By: Carmen Ohio

Carmen Ohio
Tue, 26 Nov 2013 08:23:29 +0000

The Mirror Lake jump has been around since 1902. In those days, lower classmen were thrown in by upper classmen. The practice was later protested, and a cap burning session, by lower classmen was to be held; ending somewhat violently; with 103 underclassmen thrown into the river. tOSU at the time tried to end the practice, but Bucket & Dipper, as well as the various greek organizations continued the hazing practice for a few more years.

The practice was later ended for a few years, until the 1950s, during May Week, when people were jumping in on their own for school spirit. May Week of that era and TTUN week began to take on similar traditions; traditions that would eventually lead to the modern day Mirror Lake jump.

A 1950 Lantern article shows that then-football coach Wesley Fesler was upset by the lack of spirit among tOSU students and asked students to attend a final pep rally before the Michigan game. There was a torchlight parade led by the TBDBITL throughout the campus area in order to bring the students to the rally.

A 1953 Lantern article states that the May Week “kick-off” rally took place in Mirror Lake Hollow and was preceded by a march through the University District, led by none other than the band.

As May Week took on less meaning and “Beat Michigan Week” took on more, the tradition of the band leading students to a rally became a niché in “Beat Michigan” culture.

BTW: This was also how “The Phantom Band” came to be during the tradition. ;-)

Now you know… GO BUCKS!