Buckeye fans encouraged to wear scarlet to all 2009 football home games; "Paint the Town Scarlet" campaign to run during USC game week  

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Scarlet is in for fall 2009 in Ohio. The Ohio State Department of Athletics has announced it will expand its "Scarlet Fever" promotion from its typical single-game focus to a season-long campaign in 2009.

Getting Scarlet Started

For the upcoming football season, Buckeye fans are encouraged to wear scarlet to all seven Ohio State home games in Ohio Stadium, beginning with the season-opener vs. Navy Sept. 5 (noon/ESPN). For the Navy game, a special scarlet and gray camouflage game T-shirt will be available at the Official Team Shop in the Schottenstein Center the week of the game.

Official 2009 football season T-shirts, also scarlet, are available for purchase now at the Team Shop.  

Paint the Town Scarlet

Fans can get geared up for the Sept. 12 primetime matchup with USC (8 p.m./ESPN) by participating in the week-long lead up promotion "Paint the Town Scarlet." Fans have the opportunity to enter a contest for the best decorated homes or offices (exterior only with flags, lights, etc.) to be selected and displayed during the USC game on the Ohio Stadium south end zone video board. Photos can be submitted starting Sept. 7 at www.OhioStateBuckeyes.com/scarlet.

Also starting Sept. 7, fans can purchase a special Ohio State-USC commemorative game day T-shirt from the Official Team Shop.

Spread Scarlet Statewide

Fans also are encouraged to spread their Scarlet Fever statewide as the Buckeyes travel to Cleveland in Week 3 to play a neutral-site away game against the Toledo Rockets at Browns Stadium Sept. 19 (noon/ESPN Plus).

Scarlet and Gray Fridays/Lose the Blue Week vs. Michigan

Ohio State has a season-long Scarlet & Gray Fridays campaign to promote Ohio State licensed apparel in the workplace, culminating in the annual "Lose the Blue" clothing donation drive for Good Will of Central Ohio. Last year, Ohio State fans donated more than 7,000 pounds of blue clothing during the campaign.

The Ohio State Department of Athletics and the Ohio State University Office of Trademark and Licensing Services run the "Lose the Blue" clothing drive annually during the week when the Michigan and Ohio State football teams renew their storied rivalry. In 2007, more than 6,000 pounds of clothing were donated.