth-year members. If a script is remaining after every eligible musician has chosen, all sousaphone players place their name in a hat and one is drawn. This is the person who will dot the remaining "i".
At post-season performances of Script Ohio (usually double scripts), fourth and fifth-year members compete for the open dots in what is called a "dot-off", in which eligible members perform their "i"-dot routine for the entire sousaphone section. Members watch two rounds of competition and vote for the best two candidates. The top vote-getters become the dotters for that performance of Script Ohio.
Honorary "i" dotters include Bob Hope, Woody Hayes, Jack Nicklaus, and
Buster Douglas?. Script OhioOld Script Ohio
Some Buckeye Photos....................................
Jack Nicklaus dots the "i"
Woody and Bo
Woody feels no cold
Woddy Hayes dots the "i"
A Block "O'
Brutus Buckeye
The Horseshoe
Old Horseshoe Photo
OSU cheerleader
The 1950 Snow Bowl vs Michigan
Earl Bruce holds the guys back
Buckeye Honey
Another Hottie
How sweet
Buckeyes have Michigan on their heels
Columbus is a great game day atmosphere, and Jim Tressel has the Buckeyes consistently in the National Championship hunt on a yearly basis, and also making up ground in their rivalry with Michigan.
It is great for College Football Traditionalists to see The Buckeyes back as a yearly power, so Dot the "I", Script out Ohio, and sing in victory...............................
HANG ON, SLOOPY, HANG ON!!!!!
sorry
BUT - its sorta like rating the hottest chick without considering the face 
at everyone agreeing with this poll until their team isn't #1 and then they start questioning the rankings basis.
but we smell better. 
ETA: I will say UM fans are very spoiled and assume 8-9 wins a year. A lot of us have not been through a rebuilding phase like this so I am sure some crazies will be coming out of the woodwork shortly. I plan on mocking them just as you do 
