Ohio State holds a 65–23–2 record when playing for Illibuck and has won 9 consecutive.
95 years ago, Illibuck, Ohio State's only trophy game came into existence. At the time, Illinois was the Buckeyes' most hated rival. To raise the stakes of the annual contest to another level, Ohio State's honor society Bucket and Dippper and Atius-Sachem of Illinois decided to make it a trophy game.
To honor the yearly battle, the best and brightest in the two honor societies decided a living turtle was the proper trophy to represent the longevity of the rivalry. The thinking behind a live turtle was the expected life span of the salmonella spreading reptile. If the Buckeye won the game, Bucket and Dipper would keep the turtle named Illibuck and if the Fighting Illini won, Atius-Sachem would claim the terrapene.
We'll come back to the eventual demise of the turtle and why it became a wooden trophy. First, let's take a quick dive into the inaugural Illibuck match-up.
Between 1919 and 1933, the game against Illinois was Ohio State's season finale 13 times. That's right kids, Michigan did not become the Buckeyes' annual regular season last game until 1935 (with the exception of 1942). 1925 was the perfect year for the Illibuck Trophy series to begin.
So, why was 1925 the perfect year to begin the battle for Illibuck? It was the sensational Harold "Red" Grange's final collegiate game and it was being held in the recently built football shrine named Ohio Stadium.
Red Grange, a Record Crowd and Illibuck
To say there was a buzz for the senior's visit would be an understatement. 84,295 fans – the largest crowd to observe a sporting event in our country's history at the time – packed into Ohio Stadium to watch the Galloping Ghost and his Illini face the Buckeyes.
Living up to the hype, Grange led Illinois to victory over Ohio State. He threw a 13-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to put his Illini up 14-2 at the half. Late in the third quarter, the Buckeyes scored to make it a five-point game, but Grange stepped up to make two interceptions in the game's final two minutes to seal the win.
Illibuck hit the road to take up residence in Champaign for the next 365 days.
In 1926, Ohio State traveled to Memorial Stadium for the second game in the Illibuck series and the second time for the Buckeyes to play in Illinois' new home. Trailing 7-0 in the fourth quarter, Robert Zuppke's Illini crossed the goal line to pull within one. However, the extra point was missed and Ohio State claimed its first victory in the new trophy game and its first victory in Memorial Stadium.
Illibuck was heading back to where it belonged, Columbus. And that is where its short life would end.
it was decided to fill the bathtub with booze and let Illibuck go for a swim.
Death Beckons
Officially Illibuck's demise on April 13, 1927 occurred in the Bucket and Dipper's bathtub. The uncertainty is based on what caused the untimely passing. Did the turtle possess a defective heart? Was the water too hot and turn Illibuck into turtle soup? Was foul play afoot? Maybe, but there's an unofficial story that should be considered.
The most likely cause of death has been passed on by word of mouth through the years. The story goes something like this. The members of Bucket and Dipper had a spring party and decided to allow Illibuck to be part of the festivities. During the celebration a great plan was hatched, and it was decided to to fill the bathtub with booze and let Illibuck go for a swim. That genius idea led to Illibuck ending its life through alcohol poisoning.
That's right, Illibuck was undone by swimming in a bathtub filled with hooch. Instead of acquiring another turtle, that would likely endure a similar fate, it was rightfully decided to turn Illibuck into a wooden trophy.
