Michigan Week: TBDBITL

If you don't know what the letters "TBDBITL" stand for then you can't call yourself a true Buckeye. Because we all know it's for "The Best Damn Band in the Land". Next to the game itself, the Ohio State University Marching Band is worth the price of a ticket. From the Ramp entrance to the incomparable "Script Ohio," the marching band is an integral part of the OSU football experience.

Here is the Script Ohio story:

Of all the traditions in Ohio State’s great football history, none is more widely recognized than Script Ohio, the formation performed by the Ohio State Marching Band each and every game day. It is one of the great spectacles in college sports.
But while most every college football fan knows Script Ohio, and has likely seen the formation on television dozens of times, what they might not know is that this great Ohio State football tradition was first performed by the marching band from … the University of Michigan. Yep, it’s true.
Origins:

Script Ohio dates to 1936, when then-band director Eugene Weigel, searching for ways to make his band’s performances more memorable, poached an idea he had seen performed, four years earlier, by the Michigan Marching Band. It seems unspeakably wrong now, but in a 1932 visit to Ohio Stadium, the Michigan band performed a formation which The Michigan Daily described as featuring “the word ‘Ohio’ spelled out in script diagonally across the field in the double-deck Ohio stadium to the accompaniment of the Ohio State marching song,”
So, yes, the Michigan band was the first to perform Script Ohio.

Well, Not Quite:

At least, that’s what Michigan fans say. While it’s true that the Michigan band was the first to perform a script Ohio, they were not the first to perform the Script Ohio.
As former Ohio State band director Ted Boehm has written, Buckeyes “submit that the script aspect is only one part of the overall event that is signified by the name.” In fact, according to Boehm, most of the most important elements of the formation—including the dramatic dotting of the “I"—originated in Columbus.
So, take that, Michigan

TBDBITL:

Ohio State’s marching band proudly calls itself “The Best Damn Band in the Land.”
The band includes 225 marching members—192 regulars and 33 alternates—and, according to Ohio State, is intended to replicate traditional British Military brass bands.
All of the band members are important, of course, but few members of TBDBITL get to experience the greatest thrill in Ohio State lore: Dotting the “I.”
Dotting the "I":

The tradition of dotting the "I" dates back to 1936, but the drama attached to the moment did not arrive until 1938, when sousaphone player Glen R. Johnson improvised his dramatic dotting because his drum major was late to his place. Explained Johnson: “So I did a big kick, a turn and a deep bow to use up the music.” According to legend, the Buckeye crowed loved Johnson’s innovation. It has remained ever since.

Not Just Anyone can Dot the "I":

Because Johnson, a sousaphone player, invented the tradition we now know as dotting the "I,” only sousaphone players are generally eligible to dot the "I” in the modern era. Specifically, according to Ohio State officials, “a sousaphone player must at least be a fourth-year member,” though they add that fifth-year sousaphone players are also eligible, provided that all of the fourth-year players have already had their chance.
There have also been a few select honorary dotters. Among them are legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes, golfer Jack Nicklaus and comedian Bob Hope.

source: Tim Hyland, About.com

Michigan Week-Coaches

Today's topic looks at the coaches, past and present who have led their teams in this fierce rivalry.

Since 1935, when the Michigan-Ohio State game moved to the end of the Big Ten schedule, the success of a season was often measured by the results of The Big Game. A coach could redeem a poor season by defeating the arch-rival or, an otherwise stellar record could be marred by an inability to "win the big one." (source: OSU/Michigan websites)

Jim Tressel's current run of four consecutive wins matches the longest winning streaks of Francis Schmidt (1934-1937) and Woody Hayes (1950-1963). Fielding Yost holds the series reocrd for consecutive wins with a nine year run from 1901-1909. The secodn longest string for a Michigan coach is three wins: Firtz Crisler, 1938-1940 and 1945-1947; Bo Schembechler, 1976-1978; and Lloyd Carr, 1995-1997.

Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez will be coaching in this rivalry game for the first time.

With their losingest season in school history, the Wolverines have nothing to lose but everything to gain if they manage to beat us. Welcome to "The Game, RR."

Woody and Bo

The Ten Year War
Of all the coaching match-ups in the long Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, none has been more intense and at times bitter than that between Woody Hayes and "Bo" Schembechler. For ten years the two dominated the "Big 2 and Little 8," splitting ten conference titles between and finishing second eight times. Hayes supposedly could not bring himself to speak the name of "that school up north" and Schembechler, who played for Hayes at Miami of Ohio and was an Ohio State assistant coach, savored nothing more than putting it to his old mentor. After a decade of memorable on-field stratagems, sideline antics, and locker room psychological ploys, the two coaches came out almost dead-even, Schembechler holding a slim 5-4-1 advantage.

Michigan Week-Traditions

Today I will share with you some of the Ohio State traditions.

Gold Pants Club
Although not a game that changed the season for a player, the game against the University of Michigan in 1934 placed new coach Francis Schmidt into the hearts of Buckeye fans. Ohio State won the game 34-0, its largest margin of victory in the series to that point. Coach Schmidt changed Buckeye lore forever when, before the season, he was asked about beating Michigan. Schmidt commented that he didn’t see the problem. After all, the University of Michigan football players “put their pants on one leg at a time same as everybody else.” This comment created the “Gold Pants Club,” a group of businessmen who award a miniature gold football pants charm to all players who participate in a win over the Wolverines. The charms are engraved with each player’s initials, the date of the game, and the final score.

Tunnel of Pride
Former OSU Director of Athletics Andy Geiger and 1968 National Championship quarterback Rex Kern worked together to come up with a way to connect the current Buckeyes with those who played before them. It started with the 1994 Michigan game, when all former players who were in attendance for the game, formed a tunnel that the Buckeyes ran through to take the field for the game. Ohio State beat its rival that day by a 22-6 score, and in each home game against Michigan since, the tradition has been repeated. The tunnel of pride was also formed for the 1995 Notre Dame game, another big OSU win.
Buckeye Leaves

The first game of each season, those gray Buckeye helmets always look a little too clean. That's because players earn buckeye leaf stickers for their play on the field, but only if the team wins. As you'll remember, OSU headgear was covered in buckeye leaves in the national championship season of 2002.

The practice was started in 1968 by longtime trainer Ernie Biggs. The tradition was captured in a 1996 ESPN2 commercial featuring then-Ohio State trainer Danny Swain. Aside from the leaves shown on the helmets of players, a chart in the Woody Hayes facility keeps track of the leaves earned by each player, for each game.

Victory Bell

Following each Ohio State win at Ohio Stadium, members of Alpha Phi Omega fraternity ring the victory bell for 15 minutes or up to a half-hour for wins over Michigan.
That practice has been occurring for the past 50 years, with the first victory celebrated with it on October 2m 1954 against California. The bell was a gift from the classes of 1943, 1944 and 1945, weighing 2,420 pounds.

Brutus Buckeye

1965October 30 - A Buckeye mascot first appears at the OSU vs. Minnesota Homecoming game. The idea and design for the mascot came from Ray Bourhis, who then got help making the nut from his student organization, Ohio Staters, Inc. This large paper-mache shell was well received by the thousands of Ohio State fans at the game. The mascot was a smiling nut with human legs.

Michigan Week: The Stadiums

Today, we'll take a look at the home fields for the Buckeyes and the Wolverines. Ohio Stadium also known as "The Horseshoe" and Michigan Stadium, known as "The Big House".

Ohio Stadium was built in 1922 and has a current seating capacity of 102,000

Michigan Stadium was built in 1927 and has a current seating capacity of 106,200

It's interesting that both of their opening games were played against my Alma Mater-Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU lost both games).

Largest Crowds:

at Ohio Stadium: 105,70811/11/2006, Michigan. OSU won this game 42-39 when OSU was ranked number 1 and Michigan 2 in the country.

at Michigan Stadium 112,118Ohio State, 11/22/2003.Michigan won this game 35-21. It is Jim Tressel's only loss against Michigan since coming to Ohio State in 2001.

Michigan Week

It's finally here. Michigan week. The most storied rivalry in all of college football takes place this weekend when the University of Michigan visits Ohio Stadium to face my beloved Buckeyes. All this week I will share some trivia and facts about this 105 year old rivalry. This is "the" game for both teams. This year Ohio State can claim a share of its 4th consecutive Big Ten title with a win and well, Michigan can get back a little dignity if they manage to pull the upset (which I doubt).

Go Bucks, Beat Michigan...again

So, here's a little history on "The Game" found through a Google Search.

OSU vs Michigan
The Ohio State University/University of Michigan rivalry in football began with their first game in 1897. UM won that game 34 to 0 and dominated the series until 1919. That year the tables were turned and the Buckeyes won 13 to 3.
The Ohio State/Michigan game has always been important, but it was not always the last game of the season. This practice began in 1935 and, except for one year, the tradition has continued. Often the game has determined who is the winner of the Big Ten and who will represent the conference in the Rose Bowl. An ESPN poll rated the rivalry as the greatest of all time.
“Ohio State/Michigan Week” has grown beyond the football game to include the annual blood battle, which benefits the Red Cross, food collection for food banks, and spirit events such as banner contests. OSU and UM have turned the rivalry into an event that helps people across school lines.

An attitude of Gratitude: It's the weekend, baby!!

This was an extremely busy week-dance (x3), parent conferences at my son's school and at mine. So today I am grateful that it is Friday and that we don't have any activities planned for tonight.

An attitude of gratitude: Laughter

Tonight we had teacher conferences at work. Not very many parents show up, so we have some time to just talk with colleagues-and laugh. My stomach still hurts from the laughter. It feels good to laugh. Makes staying at work until 7:45 in the evening just a little more bearable.

An attitude of Gratitude: A Good Start

Mornings with my son can often be difficult. Not today. He got up and dressed without much hassle, ate his breakfast, brushed his teeth-all after the first time I asked. He earned a few minutes with his Gameboy for his efforts. And when the bus arrived he was happy and ran right out and got on. For that I am grateful.

An attitude of Gratitude: Goodnight Kisses

Today I am thankful for my daughter's goodnight kisses. It doesn't matter what kind of day we have had or that her room is a complete mess but every night she gives me kisses. In the same order-right cheek, left cheek, forehead, nose, chin and then 2 on the lips. The kisses are followed by a big hug. Lately she has been sneaking in a couple of more. That's ok. I'll take them while I can.

Welcome to my blog

After much thought and hesitation, I decided to start my blog. I'm not convinced that my life is all that interesting but I thought I would share it anyway. Once I committed to the idea, I needed a name. One of the things I love is being a Buckeye Fan and since my life is a little nutty at times, this was the perfect way to combine the two.

I'm not sure what I hope to accomplish by writing a blog. Maybe it's just the act of doing some type of writing on a more regular basis-especially since I seem to spend so much time on the computer anyway.

So, here's to blogging!