What is the black stripe on Ohio State helmets?
Table of Contents
So it comes as no surprise that McCalister became the first player to lose his black helmet stripe. The ceremony, which signals a player’s arrival as a true Buckeye, came after OSU’s fifth practice of the spring.
What does a black stripe mean at Ohio State?

The thought behind the tradition is that a player must earn the right to be called a Buckeye, so a black stripe is placed on his helmet when he arrives on campus to begin his college career until he has done what it takes, in the eyes of the coaches, to officially earn his place on the team.
What does it mean when a Ohio State football player loses his black stripe?
‘” Losing your black stripe is a significant accomplishment for a freshman. It’s what makes you an “official Buckeye,” and it can often serve as an indication of who could play early. The coaches have an ultimate say in who loses it, but the players have a heavy influence in moving that process along.
What does removing a black stripe mean?
The idea is for upperclassmen to aid the freshmen in getting their black stripe removed by showing them the right way to conduct themselves on and off the field. When a player finally does earn the distinction of having his black stripe removed, it’s a cause for celebration.

What do the decals on Ohio State helmets mean?
Each player gets a sticker for a win, two stickers for a win in conference and three stickers for a win over Michigan, per Eleven Warriors. Those add up throughout the season, assuming the Buckeyes are winning games.
What does it mean to shed a black stripe?
Buckeye
This week, Ohio State has provided frequent updates on the transfer players and incoming freshmen who have shed their black stripes during fall practice, which is a tradition that dates back to the Urban Meyer era. It means a player has officially earned the right to be called a Buckeye.
What’s on the helmet of Ohio State?
Buckeye Leaves A round white decal, about the size of a quarter, with a green depiction of a buckeye leaf is applied to Ohio State football helmets for big plays and consistency on the field. This tradition started in 1967 when Woody Hayes and longtime trainer Ernie Biggs changed the look of the Ohio State uniforms.
What’s a buckeye look like?
Buckeyes. A small, shiny, dark brown nut with a light tan patch that comes from the official state tree of Ohio, the buckeye tree. According to folklore, the Buckeye resembles the eye of a deer and carrying one brings good luck.
Are buckeye nuts edible?
Eating Buckeye Nuts Buckeye nuts are actually mildly toxic in their uncooked state, but you can eat them after removing them from their shells and roasting them. In the past, Native Americans would roast, peel, and mash the buckeye nuts into a fairly nutritional paste that they would eat.
What is on Ohio State’s helmet?
What do stickers on OSU helmets mean?
The stickers were originally awarded for big plays. Now there is more of a formula. Each player gets a sticker for a win, two stickers for a win in conference and three stickers for a win over Michigan, per Eleven Warriors. Those add up throughout the season, assuming the Buckeyes are winning games.
Why does Ohio State football have a black stripe on helmets?
But at the Ohio State University, a freshman’s biggest win can be losing his black stripe. The tradition isn’t so much an OSU thing as it is an Urban Meyer thing. While he was head coach at Bowling Green, Meyer introduced the practice of having all members of the freshman class wear a thin, black stripe on their helmets.
Which OSU football players got their black stripes removed last year?
Eli Apple, now a cornerback for the New York Giants, was the last member of OSU’s 2013 Class to get his black stripe removed. “It was a moment I’d been waiting for since I got here last spring.
When does the stripe come off a freshman’s helmet?
The stripe doesn’t come off a freshman’s helmet until he has proven he’s worthy of being a Buckeye. So the longer it’s on, the more stressful it becomes. Everyone in practice sees it.
What is the significance of the black stripe on a helmet?
While he was head coach at Bowling Green, Meyer introduced the practice of having all members of the freshman class wear a thin, black stripe on their helmets. The symbolism was simple—freshmen had to do the right things before they earned the privilege of having their black striped removed.