To some, they are referred to simply as "The pride of the Buckeyes". Others prefer the more vigorous title of T.B.D.B.I.T.L. (The Best Damn Band in the Land). By far Ohio State's longest running tradition, the band's roots date back to 1879.

Ohio Stadium fans know that kickoff is just moments away when the band makes it entrance, paced by the drum major, down the ramp at the north end of the field. The entrance, the brainchild of band members Bill Knepper and Elvin Donaldson, started in 1928. 78 years later, virtually the same entrance is still used.

Eugene Weigel, OSU band director from 1929-1938 changed the instrumentation to all-brass in 1934. The current band lists 225 members, still sans woodwinds.

Not many people know the names Wesley Leas and John Brungart, yet the two played integral roles in what Athlon Sports called the greatest tradition in all of college football: the dotting of the "i" in "Script Ohio". The OSU marching band first performed the formation on October 10, 1936, at halftime of a game against Pittsburgh. Leas was the inaugural drum major, while trumpeter Brungart was the first person to ever "dot the i ".

The incomparable Script Ohio is a band formation that takes three and a half minutes to execute. It begins with a triple "Block O" formation, which unwinds at the direction of the drum major, into the word Ohio, literally written by marching band members. It's capped off with the dotting of the "i", in which a sousaphone player high steps, from the second "o" to properly complete the "i", much to the delight of the crowd.

To be eligible for the honor, a sousaphone player must be in his or her fourth year. Fifth-year members of the band may do so, but only after all four-year students have been chosen. Only eight non-band members have ever dotted the "i".

Non-Band Members to Dot The "I"
   Buster Douglas - Heavyweight Boxing Champion from Columbus
   Dr. Paul Droste - OSUMB Director (1970-83)
   Novice Fawcett - University President (1956-72)
   Dr. E. Gordon Gee - University President (1990-97)
   Bob Hope - Grew up in Cleveland, Ohio
   Robert Ries-former OSU Ticket Director
   Woody Hayes - Former Head Football Coach
   Jack Nicklaus - Widely regarded as the greatest golfer of all time, born and raised in Columbus, OH

The band does much more than entertain before the game and at halftime. The sweetest music to the ears of Buckeye Fans is hearing "Buckeye Battle Cry" being played immediately following another Ohio State touchdown.

On top of that, nothing gets Ohio Stadium rocking more than another rendition of "Hang on Sloopy". Originally recorded by The McCoys, a small rock group from Dayton, Ohio, the OSU band added it to the repertoire that same year, with the arrangement making its debut October 9th, in a game against Illinois. The following week the crowd began to recognize it, and a tradition was born. In 1985, the Ohio House of Representatives voted to make it the state of Ohio's official rock song.