Tailgating and large crowd bring Ohio Stadium alive

The party atmosphere outside of Ohio Stadium before Saturday’s Buckeyes-Ducks game certainly had the feel of what games were like before the coronavirus.

Fans tailgated, “Hang on Sloopy” blared from speakers at one party and the Ohio State band was doing its usual Skull Session before one of the biggest college football games on Saturday with Oregon ranked No. 12 and Ohio State No. 3.

Fans took selfies in front of the stadium and vendors hawked Buckeye necklaces. Even the street preachers were out.

“It 100% feels normal outside of the stadium,” said Steve Weller, a Hilliard resident who organized a tailgate in the parking lot just west of the Horseshoe. He set up a television on the back of his pickup truck along with food and drinks for a work gathering.