Time and Change: The Victory Bell, Reverberating Through Campus Since 1954

THEN

The Victory Bell was gifted by the classes of 1943, 1944 and 1954 and weighs in at a whopping 2,420 pounds. It was installed in the southeast tower of Ohio Stadium, costing $2,535.

It was first rung on October 2, 1954 after the Buckeyes beat the University of California by a score of 21-13, with Woody Hayes at the helm.

Alpha Phi Omega (APO), a co-ed service and leadership fraternity on campus, was given the honor of ringing the Victory Bell by Athletic Director, Richard Larkins. Since 1954, they have rung the bell after every Ohio State victory.

In 1965, before the game against Iowa, another fraternity stole the tongue of the Victory Bell and in 1968 the bell’s pulley system broke, yet they still figured out a way to ring in the win.

The bell is rung for 15 minutes after every home football victory and for 30 minutes after a home victory against Michigan, because 15 minutes is not long enough to celebrate that win. The Victory Bell is rung through the entirety of the graduating class’ walk during spring commencement. After graduation, brothers of APO write their names on the wall in the bell tower, cementing their legacy.

NOW

The tradition continues today with brothers of APO fraternity having an opportunity to ring the bell. One of my friends, Nate Hazen, is a current member of the fraternity and has had the opportunity to ring the bell during commencement.

Since no one but stadium staff and members of APO are allowed up in the room with the Victory Bell, he described the experience to me. Basically, it’s as loud and as heavy as one would think.

Legend has it, the bell can be heard for five miles. To put that into perspective, from the Shoe, that’s further than the Ohio Expo Center and Scioto River.

It takes a few people to get the Victory Bell moving, due to its weight, but once it starts to ring, the rich sound is a proper send-off for fans exiting the stadium.

Until next time.