The Game Of The Century, The Hiney Gate Of The Century
The night air was cool around the Lane Ave/O.S.U. Stadium/ Hineygate area at 11:30PM Friday night November 17th 2006. There was a quiet murmur of anticipation amongst small groups of people walking around that night. Most people who new better were having a quiet evening at home, saving their spirits for what was billed as: "The game of the century" Undefeated #1 OSU vs. Undefeated #2 Michigan! What could be more exciting?
The shoe had a beautiful glow in the night air, with it's scoreboard flashing all kinds of crazy electric designs, flashing their shadows and light over the one hundred thousand empty seats and a handful of OSU Police Officers. The Holiday Inn On The Lane was quietly buzzing with activity inside. Outside, the beer trucks, the ticket tables and the big stage were all silently in place, for what would be the biggest Hiney Gate in 24 years. In a short time, this peaceful looking area would be jammed with people from all over the country and world, talking laughing, nervously anticipating this all important game.
The excitement for us started several weeks earlier, when Home Box Office Sports and Sports Illustrated contacted us about doing stories on the Hiney Gate. There I was, on the phone, trying to find words to describe to a party that has grown so large, means so much to so many that it has a life of its own, which is all largely based on spontaneous moments inspired by the culmination energy from the band an audience. Did I leave out a beverage?? What is Hiney Gate they asked? I replied, tradition, Hard driving rock and roll, dancing, on stage marriage proposals, having everyone in the crowd give the #1 sign to anyone that comes up on stage! The always inspiring pep talks from former Buckeye Coach Earle Bruce, Giving "good hate" to 610 WTVN's Bob Connors, Munch broadcasting on stage, the shows in the windows, opposing teams predictions, laughter, flirting women, flirting men, and hey, how about the many stories that stay at the Hiney Gate??
The hours leading up to Friday had been all about music, and partying. Thursday night we played at BW3's on Bethel Road for 610 WTVN's Bucks line. We only played during the commercials, but it sure was fun. Thanks for the rounds you nice fans. I wasn't driving, so I cut loose!
The next morning we were in the studio with Bob Connors at 630AM. This tradition goes back many years, but I have never seen Bob so pumped as he was on this very special Friday morning. We played Bill's song Let's Get Up, and a little while later, Archie Griffin was on the air, and asked us to play the song again!! That made us smile!
Later that day, I talked with Alec Morrison and Photographer Carlton both from Sports Illustrated. They were here to report for the Tailgate Nation edition of Sports Illustrated, which will come out next September. We arranged to meet Saturday morning. Then my phone rang, the Farnsworth brothers were here from New York City and places east. Time to party, as was tradition, so party did! Normally they would come out to WTVN's Beat Michigan Dance at the Aladdin Shrine, but this event had been cancelled after more that 25 years of tradition. WHY??? So we began our hang at Wendell's, right next to the Holiday inn On The Lane. Thanks again to all you fans that would not let me get from one table to the next without a Danger Brothers Go Bucks high five!! Playing music in itself is a "nice cake" having so many fans tell you they have "followed you for so many years", is "icing on that cake" THANKS!!! We moved on to the Varsity Club for more wonderful beverages and laughter. I met these Farnsworth’s about 5 years ago, when they came backstage and introduced themselves. Paul is a producer for the Outdoor Channel, David is a real estate magnate, (Just traded Ventor & Marvin Gardens for Mediterranean & Baltic) Joe is a top-drawer drummer in the world of Jazz (Diana krall, Wynton Marsalis etc.)
After my hang with these three musketeers, I headed up our DB room at the Holiday Inn On The Lane. I wanted to see who from the crew might be there, and sure enough there was Farmer John, from Marion, time to party some more!! Who cared about sleep tonight, no one was going to get any anyway!!
Game day I pulled into to the Hiney Gate at 830. Parked my car and met up with Alec and Carlton of Sports Illustrated, (HBO was a no show, there loss. These two had never been to Columbus, and had no idea how big this party was going to be. They would soon see…
By the time we hit the stage at 11AM, the place was packed, and we were starting an hour earlier than usual, playing an extra set. As far as I could tell, we were rocking the house. We were recording the whole show for a new CD, and, from a drummers standpoint, I kind of closed off the world a bit to make sure I laid down some solid rocking drums for the band, the HUGE crowd, and the CD. Most live albums or CD's that are out, have at least some guitars or singing re-recorded later in a recording studio. Drummers do not have that luxury. If we don’t get the tempo right, or make some huge flub, the track will be scrapped.
My biggest "buzz" of the day, was when Coach Earle Bruce came up on our stage, escorted by 610 WTVN's Munch, and gave the crowd a "GO Bucks Pep Talk". He is the real deal, a class act, and also a very nice man.
My other big buzz was playing Bill’s new tune, "Lets Get Up" (for the Buckeyes). The song simply rocks nicely, and to see the crowd respond the lyrics by raising their cups for the buckeyes as the lyrics requests is touching, considering they have only heard it live at HG. The Lyrics are on Bills rock Attack link.
The CBS affiliate from Toledo came up and did some live broadcasting for their noon news. (I have to laugh. No news media from Columbus ever comes up and shoots anything, but other cities do!)
We gave a nice toast to all of the Hiney Gaters who are no longer with us, a toast to Bo Schembechler, and then we asked for a loud cheer, for Woody & Bo, which we got.
During the game, a large crowd filled our stage to watch. Our crew clears the stage of anything that matters for this occasion.
When the game drew to a close, I stood behind me Ludwig drums and hit my tom toms in unison, Boom! BoomBoomBoomBoom, Boom! BoomBoomBoomBoom, Haaanng On Sloopy…. The crowd was singing SO LOUD, a choir of sheer joy!!!!!!!! I will never forget Tom our bass guitarist, turning around and looking at me with big eyes like, WOW, that is unreal. It was. I video clip of this moment will soon be on our new HineyGate page!
At the end of the day we were so happy and exhausted. Five and one half-hours of hard rock & Roll, a Buckeye victory… what more could you ask for?? Our new friend’s from Sports Illustrated were blown away by the whole event. They loved it!!
What a very special day it was: the "game of the century", and the "Hiney Gate of the Century"
Three different groups of people swore to us this fall that they would get us to whatever bowl game the Buckeyes were in.
We are awaiting your calls.
The shoe had a beautiful glow in the night air, with it's scoreboard flashing all kinds of crazy electric designs, flashing their shadows and light over the one hundred thousand empty seats and a handful of OSU Police Officers. The Holiday Inn On The Lane was quietly buzzing with activity inside. Outside, the beer trucks, the ticket tables and the big stage were all silently in place, for what would be the biggest Hiney Gate in 24 years. In a short time, this peaceful looking area would be jammed with people from all over the country and world, talking laughing, nervously anticipating this all important game.
The excitement for us started several weeks earlier, when Home Box Office Sports and Sports Illustrated contacted us about doing stories on the Hiney Gate. There I was, on the phone, trying to find words to describe to a party that has grown so large, means so much to so many that it has a life of its own, which is all largely based on spontaneous moments inspired by the culmination energy from the band an audience. Did I leave out a beverage?? What is Hiney Gate they asked? I replied, tradition, Hard driving rock and roll, dancing, on stage marriage proposals, having everyone in the crowd give the #1 sign to anyone that comes up on stage! The always inspiring pep talks from former Buckeye Coach Earle Bruce, Giving "good hate" to 610 WTVN's Bob Connors, Munch broadcasting on stage, the shows in the windows, opposing teams predictions, laughter, flirting women, flirting men, and hey, how about the many stories that stay at the Hiney Gate??
The hours leading up to Friday had been all about music, and partying. Thursday night we played at BW3's on Bethel Road for 610 WTVN's Bucks line. We only played during the commercials, but it sure was fun. Thanks for the rounds you nice fans. I wasn't driving, so I cut loose!
The next morning we were in the studio with Bob Connors at 630AM. This tradition goes back many years, but I have never seen Bob so pumped as he was on this very special Friday morning. We played Bill's song Let's Get Up, and a little while later, Archie Griffin was on the air, and asked us to play the song again!! That made us smile!
Later that day, I talked with Alec Morrison and Photographer Carlton both from Sports Illustrated. They were here to report for the Tailgate Nation edition of Sports Illustrated, which will come out next September. We arranged to meet Saturday morning. Then my phone rang, the Farnsworth brothers were here from New York City and places east. Time to party, as was tradition, so party did! Normally they would come out to WTVN's Beat Michigan Dance at the Aladdin Shrine, but this event had been cancelled after more that 25 years of tradition. WHY??? So we began our hang at Wendell's, right next to the Holiday inn On The Lane. Thanks again to all you fans that would not let me get from one table to the next without a Danger Brothers Go Bucks high five!! Playing music in itself is a "nice cake" having so many fans tell you they have "followed you for so many years", is "icing on that cake" THANKS!!! We moved on to the Varsity Club for more wonderful beverages and laughter. I met these Farnsworth’s about 5 years ago, when they came backstage and introduced themselves. Paul is a producer for the Outdoor Channel, David is a real estate magnate, (Just traded Ventor & Marvin Gardens for Mediterranean & Baltic) Joe is a top-drawer drummer in the world of Jazz (Diana krall, Wynton Marsalis etc.)
After my hang with these three musketeers, I headed up our DB room at the Holiday Inn On The Lane. I wanted to see who from the crew might be there, and sure enough there was Farmer John, from Marion, time to party some more!! Who cared about sleep tonight, no one was going to get any anyway!!
Game day I pulled into to the Hiney Gate at 830. Parked my car and met up with Alec and Carlton of Sports Illustrated, (HBO was a no show, there loss. These two had never been to Columbus, and had no idea how big this party was going to be. They would soon see…
By the time we hit the stage at 11AM, the place was packed, and we were starting an hour earlier than usual, playing an extra set. As far as I could tell, we were rocking the house. We were recording the whole show for a new CD, and, from a drummers standpoint, I kind of closed off the world a bit to make sure I laid down some solid rocking drums for the band, the HUGE crowd, and the CD. Most live albums or CD's that are out, have at least some guitars or singing re-recorded later in a recording studio. Drummers do not have that luxury. If we don’t get the tempo right, or make some huge flub, the track will be scrapped.
My biggest "buzz" of the day, was when Coach Earle Bruce came up on our stage, escorted by 610 WTVN's Munch, and gave the crowd a "GO Bucks Pep Talk". He is the real deal, a class act, and also a very nice man.
My other big buzz was playing Bill’s new tune, "Lets Get Up" (for the Buckeyes). The song simply rocks nicely, and to see the crowd respond the lyrics by raising their cups for the buckeyes as the lyrics requests is touching, considering they have only heard it live at HG. The Lyrics are on Bills rock Attack link.
The CBS affiliate from Toledo came up and did some live broadcasting for their noon news. (I have to laugh. No news media from Columbus ever comes up and shoots anything, but other cities do!)
We gave a nice toast to all of the Hiney Gaters who are no longer with us, a toast to Bo Schembechler, and then we asked for a loud cheer, for Woody & Bo, which we got.
During the game, a large crowd filled our stage to watch. Our crew clears the stage of anything that matters for this occasion.
When the game drew to a close, I stood behind me Ludwig drums and hit my tom toms in unison, Boom! BoomBoomBoomBoom, Boom! BoomBoomBoomBoom, Haaanng On Sloopy…. The crowd was singing SO LOUD, a choir of sheer joy!!!!!!!! I will never forget Tom our bass guitarist, turning around and looking at me with big eyes like, WOW, that is unreal. It was. I video clip of this moment will soon be on our new HineyGate page!
At the end of the day we were so happy and exhausted. Five and one half-hours of hard rock & Roll, a Buckeye victory… what more could you ask for?? Our new friend’s from Sports Illustrated were blown away by the whole event. They loved it!!
What a very special day it was: the "game of the century", and the "Hiney Gate of the Century"
Three different groups of people swore to us this fall that they would get us to whatever bowl game the Buckeyes were in.
We are awaiting your calls.
posted by Tom Smith of the Danger Brothers at 1:20 AM
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