Buckeye Blogger Network
While football at any level is a great sport and a lot of fun, college football stands out as the most truly enjoyable version of the sport, at least in terms of the overall experience. While the NFL is better played and high school is somewhat more pure, the atmosphere of a college football game is unique and it is that atmosphere that elevates a college football gameday above all others. As Ohio State fans we are blessed with having one of the best gameday atmospheres in the country and a major reason for that is the Ohio State University Marching Band; you would be hard pressed to find an OSU fan who didn’t feel that Skull Session, the ramp entrance, ‘Script Ohio’, or the band’s halftime show weren’t vital parts of a football Saturday in Columbus. Buckeye fans and visitors to Columbus have long known just how good TBDBITL really is but some changes coming this fall will make even more people aware of the how impressive the band truly is.
OSU President Gordon Gee has said on numerous occasions how much he likes the marching band and how he feels they are important representatives of the university. That view of the band is now reflected in a new funding model that will begin this fall. Traditionally the OSUMB has been funded by the College of Arts and Sciences and the Athletic Department. Both of these groups will continue to provide funding but the band will also now receiving funding from the Development Office of the President. This will increase the band’s annual budget to $1 million, moving the OSUMB from ninth place in the Big Ten to first.
Like Janelle the week before, tBBC was representing loud and proud as Ohio State’s basketball team moved onward through the West Regional to Los Angeles’ Staples Center.
Starting Wednesday of last week, I was fortunate to get an “up close” look at the team as they prepared for and worked to earn a right to head to Atlanta for the championships. And while the weekend didn’t end with the Buckeye’s cutting down the nets, it was a memorable one for many reasons.
Satellite Office
Courtesy of @OhSuzannah
Chills were running down my spine as TBDBITL marched into St. John Arena on Friday night for our Celebration of Perfection. As I looked around at my Buckeye family decked out in their scarlet & gray while singing “Across the Field” at the top of their lungs, all I could think was, “I am so proud to be an Ohio State Buckeye.”
Buckeye Swag
Because I am a member of Block “O,” I had the luxury of sitting in the first row behind the stage and therefore, had a great view of all the evening’s festivities. And lucky for us, Coach Meyer and the team walked right past us to get to their seats, giving us high-fives and smiling at us as we cheered.
Greeting Buckeye Nation
It was in that moment, when the team was standing in front of us, when the entire arena was giving them a standing ovation, that I realized it really doesn’t get any better than this…being among my friends, cheering on this team once again, as we did for all 12 games this season. I love being a student here. Transferring to Ohio State was honestly the best decision I ever made. Getting to see this team go 12-0 this year will be something I will never forget. And celebrating their success tonight is also something I won’t forget.
Raising The Banner
Over the past couple of years, Ohio State football has sent Buckeye Nation on somewhat of a roller coaster of emotions, but Coach Meyer and this team, in particular, the seniors, have turned the tide, and it has been a pleasure to watch. Seeing them hoist their Leaders Division Championship trophy tonight was a great moment.
Raising The Trophy
No, they didn’t get to go to the Big Ten Championship Game. No, they don’t get to go to a bowl. No, they don’t get the chance to play for a national championship. But you know what? It’s okay. They’re 12-0. They made the great state of Ohio proud. And as Coach Meyer says, this team will be remembered. They’ll be remembered in our minds as champions. As leaders. As legends.* And legends are forever.
Men Of Excellence
It is truly a great day to be a Buckeye. 12-OH!
*no pun intended with the division names*
Major Award
Not gonna lie… got a pretty mellow vibe for this week’s updates.
Buckeye 411
What a long and full day of excitement. Nothing will ever replace or beat my experiences in 2002(I don’t think), but this came very close to being as enjoyble.
There was so much happening after THE Game in 2002 that really the best part that I remember is being on the field with 100,000 screaming fans. I still look at the picture from time to time to play Where’s Waldo and find me. Yesterday will go down as the best day for THE Game because I got to spend it with some good friends and some awesome fans in my section.
Being two hours away and knowing the traffic would be ridiculous, I had to get up at 4:45 to head to meet Gary, Robby and Jerry in Zanesville. We got to our usual lot without any fanfare but we just missed the mayhem. We walked over to Lane Avenue as we usually do to pick up some drinks and a snack or two and saw this ugly thing on the way.
Stink Weasels Equipment truck
I gave our fearless leader (Mali) a call to see where he was and as fate would have it, he was only about a block away so we met up with him for a few minutes. After seeing him for the first time ever, we went into the 7/11 and got drinks for the brunch that we have with other ushers on D-Deck before the last game of the season. It’s always good food and fun. We headed up the avenue to see Roy and Maurice and check out the DRIVEN tent and see how things were going. Ran into Mali again with his wife, brother Scott, and a friend.
Roy Hall, Scott, Maurice Clarett and Mali
Heading back to the stadium for the brunch and to man our posts, I must say I was not surprised with the traffic but was surprised the area between St. Johns and the Shoe was like a ghost town. Very few booths set up and not at all very many people. The line had started for the Skull session but that was the extent of the crowd around 9am. Read More
The Seasons Pass, The Years May Roll
Today is all about giving thanks. As Ohio State fans, we are very blessed to have such great athletic programs to follow.
The football Buckeyes are 11-0 and have a chance to finish a perfect 12-0 in head coach Urban Meyer’s first season. That’s pretty remarkable if you think about it.
The basketball Buckeyes are currently ranked No. 3 in the country and have just started their run at back-to-back Final Four appearances.
I’m a Cleveland sports fan. I love and root for my Indians, Browns and Cavaliers, but they don’t win. Ever. I’m very thankful to be a fan of all things Ohio State.
But here are five things I’m thankful for that I am able to watch on the field or court:
Urban Meyer
I’ve gone on record as saying I was always a Jim Tressel fan. He and I are from the same area and couldn’t have been more excited when OSU hired him from Youngstown State. I will always appreciate what Tressel did for this university.
But Urban Meyer is something that Ohio State desperately needed. His honesty, passion and determination are all so real. You can see it in his eyes. You can hear it in his voice. He gives his all to this school and it is absolutely awesome that he’s our head coach.
Braxton Miller
Braxton Miller is the most exciting player OSU has had to watch since Ted Ginn. The difference, though, is Miller has the ball in his hands on every play. Personally, I think Miller is the most exciting player in all of college football.
The best part about this? He’s only a sophomore and we’ve got two more full seasons to watch Miller do his thing.
Buckeye Nation
It’s everywhere. The following Ohio State has is actually insane. There are OSU fans all across the country. I have friends from school who have all located to various cities throughout the country and they all say they have met someone from OSU.
Sam Thompson’s vertical jump
There isn’t a play in sports that can ignite a crowd like a big time dunk can in basketball. Thompson’s ability to soar in the air and create highlights over poor defenders gets you up and out of your seat. It can completely ignite the crowd at The Schott and completely leave the crowd at an opposing gym speechless.
TBDBITL
The way OSU fans support its band is really awesome. The band takes great pride in what it does and I just wanted to put them on this list because I think I speak for a lot of people when I say how appreciative I am of the band.
So as “The Game” nears us, I’m sure the football team will make us thankful for another drubbing of that team up north on Saturday.
It’s been a while since we’ve done an “official” playlist here at the mothership, although our posts certainly reflect how much of an impact music has on our lives- It’s not gameday without music.
While that’s obvious to any true Buckeye, since they don’t call it “The Marginally Adequate Musical Group In This General Vacinity At This Point In Time“, for many people the tunes start during the week of the game and don’t end until we’ve sung Carmen Ohio and “wobbled in our shoes“.
And it’s not just the marching band that’s highlights our college sports experience; Buckeye fans have embraced many other songs as part of the Ohio State canon- “Hang On Sloopy” is an obvious example, but you could include “Neutron Dance” and “Seven Nation Army” to the hymnody bathed in scarlet and gray. The “Bong!!!” that we resonate with, even on our livechats during the games, comes from a rock and roll anthem; like many college fans, hearing the “O Fortuna” from Carmina Burona doesn’t give images of Italian opera; instead it’s the sountrack to Saturdays.
Even the band has crossed over into the world of mainstream music.
And I’m sure there’s many, many more examples that we can come up with.
Because of the melodic connection so many fans have with Buckeye Sports, we often get great musical “submissions” here at tBBC. Today, we want to highlight a few of them and give you a chance to connect with local artists who bleed scarlet and gray just as much as you do.
Mekka Don- Let’s Go (O-H-I-O)
This is a song that you’re probably already familiar with- it’s been played at the ‘Shoe, and Mekka Don even performed it as part of the Homecoming festivities prior to the game against Nebraska. Read More
Ah, fall… the wind turns brisk and in Los Angeles the birds turn colors and fall from the trees (ht: David Letterman). We talked last week about “pumpkinitis” that’s sweeping the country… some people are taking it seriously. Instead of subjecting yourself to such a task, take time to kick back with some new tunes and enjoy a great weekend in college sports.
In case you haven’t noticed (and if you haven’t, please PLEASE let me know how you’re managing to pull that off), it’s election season. And you thought the BCS was complicated and overwrought… three more weeks, people. You can do it.
“But Mali- there’s never been politics on tBBC… what gives?”
Theological Disagreement
That’s a fine point, but it’s the only way I could think of to lead into this week’s “marquee” matchup. Given how much they like football, I’m sure that there was some tension on the Romney/Ryan campaign bus when Notre Dame and BYU squared off in South Bend. (See, ’cause one candidate is a Mormon and the other is a Catholic… oh, nevermind.) Yup, The Golden Domers met the People of the Golden Plates, with the former looking to continue their undefeated season. The Cougars managed to do something that was pretty rare this season, and scored an offensive touchdown against a resurgent Irish defense, led by Heisman (?) candidate linebacker Manti Te’o. It wasn’t enough, though, as they fell to .500 in a 17-14 loss to Brian Kelly’s team, who was led by backup quarterback Tommy Rees’ and his one completed pass after halftime. So, yeah- that Notre Dame fan in your office has yet another week to be a bit boisterous regarding his fifth ranked favorite squadron.
In order to make sure I cover both sides of the 2012 election, here. Ok, I’m done talking religion and politics… you can come back now.
On the topic of mistakes that I’ve made recently, I’m more than willing to acknowledge that my purchasing the hype regarding West Virginia was misguided. They still seem to be a Big lEast team of sorts, where defense is even more optional than it has been in the B12 lately. This isn’t to take anything away from the October Heisman frontrunner; Colin Klein has rightfully taken the crown from Mr. September, particularly in their “head to head” contest on Saturday. The Wildcats now sit at 7-0 , and even managed to jump Oregon in the BCS rankings this week, all the way up to #3. While I won’t argue with the BCS… At least Oregon beat a team this week that had a defensive pulse. We’ve not seen that from West Virginia, so it’s hard to assess Kansas State’s victory fully. Hooray subjectivity!
Ah, Eugene...
Although this is traditionally a “Saturday” wrap up, the truth of the matter is that Thursday’s game between the Ducks and Arizona State was pretty freaking impressive. After an initial ASU score, Oregon cranked up it’s offensive game and scored 43 points before there was even ten minutes left in the second quarter. Mercifully, they pulled back the horses at that point- although, they certainly could have kept rolling if they chose to… when a team scores on a two point conversion this easily, you’ve got to know that they are only stopping themselves for the rest of the game. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think that Chip Kelly was pissed that his team was only ranked third in last week’s BCS- since they actually fell one slot this week, I’m afraid to see what happens to this week’s victim opponent. Read More
