Ohio State Fans Pack Chase Field Sunday – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 8, 2007
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Hosted by the Ohio State Alumni Association at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix Sunday afternoon, about 30,000 scarlet and gray clad fans attended the official Buckeye Bash.
The Ohio State cheerleaders and marching band performed throughout the event and the stadium’s video board showed Buckeye highlights.
Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel and captains Troy Smith, Doug Datish, David Patterson and Quinn Pitcock all addressed the crowd after coming over to Chase Field, home of Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks, from their walk-through at University of Phoenix.
“This is really just like a big Skull Session,” Tressel said, referring to the pregame band show in St. John Arena before home games in Ohio Stadium. “We are so proud of our young people and are so fortunate to have the support of all of you today and tomorrow night over in Glendale.”
Jeff Hogan from WBNS-TV served as MC of the event, which included comments from former Buckeye and two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin and Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman.
Several former Buckeyes spoke to the crowd, including members of Ohio State’s 2002 national championship team Craig Krenzel, Branden Joe, Ben Hartsock, Mike Doss and Maurice Hall. Buckeyes from the 1960s and 1970s, including Pete Johnson and John Hicks, also spoke.
Held in recent years at other venues in Phoenix, the pep rally Sunday was likely the biggest in Ohio State’s four trips to the Valley of the Sun, the previous three being Tostitos Fiesta Bowl victories.
