I'm from a generation where using OU in conversation was both common and not considered a sign of anything other than brevity. OU doesn't bother me. The university should use Ohio or Ohio University officially, but when someone says OU, I don't care.

And I will say that the recent mania to stamp it out of existence does stink slightly of an inferiority complex. That if somehow we only use the more formal name of the university that it will somehow make us more prestigious. You'll notice that nobody up the road seems to get riled up at the constant use of OSU, and among other B1G schools: IU, U of I, U of M (twice). Heck, many Wisconsin students and alums use "Wiscy" instead of Wisconsin.

I could be wrong but I can't seem to find any other schools in the US that keep the caps lock key on and scream their name in official publications.

Take a look at the logo on the tall player's uniform--he's the one in the middle.
early 1900's used OU. So.........

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/196258496239206722/?lp=true

Just got done playing golf with a few friends. Their kids go to "App State" (Appalachian State University), "State" (NC State), Carolina (South Carolina), My neighbor's sons both go to Carolina (North Carolina), also most usually referred to as Chapel Hill. My son goes to "Charlotte" - UNC-Charlotte.

I went to OU or Ohio University. If he I say "Ohio" - folks ask "Ohio what"

OU
Always OU.

I get using Ohio in a sports context, because people from Oklahoma are apparently confused with how abreviations work. But we will always be OU to me.

Nobody says OHIO! Oh Yeah!... that's just preposterous.

That's about where I'm at too. Half my family went to OHIO/OU and when we talk amongst ourselves, we say "OU" and think nothing of it. When someone else says "OU" I usually don't interpret it as an intentional insult to OUr fine school.

Thanks to what I have learned from this website though, what does piss me off is when I see Ohio State gear with the word "Ohio" on it. That's OUr word, not OSU's! We didn't get into litigation with Ohio State just so they could poach the word, although they still do.

Heck, I even got made at the State of Ohio once when I stopped at a turnpike rest stop only to see they were selling apparel that had the word "Ohio" on it. I have to admit, my initial thought was "are they allowed to do that? That's our word." That's probably taking it a little too far.

But Ohio State using "Ohio" in any form or manner just infuriates me.

Well UCONN and UMASS are often UConn and UMass in writing. So they went part of the way. And it is normally UCONN and UMASS when its on any gear and apparel and for most headlines and web banners and etc. But, can't think of any other than them.

I mostly use OU when talking but I've taken a liking to typing OHIO.

(At least Terry Smith isn't going for Ohio U.)

Maybe the University of Oklahoma doesn't use the "UO" because of massive student load debt? Just asking for a friend.

This take, which I hear most regularly, does always strike me curious/queer, so I'm asking, in all seriousness: when you hear a graduate from any of the following state "U" colleges refer to their alma mater "U" by state's name, do you feel as though they are also feeling inferior to another institution?

Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California (oft shorthanded to Cal)
Colorado
Connecticut (oft shorthanded to UConn)
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana (many/most Ragin' Cajuns have the same issue we have against ULM)
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts (oft shorthanded to UMass)
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire (oft shorthanded to UNH)
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania (oft shorthanded to Penn)
Rhode Island (at times shorthanded to URI)
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont (at times shorthanded to UVM)
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

When any graduate of these state named schools said they graduated from that state name, I know exactly where they went, and actually have the take that, when they use the state name it conveys more "Pride" than using an acronym. Maybe I'm just the weird one that I have never understood this whole supposed inferiority complex thing. So someone, please explain to me why when someone would say they went to, let's say Colorado, they are making up for an inferiority complex over Colorado State or another institution in Colorado.

State tried to sue OHIO to prevent OHIO from using OHIO, partly because so many (including the University) made a habit of short handing it to OU for some many years, so I simply view the use of OHIO as righting decades of wrongs. No inferiority at all, just correcting the laziness and lack of "Pride" in institution, IMHO.

I do, but what does that have to do with presence or absence of an inferiority complex?