Buckeye Traditions and That Team Up North

[Ed. 10/21/22, On the 100th Anniversary of the Ohio Stadium dedication, a repost of this event and many other Buckeye traditions that have direct ties to TTUN. Go Blue!]

While Michigan has had different top rivals over our 140 years of pigskin prowess, make no mistake that from Ohio’s perspective it has always been about that team up north.   So it’s no surprise that Michigan figures deep into many of Ohio State’s most cherished football traditions.  Here are a few prominent examples:

• In 1902, after witnessing Fielding Yost’s crew pound his Buckeyes 86-0 in Ann Arbor, OSU freshman Francis Cornell wrote the words to ‘Carmen Ohio‘, the OSU alma mater, on the train ride home. This is the tune the Buckeyes sing after games.
• In 1912 Ohio State joined the Western Conference (later B1G). So why was that ok with Michigan? Well, since Michigan was in the middle of its decade-long hiatus from the conference we actually didn’t have a say in the matter. When Michigan returned in 1917 we made it an even ten teams and thus provided the nickname that stuck: The Big Ten.
• In 1922 the Buckeyes invited Yost and his 1922 squad to play in the Ohio Stadium dedication game.  And dedicate it Michigan did, winning 19-0. MYTH ALERT: It’s widely said that Ohio State, after this loss, decorated its rotunda in maize and blue flowers because they lost a bet. But this is a myth – the rotunda design, including the colors, was selected well in advance of this game. From the official design description approved well before the 1922 game:

• In 1932 the Michigan Marching Band visited Columbus and formed the word “OHIO” in script letters across the field.  Four years later in 1936, they adopted the “Script Ohio” formation (and yes, they still act like they invented it).
• Finally in 1934 Ohio coach Francis Schmidt assured his team that the 2-time defending national champion Wolverines put “their pants on one leg at a time” – and started the tradition of giving a gold pants charm to any player that manages to defeat Michigan.

While our traditions are not as tightly wound with Ohio State, there’s no doubt Ohio ties are important to Michigan. Start with Bo Schembechler of course, a Woody Hayes disciple, who twice coached for Dr. Strangehayes.

And back in 1927, we invited Ohio State to return the favor on the Stadium Dedication as they were our guest for the “official” opening of Michigan Stadium (except we won 21-0). Go Blue!