I see you at the games all decked out in your scarlet and gray. I hear you cheering and singing Carmen Ohio. I see you talking to your friends and struggling to upload your school-spirited selfie to Instagram, not even playing attention to the game because you have no idea what’s really happening on the field. I’m here to help. I am THAT girl. As the girl who knows all the players and the plays, I boo bad calls and always say go for it on fourth and inches. I’m such a fanatic, I even have a favorite play!
Let me help you become a fan of the game, not just the fun.
Let’s first start with the basics of football.
How does the game start? The game starts with a coin toss where the referees escort four captains from each team to the 50 yard line. Let’s say Ohio State calls heads and Michigan calls tails. Naturally, Ohio State wins the toss and they defer to the second half, meaning they get the ball at the start of the second half/third quarter. This means Michigan gets the ball first. Ohio State’s special teams line up eight yards behind the ball to get ready for kickoff.
Top 4 Things to Cheer For at a Buckeye Game
1. Kickoff
Kickoff is the moment right before the first and the third quarters start. This is when Ohio State will kick the ball (depending on if they won the toss) to the other team to start the first or second half. A receiver can catch the ball and return it, signal a fair catch or let it go into the end zone for a touchback.
A return is when the receiver who caught the ball during kickoff runs down the field to see how much yardage he can get before being tackled. Wherever he is tackled is where his team will start playing.
A player signals a fair catch by waving his arm in the air above his head. He does this if he doesn’t think he can catch the ball without getting tackled immediately after.
A touchback occurs when the ball goes into the end zone when being kicked off so the receiving team automatically gets the ball at the 25 yard line.
When the opposing team is kicking to us, we cheer, “O-H-I-O Let’s Go Bucks!”
There is another cheer for when the opposing team is kicking to us but I’m sure the student section is loud enough for you to hear.
2. Third Down
A down is a chance to go ten yards in a given play. A team gets four chances to get ten yards before they have to give possession to the other team. When the opposing team only has one chance left to get a first down before having to punt away the ball, it is third down. If the defense is able to prevent them from getting a first down, Ohio State gets the ball back. At a game you will hear a loud bell ringing signaling third down. The cheer the student section shouts is, “Third down! Our down!
3. Touchdowns
This is one of the ways Ohio State can score points in a football game. We cheer the most for touchdowns because they are how we win! The more touchdowns, the more points. Ohio State’s points > opponent’s points = Ohio State wins
4. Field Goals
This is another way Ohio State can score points. The cheering is to encourage Sean Nuernberger, Ohio State’s kicker, to make the field goal. If the other team is kicking a field goal, we cheer, “Block that kick!” This also occurs when the opposing team is punting.
The 6 Ways to Score at a Football Game
1. Rushing Touchdown
A player can get a rushing touchdown by running the ball into the end zone. This is worth six points.
2. Passing Touchdown
The quarterback can get a passing touchdown by throwing the ball to a receiver who is either in the end zone or catches the ball and runs into the end zone.
3. Extra Point
After a touchdown, the team will usually elect to kick an extra point meaning the kicker kicks the ball through the goalposts. This is worth one point.
4. Two-Point Conversion
After a touchdown, instead of kicking an extra point, a team can try to get a two-point conversion. A team does this by passing or running the ball into the end zone again.
5. Field Goal
A field goal is like kicking an extra point but typically from farther away. This is worth three points.
6. Safety
My personal favorite way to score is a safety, mostly because it doesn’t happen often. A safety happens when a defensive player tackles an offensive player in their own end zone. This is worth two points.
The 5 Guys Who Love to Score
1. Quarterback
He typically is the leader of the team, he tells center to snap ball so he can pass or hand it off to another player. Ohio State’s starting quarterback is #16 J.T. Barrett.
2. Runningback
He runs with the ball after having it handed off from the QB to get rushing touchdowns. Ohio State’s starting runningback is #15 Ezekiel Elliott.
3. Wide Receiver
He runs down the field to catch the ball (receptions) and gets passing touchdowns. Ohio State’s starting wide receivers are #9 Devin Smith and #6 Evan Spencer.
4. Tight End
He is a receiver who doesn’t get the ball very much but is like an extra blocker. These players typically live up to their positional names. Ohio State’s starting tight end is #5 Jeff Heuerman.
5. Placekicker
He kicks the ball for field goals and the extra point after a touchdown. Ohio State’s starting placekicker is #96 Sean Nuernberger.
The 4 Guys Who Help Score
1. Center
He snaps (tosses the ball through his legs) to the QB starting the play. Ohio State’s starting center is #50 Jacoby Boren.
2. Right/Left Tackle
These players are the outside members of offensive line. The purpose of the offensive line is to block the defensive line from getting to the QB or the ball carrier. Ohio State’s starting offensive tackles are #68 Taylor Decker and #76 Darryl Baldwin.
3. Right/Left Guard
These players are the inside members of offensive line. Their purpose is to block the defensive tackles from getting to the QB or the ball carrier. Ohio State’s starting guards are #65 Pat Elfein and #54 Billy Price.
4. Holder
He holds the ball while the Placekicker kicks on field goals and extra points. Ohio State’s starting holder is #95 Cameron Johnston.
The 6 Guys Who Stop Those From Scoring
1. Right/Left Defensive Tackle
These players are the inside members of defensive line. Their purpose is to try to sack the QB or tackle the ball carrier. Ohio State’s starting defensive tackles are #92 Adolphus Washington and #63 Michael Bennett.
2. Right/Left Defensive End
These players are the outside members of defensive line. Their purpose is to try to sack the QB, meaning tackle him while he still has the ball. Ohio State’s starting defensive ends are #97 Joey Bosa and #88 Steve Miller.
3. Linebacker
These defensive players play behind the defensive linemen. Their job is to tackle the ball carrier once the ball carrier is beyond the line of scrimmage. Ohio State’s starting linebackers are #37 Josh Perry, #14 Curtis Grant, and #43 Darron Lee.
4. Safety
These players defend the wide receivers. They run with the wide receivers to try and stop them from catching the ball. Ohio State’s starting safeties are #23 Tyvis Powell and #11 Vonn Bell.
5. Cornerback
These players are similar to safeties in that they defend the wide receivers as well. They line up on line of scrimmage the opposite wide receivers. Ohio State’s starting cornerbacks are #12 Doran Grant, #26 Armani Reeves, and #13 Eli Apple.
6. Punter
He is the person who drop kicks the ball on 4th down, giving possession to the opposing team. Ohio State’s starting punter is #95 Cameron Johnston.
4 Reasons Why the Defense Rocks
1. Interceptions
An interception is when a defensive player catches the ball intended for an offensive player so possession now goes to defensive team.
2. “Pick-6”
If a defensive player gets an interception and runs to his end zone, it’s a touchdown, nicknamed a “pick 6.” This is because the ball was “picked off” and in result a touchdown occurred which is worth 6 points.
3. Fumble
A fumble occurs when the offensive team loses possession of the ball. For example, a runningback having the ball knocked out of his arms before his knee touched the ground signals that he was “down.”
This technically is a fumble but Braxton recovered the ball.
I cannot stress enough how much I love this play. I am always the person screaming, “Tackle him!” when a quarterback is in his own end zone.
Ryan Shazier became my favorite player after that play.
This is just some of the numerous terminologies you will hear during a football game. Hopefully this will help you when you go to football games so you aren’t as clueless as Cher Horowitz. Go Bucks!