Ohio University has been overshadowed by Ohio State University in sports, but Ohio is a very important school for the state. Many people from out of state are confused to find out that Ohio University is not connected to OSU. Ohio is located approximately 75 miles to the southeast of OSU, in Appalachia. The university is much older than OSU, having been established in 1804, shortly after Ohio was admitted as a state. OSU wasn't established until 1870. Ohio was the first university in the Northwest Territory, and is the ninth oldest in the country.
The school prefers to be called Ohio or Ohio University, despite the fact that you see the acronym OU used to describe the school, sometimes even on official merchandise like shirts and hats. They also do not like being called Ohio U.
(If you caught the Sidney Poitier connection, give yourself five points.)
Why don't they like being referred to as OU? I've always heard them referred to by that name?
ReplyDeleteJust curious, oh wise one.
-Kati
Not exactly sure, but in a document sent to TV commentators, they asked kindly to be called Ohio or Ohio University. I doubt they are doing it for the benefit of Oklahoma University, because Ohio was founded almost 90 years before Oklahoma.
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