The Ohio State University

The Ohio State University's roots go back to 1870, when the Ohio General Assembly established the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College. The new college was made possible through the provisions of the Land-Grant Act, signed by President Lincoln on July 2, 1862. This legislation revolutionized the nation's approach to higher education, bringing a college degree within reach of all high school graduates.

The Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College opened its doors on September 17, 1873. The college's trustees located the institution on the William Neil farm, approximately 2 miles north of Columbus' city limits. This site was chosen for several reasons. First, Columbus was central to the state and easily accessible to most state residents thanks to canals and railroads. Second, this more rural location would prevent students from frequenting bars and gambling houses located within Columbus' boundaries. Finally, a spring existed on the Neil farm, which would provide campus residents with an adequate water source.

The institution was to enhance Ohioans' agricultural and mechanical practices knowledge, originally a majority of the trustees and faculty at the school placed more emphasis on liberal arts education, frustrating Ohio State Board of Agriculture board members. Norton Townshend, the Board of Agriculture's secretary, favored a "narrow gauge" education, with the college and its faculty providing instruction in new agricultural techniques. Joseph Sullivant, a member of the board of trustees, preferred a "broad gauge" education. Under this type of system, the college would offer agricultural and mechanical courses but also provide students with English, foreign languages, political science, history, and other fields. This broader curriculum ultimately triumphed and led the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1878, to change its name to The Ohio State University to reflect the range of courses being offered. The first class had 25 students. By 1877, more than 200 students attended classes. Today there are over 50,000 students attending the Columbus campus and has granted almost 600,000 degrees.

Ohio State University Football

One of the richest traditions at Ohio State is Ohio State's Buckeye Football. Other cities have professional football team, but nothing beats the spirit of Ohio State Football. On a Saturday afternoon in the fall, the entire town goes bonkers. It's one of the things that makes Columbus feel like a small town where everybody is rooting for the local high school team, except the Shoe seats 100,000+ and there's not an empty seat in the stadium whenever there's a home game. The entire week before the big Michigan vs Ohio State game, it's nothing but 24/7 football madness.

Another rich tradition often associated with OSUs football team is the OSU Marching Band or more commonly called: TBDBITL (The Best Damn Band In The Land!)

Popular Ohio State Fight Songs

Across the Field
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

Buckeye Battle Cry
In old Ohio there's a team
That's known thru-out the land;
Eleven warriors, brave and bold,
Whose fame will ever stand.
And when the ball goes over,
Our cheers will reach the sky,
Ohio field will hear again

The Buckeye Battle Cry-
Drive! Drive on down the field,
Men of the scarlet and gray;
Don't let them thru that line,
We have to win this game today,
Come on, Ohio!
Smash through to victory.
We cheer you as you go:
Our honor defend
So we'll fight to the end for O-hi-o.

Carmen Ohio
Oh! Come let's sing Ohio's praise,
And songs to Alma Mater raise;
While our hearts rebounding thrill,
With joy which death alone can still.
Summer's heat or Winter's cold,
The seasons pass, the years will roll;
Time and change will surely show
How firm thy friendship O-hi-o.

These jolly days of priceless worth,
By far the gladest days of earth,
Soon will pass and we not know,
How dearly we love O-hi-o.
We should strive to keep the name,
Of fair repute and spotless fame,
So, in college halls we'll grow,
To love the better, O-hi-o.

Tho' age may dim our mem'ry's store,
We'll think of happy days of yore,
True to friend and frank to foe,
As sturdy sons of O-hi-o.
If on seas of care we roll,
'Neath blackened sky, o'er barren shoal,
Tho'ts of thee bid darkness go,
Dear Alma Mater O-hi-o.