The Ohio State University Marching Band (OSUMB) is a university marching band named for and a part of Ohio State University. The band, nicknamed The Best Damn Band in the Land (TBDBITL) (pronounced ), performs at football games and other events during the fall semester. It is one of the few collegiate all-brass and percussion bands in the country, and sometimes deemed the largest of its type in the world.

History The band was initially founded in 1878 as a student-led fife and drum corps that provided music for the university ROTC program. In 1896, university officials hired Gustav Bruder as the first band director. Under Bruder's leadership, the band grew in size, and, after merging with the short-lived Varsity Band in 1920, introduced its first "modern" drum major, Edwin "Tubby" Essington. Essington introduced a style of showmanship to the position that had not been seen previously, a style which is emulated today.

In 1928, the band introduced the Ramp Entrance, which survives virtually unchanged today. That same year, Eugene J. Weigel became band director. During his tenure, Weigel introduced many of the hallmarks of the OSUMB, including floating and animated formations, the uniforms, and Script Ohio. Weigel also established the size of the band at 120 members and introduced the distinctive all-brass and percussion instrumentation of the ensemble in 1934.

In 1952, the band split from the ROTC and came under the auspices of the School of Music. As a result, the band began to experiment with more modern styles of music, eventually leading to the introduction of the band's arrangement of "Hang On, Sloopy" in 1965. In 1957, director Jack Evans moved the band's pregame rehearsal to the newly built St. John Arena. Over time, this pregame rehearsal evolved into the traditional Skull Session that occurs before each home game.

Also during this period, Charles Spohn introduced the annual Alumni Reunion, which was first held in 1966 and continues to this day.

Paul Droste became band director in 1970 and began to expand the band for the first time in over 40 years in 1972. After the passing of Title IX legislation in 1973, women joined the band for the first time. The band would further expand to 225 members shortly thereafter.

Jon Woods began his tenure as director in 1984. Under his leadership, the band was awarded the Sudler Trophy. In 2001, the band moved from its longtime rehearsal hall inside Ohio Stadium to the newly built Steinbrenner Band Center.

In the 2010s, the band added three percussion spots, coming to its current size of 228.

World War Two Years: low enrollment forces compromises

The Pearl Harbor attack followed OSU’s 1941 football season. Though the number of enlisted military on campus would grow, civilian enrollment soon declined. Some 8259 men were enrolled for fall 1941; by fall 1942 it was 7605 men,Katz, Leon. “Male Enrollment is Down.” Ohio State Lantern, 3 December 1942, 2. and only 6567 men for winter (January-March) 1943.”Enrollment Story Corrected.” Ohio State Lantern, 16 February 1943, 2.

The band was still at full strength for fall 1942,”Musicians to March Again.” Ohio State Lantern, 6 November 1942, 6 (“The 120-piece Marching Band.” but enrollment was steadily declining, from 1940-41’s 14,056 to spring 1943’s 7,255.Enrollment Cut in Half Since War.” Ohio State Lantern, 21 April 1943, 2. The band's most compromised season was 1943; it could not maintain its traditional size or all-brass instrumentation. A few days before its 25 September 1943 season opener, the student newspaper reported that “To date only 60 men have appeared for rehearsals and there is a possibility that women may have to be added. Present plans are for a singing-marching chorus to supplement the less than 20 instrumentalists expected.” New director Willam B. McBride considered 120 members a 'must,' explaining that ‘All our formations are built on a 12-by-10 pattern. If we don’t get 120 men, then we’ll have to take 120 women’—though the band was then “under the wing of the military department and to use either an all-girl band or a mixed band would mean loss of military status.”“OSU Marching Band May Be Feminine Unit.” Lima News, 23 September 1943, 12. Also, before 1943’s first game, the Ohio State Lantern announced the band’s plans: “there is a possibility that women may have to be added. Present plans all for a singing-marching chorus to supplement the less than 120 instrumentalists expected.”“Reeds and Chorus Added to Famed Marching Band.” Ohio State Lantern, 22 September 1943, 6.

The Lima (OH) News likewise noted that “Present plans, initiated by Prof. Eugene J. Weigel, music department chairman and former band director call for a marching-singing group, with vocalists used to supplement the less-than-120 instrumentalists who are expected to show up. The all-brass band, set up by Weigel in 1934--the first in the country--is ‘out’…[according to] McBride…with woodwinds cordially invited to attend.”“OSU Marching Band May Be Feminine Unit.” Lima News, 23 September 1943, 12. The band did not appear at the 25 September opener: “Never before has an Ohio State band been absent from a game after the beginning of classes….Filling in at the last moment and doing the job very capably was the all-soldier band made up of members from the ASTP unit stationed on campus.”“Ersatz--But Good.” Ohio State Lantern, 28 September 1943, 4.

The 1943 band's debut was at the 2 October game on campus: “Ohio state’s no longer all-brass Marching Band”…. which for the first time in nine years will use woodwinds in addition to brass instruments, will be the same high-stepping outfit as always, Professor McBride added….A new feature this year will be a twenty-voice chorus which will supplement the band.”“Chorus, Woodwinds New Addition to Marching Band.” Ohio State Lantern, Tues. 28 September 1943, 3. Only 100 men took the field for that performance,Sprain, Jeanne. “Famous Buck Marching Band Has Proud History.” Ohio State Lantern, 8 October 1943, 1. (“100 pairs of feet….Although the band is a little different this year with the addition of woodwinds and a chorus”) but the student newspaper remained supportive: “Although the all-male aggregation boasted only 100 members, including a marching group, the performance was of the same outstanding caliber as those of the 120-piece organization of past years.””Buckeye Marching Band Thrills Crowd During Half.” Ohio State Lantern, 4 October 1943, 6.

The band’s 1944 season—apparently without woodwinds—began with an undersized complement: “Cyril Costoff…drum major…to head the 100-piece band. ‘We expect to have the full 120-piece band for the [21 October] game, [Concert Band director John C.] Worley added.”“Marching Band To Make Grid Debut Saturday for Iowa-State Game.” Ohio State Lantern, 4 October 1944, 2. In mid-October, director McBride “asked for 15 to 50 more volunteers, both instrument players and marchers, to strut their stuff at the halves,” “A Bigger Band.” Ohio State Lantern, 13 October 1944, 4. Indeed, for the 21 October game against the Great Lakes Navy team, the band fielded 120 men,Clayton, Loraine. “Five Newsreel Agencies to Record Game Saturday." Ohio State Lantern, 20 October 1944, 1. and for 1945, following the war’s end, the band had no problem marching 120 instrumentalists.”Band Will Play.” The Lima (OH) News, 27 September 1945, 19.

2014 investigation The band made national headlines in the summer of 2014 following the release of an internal investigation into the band's culture and reported incidents of hazing. On July 22, 2014, Ohio State University released an investigation report titled "Complaint against Jonathan Waters, Director of the OSU Marching Band." In the report, the university's Office of Compliance and Integrity found that the band's "culture facilitated acts of sexual harassment" and that then-director Jon Waters knew or reasonably should have known about this culture."

On July 24, 2014, following a two-month investigation into complaints of a "sexualized" culture amongst band members, Waters was fired by the university. Waters later denied the report's characterizations of the band and of his actions.

A second investigation was led by former Ohio attorney general Betty Montgomery. The task force report, released on November 18, 2014, identified a number of issues within the band, making 37 recommendations for changes, but also criticized Ohio State University for decades of lax oversight and inadequate resources for enforcing compliance. The task force final report included results of a survey of 278 then current and recent former band members (see Appendix D). The survey seemed to contradict many of the university's claims about Mr. Waters and the band.

New era Following Waters' firing, Ohio State alumnus Christopher Hoch was promoted from interim director to director of marching and athletic bands. Under Hoch's leadership, the band performed at the 2015 NFL International Series game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills at Wembley Stadium, the 2018 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the 2019, 2022, and 2025 Rose Bowls.

In March 2026, the band traveled to Ireland to perform in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland, along with additional performances and appearances throughout the country. On October 10, 2026, the band will celebrate the 90th anniversary of Script Ohio.

Directors Source: NameYearsGustav Bruder 1896–1928 Eugene J. Weigel 1929–1938 Manley R. Whitcomb 1939–43, 1946–51 William B. McBride 1943–45 Jack Oliver Evans 1952–1963 Charles L. Spohn 1964–69 Paul Edwin Droste 1970–83 Jon R. Woods 1984–2011Jonathan Waters2012–2014Christopher Hoch2015–present

Associate Directors NameYearsJack O. Evans1950-1951Charles Spohn1962-1963Jon R. Woods1974-1983Christopher Hoch2013-2014Phillip Day2015-Present

Assistant Directors NameYearsMilford Landis 1921-1923 Elvin Donaldson 1923-1932 Manley R. Whitcomb 1936-1938 Clare Grundman 1937-1940 Donald E. McGinnis 1941, 1946 John C. Worley 1942-1944 Justin Gray 1945 Jack O. Evans1947-1949Forrest Stoll1948-1955Charles Spohn1951-1963Richard Suddendorf1956-1957Fred Dart1963-1965Paul Droste1966-1968Donald Hower1969James Jones1969Charles Temple1972-1973Willie Sullivan1974-1985Paul F. Doerksen1994John Fuller1995Matthew Sexton1996-1997Erica Neidlinger1998-1999Jonathan Waters2002-2011Christopher Hoch2012Michael Smith2014-2022Josh Reynolds2023-Present

Percussion Instructors NameYearsJames Moore1981-2004Gary Hodges2005-2010Aaron Bell2011-2013Mark Reynolds2014-Present

Instrumentation

The Ohio State University Marching Band consists of 228 student musicians, with an all-brass and percussion instrumentation based on the tradition of British brass bands (other than the tenor drums). The pregame block seen at each home game consists of 192 members, with the remaining 36 as alternates. An additional bass drum, pair of cymbals, and tenor drum join the block for the halftime performance. The band has no auxiliary groups connected with it unlike most bands.

Tryouts for the band are held in August each year, with all newcoming and returning candidates assessed on their musical and marching abilities.

The block is divided into rows, which are each assigned a letter: A, B, C, E, F, H, I, J, K, L, M, Q, R, S, T, or X. The rows are paired in sister rows as follows: A-X, B-T, C-S, E-R, F-Q, H-M, I-J, K-L. Each row in the 192 block band contains the following:

A Row: 7 Trumpets, 5 E♭ Cornets B Row: 12 Trumpets C Row: 12 Flugelhorns E Row: 12 Mellophones F Row: 9 Trombones, 3 Bass Trombones H Row: 12 Baritones I Row: 12 Snare Drums J Row: 4 Bass drums (two 26", two 30"), 4 Cymbals, 4 Tenors (Sextets) K Row: 12 Sousaphones L Row: 12 Sousaphones M Row: 12 Baritones Q Row: 9 Trombones, 3 Bass Trombones R Row: 12 Mellophones S Row: 6 Flugelhorns and 6 Trumpets T Row: 12 Trumpets X Row: 7 Trumpets, 5 E♭ Cornets