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| Fight the Team Across the Field | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fight the Team Across the Field |
| Artist | Ohio State University Marching Band |
| Album | College fight songs |
| Released | 1919 (approx.) |
| Genre | March |
| Length | 1:00 |
| Writer | William A. Dougherty Jr. (music), John A. Clarke (lyrics) |
| Label | University pressings |
Fight the Team Across the Field is an American college fight song associated with the Ohio State University Marching Band. The song functions as a spirited marching tune performed at Ohio Stadium events, rivalry games like Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry, and university ceremonies, often alongside other school anthems such as Buckeye Battle Cry and Across the Field (song). Its performance tradition links it to marching band repertoires, collegiate athletics, and American popular music of the early 20th century.
The composition emerged from the era of campus musical activity that included figures from institutions like Yale University, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Michigan, and University of Pennsylvania where fight songs and marches proliferated after World War I. Influences can be traced to composers associated with the John Philip Sousa tradition, bands of the United States Navy Band, and repertory used by the Drum Corps International movement. Early performances were organized by student leaders, athletic departments such as the Big Ten Conference administration, and fraternities active at Columbus, Ohio campuses. The tune circulated alongside works by composers linked to the Tin Pan Alley publishing network, and sheet music was shared among ensembles including the United States Military Academy Band and the Notre Dame Band.
Lyrics commonly sung at Ohio State University events reference institutional emblems and rivalries, with phrasing echoing other collegiate lyrics found at University of Alabama, University of Georgia, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Oklahoma. Musically, the song employs march form similar to pieces by John Philip Sousa, melodic contours reminiscent of George M. Cohan tunes, and harmonic patterns used by arrangers for ensembles like the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic when adapting popular marches. Instrumentation typically mirrors standard concert and marching band settings utilized by the Music Educators National Conference and conservatories such as Juilliard School and Curtis Institute of Music.
The song plays a role in traditions surrounding rivalry contests such as the Apple Cup, Iron Bowl, Egg Bowl, and the rivalry between University of Southern California and University of Notre Dame. It is part of halftime and sideline repertoires alongside fight songs from programs like University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Penn State University, University of Michigan, and University of Wisconsin–Madison. Athletic departments, athletic directors from institutions such as Ohio State University and conferences like the Big Ten Conference and Southeastern Conference have used the march to energize crowds at bowl games including the Rose Bowl Game, Sugar Bowl, and Orange Bowl. Marching bands tied to the song have performed at NFL venues such as Cleveland Browns Stadium and during events featuring franchises like the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Recorded and broadcast renditions have been preserved by university archives, college radio stations like WKSU and public broadcasters such as National Public Radio. Notable performances include renditions by the Ohio State University Marching Band at major events like the College Football Playoff and appearances on television programs produced by networks including ABC (American Broadcasting Company), CBS Sports, NBC Sports, and ESPN. The song has been included on compilation albums alongside tracks by ensembles from University of Michigan Marching Band, Penn State Blue Band, University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band, and historical bandleaders such as Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey in anthologies of American marching music.
Arrangements exist for concert band, pep band, jazz ensemble, and choral settings, adapted by arrangers who have worked with institutions like Mardi Gras marching groups, municipal ensembles in Columbus, Ohio, and university music departments at schools including University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and Indiana University Bloomington. Adaptations have been made by contemporary composers influenced by Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein techniques to suit performances in venues such as Madison Square Garden and stadium events. Popular culture appearances include placements in collegiate documentaries, films produced by studios like Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures, and tribute albums featuring mid-20th-century bands.
Copyright status has been subject to archival scrutiny similar to other early 20th-century collegiate songs housed in collections at Library of Congress, Ohio Historical Society, and university libraries like Thompson Library (Ohio State University). Licensing for commercial recordings and performances typically involves university offices comparable to the Yale University Press or rights offices at Harvard University. Disputes over authorship or arrangement rights mirror cases seen in collegiate music law involving institutions such as University of California, Berkeley and organizations like the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and Broadcast Music, Inc.. Permissions and fair use practices are managed in contexts including broadcast licensing with entities like the Federal Communications Commission and venue contracts overseen by promoters such as Live Nation Entertainment.
Category:College fight songs