OSU bobblehead commemorates ‘Buckeye Battle Cry’
To celebrate National Bobblehead Day, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee unveiled on Wednesday an officially licensed, limited-edition Ohio State Buckeyes School Song Bobblehead featuring the school’s mascot, Brutus Buckeye, that plays “Buckeye Battle Cry” at the push of a button.
The special edition bobblehead is being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of The Ohio State University. They are expected to ship in March.
Each bobblehead is individually numbered to only 1,919 to commemorate the year when “Buckeye Battle Cry” was adopted as Ohio State’s fight song. Standing on a circular scarlet and white base that reads “OHIO STATE” across the front along with the OSU logo, the Brutus Buckeye bobblehead is wearing his signature striped scarlet and gray sweater and giving the No. 1 sign. The backing of the base reads “GO BUCKEYES!”
The base features a button that plays the school song after it is pushed. The “Buckeye Battle Cry” is a spirited fight song about rallying the “eleven warriors” (football team) to victory, urging them to “drive on down the field” in scarlet and gray and overcome the opponent, celebrating Buckeye pride with shouts of “O-HI-O!” It’s a central tradition, used at the start of games, after scores and during the iconic Script Ohio performance to unite fans in loud support for OSU athletics.
Planning for the construction of Ohio Stadium resulted in a contest in 1919 to create new school fight songs. Frank Crumit, an alumnus of Ohio University but a Buckeye fan, wrote “Buckeye Battle Cry” and submitted it to the contest. By late 1919, students were singing it at games at the old Ohio Field, and lyrics were distributed by student groups like Boost Ohio, who received the copyright proceeds. The marching band plays the verse and chorus as it descends the stadium steps before every home game, a tradition since at least 1928. The chorus features the rallying cry “Come on Ohio!” or “O-HI-O!” with fans often doing the arm motions.

