Ohio State is bringing in a Buckeyes legend to ring the Victory Bell, a new tradition being implemented by the football team this season. Former OSU running back Archie Griffin will be the first to do so for the season opener against Texas at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, athletic director Ross Bjork revealed. Bjork […]
Ohio State is bringing in a Buckeyes legend to ring the Victory Bell, a new tradition being implemented by the football team this season. Former OSU running back Archie Griffin will be the first to do so for the season opener against Texas at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, athletic director Ross Bjork revealed.
Bjork went into detail on exactly what that means, explaining that Griffin would be tasked with ringing the bell when the team runs out of the tunnel and onto the field. He will also ring it on third downs when the Buckyes are playing defense.
“The first game, Archie Griffin is our victory bell ringer,” Bjork said. “The victory bell will be rung before the game to signify that’s the time for the team to enter the field. The victory bell will also continue to be rang postgame by Alpha Phi Omega, but we really want an honorary figure. A former player, somebody connected to Ohio State — some celebrity perhaps — to really be the one that pulls that rope on the victory bell.
“Then on third down, that will be the third down signal. When we need a stop on third down, the victory bell will be what signifies our fans to get into it. If you look at the victory bell tower, above it it says, ‘For vigor.’ That means energy, effort and enthusiasm. So we want the victory bell, every time its run, to signify ‘for vigor.'”
Griffin, who played for Ohio State from 1972-76, is still the all-time leading rusher in school history with 5,177 yards and 25 touchdowns. He won back-to-back Heisman Trophies as a junior and senior, and his No. 45 jersey is retired by the school.
There’s perhaps no better player to lead the charge in welcoming in a new tradition for the university. The atmosphere is sure to be electric in Columbus that day for what is a rematch of last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal game.
The Buckeyes won that contest and then went on to defeat the Longhorns in the national championship, but a lot has changed with both programs from a year ago. Ohio State should still be confident in itself especially with the home field advantage and a player like Griffin leading the charge. Kick time for the contest is set for noon ET on Aug. 30 and will be televised nationally on FOX.
Category: General Sports
