It’s a rather new tradition, but one that has been embraced and is now fully a part of the culture of the Ohio State football program. It started under Urban Meyer and continues through to this day under Ryan Day, the removal of a newcomer’s black stripe affixed to the iconic silver helmets.
It’s become a right of passage in many ways. Though a prospect signs on the dotted line and enrolls at OSU, even taking part in practices, until the kid does enough on the field and beyond with what the program embodies, he is not given the ceremony of removing the black stripe. Once it happens though, it’s a glorious moment and the player “officially” becomes a part of the Ohio State program.
Despite the tradition only being part of the program for about nine years now, it’s become a revered one with the program playing each one up on social media.
We’ve actually seen quite a few freshmen shed their black stripe already in the spring, so we’re beginning our efforts at keeping track of all of them a little earlier than normal. We’ll have another look in the fall, but for now, here’s where things stand.
