Buckeye Music
Dotting the "i".
The Best Damn Band In The Land!
The Ohio State University Marching Band, The Pride of the Buckeyes, has a tradition like no other college band in the country. Listen to TBDBITL play some of our favorites.
The Traditions of The Ohio State University Marching Band
Provided by Michele Sewall '99
August, 2009
The Ohio State University Marching Band also known as TBDBITL "The Best Damn Band In The Land" is a 225-member all-brass and percussion bands that was formed as a military band in 1879. The Ohio State University Marching Band has many game day traditions, but is perhaps best known for the incomparable Script Ohio. Script Ohio is a signature formation that may be performed before the game, during the halftime performance, or after home games. Each time the formation drill is performed a different fourth-or-fifth year Sousaphone player has the privilege of dotting the "i" of Ohio.
The Skull Session is the final music rehearsal that TBDBITL performs about 90minutes before pregame in St. John Arena. It is a popular concert/pep rally, with over 10,000 fans usually in attendance. Seats for the skull session are in high demand for fans and it is not unusual for dedicated fans to arrive up to two hours before the band marches into the arena.
The Ramp Entrance is performed after the skull session where the band marches from St John Arena to Ohio Stadium to perform the pregame routine. The percussion section leader taps 180 beats per minute and the percussion section marches out through the tunnel chanting "O-H-I-O, OHIO, O-H-I-O, OHIO..." The band members take their positions on the ramp once the percussion section leaves, and the stadium comes to life as the percussion section hits their mark. The drums roar to life as the trumpets emerge while keeping a perfect two step spacing and performing their signature arm swing. Once the ranks file in a whistle sounds and the entire band turns and begins to play the introduction to "The Buckeye Battle Cry." The Drum Major runs to the front ranks of the band and performs a back bend and buries his plume on his hat into the ground. Then the Drum Major leads the band down the field.
"Hang On Sloopy" is another tradition in which the band plays the McCoy's song "Hang On Sloopy" at the end of the 3rd Quarter which started back in 1965. The song has had the ability to bring the crowd to their feet and this trend was noticed by the school officials especially in the press box. In 1988 during the OSU vs. Syracuse game, the band was asked not to play "Sloopy" again in the stadium until they had time to structurally test the press box. Incredibly there were reports that the press box was shaking!
