It was 1878 when scarlet and gray were adopted as the official colors of The Ohio State University. Since then, student-athletes have been proudly wearing the scarlet and gray as they competed on the field, on the court and everywhere in between. Today, the Varsity sports program at OSU is respected as one of the most comprehensive in all of college athletics. With 36 Varsity sports and an annual operating budget in excess of $109 million Ohio State athletes regularly claim conference championships, post-season tournament play and vie for national titles. Ohio State produces outstanding individual conference and national champions, All-America performers and scholar-athletes who adhere to a standard of excellence in academics, athletics and community involvement.

Many dream of the opportunity to play and compete for The Ohio State University, but few actually achieve it and whether we share training rooms, locker rooms, victory or defeat, we are forever linked by our student-athlete experience. Our fellowship, memories and camaraderie will endure. As Tommy Jones, captain of the 1909 football team wrote, “My heart bulges with pride at the thought of the old school as it forges ahead. Here's to its future with the hope that I may in some way help out in its onward march.”

It's the tradition of excellence and the legacy of our athletes who desire to give back to the University that propel Jones' hopes and dreams into the future. Today, one hundred years after Jones' written word, Varsity O and the Department of Athletics introduced a new tradition for Ohio State letterwinners by hosting the Inaugural Letterwinner Jacket Ceremony. In the past, Varsity jackets were passed out from the equipment room and distributed to athletes without fan fare, celebration or recognition – but on a frigid February night inside the Varsity O room at Ohio Stadium all that changed.

Student-athletes from the seven fall sports (men's & women's cross country, field hockey, football, men's & women's soccer and women's volleyball) became the first letterwinners in Ohio State history to receive their letter jackets in a formal ceremony surrounded by teammates, coaches, athletic-alumni and department administrators.

Laamar Thomas, first-year football letterwinner (wearing his jacket for the first time) explained “I feel really proud because it's going to be a historic event and years and years from now they are going to look at the first time this ever happened. Me being a part of it makes me feel really special. I was smiling the whole time as soon as I put it on.”

Men's Soccer Head Coach, John Bluem commented “It brings together the Varsity O with your athletes when they are freshman and they begin to recognize what a great thing Varsity O is. To expose Varsity O at such an early time in their career, it is going to stay with them more than maybe it does now. In the past Varsity O has approached the players once they graduate. Now, it's we're here from day one.”

Varsity O will always be part of the rich athletic history that makes Ohio State athletics so unique. It is a time-honored tradition filled with pride and respect represented by a prestigious scarlet wool jacket, leather sleeves and a gray block O – the Scarlet and Gray – an athletic tradition since 1878.

Additional Information

Varsity O and the Department of Athletics will continue to honor these first-year athletes with a quarterly jacket ceremony upon the completion of their competitive sport seasons.
To view additional photos and a video of the inaugural ceremony, visit the www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com\blogpost web site and scroll down to the February 6 posting, “Standard Issue No More.”

Letterwinner Sweater & Jacket History

In 1919, for the first time ever, an athletic team appeared in the OSU yearbook in their Varsity letter sweaters.

In 1927, The Ohio State University Monthly magazine reported that the Varsity O Association declared Thursday of each week as ‘sweater day' and every letterwinner was encouraged to wear their Varsity sweater as recognition of their athletic accomplishments.

1958 marked the end of the letter sweater and the birth of the letter jacket as we currently know it.

2009 Formal ceremony established to present the letter jackets to student-athletes