COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University has announced a gift from The Huntington National Bank in support of the Department of Athletics and Ohio Stadium. In recognition of the gift, one of the stadium's signature features-the 21,000-square-foot area serving as the social focal point for suite holders, club seat holders, and their guests-has been named The Huntington Club.

The gift is the latest in the 32-year partnership between Ohio State and Huntington. Others include support for scholarships, endowed faculty positions, and a May 1997 gift to name The Huntington Club in the Jerome Schottenstein Center and Value City Arena.

Tomorrow, during a break in the action of the Ohio State vs. San Diego State game, Director of Athletics Andy Geiger, Board of Trustees Chair David Brennan, and Ohio State alumnus James Kunk, president, Central Region, Huntington National Bank, will announce the gift to thousands of Buckeye fans.

"The Huntington National Bank has had a long, successful partnership with The Ohio State University. We share a common commitment to excellence for the people we serve and to the communities in which we reside," said Thomas E. Hoaglin, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. "We are thrilled to support the renovation of Ohio Stadium and of The Huntington Club, a permanent symbol of the important alliance between our two organizations."

Located on B-Deck on Ohio Stadium's west side, The Huntington Club is a distinctive feature of the renovated stadium. An upscale atmosphere for socializing before, during, and after the games, the facility features panoramic views of the Olentangy River and West Campus, comfortable seating areas, television monitors, and private elevator service. In addition to hosting suite holders, club seat holders, and their guests, the facility is also available for use by other university and community groups.

"We are delighted by this gift," said Geiger. "It embodies the great partnership between Huntington and Ohio State-a partnership that has accomplished so much and for which we're immensely grateful."

"We are very thankful to the people at The Huntington National Bank," said Kirwan. "They have generously supported academic and athletic excellence at Ohio State for 30 years, with gifts to create scholarships and endowed faculty positions and to build new facilities. This gift has helped us to make our historic Ohio Stadium the finest college football venue in the country."

This gift was part of Ohio State's five-year $1.23 billion "Affirm Thy Friendship" fund-raising campaign, which concluded on June 30, 2000.

The Huntington National Bank is the principal subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, a regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Through its affiliated companies, Huntington has served the financial needs of its customers for over 135 years, providing innovative products and services through more than 500 offices in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, and West Virginia. International banking services are made available through the headquarters in Columbus and additional offices located in the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong. Huntington also offers products and services online at www.huntington.com; through its technologically advanced, 24-hour telephone bank; and through its network of more than 1,400 ATMs.

Contacts for more information:

* Tom Hof, associate athletic director for development and marketing, The Ohio State University, (614) 688-3345 or hof.1@osu.edu.

* Jeri Grier, vice president, public relations, Huntington Bancshares Inc., (614) 480-5413 or jeri.grier@huntington.com.

Sidebar:

The Ohio State University and The Huntington National Bank: A History of Partnership

In 1968, The Huntington National Bank began its partnership with The Ohio State University with a gift supporting scholarships. Over the last 32 years, this alliance has developed into a rich exchange between the business and academic communities in Columbus.

Huntington's contributions to this partnership, as well as its financial support, have made a lasting impact on the lives of Ohio State students-many of whom have gone on to become important members of the Columbus-area community, Huntington employees, and concerned citizens.

Huntington has supported a wide array of Ohio State programs and initiatives over the years, including:

1968-85 -- General Scholarship Support

1976-93 -- WOSU Stations

1982-84 -- College of Engineering

1983-94 -- College of Food, Agricultural, & Environmental Sciences

1984-present -- Department of Athletics, Scoreboard Advertising

1986-91 -- Office of Minority Affairs, Minority Assistance Program

1987 -- College of Humanities, Department of Black Studies (now the Department of African American and African Studies)

1987-92 -- University Endowment Fund

1987-present -- Max M. Fisher College of Business

1989-90 -- College of Humanities

1989-93 -- College of Humanities, Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures, German Scholarships and Travel Support

1989-94 -- College of Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Department of Physics, Graduate Fellowship

1989-present -- Women Business Owners

1992-present -- Department of Athletics, Block "O" Club

1992-present -- Wexner Center for the Arts, including support for the 1995-96 Roy Lichtenstein exhibition

1994-95 -- National Council of Ohio State Women

1994-95 -- Critical Difference for Women, Re-entry Scholarships

1994-present -- College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, School of Journalism & Communication Advisory Board

1995-96 -- Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital & Research Institute (now the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital & Richard J. Solove Research Institute), including the John C. Geupel Research Endowment Fund

1995-96 -- Campus Partners

1997 -- Department of Athletics, Jerome Schottenstein Center and Value City Arena, The Huntington Club

Today -- Department of Athletics, Ohio Stadium, The Huntington Club

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