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Ohio State University - BUCKEYES |
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Ohio State University Traditions:
Tunnel of Pride
The brainchild of ex-OSU quarterback Rex Kern and former Director of
Athletics Andy Geiger, the Tunnel of Pride actually started in 1995, when Notre Dame visited
Ohio Stadium for the first meeting between the two teams in nearly 50 years. In an effort
to generate even more emotion, excitement and enthusiasm than already existed, Kern and Geiger
reached out to former Buckeye football players who were attending the game and asked them to
form a tunnel for the team to run through as it came onto the field. Thus a tradition was born,
which is now continued every other year when Michigan visits Ohio Stadium.
Buckeye Leaves:
The tradition of placing Buckeye Leaves on the Ohio State helmets started in 1968 when Woody Hayes and
longtime trainer Ernie Biggs changed the look of the Ohio State uniforms.
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 com-
mittee member Alice Townshend
Wing.
Buckeye Grove:
Since 1934, a Buckeye tree has been planted in honor of each
of Ohio State’s All-American. Trees are usually planted in a pregame ceremony at the spring game. With the
renovation of Ohio Stadium in 2001, the Buckeye Grove is now loated at the southwest corner of the stadium.
What Is A Buckeyes
A small, shiny, dark brown nut with a light tan patch
that comes from the official state tree of Ohio, the buckeye tree.
According to folklore, the Buckeye resembles the eye of a deer and carrying one brings good luck. Buckeyes
has been the official Ohio State nickname since 1950, but it had been in common use for many years
before.
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