Raising a Buckeye sounds easy in theory, but there are a lot of people out there trying to steer your kid down a dark, scary path. Those people are known as Xichigan and Penn State fans, and they are conniving in their ways.
So if you want to raise your kid as a Buckeye and ensure they keep the fandom alive for generations to come, you MUST have a gameplan.
That’s why we pulled together all the most important Ohio State family traditions to make your kid fall in love with the Scarlet & Gray.
Whether your kids are 6 or 16, there’s no better time than the present to instill these time-tested traditions into their adorable little Buckeye hearts. Let’s get into it.
Ohio State Family Traditions
Gameday Traditions
The Skull Session: Like a pep rally, but with you and 13,000 of your closest Buckeye friends. You’ll get to hear a sneak peak of The Best Damn Band In The Land performing their halftime show, along with speeches from Head Coach Ryan Day and team captains. Want to experience it like a pro? Check out our full guide to Skull Sessions here.
TBDBITL Entrance, Script Ohio, and Dotting the I: If you’re taking the kids to a game, make sure you’ve got your hot dogs, nachos, and butts in your seats by 20 minutes before kickoff. That’s when the band marches onto the field. You’ll see the Drum Major sprint onto the field, tossing the baton high into the air, as well as the incomparable Script Ohio. Watching TBDBITL members somehow avoid each other while spelling out “Ohio” is something for the books. And when the sousaphone player dots the i? Chills.
Carmen Ohio: After every single game, Ohio State fans, team members, and fans all link arms and sway back and forth, singing Carmen Ohio. It’s my personal favorite tradition, and I actively despise fans who leave games early without doing Carmen… Best to teach your kids this one before a game so they can sing along!
OSU Campus Traditions
- Take the family to famous spots on campus, like Thompson Library (and rubbing William Oxley Thompson’s shiny head for good luck), The Oval, and the Ohio Union.
- Take a stroll through Buckeye Grove, or better yet, attend the annual ceremony before the Spring Game. One Buckeye tree is planted for each OSU All American from the previous year.
- Go see (and hear) the Victory Bell after a win at The Shoe.
- Ohio Stadium Tours. Tickets can be found here, which allow you to learn more about the stadium that the Buckeyes have called home for over 100 years!
Other Informal Buckeye Traditions
- Responding to every single “O-H” with an emphatic “I-O!” no matter where you are. Funerals, libraries, opposing teams’ campuses… it’s all fair game.
- Grab a dozen donuts at Buckeye Donuts before an Ohio State game – or whenever you want. They are open 24/7, after all.
- Take a picture with Woody Hayes outside The Varsity Club or with Brutus inside the Ohio Union (on the first floor by the main staircase).
You can find more Ohio State guides here. If you want to discover more fun traditions, places to eat, things to do, and more around Central Ohio, be sure to check out our free daily newsletter!
