HB/S/P/PK "Chic" Harley (3x All-American, CFB HOF)
- Buckeye Alumni
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I found the draft preview I wrote. It doesn't give insight into the book I mentioned.... This piece was 2010, so maybe the one above from 2009 is right? Anyway, here's what I wrote, in relevant part:Go eat my guy, but do let me know the name of the book if you can find it. I'll read it and be a sponge. I love Ohio State history and reading it all really makes me tick. The book will be absorbed on my end.
Chic was a damn legend after reading what he did. He didn't either, to the point of this thread. Just wanted to give him his due credit.
Take October 14, 1916, for example. It was on this date that Ohio State delivered a 128 - 0 flogging to Oberlin. The game still stands as the largest point total, and margin of victory, in Ohio State history. Like the 2010 Buckeyes, the 1916 Buckeyes enjoyed the physical exploits of a young man who was, in every way, superior to the other guys on the field with him. In 2010 that man is QB Terrelle Pryor. In 1916 it was HB Chic Harley. Like 1916, Ohio State would follow up the blood-letting with a contest against the Fighting Illini of Illinois.
Times are changed in some ways. In 1916, Illinois and Ohio State were fairly evenly regarded with Illinois enjoying a slight edge. In the two contests prior to Harley's first go around, Illinois and Ohio State had tied one in 1915 and the Illini had taken it to the Bucks 37-0 in 1914. The 1916 game was indeed a "big game" for the Buckeyes. Illinois, while losing to Colgate the week prior, was 13-1-2 prior to the match and had not lost a conference game since 1913 while Ohio State had established itself as a pretty good team in its own right in the two seasons prior, going a combined 12-3-1. The contest, at Illinois, was a slugfest played in a day long rain. It would come down to Chic Harley, who scored Ohio State's lone TD in the waning moments of a 6-0 game. After his TD tied it 6-6, it was Harley's extra point which would seal the deal. Ohio State went on to win all seven games it would play in 1916. Illinois ended the season 3-3-1. There was no Heisman in those days, but Ohio State's Chic Harley would certainly have been a strong candidate. In any event, he was a unanimous All American selection.
Winning was what Chic Harley did. Having made a name for himself in High School, Harley is the man responsible for what we now know as Ohio State. Sure, other great men had their hands in it too, John Wilce - Harley's coach - for example, or the AD at the time - Lynn St. John. But, it was Harley's exploits which built the proud tradition that is Ohio State football today. It was because of Harley that the Ohio State ended up building the Shoe. Prior to Chic's days on campus, the Buckeyes might get several thousand to a game at Ohio Field which had a capacity of about 14,000. But, by the time Chic's career at Ohio State would come to a close, Ohio Field could no longer contain the numbers of people who wanted to see the man in action. Ohio Field would become Arps Hall, Ramseyer Hall and a parking garage. Vacant land next to the Olentangy would become the "House the Harley built."
It was Chic Harley's 1919 team which was the first Ohio State team to ever beat a Michigan squad. You know those fans that like to talk about "all time winningest program?" Yeah, it's these days to which they refer. The Buckeyes would win 13-3 marking the 19th time in 20 games Harley played in which the Buckeyes prevailed. The one game the Buckeyes didn't win? A 0-0 tie with Auburn in 1917, a week after beating Illinois 13-0, and a week in which most of the Ohio State players contemplated the War - a former teammate (and Chic's High School teammate, at that) having been killed in action at about that same time. Harley would go to serve in World War I in 1918. Ohio State went 3-3 without him. But, again, Harley returned to play in 1919, and led the Buckeyes to yet another undefeated seeason entering the finale with Illinois. Harley, who had never lost a game in college, Harley, the greatest athlete of his time, Harley, the man who's popularity compelled the building of a 66,000 seat stadium ... in his final game as a collegian ... lost. To Illinois. Nine to seven. The Buckeyes had been leading 7-6 in a tightly fought battle that looked like it might well end that way. But, with 8 seconds left, Illinois kicked a 25 yard field goal. Harley - after bringing Ohio State 2 prior seasons of glory and the Buckeyes first win over Michigan - blamed himself for the loss.
Why this story? Well, for one, it's this history which is why Ohio State is what it is today. The team you root for, the team you love, was built by the man who's #47 finally is recognized on the stadium which might have well bared his name. We owe a great deal to Chic. But, for another, it's Illinois week. Look, no one these days gets too excited to face the Zookers. Times have changed. But, this Ohio State team - the 2010 version - reminded me of the 1916 team when it gave the Eagles its old school beat down. While that '16 team beat Illinois, what occurs to us is that we owe Chic Harley a win. Men like Harley aren't supposed to lose their last game. But, he did and it was the Illini which beat him. So, this week, Buckeyes, how about a little something for Chic? Granted, it's in Champaign and not the Shoe - but then, Chic himself was from Chicago. Fitting, I say. Sure, Ohio State has beaten the Illini plenty of times since 1919. Sure Ohio State has the IlliBuck holding Gene Smith's door open (or whatever it is we do with it). But, in a year where Ohio State is running up old school scores, perhaps it's time to settle an old school score. Make Chic proud this week. Go Bucks!
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