The Ohio State University Marching Band The Ohio State University Marching Band ( often called The Best Damn Band in the Land or TBDBITL ) performs at Ohio State football games and other events during the fall semester . It is one of the few all - brass and percussion bands in the country , perhaps the largest of its type in the world . History . Military training was an important part of the early curriculum at Ohio State , and a band was formed to provide music to the cadets for drills . Organized in 1878 , the band was a student led organization until 1896 . Gustav Bruder , a professional musician with military band experience , was hired to lead the band . Under Bruder , the band grew in size and began playing and marching for all military and athletic events . The OSUMB has increased in size over the years , from 100 members in 1920 to 225 members today . The last expansion occurred in the ' 70 ' s . Women first joined the band in 1973 following the passage of Title IX legislation . Today , approximately 20 % - 25 % of the band ' s members are women each year . Many marching band innovations were first tried and developed at Ohio State . Among them are : floating and animated formations , measured step marching , script handmade writings , and the fast cadence with a high knee lift . Brass instruments especially designed for marching bands were also first used at Ohio State . In 1934 the OSUMB adopted an all brass - and - percussion instrumentation , one of the first collegiate bands to do so . The school fight songs — " Buckeye Battle Cry " and " Fight the Team Across the Field " — were first performed in the early 20th century . Other traditional songs performed by the band are the 1960s pop hit " Hang on Sloopy " and the famous " We Don ' t Give a Damn for the Whole State of Michigan " , which was popularized by James Thurber in the Broadway production of The Male Animal . Tryout Process . Summer Sessions . Starting in June , volunteers from the marching band , under guidance of the directing staff , conduct twice weekly teaching sessions known as Summer Sessions . These sessions are two hours long in the evenings and teach every possible fundamental used in the marching style of the band . The very first session starts with the very basics of marching band : standing still at attention or parade rest . Students who try out for the band come from a very wide array of backgrounds , including drum and bugle corps , " corps style " marching bands , " swing style " marching bands , and even for some zero marching band experience . Summer Sessions help to teach even those who have never marched how to march in the style of the OSU band . Every session adds a different fundamental to the mix , and typically marching and playing even simple things such as scales is accomplished by the second or third session . All previously taught fundamentals are constantly reviewed , so in essence someone could start into the Summer Sessions program late and be caught up with everyone else within a few sessions . Summer Sessions not only teach marching fundamentals , but also musicianship . Warmups with various brass and percussion exercises are taught , and all who attend are given a copy of the school songs packet , which is a packet of music that includes the school fight songs , Alma Mater , National Anthem , as well as other well - known songs such as " Hang On , Sloopy ! " and " Le Regiment " to name a few . The songs are rehearsed every week , to help students begin to memorize the roughly dozen or so songs required during each the marching season . The week before tryouts typically sees four days in a row of Summer Sessions , which is typically done to catch those people up who may live out of state and move to Columbus before school starts , or for those who participate in drum and bugle corps , whose competitive seasons usually end mid - August . Tryouts . Each fall more than 400 student - musicians compete for one of the 225 open slots in the band . Every member must try out each year . Students who have not made the band before are required to attend " Candidate Days . " This is a two - day event that compresses everything learned during the Summer Sessions into two eight - hour practices . These are typically held Sunday and Monday of Tryout Week . Tuesday and Wednesday are reserved for the actual try - out audition sessions . Drill and fundamentals are judged and scored by the row squad leaders , with oversight from the directing staff . Music auditions are heard by School of Music faculty assisted by well - known instructors with other college or high school bands or drum and bugle corps instructors from the area . Most of the brasswind auditions are heard by the School of Music brass staff , while the percussion is heard by both School of Music staff as well as those with drum and bugle corps staff experience . Music and marching are judged equally and satisfactory grades in both areas are necessary . The directing staff has final say on all members who make the band . Roughly 100 people will be cut from the band roster on Wednesday afternoon . The remaining people will go through one more tryout session before " Make the Band Night . " During " Make the Band Night , " everyone who tried out earlier that afternoon ( that wasn ' t cut in the late morning ) assembles in the rehearsal hall and listen quietly as the director reads the names of who made the band in order of their rows . Everyone then leaves the room very quietly , in respect to those who did not make it . Instrumentation . The band consists of 225 instrumentalists . 192 of these create the block band that is seen at every home game . The other 33 members are called alternates . These are members of the band who challenge the regular members every week for a spot in the 192 - piece block . The alternates also understudy the week ’ s halftime show with the squad leader in case someone gets sick or injured before the performance . All music is memorized , verified during music checks each Friday . On game day the alternates help move equipment around if the show has props or a pit , otherwise they are led by the assistant drum major and stand at attention ( minus instruments ) along the SE end of the field . The band block consists of lettered rows ABCEFHIJKLMQRSTX and D . D row is not considered a part of the block as D row is the Drum Major , Assistant Drum Major , and Drum Major ( s ) in training . The rows are paired in sister rows as follows : A - X , B - T , C - S , E - R , F - Q , H - M , I - J , K - L . Each row in the 192 block band contains the following : While the brass - only configuration has been unvarying since 1934 , the instrumentation has been subject to experimentation over the years . For several decades , slide trombones were replaced by valved " Tromboniums " manufactured by King Musical Instruments ; by 1970 they had adopted the large - bore Conn 90G , prepared by Conn at the OSUMB ' s instigation . Slide trombones returned to the band in 1980 . Tromboniums last marched in the OSUMB block at the 1982 Alumni Reunion game . Student Staff . As well as the 225 marching and playing members of the band , there are 14 additional student staff members who do not march . The Student Staff are responsible for the day to day happenings on the student level of the band . There are two Heads of Staff who are in charge of separate areas . The Head Secretary oversees the secretary ’ s office , the Head Manager oversees the Staff Managers . The 14 member Student Staff breaks down as follows : All Staff members wear the OSUMB uniform and work throughout the entire school year in the band offices . The Student Staff and Alternates are in charge of holding the ladders for the directors for stability and for an official look on the field and sometimes perform a task known as “ Ramp Guard ” in which they line the on - field section of the ramp as a blockade for people who may be walking alongside the field . Uniformed staff members can fill a gap in the band , marching with a suitable instrument if needed . Traditions . Script Ohio . Script Ohio , the signature formation of The Ohio State University Marching Band , is performed before home games . Script Ohio was first performed by The Ohio State Marching Band on October 24 , 1936 at the Ohio State versus Indiana University football game . According to The Ohio State University Library , a similar floating formation was first performed during the 1932 season by the University of Michigan Marching band . The Script Ohio is the most identifiable trademark associated with Ohio State Football and The Ohio State University Marching Band . It was devised by band director Eugene J . Weigel , who based the looped " Ohio " script design on the marquee sign of the Loew ' s Ohio Theatre in downtown Columbus . The script is an integrated series of evolutions and formations . The band first forms a triple Block O formation , then slowly unwinds to form the famous letters while playing Robert Planquette ' s " Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse " . The drum major leads the outside O into a peel - off movement around the curves of the script , every musician in continual motion . Slowly the three blocks unfold into a long singular line which loops around , creating the OSUMB ' s trademark . Each time the formation drill is performed , a different fourth - or fifth - year sousaphone player is chosen to stand as the dot in the " i " of " Ohio . " Because the Script Ohio formation was one of many new formations included by director Weigel , no extra emphasis was placed on the dotting . Originally , an E - flat cornet player , John Brungart , was the first " i " - dotter . Brungart dotted the " i " two more times that season , in performances during halftime shows against Pittsburgh and Chicago . In the fall of 1937 , Weigel turned to Glen Johnson , a sousaphone player , and shouted , " Hey , you ! Switch places with the trumpet player in the dot . " A year later , when the drum major arrived at the top of the " i " three or four measures too early , Johnson turned and bowed to the crowd to use up the rest of the music . The crowd roared , and the bow has been part of the show since then . Glen then became the first sousaphone player to dot the " i " on October 23 , 1937 . Since then , a sousaphone player has dotted the " i " over 800 times . Today , toward the end of the formation , drum major and the " i " - dotter high - five each other . Then with 16 measures to go in the song , they strut to the top of the " i " . When they arrive , the drum major points to the spot , and the " i " - dotter turns and bows deeply to both sides of the stadium . At the 2009 Ohio State - USC game , sousaphonist Frank Cosenza Jr . took his position dotting the " i " . In the course of taking his bow , the bell of the sousaphone struck the cameraman filming him . Honorary " i " - dotters . Woody Hayes , Bob Hope , Jack Nicklaus , James " Buster " Douglas , OSU Presidents Novice Fawcett , Gordon Gee and their wives , the late composer Richard " Dick " Heine , Ann Droste , wife of retired director and former OSUMB member Dr . Paul Droste , and retired OSU ticket director Robert Ries , and John Glenn and his wife Annie Glenn are the select few non - band members who have had the honor of dotting the " i " . Dr . Jon R . Woods is the only non band member to dot the " i " during the only game where the OSUMB did Script Ohio twice . OSU alumnus , and founder , Chairman and CEO of The Limited Brands Leslie Wexner became the most recent honorary " tittle " , dotting the " i " on home side at the OSU - Akron game on September 3 , 2011 . Wexner was given this opportunity as a sign of gratitude and appreciation for his continued support for all of the university ' s academic pursuits . This is considered the greatest honor the band can bestow to any non - band member and is an extremely special ( and rare ) event . The fourth or fifth year Sousaphone player selected to dot the " i " for that specific game must give up their spot in order for an honorary member to dot the " i " . Although not the famous Script Ohio formation , John Glenn and his wife Annie Glenn returned to Ohio Stadium on September 22 , 2012 to dot the " i " in America during a NASA - themed halftime show paying tribute to Glenn ' s NASA accomplishments and time as an Ohio Senator . On November 19 , 2011 , Dr . Jon Woods , the marching band ' s director for the previous 28 years , dotted the " i " in his final home game directing the band . He was informed of the nomination by the band with a written note given to him in a special closed ceremony that morning . The November 19 , 2011 was a very special game containing two performances of Script Ohio , the first in its traditional pregame spot featured senior sousaphone player Jonathan Lampley dotting the " i " . Dr . Woods dotted the " i " in a special second performance of Script Ohio during halftime . Skull Session . During the Skull Session fans are treated to a variety of activities . Each week the band ' s " cheer groups " perform a song to go along with the football team ' s opponent of the week . The cheer groups are selected from their respective sections : Trumpet Cheers ( the oldest Cheer Group ) , Trombone Cheers , Horn Cheers , Baritone Cheers , Stadium Brass ( An instrument from every part of the band except percussion ) , Percussion Cheers ( playing Wipeout ) and the Tuba - Fours . At some point after the performances , a recent addition to the proceedings introduced by former Head Coach Jim Tressel , the football team enters to the sounds of " Fanfare for a New Era " . Immediately after their entrance a pre - selected Senior football player speaks to the band and fans amassed in St . John Arena followed by the Head Coach . Upon the football team ' s exit , the band commences with the traditions associated with the Skull Session . This includes performance of " Fight the Team Across the Field " first softly and slowly , and on the repeat of the chorus , at well beyond the normal dynamics and tempo . The band is also known for performing Eternal Father , Strong to Save , otherwise known as The Navy Hymn to formally begin every skull session concert . If a visiting band is in attendance they will perform their pre - game and halftime show , followed by the OSUMB ' s performance of pre - game and halftime . Ramp Entrance . The Ramp entrance is known as one of the most highly regarded traditions among band members , as well as extremely physically demanding . It can be known as three of the most grueling minutes a band member will endure , but , as accounted hundreds of times , one of tremendous pride for a member ' s accomplishments to be able to march ramp with The Ohio State University Marching Band . The percussion section ( JI Row ) is the first to march down the ramp , and onto the field ; not to cadences , rather cheers at a precise tempo of 180 beats per minute ( bpm ) . The snare drums perform a unique arm swing as everyone clearly chants O - H - I - O , OHIO over and over . A series of elaborately timed flanking maneuvers called the power " V " leads JI Row into their file in the block . The " Ramp " cadence is then played exactly 17 times in a row , also at 180 bpm , as the other rows in the band file down the ramp , onto the field , and into their positions . Once a row is placed , the members mark time until all rows are into position . As the final two rows , T and X file in , their squad leaders nod to the two sousaphone row ' s ( KL Row ) squad leaders , who then sound a loud blast on their whistles . The entire band responds to this call with a deafening yell of " Whistle ! " . After the last Ramp cadence is played , a roll - off is played , while the entire band ( except JI Row ) performs a conversion step maneuver , and a horns - up . The band proceeds to play the intro of Buckeye Battle Cry while marking time . This is followed by the verse , while the band goes into what is referred to as a " half - time step " ( mark time ) ; one step per every two beats . During the verse , a member ' s leg lift ( completion of a full chair step ) is crucial to a clean and precision view from the crowd . Also , during the verse , KL Row performs a special horn flash in which they tilt their bells slightly back , and swing their entire upper body , including their horn , to the tempo of their step . After the completion of the verse , the band proceeds to march southward down the field to two choruses of Buckeye Battle Cry . The band then executes a " halt , kick , down " , followed by a " step - forward about - face " . The Back Bend . During the introduction and verse of Buckeye Battle Cry , the drum major enters the stadium running down the ramp , then struts through the band and comes to the front of the ranks where he executes a back bend , forming his or her body into the shape of an O . After a dramatic pause , the drum major ’ s plume touches the turf while the band starts to play two choruses of the Buckeye Battle Cry while marching toward the South Stands . The drum major reaches the end zone and tosses the baton through the goal post as the band finishes the downfield march . The opposing team ' s fight song is played as a salute to their university returning the band to midfield before completing the pregame performance which typically includes the highly acclaimed Script Ohio . Uniforms . The OSUMB uniform is a complex outfit with many parts . The entire uniform consists of : Plume , Hat , Eagle Ohio , red beret with Diamond Ohio patch , short sleeve white dress shirt , black wool military tie , OSUMB dark Navy blue jacket , cross belts , breast plate for belts , waist plates for belts , dark Navy blue trousers with appropriate attaching ( belt or suspenders ) , spats , gloves , and military dress shoes . Early years . The current OSUMB uniform is very different from the earliest uniforms . The earliest band uniforms were military in style and were pieced together from U . S . military uniforms , particularly the Ohio State Navy ROTC cadet uniform . These uniforms were of the Prussian style with high collars and not too dissimilar in style to the modern US Marine dress uniform . The first hats worn by the band were of the Pershing style of military visor cap with military “ peace ” eagles as the hat emblem and “ powder puff ” plumes of red and gray dye . These plumes were called “ powder puff ” because of the very fine , almost down - like feathers with which they were constructed . Throughout the years the uniform changed just as the suppliers changed . When the OSUMB was placed under control of the ROTC , the uniforms became more standard . The ROTC required every band member to purchase their own uniform from the Lily Ames Co . in Columbus , Ohio . These uniforms were US Army blue with golden buttons with a shield of the Great Seal of Ohio on each button . The band had a shoulder patch that was placed on the right shoulder which was a red and gray oval . The left arm was reserved for a red shield patch that read U . S . R . O . T . C . The hat took on a more modern look as well , looking more like the modern military style hat . The chin strap was a rich golden color , adding color to the otherwise navy blue hat . The peace eagle remained , but an addition was made to the eagles , an extra banner that arced above the E . Pluribus Unum banner from the eagle ’ s beak . This banner simply read “ OHIO , ” earning the OSUMB ’ s peace eagles the nickname “ Eagle Ohio . ” These early Eagle Ohios were made in gold colored metal to match the buttons and chin strap of the uniform jacket and hat . The plumes took on more of the stick style that is still seen today . The uniform also consisted of West Point - style cross belts , military issue dress shoes , cloth spats , and white cotton gloves . Kappa Kappa Psi , the national honorary band fraternity , designed a special recognition bar for wear on band uniforms by brothers during these early days of college bands . This recognition bar is the same size and shape as a military ribbon , though made of metal . The bar is blue and white , separated along a diagonal axis , with the Greek letters K K Ψ along this diagonal . The letters are gold . This bar was to be worn on uniforms in the same manner as military ribbons , and the OSUMB allowed all KKY brothers to wear this bar . 1950s - 1980s . During the 1950s , the OSUMB ended ties with the ROTC , and around the same time , the Lily Ames Co . closed its doors . OSU bought the remaining uniforms from Lily Ames for use by the band . The band had custom patches created to be sewn on to the jacket shoulders . The right shoulder held a gray circular patch with a red buckeye leaf and around the edge of the patch read : The Ohio State University Buckeyes . The Left shoulder patch was a miniature of The Ohio State University seal . The patch was red with the edge reading : The Ohio State University . . Columbus . . ( the Columbus was placed between two cylinders giving the impression of the Columbus as being on a rolled scroll ) . On the lower right sleeve , a golden five - point star pointing downwards was sewn on to indicate a section leader . During this time , Tau Beta Sigma , the national honorary band sorority , became active in the OSUMB as well , even though women were not permitted to be in the band on the field . At this point , all of the sisters of the sorority were given unique uniforms . The sisters wore the same jacket , shirt , and tie as the band members . The sisters wore long military - style dress skirts , hose , and female style military dress shoes . The sisters wore their TBΣ recognition bar ( identical to the fraternity version ) on their uniforms . During the 1960s and 1970s , these uniforms were becoming outdated and needed to be replaced . The Fechheimer Bros . of Cincinnati created the next batch of uniforms for OSU . These uniforms were the same navy blue as the previous uniforms , except the buttons were changed to silver . At this time the chin straps were also changed to a silver material , and the Eagle Ohio was also forged in a silver metal instead of gold . The plumes took on the modern red and gray appearance and were constructed of tough turkey feathers to last . The spats were changed from cloth to vinyl during this time as well . The shoulder patches changed material , and for a period were manufactured on a red or gray felt - like material , giving the patches a fuzzy appearance . The uniforms changed very little from the 1970s until 1988 , except for things like hat manufacturer , a short period in which a large metal diamond Ohio replaced the Eagle Ohio , and the use of aluminum hat bands instead of the silver fabric type . During the directorship of Charles Spohn , the Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma recognition bars were banned from being worn on the uniform . This makes the OSUMB one of the very few marching bands that prohibits the wear of the recognition bar . 1988 remodel . In 1988 , Dr . Jon Woods commissioned the newest form of OSUMB uniform . The Fechheimer Bros . also constructed these uniforms . Everything visible was changed to some extent . These uniforms debuted for the homecoming game in 1989 . The list of changes is as follows : During the 1990s , the Fechheimer Bros . left the business of marching band uniforms and the Fruhauf Company took over . The Fruhauf uniforms were of slightly different styling , going back to button - down shoulder straps and removing the expansion panels behind the shoulders . From a distance there was no difference between the two styles , so the Fruhauf uniforms were purchased as needed to replace retired Fechheimer uniforms . 2005 changes . In 2005 , a benefactor to the OSUMB donated a significant amount of money to buy new uniforms for the entire band . The benefactor wanted to uniform the entire band and not just have the money used for replacement uniforms . Dr . Woods decided that additional small changes would help to give the band a new , fresh look for the 2006 season . The minimal changes include updated sleeve stripes ( new stripes consist of one red and one gray stripe ) to minimize the wearing out that the old stripes suffered ; uniform patch alignment ( Fechheimer aligned the patch with the Buckeye leaf to have the Buckeye leaf right side up , while Fruhauf aligned the same patch with the word Buckeyes at the bottom , which is a difference very small and only noticeable when the band is seen up close ) ; and a slit placed underneath the left breast pocket flap for the snare drums to attach their drums through ( the common practice through band history was to cut a hole underneath the pocket flap to allow the attachment clip to pass through the uniform ) . Drum Major Uniforms . The Drum Major ’ s uniform has gone through countless changes since “ Tubby ” Essington ’ s uniform in the early days of the band . Every drum major of the band is custom - tailored into their uniform . Shortly after drum major tryouts in the spring , the Fruhauf Uniform company sends a representative to take exact measurements of the drum major and assistant drum major . At this point , the drum major is free to take artistic license on the style of their uniform . They can choose to model their uniform on a style consistent since the 1950s , with minor changes or they may choose to make more striking changes , which require approval of the drum major coach and directing staff . Most drum majors only choose small modifications , such as wearing of tassles on the tall fur hat or the set up of any cords worn adorning the hat . The modern drum major uniform , chosen by most drum majors without significant altering , has its roots to the 1950s . The current drum major uniform consists of : Assistant Drum Major Uniform . The assistant drum major ’ s uniform has its roots in the uniform of the old OSU military band ( originally the marching band , being the only band , served as the military band . Later , there was a separate military band , and each band had a drum major . The marching band ’ s drum major wore a decorative uniform while the military band ’ s drum major wore the military uniform of the era ) . This uniform is also custom - fit to the assistant drum major . The assistant drum major is fitted for both the assistant and main drum major uniforms , as the assistant wears full uniform for post game performances , double Script Ohio , and on all away trips . The assistant drum major uniform contains : There are no spats worn with this uniform and the shoes are of the same Bates style . Director Uniforms . The directing staff has worn uniforms of differing style to the marching band since its inception . The uniforms took on a style similar to the U . S . Navy ’ s double - breasted dress jacket in the 1940s and 1950s , except manufactured from black material , distinctly different from the color of band member uniforms . Directing staff had two thin golden stripes running around the circumference of the cuff area of the sleeves , similar to the U . S . Navy ’ s ranking system stripes . Directing staff also wore two lapel pins which were matching lyre - shaped insignia . These were gold along with all of the buttons on the uniforms . The directors wore the same hat as the marching band minus the plume . The uniform eventually changed to have a sleeve ranking structure under Dr . Paul Droste . His uniform had three stripes denoting him as director , and the assistant director , Dr . Jon Woods , had two stripes . Dr . Droste also was the first to use a military style hat with the “ scrambled eggs ” visor ( which are just acorns and leaves ) . Dr . Woods continued this tradition with his uniform hat . The directing staff today wears the following : The shoes are the same as the students in the band . Instruments . The OSUMB uses only the brass and percussion instruments listed below . Accolades . The Ohio State University Marching Band has been honored with The Sudler Trophy for outstanding college band , and in 1988 was featured in a multi - page article in " USA Today " . The band has also performed in seven Inaugural Parades . The band represented the State of Ohio during the inaugurations of Herbert Hoover , Richard Nixon ( 1969 and 1973 ) , George H . W . Bush , George W . Bush ( 2001 and 2005 ) , and Barack Obama ( 2009 ) . During the October 6 , 2012 football game between University of Nebraska – Lincoln and Ohio State University , the Band performed a tribute to video games , containing music from games such as " Pokemon " , " Super Mario Bros . " , " Halo " , " Tetris " , " Pac - Man " and " The Legend of Zelda " . During the performance , the band executed arrangements based on these video games , including a falling set of " Tetris " blocks , and an animated galloping figure of the horse Epona . A fan ' s recording of the performance posted to YouTube the next day soon became a viral video , spread in part through video game fans that were directed to the video . The band ' s interim director at the time , Jon Waters , had planned for the performance based on the national broadcast of the night game , and that the video game theme would resonate with the college students that had grown up with the games . With the widespread attention to the performance , the school promoted Waters from interim to permanent band director .