Jody Victor: Go Buckeyes! The Ohio State Buckeyes beat Oklahoma State 33-7 in the MasterCard Alamo Bowl.

This years Alamo Bowl had the second largest crowd ever in its history. There was 65,265 in attendance. It was the fourth sellout...and the first sellout featuring two out of state teams. The Buckeyes have a huge following!

Steve Victor and Joe Victor both came over and we watched the game together. We had a good feeling when the Buckeyes scored within the first few minutes of the game. We were decked out in our Buckeye garb...which tends to bring us good luck!

I haven't heard from my friends Orrin Woodward (Michigan Fan) or Billy Florence (Georgia Fan) on the OSU win yet, but I know they were excited to see my TEAM win.

For more information on the Buckeye win, visit www.alamobowl.com.

Go Bucks,

Jody

Jody Victor: Tonight is the Night! The Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys. I will definitely be watching the game with my boys Steve and Joe. We will be dressed in our Buckeye gear cheering our TEAM on to a Victory!

Stay Tuned!

GO BUCKS!
Jody

Jody Victor: OhioState and Oklahoma State Alamo Game Day Festivities

This year’s tailgate party and pregame festivites will be held at Sunset Station, an entertainment complex just north of the Alamodome. They are expecting over 20,000 fans and the university bands will join to celebrate the pregame during the Corporate Express Pregame Party, the SBC Yellow Pages Alamo Bowl Fan Zone and the Shiner Bock Alamo Bowl Tailgate Party. Sunset Station is definitely the place to be!

The Corporate Express Alamo Bowl Pregame Party will start three hours before kickoff. There will be food and music and a special pregame performance by both university bands.

The SBC Yellow Pages Fan Zone will be the place to be from 4 pm to 7pm on game day. This area will have more than 30,000 square feet of free activities, including bungee run, Velcro wall, obstacle course, quarterback toss and many more all courtesy of SBC Yellow Pages.

For your food and beverages needs pregame, make sure to stock by the Shiner Bock Alamo Bowl Tailgate Party. Tons of food and fun will be on hand as well as a live band as Shiner Bock throws another bash to excite all the fans before kickoff.

I will be watching all the festivities and the game with my sons Steve Victor and Joe Victor. We will cheer the OSU Bucks all the way to a Victory!

Go Bucks!

Jody Victor

Jody Victor: OSU Homecoming and the Block O seen at Football games are both great traditions at the University.

Homecoming
Homecoming started out as "Ohio State Date" back in 1912. It was initiated by Professor (and later OSU President) George W. Rightmire. Homecoming was designed to bring the alumni back to the university and celebrate.

The celebration has been noted, among other things, for the decorating of Greek chapter facilities and university dormitories.

The parade is another tradition Buckeyes’ hold high. The parade did not become a time-honored tradition until it joined the schedule permanently in 1965.

In 1926, student supporters wishing to pull a practical joke on the university, convinced the community that Maudine Ormsby was to be honored as queen. She was so popular on campus, she won the vote. Maudine, pictured at the right, actually turned out to be a cow, the only cow ever elected as homecoming queen.

Block O
An Ohio State University and Ohio Stadium tradition, Block “O” is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year. Known for spreading spirit, starting cheers and performing card stunts, Block “O” was founded in 1938 by Clancy Isaac. After seeing a cheering section at the University of Southern California, Isaac decided that it was something OhioState needed. Sixty-five years later, Block “O” is OhioState’s largest student organization on campus and has gained local and national recognition.

Go Bucks,

Jody

Jody Victor: There are so many traditions at Ohio State University. Some are widely known and others I've never heard of before. Here is some more information I found during my research.

Buckeye Grove
Since 1934, a Buckeye tree has been planted in honor of each of Ohio State's All-American. Trees are usually planted in a pregame ceremony at the spring game. With the renovation of Ohio Stadium in 2001, the Buckeye Grove is now loated at the southwest corner of the stadium.

Tunnel of Pride
The ex-OSU quarterback Rex Kern and current Director of Athletics Andy Geiger started the Tunnel of Pride in 1995, when Notre Dame visited Ohio Stadium for the first meeting between the two teams in nearly 50 years. In an effort to generate even more emotion, excitement and enthusiasm than already existed, Kern and Geiger reached out to former Buckeye football players who were attending the game and asked them to form a tunnel for the team to run through as it came onto the field. Thus a tradition was born, which is now continued every other year when Michigan visits Ohio.

My son's, Steve Victor and Joe Victor, and I visit the OSU campus each year. We will have to make sure we visit the Buckeye Grove next time around.

Go Bucks,

Jody 

Jody Victor: Each University has their own traditions. Ohio State has quite a few...especially with their outstanding football TEAM!

Victory Bell

One of the traditions is to ring the "Victory Bell" after every Ohio State victory. The bell is located in the southeast tower of Ohio Stadium.

The bell was a gift from the classes of 1943, 1944 and 1945. It sits 150 feet up in the southeast tower and members of the Alpha Phi Omega ring the bell after the victories. This tradition began in 1954 after OSU beat California.The Victory Bell weighs 2,420 pounds and cost $2,535 to install. It's been said the bell can be heard up to five miles away on a calm day. That is pretty unbelievable!

Next  time my son, Joe Victor, and I go to a game we will have to wait after around after a victory to hear the bell ring.

Gold Pants!

The Ohio State v. Michigan game is a huge ordeal in our family. Each year Steve, Joe and I get together and watch the game. We dress up in OSU garb and spend the day watching the game. It's become our own family tradition. OSU also has a tradition when playing rivals from the north. After each win over the Wolverines a gold charm replica of a pair of football pants is given to players and coaches. The tradition started in 1934 when first-year coach Francis Schmidt told those wondering how OSU would fare with Michigan. He said, "They put their pants on one leg at a time just like everybody else." Schmidt's Buckeyes then went and defeated Michigan four-consecutive times.

Go Bucks!

Jody

Jody Victor: What actually is a Buckeye?

I found this great information from the following website:

http://ohiostatebuckeyes.collegesports.com

A buckeye is a small, shiny, dark brown nut with a light tan patch that comes from the official state tree of Ohio, the buckeye tree.

According to folklore, the Buckeye resembles the eye of a deer and carrying one brings good luck. “Buckeyes” has been the official Ohio State nickname since 1950, but it had been in common use for many years before.

The first recorded use of the term Buckeye to refer to a resident of the area was in 1788, some 15 years before Ohio became a state. Col. Ebenezer Sproat, a 6’4" man of large girth and swashbuckling mannerisms, led the legal delegation at the first court session of the Northwest Territory in Marietta. The Indians in attendance greeted him with shouts of "Hetuck, Hetuck" (the Indian word for buckeye), it is said because they were impressed by his stature and manner. He proudly carried the Buckeye nickname for the rest of his life and it gradually spread to his companions and to other local settlers. By the 1830s, writers were commonly referring to locals as “Buckeyes.”

Buckeye Leaves
A round white decal, about the size of a quarter, with a green depiction of a buckeye leaf is applied to Ohio State football helmets for big plays and consistency on the field. This tradition started in 1968 when Woody Hayes and longtime trainer Ernie Biggs changed the look of the Ohio State uniforms. Many of the sports at Ohio State incorporate Buckeye Leaves into their equipment and uniforms.

Go Bucks!

Jody Victor

Jody Victor: When I think of Ohio State Athletics Brutus Buckeye always comes to mind.

Brutus Buckeye is the OSU mascot. Brutus first appeared in 1965. Selection for Brutus Buckeye is accomplished by a tryout process. Each participant must meet eligibility requirements. If eligible to tryout each participant will be asked to demonstrate personality skills, creativity, and the ability to interact with crowds.

Tryout Requirements and Information
Tryouts for Brutus Buckeye at Ohio State are held in conjunction with cheerleading tryouts in the Spring of each year. Interested persons must be eligible by either being 1) a full time student, or 2) accepted by the Ohio State Admissions Office for Autumn enrollment. Additionally, the mascot must maintain full time student status, as well as a minimum 2.0 G.P.A.

My son, Joe Victor, was the mascot at Bowling Green State University. BGSUs mascot is called Freddie Falcon. Joe also had to tryout and meet requirements.

Go Bucks (and BGSU),

Jody

Jody Victor: What is a Skull Session?

A "Skull Session" is the final rehearsal of the music before OSU game time so the band can plan and think through the show one last time - the last "Skull Session."

The band would play through the entire show twice, once with music in hand, and a second time completely from memory. The Skull Session was changed to a concert/pep rally atmosphere by Dr. Paul Droste and that tradition continues today.

Visiting college bands are always invited to participate in Skull Session with the OSUMB, and in recent years high school bands from around the state of Ohio have been invited to entertain the early arrivals prior to the arrival of the OSUMB.

Skull Session starts two hours before kickoff of every home football game. It is a popular concert/pep rally, for over 10,000 fans are in attendance. Seats for skull session are in high demand and it is not unusual for dedicated band fans to arrive up to two hours before the band.

Jody Victor: The Ohio State University is well-known for their Marching Band. Started in 1878,OSU fans refer to them as TBDBITL: The Best Darn Band in The Land. From the past to present day, each generation of members has created and passed down the pride and traditions of the OSUMB.

When the OSUMB started it had 12 musicians and today's current size is two-hundred twenty five.

Their style, organization, dedication, and traditions have made the OSUMB a respected member of elite college bands across the nation.

Although Billy Florence and Orrin Woodward rival the OSU football team, they do respect the fact that TBDBITL is outstanding!

Go Bucks,

Jody

Jody Victor : The Bucks and Cowboys Meet for a Shoot-Out at the Alamo!!!

The Ohio State University Buckeyes coached by Jim Tressel will face Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl on December 29th, 2004.  OSU versus OSU.  The Tressel OSU will face the Miles OSU.  Les Miles the coach of Oklahoma State knows all about the Ohio State Buckeyes.  Les was a two year letterman at Michigan the team up north from 1974 through 1975.  Les then coached with the wolverines for two coaching stints.  Les knows the Bucks. 

Our Team of Buckeyes will play the Visitor role at the Alamo.  The Stillwater, Okla. team is only 530 miles away and recruits players in the area heavily.  Best of all Les Miles is from Akron, OH and turned down an offer from the Buckeyes to attend Michigan to play football.  Gads.  This is the perfect guy to bury on the field at the Alamo let alone the stadium.  Turncoat.  What was he thinking? 

This the Buckeyes first trip to San Antonio and the Alamo Bowl yet this is the 36th Bowl trip for the Bucks!!

Let’s kick some football, butt and place Les Miles in a hurt box he will always remember. 

Go Bucks!!!

~Jody Victor

Jody Victor: Do you know the words to the Ohio State University fight song 'Across the Field'? Sing it to 'The Gang's All Here'.

Fight the team across the field, Show them Ohio's here, Set the earth reverberating with a mighty cheer - Rah! Rah! Rah! Hit them hard and see how they fall; Never let that team get the ball, Hail! Hail! The gang's all here, So let's win that old conference now.

Jody Victor

Jody Victor: Congratulations to the new grads!

On Sunday December 12, 2004 approximately 1900 degrees will be awarded during the Ohio State University autumn quarter commencement. Deborah Jones Merritt, director of The John Glen Institute for Public Services and Public Policy at OSU, will deliver the commencement address during the ceremony beginning at 2pm. Under Merritt’s direction, since 2000, the Institute has grown to encompass more than three dozen programs that encourage students to become active citizens, enhance the skills of public leaders and develop strong public policy.

Merritt plans to address what the Ohio State’s motto ‘education for citizenship,’ “means for a new generation and how these graduates are likely to carry that promise forward.”

Jody Victor