# Why is it called "THE" Ohio State University? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 7, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298 "2009-01-07T22:38:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/21 "2009-01-08T03:00:31Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > But there are, however, other “state universities” in Ohio, though **OSU was the first**. Um. No. From [here](http://www.ohio.edu/admissions/facts.cfm): > [@](#): > > **History** > Established in **1804** , **Ohio University is the oldest public institution of higher learning in the state of Ohio and the first in the Northwest Territory**. Admission to Ohio University is granted to the best-qualified applicants as determined by a selective admission policy. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/22 "2009-01-08T04:06:27Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Misguided arrogance. 😉 During many pro football telecasts often the descriptions of the players are done by the players themselves. One could easily surmise it is a game of arrogance and oneupmanship when one hears … “Fred Blogs, Left Tackle, Arkansas State.” “Job Blow, Left Guard, The University of Alabama.” “Big Ego Jones, Linebacker, THE Ohio State University.” Ohio State is not the only alama mater to receive such “recognition” from its graduate pro football player athletes. It now appears that some universities are joining the self-indulgent ego bravado themselves. During the latest round of bowl games, the University of Miami commercial promoted itself (including using its president Donna Shalala) as “[THE U](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_U_(Miami)).” ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/23 "2009-01-08T05:25:48Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Um. No. > > From [here](http://www.ohio.edu/admissions/facts.cfm): What I meant was (but wasn’t very clear about), it was the first to include the phrase “State University.” ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/24 "2009-01-08T05:27:15Z")
> [@JayRx1981](#): > > Hell, I was always told it was to differentiate the main campus from all of the branches. And I was a student there for 6 years. _eg_ No, they’re all part of the same university, with the same name. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/25 "2009-01-08T09:47:00Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > But people who actually go there don’t use it either. I got an email today about a chess tournament in Ohio, signed “Sally Blahblah, THE Ohio State University”, in caps just like that. That’s what prompted this question. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/26 "2009-01-08T12:27:10Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > Be grateful for the short forms that **are** in common use. How’d you like to narrate a football game between the Leland Stanford Junior Cardinals and the William Marsh Rice Owls? That is Cardinal. No “S”. Their mascot is a tree, not a bird. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/27 "2009-01-08T13:09:14Z")
> [@freckafree](#): > > Yeah! Because – dare I say it? – we’re BUCKEYES! Perhaps the definite article is needed because they are named for the optical organ of a dead deer? 🙂 I’ve always thought that the issue wasn’t if the definite article is correct but whether there was really a need to stress it. ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/28 "2009-01-08T13:29:02Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > I got an email today about a chess tournament in Ohio, signed “Sally Blahblah, THE Ohio State University”, in caps just like that. That’s what prompted this question. I noticed it on MNF as had been said upthread, and just assumed the players were making a big-ass deal about the school. As in, “I’m a bad motherfucker cuz I’m not from just any podunk school, I’m from THE Ohio State University! And don’t you forget it!” The marketing angle came to mind, but I’m curious as to who started that…was it “official” (sanctioned by the school), or athletes on their own out of pride (I know about the “The” in the school name, but the recent trend seems to be more of a marketing scheme somehow). The BUCKEYES were also national champions in 2002 (source: [Ohio State Buckeyes football - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football#National_Championships) ), and I’m wondering if the most recent trend toward THE Ohio State University started because of, or just after, that championship. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/29 "2009-01-08T13:38:12Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > What I meant was (but wasn’t very clear about), it was the first to include the phrase “State University.” You still may not be very clear. OU is the state’s first State school. It is public. So they probably saw no reason to use the word _State_ in the name. For about 50 years, it was the _only_ State school in Ohio… And yes, folks, there _is_ a rivalry between OSU alumni and OU alumni. They have football. We have Halloween. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/30 "2009-01-08T13:39:16Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > Perhaps the definite article is needed because they are named for the optical organ of a dead deer? 🙂 Actually, their mascot is a useless nut. : d & r : ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/31 "2009-01-08T13:40:31Z")
> [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](#): > > The BUCKEYES were also national champions in 2002 (source: [Ohio State Buckeyes football - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football#National_Championships) ), and I’m wondering if the most recent trend toward THE Ohio State University started because of, or just after, that championship. No, OSU has been using “the” loooong before 2002. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/32 "2009-01-08T14:14:26Z")
OSU has long lobbied newspapers to get them to capitalize “The” in text; as in “Joe Blow, spokesman, for The Ohio State University, said today . . .” We just laugh at them. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/33 "2009-01-08T14:18:53Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > I got an email today about a chess tournament in Ohio, signed “Sally Blahblah, THE Ohio State University”, in caps just like that. That’s what prompted this question. Not sure about Sally’s motives, but in my experience it’s unusual for OSU students and alumni to make a big deal about the “The” unless they’re doing it to intentionally annoy people. I have no idea what came first, but I’m guessing the “The” only became a deal once people from outside the college made it a deal. For instance, I’ll talk about how I went to OSU, and someone will invariably say, “Oh, you went to THE Ohio State University?” Because that’s the only bit of trivia they know about the place. Then I’ll either roll my eyes and move on, or make some smartass comment about how their college must not have been important enough to warrant a proper article. It’s just one of those things that people talk about, like when I mention the college anyone with any connection with the state of Michigan has to immediately tell me. That gets old. But I would never prompt the issue by capitalizing the The in a signature. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/34 "2009-01-08T17:23:49Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > There are three common name formats for American state universities which include the name of the state: > > 1. University of (state) > 2. (state) University > 3. (state) State University > > In every case that I know of, except one, format (1) takes the definite article and formats (2) and (3) do not. I have never, _ever_ heard anybody say that they attended “the Michigan State University” or “the Indiana University”. It isn’t a matter of these schools not _emphasizing_ the definite article, it’s a matter of not _using_ it. > > Except for the Ohio State University. I guess they like to be different. The official name of one of the schools I attended is “University of California”, case 1. No definite article. That’s what’s on my diploma, which is in front of me as I write. The point is that the official name of “The Ohio State University” includes the definite article, and that’s what’s so interesting. Ed ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/35 "2009-01-08T18:25:17Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > OSU has long lobbied newspapers to get them to capitalize “The” in text; as in “Joe Blow, spokesman, for The Ohio State University, said today . . .” > > We just laugh at them. As well you should. I’m proud to be an Ohioan, and the “The” seems 'way too pompous and preening to me. When Michael Feldman brought his radio show _Whaddya Know?_ on campus a few years ago, he lost no opportunity to mock it. Good on him. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/36 "2009-01-08T18:42:15Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > When Michael Feldman brought his radio show _Whaddya Know?_ on campus a few years ago, he lost no opportunity to mock it. Good on him. The nice thing is, it was nothing personal. Michael would have mocked Mother Teresa. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/37 "2009-01-08T22:05:25Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > OSU has long lobbied newspapers to get them to capitalize “The” in text; as in “Joe Blow, spokesman, for The Ohio State University, said today . . .” > > We just laugh at them. I occasionally have to send job-related mail to OSU. I always write “Ohio State University” in the address. It seems irrelevant if your official name back in the archives is “The Ohio State University”. Just call yourself Ohio State University without the self-important article of speech, like most every other place does. And yes, I figured part of the reason OSU is obsessed with emphasizing “The” is because it doesn’t want anyone to confuse it with Ohio University, them hicks down south. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298/38 "2009-01-08T22:11:57Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Actually, their mascot is a useless nut. Wow… that Joe the Plumber gets everywhere. _Mascot_, you say? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-called-the-ohio-state-university/480298.md?page=1)