Eric Boggs
Ohio State fans know there’s something magical that happens between the third and fourth quarters of every home game in the Horseshoe. As the sun begins to set over the ‘Shoe and the energy of the crowd swells, the unmistakable opening notes of “Hang On Sloopy” send a ripple of excitement through Buckeye Nation. For generations of fans, that moment isn’t just tradition—it’s sacred.
“Hang On Sloopy” has been a part of the Ohio State experience since October 9, 1965, when The Best Damn Band in the Land first brought it to life during a home game against Illinois. Since then, it has become much more than just a crowd-pleaser. It’s a rallying cry, a shared anthem that unites students, alumni, and fans young and old in a single chorus of O-H-I-O. But beyond its role in gameday pageantry, the song carries a deeper connection to our state’s history—and now, a somber farewell to the man who helped bring it to the world.
Rick Derringer, the lead singer and guitarist of The McCoys, the Ohio-born band that made “Hang On Sloopy” a chart-topping hit in 1965, has passed away at the age of 77. Born in Celina, Ohio, Derringer was just 17 years old when he and his brother Randy skyrocketed to fame with the song that would forever echo through Ohio Stadium. While the Billboard charts marked “Hang On Sloopy” as a #1 hit nationally, it earned a much more personal honor two decades later when, in 1985, it was officially designated the state rock song of Ohio.
Derringer’s musical impact extended far beyond that initial hit. He carved out a remarkable career as a solo artist with the hit “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo,” and as a Grammy-winning producer for “Weird Al” Yankovic’s debut album. His session work read like a who’s who of the music industry, from Steely Dan and Bonnie Tyler to Air Supply, Kiss, and Cyndi Lauper. He even gave wrestling fans an anthem of their own, co-writing Hulk Hogan’s iconic “Real American.”
But it was Sloopy that brought him back home. On September 12, 2015, in a moment that gave every Buckeye chills, Derringer returned to the Horseshoe to celebrate the 50th anniversary of “Hang On Sloopy.” Standing side by side with the Ohio State Marching Band, he performed the song live, electrifying a packed stadium and honoring a legacy that had become so deeply woven into the fabric of Buckeye tradition.
Now, as we mourn his passing, Ohio State fans and music lovers across the state reflect on the life of a hometown legend. Rick Derringer may have traveled the world and played with some of the biggest names in rock, but his connection to Ohio—and to that song—remains timeless.
So next time the band strikes up those familiar chords, we’ll sing a little louder. Not just for the Buckeyes, but for Rick. For Sloopy. For Ohio.
