Ohio State Fans Brave Cold to Celebrate Championship – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan 18, 2003
By ANDY RESNIK
Associated Press Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Thousands of Ohio State football fans piled on layers of scarlet and gray clothing to brave the cold Saturday and honor the national champion Buckeyes.
Between 50,000 and 60,000 people attended the 50-minute celebration at Ohio Stadium, according to school officials.
The sun-splashed day did nothing to make the frigid air – 10 degrees with a minus-3 wind chill – more tolerable, but fans didn’t seem to care.
Not when it comes to honoring the Buckeyes, who beat Miami 31-24 in double overtime Jan. 3 in the Fiesta Bowl to win the title.
“We couldn’t make it to Tempe, but we’re happy to be here,” said Ahmad Sinno, a sleeping bag draped over his shoulders. “We’re happy to be here to be able to celebrate with the team.”
Fans stood and cheered as Ohio State players wearing their home jerseys walked out of the tunnel and onto a stage that was set up on the center of the snow-covered field.
University President Karen Holbrook, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman and Gov. Bob Taft thanked the players and coaches for their effort and the fans for their support.
Coleman unveiled a street sign that renamed nearby Lane Avenue, one of the campus’ main drags, Champions Lane.
“We know this is the best team in the nation, at the best university in the nation, in the best city in the nation,” Coleman said. “We are No. 1.”
Coach Jim Tressel heaped praise on his players, coaches and fans.
“You folks, right here, are the greatest,” he said. “We couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you.”
During the celebration, the Ohio State marching band performed “Script Ohio” with the senior players dotting the “i.” Senior linebacker Cie Grant then took the microphone and led everyone in singing “Carmen Ohio.”
Several hours before the pep rally began, fans wearing hats, gloves, scarfs and even blankets crowded outside the stadium’s gates and chanted “O-H-I-O.”
Once inside, they watched a replay of the Fiesta Bowl on the stadium scoreboard and cheered play after play of Ohio State’s victory as if the game was being played live. The Buckeyes clinched an undefeated 14-0 season and their first national title since the 1969 Rose Bowl.
The 15-day span between the Fiesta Bowl and the celebration – along with cold temperatures – didn’t dampen fans’ enthusiasm.
“To me, it’s worth it,” said a shivering Krista Flanagan, a 23-year-old Ohio State student from Cleveland. “I love football.”
With seating being first-come, first-served, fans crowded the 101,568-seat stadium’s lower bowl – nearly packing it – to get a closer look at the stage.
Paula Anderson and Dan Koontz kept warm by wearing long johns below their scarlet Ohio State jackets and wind breaker pants.
“If someone said this is your job to come out and stand this morning I’d say, ‘You’re nuts.’ But we followed the team all season and wanted to be part of the ceremonies,” Koontz said.
With more than three decades having passed since Ohio State last finished atop the polls, Andrew Showalter thought battling the elements was a small price to pay for honoring the Buckeyes.
“I figured this isn’t going to happen again. It could, I guess, but you never know,” Showalter said. “It’s cold, though.”
