Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State Buckeyes
The original uploader was Buckeyes1186 at English Wikipedia. · Public domain · source
Name	Ohio State Buckeyes
University	Ohio State University
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Division	NCAA Division I
Director	Gene Smith

Ohio State Buckeyes are the athletic teams of Ohio State University, a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. The university's athletic program is one of the most successful in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with 39 Big Ten Conference championships and 25 NCAA national championships won by teams such as the Ohio State Buckeyes football team, coached by Urban Meyer and Ryan Day, and the Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team, led by Thad Matta and Chris Holtmann. The Buckeyes have a long history of producing talented athletes, including Archie Griffin, a two-time Heisman Trophy winner, and Eddie George, a Heisman Trophy winner and former player in the National Football League (NFL) for teams like the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans.

History

The Ohio State Buckeyes have a rich history dating back to 1879, when the university first fielded a football team, with early coaches including Alexander S. Lilley and George Duffield. The team has since become one of the most successful programs in college football, with eight national championships won under coaches like Woody Hayes and Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes have also had success in other sports, including basketball, baseball, and hockey, with teams competing in conferences like the Big Ten Conference and tournaments like the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship and the College World Series. Notable athletes like Jerry Lucas, a NBA player and Olympic Games gold medalist, and Katie Smith, a WNBA player and USA Basketball team member, have competed for the Buckeyes, as have coaches like Fred Taylor and Randy Ayers.

Teams

The Ohio State Buckeyes field teams in 19 varsity sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and hockey, with many teams competing at the highest level in the NCAA Division I. The Ohio State Buckeyes football team plays its home games at Ohio Stadium, also known as "The 'Shoe," and has a long-standing rivalry with teams like the Michigan Wolverines and Penn State Nittany Lions. The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team competes in the Big Ten Conference and has won several conference championships under coaches like Thad Matta and Chris Holtmann, with players like Mike Conley Jr. and D'Angelo Russell going on to play in the NBA for teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors. Other notable teams include the Ohio State Buckeyes women's basketball team, which has won several Big Ten Conference championships under coaches like Jim Foster and Kevin McGuff, and the Ohio State Buckeyes ice hockey team, which competes in the Big Ten Conference and has won several conference championships under coaches like John Markell and Steve Rohlik.

Facilities

The Ohio State Buckeyes have some of the best facilities in the country, with many of their venues located on the university's campus in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio Stadium, the home of the football team, is one of the largest stadiums in the country, with a seating capacity of over 104,000, and has hosted numerous high-profile events, including the Fiesta Bowl and the Rose Bowl. The Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center is the home of the men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the women's volleyball and gymnastics teams, and has hosted numerous NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship games and other events like the Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament. Other notable facilities include the Bill Davis Stadium, the home of the baseball team, and the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, the home of the track and field team, which has hosted numerous events like the NCAA Men's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships and the USA Track & Field championships.

Traditions

The Ohio State Buckeyes have many traditions, including the singing of "Carmen Ohio", the university's alma mater, after every football game, and the performance of "Script Ohio", a tradition in which the marching band spells out "Ohio" in cursive script during halftime. The Buckeyes also have a long-standing tradition of rivalry with other schools, particularly the Michigan Wolverines and Penn State Nittany Lions, with whom they compete for the Illinois–Ohio State football rivalry trophy and the Land Grant Trophy. The university's athletic teams are also supported by several spirit groups, including the Ohio State University Marching Band and the Buckeye Cheerleading Squad, which perform at games and other events like the Rose Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl. Notable alumni like Bob Hope and Jack Nicklaus have also been involved in university traditions, with Hope performing at numerous university events and Nicklaus, a renowned golfer, competing in tournaments like the Masters Tournament and the U.S. Open (golf).

Rivals

The Ohio State Buckeyes have several rivals, including the Michigan Wolverines, with whom they compete for the Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry trophy, and the Penn State Nittany Lions, with whom they compete for the Land Grant Trophy. The Buckeyes also have a long-standing rivalry with the Illinois Fighting Illini, with whom they compete for the Illinois–Ohio State football rivalry trophy, and the Wisconsin Badgers, with whom they compete for the Paul Bunyan's Axe trophy. Other notable rivals include the Indiana Hoosiers, the Minnesota Golden Gophers, and the Purdue Boilermakers, with whom the Buckeyes compete in various sports like football, basketball, and hockey. The university's athletic teams have also competed against other notable programs, including the USC Trojans, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and the Alabama Crimson Tide, in games and tournaments like the Rose Bowl and the College Football Playoff National Championship.