2018 Countdown thread

[cjmik_75]

99 WARRIORS: NO. 35, ALL-AMERICAN AND NATIONAL CHAMPION FULLBACK JIM OTIS
Dan Hope on July 28, 2018 at 8:05 am @dan_hope

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We're counting down the days to kickoff with “99 Warriors,” the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes by jersey number, as voted by the staff of Eleven Warriors.

NO. 35 JIM OTIS
In three excellent seasons as Ohio State's starting fullback, Jim Otis established himself as one of the Buckeyes' all-time greats.

FB JIM OTIS
1967-69
b. April 29, 1948 (Celina, Ohio)

• National Champion (1968)
• First-Team All-American (1969)
• Team MVP (1969)
• Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame (1996)

One of only three players in Ohio State history to lead the Buckeyes in rushing in three or more straight seasons (Archie Griffin and Bob Ferguson being the others), Otis accomplished the feat from 1967 to 1969, rushing for 2,542 yards and 34 touchdowns over the course of those three seasons.

In 1968, Otis rushed for 985 yards and 10 touchdowns to help lead Ohio State to a 10-0 season and a national championship. In 1969, Otis rushed for 1,027 yards and nine touchdowns to earn first-team All-American and team MVP honors, and finished seventh in voting for the Heisman Trophy.

The New Orleans Saints selected Otis in the ninth round of the 1970 NFL draft. Otis went on to play in the NFL for nine seasons, earning Pro Bowl honors in 1975 after a 1,076-yard season for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Otis was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996, and he's currently among the players nominated for potential induction into the College Football Hall of Fame




https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...rican-and-national-champion-fullback-jim-otis

 

[ScriptOhio]

99 WARRIORS: NO. 34, ALL-AMERICAN AND ALL-BIG TEN RUNNING BACK CARLOS HYDE

We're counting down the days to kickoff with “99 Warriors,” the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes by jersey number, as voted by the staff of Eleven Warriors.

NO. 34 CARLOS HYDE
Born in Cincinnati, Carlos Hyde moved to Naples, Florida, to live with his grandmother in high school. As a junior, he led the Golden Eagles to a state championship.

RB CARLOS HYDE
2010-2013
b. Sept. 20, 1990 (Cincinnati, Ohio)

• All-American (2013)
• All-Big Ten (2013)
• big Ten Runng Back of the Year (2013)
• Undefeated Season (2012)

Though he was a four-star prospect in the Class of 2009, poor grades forced him into a post-graduate year at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia. He enrolled at Ohio State ahead of the 2010 season.

Hyde served as a backup to starter Daniel “Boom” Herron for much of his first two years on campus, but broke out during his junior season. He finished just shy of 1,000 yards, but scored 16 touchdowns to lead the Buckeyes to an undefeated record in head coach Urban Meyer’s first year at the helm.

Hyde entered his senior campaign with high expectations, but was suspended for the first three games of the year after he was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with a woman at a bar. He was never charged, but Meyer upheld the suspension for “conduct not representative” of the program and university.

When he returned, Hyde racked up 1,521 yards — which was at the time the 7th-most rushing yards in a single-season in school history — and 15 touchdowns to help Ohio State to the Big Ten Championship Game and an appearance in the Orange Bowl. He was named first-team All-Big Ten, the Ameche–Dayne Running Back of the Year and third-team All-American by the Associated Press.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ican-and-all-big-ten-running-back-carlos-hyde

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

[jwinslow]

 

[ScriptOhio]

99 WARRIORS: NO. 33, THREE-TIME CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICAN LINEBACKER, JAMES LAURINAITIS

We're counting down the days to kickoff with “99 Warriors,” the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes by jersey number, as voted by the staff of Eleven Warriors.

NO. 33 JAMES LAURINAITIS
A native of Minnesota, Laurinaitis played sparingly as a freshman behind the likes of A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel. He was thrown into the fire in the final regular season game of his freshman season against Michigan after Carpenter was injured, and from that point on, he was a mainstay on the Buckeye defense.

LB JAMES LAURINAITIS
2005-2008
b. Dec. 3, 1986 (Wayzata, Minn.)

• First Team All-American (2006-08)
• First Team All-Big Ten (2006-08)
• Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2007-08)
• Team Captain (2007-08)
• Nagurski Trophy (2006)
• Butkus Award (2007)
• Lott Impact Trophy (2008)

During his first season as a starter, Laurinaitis helped lead Ohio State's defense to an undefeated regular season, tallying a team-high 115 tackles as the Buckeyes went on to lose the BCS title game to Florida, 41-14.

The next season, Laurinaitis was just as successful individually as his sophomore campaign. As a junior, he helped lead the Buckeyes back to the BCS Championship Game, recording 121 total stops on his way to being named the Butkus Award winner. Unfortunately for Laurinaitis and the Buckeyes, Ohio State once again fell in the title game, this time to LSU.

His senior season saw Laurinaitis set a career-high in tackles for a season, as he made 130 in 2008 as Ohio State finished with a 10-3 record, eventually falling to Texas in the Fiesta Bowl. He was named the Lott Impact Trophy winner for his efforts before being drafted in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams.

Laurinaitis spent seven of his eight NFL seasons with the Rams and left the team in 2015 as the franchise's all-time leading tackler after being released. He played his final season with the New Orleans Saints in 2016 before announcing his retirement in April 2017.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...sus-all-american-linebacker-james-laurinaitis

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

My brother challenged me to see who could name more of the rest of the 32 (37 at the time) without looking. It was a fun little exercise....though I'm embarrassed by some of the names I missed. Looking at his list, he's certainly going to beat me....even though he probably cheated.

Picking a player for 7 and 2 is really fun.

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

[ScriptOhio]

99 WARRIORS: NO. 32, TWO-TIME CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICAN AND TWO-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION JACK TATUM

We're counting down the days to kickoff with “99 Warriors,” the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes by jersey number, as voted by the staff of Eleven Warriors.

NO. 32 JACK TATUM
Nicknamed The Assassin for his punishing hits, Jack Tatum is one of the top defenders in Ohio State history.

S JACK TATUM
1968-70
b. Nov. 18, 1948 (Cherryville, N.C.)
d. July 27, 2010 (Oakland, Calif.)

• 2x Consensus All-American (1969, 1970)
• 3x All-Big Ten (1968, 1969, 1970)
• 2x National Champion (1968, 1970)

A three-year starter at safety, Tatum earned All-Big Ten honors all three seasons and was named a consensus All-American as both a junior and a senior.

Tatum played at Ohio State for what was the most successful three-year stretch in Buckeye football history. He was an integral part of three-straight Big Ten championships in 1968, 1969 and 1970, and two of Ohio State's eight claimed national championships. During his three years at Ohio State, the Buckeyes went an absurd 27-2.

Tatum was selected in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders with the No. 19 overall pick, and he emerged as a starter his rookie season. Tatum had a 10-year NFL career that included three Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl title.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...can-and-two-time-national-champion-jack-tatum

 

[ScriptOhio]

99 WARRIORS: NO. 39, HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER AND TWO-SPORT PRO VIC JANOWICZ

We're counting down the days to kickoff with “99 Warriors,” the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes by jersey number, as voted by the staff of Eleven Warriors.

NO. 31 VIC JANOWICZ
One of Ohio State's most versatile players ever, the three-tool Vic Janowicz was a halfback, safety, punter, and kicker for Ohio State, culminating in a Heisman Trophy win.

HB/S/K/P VIC JANOWICZ
1948-51
b. Feb. 26, 1930 (Elyria, OH)
d. Feb. 27, 1996 (Columbus, OH)

• Heisman Trophy Winner (1950)
• College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (1976)
• Two-sport professional (played in both MLB and NFL)

A three-year starter (freshmen weren't eligible to play until 1972), Janowicz was one of Ohio State's finest players ever, becoming just the second Buckeye to win the Heisman Trophy after his junior season in 1950.

Janowicz was selected in the seventh round (#79 overall pick) by the Washington Redskins of the NFL in the 1952 draft. He passed on the offer, however, due to his desire to play in the MLB. After two seasons as a catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, with poor results, Janowicz switched back to football and played for the Redskins for two additional seasons.

Unfortunately, due to a severe brain injury caused by an automobile accident, Janowicz was forced to retire before the 1956 season. He went on to become a broadcaster for Ohio State football and an account executive at a Columbus manufacturing firm.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-trophy-winner-and-two-sport-pro-vic-janowicz

 

[Jake]

I hope we're not counting down to a replay of the 2011 season.

29 days until kickoff...but will Urban be there?

 

[ScriptOhio]

99 WARRIORS: NO. 30, THREE-YEAR STARTER, TEAM CAPTAIN AND ROSE BOWL CHAMPION, GREG BELLISARI

We're counting down the days to kickoff with “99 Warriors,” the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes by jersey number, as voted by the staff of Eleven Warriors.

NO. 30 GREG BELLISARI
One of the original Silver Bullets is our pick for the best Buckeye ever to wear the No. 30.

LB GREG BELLISARI
1993-96
b. June. 21, 1975 (Boynton Beach, FL)

• Academic All-American (1995-96)
• Academic All-Big Ten (1994-96)
• Team Captain (1996)
• Rose Bowl Champion (1997)

Linebacker Greg Bellisari came to Columbus in 1993 and after one season, cracked the starting lineup on a defense that would soon become one of the best in school history.

Bellisari's first year as a starter saw plenty of ups and downs as Ohio State finished with a 9-4 record that saw the Buckeyes lose an embarrassing 63-14 contest to No. 1 Penn State, but ultimately rebound to defeat Michigan in the season finale, just one of two victories John Cooper collected against the Wolverines.

The 1995 season saw Ohio State jump out to an 11-0 start with six of those wins coming against top-25 teams. However, the Buckeyes were upset by Michigan in the final week of the regular season as Tim Biakabutuka ran wild for 313 yards as the Wolverines sent Ohio State home with a 31-23 loss.

Bellisari's senior season saw him named a captain of the Silver Bullets, as he was flanked by the likes of Andy Katzenmoyer and Ryan Miller at the linebacker positions. The Buckeyes once again ran the table in the regular season until the matchup with Michigan dropping a 13-9 contest at home to the Wolverines, ending their hopes of a national title.

However, Ohio State was still able to secure the signature win of the Cooper era, defeating Arizona State 20-17 in the 1997 Rose Bowl. In that game, Bellisari collected five tackles and a sack.

Bellisari had a brief two-year stint in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before leaving the NFL to pursue a career in medicine. An Orthopedic Surgeon, Bellisari works in Upper Arlington, just a short drive from campus.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...captain-and-rose-bowl-champion-greg-bellisari

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

I hope we're not counting down to a replay of the 2011 season.

29 days until kickoff...but will Urban be there?

tomorrow is 29

 

[ScriptOhio]

99 WARRIORS: NO. 29, ROSE BOWL CHAMPION AND ALL-BIG TEN RUNNING BACK PEPE PEARSON

We're counting down the days to kickoff with “99 Warriors,” the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes by jersey number, as voted by the staff of Eleven Warriors.

NO. 29 PEPE PEARSON
After a stellar high school career in which he rushed for a nearly 4,500 yards and 43 touchdowns, Euclid native Pepe Pearson arrived at Ohio State in 1994 with high expectations.

RB PEPE PEARSON
1994-97
b. Dec. 11, 1975 (Euclid, OH)

• All-Big Ten (1996)
• Team MVP (1996)
• Big Ten Champion (1996)
• Rose Bowl Champion (1997)

He played sparingly as a freshman and sophomore behind eventual Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George, but finally excelled as a starter in 1996. He rushed for 1,484 yards and 17 touchdowns to lead the Buckeyes (11-1) to a Big Ten championship, a win over Arizona State in the Rose Bowl and a No. 2 national ranking.

Pearson is Ohio State’s 10th all-time leading rusher (3,121) and third in rushing attempts (659). He trails only Archie Griffin, Ezekiel Elliott, Eddie George, Tim Spencer, Beanie Wells, Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, Keith Byars and Carlos Hyde in the former category.

Pearson — who graduated in 1998 with a degree in sociology — went undrafted in the that year’s NFL Draft, but bounced around the league for four seasons. He spent time with the Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but mostly on their offseason and/or practice squads.

Pearson had brief stints in the XFL and NFL Europe, where he won the 2000 World Bowl with the Rhein Fire. He also spent time with the Dayton Warbirds of the National Indoor Football League.

Once he hung up his cleats, Pearson — a married father of three — began coaching. After 10 seasons as an assistant at Ohio Dominican and offseason stints with the NIFL's Daytona Beach Hawgs (coach) and the Continental Indoor Football League’s Marion Mayhem (coach and general manager), he was named the running backs coach at Youngstown State in 2015.

Pearson spent just one season with the Penguins before he was hired to the same position at Marshall, where he remains to this day.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ion-and-all-big-ten-running-back-pepe-pearson

 

[ScriptOhio]

99 WARRIORS: NO. 28, FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG TEN, TWO-TIME TEAM MVP, CHRIS “BEANIE” WELLS

We're counting down the days to kickoff with “99 Warriors,” the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes by jersey number, as voted by the staff of Eleven Warriors.

NO. 28 CHRIS “BEANIE” WELLS

One of the most heralded recruits to ever land at Ohio State, Chris “Beanie” Wells came to Columbus with the highest of expectations.

RB CHRIS WELLS
2006-08
b. Aug. 7, 1988 (Akron, OH)

• First Team All-Big Ten (2007)
• Team MVP (2007-08)
• Big Ten Champion (2006-08)

Wells played early and often his freshman season in 2006, despite being behind Antonio Pittman on the depth chart. Even though he dealt with ball-security issues, he still rushed for 576 yards and seven touchdowns on 104 carries, none bigger than his 52-yard scamper against Michigan.

Following Pittman's early departure to the NFL, Wells became the featured back in 2007 and put together a season for the ages. He rushed for 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns on 274 carries, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors and being named Ohio State's team MVP. The Buckeyes returned to the national championship game against LSU that season, and despite rushing for 146 yards, Wells and Ohio State came up short of the crown.

Wells' 2008 season was plagued by injury, as he missed three games for a variety of physical setbacks. Without Wells for a September game against USC, Ohio State was blasted 35-3 in the Los Angeles Coliseum, which prompted a change at quarterback, as Terrelle Pryor flanked Wells for the rest of the season. Even though he only played 10 games as a junior, Wells still managed to crack the 1,000-yard barrier, rushing for 1,197 yards and eight touchdowns.

Wells never won a postseason game in his Ohio State career, but did finish a perfect 3-0 against Michigan before declaring for the NFL Draft after his junior season. He was selected with the 31st overall pick in the 2009 draft by the Arizona Cardinals, where he played all four of his NFL seasons before hanging up his cleats in 2012.

His best NFL season came in 2011, when he rushed for 1,047 yards and 10 touchdowns in 14 games.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-big-ten-two-time-team-mvp-chris-beanie-wells

 

[ScriptOhio]

99 WARRIORS: NO. 27, HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER AND UNANIMOUS ALL-AMERICAN EDDIE GEORGE

We're counting down the days to kickoff with “99 Warriors,” the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes by jersey number, as voted by the staff of Eleven Warriors.

NO. 27 EDDIE GEORGE
This was an easy choice. The best Buckeye ever to wear No. 27 is also one of the best ever to don the Scarlet and Gray: Eddie George.

RB EDDIE GEORGE
1992-95
b. Sept. 24, 1973

• Heisman Trophy (1995)
• Walter Camp Award (1995)
• Doak Walker Award (1995)
• Maxwell Award (1995)
• Unanimous All-American (1995)
• Big Ten MVP (1995)

George's career did not begin anywhere near as glamorously as it ended. In the fifth game of his career, George fumbled twice against Illinois – once at the Illinois four-yard line, which was returned 96 yards for a touchdown the other direction, and once at the Illinois one-yard line, which set up a game-winning drive for the Illini.

After the two fumbles, George was effectively benched for the remainder of his freshman season as well as his sophomore season. He had just 12 more carries the rest of his freshman year – after the games were decided – and just 42 during his entire sophomore campaign.

As a junior though, George won the starting job, and that's when the dominance began as he rushed for 1442 yards and 12 touchdowns during the 1994 season. Then as a senior, George had perhaps the best single season of any Buckeye ever.

George rushed for a school record 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns his senior season, an averaging 148.23 yards per game. He also caught 47 passes for 417 yards and one touchdown. George was named a unanimous All-American, the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player and won the Doak Walker Award, the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Award and the Heisman Trophy.

Following his superb senior year, George was drafted No. 14 overall by the Houston Oilers and was the NFL's offensive rookie of the year his debut season. He played for the Oilers/Titans for eight seasons, rushing for over 1,000 yards in all but one, before finishing his career with one season in Dallas.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...inner-and-unanimous-all-american-eddie-george