February 1, 2013 9:30 PM
.... there where no females in the OSU Marching Band until 1973. Wikipedia is wrong as they say it was 1974. Under the direction of Dr. Paul Droste, five women earned their way into the OSUMB that year.
October 7, 2012 7:30 pm EST
They are called 'The Best Damn Band In
The Land", during their halftime show for
the Nebraska game proved why. It was nine
minutes of non-stop video game action from
all of the classics. This was a routine that
would speak to all ages.
It started with Space Invaders, transitioning
into Pokemon. There were Mario, Pac-Man,
Halo, and Tetris references. Then, a full-field
homage to Zelda that made the few people
that were still sitting to rise to their feet.
This will be sure get several million hits as
news outlets all over the country are writing
about it.
September 1, 2012 5:00 pm EST
Pearl Corporation is proud to announce the addition of The Ohio State University to the Pearl Athletic Bands Program. Under the direction of Dr. Jon R. Woods and Jonathan Waters, The OSU Marching Band is known world-wide for its dedication to tradition and pursuit of excellence. From their unique marching style and instrumentation, to dotting the “I” in Script Ohio field formations, The OSUMB is certainly one of the most remarkable college bands in the nation.
Today, The OSU Marching Band’s membership is 225 strong, with a percussion section that consists of 14 snare drums, 5 bass drums, 5 tenors, and 5 cymbal players. This non-conventional battery includes sling-held snare drums in a high-step playing position. Pearl will be addressing The OSU Marching Band’s percussion demands with the development of a custom snare drum, made to address the unique performance needs of the OSUMB’s drumline. The OSU Drumline is under the instruction of Aaron Bell.
April 30, 2012 5:00 pm EST
For those of you that look forward to the Alumni Band that opening week, you are going to have to wait a bit longer in 2012.
This is the first year that I can remember that the OSU alumni game does not fall on the first game of the season. Instead, the 2012 Alumni Game will be on September 22nd during the UAB week. The reason for the change is uncertain at this time, but this will give on opportunity to get as many former band members assembled to march 'One More Time'. This year will be the 44th reunion for the OSU Band. - Pia Pete
August 12, 2011 7:00 pm EST
As the football time is the midst of practice, the OSU Marching Band is also preparing to select new members or the 2011-2012 season. Tryouts for the new squad will be held Tuesday, August 30th and Wednesday, August 31st. Candidates that have not been members of the marching band in past years are required to attend "Candidate Training Days" on Sunday, August 28th and Monday, August 29th. These two days are meant to introduce new candidates to what will be expected during tryouts.
They can get additional practice by attending the optional rehearsals lead by veteran members of the band known as summer sessions.
November 8, 2010 8:30 pm EST
For fans of marching bands, you will likely enjoy this UM Band halftime show. But they do take their shots at the other schools in the Big Ten. They mocks Script Ohio, at 7:05 on this video.
Enjoy this as a creative musical piece but know who will be winning the play on the field. We know who has the best band between the two schools and I am sure the Buckeyes will have a great show on tap for pre-game halftime shows.
August 24, 2008 5:30 pm EST
First, there was Bob Hope. Then there was Woody Hayes, and a couple of years ago, there was Jack Nicklaus. These are a few individuals that are non-band members that have had the privilege of Dotting the 'i' in Script Ohio. This season another name will be added to that list. The University announced that John Glenn will perform this role during the Navy game September 5th. Get your camera's ready for this event.
The band’s Board of Governors voted unanimously this year to ask Glenn to dot the “i” with the alumni band during a double Script Ohio formation. Glenn will march on the west side of the field near the press boxes. The game against Navy also marks the OSU Athletic Department’s Military Appreciation Day, making Glenn’s appearance even more fitting, Woods said. Glenn served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean War.
Game day will begin with an 8:30 a.m. practice with both bands on the Lincoln Tower practice field, Woods said. A dress rehearsal will follow during the 10 a.m. skull session at St. John Arena, where Glenn and his wife, Annie, will be presented with band memorabilia including a band blazer and jacket from the alumni band. Glenn likely will wear either the blazer or the jacket onto the field.
By Pete Quint - August 14, 2008 6:30 pm EST
Marching Bands
As a certified band geek, I love the Ohio State University Marching Band. Not just because I was in the band (’92-‘96), my father was in the band (’68-‘71) or that my sister was in the band (‘94-’98) but also because of what it means to so many people. The OSUMB is the embodiment of pride for The Ohio State University; it represents over 100 years of tradition and sets the frenzied, emotional tone for every home game. I’m not sure you are allowed to be a Buckeye if you don’t get a little teary eyed during the post game singing of Carmen Ohio. To my knowledge it is the only collegiate marching band funded by the athletic department. Script Ohio makes every “Greatest College Football Traditions” Top Ten list and is almost as recognizable as the football team itself, some would argue more so. The band can stir a thick chewy emotion when mentioned to many Buckeye fans as memories of gridiron glory rush to the forefront of their minds.
That said, reading a Dispatch article recently sent chills up and down my spine as inspiration and heartfelt joy overwhelmed me. Someone else was doing Script Ohio and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Many Ohio High Schools mimic Script Ohio and the bands that are still fortunate enough to have the student numbers can pull it off with great success. It’s always fun to watch youngsters march their hearts out trying to pull off the difficult maneuvers of their university marching counterparts. Now there have been countless High School bands march Script Ohio and you may be wondering why this particular band is making the news. Fact is; this band is made up of entirely blind students.
Say that again?
The Ohio State School for the Blind, under the direction of Mrs. Carol Alger organized a marching band in the fall of 2005 to perform halftime shows for The Ohio School for the Deaf’s football team. Their signature formation, “Script Braille”, is played to the tune of Le Regiment de Sambre et Meuse, or Le Regiment, just as it is for the OSUMB and it’s signature “Script Ohio”. The band uses a computer program called FINALE to transcribe regular sheet music into a Braille score that the students can read. They also use another program called SmartMusic which helps the students hear their parts individually or with the entire band. Due to the nature of their disability, each band member is expected to memorize their music. They are the only entirely blind marching band in the country and the only one known in the world.
A Great Honor
This year the OSSBMB Marching Panthers has been invited to march in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California prior to the Rose Bowl. This will be their first Rose Bowl parade appearance and the members couldn’t be more excited. The entire band will make the trip, 68 members in all, 39 visually impaired student musicians and 29 sighted marching assistants. They intend to do a performance of “Script Braille”.
Make sure you tune in to the Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1st and cheer on these amazing, hard working students. They deserve your support and respect for accepting their challenges, developing their talents, and embracing their opportunities. These kids are about to experience something very special that few of us will ever get to. I wish them the best in their travel, their encounters and their performance. Knock ‘em dead, Panthers!
By Pete Quint - November 10, 2008 10:00 am EST
Every year, the day before the Michigan game, TBDBITL gets together for the day and plays gigs across central Ohio. We call it HyperFriday.
Starting at 6:00am and continuing deep into the evening, OSUMB alumni, young and old, try to last the entire day of continuous gigs. My father, sister and I will be in attendance this year as we have for the past six in a row.
It looks like we will have three buses toting us around this year; we had four in 2006. During our breaks between gigs, we fill the time on the bus with happy memories of days gone by while toasting each other with milk and cookies and singing our favorite campfire songs (sarcasm alert).
If you are near any of the public performances, we encourage you to attend and celebrate one of the greatest rivalries in college football.
By Pete Quint - August 28, 2008 10:00 am EST
In just a few days the 2008 Ohio State football season will commence and the anticipation in Columbus is mounting. The university is rich in tradition and each year ushers in many different annual celebrations. This season is no different as an incredible anniversary will be witnessed at the very first game of the season. During the Youngstown State game the Ohio State University Alumni band will be celebrating their 40th reunion as they take the field “Just one more time.”
the alumni did the double Script Ohio while the student band formed a line down the center of the field. The reunion missed a few years in the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s but since 1974 the alumni band has returned every year to celebrate their time in the band.
Today over 600 alumni annually dust off their instruments and slap a heating pad old joints to relive one of the greatest joys of their lives. The afternoon isn’t easy on most of the bands members old bodies but they keep coming back for the love, excitement and thrill of hearing 100,000 fans scream as they march down for the famous Ramp Entrance. This tradition is unique to Ohio State as no other marching band invites their alumni back to march on the field during gameday. TBDBITL owes a great deal of gratitude to the OSU Athletic Department since none of it could happen without their continued support.
Whether you care about the band or not, this 40th anniversary is special as it’s one of those unique traditions in college football that makes coming to a game in Ohio Stadium great. Cheer for the alumni band as they take the field and taste a bit of their youth once again. Make sure to get to the stadium early on Saturday and bear witness to one of the most cherished and recognized traditions in college football.
By Pete Quint - August 19, 2008 7:00 pm EST
Unfortunately those of us viewing the OSU / USC game in person or at home will not get to see the legendary “Script Ohio” performed by the Ohio State University Marching Band at the Coliseum. The ghostly image of “Ohio” that is imprinted onto the field during the pre-game ritual and stays throughout the game is a treat most Buckeye fans truly look forward to seeing.
Rising fuel prices and a tight budget have prevented the OSUMB from traveling to Southern California on September 13th. A substitute Alumni Band was organized and scheduled to take over the seats allotted to the OSUMB but upon hearing that the regular band could not make it, USC athletic department quickly sold the tickets before the Alumni Band was able to tell them they were coming.
This is not a shot at the USC athletic department; Ohio State would have done the same thing in that same situation. Rather, I feel sorry for the current band members that will be unable to experience a game of this caliber away from the confines of Ohio Stadium.
Part of the fun of being in a collegiate organization is the ability to travel. Many athletic, scholastic and artistic groups get a rare chance to see other parts of the country and meet the people that support their universities with equal passion. Meeting and speaking with these folks gives students a larger perspective about how fans feel and how they should act around others. Most of these individuals that get the opportunity to travel walk away with great stories and positive opinions about fans around the country and by taking off the Buckeye rose colored glasses these folks ultimately become better and more respectful fans. I would hazard a guess that most, not all, Buckeye fans that continue to embarrass Ohio State with their idiotic, drunken, asinine behavior toward visiting fans are Buckeye fans that have never and have no desire to travel to games outside the safe confines of Ohio.
It’s really too bad that the band is grounded for the game and I’m sure the Varsity Club will be filled to the brim with band members on the 13th to cheer the Bucks on to a victory. Although, I’m betting another trip to the national championship game will offset any lost experience there may have been in Southern California.
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8/19/08
The first alumni reunion took place on September 17, 1966 due to the efforts of OSUMB Director Dr. Charles Spohn. 500 former band members returned to play, march and reminisce about their years in the band and at the university. 228 of the 500 marched that day as the first ever double Script Ohio snaked is way across the field of Ohio Stadium. The reunion was originally scheduled to happen every two to three years but the response was so overwhelming that they decided to try it again in 1967(see photo). This time participation was great enough that
