What is your "O-H" "I-O" anecdote?

[OSUK]

My son got married in Cozumel, Mexico last Dec at the Palace Resort. On Christmas Eve we were slinking around the pool bar and I wore my Block O hat. A couple who had just participated in a samba contest yelled, "O-H", and I responded with a hearty "I-O". I went over to talk to them and they were music teachers from San Antonio - originally from Columbus - and big OSU band and football fans. We had a great time, but our waiter had never heard of Ohio, Ohio State, and knew nothing about football. When I tried to clue him in geographically, he said, "Oh, the great white north". We returned Christmas Day to 19 degrees and 2 feet of snow on the ground in Cleveland. That Mexican was right.

 

[jlusch21]

I pulled the car over in downtown Milwaukee to shout "O-H!" at a guy in an OSU sweatshirt. He did the reply after a second, and also looked relieved that I wasn't shooting him.

I also passed someone at the airport (Atlanta, maybe?) on the moving walkway. I dropped my luggage for the "O-H!" It took a few seconds, but I heard the "I-O!" in the distance as I continued running for my gate. Actually, I did an awful lot of traveling between 2004 and 2009. If you were randomly "O-H!'d" at an airport during that time, it was quite possibly me. :)

I actually had a family/friend in the Seattle, Washington airport (no idea what it is called) do an "O-H" in baggage claim -- and had three "I-O"s back. Needless to say I was very impressed.

And this was like in the middle of the summer, so no football season to influence it.

 

[OSUScoonie12]

I've actually attempted this in multiple countries and a ton of different airports. Some of the big ones were:

1. About 6 years ago I was in London with my family. My dad and I had the idea of yelling O-H while waiting for the tube. We got about 2 people to respond to it, and found out one of the guys was from Columbus as well and there on business.

2. I was on vacation in Costa Rica and while in the center of a town i yelled the O-H and had 1 person respond. They actually weren't a Buckeye fan, but a Wisconsin fan...they were just happy to hear English and a fellow Big Ten fan.

3. Other places include Alaska, Hawaii, on cruise ships, and airports around the country.

4. I wasn't apart of this, but my uncle was in Egypt a few years ago and while visiting the Pyramids of Giza he decided to try the O-H, and got a few responses from other OSU fans. He said it was a really cool thing to be looking at the pyramids and still have people respond with an I-O.

I still have yet to find a place were someone won't respond with an I-O. I know OSU has the largest alumni association, but I still find it very impressive how many fans are out there and all over the world.

 

[calibuck]

Nothing special, was taken to the USC-OSU came in LA a couple of years ago, and as was passing other OSU fans in our gear, one or other of us would say, OH - and the answer was IO (obviously). After about 5 minutes, the minister (USC grad) who took me, said "OK, I get it"....asked him, huh? He said that he understood our 'code' for OH-IO.....

Nothing as neat as standing by the Spinx in Egypt and having it, respond IO back.....but.....


:gobucks3::gobucks4:

 

[buxfan4life]

While in Wyoming last year visiting Yellowstone/Grand Teton, my son and I were both wearing Ohio State t-shirts almost everyday and we heard many "O-H"s to which we always replied loudy "I-O". :osu: