oHIO sTADIUM mOEMNTS ADD – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
WEEK 3, ROUND 3
*Your Ohio Stadium moment:
It is very hard to pick a “best” moment, so I will cite a few. I too was at the rain-soaked Minnesota game in ’86 where, as I recall, over several minutes the squirrel actually ran the entire length of the field. As well, I was lucky enough to see Eddie George run over Illinois in ’95, and to see what I believe was the first night game (against Pitt in ’85). That Pitt game sealed my fate as a Buckeye, I stopped applying to other colleges, Ohio State was where I’d go. I recall several things while I went there during the late 80’s and through ’91 such as ping pong balls and marshmallows being thrown from Section 009C, the infamous “Less Filling/Tastes Great” cheer, Woody dotting the “i”, getting my parents and brother into the games for the cost of an $8 student ticket, and occasionally actually sitting in Block O. Since my time at Ohio State, my best memories are the “first times” that I’ve shared with my family members using my alumni tickets, introducing my now “huge” fan wife to Buckeye football…watching my son yell in vain at the A.J. Hawk (his favorite player at that point) and the Buckeye football team as they were beaten by Wisconsin for his first game ever, and sharing in his excitement at buying a new really cool Buckeye cap at the Youngstown State game this year. Judging from this past history, I’m sure there are many new memories yet to come. GO BUCKS!!!
Rich Kain
Dayton, Ohio
*Your Ohio Stadium moment:
It was my first OSU game back in the fall of 2001. Krenzel threw a long ball pass to Michael Jenkins. Ever since then, I have been a huge Jenkins fan and an even bigger Buckeyes fan!
Abbey Nolder
Westerville, Ohio
*Your Ohio Stadium moment:
Attempting to choose just one favorite moment is like trying to pick your favorite child…I only have one child, but you get the idea. As a member of the OSU Marching Band in the highlight-laden years of 1982-’86, there are just so many: the Mike Lanese miracle catch against Michigan in ’82; the comeback against Illinois in ’84, including Shoeless Keith Byars; knocking off Michigan that year for a trip to the Rose Bowl; upsetting then-#1 Iowa in the rain-soaked ’85 game that also featured a postgame Script Ohio…a good friend was *supposed* to dot the “I” that day, but as the crowd finally overwhelmed police trying to keep the field clear the “I” was instead dotted by several hundred fans. My friend remained inconsolable about this for several years, as dotting the “I” at the Citrus Bowl that winter was hardly adequate compensation. Speaking of Script Ohio, in 1983 I was on the field during the halftime show that featured Woody Hayes dotting the “I” never before or since have I heard a crowd roar as loud or as sustained. But perhaps the most memorable moment came in 1979 I was still in high school but was in attendance to witness another celebrity “I” dotter: Bob Hope. I had field seats for this game and was walking along the track after the Script Ohio when I had the distinct honor of having my foot run over by the golf cart carrying Hope from the field. Thanks for the memories.
George J. Zonders
Grove City, Ohio
*Your Ohio Stadium moment:
My greatest moment actually occurred outside the stadium in the 50s when the BUCKs practiced behind the south stands on the old practice field. I was about 7 years old and used to set most afternoons on the big tubular tarp roll and watch practice. Some spies from Michigan State were spotted watching the BUCKS practice, when Woody was told he looked over near the gate and started running toward them and me. He began yelling at them and shaking his fist in the air. He then said, close the practice and ordered everyone out, as he walked away he turned and pointed at me and said that kid can stay. I will never forget that day.
Mike Brown
Whitehall, Ohio
*Your Ohio Stadium moment:
IT WAS ORIENTATION WEEK,1945. I WAS A RETURNING SOPHOMORE, STANDING IN LINE TO GET MY STUDENT SEASON FOOTBALL TICKET. (IT COST ALL OF $7.50 !). I HAD ORDERED MY TICKET ALONG WITH MY FRATERNITY IN THE SPRING. STANDING IN LINE IN FRONT OF ME WAS AN ENTERING FRESHMAN, JEANE ROBERTS. SINCE WE STOOD IN LINE FOR ALMOST TWO HOURS, WE BECAME ACQUANTED.(THE TICKET OFFICE AT THAT TIME WAS IN THE SOUTHWEST TOWER OF THE STADIUM). AFTER WE GOT OUR TICKETS. WE PARTED WAYS, THINKING THAT WE PROBABLY NEVER SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN. THE FRATERNITY HAD A BLOCK OF TICKETS IN 13C.WE WENT TO THE FIRST GAME (WE BEAT MISSOURI, 48 TO 6 ) AND, LO AND BEHOLD, JEANE WAS SEATED THREE ROWS BEHIND ME! WE MADE A DATE TO MEET AT THE FRESHMAN ICE-BREAKER DANCE THAT EVENING, AND THE REST IS HISTORY. WE WERE MARRIED IN 1949 AND HAD FOUR CHILDREN, THREE OF WHOM ARE OSU GRADUATES. SADLY, JEANE PASSED AWAY THREE YEARS AGO. I’VE BEEN TO A LOT OF GAMES SINCE THAT TIME, BUT THAT FIRST GAME OF 1945 IS MY GREATEST STADIUM MEMORY.
RICHARD FREULER
HAMILTON, OHIO
*Your Ohio Stadium moment:
Attending OSU from ’93 to ’98 had its heartbreaking moments, but the Penn State game in October of 1993 was one to remember. It was Penn State’s first year in the Big Ten and we gave them a “warm” reception trouncing them 24-6 with Raymont Harris, Joey Gallaway, and Bulter By’not’e leading the way. And it was in the middle of a snowstorm!!! I can still hear the chants of “Welcome to the Big Ten” and “Rose Bowl” being heard from the Stadium on down Lane Avenue and High!!
Scott Fisher
Sylvania, Ohio
*Your Ohio Stadium moment:
It was the fall of 1953 and I was a sophomore majoring in instrumental music education. Of course I wasn’t allowed into TBDBITL regardless of my major, but we “coeds” were allowed to serve punch and cookies to the band after each game. As I started to leave at the end of the third quarter to help get it ready I heard a noise. Looking back, there was the whole band, turned and facing back in my direction, fingers pointing (no! At me!) and shouting, “We know where you’re going.” Yes, I did finally become a band director, and I’m still an ardent Buckeye fan. And yes, it’s great to have women in it, too!
Dr. Merry Texter
Sarasota, Florida
*Your Ohio Stadium moment:
I was sent to attend a conference at a hotel in Columbus in 1997 and was amazed at the football fever on game day. Little did I know the Navy would transfer me to become an OSU faculty member (and night class student) the very next year. I spent the next four years cleaning the trash from the Horseshoe after every home game with the NROTC students. Although I enjoyed watching a few games my fondest memory is bringing my 12 year old son with me to the stadium and timing his run as he sprinted end zone to end zone on Buckeye sod. I was so happy with my OSU experience I bought a brick with my name on it for the sidewalk around the Shoe so a part of me would remain on campus. O-H-I-O!
Tad Laurence
Lansing, Kansas
*Your Ohio Stadium moment:
There are so many great memories of great games played in the Horseshoe—that I was able to witness. One such took place in 1968 when the Bucks, led by sophomore Jack Tatum, defeated #1 Purdue on a glorious Saturday afternoon (I was still in high school…and I can still see Ted Provost intercept a pass and return it for a touchdown).
Stew Gardner
Washington C. H., Ohio
*Your Ohio Stadium moment:
I will always remember taking our 3 children to skull session. After one particular session I remember watching THE BAND march over to the stadium chanting “We don’t give a damn for the whole state of MI” and our youngest son informed us that they are saying a bad word. Well after high school graduation he was enrolled at OSU and his first year made TBDBITL and continued for four years in it. After his first game, when I saw him I too told him he is saying a bad word and his response was “Well we don’t.” One other one was when he and his daughter and myself went to watch the team enter the stadium after the championship game (it was freezing) and I cried and the tears froze on my check.
Janet M
Columbus
*Your Ohio Stadium moment:
My first year as a Buckeye was 2002, and I joined the Scarlet and Gray as graduate student. I almost didn’t buy Football tickets that year; I didn’t follow college football beforehand and didn’t think I’d like the idea of sitting “alone” in The Shoe. Boy was I wrong. My Ohio Stadium moment was the Michigan game that year; I remember so many of my bleacher-mates were excited but gravely nervous, and I didn’t fully understand the baggage that came with going into a Michigan game with so much on the line. When the game was over, I was on the field with the throngs of Buckeyes, the band, and the players to sing Carmen Ohio; something I would never have guessed just a few months earlier. It’s moments like that which change you, and since then I’ve never looked back. Go Bucks!
Josh S.
Los Angeles
*Your Ohio Stadium moment:
it was my freshman year, 1983 – our group had season tix right behind “The Neutron Man” – it was an awesome rush every time TBDBITL started his song and the whole place watched him dance – here is to the Neutron Man whoever you are – now STRIKE UP THE BAND and meet me after the game for slice at Catfish Biff’s.
Tony Perisi
Lorain, Ohio
*Your Ohio Stadium moment:
In 1983 I graduated high school. I was a tuba player and my dream then and still is to Dot the “I” in Script Ohio. The game is always at the forefront of the festivities on Saturdays, but for those few precious minutes at pregame and halftime of every home game there is always some young person living out my dream of playing in the band. My Ohio Stadium moment takes place every time the band takes the field. GO BUCKS!!!
Brian Pancake
Mansfield, Ohio
*Your Ohio Stadium moment:
My favorite Ohio Stadium moment would without a doubt have to be from the Texas game in 2005. I will never, for the rest of my life, forget how it felt when the TBDBITL performed in front of a record crowd. When the team ran onto the field and the whole stadium chanted “LET’S GO BUCKS!!” …The atmosphere was incredible and if I were to tell you I didn’t have goosen bumps and tears running down my cheeks, it would be a complete lie. I am a BUCKEYE for life, I realized it at that very moment!! Go Bucks!!
Shawn Schlabach
Marysville, Ohio
