Agreed on the twirler. I had to look this guy up. He is Matt Freeman and is a 6 time world champion and 2 time colligate twirling champion. Wow. 3 and 4 turns, 3 illusions spins while catching the baton. Not easy to do, especially for a big guy like him. He truly twirls more the traditional NBTA or USTA twirling without all of the breaks like the Ohio State Drum Majors style of twirling use as is their tradition.
It goes without saying that the performance is great, but the men's baton twirling skills are also wonderful, and I was energized by the sight of them doing their best.
St. John Arena, The first Skull Session held at St. John Arena was in 1957. Prior to this, Skull Session was nothing more than a final run through of the music on the morning of the game. Originally, these were closed rehearsals that the band eventually opened up to friends and family members. Each week, more and more people showed up to hear the band rehearse that the director, Jack Evans, decided to move the rehearsal to St. John Arena across the street. Today, upwards of 14,000 people pack St. John Arena every home game to see the band and football team. Many of these people do not even have tickets to the game, yet travel hours just for a chance to see and hear the band. During the Skull Session, fans are treated to a variety of activities. Each week the band's "cheer groups" perform a song to go along with the football team's opponent of the week. The cheer groups are selected from their respective sections: Trumpet Cheers (the oldest Cheer Group), Flugelhorn Cheers, Trombone Cheers, Horn Cheers, Baritone Cheers, Stadium Brass (an instrument from every part of the band except percussion), Percussion Cheers (often playing Wipeout) and the Tuba-Fours. At some point after these performances, the football team enters to the sounds of James Swearingen's "Fanfare for a New Era". Immediately after their entrance a pre-selected senior football player speaks to the band and fans in St. John Arena followed by the head coach. The team then exits to the sounds of "Hang On, Sloopy!" Upon the football team's exit, the band commences with the traditions associated with the Skull Session. This includes performance of “(Fight the Team) Across the Field” first softly and slowly, and on the repeat of the chorus, at the well-known tempo and dynamics. The band is also known for performing “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” otherwise known as “The Navy Hymn,” to formally begin every Skull Session concert. If a visiting band is in attendance they will perform their pre-game and halftime show, followed by the OSUMB's performance of pre-game and halftime. At every Skull Session, there is a guest Ohio high school marching band. The high school band plays various songs before Skull Session to entertain the audience awaiting the arrival of the OSUMB. During Homecoming, the OSU Athletic Band also performs at Skull Session, trading off with the guest high school band on various pieces of music. The OSU Athletic Band is run by the same band staff as the marching band, and often has many students who perform in both.
