"" Writer's Wanderings: The Handwriting on the Football Field

Friday, August 22, 2008

The Handwriting on the Football Field


When Ohio State University Coach Tressel first arrived, it was rumored that he had a difficult time explaining what TBDBITL meant. Somehow saying "The Best Darn Band In The Land" doesn't have the same impact. That band however, impacts the football season as much it seems as who are chosen as starters in the game.

Tressel has strongly encouraged the football players' participation in tradition and part of that is showing up for the band's pregame Skull session at St. John's arena. He also gathers the team at one end of the field postgame to meet with the band and sing the alma mater.
One thing the football team does not participate in though is Script Ohio. It is a tradition that has been around for 72 years now. Begun back in 1936, the band's original formation had a trumpet player in the last position who strutted out and dotted the i. It didn't take them long to realize that a sousaphone would be more visable from the stands. The honor goes to a different senior sousaphone player each week and has been surrounded with great fanfare including "My son dotted the i" tee shirts.

While the team may read the coach's handwriting on the wallboard in the locker room, the handwriting on the field belongs to the band and is read by over 90,000 fans on a football saturday in Columbus. Can't wait! Go Bucks!!

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