Written by David Regimbal

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One of Ohio State’s strongest and most recognizable traditions is its “gold pants” tradition, where each player and coach affiliated with the team receives a necklace with a gold pants charm attached as a reward for defeating Michigan in their annual rivalry game.

After Ohio State’s 37-7 victory over Michigan last November, the team was expected to receive its seventh necklace in as many years. That was before Gold Pants Club president Jim Lachey said they were holding off on awarding the 2010 team with this year’s gold pants. Members of the club are hesitant to award the team until the NCAA makes a ruling on violations Ohio State committed last year -- which could potentially vacate all of Ohio State’s victories from 2010.

"If they vacate the win, it makes no sense to award the gold pants, at least in our minds," Lachey said in a statement to The Columbus Dispatch. "And if you hand them out and say, 'Oh yeah, we'll need to get them back if the win is vacated' - I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be a smart way to go.” He later added, “I'll be honest, we don't want to see any 2010 gold pants on the market right now."

This tradition started in 1934 when then Buckeyes coach Francis Schmidt famously said, “They put their pants on one leg at a time, the same as we do!” when referring to the juggernaut Michigan football had become. The Buckeyes beat the Wolverines 34-0 later that year and went on to beat Michigan four straight times.