Dream comes true for OSU band member
Lead Summary
By
Caitlin Forsha-crforsha@gmail.com
A Hillsboro High School graduate will have a 10-year dream fulfilled on Sept. 24 when he "dots the i" during the Ohio State University Buckeyes' football game against Colorado at Ohio Stadium.
Michael "Mike" Johnson, the son of Brian and Laura Johnson of Hillsboro, said that while he didn't always know he wanted to be a member of the "best band in the land," reaching this milestone has been the result of years of hard work.
For the past 75 years, OSU's marching band has performed their trademark "Ohio" script formation, and dotting the i is a rare honor reserved only for sousaphone players. To qualify to dot the i, sousaphonists must be in their fourth or fifth year in the marching band.
According to the OSU website, fourth-year sousaphone players select their date to dot the i based on who has marched the most pre-game ramps. Fifth-year sousaphonists are only used after all fourth-year members have selected a date.
Johnson joined the Hillsboro band as a fifth grader, playing the trumpet for two years before making the switch to the sousaphone.
"They needed someone big enough to carry the horn back when I was in middle school," Johnson said.
From the time he was a seventh grader volunteering to take over the sousaphone, Johnson has been involved in marching bands playing the large brass instrument.
Johnson is the son of two OSU graduates and became familiar with the school's football program and band at an early age.
"My parents took me to my first OSU game when I was 8, and I was pretty fascinated by the band," Johnson said. "I didn't know exactly then that I wanted to dot the i, but it's been a big goal of mine for the last 10 or 11 years.
"I love being a Buckeye and love everything about this school, so it worked out."
Johnson will be a senior at OSU this year and is studying computer science and engineering. He tried out and qualified for the band his freshman year and is entering his fourth year in the band. Since he started school, the Buckeyes have seen their share of ups and downs, including losing the 2009 Fiesta Bowl and winning the 2010 Rose Bowl, and Johnson will come full circle, from his first ramp entrance to dotting the i.
"Most of my favorite memories come from just hanging out with the brothers and sisters within the row that I'm in Š it's kind of like a little mini-fraternity.," Johnson said. "On the field, most notably, I'd have to say going to the Rose Bowl and winning was a tremendous experience.
"When people reach my age, it's really great to be in the band and get pumped up, but it means more to me to watch another person march their first time. I'm trying to pass the baton on to the next generation."
As the i-dotter for the Sept. 24 game, Johnson will be honored at that week's "Skull Session," which Johnson describes as a "cooler" version of a pep rally. The Skull Session is the band's last dress rehearsal before the game, and Johnson said that up to thousands of people show up even if they aren't attending the game. It is customary for friends and family members of the i-dotter to wear T-shirts commemorating the event. Johnson said that he and his brother designed shirts for his friends and relatives to wear during the Skull Session and game.
Johnson said that his time as a Buckeye "has gone by really, really quickly," and preparing for this last season with the band is a "surreal experience" for him and his friends.
"It was pretty special to get to see a good friend of mine in the script block in the i-dotter spot," Johnson said of a recent band practice. "There are six people in my class who all made it at the same time, and he got to dot the i for the first time. It gave us a lot of goosebumps and got us pumped up for the rest of the season."
Johnson said he is concentrating on "practicing really hard" so he won't be nervous about the steps or the music when Sept. 24 arrives.
"I just want to soak in the moment as much as I can," Johnson said. "It's just kind of hard to believe Š a couple years ago I was just playing at Hillsboro High School and never thought I'd be here right now. It's really cool."[[In-content Ad]]
Michael "Mike" Johnson, the son of Brian and Laura Johnson of Hillsboro, said that while he didn't always know he wanted to be a member of the "best band in the land," reaching this milestone has been the result of years of hard work.
For the past 75 years, OSU's marching band has performed their trademark "Ohio" script formation, and dotting the i is a rare honor reserved only for sousaphone players. To qualify to dot the i, sousaphonists must be in their fourth or fifth year in the marching band.
According to the OSU website, fourth-year sousaphone players select their date to dot the i based on who has marched the most pre-game ramps. Fifth-year sousaphonists are only used after all fourth-year members have selected a date.
Johnson joined the Hillsboro band as a fifth grader, playing the trumpet for two years before making the switch to the sousaphone.
"They needed someone big enough to carry the horn back when I was in middle school," Johnson said.
From the time he was a seventh grader volunteering to take over the sousaphone, Johnson has been involved in marching bands playing the large brass instrument.
Johnson is the son of two OSU graduates and became familiar with the school's football program and band at an early age.
"My parents took me to my first OSU game when I was 8, and I was pretty fascinated by the band," Johnson said. "I didn't know exactly then that I wanted to dot the i, but it's been a big goal of mine for the last 10 or 11 years.
"I love being a Buckeye and love everything about this school, so it worked out."
Johnson will be a senior at OSU this year and is studying computer science and engineering. He tried out and qualified for the band his freshman year and is entering his fourth year in the band. Since he started school, the Buckeyes have seen their share of ups and downs, including losing the 2009 Fiesta Bowl and winning the 2010 Rose Bowl, and Johnson will come full circle, from his first ramp entrance to dotting the i.
"Most of my favorite memories come from just hanging out with the brothers and sisters within the row that I'm in Š it's kind of like a little mini-fraternity.," Johnson said. "On the field, most notably, I'd have to say going to the Rose Bowl and winning was a tremendous experience.
"When people reach my age, it's really great to be in the band and get pumped up, but it means more to me to watch another person march their first time. I'm trying to pass the baton on to the next generation."
As the i-dotter for the Sept. 24 game, Johnson will be honored at that week's "Skull Session," which Johnson describes as a "cooler" version of a pep rally. The Skull Session is the band's last dress rehearsal before the game, and Johnson said that up to thousands of people show up even if they aren't attending the game. It is customary for friends and family members of the i-dotter to wear T-shirts commemorating the event. Johnson said that he and his brother designed shirts for his friends and relatives to wear during the Skull Session and game.
Johnson said that his time as a Buckeye "has gone by really, really quickly," and preparing for this last season with the band is a "surreal experience" for him and his friends.
"It was pretty special to get to see a good friend of mine in the script block in the i-dotter spot," Johnson said of a recent band practice. "There are six people in my class who all made it at the same time, and he got to dot the i for the first time. It gave us a lot of goosebumps and got us pumped up for the rest of the season."
Johnson said he is concentrating on "practicing really hard" so he won't be nervous about the steps or the music when Sept. 24 arrives.
"I just want to soak in the moment as much as I can," Johnson said. "It's just kind of hard to believe Š a couple years ago I was just playing at Hillsboro High School and never thought I'd be here right now. It's really cool."[[In-content Ad]]