Tune of the Day: Buckeye Battle Cry
“Buckeye Battle Cry”, composed by vaudeville performer and songwriter Frank Crumit, is one of two fight songs of the Ohio State Buckeyes, the other being Across the Field. Every football game in Ohio Stadium begins with a ramp entrance by the Ohio State University Marching Band performed to “Buckeye Battle Cry”. The song is also played after every Buckeye score.
Although Crumit was not an OSU student and was, in fact, a graduate of Ohio University, he had many friends in Columbus and was a Buckeye fan. When planning began for Ohio Stadium, the search for new fight songs to play in it also began. When a song contest was announced for in the spring of 1919, Crumit wrote and entered “Buckeye Battle Cry”. It won, and was published. By 1928, with the first ramp entrance, the song was firmly in place as one of the main symbols of Ohio State.
Thanks to Sueann for suggesting this piece!