Spring Game, 1969

It’s springtime in Columbus: The birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and the Oval is full of students. It is the perfect time to think …football! Of course, at Ohio State every season is the perfect time to think football. Since the Spring Game is tomorrow, however, we decided to share a little history on this annual tradition.

The Spring Game (originally called “Reds vs. Whites”) is the conclusion of the spring practice season for the football team, and it’s also a way for the coaches to decide how the team will take shape the following season. Many times the game helps determine starters at important positions, such as quarterback, kicker, and running back. It is also a time for freshmen to impress the coaches. The Spring Game has been played since 1931 with few exceptions: During World War II, when many players were off fighting, and in 1990, mostly because of injuries, the game was cancelled because not enough players were able to participate.

Attendance at the Spring Game has continued to grow since the first game. According to The Lantern, attendance in 1946 was around 6,000 fans, plus 500 high school coaches. The following year attendance rose to about 14,000 fans. Ohio State holds the National Spring Game Attendance Record at 95,722 in 2009. Since the 1930s the athletic department has scheduled several events, such as baseball games, track meets and now lacrosse matches, to make the weekend more inviting for families. Until the 1990s the tickets were free to anyone but now cost around $7, with a portion of the proceeds given to a chosen charity. Charities have included the Ronald McDonald House, the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research, and this year, LiFE Sports, or Learning in Fitness Education, which uses sports to teach youngsters important life skills.

Vice President Bush, 1989

Over the past 81 years, the Spring Game has included some of its own traditions and had a few quirky moments. The Spring Game has been played in various places across campus, including the Ohio Stadium, various practice fields, and in 1999 the Woody Hayes practice facility, an invitation-only game. In 2000 and 2001 the Spring Game was played at Crew Stadium while Ohio Stadium was under renovations, limiting the crowd to 22,500 fans. Most years there are a familiar face or two on the sidelines: In 2003 when Eddie George, Chris Spielman and Luke Fickell served as head coaches, and in 1989 then-Vice President George H.W. Bush delivered the game ball to Brutus.