Ohio State Football: 8 Reasons Why Columbus Is the Best Game-Day Experience
Going to an Ohio State football game on a Saturday afternoon is a rite of passage that most college football fans need to experience.
Not only is the venue, the Horseshoe, one of the best in the country, but the city of Columbus is Buckeye crazy and becomes a zoo every home game.
But what makes Columbus such a great place to watch a football game?
Here are eight reasons why a college football fan will enjoy watching a Saturday contest in Ohio's state capital.
1. The Tailgating
1 of 8Just like how football is a special ritual in Columbus, so is the tailgating scene around the Horseshoe.
It's very common to see thousands of fans in OSU replica jerseys by grills and playing cornhole, as they drive down in trailers sporting large Buckeye flags.
Fans usually assemble around the stadium as early as five hours or so before kickoff, even later if Ohio State is playing a night game.
The above video, featuring Man vs. Food's Adam Richman, has a brief look at the tailgating scene around Ohio State.
The scene is a campus-wide extravaganza, with nearly every parking lot turned into their own party scene on a Saturday before kickoff begins.
2. The Skull Session
2 of 8One of the special traditions of Ohio State football is the special Skull Session that takes place two hours before the kickoff of each game.
In essence, what it is is basically a large pep rally that takes place in historic St. John Arena featuring the Ohio State Marching Band, aka the Best Damn Band in the Land.
What's new in the tradition is that since Jim Tressel stepped foot on the Ohio State campus, his players have become part of the tradition by doing a walkthrough of the arena on the way to The Horseshoe.
For fans that want to see this special event, get there early, because some fans arrive as early as two hours before the session starts.
3. Block O Student Section
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The Ohio State student section is one of the largest in almost any stadium in the country, and as of 2009, it has now taken two sides of the stadium.
Block O seats are directly behind both goalposts, and students take part in different things such as card stunts and waving rally towels.
The seats are first-come, first-served, and the students stand all throughout the game, providing the igniter for the explosive volume of the Horseshoe.
Fans who have been to the Horseshoe can testify to the fact that the stadium just feels different from Opening Day until the students come back.
When the students are at school, Ohio Stadium elevates to a new level of intensity and energy.
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4. The Hive
4 of 8One of the most exciting parts of the pregame ritual to watch at Ohio State is something that is only a few seasons old.
About 40 minutes before kickoff, the Buckeye football team gathers together and locks arms to the blaring opening of Hell's Bells by AC/DC.
They walk up as a team to the edge of the goal line where an assistant coach gets them fired up as they sway left and right multiple times and break out into the middle of the field.
The breakout of the hive is quite an exciting thing to see, and it gives you goosebumps.
5. TBDBITL
5 of 8Another thing Ohio State fans will testify to is the electricity that rattles around the stadium is when the band takes the field.
Fans often refer to the band as TBDBITL, or the Best Damn Band in the Land.
The band is very exciting to watch, and they are always a part of the action from start to finish, whether it be blasting O Fortuna at each opponent's fourth down or another rendition of Hang on Sloopy to start the fourth quarter.
Whether or not they are the best band in America is debatable, but these Buckeye fans love their band and wouldn't trade it for any other in the country.
6. Script Ohio
6 of 8No tradition in OSU football compares to the incomparable Script Ohio, which is one thing that people always want to see.
For three-and-a-half minutes, the band takes on a trek from one 25-yard line to the other spelling out Ohio in cursive, script form.
The most exciting part of the whole ordeal is the drum major leading one of the senior sousaphone players to dot the I and give a bow to the crowd which completes Script Ohio.
And in past years, celebrities such as Jack Nicklaus, legendary coach Woody Hayes, and in 2009, former astronaut and U.S. senator John Glenn were special I-dotters, something that is saved for special occasions.
7. The Horseshoe Itself
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When talking about the reasons why watching football in Columbus is a special experience, it would be remiss to not talk about the venue itself.
The Horseshoe is one of the most historic, nostalgic and one of the largest college football stadiums in the country.
With a capacity of well over 105,000 crazed Buckeye fans, it's common for opponents to feel claustrophobia with so many people crowded around on all sides.
The atmosphere and the energy of the stadium are simply special, more than enough of a reason to take in a game at Ohio State if the opportunity is available.
8. Stadium Ohio
8 of 8One of the most exciting and fun chants at the Horseshoe is Stadium Ohio, where the four letters of Ohio are spelled on each side of the stadium.
It's a fantastic thing to be a part of as a fan.
It's a terrifying and intimidating thing to witness as a visiting player.
The students are usually the leaders of the chant, and it's simplistic, yet one of the best chants in all of Buckeye football.
Fans have been able to use it at opposing stadiums at times, even at The Big House in Ann Arbor.
The Stadium Ohio chant is one of the best parts of the OSU football experience, and something that helps make football in Columbus a special thing.
For more college football news and updates, visit The BCS Blitz and follow me on Twitter @bielik_tim.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
