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Florida-Ohio State Tradition

The BCS Championship Game between the No. 1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 2 Florida Gators is one to relish, whether your cheer of choice is ''Yea Ohio!'' or ''Go Gators!'' It's the first football meeting between Ohio State and Florida, two of America's largest institutions if you're measuring by enrollment (or football mania). Someone will establish bragging rights after the game at Glendale, Ariz. For now, here's a look at how the programs compare - on and off the field.

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The On-Field Mascot: Albert The Alligator vs. Brutus Buckeye

Albert The Alligator The current mascot, with a uniform designed by Disney, first appeared in the early 1970s and it soon was joined by a female counterpart, Alberta. In earlier decades, UF had a live alligator mascot. In 1964, FSU banned the alligator from the field at Doak Campbell Stadium. Florida athletic historian Norm Carlson remembers the alligator making the trip to the 1966 Sugar Bowl, even being carted into the Fairmont Hotel in New Orleans for a pep rally.

Brutus Buckeye The nut-headed one wears a scarlet-and-gray, horizontally striped sweater, scarlet pants and a Buckeye hat. He debuted in 1965, when student Ray Bourhis convinced the school's athletic council to adopt a mascot. The look was designed by an art student and the name "Brutus" was determined by a student-body vote.

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The Pre-Game Institution: Mr. Two-Bits vs. Script Ohio

Mr. Two-Bits Back in 1949, Tampa's George Edmondson, disgusted with the lack of enthuasiasm in Row 83 of Florida Field, began his chant. Who knew it would still be going strong, 57 seasons later? The retired insurance man, nearing his 85th birthday, springs onto the field before each home game, wearing his patented orange-and-blue necktie, yellow dress shirt and seersucker trousers, holds up his 2-Bits sign, and calls for silence. Then he swings his arm to the sky and the crowd joins in: Two bits! Four bits! Six bits! A dollar! All for the Gators, stand up and holler!

Script Ohio First performed on Oct. 10, 1936, the OSU band drum major leads a single-file march into the cursive spelling of "Ohio" across some 50 yards of the field. The musicians with longer instruments must be careful not to strike bandmates as they cross paths. Sixteen measures from the end of "Le Regiment" (the music), with all four letters spelled out, the drum major high-steps to the top of the "i" then directs a sousaphone player to a spot where they will dramatically dot the "i". Some of the non-band members who had that dotting privilege include Woody Hayes, Bob Hope and Jack Nicklaus.

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The Pre-Fourth Quarter Song: ''We Are The Boys'' vs. ''Hang On Sloopy''

''We Are The Boys'' Originally written as a dance tune by two Florida athletes, it made its debut at the first Gator Growl in 1924. Before long, it became a fixture at football games, just before the fourth quarter, as fans pressed close together and swayed to the tune's rhythm, showing school camaraderie. We are the boys from old Florida, F-L-O-R-I-D-A … Where the girls are the fairest, the boys are the squarest of any old state down our way (hey!) … We are all strong for Florida, down where the old Gators play (Go Gators!) … In all kinds of weather, we'll all stick together for F-L-O-R-I-D-A. Can you imagine Florida football without it?

''Hang On Sloopy'' It was a No. 1 hit for The McCoys, an Ohio-based band in 1965, and it debuted in the rain during that season's Illinois game. Fans started chanting for it at the next home game - "Sloopy! Sloopy! Sloopy!" - and its popularity took off until it eventually became synonymous with Buckeye football. Why? Well, it feels so good. Or something like that. The song is written about Dorothy Sloop of Steubenville, Ohio, who used the stage name "Sloopy." The 116th Ohio General Assembly named it the state's official rock song in 1985.

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The Legendary Coach: Steve Spurrier vs. Woody Hayes

Steve Spurrier Florida's first Heisman Trophy winner became its most successful head coach, winning the school's first official SEC title, ushering in an era of unprecedented success and claiming a national title. Spurrier won 122 games in 12 years. He had six straight 10-victory seasons and finished first in the SEC seven times. Cocksure, colorful and always quick with a zinging quote to level the opponent, Spurrier's fiery demeanor, flinging of visors and revolving-door handling of quarterbacks made him the focus of television cameras everywhere. He resigned after the 2001 season to pursue NFL coaching. He just completed his second season at South Carolina, Florida's SEC East Division rival.

Woody Hayes Ultra-conservative iconic figure who led the Buckeyes to 13 Big Ten titles and 205 victories from 1951 to 1978. He helped Ohio State become the first Big Ten school ever to qualify for four consecutive Rose Bowl games. He coached three Heisman Trophy winners and 56 first-team All-Americans. Known for his scarlet windbreaker, black Buckeye cap, white shirt and scarlet necktie, he would dissolve into publicly legendary fits of rage, but players remember him fondly as a disciplinarian and teacher.

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The Stadium: The Swamp Vs. The Horseshoe

The Swamp Known for its cascading noise, sticky humidity and intimidating atmosphere, Florida Field was dubbed "The Swamp" by Coach Steve Spurrier after the 1991 season. "The Swamp is where Gators live," Spurrier said. "We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous." Since 1990, Spurrier's first season, the Gators are 94-11 at home. Coach Urban Meyer is 13-0 at the stadium, which had its official capacity swell to 88,548 in 2003. The stadium opened in 1930 - total construction cost then was $118,000 - to a sellout crowd of 21,769.

The Horseshoe With stained-glass windows and a gothic design, parts of Ohio Stadium resemble a church. It's certainly religion for Buckeye fans, who fill the 101,568-seat stadium to capacity. It underwent a $194 million renovation in 2000, including the addition of permanent South stands, closing off the horseshoe shape. Ohio Stadium, included in the National Registry of Historic Places, opened in 1922 as a 66,210-seat arena. The original cost was $1.3-million.

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The Legendary Player: Danny Wuerffel vs. Archie Griffin

Danny Wuerffel Perhaps the most beloved player in Florida history, its second Heisman Trophy winner and leader of its only national-title team (1996). Wuerffel's school record 10,875 passing yards stood until this season, when Chris Leak surpassed those numbers, but he maintains the lead in career touchdown passes (114). Known for clasping his palms together in prayer after a touchdown, Wuerffel played with four NFL teams and now serves as executive director of Desire Street Ministries and Academy, which serves at-risk youth.

Archie Griffin The Buckeyes running back (1972-75) remains the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner, earning the award as a junior and senior. He rushed for a career 5,589 yards, averaging 6.0 yards per carry, and became the only player ever to start in four consecutive Rose Bowl games. He rushed for 100 yards or more in 31 straight games, still an NCAA record.

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The Nickname: Gators vs. Buckeyes

Gators According to Tom McEwen's book "The Gators," Florida's nickname occurred by accident in 1908. Phillip Miller, owner of a Gainesville sundries shop where students gathered, wanted to decorate his store with pennants for the University of Florida's new football team. He visited his son, Austin, a student at the University of Virginia, and they went to a pennant-manufacturing company in Charlottesville, Va. Seeking an animal nickname, Miller's son suggested alligators, which he associated with Florida. When the orange alligator emblem appeared, it became wildly popular with the public. The Florida Alligators - soon shortened to Gators - were born.

Buckeyes The school officially adopted "Buckeyes" in 1950, although it was used long before that. Buckeyes are the nuts produced by the Buckeye tree, the state tree of Ohio. They are small, shiny and two-toned brown, resembling the eye of a deer. Ohioans believe carrying a buckeye in your pocket brings good luck.

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The Fan Participation: Gator Chomp vs. O-H-I-O

Gator Chomp Came into vogue during the 1980s. Fans fully extend both arms, one over the other, then move them apart and together, symbolizing the chomping movement of an alligator's mouth. Opposing players are greeted by the gesture when they enter the field. At its most powerful moments, it's accompanied by the musical theme from "Jaws," then it shifts to the chant of "Go Gators! Go Gators! Go Gators! Get up and go!"

O-H-I-O The organized student cheering section - Block "O" - begins an around-the-stadium spelling of "O-H-I-O" by starting with "Hey, stadium … 'O!' '' and the letter chants begin a circle, south to west to north to east, spelling out Ohio (over and over again). In smaller settings, one Buckeye fan can approach another with a chant of "O-H!" The response is "I-O!"

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