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Category: Traditions (page 1 of 7)

Happy 86th birthday, Script Ohio!

October 4, 2022 / / Comments Off on Happy 86th birthday, Script Ohio!

Written by Maggie Lindner

Black and white image of the Ohio Script fully formed for the first time in Ohio State history. The photo is taken from the 50 yard line, with the spectators looking down on the finished feat.

First Script Ohio, Oct. 10, 1936.

On October 10th, 2022, Script Ohio will turn 86 years old. First performed at a 1936 football game against Indiana, which the Buckeyes won 7-0, the formation has become the signature of TBDBITL. Played to the tune of Robert Planquette’s “Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse”, Script Ohio is ubiquitous for the smooth, continuous flow and precise movements of its 192 members. The tradition began with band Director Eugene Weigel, who took inspiration from the Marquee sign of the Ohio Theatre in Downtown Columbus, which can still be seen today.

a black and white image of the Ohio State marching band forming the first Script Ohio in 1936. The O is looped through and they begin to create the cursive H.

Forming the first Script Ohio, 1936.

While performing as a member of The Ohio State University marching band is noteworthy on its own, the most honorable position is undoubtedly that of the “i”-dotter. Always a fourth-year sousaphone player (since the fourth performance of Script Ohio), the role of “i”-dotter is so enviable that students have continued to perform with the band for years after graduation just to be eligible. Today, the routine includes high fiving the drum major towards the end of the performance and bowing to the cheering fans on both sides of the ‘Shoe.

Student rests on a sousaphone, 1973.

However, students are not the only ones presented with the opportunity to dot the “i”. Notable “i”-dotters have included Bob Hope in 1978, Woody Hayes in 1983, and Jack Nicklaus in 2006. The last celebrity “i”-dotter appeared in 2018, the then-100-year-old Ohio State Marching Band alum Anthony Violi. It’s confirmed that no one will guest star in 2022, leaving more opportunities for sousaphone players to have their well-deserved moment in the spotlight.

 

 

Sources
Bovenzi, Giustino. “The Unlikely History behind the Legendary ‘Script Ohio.’” Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated, 20 Nov. 2015, https://www.si.com/college/2015/11/20/history-behind-ohio-states-legendary-script-ohio-routine.
Gay, Colin. “Ohio State Marching Band to Not Have Guest ‘I-Dotters’ in Script Ohio in 2022.” Yahoo! News, Yahoo!, 22 Aug. 2022, https://news.yahoo.com/ohio-state-marching-band-not-100220699.html.
“Traditions.” The Ohio State University Marching and Athletic Bands, The Ohio State University , https://tbdbitl.osu.edu/marching-band/traditions.

How a world record holding Holstein became homecoming queen

October 9, 2015 / / Comments Off on How a world record holding Holstein became homecoming queen

Homecoming queens have a long tradition here at The Ohio State University.  The first homecoming queen was elected in 1921, over 90 years ago.  No election was as memorable as that of 1926, when Maudine Ormsby was declared the official homecoming queen.

(Photo Location: 99-1920's)

Nothing seems strange about Maudine Ormsby winning that year, until you learn that she was a cow.  But to say she was just a cow would be unfair, Maudine was an award winning Holstein.  In her heyday, she was able to produce 743.5 pounds of milk and 28.7 pounds of butter fat during a 7 day test, which won her a world record.

Because of her unique capability, the agricultural school students were quite fond of her.  They decided they should even nominate her for homecoming queen.  To Maudine’s dismay she was officially disqualified because she was not in the student directory, but more likely because she was a cow.  The Ag students then grudgingly nominated co-ed Margerey Rutledge.

1926 Homecoming Queen Election

Election Day came and with it a boatload of tampering and corruption.  Officials printed 3,000 ballots, but when counting them they found over 12,000.  Not only were people voting multiple times, but ballot boxes were stolen and some students were even voting for dead alumni.  Because of the wide-spread voting corruption, the Election Committee was not able to count the ballots accurately.

Cue Maudine, who was busy winning her own awards.  The Committee decided that since no human winner could be determined that Maudine would step in.  Of course Maudine did receive some valid votes, but not nearly enough to win.

Sadly, Maudine’s handlers did not allow her to attend any of the homecoming events for fear that the

(Photo Location: 99-1940's)

excitement would curdle her milk.  She was a world record milk producer first and a queen second.

Although Maudine achieved great fame and success, her life was cut short.  At the age of 7, eight years sooner than most cows, Maudine had to be put down after contracting brucellosis, a highly contagious disease.

To learn more about the extraordinary life of Maudine, check out these Lantern Articles written about her:

“Maudine Ormsby” to Reign as Queen for Homecoming

Here Lies One More Shattered Record!

“Maudine” Barred From Coronation as Queen Friday

Maudine, Campus Queen of 1926, Set World Record

The Lantern is completely digitized and text searchable.  You can always go to http://go.osu.edu/lanternarchives to look for articles.

A bounty of Buckeye-themed goodies, thanks to Trademark and Licensing

September 4, 2015 / / Comments Off on A bounty of Buckeye-themed goodies, thanks to Trademark and Licensing

It’s likely many of you have never have heard of one of OSU’s most influential offices, but boy, have you sure seen its imprint.

Trademark and Licensing has been around for more than 30 years, “protecting the University’s name and identifying marks,” according to its web site.  It all started in 1982, with a proposal of a program to ensure OSU received a royalty from each sale of OSU-themed merchandise. The program also would regulate which products were allowed to use Ohio State’s trademark, to make sure the University’s image remained unsullied. (By the way, the Libraries receives a percentage of each royalty, so we are particularly grateful for this program.)

Now, vendors who want to use OSU’s  name or logo on their merchandise must undergo a rigorous application process with the Trademark and Licensing Office to get approval.  While the office is strict about its standards, it does approve a wide variety of items to be sold.  We thought we’d take you down memory lane to show what kind of items once adorned the shelves of various retail outlets around town back in the ’80s. The material in these photos is from a collection transferred to the Archives in 1989 by the office.

Our models in the photos were Brandon Abbott, Britain Wetzel and Jimmy Zimmerman. Brandon, a Math major who was a summer-only Archives student assistant, returned to classes last week. Britain and Jimmy graduated last spring, and this fall, Jimmy is starting his second year of courses at OSU’s School of Dentistry. Meanwhile, Britain is beginning her first year of coursework at Kent State University’s College of Podiatric Medicine. Thanks and good luck to all three!

So let’s get to the photos!

 

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