Tailgating at the Ohio State University Buckeyes Games.

You have probably wandered through the crowded parking lot of an Ohio State University Buckeyes game and seen students tossing cornhole bean bags at wooden platforms with the Ohio State University Buckeyes logo on them. The students are playing a game called Cornhole. Playing this game is the biggest craze in tailgate partying at these OSU Buckeyes games. Two of the biggest reasons that Cornhole is becoming so popular is that the rules are easy and the game can be played almost anywhere that a platform can be set up.

The boards are pulled out of the vehicles, placed 27 feet apart. Each team will start to toss four bean bags towards the boards. Tossing these bean bags (the bean bags are not filled with beans, but with corn) in the parking lot is vital aspect of the Ohio State student culture. Playing the bean bag toss is a great game for the young and the old, and you will find a variety of age groups engaging in this game. This game is even being played in the pubs! It is sure to make the Cornhole game the newest craze across the nation.

Cornhole is very much like playing horseshoes, but much more flexible. Horseshoe pegs are placed in the ground and for the most part are permanent. The game can be be placed anywhere, ie, parking lots, fields, backyards, etc. There are American Cornhole Association (ACA) sanctioned boards, and there are boards that you can make yourself. The platform can be painted as you see fit, or there are decals that you can place on your platform. You can also purchase a customized OSU cornhole board and cornhole bean bags which come designed with the OSU Buckeyes colors and logo.

There are tournaments being held throughout Ohio State, Illionis, Virgina, Tennesse, etc. Ohio State University has started to take the lead in sponsoring tournaments. One of the first tournaments held at Ohio State University in 2009 was at the College of Veterinary Medicine on May 31st 2009 with a winning purse of $300. This is the first annual tournament at the College of Medicine, hopefully they will continue to sponsor the tournament. The 2nd annual Ohio Cornhole Tournament was held on June 20, 2009 in conjunction with Ohio University, Ohio State and Xavier Chapters, at West Potomac Park in Washington, DC. This 2nd annual Ohio Cornhole tournament used the NCAA style elimination bracket-64 teams (4 players per team). The winner received a brand new Cornhole Set.

Many people like to take credit for the invention of this game, it is even suggested that the game's origins date as far back as the 14th century in Germany, but this has been unsubstantiated. Its initial creation seems to date back to 18th century Ohio, most likely in western Cincinnati. This can not be substantiated either, but this idea seems more conceivable than being created in 14th century Germany. Whether it came from Germany or Ohio, Cornhole is truly an American game.

Jerry Coffey is an R.N. and a cornhole enthusiast. He enjoys taking the time to play the game with his children. He is also a webmaster at http://www.cornholegameinfo.com