Autumn Spectacle: Trip Captain at Ohio State

Mirror Lake anyway?" Cap wondered. Standing in the middle of the Oval, it was nowhere in sight.

Walking briskly, east, he passed Orten Hall, a landmark building with a tower capped by an upside down cone, and on into the back door of the Ohio Union. Cap bought a Dr. Pepper in the food court and perused The Lantern - the student newspaper, the Columbus Dispatch, and the U.S.A. Today newspapers, checking match-ups and kickoff times of tomorrow’s showdowns across the country.

He picked up a campus map at the information desk and headed out the front door, crossing High Street, browsing in the shops on the east side, and then settled in on the patio at Four Keg Bar and Grill at High and 15th Ave., and scarfed an order of wings.

His hunger satisfied, Cap returned to the Union and out the back door where SBC had a video game display and music blaring. The area was coming alive now, as students disengaged from the weekly grind, tailgaters hustled for that primo spot, and fans hit the shops, restaurants and bars – all getting up for gameday.

He walked across College Road, back west past the amphitheater, and there it was: Mirror Lake. Beside the amphitheater, small yet picturesque, Mirror Lake is a campus landmark and rendezvous point. Sitting on a bench at the peaceful water’s edge, one would never guess what happens here the Thursday night before the Michigan game.

That night, students jump into the lake - literally. They come, and keep coming, in droves, screaming and chanting - plunging into the frosty November water, in preparation for the game. It goes on for hours, as the crowd just keeps growing. It is all theirs - their craziness, their lake, their ritual.

The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is as big as any in college football - regardless of standings or records of the teams - in the same category as Oklahoma-Texas in the Cotton Bowl, Florida State-Miami or Alabama-Auburn.

An enormous cultural event, it is treasured by the fans, and declared to be the "Best Rivalry in Sports" on T-shirts and promotional materials. Indeed, ESPN named it the number one sports rivalry of the 20th century.

The battle is waged the last week of the season, and there is an undercurrent of intensity leading up to and during the game, that is unsurpassed. The World's Largest Pillow Fight and the Mirror Lake Plunge comprise just a small part of the build-up on campus, during Michigan week at Ohio State.

He headed on west across Neil around Townshend Hall, and worked his way to the stadium. Ohio Stadium, recently enlarged, now seats more than 104,000. High in the southeast corner is the Victory Bell, which rings after each Buckeye triumph. Standing beside the stadium, Cap noticed the square tiles in the pavement under his feet. On the tiles are names of contributors; with other words they have chosen. One in particular caught his eye. Below the family name:

Next, Cap set out to find the Buckeye Grove. It didn’t take long, located just south of the stadium, next to Morrill Tower. There, buckeye trees line the sidewalk as it winds through. At the base of each tree is a plaque with the name of an Ohio State All American, chronologically, north to south.

The buckeye tree, with its shiny, dark brown nuts and lighter tan patches, which resemble the eye of a deer, is native to Ohio and prevalent in the Ohio River Valley. It is unique, a hardy tree, growing where others cannot, and is very difficult to kill, adapting to its circumstances.

It was in the presidential election of 1840, that the buckeye tree became established in Ohio. Whig candidate William Henry Harrison adopted the buckeye nuts and the tree as campaign symbols. His delegates carried buckeye canes, which were decorated with buckeye beads.

Today, the Ohio State costumed mascot is Brutus Buckeye - a buckeye nut with legs. He’s highly visible on gameday, around the stadium and patrolling the sidelines - revving up fans and players. Brutus became the official mascot in 1965. Also, Buckeye leaf decals are placed on the helmets of Ohio State players following stellar performances. Veteran players often carry many buckeye decals on their head- gear.

Through 2004, Ohio State players have won six Heisman Trophies, namely, Les Horvath, Vic Janocwicz, Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, Archie Griffin (who won two), and Eddie George; one Butkus, one Biletnikoff, four Maxwells, five Lombardis, one Doak Walker, four Outlands, one Thorpe, one Rimington, three Walter Camps, one Ray Guy, and one Lou Groza.

In addition to the Heisman winners, past Buckeye greats include Gomer Jones, Chic Harley, Gaylord Stinchcomb, Jim Parker, Aurealius Thomas, Bob Ferguson, Jack Tatum, Randy Gradishar, Andy Katzenmoyer, Terry Glenn, Jim Stillwagon, Chris Spielman, Orlando Pace, Antoine Winfield, LeCharles Bentley, B.J. Sander, Craig Krenzel, Michael Jenkins, and Mike Nugent.

TC left the Buckeye Grove and headed on south to the soccer field for open pre-game band practice. The Ohio State Marching Band, "The Best Damn Band In The Land" (TBDBITL), also known as “The Pride of the Buckeyes,” stepped through their paces. The band leader stood on a high platform and addressed high school recruits sitting in the bleachers nearby, there to watch the band and decide whether or not they wanted to come to Ohio State. He also talked to the band members, laying out the practice routine.

The drum major high-kicked across the field as the band played the school’s best known fight song "Across the Field", better known to Buckeye fans as "Fight the Team," then "Buckeye Battle Cry," "La Regiment" and "Carmen Ohio".

At the end of the practice, Cap headed to the parking garage and drove back to the Holiday Inn, on Lane Ave. The lot across the street was filled with tailgaters now, in different stages of setting up, grilling, eating, kicking-back.

After parking, he headed next door to the souvenir shops, Conrad’s and College Traditions. The shops were packed with Buck fans, poring over Scarlet and Gray merchandise. After he finished his shopping, he deposited his bags in his room, then back out and down the street to the Varsity Club, on the corner - a long-time home-game watering hole. The crowd was raucous in the Varsity, and TC extracted some bold predictions about tomorrow’s contest, before leaving, seeking dinner.

He drove north on Olentangy River Road to Ackerman, and turned in at Damon’s Grill. While he was devouring a combo steak and fish platter, all of a sudden, four young Bucks marched into the room, single-file - making a rumbling noise, together. They were, in fact, members of TBDBITL, and were imitating the drum corps, as they marched. In the middle of the room they stopped, turned in unison, stood at attention, and sang "Buckeye Battle Cry." As they finished, the room erupted, patrons giving a "standing O." “I wonder if this is a Friday night tradition, here at Damon’s," thought Cap. "If not - it should be."

Back in his room, Cap watched interviews of Buckeye players, from earlier in the day. To a man, they seemed relaxed, eager to get it on. Although the Bucks were decided underdogs, Cap had a growing feeling that the Victory Bell would toll tomorrow afternoon, at the 'Shoe.

And as he drifted off to sleep, the final line from the Buckeye Battle Cry was haunting him... "our honor defend, we will fight to the end for O-hi-o."

Gameday
Trip Captain awoke early Saturday morning, pulled back his curtain and squinted into a partly cloudy sky, as he surveyed the scene, below.

The front parking lot of the Holiday Inn had changed, overnight. The lot was blocked off, and was ringed with tables for serving food and drink. Directly below his window, a bandstand had been erected, facing the street, and a band was setting up.

Tailgating was in full swing throughout the area. Across the street, the large lot was full of tailgaters with pickups and vans, the lot next to the Stadium, as well, and the tailgating area for the larger RVs to the west, near the Schottenstein Center, was one huge outdoor living room – patio - kitchen.

Cap dressed and inspected the results in the mirror: game ticket; gray shirt with a helmet on the front (plenty of Buckeye decals on the helmet), and a red Ohio State below the helmet; black cap with a red block O on the crown, just like Woody’s - magnificent; binos, shades, camera, fold up schedule of today’s games, coast-to-coast; lineups; cash. Check.

Kickoff was set for 12:30, and the Buckeye Nation was growing, as TC stepped out. A huge-screen TV was set up outside, between the hotel and College Traditions, showing ESPN Gameday. "Criticism or football on the show today?” Cap wondered.

Vendors were grilling and selling on the sidewalks along Lane Ave. The crowd grew denser with each passing minute, as the Buckeye Faithful poured into the area - streaming from the north along the Olentangy, across the campus from the east, up from the parking lots to the southwest - from every direction - converging on the Horseshoe.

Cap scored a Coke and a bratwurst hot off the grill and headed across the street to St. John Arena for "skull session."

St. John Arena is the old field house, located between Lane Ave. and Woody Hayes Dr. across the street north of the stadium. The arena was almost full as Cap entered, and he found a seat high on the west side. He had no sooner sat down to enjoy his brat, when he heard the drums. The Best Damn Band In The Land entered, playing the "Buckeye Battle Cry," and Cap was on his feet, clapping with the crowd. The band took their seats on the floor, and launched into a spirited concert, then stopped abruptly and all heads turned to the north entrance. All of a sudden, out of the darkened hallway, appeared Buckeye head coach Jim Tressel, followed by the players, all in street clothes. The crowd was up, roaring their approval, clapping to "Fight the Team."

Two players spoke, one pointing out that "We have the best damn band in the land and we also have the best damn fans in the land." And Tressel, "Today - this is why it’s great to be a Buckeye." Then he turned and was gone, the players following, out the south door across the street to Ohio Stadium for the battle.

The band played on as Cap left St. John and returned to Lane Ave., where the rock band was blaring from the bandstand in front of the Holiday Inn, and there was wall-to-wall Scarlet and Gray with Buckeye fans in the final stages of gearing up. TC grabbed another brat and headed for the Shoe.

They filled it up - 104,000 plus - hungry for victory. 62 degrees, cloudy skies, light wind - great weather for some smash-mouth.

The atmosphere was electric in the stadium as "The Pride of the Buckeyes" played "La Regiment" and spelled out the Script Ohio, followed by the "dotting of the i." Then the band retreated to their seats in the south end zone. Directly behind them sat a large contingent of students known as the "Block O".

The game started with a rush. Sophomore Troy Smith hit freshman Anthony Gonzales with a 68-yard TD pass, as the teams traded scores. The Buckeyes tied it up with a 99-yard drive, capped when Smith dove over the top from the 2-yard line, 14-14.

The "Block O," seated behind the band in the south end zone, tried to get something started. All standing, with their hands touching above their head forming an "O," they chanted "O," and pointed toward the east stands. On the third try, the folks on the east side got the idea, standing and chanting "H", with their arms extended straight up to the sky. Then to the north end zone for an "I" and back to the west side for the final "O", "O-H-I-O" - around the stadium it went, time after time. Two field goals from senior Mike Nugent had the Bucks leading 20-14, at half.

As the third quarter began, freshman Ted Ginn, Jr., broke an electrifying 82-yard punt return down the east sideline, sending the stadium into an uproar, and a 27-14 lead. The celebration started as the fans frolicked, with the band playing "Hang on Sloopy", a crowd favorite.

But the Buckeyes weren’t through. Smith connected with sophomore Santonio Holmes on a quick post for a 3-yard TD, then another Nugent field goal, final tally: 37-21, Bucks.

At the final gun, the crowd rushed, covering the field, and Tressel led them all - the players and the fans - to the band, in the south end zone stands. There, the words of the Alma Mater showed on the jumbo screen overhead, as the band played and everyone, everyone, sang, "Carmen Ohio":

Oh! Come let’s sing Ohio’s praise,
And songs to Alma Mater raise;
While our hearts rebounding thrill,
With joy which death
alone can still.
Summer’s heat or Winter’s cold,
The seasons pass,
the years will roll;
Time and change will surely show
How firm thy friendship, O-hi-o.

With thousands of others, Cap touched his hands overhead as he sang "O", raised them apart at "hi", and back together overhead for the final "o."

The throng drained from the Horseshoe. It would take a while to drain 104,000, and he was in no rush. As Cap sat back down in his seat, he heard, from across the way - the Victory Bell - steady, mellow, joyous.

He took his time leaving the stadium, then walked steadily north along the Olentangy, all the way to Damon’s. The place was packed with happy Buckeye fans, celebrating the victory, and buzzing about other games in progress and scores as they rolled in. After a hefty wait, Cap was sitting before the huge screens, working on a rack of ribs and lost in a half dozen other showdowns.

Stuffed, he eased out of Damon’s and strolled leisurely back to Lane Ave. He stopped in at the Varsity Club for a few chuckles while listening to the armchair QBs, who became smarter with each passing minute, then called it a day.

Gameday Final beamed across his room with scores, highlights and helmet stickers. The latest episode in this season’s story: the chase for the Crystal Ball, battles for conference crowns, rivalries, bowl berths and braggin’rights.

Another autumn Saturday was over. A great day for Brutus Buckeye. A day filled with a jam-up ballgame and a montage of everything Scarlet and Gray. And another great day to be a fan of college football.

“How firm thy friendship, O-hi-o”…whistling softly, Cap turned off the TV, and was soon blissfully asleep.

Cap rolled back out I-670 to the airport, along the same route he had come in on Thursday night. So much had happened since then. Now, he knew something about a college football weekend in the land of the Bucks – the experience is rich and deep.

His plane lifted off, circled Columbus – over the campus, the river and stadium, below – banked, and headed southeast. Cap closed his eyes and sat back, as the sights and sounds, which he would take with him, surfaced. The Olentangy River, The Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe, the Oval, Mirror Lake, Buckeye Grove, The Best Damn Band In The Land, Script Ohio and dotting the i, Brutus Buckeye, skull session, the Buckeye Battle Cry, the Block O, Woody Hayes, the Scarlet and Gray, Carmen Ohio, the Victory Bell and the Horseshoe – you can’t go wrong at THE Ohio State University on an autumn Saturday, when the Buckeyes are playing.