I'll never forget the first time I heard someone put the now ubiquitous emphasis on the The in The Ohio State University: during freshman orientation the summer I enrolled at OSU.
My folks and I had come up for the event, and after walking across the man bridge from West Campus toward the Towers, we were herded into an auditorium at Drake Union (truthfully, that was the only time I think I was ever in that building). President William English "Brit" Kirwan gave the opening speech... I don't remember anything at all about what he said (it was probably something about the Academic Plan or the Diversity Plan, which were really big topics during my years on campus), but I remember vividly that he really punched the The as though it were a personal point of pride rather than a mere definite article.
I wasn't the only one who noticed, as it turns out. As we walked out of the session, Mom leaned over and asked, "What's with all the Thee-s?" Good question, Mom, I really have no clue, I thought.
Growing up a Buckeye fan, I don't recall people placing so much emphasis on the definite article in the name of our university, but obviously over the past decade, we've all more or less done it, and other people have noticed. While I've heard multiple explanations for the origin of the emphasis, several of which are outlined in the pieces linked previously, we know that the proper name of the university is The Ohio State University, and has been since it was renamed from the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College.
When do you remember the emphatic The going mainstream? Is it a relatively new piece of our collective lexicon, or does the practice predate me (and President Kirwan)?
I first remember it being used in the mid 90s by nfl alumn such as Eddie George, Orlando pace, etc... In the Monday night player intros they used to do for starting lineups.
"Eddie George, running back, The Ohio State University."
and fwiw, http://library.osu.edu/find/collections/the-ohio-state-university-archives/buckeye-history/faqs#1
Great find...people in the south think we started saying it recently to be smug. Now I can tell them its always been that way, and that they should shut the f up!
first saw it on Monday Night football when the Buckeye alums would proudly expound "the". I think it was in the 80's.
Thanks for all the great info! Always glad to learn something new about THE Ohio State University.
Trivia question: Anyone else know the other two institutions that have "The" in the official title? The Citadel and ...
Most universities have THE in their official title.
We've always been known as "THE Ohio State University", a lot of other schools have "the" in their title ("THE Pennsylvania State University"), we just like to play up the modifier.
For example, our seal's always been proud of our name:
I recall that it was Gee during his first stint at Columbus. He was wanting to raise the academic standards of the school. Some of this involved raising the
entrance requirements, but some of it had to do with his commercials that he was doing at the time selling the school during televised games. You had Gee with his iconic bowtie and his enthusiasm selling the school hard. "The" was the labelling of the school as elite.
It caught on with the football players, mostly because Gee is fairly popular among the students, and I think a lot of the players saw it as their own special mark, kinda like "the U" for Miami alums.
yup, that's how I remember it too. Gee was prez when I went to The Ohio State University (back in 94) and he always made it a point in his speeches to say our school name with pride.
Mostly it's there to piss off people who went to/attend OU, which is the best thing.
"Oh, our school is older, wahh".
Cool story, bro—I attended THE Ohio State University.
Taquitos.
Great stories, I first remember it from MNF player intros during the early 90's.
I remember seeing it termed as "The Ohio State University" on admission materials even back in my pre-student days, and this was 1979-80. And so far as I know, it's always been The OSU on the midgame PSAs they run during football telecasts, as least as far back as the '80s.
But I don't know when calling it THE Ohio State University became something that people who aren't fans, students, or alumni would notice. I do know it pisses lots of people off unnaturally--I've even seen it cited as a primary reason why we're allegedly so hated.
The most "loud mouth, disrespect" poster on 11W.
Ditto, I think it's always been The Ohio State University on paper and within the community, but I had the impression that the THE was more of a modern phenomenon...
YES - I head this all the time from non-Ohio State friends, to the point that in some circles it's a running joke... and that drives me crazy!
I dunno. At the ripe old age of 27 I've always called it THE Ohio State University for as far as I can remember. In my opinion the origin of the "THE" is the same as the origin of why fire is hot, why light is bright, and why Catfish Biff's is delicious. The answer? Because it just is.