Armed Forces tribute at Sept. 5 football game vs. Navy to receive honor Nov. 21 in St. Louis

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics will honor The Ohio State University Department of Athletics at the 2009 AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards Nov. 21 at Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis.

Ohio State will be recognized by NACDA for its Sept. 5 Armed Forces tribute during its 2009 season football opener vs. the U.S. Naval Academy. Mike Penner, assistant athletics director for event management at Ohio State, will receive the honor on behalf of the department of athletics.

Penner helped direct the athletics staff in paying tribute to all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. The department also will be acknowledged for its efforts leading up to the Navy game in helping to spread the message of sportsmanship and welcome the Midshipmen into Ohio Stadium.

Perhaps the most prominent act of sportsmanship occurred between the two teams prior to kickoff, as both the Buckeyes and the Midshipmen met at the south endzone of Ohio Stadium and participated in a full-squad handshake, receiving cheers from the crowd of more than 105,000. The handshake was part of the American Football Coaches Association National Respect Week.

The tribute could not have been a success without the collective participation from Ohio State's devoted fan base. Darrin Klinger, an OSU alum, and Douglas Hochberg, a current OSU student and member of Ohio State's Sportsmanship Council, led that charge by producing and distributing a moving YouTube.com video asking Buckeye fans to cheer Navy as the Midshipmen entered the Horseshoe. The piece - entitled "Take the Field Tribute" - currently has totaled more than 350,000 views.

"We are extremely proud of the great work our student led Sportsmanship Council has done," Gene Smith, Ohio State associate vice president and director of athletics, said. "Buckeye fans continue to demonstrate great sportsmanship at home and on the road. We are grateful for this honorable award."

The 2009 AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards will be televised at 8 p.m. Dec. 16 on CBS College Sports.

For more information on the 2009 AT&T National Sportsmanship Awards, please visit http://www.stlsports.org/awards/index.php

Excerpt from National Sportsmanship Awards Web site:

"On Sept. 5, Ohio State opened its 2009 football season against Navy.  This home opener would be different from the rest.  Usually, visiting players to Ohio Stadium face an intimidating scene when they run out of the tunnel before 100,000-plus loyal Buckeye fans.  But on this day, the visitors were cheered.  Leading up to the game, the Ohio State athletic department encouraged fans to stand and applaud the Navy players as they took the field.  The university circulated an online video that read:  "Buckeyes know there are some things more important than football...service to your country and respecting and appreciating those who serve."  At halftime, former Ohio senator and U.S. Navy pilot John Glenn was given the privilege of "dotting the I" with the OSU alumni band.  The honor is considered the greatest distinction the band can bestow on any non-band member.  The university went further and encouraged other programs that were playing service academies throughout the season to conduct similar tributes.  Ohio State showed a great deal of respect, admiration, and gratitude to those who toil on the real battlefields long after football is over."

### www.OhioStateBuckeyes.com ###