Another addition to Ohio State's pantheon of pomp and circumstance was getting the team involved in the pre-game "Skull Session". The warm-up routine of the Ohio State University Marching Band takes place in St. John Arena, right across the street from Ohio Stadium, two hours before kickoff of home games.

In 1932, band director Eugene Weigel began having his marching band memorize the music they would be playing that week. Before game-time, the band would go through its routine as a final rehearsal. For 24 years it went on in the band's rehearsal hall, before moving inside St. John Arena in 1957.

Along the way, the format was tweaked to make it more of a pep-rally atmosphere, and crowds have responded, often to the tune of over 10,000 people.

In 2001, Coach Tressel began bringing the football team by the skull session on their way into the stadium for the game. Now, Coach Tressel and a senior address the crowd as well, adding to the frenzied environment.

From there, the team walks across the street, and down the ramp, into Ohio Stadium on the way to the locker rooms to prepare for that day's game.