COLUMBUS -- Simple banquets with hundreds of fans mingling with football players used to be the typical way that Ohio State celebrated its national championship.
Not this year. The university expects thousands of scarlet-and-gray clad fans to attend today's 45-minute pep rally in Ohio Stadium to celebrate the Buckeyes' double overtime win over Miami in the Fiesta Bowl.
The 1942 championship team had defeated the Iowa Seahawks in a season with no bowl game. About 600 fans attended the annual appreciation banquet in the men's gym.
Back then, people had war and not football celebrations on their minds.
"We won the national title and what happened shortly thereafter is that most of us had to go into military service," said Charles Csuri, a tackle on the '42 Buckeyes. "Of course, we were very proud of what had happened, but no big deal was made of it."
Ohio State also won championships in 1954, 1957 and 1968.
"I don't remember anything at all. I think maybe we had a banquet afterward," said Thomas Dillman, who played center and linebacker on the 1954 team that beat Southern Cal 20-7 in the Rose Bowl.
Dave Foley, who played on the offensive line in 1968 and was a captain, said the team was honored at halftime of a men's basketball game 10 days after its 27-16 win over USC in the Rose Bowl.
"There were no ticker-tape parades," he said. "We got a round of applause during halftime of a basketball game. Maybe I got called on to say something, basically, that it was a great experience and thanked the fans for their support, and then we went on with life."
Dirk Worden, a captain on the 1968 team, said he expects Saturday's celebration will be "off the charts." The Ohio State band will perform "Script Ohio" in the 101,568-seat stadium, and speakers are to include coach Jim Tressel and players, university President Karen Holbrook and Gov. Bob Taft.
"I think a lot of it is just the fact that fans have waited so long and had so many heartbreaks," Worden said. "Plus, the way these kids won was fabulous."
BRIDGE CLOSED: The Lane Avenue Bridge is closed to vehicular traffic and motorists should allow plenty of extra time. The posted detour is north on Olentangy River Road, east on Dodridge, and south on either Neil Avenue or High Street. Pedestrians may cross the river at Lane Avenue, off of Olentangy River Road, via a temporary pedestrian bridge.
PARKING: Guests are strongly encouraged to park in lots on West Campus (shuttle service provided), the Schottenstein Center, or the agricultural campus. The West Campus lots are on Carmack Road, which is west of Kenny Road between Lane Avenue and Kinnear Road. Carmack Road is also accessible south of Lane Avenue between North Star and Kenny roads. The free parking is also available in any campus parking garage, including the Northwest and Tuttle garages.
General parking will not be permitted in lots immediately to the east and west of the stadium, the St. John Arena lot (due to a wrestling tournament) or the Tuttle surface lots just north of Blackwell Inn.
SHUTTLES: A free shuttle will provide continuous service from the West Campus lots to the stadium, beginning at 9 a.m. through one hour after the event ends. A complete parking map is available at http://www.tp.ohio-state.edu/quickpost/fiestabowl/champscelebration.shtml
SECURITY: Prohibited items include coolers, backpacks, large handbags, umbrellas, chair-back seats, banners and signs, mace and similar substances or weapons of any type. Guests are encouraged to bring cameras, video recorders and blankets.
NBC 4: Live cut-ins throughout morning from tail-gaiters arriving early; Special review of OSU season, 12-1 p.m.; Celebration at Ohio Stadium commercial-free, 1-2 p.m.
Originally published Saturday, January 18, 2003
