Carmen Ohio Facts
Start Date: October 25, 1902
Founded By: Fred Cornell
Download: Carmen_Ohio.mp3
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© 2000 Fidelity Sound Recordings, Redwood City, CA The Ohio State University Marching Band From the album "Chimes and Change" Jon Woods, Director
October 25, 1902 is a dubious day in OSU football history. The Buckeyes lost their fourth-ever meeting to Michigan by an 86-0 count, still to this day the worst loss in school history.
From great despair, though, dogged determination arose that continues to define Ohio State football 103 years later. On the train back from Ann Arbor, team member Fred Cornell put pen to paper with the following result:
| 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 gladdest days on 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. |
We know it now as Carmen Ohio, which was published in 1906, and later adopted as the school's official alma mater. The first part of the title is derived from the Latin / Spanish word "Carmen", meaning "song" or "poem".
A new tradition with Carmen Ohio was established in
2001. Upon completion of home games-win or lose-Buckeye
players and coaches congregate with the cheerleaders
to sing, with accompaniment from the marching band,
Carmen Ohio. This tradition has created unforgettable
scenes following the victories over Michigan in 2002
and 2004.