The Ohio Historical Marker at the site of the first home football game for Ohio State University, or as we know it at the College – the site of The College of Wooster's 64-0 win over Ohio State in 1890, was rededicated on Thursday afternoon in Columbus.
The marker sits at the corner of Whittier and Jaeger streets in Columbus' German Village. In 1890, the site was Recreation Park. One side of the marker reads: "In the fall, life for many in Columbus revolves around Ohio State University football, from the first kickoff in September to the last play in November. O.S.U.'s first home game took place at 2:30 p.m. on November 1, 1890. The Ohio State University played the University of Wooster on this site, which was then called Recreation Park. Just east of historic German Village, the park occupied the north side of Schiller (now Whittier) between Ebner and Jaeger in what is now Schumacher Place. The weather was perfect, and the crowd reportedly included a number of women, who cheered loudly. Nonetheless, O.S.U. lost to Wooster, 64-0. Wooster, physically fit for the game, showed O.S.U. that training is critical to winning. The tradition of training continues. Today, on football Saturdays in Ohio Stadium on Woody Hayes Drive, the sound of an O.S.U. game can be heard around the world."
The other side of the marker lists the names of the coaches, captains, and players on Ohio State's 1890 squad.
Wooster was represented at the rededication by Ryan Burgess '93 and Marcus Fowler '01. Burgess was invited to make remarks at the event by the Pizzuti Companies. In his remarks, Burgess highlighted the "much simpler era of college athletics" and noted the game "brought together two young Ohio institutions that would go on to make an extraordinary impact on our state and our nation."
Burgess ended his remarks by highlighting William McCulloch '23 and how Wooster and Ohio State "helped produce a leader who quite literally shaped American history."
McColloch earned a law degree from Ohio State after graduating from Wooster. He served in Congress from 1947-73 and played a pivotal role in drafting and securing the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
