Hang on Sloopy

Listen to Hang on Sloopy

When a small rock group from Ohio named the McCoys recorded Hang On Sloopy in 1965, who would have guessed that decades later the song would become synonymous with Ohio State football? Perhaps no one realized the potential of Sloopy during its OSUMB inception, but the truth is that the song has truly become an Ohio State phenomena.

First arranged by band member John Tatgenhorst in 1965, Sloopy has sparked up football crowds for three decades. It has become an essential part of the Saturday afternoon ritual - a tradition which no other music has matched.

The director at the time, Dr. Charles Spohn, was skeptical about having the band perform the song, but eventually Tatgenhorst talked him into it. It made its debut October 9, 1965 at the OSU vs. Illinois game, but crowd response was mediocre as the band was not allowed to take the field because of heavy rain. The next game, however, was a different story. "They played it the next week in the stands and the crowd went crazy," recalled Tatgenhorst. "They really loved the thing! They kept yelling 'Sloopy!! Sloopy!!'." From then on, the popularity of Sloopy continued to build until it was firmly a tradition by the end of the 1965 season.

The ability of the song to bring the crowd to its feet has been noted by university officials, particularly in the press box. During the OSU vs. Syracuse game in 1988, Dr. Woods was asked not to play Sloopy again until they had time to structurally test the press box. Evidently, there were reports that the press box was shaking. Dr. Droste confirms this rhythmic power, noting that Sloopy was used on several occasions to test the structural integrity of the stadium.

Today, Sloopy is the song of choice by the team and fans alike. During crucial game situations, timeouts, and the end of the third quarter, one can count on hearing Sloopy as if a prayer.

Perhaps it is the simplicity of Sloopy which has allowed it to become such an irreplaceable part of Ohio State football games. The rhythm is identifiable, and the melody is simple and easy to remember. Except for the refrain, the words have long been forgotten. Though the fundamental elements are simple, their influence on a stadium crowd is overwhelming. Sloopy transforms and unites the thousands of fans into one voice which cheers the Buckeyes on to victory.