Another end to the Buckeye football season is upon us as devoted fans honor their scarlet and gray. The final game against chief rival Michigan confirms one of Ohio State's highest values: Tradition.
In 1897, the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines met for the first time, creating a new era in college football rivalries. Long before a 1999 ESPN poll awarded the OSU-Michigan rivalry its No. 1 ranking, tradition began to form at OSU. Today, those traditions continue with the efforts of the university, organizations and loyal fans.
Despite the losses that have etched their ugly presence across the faces of many students and fans this season, tradition reveals the undeniable truth that Buckeyes are proud to be Buckeyes and unmistakably enjoy being nuts. Thanks to Beat Michigan Week, they can do that for seven glorious days.
This year marks the 101st anniversary for Beat Michigan Week, formerly known simply as Michigan Week, and this year's theme is "Rivalry 101: Michigan Gets Schooled."
Vicky Tkacz, undergraduate chair for Beat Michigan Week and a junior in pharmaceutical science, said the week focuses on two goals: Beating Michigan and carrying on tradition.
"We began the week off with banner signing on Monday, where students were able to come and support the football team in writing," Tkacz said. "The banner will hang in (the team's) locker room as a reminder of their fans and support until game day."
Tuesday carried on the tradition with "Wing the Wolverines," during which three local restaurants participated in a wing-tasting contest. Tkacz said the tradition has been going strong for about 10 years. This year's winner was Quaker Steak & Lube, thanks to the students' taste buds and the 1,500 wings provided by the contest vendors.
Of course, a more traditional Beat Michigan Week activity is the annual pep rally where cheerleaders, the alumni band, Buckeye Dance Force and fans pump up the Buckeyes for the big game. This year, a new tradition begins at the pep rally with its first annual barbecue, which Buckeye fans can enjoy beginning at 5:30 p.m. today on the South Oval.
Tkacz said the most encouraging tradition for football players - the Spirit Tunnel - begins at 11 a.m. tomorrow morning.
"All students are encouraged to come out to Woody Hayes (St. John Arena) in the morning to carry the banner and make the traditional spirit tunnel as the team walks to the stadium," she said.
Despite the time and work that go into Beat Michigan Week, Tkacz said gameday matters most to her.
"Not everyone can say they got to be at this game," Tkacz said. "It makes me really proud to be a Buckeye."
Another group recognized for their constant efforts to increase game day spirit and hype is Block O. This section of proud Buckeyes bleeds scarlet and gray and fervently cheers on OSU at the 'Shoe from kick off to the last play of the game.
"We all go to set up the day before the game for about an hour and a half and then arrive three hours before the game begins on Saturday," said Andrew Brown, president of Block O and a senior in international business. "Fans can expect to see the 'Screw the Blue' picture and this will be the first Michigan game for our 32-by-24-foot flag without logo."
Brown said although tomorrow's big game is exciting, he is disappointed that it will be his last game as a student at OSU.
Some OSU-Michigan traditions, however, are more "unofficial" than Beat Michigan Week and Block O.
Yesterday, several students emerged from their warm, cozy apartments and dorm rooms into the cold to embrace the chilling water of Mirror Lake. As large masses of rabid Buckeyes plunged into the lake, a usual experience includes seeing the flashes of cameras and hearing the loud chants of "O-H-I-O".
OSU student Jared Nolan said last year's Mirror Lake dip is one of his fondest memories.
"Last year a bunch of my friends and I decided to jump in the lake, but we only had two small towels to dry off with," said Nolan, a junior in marketing. "After jumping in, we played in the water for a while, and then got out to find that our shoes were missing. We didn't exactly enjoy walking home soaking wet in freezing temperatures with no shoes, but it was definitely a good time."
In November 1985, tragedy struck when Kristyn Elliot, an OSU graduate, sustained head and spinal cord injuries after falling into Mirror Lake. The injuries left her paralyzed from the neck down. OSU settled a negligence case with Elliot's family out of court for $1.375 million.
After Elliot's accident, OSU encouraged students to end the tradition. However, many students believed that the tradition grew stronger because of the administrators warning to stop the leap into the freezing lake. So, the tradition goes on.
Another OSU-Michigan ritual begins bright and early at 5 a.m. tomorrow at Four Kegs Bar & Grill, where countless students wait in line for unlimited scrambled eggs, ham and beer. Jerome Franz, bar manager, said he's looking forward to the event.
"The line usually starts to form around 4 a.m. and our doors don't even open until 5:30 a.m.," he said. "Ever since the bars closed down on south campus, we were left as the 'lone survivor' and so we continued 'Kegs & Eggs.'"
Four Kegs will feature the OSU-Michigan game on two big screen TVs and will give out T-shirts as well. Students can receive $5 off admission to "Kegs & Eggs" by visiting the bar's Web site at www.4kegs.com.
Tradition rings true when it comes down to Scarlet vs. Blue. Win or lose, Buckeyes will carry on the spirit of the OSU-Michigan rivalry.
"You have to go big or go home this week," Nolan said.
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