cincibuck
You kids stay off my lawn!
I was reading the Devin Barclay thread and thinking about the Buckeye kicking game of the last decade-- probably the most significant difference between the Cooper years and the Tressel years -- when the name of Tad Weed floated into my conscious. Contrary to B-grads thoughts, I did not see Harley kick the game winner against Illinois, nor did I see Janowicz FG in the Snow Bowl, my only memories of Lou "The Toe" Groza are from the Browns. Weed was the kicker for the 53 - 54 Buckeye teams, the first teams I got to see in Ohio Stadium.
Turns out that Tad led a pretty incredible life:
Tad graduated from The Ohio State University in 1956, where he was a specialist place-kicker for the National Champion Football team of 1954, under Coach Woody Hayes, remaining one of Woody's boys for many years. In 1955, he participated in the All-Star Game at Soldier's Field in Chicago during which he kicked the winning points (three field goals and two extra points) for the All-Stars, one of only two games the All-Stars won in that extended series. He held the record for the most kicks and the longest kick in the All-Star game. Tad successfully designed the one of the first blunt-nose place-kicking shoes, using one of his ski boots for his prototype. During his time at Ohio State, he began weight-lifting, and was the National Champion in his weight class during his senior year. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams for the pre-season activities in 1955 and then returned to Ohio State to finish his second senior year. During his last year at Ohio State, his fifth, he was place-kicker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, flying to their games Friday evening and returning Sunday night to Columbus. Tad served his Marine Corps years in Japan where he developed the Japanese Inter-Corps Athletic Program, and kicked for the Tokyo team every weekend, flying in from the U.S. Army Base in Ewakuni, south of Tokyo, where he was stationed.
Tad later invented and patented the WEED tennis racquet and made several other racquet refinements which were patented. Late in life he suffered from a nerve disorder that cost him the use of his legs. He died at Columbus Riverside hospital in 2006.
Anyway, there have been some great Buckeye kickers and kicking moments these last few seasons, who and which kick stands out for you? And yeah, BB73, Bob Lantry's wide right is fair game.
Turns out that Tad led a pretty incredible life:
Tad graduated from The Ohio State University in 1956, where he was a specialist place-kicker for the National Champion Football team of 1954, under Coach Woody Hayes, remaining one of Woody's boys for many years. In 1955, he participated in the All-Star Game at Soldier's Field in Chicago during which he kicked the winning points (three field goals and two extra points) for the All-Stars, one of only two games the All-Stars won in that extended series. He held the record for the most kicks and the longest kick in the All-Star game. Tad successfully designed the one of the first blunt-nose place-kicking shoes, using one of his ski boots for his prototype. During his time at Ohio State, he began weight-lifting, and was the National Champion in his weight class during his senior year. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams for the pre-season activities in 1955 and then returned to Ohio State to finish his second senior year. During his last year at Ohio State, his fifth, he was place-kicker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, flying to their games Friday evening and returning Sunday night to Columbus. Tad served his Marine Corps years in Japan where he developed the Japanese Inter-Corps Athletic Program, and kicked for the Tokyo team every weekend, flying in from the U.S. Army Base in Ewakuni, south of Tokyo, where he was stationed.
Tad later invented and patented the WEED tennis racquet and made several other racquet refinements which were patented. Late in life he suffered from a nerve disorder that cost him the use of his legs. He died at Columbus Riverside hospital in 2006.
Anyway, there have been some great Buckeye kickers and kicking moments these last few seasons, who and which kick stands out for you? And yeah, BB73, Bob Lantry's wide right is fair game.
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