45K celebrate homecoming of national champions

Yann Schreiber
Sat, 24 Jan 2015 21:09:30 +0000
Area, Campus, Local, National, Photos, celebration, College Football Playoff National Championship, Football, Ohio Stadium, osu

Members of the OSU football team exit the tunnel during the introduction of a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Approximately 45,000 fans attended. Credit: Kelly Roderick / Lantern photographer

Members of the OSU football team exit the tunnel during the introduction of a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Approximately 45,000 fans attended. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

OSU fans cheer during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Yann Schreiber / Lantern reporter

Members of the OSU Marching Band make their way down the ramp during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Approximately 45,000 fans attended. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

An OSU cheerleader rallies a crowd of approximately 45,000 during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Brutus Buckeye mingles with fans during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Kelly Roderick / Lantern photographer

OSU fan Jacob Jarvis takes the field during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Jarvis, a one-time honorary captain, has been heavily involved with the team during the 2014 season. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

OSU athletic director Gene Smith (in red) is presented with ‘The Undisputed Way’ sign, a street sign that will be placed at the corner of Lane and High streets on campus to pay homage to the Buckeyes’ 8th national championship, during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Kelly Roderick / Lantern photographer

U.S. Congressman and OSU alumnus Pat Tiberi addresses the crowd during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Approximately 45,000 fans attended. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Members of the OSU Marching Band take the field during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Kelly Roderick / Lantern photographer

Members of the OSU football team survey the stadium during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Kelly Roderick / Lantern photographer

OSU president Michael Drake addresses the crowd during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Approximately 45,000 fans attended. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Senior quarterback Braxton Miller (left) and sophomore defensive lineman Joey Bosa share a laugh during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Coach Urban Meyer (left) is embraced by sophomore running back Ezekiel Elliott during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Coach Urban Meyer addresses the crowd during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Kelly Roderick / Lantern photographer

Coach Urban Meyer lifts the Coaches’ Trophy, recognizing OSU as the top-ranked team in the country, during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Senior tight end Jeff Heuerman lifts the Coaches’ Trophy, recognizing OSU as the top-ranked team in the country, during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Coach Urban Meyer (left), senior tight end Jeff Heuerman (center) and senior wide receiver Evan Spencer lift the AP National Championship Trophy, recognizing OSU as the top-ranked team in the country, during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Coach Urban Meyer lifts the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Yann Schreiber / Lantern reporter

Coach Urban Meyer and senior wide receiver Evan Spencer hug during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Meyer recognized Spencer as a 2014 team captain during the ceremony. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Senior wide receiver Evan Spencer lifts the AP National Championship Trophy, recognizing OSU as the top-ranked team in the country, during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Senior tight end Jeff Heuerman kisses the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Yann Schreiber / Lantern reporter

Fans lift up signs in the crowd during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Kelly Roderick / Lantern photographer

Sophomore running back Ezekiel Elliott lets out a yell during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Redshirt-sophomore quarterback Cardale Jones celebrates by waving a rally towel during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Sophomore defensive lineman Joey Bosa performs his signature shrug during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Kelly Roderick / Lantern photographer

Senior quarterback Braxton Miller (left), redshirt-sophomore quarterback Cardale Jones (center) and redshirt-freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett address the crowd during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. After a preseason injury to Miller, Barrett and Jones both contributed under center for the Buckeyes. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Senior quarterback Braxton Miller (left) hands the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy to redshirt-sophomore quarterback Cardale Jones during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Shelley Meyer, wife of coach Urban Meyer celebrates during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Yann Schreiber / Lantern reporter

Members of the OSU football team gather during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Kelly Roderick / Lantern photographer

OSU players lead the stadium in ‘Quick Cals’ during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

OSU players sing ‘Carmen Ohio’ during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Shelley Meyer (left), coach Urban Meyer, senior tight end Jeff Heuerman and sophomore defensive lineman Joey Bosa sing ‘Carmen Ohio’ during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

OSU cheerleaders and fans sing ‘Carmen Ohio’ during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

OSU fans cheer during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Yann Schreiber / Lantern reporter

OSU players sing ‘Carmen Ohio’ during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Kelly Roderick / Lantern photographer

Junior offensive lineman Taylor Decker greets fans during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Sophomore running back Ezekiel Elliott greets fans during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Approximately 45,000 fans attended. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

OSU fans extend pens and memorabilia toward freshman cornerback Eli Apple to autograph during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Approximately 45,000 fans attended. Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor

Sophomore running back Ezekiel Elliott greets fans during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Kelly Roderick / Lantern photographer

Coach Urban Meyer interviews with members of the media during a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Yann Schreiber / Lantern reporter

Coach Urban Meyer and wife Shelley Meyer exit Ohio Stadium after a national championship celebration for the Buckeyes on Jan. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Yann Schreiber / Lantern reporter

About 45,000 fans cheered for the Ohio State football team at Ohio Stadium on Saturday in what was the Buckeyes’ second public celebration at OSU after winning the National Championship in Texas.

The first welcome event, meant to be just for students, was held at the Ohio Union on Friday.

The event at Ohio Stadium included an appearance from the OSU Marching Band, crowd cheers and speeches, including Mayor Michael Coleman announcing in a video message that a street sign will be placed at Lane Avenue and High Street, naming it “The Undisputed Way.”

Andrew Ginther, president of the Columbus City Council, presented the sign to Coach Urban Meyer at the ceremony.

“The spirit of Ohio State is second to none,” OSU President Michael Drake said after initiating three “OH-IO” chants — some of which were met with boos. “Ohio State showed everyone what it means to cheer.”

In his video message to fans, players and coaches, Coleman recognized that the team has “overcome adversity” to win the national championship.

“They are very humble guys,” Meyer said of the team, and “the most selfless group of players and people I have ever been around.”

He recognizd several players, including the “magnificent three,” as Meyer called quarterbacks Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones.

“I dedicate the season to the two guys on my left and right,” Jones, a redshirt-sophomore, said, as all three OSU quarterbacks held the National Championship trophy on stage.

Representatives Patrick Tiberi, R-Ohio, and Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, also brought greetings from Washington, D.C., to the ‘Shoe.

“We love you in Washington,” Beatty said.

“The nation now knows that Ohio State has the best football team and the best fans in the land,” Tiberi added.

Five trophies were handed over to the Buckeyes, including the Big Ten championship trophy and the Sugar Bowl Classic championship trophy.

Michael Kelly, chief operating officer of the College Football Playoff, handed the national championship trophy to Meyer.

“History books will always remember that it was Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes who won (the first National Championship),” Kelly said.

American Football Coaches Association Associate Director Gary Darnell presented this year’s AFCA Coaches’ trophy to Meyer and the team.

“The trophy is a symbol of supremacy in college football since 1986,” he said to cheers of the crowd.

Eva Parziale, the Associated Press’ East regional director, awarded the AP College Football National Champion Trophy.

“The trophy (has) existed since 1936,” she said, adding that it’s the fifth time the award has been given to OSU.

“It was one of our dreams this season,” Barrett said of the national championship win in North Texas.

Senior wide receiver Evan Spencer, sophomore defensive lineman Joey Bosa and sophomore running back Ezekiel Elliott were among the players Meyer recognized at the ceremony.

“It means so much to me,” both Elliott and Spencer said.

Students, alumni and other fans attended the celebration in the ‘Shoe.

“It was awesome, cool (and) insane,” said Josie Darr, a second-year in animal sciences.

Speaking of the next season, she added, “I hope we can keep up the momentum.”

“It was a great combination of band, team, politicians,” said Deb Miller, an alumna who works at the Office of Student Life.

Miller said she attended the national championship game with her her husband, Bob Miller, a Columbus native.

Even though he said that AT&T Stadium is impressive, Bob Miller added that “nothing beats the ‘Shoe.”

“This is where we belong,” Deb Miller said.

Kenny Turscak, a second-year in world politics, said it was nice to have the ceremony.

“It’s a good way to end the season,” Turscak said.

Krzna Ziyad, a third-year in early childhood education, said she always believed that the Buckeyes would bring home the championship trophy.

“I never doubted for a second (that we would win the National Championship),” Ziyad said. “It was good that they brought something here.”