In Game
Despite the fact, Columbus is home to an NHL team, and there are six pro sports teams throughout the state of Ohio, the Buckeyes rule the state. Sports fans in Ohio love the Buckeyes and Buckeyes basketball is no exception. The fans inside the Jerome Schottenstein Center are among the most loyal and passionate around, which goes a long way toward making the Jerome Schottenstein Center an excellent basketball venue.
In addition to the fervent support Buckeyes basketball fans provide, they are also very friendly. While the support for basketball may not be quite as strong as football, the fact Buckeyes basketball fans are a bit more relaxed helps make a trip to the Jerome Schottenstein Center a fun experience.
The fans aren’t the only thing that makes the Jerome Schottenstein Center an excellent basketball venue, the amount of history on display inside matches that of almost any stadium in the Big Ten. All around the concourse you’ll see tributes to the biggest moments and best players in Buckeyes history. There are even special tributes to the best of the best including Olympian Jesse Owens.
Finally, you won’t leave Columbus hungry thanks to the outstanding concession options found inside the Jerome Schottenstein Center. The arena is home to a wide variety of choices including Brutus Pretzel, Donatos Pizza, and Graeter’s Ice Cream.
You’ll have an outstanding time attending a basketball game in Columbus where the city’s love of the Buckeyes makes attending an Ohio State game an unforgettable experience.
Things to check out
Championship and Retired Number Banners
Hanging from the rafters of the Jerome Schottenstein Center are banners honoring Ohio State’s legendary basketball players and championship teams. Check out these banners to remember all of your favorite Buckeyes players and moments when attending a game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.
Ohio State Athletics Timeline
Stop and learn more about the history of Ohio State athletics by looking at the Ohio State Athletics Timeline. The timeline shows off all the biggest moments in Buckeyes history and is a must-see for Ohio State and college sports fans.
Team Shop
The Buckeyes team shop has all kinds of Ohio State gear, so no matter what you’re looking at you’ll find it here. The team shop is the perfect place to pick up a souvenir from your trip to Columbus, so make sure to check it out.
Honored Athletes
Make sure to check out all the displays honoring the best athletes in Ohio State history. These tributes are a must see and a great way to remember the best of the best including Olympian Jesse Owens.
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Brutus Buckeye
Brutus Buckeye is one of the most famous mascots in college sports and a big part of any Ohio State game day. Brutus made his debut in 1965 and, in 2007, he was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame, so keep an eye out for him at Buckeyes games.
Buckeye Nuthouse - The Buckeye Nuthouse is one of the craziest and most passionate student sections in the Big Ten. It wraps around the lower level behind the team benches and under the basket the opponents shoot at in the second half, giving the Buckeyes a great home court advantage. You can’t miss the Buckeye Nuthouse when attending a game, so join in on their chants to show your support for tOSU.
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Pep Band
The Buckeyes pep band puts on quite the show playing all of your favorite Ohio State tunes including “Hang on Sloopy,” “Buckeye Battle Cry,” “Carmen Ohio,” and many more. The band has an excellent pulse on the game and will get you up and cheering no matter what the score.
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“Hell’s Bells” Pregame
The Ohio State students kick the game off by locking arms and swaying back and forth to AC/DC’s “Hell’s Bells” before the game. The tradition is quite the sight to behold and gets the arena rocking, so arrive early and don’t miss this incredible tradition.
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Fight Songs
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O-H-I-O Chant
O-H-I-O
O-H-I-O
O-H-I-O
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Hang on Sloopy
This song has been designated as the state rock song of Ohio and is played before the start of the fourth quarter at every Buckeyes game. Fans typically perform the O-H-I-O chant during the interval between refrains, which gets everyone pumped up.
Hang on, Sloopy
Sloopy, hang on
Hang on, Sloopy
Sloopy, hang onSloopy lives in a very bad part of town (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
And everybody, yeah, tries to put my Sloopy down (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Sloopy, I don’t care what your daddy do (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
‘Cause you know, Sloopy, girl, I’m in love with you (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)And so I sing out
Hang on, Sloopy
Sloopy, hang on
Hang on, Sloopy
Sloopy, hang onSloopy wears a red dress, yeah, as old as the hills (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
But when Sloopy wears that red dress, yeah, you know, it gives me the chills, oh, oh (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Sloopy, when I see you walking, walking down the street (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I say, “Don’t worry, Sloopy, girl, you belong to me” (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)And so I sing out
Hang on, Sloopy
Sloopy, hang on
Hang on, Sloopy
Sloopy, hang on
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Give it to ’em right nowSloopy, let your hair down, girl
Let it hang down on me (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Sloopy, let your hair down, girl
Let it hang down on me, yeah, yeah (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)Come on, Sloopy (Come on, come on)
Well, come on, Sloopy (Come on, come on)
Well, come on, Sloopy (Come on, come on)
Well, come on, Sloopy (Come on, come on)Well, it feels so good (Come on, come on)
You know, it feels so good (Come on, come on)
Well, shake it, shake it, shake it, Sloopy (Come on, come on)
Well, shake it, shake it, shake it, yeah (Come on, come on)
OhHang on, Sloopy
Sloopy, hang on
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Hang on, Sloopy
Sloopy, hang on
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Hang on, Sloopy
Sloopy, hang on -
Carmen Ohio
After every game, the school’s alma mater Carmen Ohio is played. This tradition is a great way to wrap up a game and show off your school pride.
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 (truly) show
How firm thy friendship … OHIO!These jolly days of priceless worth
By far the gladdest days on earth
Soon will pass and we not know
How dearly we love Ohio
We should strive to keep thy name
Of fair repute and spotless fame
So in college halls well grow
And love thee better … OHIO!Though 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 Ohio
If on seas of care we roll
Neath blackened sky or barren shoal
Thoughts of thee bid darkness go
Dear Alma Mater…OHIO! -
Across the Field
The older of the two Ohio State fight songs, Across the Field features lyrics about the football team.
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,
So let’s win that old conference now. -
Buckeye Battle Cry
In old Ohio (Columbus) 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.Chorus
Drive! Drive on down the field;
Men of the scarlet and gray;
Don’t let them thru that line,
We’ve got to win this game today, Come on, Ohio!
Smash thru to victory,
We’ll cheer you as you go;
Our honor defend So we’ll fight to the end For Ohio.We’ll scatter to the east and west, When college days are done;
And memories will cling around, The dreams of everyone;
We’ll play the game of living,
With head and shoulders high!
And where in wear the spirit of
The Buckeye Battle Cry!Repeat Chorus
