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Ohio State Buckeyes football
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For information specifically about the 2006 season, see 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team. For the 2007 team, see 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team.
Ohio State Buckeyes football
Current season or competition 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
?

Head coach Jim Tressel
7th year, 73?15
Home stadium Ohio Stadium
Capacity 102,329 - FieldTurf
Conference Big Ten
First year 1889
Athletic director Gene Smith
Website OhioStateBuckeyes.com
Team records
All-time record 798?302?53 (.692)
Postseason bowl record 18?20
Awards
Wire national titles 5
Conference titles 32
Heisman winners 7
All-Americans 128
Pageantry
Colors Scarlet and Gray
Fight song Across the Field and Buckeye Battle Cry
Mascot Brutus Buckeye
Marching band The Ohio State University Marching Band
Rivals Michigan Wolverines
Illinois Fighting Illini (traditional)
Penn State Nittany Lions (designated by Big Ten)

The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) level. The team nickname is derived from the state tree of Ohio. The Buckeyes have played their home games in Ohio Stadium since 1922.

In their 116-year-history, the Buckeyes have been consensus Division IA National Champions five times. Jim Tressel has been the Buckeyes head coach since 2001.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 History
o 1.1 1890-1933: Beginnings
o 1.2 1934-1978 Big-time football
o 1.3 1979-present
o 1.4 Coaching staff
o 1.5 Player roster, depth chart, and schedule
* 2 Buckeye football traditions
* 3 Rivalries
* 4 All-time records
o 4.1 All-time coaching records
o 4.2 All-time Bowl Games
o 4.3 All-time Big Ten records
* 5 Individual awards and achievements
o 5.1 Heisman Trophy
o 5.2 Lombardi Award
o 5.3 Maxwell Award
o 5.4 Outland Trophy
o 5.5 Walter Camp Award
o 5.6 Other Awards
o 5.7 Season MVP
o 5.8 All-Century Team
o 5.9 Ohio State's All-Time Team
o 5.10 NCAA Coach of the Year
o 5.11 All-American and All-Conference honors
* 6 Academic awards and achievements
o 6.1 Rhodes Scholarship
o 6.2 College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-Americans
o 6.3 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame
* 7 Individual school records
o 7.1 Rushing records
o 7.2 Passing records
o 7.3 Receiving records
o 7.4 Kickoff return records
o 7.5 Punt return records
* 8 Buckeyes in the NFL
o 8.1 Ohio State Players Selected In 2007 NFL Draft
* 9 References
* 10 External links

[edit] History
Ohio State vs. Northwestern, September 22, 2007
Ohio State vs. Northwestern, September 22, 2007

Main article: History of Ohio State Buckeyes football

[edit] 1890-1933: Beginnings

In the spring of 1890 George Cole, an undergraduate, persuaded Alexander S. Lilley to coach a football team at the Ohio State University. The Buckeyes first game, played on May 3, 1890, at Delaware, Ohio, against Ohio Wesleyan University, was a victory.[1]

"In the fall, life for many in Columbus revolves around Ohio State University football, from the first kickoff in September to the last play in November. O.S.U.?s first home game took place at 2:30 p.m. on November 1, 1890. The Ohio State University played the University of Wooster on this site, which was then called Recreation Park. Just east of historic German Village, the park occupied the north side of Schiller (now Whittier) between Ebner and Jaeger in what is now Schumacher Place. The weather was perfect, and the crowd reportedly including a number of women, who cheered loudly. Nonetheless, O.S.U. lost to Wooster, 64-0. Wooster, physically fit for the game, showed O.S.U. that training is critical to winning. The tradition of training continues. Today, on football Saturdays in Ohio Stadium on Woody Hayes Drive, the sound of an O.S.U. game can be heard around the world.?

Over the next eight years, under a number of coaches, the team played to a cumulative record of 31 wins, 39 losses, and 2 ties. The first game against Michigan, in Ann Arbor, was a 34-0 loss in 1897, a year that saw the low point in Buckeye football history with a 1-7-1 record.

In 1899 the university hired John Eckstorm to bring professional coaching skills to the program and immediately went undefeated.[2] In 1901, however, center John Segrist was fatally injured in a game and the continuation of football at Ohio State was in serious question. Although the school's athletic board let the team decide its future, Eckstorm resigned. [3] In 1912 football underwent a number of developments that included joining the Western Conference, making football as part of a new Department of Athletics, and hiring Lynn W. St. John to be athletic director.

Ohio State's team came into national prominence in 1916 with the play of Charles W. "Chic" Harley, its first "triple threat" (runner, passer, and kicker). 1909 saw the tenth Buckeye loss to Michigan. Harley's popularity at Ohio State resulted in the construction of Ohio Stadium, a new, larger facility that opened in 1922.[4] Criticism of Wilce, particularly from "downtown coaches", led him to resign after the 1928 season, and was the first major negative influence of boosters and fans on the football program[5]

[edit] 1934-1978 Big-time football

In hiring Francis Schmidt in March 1934 to coach its football team, Ohio State moved its program to a "big-time" level of competition. Schmidt was a well-established coach and an acknowledged offensive innovator. His offensive schemes were a "wide-open" style called "razzle-dazzle" and led him to be the first Buckeye football coach granted a multi-year contract. Schmidt's first four seasons saw victories over archrival Michigan, all by shut-out. The 1935 squad went 7-1, its sole loss was to Notre Dame, 18-13, in the first contest between the programs. However Schmidt's remaining seasons were less successful, except in 1939 when the Buckeyes won the Big Ten championship, and his popularity faded for a number of reasons.[6] On December 17, 1940, he resigned.

Ohio State hired the coach of Massillon Washington High School football team, Paul Brown, to succeed Schmidt. Brown's Tigers had just won their sixth straight state championship. Brown immediately changed Ohio State's style of offense, planned and organized his program in great detail, and delegated to his assistant coaches using highly-structured practices. In 1942, Ohio State lost 22 veteran players to military service at the start of World War II, and with a team of mostly sophomores went on to lose only once in winning its first national championship. Brown accepted a commission in the United States Navy in 1944 and directed his assistant Carroll Widdoes to head the team in his absence. The 1944 team fielded 31 freshmen but went undefeated and untied, including a victory over Paul Brown's Great Lakes Navy team. Ohio State finished second in the national rankings behind Army and Les Horvath became the first Buckeye to be awarded the Heisman Trophy. Also prominent on the 1942-44 teams was the first Buckeye African-American star, Bill Willis.

Brown chose not to return to Ohio State after the war, going into professional football instead. Widdoes, despite having the highest two-year winning percentage of any Buckeye coach, asked to return to an assistant's position. Paul Bixler, an assistant, replaced Widdoes and endured a mediocre 4-3-2 season. Bixler resigned and talk of Ohio State being a "graveyard of coaches" became commonplace, a reputation that lingered for decades.[7]

Wes Fesler became head coach in 1947 but finished last in the Big Ten for the only time in team history. Ohio State improved greatly in 1948, winning 6 and losing 3, then in 1949 enjoyed a successful season due to the play of sophomore Vic Janowicz. Ohio State received the Rose Bowl invitation, where they came from behind to defeat California. In 1950 Fesler, rumored to be resigning because of pressures associated with the position and abuse of his family by anonymous critics, returned to coach the Buckeyes, who won six games in a row to move into the top ranking in the AP poll. However the season fell apart as the Buckeyes lost to Michigan during a blizzard, a game that came to be known as the "Snow Bowl". Two weeks later, citing concerns about his health and family, Fesler resigned.
Coach Woody Hayes
Coach Woody Hayes

Wayne Woodrow Hayes beat out Paul Brown, among others, to be named head coach on February 18, 1951. He instituted a demanding practice regimen and was both aggressive and vocal in enforcing it, alienating many players accustomed to Fesler's laid-back style. The 1951 Buckeyes won 4, lost 3, and tied 2, leaving many to question the ability of the new coach. In 1952 the team improved to 6-3, and recorded their first victory over Michigan in eight years, but after a 1953 loss to Michigan, critics called for the replacement of Hayes.

In 1954 the Buckeyes were picked to finish no higher than 10th in the Big Ten. Hayes, however, had the talents of Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, and a historic goal-line stand against Michigan propelled Ohio State to a perfect season. Hayes led the powerhouse Buckeyes to a shared national championship (his first and the team's second). In 1955 the team again won the Big Ten, set an attendance record, and won in Ann Arbor for the first time in 18 years, while Hopalong Cassady was securing the Heisman Trophy. Ohio State passed only three times against Michigan (the sole reception was the only completion in the final three games of the year), leading to characterization of Hayes' style of offensive play as "three yards and a cloud of dust".

In a 1955 article in Sports Illustrated, Hayes admitted making small personal loans to financially-needy players.[8] The article resulted in a furor over possible violations of NCAA rules, and the faculty council, followed by the Big Ten and NCAA, conducted lengthy investigations. Big Ten Commissioner Kenneth "Tug" Wilson found Hayes and the program guilty of violations and placed it on a year's probation in 1956. In 1957 Ohio State won all of its remaining games after an opening loss to claim the Big Ten championship, win the Rose Bowl over Oregon, and share a national championship title with Auburn, for which Hayes was named Coach of the Year.

In 1961 the team went undefeated to be named national champions by the FWAA but a growing conflict between academics and athletics over Ohio State's reputation as a "football school" resulted in a faculty council vote to decline an invitation to the Rose Bowl, resulting in much public protest and debate.[9] Over the next 6 seasons Ohio State finished no higher than 2nd, and had a losing season in 1966, and public speculation that Hayes would be replaced as coach grew to its highest point since 1953.

In 1968 Ohio State defeated the number one-ranked Purdue Boilermakers and continued to an undefeated season including a 50-14 rout of Michigan and a Rose Bowl victory over the USC Trojans that resulted in the national championship. The Class of 1970 became known as the "super sophomores" in 1968, and might have gone on to three consecutive national championships except for what may have been the bitterest loss in Buckeye history. The winning streak reached 22 games as Ohio State traveled to Michigan. The Buckeyes were 17-point favorites but directed by first-year coach Bo Schembechler, Michigan shocked the Buckeyes in a 24-12 upset.

The 1969 loss to Michigan initiated what came to be known as "The Ten Year War," in which the rivalry, which pitted some of OSU?s and UM?s strongest teams ever, rose to the uppermost level of all sports and the competition between Schembechler and Hayes became legendary. [10] Four times between 1970 and 1975, Ohio State and Michigan were both ranked in the top five of the AP Poll before their matchup. Hayes had the upper hand during the first part of the war, in which Ohio State won the conference championship and went to the Rose Bowl four straight years, while Michigan won the final three.

Archie Griffin came to Ohio State in 1972, set a new Buckeye single-game rushing record and led the team in rushing for the season. The following season Hayes installed an I-formation attack with Griffin at tailback and the Buckeyes went undefeated with a powerful offense and equally impenetrable defense, the only blemish on their record a 10-10 tie with Michigan. The falloff in success of Hayes' last three years was not great but resulted in growing criticism of Hayes and his methods, particularly his on-the-field fits of temper. His downfall was sudden and shocking when at the 1978 Gator Bowl, Hayes took a swing at a Clemson middle guard in frustration after an interception. Hayes was fired after the game.

[edit] 1979-present

Hayes was replaced by a former proteg?, Earle Bruce, who inherited a strong team led by sophomore quarterback Art Schlichter and returned to the Rose Bowl with an opportunity once again to be national champions. The Buckeyes lost both by a single point, but Bruce was named Coach of the Year. His success was hailed by those in the media who saw it as a rebuke of Hayes and the start of a "new era".[11]

1980, however, saw the start of a trend that eventually brought criticism to Bruce, when Ohio State finished with a 9-3 record. This was the first of six consecutive years at 9-3. While each of these seasons, and a 10-3 season that followed them, culminated in a bowl game, Ohio State did not appear to be any closer to a national championship than during the end of the Hayes era.

In 1986 Bruce received a 3-year contract, the first for the modern program, but the team opened with two losses for the first time in over 90 years. The Buckeyes then won nine in a row before losing to Michigan in a close game. After the season Bruce was offered the position of head coach at the University of Arizona but was persuaded to stay at his alma mater by Athletic Director Rick Bay. Hopes for a standout season in 1987 suffered a serious setback when All-American wide receiver Cris Carter was dropped from the team for signing with an agent. Heading into the Michigan game at the end of the season Ohio State was in the midst of a three game conference losing streak.

On the Monday of Michigan week, after a weekend of rumors and speculation, Ohio State President Edward Jennings fired Bruce but tried to keep the dismissal secret until after the end of the season. Jennings aggravated the situation by refusing to provide a reason for the dismissal,[12] but the Buckeyes enjoyed an emotional come-from-behind victory over Michigan after the entire team wore headbands bearing the word "EARLE".

John Cooper was hired as head coach with a winning record at both Tulsa and Arizona State University that stood out among his credentials, as did a victory over Michigan in the 1987 Rose Bowl. Cooper's thirteen years as the Buckeye's head coach are largely remembered for a litany of negative statistics associated with him: a notorious 2-10-1 record against Michigan, a 3-9 record in bowl games, a five year losing streak to Illinois, a 63-14 loss to Penn State, and a 28-24 loss to unranked Michigan State when the Buckeyes were the top-ranked team in the nation and en route to a national championship. However, his tenure also included many positives: back-to-back victories over Notre Dame, two second-ranked finishes in the polls, and three Big Ten championships (albeit shared). Cooper also recruited fifteen players who were first-round draft picks in the National Football League.[13]

In January 2001, The Ohio State University dismissed Cooper. A loss in the 2000 Outback Bowl was a factor in his subsequent firing, as was negative publicity regarding player behavior before and during the game. Other contributing factors included his record against Michigan (which was actually considered by most people to be the biggest reason for his firing), his perceived inability to win "big games", the lack of a national championship, the perception of him as an outsider by many alumni, the poor bowl game record, and finally a perceived lack of discipline on the team.

Ohio State quickly sought a replacement for Cooper and after a nationwide search hired Jim Tressel. With four NCAA Division I-AA National Championships at Youngstown State Tressel, formerly an assistant coach for Earle Bruce, was an Ohioan who was considered to be appreciative of Buckeye football traditions. Although there were some doubts as to whether or not Tressel could repeat his earlier success at the Division 1A level, most fans and alumni met the coaching change with enthusiasm. On the day of his hiring, Jim Tressel, speaking to fans and students at a Buckeye basketball game, made a prophetic implication that he would lead the Buckeyes to beat Michigan in Ann Arbor the following November.[14]

Tressel's first season was difficult as the Buckeyes finished 7-5, but he made good on his promise, beating Michigan in Ann Arbor. While its fans were optimistic about the chance for success of the 2002 team, most observers were surprised by Ohio State's National Championship.[15][16] Ohio State used strong defense, ball-control play-calling, and field position tactics to win numerous close games, a style of play characterized as "Tresselball",[17] and disparaged by detractors as "the Luckeyes".[18] One of the most notable examples occurred against Purdue on November 9, when quarterback Craig Krenzel threw a 4th down touchdown pass to Michael Jenkins late in the game to win, on a play that has gone down in Buckeye lore as "Holy Buckeye". (Buckeye Commentary - Holy Buckeye)

A dramatic second-straight victory over Michigan propelled them into the BCS National Championship Game at the Fiesta Bowl, where they defeated the heavily favored Miami Hurricanes in two overtimes in what ESPN has described as one of the greatest championship games ever.[19][20]
Ohio State's Troy Smith hands off to Antonio Pittman vs the 2006 Longhorns
Ohio State's Troy Smith hands off to Antonio Pittman vs the 2006 Longhorns

The team's success continued with an additional Big Ten championships in 2005. In the initial USA Today Coaches' Poll of 2006, Ohio State was ranked the number one in Division I-A.[21] When the first BCS rankings were released in October Ohio State found itself at the top and remained there throughout the regular season. On November 18, 2006 the Buckeyes defeated the second ranked, and unbeaten, Michigan Wolverines 42-39. It was the first time in the 103-year history of the rivalry that the teams entered the game ranked first and second.[citation needed] As a result, Ohio State won the Big Ten championship and a spot in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game. Ohio State also received a perfect score of 1.000 under the BCS formula, the first team ever to do so.[citation needed] In the championship game the Buckeyes were defeated by the University of Florida Gators 41-14. At the close of the 2006-07 season Jim Tressel's record as head coach of the Buckeyes was 62-14.[citation needed]

Ohio State's recent run of success continued in 2007 with another Big Ten championship and their sixth victory in seven years over Michigan. Ohio State will play for the BCS National Championship Game for the third time in six years on January 7, 2008, in New Orleans.[citation needed]

[edit] Coaching staff

Since January 18, 2001, the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes has been Jim Tressel. He heads a staff of approximately eighty:

* ten assistant coaches,
* a strength and conditioning staff of three,
* a program operations and support staff of eleven (including two part-time coaches),
* a sports medicine staff of eleven team physicians and seven consultants,
* twenty-five athletic trainers,
* six equipment managers, and
* approximately ten to twelve student managers.

Name Position Year Former OSU positions held Alma mater
Jim Tressel Head Coach 2001 Quarterbacks 1983-85, Running backs 1984-85 Baldwin-Wallace College 1975
Jim Bollman Offensive Coordinator-Offensive Line 2001 Ohio University 1977
Joe Daniels Passing Game Coordinator 2004 Quarterbacks 2002; Wide Receivers 2002-2003 Slippery Rock University 1964
Darrell Hazell Assistant Head Coach-Wide Receivers 2004 Muskingum College 1986
John Peterson Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator 2004 The Ohio State University 1991
Dick Tressel Running Backs 2004 Associate Director of Football Operations 2001-2003 Baldwin-Wallace College 1970
Jim Heacock Defensive Coordinator-Defensive Line 2005 Defensive Tackles 1996-1999, Defensive line 2000 Muskingum College 1970
Luke Fickell Co-Defensive Coordinator-Linebackers 2005 Special teams 2002-2003, Linebackers 2004 The Ohio State University 1997
Taver Johnson Corner Backs 2007 Wittenberg University 1993
Paul Haynes Safeties 2005 Kent State University 1993
Eric Lichter Director of Football Performance 2006 Weber State University 1997
Joe Rudolph Strength Coordinator 2006 University of Wisconsin-Madison 1995
Butch Reynolds Speed Coordinator 2005 The Ohio State University 1991
Bob Tucker Director of Football Operations 2001 College of Wooster 1965
Stan Jefferson Associate Director of Football Operations 2004 The Ohio State University 1974

[edit] Player roster, depth chart, and schedule

Main article: 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

[edit] Buckeye football traditions

Ohio State football is rich in traditions, and Coach Tressel has since his hiring made upholding tradition a cornerstone of his program.[22] The following are football traditions in chronogical order of longevity:

* Senior tackle

Begun in 1913 by head coach John Wilce, seniors on the team are recognized at the last practice of the season, either before the Michigan game or before departing Columbus to play in a bowl game, and hit the blocking sled a final time.[23]

* Illibuck

The winner of the Ohio State-Illinois game has been awarded the Illibuck trophy since 1925.[24]

* Gold pants

A gold miniature charm depicting a pair of football pants is given to all players and coaches following a victory over the Michigan Wolverines. The tradition began as the result of a comment to reporters by newly-hired head coach Francis Schmidt on March 2, 1934: "How about Michigan? They put their pants on one leg at a time, the same as we do!" The first gold pants, which were a creation of Simon Lazarus (president of the Lazarus chain of department stores) and Herbert Levy,[25] were awarded that year for a 34-0 drubbing of the Wolverines.[26]

* Captain's Breakfast

1934 also saw the first gathering of former team captains for breakfast on the Sunday following the Homecoming game. The event began when local businessman Walter Jeffrey invited twenty former captains to the Scioto Country Club to honor them, and continues to welcome new captains and award them mugs bearing their names and season.[27][28]

* Buckeye Grove

Begun in 1934, each player who wins "first-team All-American" honors is recognized by the planting of a buckeye tree and installation of a plaque in Buckeye Grove, now located near the southwestern corner of Ohio Stadium next to Morrill Tower. Trees are planted in ceremonies held prior to the Spring Game. All 125 Buckeye All-Americans dating back to 1914 have been so honored.[29]

* Michigan Week

Since 1935 the annual game against Michigan has been the final meeting of the regular season for both teams. The week prior to "The Game", known as Michigan Week, is characterized by scheduled school spirit and public service events, such as rallies, touch football games, and blood drives;[30] and by massive displays of school colors and banners in much of Ohio. In an unofficial culmination to Michigan Week, since 1990 on the Thursday night before "The Game" students have participated in the "Mirror Lake jump", an unofficial gathering at Mirror Lake, a pond between Pomerene Hall and The Oval, in which masses of students jump into the water.[31]

* Kickoff

During kickoffs at home games, the crowd shouts "O-H-I-O." Occasionally the chant can be heard at away games where there is a large number of Buckeye fans.[citation needed]

* Block O

Since 1938 the registered student organization Block O has been the "Official Cheering Section" of the Buckeyes. "Known for spreading spirit, starting cheers and performing card stunts, Block 'O' was founded...by Clancy Isaac".[32] They occupy Section 39A in the South grandstand of Ohio Stadium, next to the band.[33][34]

* Victory Bell

The Victory Bell is rung after every Ohio State victory by members of Alpha Phi Omega, a tradition that began after the Bucks beat California October 2, 1954. Reputedly the ringing can be heard five miles away "on a calm day." Located 150 feet high in the southeast tower of Ohio Stadium, the bell was a gift of the classes of 1943, 1944 and 1945, and weighs 2,420 pounds. [35]

* Hang on Sloopy

First played at the Illinois game of October 9, 1965, the rock song Hang On Sloopy is now played by the marching band before the start of the fourth quarter, with fans performing an O-H-I-O chant in the intervals between the refrains. The song is also played to encourage the team's defensive players when opponents are moving the ball on offense late in a game. This is also played at the end of the third quarter at Cleveland Browns games.[36]

* Buckeye leaves

Since 1968 the helmets of Ohio State players have been adorned with white decals approximately the size of a quarter depicting a buckeye leaf, awarded for making significant plays and for consistency of performance.[37]

* Tunnel of Pride

The Tunnel of Pride began with the 1994 Michigan game when all former players who were in attendance formed a tunnel through which the team ran to take the field, and Ohio State beat its rival that day, 22-6. Rex Kern, quarterback of the 1968 National Championship team, and then Director of Athletics Andy Geiger together used the concept as a means of connecting current Buckeyes with those who played before them. The Tunnel of Pride was next formed for the 1995 Notre Dame game, which the Buckeyes also won. In each home game against Michigan since, the tradition has been repeated. [38][39]

* Carmen Ohio

Instituted by Coach Tressel in 2001, at the conclusion of all home games the coaches, players and cheerleaders gather in the south end zone next to the marching band to sing the university's alma mater, Carmen Ohio.[40]

* The Hive and pre-game circle

Tressel brought to the Buckeye football program two pre-game traditions he developed at Youngstown State. Prior to its warmup routine before every football game, the team exits the locker room as a unit in a controlled manner, linked arm-in-arm in a group known as "The Hive". After warmups the team returns to the locker room, and when it next appears, runs onto the field and forms a circle of players around the strength coach, who exhorts the team into a frenzy in which they pummel each other with fists.[41]

* TBDBITL

Main article: The Ohio State University Marching Band

The Marching Band, known by its acronym as "The Best Damn Band In The Land," is the most visible and possibly best-known tradition of Ohio State football.[42] Home games are preceded by three much-anticipated traditions, and a fourth, "dotting the 'i'" of Script Ohio, enjoys a reputation all its own:[43]

*
o Skull Session
o Ramp entrance
o The Back Bend
o Script Ohio

[edit] Rivalries
The 2006 football team take the field before the Michigan game.
The 2006 football team take the field before the Michigan game.

Main article: Michigan-Ohio State rivalry
Main article: Illibuck Trophy

While its rivalry with the University of Michigan is its most renowned and intense, Ohio State has two other series marked by their longevity, both Big Ten Conference rivals, those of Indiana and Illinois. The series versus Indiana began as a non-conference matchup, with Indiana going undefeated at 4-0-1. In conference, however, the Buckeyes (despite losing the opening conference game) are 65-8-4 through the 2006 season, the most wins against any opponent. Illinois also began with non-conference games (0-1-1) but became the longest continuous series in 2002 when the schools played in their 89th consecutive year. (That record was tied by Michigan in 2007.) Through 2006 Ohio State's record against the Illini is 60-29-4.

When Penn State was added to the conference football play in 1993, every member was given two designated rivals, teams to be played every year, with the other conference teams rotated out of the schedule at regular intervals. For geographic convenience, the Big Ten named Penn State as Ohio State's new designated rival in addition to Michigan, and in doing so undermined Ohio State's historical rivalry with Illinois.

[edit] All-time records

[edit] All-time coaching records
Head Coach Period W-L-T Record Win % Big10 N/C vs Michigan
Alexander S. Lilley 1890-1891 3-5 37.5 n/a n/a
Frederick B. "Jack" Ryder 1892-95/1898 22-22-2 50.0 n/a n/a
Charles A. Hickey 1896 5-5-1? 50.0 n/a n/a
David F. Edwards 1897 1-7-1 16.7 n/a 0-1
John B. Eckstorm 1899-1901 22-4-3 84.7 n/a 0-1-1
Perry Hale 1902-1903 14-5-2 71.4 n/a 0-2
Edwin R. Sweetland 1904-1905 14-7-2 65.2 n/a 0-2
Albert E. Herrnstein 1906-1909 28-10-1 73.1 n/a 0-4
Howard H. Jones 1910 6-1-3 75.0 n/a 0-0-1
Harry Vaughn 1911 5-3-2 60.0 n/a 0-1
John R. Richards 1912 6-3 66.7 0-1
John W. Wilce 1913-1928 78-33-9 68.8 3 4-7
Sam S. Willaman 1929-1933 26-10-5 69.5 2-3
Francis A. Schmidt 1934-1940 39-16-1 70.5 2 4-3
Paul E. Brown 1941-1943 18-8-1 68.5 1 1 1-1-1
Carroll C. Widdoes 1944-1945 16-2 88.9 1 1-1
Paul O. Bixler 1946 4-3-2 55.6 0-1
Wesley E. Fesler 1947-1950 21-13-3 60.8 1 0-3-1
W.W. "Woody" Hayes 1951-1978 205?61-10 76.1 13 5? 16-11-1
Earle Bruce 1979-1987 81-26-1 75.5 4 5-4
John Cooper 1988-2000 111-43-4 71.5 3 2-10-1
James P. Tressel 2001-Current 73-15 83.0 4 1 6-1
TOTALS 1890-Current 798-302-53 71.5 32 7 41-57-6

All totals per OSU Athletics

? Hickey was hired part-way into the season and a student coached the team several games.
? 1970 national title recognized by OSU Athletics

[edit] All-time Bowl Games

2006/07 BCS Championship? Florida 41, Ohio State 14 (final #2 ranking)

2005/06 Fiesta? Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 20 (final #4 ranking)

2004/05 Alamo? Ohio State 33, Oklahoma State 7

2003/04 Fiesta? Ohio State 35, Kansas State 28 (final #4 ranking)

2002/03 Fiesta? Ohio State 31, Miami (FL) 24 (2OT) (National Champions)

2001/02 Outback? South Carolina 31, Ohio State 28

2000/01 Outback? South Carolina 24, Ohio State 7

1998/99 Sugar? Ohio State 24, Texas A&M 14 (final #2 ranking)

1997/98 Sugar? Florida State 31, Ohio State 14

1996/97 Rose? Ohio State 20, Arizona State 17 (final #2 ranking)

1995/96 Citrus? Tennessee 20, Ohio State 14

1994/95 Citrus? Alabama 24, Ohio State 17

1993/94 Holiday? Ohio State 28, Brigham Young 21

1992/93 Citrus? Georgia 21, Ohio State 14

1991/92 Hall of Fame? Syracuse 24, Ohio State 17

1990/91 Liberty? Air Force 23, Ohio State 11

1989/90 Hall of Fame? Auburn 31, Ohio State 14

1986/87 Cotton? Ohio State 28, Texas A&M 12

1985/86 Citrus? Ohio State 10, Brigham Young 7

1984/85 Rose? Southern California 20, Ohio State 17

1983/84 Fiesta? Ohio State 28, Pittsburgh 23

1982/83 Holiday? Ohio State 47, Brigham Young 17

1981/82 Liberty? Ohio State 31, Navy 28

1980/81 Fiesta? Penn State 31, Ohio State 19

1979/80 Rose? Southern California 17, Ohio State 16

1978/79 Gator? Clemson 17, Ohio State 15

1977/78 Sugar? Alabama 35, Ohio State 6

1976/77 Orange? Ohio State 27, Colorado 10

1975/76 Rose? UCLA 23, Ohio State 10

1974/75 Rose? Southern California 18, Ohio State 17

1973/74 Rose? Ohio State 42, Southern California 21

1972/73 Rose? Southern California 42, Ohio State 17

1970/71 Rose? Stanford 27, Ohio State 17

1968/69 Rose? Ohio State 27, Southern California 16

1957/58 Rose? Ohio State 10, Oregon 7

1954/55 Rose? Ohio State 20, Southern California 7

1949/50 Rose? Ohio State 17, California 14

1920/21 Rose? California 28, Ohio State 0

[edit] All-time Big Ten records

Source: Ohio State Athletics football page

Over the years, Ohio State has either won outright or shared 30 Big Ten titles. The championship in 2006 was OSU's third under Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes also shared the title in 2005 (7-1 Big Ten) and in 2002, notching a perfect 8-0 record. With a 7-1 league record as of November 17, 2007, Ohio State owns an all-time Big Ten record of 444-188-28 in 94 seasons of league competition.
Opponent W-L-T record
Chicago 10-2-2
Illinois 60-30-4
Indiana 65-12-5
Iowa 44-14-3
Michigan 41-57-6
Michigan State 26-12-0
Minnesota 40-7-0
Northwestern 58-14-1
Penn State 12-11-0
Purdue 36-12-2
Wisconsin 51-17-5
TOTAL 443-188-28

[edit] Individual awards and achievements
Retired football jerseys[44]
Number Player
45 Archie Griffin
31 Vic Janowicz
40 Howard "Hopalong" Cassady
22 Les Horvath
27 Eddie George
47 Charles "Chic" Harley
99 Bill Willis

Through the 2006 season Ohio State players have by a significant margin won more trophies than any other NCAA Division 1A program. Ohio State players have won 34 of the listed major awards, with the next closest being 26 (Oklahoma). Ohio State is the only university to have received each of the awards at least once. Of the five awards created prior to 1980 (Heisman, Lombardi, Maxwell, Outland, and Walter Camp), Ohio State has received the most with 25 (Notre Dame follows with 23).

[edit] Heisman Trophy

Ohio State players have won the Heisman Trophy seven times. Archie Griffin is the only two-time recipient in the history of the award.

* Les Horvath 1944
* Vic Janowicz 1950
* Howard "Hopalong" Cassady 1955
* Archie Griffin 1974
* Archie Griffin 1975
* Eddie George 1995
* Troy Smith 2006

[edit] Lombardi Award

Ohio State players have won the Lombardi Award six times. Orlando Pace is the only two-time recipient in the history of the award.

* Jim Stillwagon 1970
* John Hicks 1973
* Chris Spielman 1987
* Orlando Pace 1995
* Orlando Pace 1996
* A.J. Hawk 2005

[edit] Maxwell Award

Four Ohio State players have won the Maxwell Award:

* Howard Cassady 1955
* Bob Ferguson 1961
* Archie Griffin 1975
* Eddie George 1995

[edit] Outland Trophy

Four Ohio State players have won the Outland Trophy:

* Jim Parker 1956
* Jim Stillwagon 1970
* John Hicks 1973
* Orlando Pace 1996

[edit] Walter Camp Award

Four Ohio State players have won the Walter Camp Award:

* Archie Griffin 1974
* Archie Griffin 1975
* Eddie George 1995
* Troy Smith 2006

[edit] Other Awards

* Eddie George received the Doak Walker Award in 1995
* Terry Glenn received the Biletnikoff Award in 1995
* Andy Katzenmoyer received the Butkus Award in 1997
* Antoine Winfield received the Jim Thorpe Award in 1998
* LeCharles Bentley received the Dave Rimington Trophy in 2001
* B.J. Sander received the Ray Guy Award in 2003
* Mike Nugent received the Lou Groza Award in 2004
* James Laurinaitis received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2006
* Troy Smith received the Davey O'Brien Award in 2006
* James Laurinaitis received the Butkus Award in 2007

[edit] Season MVP

Voted by players at the end of the season.

* 1930: Wes Fesler - end - also Big Ten MVP
* 1931: Robert Haubrich - tackle
* 1932: Lew Hinchman - halfback
* 1933: Mickey Vuchinich - fullback
* 1934: Gomer Jones - center
* 1935: Gomer Jones - center
* 1936: Ralph Wolf - center
* 1937: Ralph Wolf - center
* 1938: Jim Langhurst - fullback
* 1939: Steve Andrako - center
* 1940: Claude White - center
* 1941: Jack Graf - fullback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1942: Chuck Csuri - tackle
* 1943: Gordon Appleby - center
* 1944: Les Horvath - quarterback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1945: Ollie Cline - fullback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1946: Cecil Souders - end
* 1947: Dave Templeton - guard
* 1948: Joe Whisler - fullback
* 1949: Jack Lininger - center
* 1950: Vic Janowicz - halfback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1951: Vic Janowicz - halfback
* 1952: Fred Bruney - halfback
* 1953: George Jacoby - tackle
* 1954: Howard "Hopalong" Cassady - halfback
* 1955: Howard "Hopalong" Cassady - halfback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1956: Jim Parker - guard
* 1957: Bill Jobko - guard
* 1958: Jim Houston - end
* 1959: Jim Houston - end
* 1960: Tom Matte - quarterback
* 1961: Bob Ferguson - fullback
* 1962: Billy Armstrong - center
* 1963: Matt Snell - fullback
* 1964: Ed Orazen - defensive lineman
* 1965: Doug Van Horn - offensive guard
* 1966: Ray Pryor - center
* 1967: Dirk Worden - linebacker
* 1968: Mark Stier - linebacker
* 1969: Jim Otis - fullback
* 1970: Jim Stillwagon - defensive lineman
* 1971: Tom DeLeone- center
* 1972: George Hasenohrl - defensive lineman
* 1973: Archie Griffin - tailback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1974: Archie Griffin - tailback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1975: Cornelius Greene - quarterback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1976: Bob Brudzinski - defensive end
* 1977: Dave Adkins - linebacker
* 1978: Tom Cousineau - linebacker
* 1979: Jim Laughlin - linebacker
* 1980: Calvin Murray - tailback
* 1981: Art Schlichter - quarterback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1982: Tim Spencer - running back
* 1983: John Frank - tight end
* 1984: Keith Byars - running back - also Big Ten MVP
* 1985: Jim Karsatos - quarterback
* 1986: Cris Carter - wide receiver
* 1987: Chris Spielman - linebacker
* 1988: Jeff Uhlenhake - center
* 1989: Derek Isaman - linebacker
* 1990: Jeff Graham - wide receiver
* 1991: Carlos Snow - tailback
* 1992: Kirk Herbstreit - quarterback
* 1993: Raymont Harris - tailback
* 1994: Korey Stringer - offensive tackle
* 1995: Eddie George - tailback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1996: Orlando Pace - offensive tackle - also Big Ten MVP
* 1997: Antoine Winfield - defensive back
* 1998: Joe Germaine - quarterback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1999: Ahmed Plummer - defensive back
* 2000: Derek Combs - tailback
* 2001: Jonathan Wells - tailback
* 2002: Craig Krenzel - quarterback / Chris Gamble - wide receiver/defensive back
* 2003: Michael Jenkins - wide receiver
* 2004: Mike Nugent - place kicker
* 2005: A. J. Hawk - linebacker
* 2006: Troy Smith - quarterback - also Big Ten MVP

[edit] All-Century Team

See also: Ohio State Football All-Century Team


[edit] Ohio State's All-Time Team

Chosen in 2001 by Athlon Sports. [1]

Offense
WR Paul Warfield 1961-63
WR Cris Carter 1984-86
WR Terry Glenn 1993-95
WR David Boston 1996-98
TE John Frank 1980-83
OL Jim Parker 1954-56
OL Korey Stringer 1992-94
OL Gomer Jones 1934-35
OL John Hicks 1970, 72-73
OL Orlando Pace 1994-96
QB Les Horvath 1940-42, 44
RB Howard Cassady 1952-55
RB Archie Griffin 1972-75
RB Eddie George 1992-95
K Vlade Janakievski 1977-80


Defense
DL Wes Fesler 1928-30
DL Bill Willis 1942-44
DL Jim Stillwagon 1968-70
DL Dan Wilkinson 1992-93
DL Mike Vrabel 1993-96
LB Tom Cousineau 1975-78
LB Chris Spielman 1984-87
LB Andy Katzenmoyer 1996-98
LB Marcus Marek 1979-82
LB Steve Tovar 1989-92
DB Vic Janowicz 1949-51
DB Jack Tatum 1968-70
DB Mike Sensibaugh 1968-70
DB Neal Colzie 1972-74
DB Antoine Winfield 1995-98
P Tom Tupa 1984-87

[edit] NCAA Coach of the Year

Three Ohio State head coaches have received the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award as NCAA Coach of the Year a total of five times:

* Woody Hayes 1957, 1968, 1975
* Earle Bruce 1979
* Jim Tressel 2002

In addition, two coaches were voted "National Coach of the Year" before the inception of the Bryant Award. Carroll Widdoes, acting head coach after Paul Brown had entered the U.S. Navy, was voted the honor in 1944. Brown himself was voted the honor in 1942 for winning the National Championship but declined in favor of Georgia Tech's Bill Alexander.

[edit] All-American and All-Conference honors

Through 2006 128 Buckeyes have been named first team All-Americans since 1914. 234 have been named to the All-Big Ten team, and 15 have won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football, the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player award, including Troy Smith for 2006. The Athletic Directors of the Big Ten Conference voted Eddie George Big Ten-Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year for 1996.

On November 22, 2006, ten Buckeyes were named to either the Coaches or Conference media All-Big Ten First Team selections for the 2006 season, and seven were named to both. Troy Smith was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Four other Buckeyes received Second Team honors.

[edit] Academic awards and achievements

[edit] Rhodes Scholarship

On December 6, 1985, Mike Lanese was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University.

[edit] College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-Americans

Academic All-American Hall of Fame

* Class of 1992 Randy Gradishar

Academic All-Americans

Academic All-American Player of the Year

* 2003 Craig Krenzel

Academic All-Americans
Year Player Position
1952 John Borton Quarterback
1954 Dick Hilinski Tackle
1958 Bob White Fullback
1961 Tom Perdue End
1965 Bill Ridder Middle guard
1966 Dave Foley Offensive tackle
1967 Dave Foley Offensive tackle
1968 Dave Foley Offensive tackle
1968 Mark Stier Linebacker
1969 Bill Urbanik Defensive tackle
1971 Rick Simon Offensive tackle
1973 Randy Gradishar Linebacker
1974 Brian Baschnagel Running back
1975 Brian Baschnagel Running back
1976 Pete Johnson Fullback
1976 Bill Lukens Offensive guard
1977 Jeff Logan Running back
1980 Marcus Marek Linebacker
1980 John Weisensell? Offensive guard
1982 Joe Smith Offensive tackle
1982 John Frank Tight end
1983 John Frank Tight end
1983 Dave Crecelius? Defensive tackle
1984 Dave Crecelius Defensive tackle
1984 Mike Lanese Wide receiver
1984 Anthony Tiuliani? Defensive tackle
1985 Mike Lanese Wide receiver
1987 Joe Staysniak? Offensive tackle
1989 Joe Staysniak Offensive tackle
1990 Greg Smith? Defensive line
1992 Len Hartman Offensive guard
1992 Greg Smith Defensive line
1995 Greg Bellisari Linebacker
1996 Greg Bellisari Linebacker
1998 Jerry Rudzinski? Linebacker
1999 Ahmed Plummer Cornerback
2002 Craig Krenzel? Quarterback
2002 Maurice Clarrett? Running back
2003 Craig Krenzel Quarterback

?2nd team award

[edit] National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame

Vincent dePaul Draddy Trophy ("Academic Heisman")

* 1995 Bobby Hoying
* 2003 Craig Krenzel

National Scholar-Athlete Awards

Ohio State's eighteen NFF Scholar-Athlete Awards rank second only to Nebraska's twenty among all college football programs.

* 1965 Willard Sander
* 1968 David Foley
* 1970 Rex Kern
* 1973 Randy Gradishar
* 1975 Brian Baschnagel
* 1979 Jim Laughlin
* 1982 Joe Smith
* 1983 John Frank
* 1984 Dave Crecelius
* 1985 Mike Lanese
* 1989 Joe Staysniak
* 1990 Greg Frey
* 1992 Greg Smith
* 1994 Joey Galloway
* 1995 Bobby Hoying
* 1996 Greg Bellisari
* 1999 Ahmed Plummer

[edit] Individual school records

See also: Ohio State Buckeyes football yearly statistical leaders

[edit] Rushing records

* Most rushing attempts, career: 924, Archie Griffin (1972-75)
* Most rushing attempts, season: 336, Keith Byars (1984)
* Most rushing attempts, game: 44, Champ Henson (November 18, 1972 at Northwestern)
* Most rushing yards, career: 5,589, Archie Griffin (1972-75)
* Most rushing yards, season: 1,927, Eddie George (1995)
* Most rushing yards, game: 314, Eddie George (November 11, 1995 vs. Illinois)
* Most rushing yards against Michigan, game: 222, Beanie Wells (November 17, 2007)
* Most rushing touchdowns, career: 56, Pete Johnson (1973-76)
* Most rushing touchdowns, season: 25, Pete Johnson (1975)
* Most rushing touchdowns, game: 5, Pete Johnson (September 27, 1975 vs. North Carolina) and Keith Byars (October 13, 1984 vs. Illinois)
* Longest run from scrimmage: 89 yards, Gene Fekete (November 7, 1942 vs. Pittsburgh)
* Most games with at least 100 rushing yards, career: 34, Archie Griffin (1972-75)
* Most games with at least 100 rushing yards, season: 12, Eddie George (1995)
* Most games with at least 200 rushing yards, career: 5 Eddie George (1992-95)
* Most games with at least 200 rushing yards, season: 3, Eddie George (1995)

[edit] Passing records

* Most passing attempts, career: 934, Art Schlichter (1978-81)
* Most passing attempts, season: 384, Joe Germaine (1998)
* Most passing attempts, game: 52, Art Schlichter (October 3, 1981 vs. Florida State)
* Most passing completions, career: 498, Bobby Hoying (1992-95)
* Most passing completions, season: 230, Joe Germaine (1998)
* Most passing completions, game: 31, Art Schlichter (October 3, 1981 vs. Florida State) and Joe Germaine (October 31, 1998 at Indiana)
* Most passing yards, career: 7,547, Art Schlichter (1978-81)
* Most passing yards, season: 3,330, Joe Germaine (1998)
* Most passing yards, game: 458, Art Schlichter (October 3, 1981 vs. Florida State)
* Most passing touchdowns, career: 57, Bobby Hoying (1992-95)
* Most passing touchdowns, season: 30, Troy Smith (2006)
* Most passing touchdowns, game: 5, John Borton (October 18, 1952 vs. Washington State) and twice by Bobby Hoying (October 22, 1994 vs. Purdue and September 23, 1995 at Pittsburgh)
* Longest pass completion: 86 yards, Art Schlichter to Calvin Murray (September 22, 1979 vs. Washington State)
* Most games with at least 200 passing yards, career: 16, Bobby Hoying (1992-95)
* Most games with at least 200 passing yards, season: 11, Bobby Hoying (1995) and Joe Germaine (1998)
* Most games with at least 300 passing yards, career: 8, Joe Germaine (1996-98)
* Most games with at least 300 passing yards, season: 7, Joe Germaine (1998)

[edit] Receiving records

* Most receptions, career: 191, David Boston (1996-98)
* Most receptions, season: 85, David Boston (1998)
* Most receptions, game: 14, David Boston (October 11, 1997 at Penn State)
* Most receiving yards, career: 2,898, Michael Jenkins (2000-03)
* Most receiving yards, season: 1,435, David Boston (1998)
* Most receiving yards, game: 253, Terry Glenn (September 23, 1995 at Pittsburgh)
* Most touchdown receptions, career: 34, David Boston (1996-98)
* Most touchdown receptions, season: 17, Terry Glenn (1995)
* Most touchdown receptions, game: 4, Bob Grimes (October 18, 1952 vs. Washington State) and Terry Glenn (September 23, 1995 at Pittsburgh)
* Longest pass reception: 86 yards, Calvin Murray from Art Schlichter (September 22, 1979 vs. Washington State)
* Most games with at least 100 receiving yards, career: 14, David Boston (1996-98)
* Most games with at least 100 receiving yards, season: 9, David Boston (1998)

[edit] Kickoff return records

* Most kickoff returns, career: 72, Maurice Hall (2001-04)
* Most kickoff returns, season: 31, Ken-Yon Rambo (1999)
* Most kickoff returns, game: 7, Vince Workman (November 7, 1987 at Wisconsin)
* Most kickoff return yards, career: 1,642, Maurice Hall (2001-04)
* Most kickoff return yards, season: 653, Ken-Yon Rambo (1999)
* Most kickoff return yards, game: 213, Carlos Snow (September 17, 1988 at Pittsburgh)
* Most kickoff return touchdowns, career: 2, Dean Sensanbaugher (1943-47) and Lenny Willis (1974)
* Longest kickoff return: 103 yards, Dean Sensanbaugher (October 9, 1943 at Great Lakes)

[edit] Punt return records

* Most punt returns, career: 98, David Boston (1996-98)
* Most punt returns, season: 47, David Boston (1997) (also a Big Ten Conference record)
* Most punt returns, game: 9, Tom Campana (October 16, 1971 at Indiana)
* Most punt return yards, career: 959, David Boston (1996-98)
* Most punt return yards, season: 679, Neal Colzie (1973) (also a Big Ten Conference record)
* Most punt return yards, game: 170, Neal Colzie (November 10, 1973 vs. Michigan State)
* Most punt return touchdowns, career: 6, Ted Ginn, Jr. (2004-06) (also a Big Ten Conference record)
* Longest punt return: 90 yards, Brian Hartline (October 13, 2007 vs. Kent State)

[edit] Buckeyes in the NFL
Buckeyes in the NFL
NFL Draft selections
Total selected: 325
First picks in draft: 3
1st Round: 66
NFL achievements
Total Players: 308
In the Super Bowl: 54
Hall of Famers: 5

52 former Ohio State players are currently active on rosters of National Football League teams: Will Allen, Tim Anderson, Rodney Bailey, LeCharles Bentley, David Boston, Bobby Carpenter, Drew Carter, Adrien Clarke, Nate Clements, Na'il Diggs, Mike Doss, Simon Fraser, Joey Galloway, Chris Gamble,Ted Ginn Jr, Terry Glenn, Marcus Green, Andy Groom, Anthony Gonzalez,Roy Hall, Ben Hartsock, A.J. Hawk, Santonio Holmes, Kevin Houser, Josh Huston, Michael Jenkins, Mike Kudla, Nick Mangold, Donnie Nickey, Mike Nugent, Shane Olivea, Orlando Pace, Kenny Peterson, Ryan Pickett, Quinn Pitcock, Robert Reynolds, Nate Salley, Darnell Sanders, Anthony Schlegel, Darrion Scott, Rob Sims, Will Smith, Troy Smith, Shawn Springs, Alex Stepanovich, Mike Vrabel, Tyson Walter, Donte Whitner, Matt Wilhelm, Dan Wilkinson, Antoine Winfield, and Ashton Youboty.

Former notable NFL players who played at Ohio State include: Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, Jim Parker, Bill Willis, Cris Carter, Paul Warfield, Jim Marshall, Jim Houston, Jack Tatum, Randy Gradishar, Dick Schafrath, Jim Lachey, Tom Tupa, Chris Spielman, Korey Stringer, Raymont Harris, and Eddie George. Groza, Lavelli, Parker, Warfield, and Willis have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In the 2004 NFL Draft, 14 Buckeyes were drafted, a record number for any school in a single draft.

[edit] Ohio State Players Selected In 2007 NFL Draft

With two first-round selections in 2007, the Buckeyes have the second most first-round selections all-time in the history of the NFL draft, one less than USC (67).[45]

2007 NFL draft selections

Round Pick # Team Player
1 9 Miami Dolphins Ted Ginn Jr. Wide receiver
1 32 Indianapolis Colts Anthony Gonzalez Wide receiver
3 18 Indianapolis Colts Quinn Pitcock Defensive end
4 107 New Orleans Saints Antonio Pittman Running Back
5 138 Oakland Raiders Jay Richardson Defensive tackle
5 169 Indianapolis Colts Roy Hall Wide receiver
5 174 Baltimore Ravens Troy Smith Quarterback
6 198 Atlanta Falcons Doug Datish Center

[edit] References

1. ^ Jack Park (2002). The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing LLC, p.10. ISBN 1-58261-006-1.
2. ^ OSU Record Book (Part 2). Retrieved on 2007-11-26. ]
3. ^ Park, p.28
4. ^ The Ohio Stadium Story. Football Ballparks. Retrieved on 9 Aug 2006.
5. ^ Park, p.112-115
6. ^ Park, p.166.
7. ^ 2006 Team previews- Ohio State. SI.com. Retrieved on 20 Aug 2006.
8. ^ #11?Iowa at Ohio State?November 11, 1957. The Buckeye 50 Yard Line. Retrieved on 2 Oct 2006.
9. ^ Park, pp. 340 and 342.
10. ^ UM-OSU more than just a game. ESPN. Retrieved on 13 Oct 2006.
11. ^ Making 'Em Forget Woody. Time Magazine. Retrieved on 11 Dec 2006.
12. ^ Park, pp. 537-538
13. ^ John Cooper Profile. TOSU Football Official Site. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006.
14. ^ Tressel Eyes Finally Bucking the Wolverines. The Michigan Daily. Retrieved on 11 Dec 2006.
15. ^ BCS National Title Game Bowl preview. Covers.com. Retrieved on 13 Jan 2007.
16. ^ Paul Keels (2003). "Chapter 1 Expectations", Paul Keels Tales from the Buckeyes' Championship Season. Sports Publishing LLC, P.6. ISBN 1-58261-539-X.
17. ^ Tresselball just keeps winning. ESPN. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006.
18. ^ Ohio State must shake Luckeyes image. Akron Beacon-Journal. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006. Chosen at random to find media source. Google "Luckeyes" for 4560 hits.
19. ^ In first OT national title game, Buckeyes prevail. ESPN. Retrieved on 13 Jan 2007.
20. ^ This title game trumps the rest. ESPN. Retrieved on 13 Jan 2007.
21. ^ "Breaking down the top 25 teams", USA Today, 5 August 2006. Retrieved on 2006-08-07.
22. ^ Park, p.1
23. ^ Todd Lamb, editor (2002). Ohio State Football Gameday. The Ohio State Athletics Communications Office, 42-43.
24. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.42
25. ^ Snook, "Charlie Ream 1934-1937", p.3
26. ^ Park, p.141
27. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.42
28. ^ Park, p.145
29. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.42
30. ^ Beat Michigan Week. The Ohio State University Union. Retrieved on 26 Jul 2006.
31. ^ How the Mirror Lake Jump Came to Be. The Lantern 17 Nov 2005. Retrieved on 26 Jul 2006.
32. ^ Football Traditions. TOSU Football Official Site. Retrieved on 27 Jul 2006.
33. ^ Block "O". The Ohio State University. Retrieved on 26 Jul 2006.
34. ^ Tradition-Block O. Coach Tressel.com. Retrieved on 26 Jul 2006.
35. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.42
36. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.42
37. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.42
38. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.42
39. ^ Tunnel of Pride. Coach Tressel.com. Retrieved on 26 Jul 2006.
40. ^ Tradition-Carmen Ohio. Coach Tressel.com. Retrieved on 26 Jul 2006.
41. ^ Porentas, John. Roots of Tressel Traditions May be Lost, but the Traditions Carry on at OSU. The O-Zone. Retrieved on 17 Oct 2007.
42. ^ Leeann Parker, editor (2001). Ohio State Football Gameday. The Ohio State Athletics Communications Office, 45.
43. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.43
44. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.61
45. ^ Eight Buckeyes in NFL Draft. TOSU Football Official Site. Retrieved on 1 May 2007.


* Official site Ohio State Football
* Ohio State Football Traditions
* Jack Park (2002). The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 1-58261-006-1.
* Jim Tressel (2003). in Jeff Snook: What It Means To Be A Buckeye. Triumph Books. ISBN 1-57243-602-6.
* Greenberg, S.; Ratermann, D. (2004). I Remember Woody. Triumph Books. ISBN 1-57243-674-3.
* Robert Vare (1974). Buckeye: A Study of Coach Woody Hayes and the Ohio State Football Machine. Harper's Magazine Press. ISBN 0-06-129150-1.

[edit] External links

* The Ohio State Buckeyes: BDTITL
* The Buckeye Bunch
* BuckeyeGrove @ Rivals.com
* The-Ozone
* Official Site
* Buckeye Banter
* Buckeye Commentary
* Buckeye Planet
* Buckeye Sports Bulletin
* CoachTressel.com
* Eleven Warriors
* Ohio State @ Scout.com

[show]
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Key Personnel Head Coach: Jim Tressel ? Offensive Coordinator: Jim Bollman ? Defensive Coordinator: Jim Heacock
2002 ? 2003 ? 2004 ? 2005 ? 2006 ? 2007 ? 2008
Rivalries : The Michigan Game ? Illinois-Illibuck Trophy ? Penn State
National championships (7) 1942 ? 1944 ? 1954 ? 1957 ? 1961? 1968 ? 2002
Big Ten championships (32) :1916 ? 1917 ? 1920 ? 1935 ? 1939 ? 1942 ? 1944 ? 1949 ? 1954 ? 1955 ? 1957 ? 1961 ? 1968 ? 1969 ? 1970 ? 1972 ? 1973 ? 1974 ? 1975 ? 1976 ? 1977 ? 1979 ? 1981 ? 1984 ? 1986 ? 1993 ? 1996 ? 1998 ? 2002 ? 2005 ? 2006 ? 2007
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Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football"

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2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football
National Champions
Big Ten Co-Champions
Fiesta Bowl BCS National Championship Game, W, 31-24 vs. Miami (Fl)
Conference Big Ten
Ranking
Coaches #1
AP #1
2002 Record 14-0 (8-0 Big Ten)
Head Coach Jim Tressel
Offensive Coordinator Jim Bollman
Defensive Coordinator Mark Dantonio

Home Stadium
Ohio Stadium
Seasons
? 2001 2003 ?

The 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was the national champion of the 2002 college football season. The team was the second, and one of two, in Division 1-A college football history to win 14 games (BYU went 14-1 in 1996). Led by junior quarterback Craig Krenzel and senior safety Mike Doss, they defeated the heavily favored and defending I-A champion Miami Hurricanes in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Preseason
* 2 Schedule
* 3 Game notes
o 3.1 Ohio State 45, Texas Tech 21
o 3.2 Ohio State 51, Kent State 17
o 3.3 Ohio State 25, Washington State 7
o 3.4 Ohio State 23, Cincinnati 19
o 3.5 Ohio State 45, Indiana 17
o 3.6 Ohio State 27, Northwestern 16
o 3.7 Ohio State 50, San Jose State 7
o 3.8 Ohio State 19, Wisconsin 14
o 3.9 Ohio State 13, Penn State 7
o 3.10 Ohio State 34, Minnesota 3
o 3.11 Ohio State 10, Purdue 6
o 3.12 Ohio State 23, Illinois 16 (overtime)
o 3.13 Ohio State 14, Michigan 9
* 4 BCS national championship game
* 5 2002 player personnel
o 5.1 Depth chart
o 5.2 2002 roster
* 6 Coaching staff
* 7 Sources

[edit] Preseason

Despite a 7-5 season the year before, the general feeling was one of optimism in Columbus, Ohio, provided that the defense could carry the team while the offense developed. First year coach Jim Tressel was able to deliver on his promise of an upset victory over the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Twice All-American safety Mike Doss, in an emotional announcement on January 9, 2002, advised that he would not declare himself for the NFL draft and would return to Ohio State for his senior season. (SI, p. 75) Maurice Clarett, a freshman prospect, graduated early from high school and enrolled at Ohio State for the 2002 Winter Quarter to make himself eligible to participate in spring football practice. (Lindy's, p. 15; SI p. 16)

Prior to the 2002 season, the Buckeyes were ranked thirteenth in the AP Poll after losing the 2002 Outback Bowl on a last second field goal to the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Big Ten Conference summer media day sessions predicted Ohio State to finish second in the conference behind Michigan and ahead of Michigan State. (Keels, p. 12)

Team captains selected were seniors Mike Doss and Donnie Nickey. Offensive captains for the season were named weekly, and were: Craig Krenzel (Texas Tech, Penn State, and Michigan), Mike Stafford (Kent State), Ben Hartsock (Washington State and Illinois), Ivan Douglas (Cincinnati), Chris Vance (Indiana), Alex Stepanovich (Northwestern and Purdue), Michael Jenkins (San Jose State), Shane Olivea (Wisconsin), and for the Minnesota game, Andy Groom and Bryce Bishop. (2002 archive 12-10-2002)

[edit] Schedule
2002 14-0 (8-0) Big Ten Co-Champion ? National Champion Date Ranking Opponent Result Score Venue
August 24 13th vs. *Texas Tech W 45 21 Columbus, Ohio ? Ohio Stadium
September 7 8th vs. *Kent State W 51 17 Columbus, Ohio ? Ohio Stadium
September 14 6th vs. #10 *Washington State W 25 7 Columbus, Ohio ? Ohio Stadium
September 21 6th @ *Cincinnati W 23 19 Cincinnati, Ohio ? Paul Brown Stadium
September 28 6th vs. Indiana W 45 17 Columbus, Ohio ? Ohio Stadium
October 5 5th @ Northwestern W 27 16 Evanston, Illinois ? Ryan Field
October 12 5th vs. *San Jose State W 50 7 Columbus, Ohio ? Ohio Stadium
October 19 4th @ Wisconsin W 19 14 Madison, Wisconsin ? Camp Randall Stadium
October 26 4th vs. #17 Penn State W 13 7 Columbus, Ohio ? Ohio Stadium
November 2 4th vs. #19 Minnesota W 34 3 Columbus, Ohio ? Ohio Stadium
November 9 3rd @ Purdue W 10 6 West Lafayette, Indiana ? Ross-Ade Stadium
November 16 2nd @. Illinois W (OT) 23 16 Champaign, Illinois ? Memorial Stadium
November 23 2nd vs. #12 Michigan W 14 9 Columbus, Ohio ? Ohio Stadium
January 3 2nd vs. ? #1 Miami (FL) W (2OT) 31 24 Tempe, Arizona ? Fiesta Bowl
*Non-conference opponent ? ?BCS National Championship

[edit] Game notes

[edit] Ohio State 45, Texas Tech 21
1 2 3 4 Total
Red Raiders 7 0 0 14 21
Buckeyes 14 7 17 7 45

The Buckeyes began the 2002 season in Ohio Stadium against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on August 24, 2002. Like Ohio State, Texas Tech had posted a 7-5 record in 2001, narrowly losing to Iowa in the Alamo Bowl. Tailback Maurice Clarett, the first true freshman to start at tailback in school history, (Athletic Department archive 2002-08-24) scored three touchdowns in his first game, sparking a convincing 45-21 win. Seven sacks of Heisman Trophy candidate Kliff Kingsbury and containment of the Tech offense until late in the game did much to establish the credibility of the Buckeye defense.

[edit] Ohio State 51, Kent State 17
1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Flashes 0 14 0 3 17
Buckeyes 21 17 3 10 51

Ohio State, now ranked 8th in the AP Poll, built a 38-0 lead before halftime against the Kent State Golden Flashes, with quarterback Craig Krenzel completing his first 11 passes, safety Mike Doss and freshman linebacker A.J. Hawk returning interceptions for touchdowns, and Maurice Clarett scoring twice. Kent State scored twice in the last 4 minutes of the first half but never threatened an upset. With the game in hand, backup quarterback Scott McMullen directed the Buckeye offense for much of the second half, completing 7 of his 11 passes. The Buckeyes took only 47 snaps compared to 80 by the Golden Flashes and actually had a 2:1 deficit in time of possession, but outgained Kent State by 60 yards. Sophomore place kicker Mike Nugent, who had been uneven in his kicking as a freshman, gave an indication of his future value to the team by kicking field goals of 41, 33, and 45 yards.

[edit] Ohio State 25, Washington State 7
1 2 3 4 Total
Cougars 7 0 0 0 7
Buckeyes 3 3 12 7 25

Now ranked sixth in the nation, the Buckeyes faced their first marquee opponent and second Heisman quarterback candidate in Jason Gesser on September 14 when they hosted the 10th-ranked Cougars of Washington State. The game was billed by many in the media as a possible Rose Bowl-preview and was televised nationally (Keels p. 28).

Washington State appeared to live up to its billing with an 11-play 80-yard drive midway through the 1st quarter that was capped by short touchdown pass from Gesser. In addition the Cougar defense limited tailback Maurice Clarett to just 36 yards rushing and held the Buckeyes to only a pair of field goals in the half. However Ohio State's defense stymied Washington State throughout the game, intercepting Gesser twice and forcing the Cougars to surrender the ball on downs twice in Buckeye territory.

In the second half Clarett picked up 44 yards on his first rush and destroyed the Cougar defense with 194 second-half yards. His 230 yards rushing for the day was the 6th best in Buckeye history and just short of Archie Griffin's freshman record of 239. (Keels p. 28, Lindy's p. 26) He scored twice and Ohio State got a Nugent field goal and a safety to win convincingly. The following Tuesday, in his weekly luncheon with the media, Coach Jim Tressel revealed that Clarett had suffered a knee injury during the game, had already undergone arthroscopic surgery, and would miss the next game.

[edit] Ohio State 23, Cincinnati 19
1 2 3 4 Total
Buckeyes 0 7 7 9 23
Bearcats 9 3 7 0 19

The first of many nailbiters for Buckeye fans came September 21 against the 1-1 Cincinnati Bearcats as the team required an interception in the end zone by safety Will Allen with 32 seconds remaining to seal a 23-19 victory. Playing a rare road game against an Ohio opponent in Paul Brown Stadium, named for an illustrious former Buckeye head coach, 6th-ranked Ohio State played much of the game trailing the unranked Bearcats of Conference USA, who had narrowly lost by a field goal the previous week to West Virginia. UC put up more than 400 yards of offense, bombing the Buckeye defense with 52 passes, but was stymied by dropped passes and two 4th quarter interceptions.

Sophomore running back Lydell Ross, starting in place of the injured Clarett, rushed for 130 yards. Wide receiver Chris Gamble had practiced all week as a defensive back and was used on a 3rd down for UC from the Ohio State 29 in the 4th quarter, making an interception in the end zone. Craig Krenzel, who had scrambled for 64 yards on 14 carries in the first three games, scored the winning touchdown with less than 4 minutes to play, twisting and spinning through the Bearcat defenders for 6 yards. (Keels p. 35)

[edit] Ohio State 45, Indiana 17
1 2 3 4 Total
Hoosiers 0 10 0 7 17
Buckeyes 7 14 17 7 45

6th-ranked and undefeated Ohio State took care of business in opening the Big Ten schedule with a 45-17 win over the 2-2 Indiana Hoosiers. Maurice Clarett returned to play after 2 weeks recuperating from his knee surgery September 16 and scored three times in the first half while accruing 104 yards rushing. After leading only 21-10 at halftime, Ohio State blew open the game with three scores in the 3rd quarter to win decisively, totalling 244 yards of rushing and 461 overall.

Playing both defense and offense, Chris Gamble scored on a 43-yard reverse on the first drive of the 3rd quarter. Indiana had to punt on the ensuing possession and safety Dustin Fox blocked the kick. Ohio State took over at the Indiana 18 and scored on a short pass from Krenzel to Michael Jenkins to take a 35-10 lead.

[edit] Ohio State 27, Northwestern 16
1 2 3 4 Total
Buckeyes 0 14 10 3 27
Wildcats 6 3 7 0 16

The next week, on the road against the Northwestern Wildcats, which entered the game with a 2-3 record and 0-1 in conference play, Ohio State played a night game in Evanston, Illinois, in accordance with a scheduling agreement between the Big Ten and ESPN (Keels, p.41). The game was again unusually close, with Clarett fumbling three times and caught by the TV cameras arguing with running backs coach Tim Spencer on the sidelines (Keels, p. 42), but he also carried the ball for 140 yards and two scores as Ohio State prevailed 27-16.

Northwestern had a 6-0 lead after the 1st quarter but had had two drives stopped inside the Ohio State ten yard line. They later missed a pair of field goal attempts before scoring a touchdown with less than 2 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter to narrow the Buckeye lead to 24-16. Ohio State replied with a long drive and a field goal by Mike Nugent, then used an interception by Cie Grant and a fumble recovery by Donnie Nickey to keep Northwestern at bay.

[edit] Ohio State 50, San Jose State 7
1 2 3 4 Total
Spartans 0 7 0 0 7
Buckeyes 7 17 17 9 50

Ohio State for the second season in a row played a non-conference West Coast team at mid-season, hosting the San Jose State Spartans for Homecoming on October 12. San Jose State had attempted to cancel the game because its schedule featured seven road games in an 8-week span, but was unable to find a replacement team for the Buckeye home date. The Spartans, 4-2, had already defeated Illinois, had a three-game winning streak, and entered the game with a defense that led Division I-A in taking the ball away from its opponents. The game started slowly and was tied 7-7 early in the 2nd quarter.

The Buckeye defense, however, held SJS to 265 yards of offense, all of it passing yardage, despite the Spartans completing 81.8% of their 44 passes. (Lindy's, p.42) The offense ran up 567 yards, a season-high, with Krenzel and backup Scott McMullen combining for 355 yards passing on only 19 completions. Krenzel threw for three touchdowns to break the game open in the 3rd quarter, Clarett rushed for 132 yards and scored three times, and Mike Nugent connected on three field goals, tying the school record for 15 straight without a miss.

[edit] Ohio State 19, Wisconsin 14
1 2 3 4 Total
Buckeyes 10 3 0 6 19
Badgers 7 7 0 0 14

Ohio State faced its next big test on the road October 19, in Madison, Wisconsin, taking on the Wisconsin Badgers in one of the most hostile stadiums in the nation. Ranked fourth now, Ohio State faced a Badger team that had opened its season 5-0, but had lost its first two conference games, and 7 of its last 9 conference games at home, and was playing without its top wide receiver, Lee Evans. Animosity simmered in both teams as each had resented the other dancing on their logos after road wins in the immediately preceding years. (Keels p. 46)

Ohio State scored on its first possession with a long pass from Krenzel to Jenkins, but by halftime Wisconsin led, 14-13, on two long plays in each quarter. The 3rd quarter was scoreless, but midway through the 4th, on a 3rd and 6 from its own 16, Krenzel delivered a high pass 45 yards to Michael Jenkins, who out-jumped two defenders to give the Buckeyes a first down in Wisconsin territory. Krenzel completed the drive with a short touchdown pass to tight end Ben Hartsock, and although a try for a 2-point conversion failed, the Buckeyes led 19-14.

Wide receiver Chris Gamble, who had played defensive back on key downs earlier in the season, was sent into the game when Wisconsin faced a 3-and-11 at the Buckeye 29-yard line. Gamble intercepted the next pass in the end zone to preserve the lead. Also a key player in the victory was punter Andy Groom, whose six punts averaged 50.2 yards, with a 4th quarter punt that went for 74 yards and another that was downed at the Wisconsin 1-yard line. Maurice Clarett rushed for 133 yards but suffered a shoulder stinger on his last carry, an injury that would severely limit his utility over the next four games.

[edit] Ohio State 13, Penn State 7
1 2 3 4 Total
Nittany Lions 7 0 0 0 7
Buckeyes 0 3 10 0 13

The following week, on October 26, the Buckeyes returned to Columbus to face Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions, ranked 17th in the AP, with a 5-2 overall record and a 1-2 conference record, its losses to Iowa and Michigan. The Ohio State offense struggled throughout the game, exemplified by Craig Krenzel losing a fumble at the Penn State one on Ohio State's first possession, but the defense held Penn State's offense to only seven points and a season-low 179 yards and 8 first downs (tying the Penn State school record for fewest first downs). Heisman Trophy finalist Larry Johnson was held to a season-low 66 yards rushing on 16 attempts.

The game featured Chris Gamble starting on both offense and defense (which had last occurred for Ohio State in 1963) and playing 89 of the game's 138 plays (51 on defense, 31 on offense, and 7 on punt returns). (Lindy's p. 50) After Krenzel's fumble, Gamble caught the Penn State defender from behind at the OSU 41, preventing a touchdown return, and two plays later A.J. Hawk ended the threat with his second interception of the year.

The key play of the game, however, came on the first series of the 3rd quarter with Penn State in possession and having the lead, 7-3. Gamble "jumped the route" of the Penn State receiver, intercepted the ball at the Nittany Lion 40, and returned it down the sideline for a touchdown, the only one scored by Ohio State in the game. In all the Buckeyes intercepted three passes, but controversy ensued near the end of the game when Gamble may have interfered with a Lion receiver but was not called for a penalty. (Lindy's, p. 50) Clarett played only the first series of the game before injuring his shoulder again and leaving the game.

Buckeye radio broadcaster Paul Keels, in his book recounting the season, noted that the fans in Ohio Stadium that day were unusually loud and supportive. (P. 53)

[edit] Ohio State 34, Minnesota 3
1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Gophers 3 0 0 0 3
Buckeyes 0 10 17 7 34

The team was far more dominant on November 2, posting an impressive 34-3 rout of the 19th-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers. Minnesota, at 7-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play, was a contender for the Big Ten title. The Gophers blocked a punt that led to the first score of the day, a field goal, but Ohio State's defense throttled the Minnesota rushing attack, which had been averaging 271 yards a game, (Lindy's, p. 54) holding it to 53 yards and the passing attack to 59, and Minnesota, despite starting its next two possessions at its 45, was unable to score further.

Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall, playing in place of the injured Clarett, rushed for 89 and 93 yards respectively, and Ross scored twice, and Ohio State scored 24 unanswered points in the 2nd half. Defensive linemen Darrion Scott, Simon Fraser, and David Thompson recorded 4 sacks and were instrumental in stopping the run.

[edit] Ohio State 10, Purdue 6
1 2 3 4 Total
Buckeyes 0 3 0 7 10
Boilermakers 3 0 0 3 6

On November 9, the 3rd-ranked Buckeyes, in an unexpectedly close game with the 4-5 Purdue Boilermakers (2-3 in Big Ten play), delivered one of the most thrilling moments in Ohio State football history. The offense had been stagnant the entire game, unable to run against the Purdue defense. Maurice Clarett, still hampered by the recurrence of his stinger injury in the Penn State game, carried the ball only 14 times for 52 yards. Krenzel had completed only 11 passes for 123 yards when Ohio State faced a 3rd and 14 from midfield, trailing 6-3 late in the fourth quarter. He scrambled in the passing pocket and completed a pass along the sideline to tight end Ben Hartsock but came up a yard short of a first down at the 37-yard line with 1:36 remaining in the game.

On fourth down, coach Jim Tressel opted against attempting a 54-yard field goal by Mike Nugent to tie the game, and in an uncharacteristically high-risk move, ran pass play "King Right 64 Y Shallow Swap" instead, whose first option was a short crossing pass ("shallow swap") to Hartsock (the "Y" receiver). Instead, Krenzel went deep to wide receiver Michael Jenkins, jostling with defensive back Antwaun Rogers. Jenkins caught the pass at the goal line and scored. After a Gamble interception of Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton stifled any comeback by the Boilermakers, the Buckeyes escaped West Lafayette with a victory, 10-6. From his call of the touchdown, ABC announcer Brent Musberger uttered a phrase that has gone down in Buckeye lore: "Holy Buckeye". (Buckeye Commentary - Holy Buckeye)

The Buckeye defense was equally stellar, limiting Purdue to a pair of field goals on four possessions inside the Ohio State 20, and an interception by middle linebacker Matt Wilhelm allowed Mike Nugent to kick a tying field goal as the clock ran out in the first half.

[edit] Ohio State 23, Illinois 16 (overtime)
1 2 3 4 OT Total
Buckeyes 6 0 7 3 7 23
Fighting Illini 0 3 10 3 0 16

The Buckeyes had risen in the polls to now rank 2nd, and concluded their season road games in Champaign, Illinois, taking on the 4-6 Illinois Fighting Illini. Illinois was 3-3 in conference play, and what seemed to be a mismatch proved to be yet another dangerously close game as the Illini kicked a field goal on the last play of the 4th quarter to come from behind to force overtime.

As it had on its earlier road games, Ohio State struggled offensively with an inconsistent running game minus Maurice Clarett. Illinois took the lead in the 3rd quarter, only to lose it on a 50-yard strike from Krenzel to Jenkins. The teams exchanged field goals before Illinois missed a 59-yard attempt with only 2 minutes left that appeared to settle the game, but the Illini forced a punt and tied the game as time expired in regulation play.

The overtime game was the first ever played by Ohio State, and on the opening possession the Buckeyes scored, with Krenzel scrambling from the pocket for 14 yards and Maurice Hall scoring on an 8-yard run up the middle. The Illini appeared to make two touchdown receptions in their possession but the first was out-of-bounds and the second a bobbled incompletion. Defensive lineman Tim Anderson knocked down the final attempt to keep the Buckeyes undefeated. (Lindy's p. 62: Keels, p. 74-75)

[edit] Ohio State 14, Michigan 9
1 2 3 4 Total
Wolverines 3 6 0 0 9
Buckeyes 7 0 0 7 14

The regular season finale against the Michigan Wolverines on November 23 logically became the most important of the regular season. Michigan was 9-2, a contender for the conference championship with a 6-1 record, and ranked 9th in the USA Today poll and 12th in the AP. (OSU athletic site, 2002-11-22 archive) The intensity of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry was increased by the stakes: a victory by the 12-0 Buckeyes would secure a spot for them in the BCS National Championship game. Michigan had ruined Ohio State attempts at undefeated regular seasons three times in the past decade (1993, 1995, 1996), and hoped to spoil yet another national title bid, while hoping to capture a share of the Big Ten crown if Iowa also lost.

The game was fittingly intense, with the Wolverines ahead or within striking distance of the Buckeyes for the entire game. Maurice Clarett, returning from injury, scored an early touchdown to put the team ahead 7-3, and the defense held Michigan to three first half field goals that included a crucial stop inside the Ohio State ten just before the half. Trailing 9-7 in the fourth quarter, Krenzel engineered a drive from the Michigan 43 with 8:30 remaining. After gaining a first down on a 4th down quarterback sneak, Krenzel completed a pass (and another play name went into Buckeye legend: Gun Switch Right Dart 59 X Skinny Wheel) (SI, p. 42) to Clarett swinging left out of the backfield ("wheel") while the wide receiver ran a post pattern to decoy the secondary ("X skinny") that resulted in a first down at the Michigan six Two plays later, with 4:55 to go, Maurice Hall took an option pitch from Krenzel and ran into the endzone from two yards out.

After a lost fumble with two minutes remaining, Michigan regained possession at its own 20 with only 50 seconds. They moved the ball, but the final pass attempt by Michigan quarterback John Navarre, with 0:01 left and long to the endzone, was intercepted by Will Allen.

With the victory, Ohio State finished the 2002 season by sharing the conference crown with the Iowa Hawkeyes, who also went undefeated in Big Ten play.

[edit] BCS national championship game

Main article: 2003 Fiesta Bowl

Following their defeat of Michigan, Ohio State faced the number one ranked and heavily favored (11.5 points) Miami Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl on January 3, 2003, selected that year as the championship game for the teams ranked first and second in the BCS ratings. The Hurricanes were attempting to win their second consecutive championship, winning the Rose Bowl in the previous season and winning 34 straight games in dominating fashion. Led by Heisman Trophy finalists quarterback Ken Dorsey and tailback Willis McGahee, Miami was favored by nearly two touchdowns over the offensively anemic Buckeyes.

The Hurricanes jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, quieting the largely scarlet and gray crowd. The second quarter, however, belonged to Ohio State, with a Mike Doss interception setting up a Craig Krenzel touchdown run which was followed by a Ken Dorsey fumble setting up the Buckeyes on the Miami 14. A Maurice Clarett touchdown run put Ohio State ahead 14-7 at halftime.

The Hurricanes stalled on their opening drive of the half, handing the ball over to Ohio State who drove inside the Miami ten yard line before Krenzel was intercepted by Sean Taylor, who was then stripped of the ball by Maurice Clarett on the return. The Buckeyes settled for a field goal and a ten point lead.

A Willis McGahee touchdown run brought the Hurricanes within 3 points by the beginning of the fourth quarter. On third down a catch by Chris Gamble was ruled incomplete due to his being out of bounds. Replays however seem to show that: 1) Gamble had his jersey grabbed on this play which could have resulted in pass interference call and a consequent Ohio first down. 2) Gamble appeared to land inbounds, again a first down. With a first down Ohio State would have been in a position to run the clock out and win the game without it going to overtime. Instead they had to punt and Groom punted the ball 44 yards. Todd Sievers kicked a field goal to send the game into overtime.

On their first possession in overtime, the Hurricanes scored a touchdown on a 7 yard pass to Kellen Winslow. Ohio State had no choice but to play for another overtime, with Krenzel completing a fourth and 14 pass to Michael Jenkins, giving Ohio State new life. On fourth and 3, a pass interference penalty was called by official Terry Porter on Miami defensive back Glenn Sharpe who held receiver Chris Gamble in the end zone. However the penalty was flagged after the play was completed and while Miami was celebrating an apparent victory, causing the call to become controversial. (Note: This play has been reviewed many times with sportcasters and fans offering different viewpoints, and potentially one of many reasons for College Football adding instant replay (although this would later not become a reviewable play) With a first-and-goal at the two, Krenzel scored three plays later on a one-yard touchdown run, sending the game into another overtime. Though initially shrouded in controversy, "The Call" has since been defended by sportswriters as a good one[1][2], was validated by the National Association of Sports Officials[3], and was selected by Referee Magazine as one of the "Best 18 Calls of All Time."[4]

Ohio State took the field again on offense, moving down the field quickly and capping the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run by Maurice Clarett. Miami began its second overtime possession with no options except to score a touchdown. Backup quarterback Derek Crudup, who came in for a play after Dorsey was shaken up, converted a fourth down pass to Winslow, which was followed by facemask and pass interference penalties against Ohio State that now gave Miami an identical first-and-goal situation at the two-yard line. The Hurricanes were stuffed on the first three plays, and pressure forced a desperation throw by Dorsey that fell incomplete in the endzone, ending the game with Ohio State as the 2002 football national champions.

[edit] 2002 player personnel

[edit] Depth chart
Edit
Offense
SE
Michael Jenkins
Drew Carter

LT LG C RG RT
Ivan Douglas Adrien Clarke Alex Stepanovich Bryce Bishop Shane Olivea
Rob Sims Mike Stafford Nick Mangold Scott Kuhnhein Mike Kne

TE
Ben Hartsock
Jason Caldwell

FL
Chris Gamble
Chris Vance

QB
Craig Krenzel
Scott McMullen

FB
Brandon Joe
Brandon Schnittker

RB
Maurice Clarett
Lydell Ross or Maurice Hall
Defense
BCB
Dustin Fox
Nate Salley

DE DT DT DE
Darrion Scott Tim Anderson Kenny Peterson Will Smith
Mike Kudla David Thompson Marcus Green Simon Fraser

FCB
Chris Gamble
E.J. Underwood
FS
Donnie Nickey
Will Allen

Will LB Middle LB Sam LB
Cie Grant Matt Wilhelm Robert Reynolds
A.J. Hawk Mike D'Andrea Bobby Carpenter

SS
Mike Doss
Tyler Everett

Special Teams

Position Name Backup
K Mike Nugent Jeremy Uhlenhake
P Andy Groom B.J. Sander
KR Maurice Hall Chris Gamble
PR Chris Gamble Mike Doss

Source: Athletic Department official site, 2002 football archive 12-10-02 depth chart

[edit] 2002 roster
Edit

Quarterbacks

* 9 Justin Zwick - Freshman
* 10 Troy Smith - Freshman
* 15 Scott McMullen - Redshirt Junior
* 16 Craig Krenzel - Redshirt Junior
* 18 Jim Otis- Redshirt Sophomore
* 24 Matt Trombitas - Redshirt Freshman

Running Backs

* 13 Maurice Clarett - Freshman
* 20 Roshawn Parker - Redshirt Sophomore
* 28 Maurice Hall - Sophomore
* 30 Lydell Ross - Sophomore
* 34 JaJa Riley - Redshirt Freshman
* 36 Michael DeMaria - Redshirt Sophomore

Fullbacks

* 33 Nate Stead - Redshirt Junior
* 38 Brandon Joe - Redshirt Sophomore
* 43 Brandon Schnittker - Redshirt Freshman
* 48 Jack Tucker - Redshirt Senior
* 49 John Adams - Redshirt Sophomore

Wide Receivers

* 3 Bam Childress - Redshirt Sophomore
* 4 Chris Vance - Senior
* 7 Chris Gamble - Sophomore
* 8 Drew Carter - Redshirt Junior
* 11 Mike Young - Redshirt Sophomore
* 12 Michael Jenkins - Junior
* 14 Angelo Chattams - Sophomore
* 17 Santonio Holmes - Freshman
* 23 Scott Petroff- Redshirt Junior
* 37 Jamal Luke - Redshirt Junior
* 82 Roy Hall - Freshman
* 84 John Hollins - Redshirt Sophomore
* 86 Maurice Lee - Redshirt Junior

Tight Ends

* 80 Ryan Hamby - Redshirt Freshman
* 81 R.J. Coleman - Freshman
* 83 Reggie Arden - Redshirt Freshman
* 87 Jason Caldwell - Redshirt Sophomore
* 88 Ben Hartsock - Redshirt Junior
* 96 David Andrews - Redshirt Sophomore



Offensive line

* 50 Michael Stafford - Redshirt Senior
* 51 Mike Bogart - Junior
* 52 Mike Kne - Junior
* 53 Ivan Douglas - Redshirt Junior
* 55 Nick Mangold - Freshman
* 59 John Conroy - Redshirt Freshman
* 61 Ben Nash - Redshirt Freshman
* 62 John McLaughlin - Redshirt Sophomore
* 63 Adrien Clarke - Redshirt Junior
* 64 Adam Olds - Redshirt Freshman
* 66 Doug Datish - Freshman
* 69 Andree Tyree - Redshirt Freshman
* 70 Scott Kuhnhein - Redshirt Senior
* 71 Shane Olivea - Junior
* 72 T.J. Downing - Freshman
* 73 Steve Winner - Redshirt Freshman
* 76 Alex Stepanovich - Junior
* 77 Rob Sims - Freshman
* 78 Bryce Bishop - Redshirt Junior
* 79 Ryan Cook - Redshirt Freshman


Defensive Line

* 54 Tim Anderson - Redshirt Junior
* 56 Darrion Scott - Junior
* 57 Mike Kudla - Freshman
* 65 Steve Graef - Redshirt Sophomore
* 74 Bryce Culver - Redshirt Sophomore
* 75 Simon Fraser - Sophomore
* 90 Quinn Pitcock - Freshman
* 92 Tim Schafer - Freshman
* 93 Will Smith - Junior
* 94 Marcus Green - Redshirt Freshman
* 95 David Thompson - Redshirt Senior
* 97 Kenny Peterson - Redshirt Senior
* 98 Joel Penton - Freshman
* 99 Jay Richardson - Freshman



Linebackers

* 5 Mike D'Andrea - Freshman
* 6 Cie Grant - Redshirt Senior
* 35 Matt Wilhelm - Senior
* 36 Pat O'Neill - Redshirt Junior
* 42 Bobby Carpenter - Freshman
* 44 Robert Reynolds - Junior
* 46 Fred Pagac Jr. - Redshirt Junior
* 47 A. J. Hawk - Freshman
* 58 Joe Bradley - Redshirt Freshman
* 89 Stan White Jr. - Freshman
* 91 Jason Bond - Redshirt Junior


Defensive backs

* 1 Bobby Britton - Junior
* 2 Mike Doss - Senior
* 3 Steven Moore - Redshirt Sophomore
* 4 Rob Harley - Sophomore
* 11 Richard McNutt - Redshirt Junior
* 13 Harlen Jacobs - Redshirt Sophomore
* 14 Antonio Smith - Freshman
* 17 Jermaine Guinyard - Redshirt Sophomore
* 19 LeAndre Boone - Redshirt Freshman
* 20 Chris Conwell - Senior
* 21 Nate Salley - Freshman
* 24 Mike Roberts- Freshman

* 25 Donnie Nickey - Redshirt Senior
* 26 Will Allen - Junior
* 32 Brandon Mitchell - Freshman
* 33 Tyler Everett - Freshman
* 37 Dustin Fox - Sophomore
* 41 Thomas Matthews - Redshirt Sophomore
* 49 E.J. Underwood - Freshman




Punters

* 18 Andy Groom - Redshirt Senior (also PK holder)
* 21 B.J. Sander - Redshirt Junior (also PK Holder)

Kickers

* 5 Jeremy Uhlenhake - Redshirt Senior
* 23 Josh Huston - Redshirt Sophomore (also punter)
* 85 Mike Nugent - Sophomore

Long Snappers

* 60 Kyle Andrews - Redshirt Sophomore
* 62 Jeremy Miller - Redshirt Junior
* 67 Kurt Wilhelm - Redshirt Sophomore

[edit] Coaching staff

* Jim Tressel - Head Coach - 2nd year
* Jim Bollman - Offensive Coordinator/Offensive line coach - 2nd year
* Mark Dantonio - Defensive Coordinator - 2nd year
* Joe Daniels - Quarterbacks/Receivers coach - 2nd year
* Mark Snyder - Linebackers coach - 2nd year
* Jim Heacock - Defensive line coach - 7th year
* Bill Conley - Recruiting Coordinator/Tight ends coach - 12th year
* Tim Spencer - Running backs coach - 1st year
* Luke Fickell - Special teams coordinator - 1st year
* Mel Tucker - Defensive backs coach - 1st year

[edit] Sources

1. ^ Dodd, Dennis. "Months later, 'Canes interference call looks right", CBS Sportsline, 16 July 2003.
2. ^ Clark, Kyle. "National championship complaints need to stop", The Daily Toreador, 16 January 2003.
3. ^ "SI column draws NASO ire", NASO Press Release, 10 January 2003.
4. ^ "Referee Lists Best Calls in Officiating History", Referee Press Release, 14 February 2007.

* Paul Keels (2003). Paul Keels' Tales from the Buckeyes Championship Season. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1582615394.
* Lindy Davis (2002), Lindy's Sports Annuals Presents National Champions!, DMD Publications, Birmingham, Alabama.
* Sandra Bailey, et.al. (2002), Sports Illustrated Presents Ohio State Buckeyes 2002: A Perfect Season (2002-12-18), Time Inc.
* Official site Ohio State Football

[show]
v ? d ? e
BCS National Champions
1998 Tennessee ? 1999 Florida State ? 2000 Oklahoma ? 2001 Miami ? 2002 Ohio State ? 2003 LSU ? 2004 USC ? 2005 Texas ? 2006 Florida
[show]
v ? d ? e
Ohio State Buckeyes football teams
All-time record 798?302?53 (.692)
Key Personnel Head Coach: Jim Tressel ? Offensive Coordinator: Jim Bollman ? Defensive Coordinator: Jim Heacock
2002 ? 2003 ? 2004 ? 2005 ? 2006 ? 2007 ? 2008
Rivalries : The Michigan Game ? Illinois-Illibuck Trophy ? Penn State
National championships (7) 1942 ? 1944 ? 1954 ? 1957 ? 1961? 1968 ? 2002
Big Ten championships (32) :1916 ? 1917 ? 1920 ? 1935 ? 1939 ? 1942 ? 1944 ? 1949 ? 1954 ? 1955 ? 1957 ? 1961 ? 1968 ? 1969 ? 1970 ? 1972 ? 1973 ? 1974 ? 1975 ? 1976 ? 1977 ? 1979 ? 1981 ? 1984 ? 1986 ? 1993 ? 1996 ? 1998 ? 2002 ? 2005 ? 2006 ? 2007
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football_team"

Categories: Ohio State Buckeyes football | NCAA Football National Champions
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History of Ohio State Buckeyes football
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For general information about the team see Ohio State Buckeyes football

The history of Ohio State Buckeyes football covers 117 years through the 2006 season. The team has represented the Ohio State University in the Western Conference, its successor the Big Ten, and in the NCAA Division I. Its history parallels the development of college football as a major sport in the United States and demonstrates the status of the Buckeyes as one of its elites. Professionally written articles on Associated Content can be read here and here.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 1890-1912: Beginnings
o 1.1 1912: A watershed year
* 2 1913-1933: Conference, stadium, and "downtown coaches"
* 3 1934-1943: Francis Schmidt and Paul Brown
o 3.1 1942: First national championship
* 4 1944-1950: The graveyard of coaches
* 5 1951-1978: Woody Hayes
o 5.1 Early criticism and a national championship
o 5.2 NCAA probation, other difficulties, and a third national title
o 5.3 OSU's super sophomores
o 5.4 The Ten Year War
* 6 1979-1987: Earle Bruce
* 7 1988-2000: John Cooper
* 8 From 2001 to the present: Jim Tressel
* 9 See also
* 10 External links
* 11 References

[edit] 1890-1912: Beginnings

In the spring of 1890 the growing fever of the Walter Camp-style of football, formulated between 1880 and 1883 among colleges of the future Ivy League, reached Columbus, Ohio. George Cole, an undergraduate, is generally given credit for organizing the first intercollegiate team at Ohio State.[1] He persuaded Alexander S. Lilley to coach the squad and brought in a renowned Princeton fullback and soon-to-be coach of the Purdue Boilermakers, Knowlton L. "Snake" Ames,[2] to familiarize the team with fundamentals. The Buckeyes first game, played on Saturday, May 3, 1890, at Delaware, Ohio, against Ohio Wesleyan University, was a victory, but two other projected spring games could not be arranged.

Play resumed in November, with home games played at Recreation Park (near the current Schiller Park in south Columbus),[3] but Ohio State lost all three. The next year representatives met with counterparts from Adelbert, Denison, Buchtel, and Kenyon Colleges to agree to various terms and laid the groundwork for the informal "Big Six" conference of Ohio colleges.[4] Throughout its first decade nearly all of Ohio State's opponents were in-state teams.

Over the next eight years, under a number of coaches, the team played to a cumulative record of 31 wins, 39 losses, and 2 ties. Home games were moved to a field on campus at Neil and 11th Avenues, then in 1898 to University Field at High Street and Woodruff Avenue. Play was brutal and dangerous but continued to grow in popularity. The first game against Michigan, in Ann Arbor, was a 34-0 loss in 1897, a year that saw the low point in Buckeye football history with a 1-7-1 record.

In 1899 the university hired John Eckstorm away from Kenyon College. He brought professional coaching skills to the program and immediately won the Big Six for the first time by going undefeated, as well as beating Oberlin College after previous teams had gone 0-6. His second season was almost as successful, as the 8-1-1 record included a scoreless tie against Michigan. In 1901, however, center John Sigrist, a 27-year-old senior, was fatally injured in a game against Western Reserve and the continuation of intercollegiate football at Ohio State was in serious question. Although the school's athletic board backed away from a confrontation and let the team decide its future, a faculty resolution to cancel the season was not easily defeated and Eckstorm resigned.[5]

In 1902 the team won its first four games by a combined score of 86-0, then traveled to Ann Arbor and lost to the Wolverines?86-0. From that humiliation Fred Cornell, a freshman football player, wrote Carmen Ohio, which became the school's alma mater.[6] In 1906, yet another coaching change saw the hiring of Albert A. Herrnstein, the coach of Purdue, who had been a running back for Michigan and had scored six touchdowns against Ohio State in 1902. Herrnstein's four years were successful (although not against his former team) and also saw the first use of the forward pass by the Buckeyes.[7]

In 1908 the name of University Field was changed to Ohio Field, and although the team continued to prosper, continuing losses to Michigan, Case, and Oberlin saw the cycle of coaching changes continue. By the end of the 1912 season, Ohio State's 23rd, the team had had eleven coaches, sixteen coaching changes, and stood 126-72-17, having never beaten Michigan. Among the oddities occurring during its formative years, the Buckeyes won a game by forfeit (its only win in 1897, over Ohio Medical), lost one by forfeit (Penn State in 1912), and had a player play for both teams in one game (Bob Hager, loaned to Marietta College in 1898, a game which Marietta won).[8]

[edit] 1912: A watershed year

Football underwent a number of developments in 1912 that mark the year as a watershed point in Buckeye history. In the game itself, touchdowns were re-valued to the six points they are now. On April 6, the Western Conference approved Ohio State's application to join. The Bucks would play their first conference schedule in 1913 and be limited by its rules to just seven games a season. The price at the time was steep: Michigan had left the conference in 1906 and conference policy forbade playing the Wolverines.

The program itself was removed from the Department of Physical Education and made a part of the new Department of Athletics, an organization under faculty control, but a move which saw the hiring of full-time coaches with faculty status. The new football coach, John Richards, was also named the first Director of Athletics but resigned from both positions at the end of the football season. Lynn W. St. John, a medical student who had just been hired as business manager for OSU athletics, was named the second AD and served in that capacity for 35 years.

[edit] 1913-1933: Conference, stadium, and "downtown coaches"

Ohio State's entry into the Western Conference initially saw a reduction in the number of games played each season but otherwise continued success for the program, with their first three seasons' record 14-5-2 and finishes in conference standings of 6th, 4th, and 3rd place. Coach John Wilce brought a stability to the program not previously experienced, and in 1916 he also brought Charles W. "Chic" Harley, the first "triple threat" (runner, passer, and kicker), to the varsity team. The Buckeyes had their first undefeated-untied season in 1916, and repeated as conference champions in 1917, going 8-0-1. Harley left school for wartime service in the U.S. Army Air Service, and the Buckeyes saw an undefeated streak broken at 22 games as a result. Harley returned in 1919, named an All-American for the third time, but Ohio State finished second in the Western Conference when Illinois, in the season's last game, scored the only touchdown of the year against the Buckeyes, then kicked a field goal on the final play to win 9-7.[9] However 1919 also saw the first Buckeye victory over Michigan (which had re-joined the conference in 1917), 13-3 in Ann Arbor, the first of three straight wins against its rival.

Harley's exploits prompted both a new surge of popularity in Ohio State football and higher attendance figures, with the demand far outreaching the capacity of Ohio Field. Discussion of a new, larger facility at a location away from High Street had begun as early as 1913 but plans took shape when a horseshoe design was presented by alumnus Howard Dwight Smith ('07) in 1918 and a professionally-managed public fundraising drive begun in October 1920 that quickly pledged more than $1 million of the $1.34 million cost stipulated in the April 1921 construction contract. Ground was broken on August 3, 1921, and Ohio Stadium opened October 7, 1922.[10]

With the opening of the new stadium, however, Buckeye fortunes on the gridiron also turned sour. Ohio State had won its third Big Ten championship in 1920, losing its only game to California in the Rose Bowl, and a superb 1921 season had been marred by two inexplicable losses to Oberlin (the last Buckeye loss to an Ohio team) and to winless Illinois. The dedication game for Ohio Stadium was against Michigan, which became the first of six straight losses to the Wolverines, and the 1922 season the first of three losing seasons. The Buckeyes rebounded in 1926, losing only to Michigan as a result of a missed extra point with two minutes to play. The game was also notable in that more than 90,000 attended, a "standing room only" figure that exceeded stadium seating capacity by nearly forty per cent.

However Ohio State had otherwise unspectacular seasons and never finished higher than third place in the conference, going 28-21-6 in Wilce's final seven years as head coach. Criticism of Wilce was widespread, particularly from the "downtown coaches" (a term that came into usage in the 1920s to describe vocal businessmen and other influential supporters of the program), for both failing to win the conference and for the extended losing streak to Michigan. Wilce forestalled further criticism and possible removal by resigning on June 3, 1928, effective at the end of the upcoming season, to practice medicine. His sixteen years as coach had brought Ohio State to the forefront of intercollegiate football and his .695 winning percentage remains impressive.[11]

Wilce's assistant and former Buckeye letterman, Sam Willaman, was expected to inherit the head coaching position at the December meeting of the Athletic Board, but Athletic Director St. John refused to publicly commit the program to his succession. During 1928 there had been public speculation that Knute Rockne, famed coach of Notre Dame but enduring a mediocre season and stung by persistent criticisms of overemphasis of football at Notre Dame, might leave the Irish to take the position at Ohio State.[12] At least two sources[13][14] indicate that St. John and Rockne met in early January in New Orleans and that Rockne accepted the position at OSU contingent on his release by Notre Dame. Whether Rockne was merely trying to gain leverage for a new, larger stadium in South Bend and fewer road games, or whether he seriously contemplated coaching the Buckeyes will never be known, for history records that he was "unusually silent on the matter."[15]

Willaman, a reticent, methodical man, was then selected and completely overhauled the coaching staff. Among the new coaches hired were Don Miller, one of Notre Dame's famous "Four Horsemen", and Ernie Godfrey, who went on to coach at Ohio State for 33 years. Willaman's stint began auspiciously with three wins that included a victory over Michigan, but the team finished poorly with an overall 4-3-1, and although the 1930 team had a better record, it lost to its rival and still managed only a fourth place finish in the Big Ten. The situation grew worse in 1932 when an experienced Buckeye team disappointed expectations and the effects of the Great Depression significantly lowered attendance. The 1933 team lost only once, but it was to Michigan and again cost the Bucks a conference title. Heavily criticized within and without the university, Willaman resigned in January 1934 to become head coach at Western Reserve, hounded out of Columbus (according to Time Magazine) by the "downtown coaches".[16]

[edit] 1934-1943: Francis Schmidt and Paul Brown

In hiring Francis Schmidt in March 1934 to coach its football team, Ohio State moved an already "big-time" program to a higher level of competition. Schmidt was a well-established high-profile coach, having successfully coached Tulsa, Arkansas, and Texas Christian University, and he was both an appealingly eccentric personality and an acknowledged offensive innovator. His TCU teams had won two straight Southwest Conference championships and had only lost five times in five seasons. Schmidt's offensive schemes?which totaled more than 300 plays using seven formations predicated on speed, passing, trickery, and numerous laterals (a "wide-open" style called "razzle-dazzle")?were always changing. He did not neglect defensive play, either; his TCU teams had won 34 of their 47 victories by shutout. Schmidt was the first Buckeye football coach granted a multi-year contract.

Schmidt's 1934 squad opened the season with a 33-0 victory over Indiana, the initial shutout of the 25 registered during Schmidt's 56-game career at Ohio State. The first touchdown scored by a Schmidt team was a fake reverse that went for 78 yards, epitomizing his style. The Buckeyes won seven of their eight games in 1934, four by shutout (including a 34-0 defeat of Michigan, the first of 4 straight seasons in which the Buckeyes held the Wolverines scoreless), but finished second in the Big Ten to National Champion Minnesota. The only loss of 1934, to Illinois in an away game that honored Red Grange, resulted from a missed point after touchdown. A 76-0 rout of Ohio Wesleyan ended scheduling against other Ohio universities until 1992. (Its record against in-state college opponents through 1934 was 153?45?15.) Recognizing that he had been hired in part to beat Michigan, Schmidt's first four seasons saw victories over their archrival, all by shut-out, beginning with a 34-0 trouncing in 1934. Quarterback Tippy Dye became the first Buckeye signal caller to win three consecutive games over Michigan.

The 1935 squad also went 7-1 but were co-champions of the Big Ten with Minnesota. The sole loss was to Notre Dame, 18-13, in the first contest between the programs. Ohio State had dominated the first half in all aspects, leading 13-0, but did not gain a yard in the second half. Notre Dame took advantage of a serious player substitution mistake by Schmidt that by the rules of the day deprived the Buckeyes of their first string backfield in the last quarter, and also recovered a Buckeye fumble with less than a minute remaining in the game that set up the winning touchdown drive.

Schmidt's next three seasons were less successful, finishing second in the conference twice and just sixth in 1938. However in 1939 the Buckeyes won the Big Ten championship despite a final-game loss to Michigan; this has only occurred twice in the rivalry since, in 1982 and 2004, when Michigan won the Big Ten despite losing to Ohio State. Schmidt's popularity had been fading for a number of reasons,[17] including the mediocre showing in 1938, but the championship in 1939 and anticipation of an even better season in 1940 with 21 returning lettermen appeared to have secured his job. However the Buckeyes lost three games in a row for the first time under Schmidt, then were routed by Michigan and its senior Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon, 40-0, to drop to 4-4. Schmidt's entire coaching staff resigned in early December, followed by Schmidt on December 17, 1940, widely believed to avoid being fired. The Athletic Board accepted all six resignations that same day.

Immediately following the resignations, the Massillon, Ohio newspaper, The Independent, touted the coach of Massillon Washington High School's football team, Paul Brown, to succeed Schmidt. Brown's Tigers had just won their sixth straight state championship and had outscored opponents 477-6 while drawing an attendance of 116,000. An organized movement to hire Brown spread with the endorsement of his candidacy by numerous Ohio periodicals, and by a statewide letter-writing campaign orchestrated by the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association. The Athletic Department interviewed four candidates in a brief but intensive national selection process, and despite his having no previous experience coaching college football and being just 32 years of age, Brown was named head coach on January 14, 1941, with a 3-year contract.[18]

Brown immediately changed Ohio State's style of offense from the complex "razzle-dazzle" schemes of Schmidt to a power attack using the single-wing and T-formations, stressing precise play execution. He also hired a coaching staff of three former assistants from Massillon, two coaches he knew from rival high schools, and one member of Schmidt's deposed staff. Brown planned and organized his program in great detail, delegating to his assistant coaches and using highly-structured practices limited to 90 minutes duration to create a strong sense of team unity and identity.

The 1941 season was colored by the possibility of America's entry into the Second World War and ended just two weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor. In the opener against Missouri, the Tigers befuddled the Buckeyes with a new offensive formation, the Split-T, but failed to score on a number of drives, allowing Ohio State to escape with a 12-7 victory. The Buckeyes then defeated a West Coast school for the first time, stunning the USC Trojans 33-0 in the Los Angeles Coliseum. The remainder of its games were all close, losing only to Northwestern and tying Michigan. Northwestern was led by sophomore tailback Otto Graham, who so impressed Brown in dominating Ohio State that Brown later made him the centerpiece of his AAFC-NFL Cleveland Browns professional team. At 6-1-1 Ohio State tied Michigan for second place in the Big Ten.

[edit] 1942: First national championship

World War II immediately decimated the rosters of most college football teams. Ohio State lost 22 veteran players, 18 of them lettermen, of its 1941 team to graduation and military service, and fielded a team of 24 sophomores, 16 juniors, and 3 seniors, including tailback Les Horvath. The Big Ten allowed an expanded season of ten games and Ohio State added a game against military football teams to both the beginning and end of their schedule.

The initial five games all resulted in victories, including a blowout of a U.S. Army team from Fort Knox. Indiana, with a strong team, followed and Ohio State overcame a late Hoosier lead on a particularlly hot, humid afternoon for a narrow win. USC came into Ohio Stadium and was again beaten, 28-12, resulting in the Buckeyes being ranked first in the Associated Press poll.

On October 31 the Buckeyes traveled to Madison, Wisconsin, to play the Badgers. Wartime demands forced the team to travel on passenger cars that had been in storage when first-line equipment was diverted to the war effort, and to be housed on the 6th floor of a downtown hotel without elevators. The night before the game a massive attack of dysentery struck the team, attributed to the water in the hotel. The subsequent 17-7 loss to Wisconsin has gone down in the annals of Ohio State as the "bad-water game". The Buckeyes' only score came on a drive of 96 yards in the 3rd quarter and they dropped to 6th in the AP poll.

The Buckeyes decisively won the remainder of their games in 1942. Despite defeating Pitt by 40 points the Buckeyes dropped to 10th in the polls, but moved up five spots when they handily defeated Illinois in a game held in Cleveland. They then defeated 4th-ranked Michigan 21-7 before a Homecoming crowd of nearly 72,000 to win the Big Ten championship, passing for three touchdowns in a heavy rain and taking the ball away from the Wolverines five times. In their second extra game, the Buckeyes went on to trounce a U.S. Navy service team coached by Bernie Bierman and made up of former professional and college players. When Holy Cross stunned their rival, top-ranked Boston College, 55-12 and Georgia overwhelmed second-ranked Georgia Tech 34-0, the Buckeyes topped Georgia in the final poll to win its first national championship.

Brown had recruited what was reputedly the finest freshman team in Ohio history in 1942 but lost virtually all of them to military service. In 1943 Ohio State was handicapped when the school affiliated itself with the U.S. Army's ASTP officer training, which did not allow its trainees to participate in varsity sports, while schools such as Michigan and Purdue became part of the Navy's V-12 program, which did. Although the Big Ten promulgated a special wartime exemption in 1943 allowing freshmen to play varsity football, Ohio State found itself in competition against older and larger teams (both military and college) featuring players such as Elroy Hirsch. The 1943 "Baby Bucks" had only five returning players and one starter from the national champion team, six from the 1942 freshman team, and 33 17-year-old freshmen, going 3-6. Prominent on the 1942-44 teams was Bill Willis, the Buckeye's first African-American star, honored in 2007 along with Chic Harley and Archie Griffin as one of the three most important players in Buckeye football history.[19]

[edit] 1944-1950: The graveyard of coaches

Eligible for call-up into the military by the Selective Service, Paul Brown accepted a commission as a lieutenant (junior grade) in the United States Navy on April 12, 1944, and was assigned to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center at Chicago. Brown submitted the name of his assistant coach, Carroll Widdoes, to direct the team in his absence. Widdoes had been an assistant to Brown since 1934 and had turned down the prestigious head coach position at Washington High School to go with Brown to Ohio State. Though his only head coaching experience was at Massillon's Longfellow Junior High School, Widdoes was appointed acting head coach by the OSU Athletic Board on April 14.

The 1944 team fielded only thirteen upperclassmen and 31 freshmen, and lost standout halfback Dean Sensenbaugher to an appointment to West Point. However in August it received a tremendous boost when the U.S. Army's ASTP training program was discontinued at Ohio State and the Big Ten granted graduate student Les Horvath, discharged from ASTP, a fourth year of eligibility. Widdoes moved him to quarterback in the T formation and played him at tailback in the single wing in an otherwise freshman backfield, and as a result Ohio State went undefeated and untied. One of their victories was over Paul Brown's previously unbeaten Great Lakes Navy team, with Horvath scoring two of the Buckeyes' three final quarter touchdowns. The Buckeyes preserved their perfect season with a dramatic 4th quarter drive for a come-from-behind victory over Michigan. Ohio State finished second in the national rankings behind Army and Horvath became the first Buckeye to be awarded the Heisman Trophy.

The football program took an unexpected turn when Paul Brown, still in the Navy and with the war continuing, signed a contract on February 6, 1945, to coach what would become the Cleveland Browns of the professional All-America Football Conference. A week later Carroll Widdoes was made the official head coach of Ohio State. World War II ended by the time the 1945 season began and Widdoes integrated a number of returning military veterans into his team, and although the Buckeyes had a creditable year at 7-2, they were manhandled at home by Purdue and lost a tight game to Michigan, finishing third in the conference behind Indiana and Michigan. Despite having the highest two-year winning percentage of any Buckeye coach, Widdoes asked to return to an assistant's position, which was granted. A few years later he left Ohio State to take the head coach and athletic director's position at Ohio University.

Paul Bixler, an assistant coach, replaced Widdoes as head coach in 1946. Bixler had been hired away from Colgate in 1941 by Paul Brown, familiar with his work when Bixler was an assistant at Canton McKinley High School, and had never head-coached a team before taking over the Buckeyes. Although personable and detail-oriented, Bixler did not garner the respect of his players,[20] partly because he rarely played anyone but the starters,[21] and Ohio State endured a mediocre 4-3-2 season. The season ended with a humiliating 58-6 loss to Michigan. Bixler resigned and returned to Colgate to be its football head coach. Talk of Ohio State being a "graveyard of coaches" became commonplace, a reputation that lingered for decades.[22]

Wes Fesler became head coach with a five-year contract as the result of a collaborative selection process by retiring Athletic Director Lynn St. John and his successor, Dick Larkins. Fesler was an Ohio State alumnus and had been a star athlete, winning nine letters (three in football), had been a three-time All-American, and was Big Ten MVP in 1930. As head coach at Pittsburgh he had nearly beaten Ohio State in 1946 and seemed the best choice to bring stability back to the program.

Fesler employed a single wing offense with returning Dean Sensenbaugher at tailback and Joe Whisler at fullback, but two of his key veterans, Tommy James and Tony Adamle, had left school to play professional football and the Bucks had a dismal 2-6-1 record, shut out four times and scoring only 60 points the entire season. Finishing last in the Big Ten for the only time in team history, only an improbable win against Northwestern had kept the record from matching 1897's worst ever.

Trailing the Wildcats 6-0 and having already turned the ball over on downs with two minutes to play, Ohio State threw an interception on what was apparently the last play of the game, but a penalty gave the Buckeyes an extra play after time had expired. That too was stopped and again negated by penalty. The Bucks then tied the game on a pass, only to have the try for extra point blocked. Again a penalty negated the play, and on the fourth extra play of the game the Buckeyes made the conversion and won 7-6.

Although again hurt by players leaving to play pro football, Ohio State improved greatly in 1948, winning six games and losing three in a year when the Big Ten was an exceptionally strong conference.[23] In 1949 the Buckeyes overcame an early lopsided loss to Minnesota to go on to a successful season, due in great part to the play of sophomore Vic Janowicz. Tying Michigan in Ann Arbor to become Big Ten co-champions, Ohio State also received the Rose Bowl invitation, where they came from behind to defeat California.

1950 was thought to be a rebuilding year for Ohio State after 21 seniors on the 1949 team graduated but that team's sophomores were a very strong class, having been recruited in part by an alumni organization known as "The Front-Liners",[24] and Vic Janowicz was moved to quarterback. Fesler, rumored to be resigning because of pressures associated with the position and abuse of his family by anonymous critics, returned to coach the Buckeyes on a run for a national championship.

Fesler's 5-4-2 defense[25] while strong against the run, proved vulnerable to the pass, and an opening game matchup between Janowicz and SMU's Kyle Rote (the recipient and runner-up, respectively, for the 1950 Heisman Trophy) was lost when the Mustangs overcame a 17-point deficit with four touchdown passes. Fesler responded by playing Janowicz at halfback again, although he continued to be a serious passing threat to opposing teams, and Ohio State won six games in a row, most by wide margins, to move into the top ranking in the AP poll. However the season fell completely apart in the final two games when the Buckeyes turned the ball over seven times to lose to Illinois, and in a game infamously known to Ohio State fans as the "Snow Bowl", lost to Michigan 9-3 in a blizzard. The teams punted a combined 45 times and all the scoring?a Janowicz field goal and a safety and touchdown for Michigan?resulted from blocked punts. Fesler's decision to punt on third down with 47 seconds remaining in the first half, recovered for a touchdown by Michigan, was severely criticized.

Two weeks after the Snow Bowl, citing concerns about his health and family, Fesler resigned to go into real estate. Less than two months later, however, he was named head coach at Minnesota. Detractors of Ohio State in general and Woody Hayes in particular have cited Fesler as a victim of unremitting abuse by "big football" at Ohio State[26]but throughout the 1950 season speculation that Minnesota's Bernie Bierman would retire had repeatedly suggested that Fesler was a prime candidate for his replacement.[27]

[edit] 1951-1978: Woody Hayes

[edit] Early criticism and a national championship

The search for a coach to replace Wes Fesler was in some ways a replay of the talent search to replace Francis Schmidt: Paul Brown, even though he had become a successful coach on the professional level, was the immediate "favorite" and had a well-organized corps of supporters boosting his cause. As in 1940, the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association voiced their support for Brown early on.[28] However Brown had also alienated many Buckeye alumni by failing to return to the coaching position reserved for him at the end of World War II, and the athletics department by signing Buckeye players, Lou Groza chief among them, to professional contracts before their college eligibility had ended.

A unanimous vote of the board of trustees endorsed the choice of the selection committee and on February 18, 1951, named as head coach Wayne Woodrow Hayes, who had achieved success as head coach of both his alma mater Denison University and Miami of Ohio.[29] Hayes, ironically, had not been the committee's first choice. The head coach of Missouri, Don Faurot, had been offered and accepted the position a week earlier, but changed his mind two days later.[30] Going into his first season, Hayes thus did not enjoy widespread support among Ohio State's following.

Hayes had Janowicz returning for his senior year but he converted the Buckeye offense from single-wing to T-formation, limiting the tailback's effectiveness. He also instituted a demanding practice regimen and was both aggressive and vocal in enforcing it, alienating many players accustomed to Fesler's laid-back style. With the exception on a blowout of Iowa in mid-season, the 1951 Buckeyes were a low-scoring team that won 4, lost 3 (including a 7-0 loss to Michigan), and tied 2, leaving many to question the ability of the new coach. In 1952, however, Hayes continued his transformation of the team, playing Howard "Hopalong" Cassady as a freshman and installing a split-T offense. The Buckeyes nearly doubled their point production, improved to 6-3, and recorded their first victory over Michigan in eight years, 27-7. The 1953 team as expected to improve further but also finished 6-3 when they were shut out by Michigan, and critics called for the replacement of Hayes.

In 1954 (even with Cassady now a seasoned junior) the Buckeyes were picked to finish no higher than 5th in the Big Ten. Hayes, however, had hired Lyal Clark back from Minnesota, where he had gone with Fesler, to coach the Buckeye defense and that season no opponent scored more than two touchdowns on the Buckeyes, and seven of the ten were held to a touchdown or less. An 88-yard interception return by Cassady against second-ranked Wisconsin and a goal-line stand against Michigan propelled Ohio State to a perfect season that included a 20-7 victory over USC in the Rose Bowl. Woody Hayes won his first and the team's second national championship (which was shared with co-champions, UCLA).

In 1955 Hopalong Cassady won the Heisman Trophy, and the team again took the Big Ten championship with a 7-2 record, set an attendance record of 490,477, and won in Ann Arbor for the first time in 18 years with a 17-0 shutout in which Michigan crossed the 50-yard line only once, on a penalty. Ohio State passed only three times in the game; the sole reception was the only completion in the final three games of the year, leading to characterization of Hayes' style of offensive play as "three yards and a cloud of dust".

[edit] NCAA probation, other difficulties, and a third national title

In its issue of October 24, 1955, Sports Illustrated, through an article by Robert Shaplen, stated that Hayes had used money he received from his weekly television show to make small personal loans to financially-needy players on his team for expenses such as clothing and travel expenses, stating:

Once signed, a recruit can count on some financial help from Hayes if he is ?in need?. Woody insists that he never forks up for a luxury- another narrow line- but it?s certainly also true that he makes sure he won?t lose any valuable men by financial default.[31]

The article resulted in an immediate furor over possible violations of NCAA rules, although Hayes insisted that the loans were made with his own personal funds and were to be repaid, and in effect plead ignorance of the rules. The faculty council, followed by the Big Ten and the NCAA, conducted lengthy investigations which went beyond the scope of the original allegations, and on April 26, 1956, Big Ten Commissioner Kenneth "Tug" Wilson found Hayes and the program guilty of violations and placed it on a year's probation, making all Buckeye sports teams ineligible for play in NCAA tournaments.

The 1956 season became one of mixed results. The Buckeyes began the season strong with impressive wins over Nebraska and Stanford, and won their Big Ten opener for their eighth victory in a row. The next week they were upset, however, in Ohio Stadium by three-touchdown underdog Penn State, on a missed extra point (and Penn State had been scheduled only after Navy had canceled its game with Ohio State). Ohio State ran its conference game win streak to a record 17 with a victory over Indiana on November 10, but then lost back-to-back to Iowa and Michigan, both by shutouts and the first time a Hayes-coached team had lost 2 in a row. The Iowa game was marked by intemperate verbal exchanges between Iowa coach Forest Evashevski and Hayes over the condition of the field in Iowa Stadium, allegedly unmowed to slow down the Buckeyes. Iowa won the game, the Big Ten championship, and the Rose Bowl that followed.

In 1957 four Big Ten teams were picked in pre-season polls to finish in the Top 10, but Ohio State was not one of them, and in their opener, the Buckeyes lost to TCU, their third defeat in a row. For the only time in its history, however, the team won all of its remaining games after an opening loss to claim the Big Ten championship, win the Rose Bowl over Oregon, and share a national championship with title with Auburn. Hayes was also named Coach of the Year.

Perhaps the most noted game during the season was the rematch with Iowa, which entered the game undefeated, higher-ranked, and a six-point favorite. Ohio State had lost its starting halfback, Don Clark, to a leg injury the week before, and with the discord between the coaches well-publicized, the week leading up to the game took on the frenzy of Michigan Week. The game drew a then-record attendance in Ohio Stadium, including Vice-President of the United States Richard Nixon, and the Buckeyes beat Iowa 17-13 on a late 4th quarter drive featuring sophomore fullback Bob White. Nixon met Hayes after the game and the two became life-long friends.[31]

In the ensuing years the Buckeyes finished 3rd twice and 8th once--the first of his two losing seasons at Ohio State. In 1961 the team went undefeated to be named national champions by the FWAA but a growing conflict between academics and athletics over Ohio State's reputation as a "football school" came to a head when the faculty council voted on November 28 to decline the invitation to the Rose Bowl extended to the team (although they also voted to accept its share of the gate receipts). Nearly a year would pass before the council would rescind the decision, after much public protest and debate.[32]

Over the next 6 seasons Ohio State finished no higher than 2nd, and had a losing season in 1966, although it did beat Michigan four times. When it lost three of its first five games in 1967 (all at home), public speculation that Hayes would be replaced as coach grew to its highest point since 1953. Jack Park, author of the program's official history, states that decision to turn down the Rose Bowl had "strongly impaired...(Ohio State)'s recruiting within its own state".[33]

[edit] OSU's super sophomores

The Class of 1970 was one of the strongest to ever play for Ohio State, and might have won three consecutive undisputed national championships except for what may have been the bitterest loss in Buckeye history. In 1968 Hayes regularly played 13 members during their sophomore season (ten as starters), a practice he had once predicted would cost a loss per sophomore played.[34] While the 1968 team also returned a significant number of veteran players, particularly the offensive line, the Class of 1970 had such an impact on the season that they became known as the "super sophomores."

Ohio State opened the season with four wins at home, defeating SMU, Oregon, Purdue and Northwestern. The Big Ten opener matched them against the number one-ranked Boilermakers and although threatened three times in the first half, Purdue held Ohio State scoreless. In the 3rd quarter junior Ted Provost intercepted a pass, returning it for a touchdown, and after sophomore starting quarterback Rex Kern was injured, senior Bill Long, who had quarterbacked the team the previous two seasons, returned to score the decisive final touchdown in the 13-0 upset. The Buckeyes continued to an undefeated season that saw wins over four ranked teams (three in the top ten), a 50-14 rout of Michigan, and a Rose Bowl victory over the USC Trojans that resulted in the national championship.

The winning streak carried over to the 1969 season and reached 22 games as Ohio State traveled to Michigan. The Buckeyes had encountered little trouble disposing of every team on its schedule, unlike 1968 when a number of games had been closely contested, winning eight games by an average score of 46-9. Despite the fact that Michigan came into the game ranked twelfth and had outscored its four most recent opponents 178-22, the Buckeyes were 17-point favorites. Because of a "no-repeat" policy in the Big Ten regarding the Rose Bowl and guaranteed no worse than a co-championship of the conference, the number one-ranked Buckeyes were playing for a perfect record only. Michigan was directed by first-year coach Bo Schembechler, a former Hayes proteg?. Michigan shocked the Buckeyes and led 24-12 at the half, then totally shutdown the defending champions in the second half, intercepting six Buckeye passes. The 24-12 upset was one of the most significant in college football history, and arguably the greatest in the rivalry.

The super sophomores included three-year starters Rex Kern, Jack Tatum, Jim Stillwagon, John Brockington, Mike Sensibaugh, Jan White, Bruce Jankowski, Tim Anderson, Larry Zelina, Doug Adams, and Mark Debevc. Kern, Tatum, and Stillwagon have since been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

[edit] The Ten Year War
Coach Woody Hayes
Coach Woody Hayes

The 1969 loss to Michigan initiated what came to be known as "The Ten Year War," in which the rivalry, which pitted some of OSU?s and UM?s strongest teams ever, rose to the uppermost level of all sports and the competition between Schembechler and Hayes became legendary.[35] Four times between 1970 and 1975, Ohio State and Michigan were both ranked in the top five of the AP Poll before their matchup. The Wolverines entered every game during those years undefeated and won only once, a 10-7 victory in Ann Arbor on November 20, 1971.

Both teams used the annual game as motivation for entire seasons and after the initial win by Michigan, played dead even at four wins and a tie apiece. Hayes had the upper hand during the first part of the war, in which Ohio State won the conference championship and went to the Rose Bowl four straight years, while Michigan won the final three. It was also an era in which through television Ohio State football again came to the forefront of national attention.

Hayes set the tone in spring practice in 1970, placing a rug at the entrance to the Buckeye dressing room emblazoned with the words: "1969 MICH 24 OSU 12 ? 1970 MICH:__ OSU:__" as a constant reminder of their objective.[36] The "super sophomores", now seniors, used a strong fullback-oriented offense to smash their way through the season undefeated, struggling only with Purdue the week before the Michigan game. The return match in Columbus found both teams undefeated and untied, a "first" in the history of the rivalry, with Michigan ranked fourth and Ohio State fifth. Ohio State combined a powerful defense that held Michigan to only 37 yards rushing, a rushing offense employing two tight ends as blockers, and a 26-yard touchdown pass from Kern to Bruce Jankowski to win 20-9. The Buckeyes returned to the Rose Bowl to be upset by Stanford 27-17. The "super sophomores" had garnered a record of 27-2, the best winning percentage of any three-year period in team history, and won or shared the Big Ten title all three years. The National Football Foundation named Ohio State its national champion for 1970.

1971 was less successful than the preceding seasons, but the middle four years of the 10-year war saw the greatest success for Hayes against Michigan, although the teams fell short of repeating their 1968 national championship. Archie Griffin began his college football career in 1972, taking advantage of new NCAA eligibility rules that allowed freshmen to compete at the varsity level. In his second game, sent in against North Carolina late in the first quarter, Griffin set a new Buckeye rushing record with 239 yards and led the team in rushing for the season with 867.

The following season Hayes installed an I-formation attack with Griffin at tailback and fellow sophomore Cornelius Greene at quarterback. The Buckeyes went undefeated with a powerful offense and equally impenetrable defense, achieving an average margin of victory of 31 points a game. The only blemish on their record was a 10-10 tie with Michigan after both teams had entered the game unbeaten. (The tie was more galling for the Wolverines, however, as the Big Ten selected Ohio State to represent the conference in the Rose Bowl.) Despite soundly defeating defending national champion USC, however, the tie with Michigan resulted in the Buckeyes finishing second to Notre Dame in the final AP rankings. Griffin, Randy Gradishar, Van DeCree, and John Hicks were named All-Americans; Hicks, an offensive tackle, not only won both the Outland and Lombardi Trophies, but placed second in the Heisman Trophy competition.

1974 and 1975 were seasons of both elation and frustration. The Buckeyes twice more defeated Michigan and went to two Rose Bowls, but lost both. The 1974 team seemed bound for another national championship when it was derailed by a loss to unranked Michigan State (Ohio State lost only twice in the regular season during Griffin's 4-year career, both to the Spartans), and the next year the #1-ranked Bucks lost 23-10 to 11th-ranked UCLA in the 1976 Rose Bowl. In all the Buckeyes were 40-5-1 from 1972-75, winning the Big Ten all four years and never losing to Michigan, but each loss and the tie were crucial in failing to win another championship. Archie Griffin, however, received the Heisman Trophy for both years, off-setting much of the frustration, and amassed 5,589 yards in his career.

The falloff in success of Hayes last three years was not great?team records of 9-2-1, 9-3, and 7-4-1, and bowl appearances in all three years (the rules had changed to allow appearances in other than the Rose Bowl)?but frustrations in losing all three years to Michigan, among other factors, resulted in growing criticism of Hayes and his methods, particularly his on-the-field fits of temper. Even so his downfall was sudden and shocking when near the end of the nationally-televised Gator Bowl, Hayes punched Clemson middle guard Charlie Bauman in frustration after Bauman intercepted a pass to kill Ohio State's last chance to win. Hayes was fired after the game by Ohio State president Harold Enarson and athletic director Hugh Hindman.

[edit] 1979-1987: Earle Bruce

Hayes was replaced by a former proteg?, Earle Bruce. Bruce inherited a strong team led by sophomore quarterback Art Schlichter but that had also lost eleven starters, and the 1979 squad exceeded pre-season expectations, ending the 3-year loss drought against Michigan and going to the Rose Bowl with an opportunity once again to be national champions. The Buckeyes lost both by a single point, 17-16, but Bruce was named Coach of the Year. His success was hailed by those in the media who saw it as a rebuke of Hayes and the start of a "new era".[37]

1980, however, saw the start of a trend that eventually brought criticism to Bruce, when Ohio State finished with a 9-3 record, the first of six consecutive years at 9-3. Though each of these seasons, and the 10-3 season that followed them, culminated in a bowl game, Ohio State did not appear to be any closer to a national championship than during the end of the Hayes era. Bruce's teams were not without impact players, however. All-Americans and future National Football League stars included Keith Byars, Cris Carter, Chris Spielman, John Frank, Jim Lachey, Tom Tupa, Marcus Marek, and Pepper Johnson. His program was also known for the number of notable assistant coaches on staff, including Jim Tressel, Glen Mason, Pete Carroll, Nick Saban, Urban Meyer and Dom Capers.

The 1980 team was selected as the top-ranked team of the pre-season AP poll and opened the season with four games at home, but were shocked in the fourth game by UCLA, shut out 17-0. The team rebounded to win its next six easily, but then were shut down by a ball-control Michigan team that allowed the Buckeyes only 23 minutes with the ball, then lost again to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl.

In 1981, Ohio State opened strong, including a victory at Stanford in which senior Art Schlichter out-dueled John Elway, but then lost back-to-back games to Florida State and Wisconsin (their first victory over the Buckeyes in 22 games). The Buckeyes continued to struggle on defense, losing a third time, at Minnesota. Victories over Michigan to gain a share of the Big Ten championship and over Navy in the Liberty Bowl salvaged the season.

For the first time since 1922 the Buckeyes lost three in a row in Ohio Stadium in 1982, including rematches with Stanford and Florida State, and for the second year in a row to Wisconsin, but then won seven straight, the last over BYU in the Holiday Bowl. Sophomore running back Keith Byars had a stand-out season in 1983, rushing for 1,199 yards, and Ohio State defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, but three losses in conference meant a 4th-place finish. 1984 witnessed what Bruce called "the greatest comeback after the worst start" when Ohio State fell behind Illinois 24-0 at home but roared back on 274 yards rushing and five touchdowns by Byars to win 45-38. Ohio State also defeated Michigan to win an outright Big Ten championship. Byars led the nation in rushing and scoring but finished second in Heisman balloting.

Byars broke his toe just prior to the start of the 1985 season, ending his Heisman hopes and seriously handicapping the Buckeye attack. He returned against Purdue with Ohio State at 4-1 and scored twice, but then re-injured his foot the next week against Minnesota. Iowa was top-ranked nationally when they came into Ohio Stadium favored to end the longest home winning streak in the country, and were the first #1 team the Buckeyes faced since Purdue in 1968. Ohio State's defense dominated with four pass interceptions to win 22-13.

In 1986 Bruce received a 3-year contract, the first for the modern program but the team opened with two losses, which had not occurred in over 90 years. The Buckeyes then won 9 in a row before Michigan took a close game when kicker Matt Frantz missed a field goal with a minute to play. After the season Bruce was offered the position of head coach at the University of Arizona with a 5-year contract but was persuaded to stay at his alma mater by Athletic Director Rick Bay. Hopes for a standout season in 1987 suffered a serious setback when All-American wide receiver Cris Carter was dropped from the team for signing with an agent. Indiana defeated Ohio State for the first time since 1951, 31-10, in a game that came to be known as the "darkest day", and Ohio State lost three conference games in a row going into the Michigan game.

On the Monday of Michigan week, after a weekend of rumors and speculation, Ohio State President Edward Jennings fired Bruce but tried to keep the dismissal secret until after the end of the season. Bay, who had been instrumental in keeping Bruce at Ohio State, disregarded Jennings' orders and announced the firing and his own resignation in protest. Jennings made his own situation worse by refusing to give a reason for the firing and the circumstances have been the subject of controversy since.[38] The Buckeyes enjoyed an emotional come-from-behind victory over Michigan in Ann Arbor after the entire team wore headbands bearing the word "EARLE", then declined an invitation to play in the Sun Bowl.

[edit] 1988-2000: John Cooper

John Cooper was hired as the 21st football head coach at Ohio State before the end of 1987 and before he had coached his last game at Arizona State University. Cooper's coaching record at ASU and at Tulsa prior to that stood out among his credentials, as did a victory over Michigan in the 1987 Rose Bowl.

Cooper's thirteen years as Buckeye head coach are largely remembered in the litany of negative statistics associated with him: a notorious 2-10-1 record against Michigan, a 3-9 record in bowl games, a 5-year losing streak to Illinois to start his term and a 6-7 record overall, a 63-14 loss to Penn State in 1994, and a 28-24 loss to unranked Michigan State when the Buckeyes were the top-ranked team in the nation and en route to a national championship. However his record also has many positives: back-to-back victories over Notre Dame, two finishes second-ranked in the polls, and three Big Ten championships (albeit shared). Cooper also recruited 15 players who first-round draft picks in the National Football League.[39]

Both 1988 and 1989 began identically: an impressive season-opening win followed by an embarrassing loss to a highly-regarded team (Pitt and USC); a rebound win against two other highly-regarded programs (LSU and Boston College) followed by a loss to Illinois in the conference opener. However 1987 saw Ohio State lose its first three conference games and a close game at home against Michigan for a losing 4-6-1 record, its first in 22 years. In 1988 the Buckeyes won 6 consecutive Big Ten games before losing its last two to go 8-4. The most noteworthy victory occurred in Minneapolis when Ohio State overcame a 31-0 deficit to Minnesota to win 41-37.

1990 continued the pattern with a 2-win 2-loss start and an overall 7-4-1 record that included an embarrassing loss to Air Force in the Liberty Bowl. 1991 was 9-4, notable primarily as the season that sophomore running back Robert Smith quit the team. 1992, with senior Kirk Herbstreit at quarterback, was 8-3-1, but the losing string to Michigan was broken with a 13-13 tie. Persistent rumors that Cooper would resign or be fired were laid to rest when University President Gordon Gee announced he would be back in 1993.[40]

The next 6 seasons were very successful, winning ten or more games in 5 of the 6 and sharing the conference championship in three. Eddie George won the Heisman Trophy in 1995 after a tremendous senior season, Ohio State defeated Notre Dame in 1995 and 1996, and won half its bowl games. But in three seasons (1993, 1995, and 1996) the Buckeyes entered the Michigan game undefeated, with the possibility of a national championship in at least one, and lost all three to underdog Wolverine teams. Ohio State had won 62 games and lost only 12, but a third of those were to Michigan.

After renewing his contract and becoming a member of the "million dollar coaching club",[41] Cooper started sophomore Austin Moherman against the Miami Hurricanes in the nationally-televised "Kickoff Classic" and was soundly beaten. That presaged a mediocre season in which the Buckeyes finished 6-6, ending their successful 90's run. The 2000 team was more successful, going 8-4, but criticism of Cooper among fans had risen to a clamor again and touched on many areas of the program beyond specific game records. The negative publicity rose to a peak in the days leading up to Ohio State's matchup with South Carolina in the Outback Bowl, when wide receiver Reggie Germany was suspended for having a 0.0 GPA, team captain Matt Wilhelm publicly criticized fellow player Ken-Yon Rambo, and one Buckeye lineman sued another.[42]

In January 2001, the Ohio State University dismissed Cooper. His loss in the Outback Bowl to a team that had not even won a single game the year before was a factor in his subsequent firing, as was negative publicity regarding player behavior before and during the game. Other contributing factors included the record against Michigan (which was actually considered by most people to be the biggest reason for his firing), a reputation of inability to win "big games", the lack of a national championship, the perception of him as an outsider by many alumni, the poor bowl game record, and finally a perceived lack of discipline on the team.

[edit] From 2001 to the present: Jim Tressel

Ohio State quickly sought a replacement for Cooper before the 2001 recruiting season, and after a nationwide search hired Jim Tressel. With a winning tradition at Youngstown State (4 NCAA Division I-AA National Champions from 1986-2000) Tressel, formerly an assistant coach at Ohio State for Earle Bruce, was an Ohioan who was considered to be appreciative of the Buckeyes' football tradition. Although there were some doubts whether Tressel could repeat his earlier success at the Division 1A level, most fans and alumni met the coaching change with enthusiasm. The day of his hiring, Jim Tressel, speaking to fans and students at a Buckeye basketball game, made a prophetic implication that he would lead the Buckeyes to beat Michigan in Ann Arbor the following November.[43]

Tressel's first season was difficult as the Buckeyes went 7-5. At a university that was accustomed to experiencing fewer than 2 or 3 losses a season, 2001 was considered a disappointment until Tressel made good on his promise and did what his predecessor could not, beating Michigan in Ann Arbor. Even more impressive was the fact that Tressel gave the quarterback reins to untested sophomore Craig Krenzel after senior starter Steve Bellisari was suspended following a DWI arrest just prior to the Illinois game, a decision applauded as finally drawing the line on a program perceived as "getting out of hand".[44] Despite its average record, Ohio State elected to accept an invitation to the Outback Bowl for a rematch with South Carolina. Although Ohio State lost this game also, it was marked by a strong second half comeback and were a presentiment that 33 years of frustration at not winning a national championship were about to come to an immediate end.

While fans were optimistic about the chance for success of the 2002 team, most observers were surprised by the Ohio State's National Championship.[45][46] After good offensive performances against Texas Tech and Kent State, and the emergence of freshman Maurice Clarett as a standout running back, Ohio State used strong defense, ball-control play-calling, and field position tactics to win numerous close games, a style of play characterized as "Tresselball",[47] and disparaged by detractors as "the Luckeyes".[48] One of the most notable examples occurred against Purdue on November 9, when quarterback Craig Krenzel threw a 4th down touchdown pass to Michael Jenkins late in the game to win, on a play that has gone down in Buckeye lore as "Holy Buckeye," a phrase coined by ABC Television's Brent Musberger's during his call of the play. (Buckeye Commentary - Holy Buckeye)

A dramatic second-straight victory over Michigan propelled them into the BCS National Championship Game at the Fiesta Bowl, where they beat the Miami Hurricanes in two overtimes in one of the greatest championship games in college football history.[49][50]

Following their championship season, Tressel and the school administration became entangled in a major controversy over allegations of NCAA violations by tailback Maurice Clarett. Clarett accused Tressel of orchestrating a benefits system, including free cars, cash for no-work jobs, and improper academic assistance. However, the NCAA was unable to verify the claims due to a lack of evidence. Clarett left Ohio State and tried to apply to the NFL draft, but was unsuccessful.[citation needed] In 2004, however, Troy Smith's acceptance of $500 from former OSU booster Robert Q. Baker led to a 2-game suspension from the team, which continued into the 2005 season. The businessman was also sanctioned.[51][52]
Jim Tressel and team at halftime of the 2006 game at Texas.
Jim Tressel and team at halftime of the 2006 game at Texas.

Tressel's success continued with two additional Big Ten championships in 2005 and 2006 (the 2006 title outright) and a record through the 2006 regular season of 62-14. The 2005 team was characterized by slow development of the offense and early losses to Texas and Penn State, followed by an offensive explosion that saw the Buckeyes score 40 or more points in five consecutive games, the first time in the team's history. The Buckeyes again defeated Michigan in Ann Arbor and then Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.

However after posting a 12-0 regular season in 2006, and going wire-to-wire during the regular season as the top-ranked team to advance to the BCS National Championship game on January 8, 2007, the Buckeyes endured a shocking defeat to the Florida Gators, 41-14. In the spring of 2007, the NCAA released figures on the football program's Academic Progress Rate (APR) that showed an increase its score from the penalty cut-off point of 925 to 928.[53]

[edit] See also

* 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
* 2003 Fiesta Bowl
* 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
* 2007 BCS National Championship Game
* 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

[edit] External links

Buckeye birthplace Columbus Dispatch article on first Ohio State football game location

[edit] References

1. ^ Jack Park (2002). The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing LLC, p.10. ISBN 1-58261-006-1.
2. ^ Tiger Hall of Famers. Princeton Tiger Football. Retrieved on 3 Aug 2006. Ames also app. coached Northwestern in the same years
3. ^ Historical Society Dedicates Marker at Site of First OSU Home Football Game. TOSU Football Official Site. Retrieved on 21 Oct 2006.
4. ^ Park, p.13. This scheduling arrangement was not formalized.
5. ^ Park, p.28
6. ^ Carmen Ohio Centenniel. OSU Alumni Sarasota. Retrieved on 4 Aug 2006.
7. ^ Park, p. 37
8. ^ Park, p.20, 23, 50
9. ^ Park, p.74
10. ^ The Ohio Stadium Story. Football Ballparks. Retrieved on 9 Aug 2006.
11. ^ Park, p.112-115
12. ^ Ray Robinson (1999). Rockne of Notre Dame: The Making of a Football Legend. Oxford University Press, p. 215. ISBN 0-19-510549-4.
13. ^ My Home Course, by Tom MacWood. Golf Club Atlas.com. Retrieved on 10 Aug 2006.
14. ^ Park, p.118
15. ^ Robinson, p. 216
16. ^ Ins & Outs, 12 Feb 1934. Time Magazine. Retrieved on 11 Aug 2006.
17. ^ Park, p.166. Schmidt's faults were deemed to be a dictatorial demeanor, excessively long practice sessions, and a penchant for profanity
18. ^ The Columbus Evening Dispatch, January 14, 1941, Vol. 70, No. 198
19. ^ In the renovated Woody Hayes Athletic Center, the three are commemorated by a hallway display at the entrance to the media center.
20. ^ Jim Tressel (2003). "Bob Brugge 1944, 1946-47", in Jeff Snook: What It Means To Be A Buckeye. Triumph Books, p.16. ISBN 1-57243-602-6.
21. ^ Snook, "Howard Teifke", p.30
22. ^ 2006 Team previews- Ohio State. SI.com. Retrieved on 20 Aug 2006.
23. ^ Park, p. 249. Michigan was national champion in 1948.
24. ^ Park, p.251, and Vare, p.71
25. ^ 5 linemen, 4 linebackers, and 2 defensive backs
26. ^ Robert Vare (1974). Buckeye: A Study of Coach Woody Hayes and the Ohio State Football Machine. Harper's Magazine Press, p.72. ISBN 0-06-129150-1.
27. ^ Park, p.265, 269, 273
28. ^ Vare, p. 73
29. ^ ibid.p. 76. Dick Larkins, the Athletic Director, and Jack Fullen, executive secretary of the alumni association, were Brown's main opponents
30. ^ Park, p.276
31. ^ a b #11?Iowa at Ohio State?November 11, 1957. The Buckeye 50 Yard Line. Retrieved on 2 Oct 2006.
32. ^ Park, pp. 340 and 342. Vare also looks at the episode in detail, albeit from an entirely one-sided viewpoint.
33. ^ Park, p. 371
34. ^ Park, p.371 The 13 were: QB Rex Kern, RB Leo Hayden, RB Larry Zelina, RB John Brockington, QB Ron Maciejowski, TE Jan White, WR Bruce Jankowski, MG Jim Stillwagon, DE Mark Debevc, LB Doug Adams, CB Jack Tatum, S Mike Sensibaugh, and DB Tim Anderson.
35. ^ UM-OSU more than just a game. ESPN. Retrieved on 13 Oct 2006.
36. ^ Park, p.391. Park has a picture of the rug.
37. ^ Making 'Em Forget Woody. Time Magazine. Retrieved on 11 Dec 2006.
38. ^ Park, pp. 537-538
39. ^ John Cooper Profile. TOSU Football Official Site. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006.
40. ^ Cooper Will Be Back. New York Times. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006.
41. ^ Coach Joining $1 Million Club. New York Times. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006.
42. ^ Getting a Little Payback. CNN-Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006.
43. ^ Tressel Eyes Finally Bucking the Wolverines. The Michigan Daily. Retrieved on 11 Dec 2006.
44. ^ Booze not Boos led to Bellisari's Demise. The Lantern. Retrieved on 11 Dec 2006.
45. ^ BCS National Title Game Bowl preview. Covers.com. Retrieved on 13 Jan 2007.
46. ^ Paul Keels (2003). "Chapter 1 Expectations", Paul Keels Tales from the Buckeyes' Championship Season. Sports Publishing LLC, P.6, 12. ISBN 1-58261-539-X. The Big Ten media day sessions picked Ohio State to finish 2nd in the conference
47. ^ Tresselball just keeps winning. ESPN. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006.
48. ^ Ohio State must shake Luckeyes image. Akron Beacon-Journal. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006. Chosen at random to find media source. Google "Luckeyes" for 4560 hits.
49. ^ In first OT national title game, Buckeyes prevail. ESPN. Retrieved on 13 Jan 2007.
50. ^ This title game trumps the rest. ESPN. Retrieved on 13 Jan 2007.
51. ^ NCC finds nine violations. ESPN. Retrieved on 14 Jan 2006.
52. ^ Athletic department will sanction businessman. ESPN. Retrieved on 15 Jan 2007.
53. ^ Academic Progress Rate. Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved on 3 May 2007.


* Official site Ohio State Football
* Jack Park (2002). The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 1-58261-006-1.
* Jim Tressel (2003). in Jeff Snook: What It Means To Be A Buckeye. Triumph Books. ISBN 1-57243-602-6.
* Greenberg, S.; Ratermann, D. (2004). I Remember Woody. Triumph Books. ISBN 1572436743.
* Paul Keels (2003). Paul Keels' Tales from the Buckeyes Championship Season. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1582615394.
* Robert Vare (1974). Buckeye: A Study of Coach Woody Hayes and the Ohio State Football Machine. Harper's Magazine Press. ISBN 0-06-129150-1.

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2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
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2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Big 10 Champions
2008 BCS National Championship Game,
Conference Big Ten
Ranking
BCS #1
Coaches #1
AP #1
2007 Record 11-1 (7-1 Big Ten)
Head Coach Jim Tressel
Offensive Coordinator Jim Bollman
Offensive Scheme Multiple
Defensive Coordinator Jim Heacock
Base Defense 4-3

Home Stadium
Ohio Stadium (c. 101,568, Field Turf)
Seasons
? 2006
The Buckeyes kick off.
The Buckeyes kick off.

The 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team competed in football on behalf of the Ohio State University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel and played their home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Tressel led the Buckeyes to their fourth Big Ten championship and third National Title game in six years.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Previous season
* 2 Preseason
o 2.1 Watch lists
* 3 National Championship Game
* 4 Schedule
* 5 Players
o 5.1 Roster
* 6 Coaching staff
* 7 External links

[edit] Previous season

The 2006 Buckeyes squad finished the season as Big Ten Conference champions and ranked #2 in the final AP and Coaches' polls. They finished the regular season undefeated and advanced to the 2007 BCS National Championship Game where they lost to the Florida Gators, ending the season with a record of 12-1.

[edit] Preseason

On March 6, Coach Jim Tressel announced the hiring of Assistant Coach Taver Johnson. Johnson is a native of Cincinnati and a graduate of Wittenberg University. He had spent most of his coaching career at Miami University and had a very brief stint with the Oakland Raiders. Coach Johnson will replace Tim Beckman, who left Ohio State to become Defensive Coordinator at Oklahoma State University. Coach Johnson will coach the Cornerbacks.

[edit] Watch lists

Linebackers James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman along with defensive end Vernon Gholston are among the list of 65 players under consideration for the Bednarik Award while Chris "Beanie" Wells is on the 65-player list for the Maxwell Award.

[edit] National Championship Game

On January 7, 2008 the Buckeyes will play at the BCS National Championship game in New Orleans, Louisiana. This will be the first time in the school's history that the football team has played back to back National Championship games. The Buckeyes will play the Louisiana State University Tigers for the National Championship.

[edit] Schedule
Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result
September 1* 12:00 p.m. Youngstown State #10 Ohio Stadium ? Columbus, Ohio BTN W 38?6
September 8* 12:00 p.m. Akron #11 Ohio Stadium ? Columbus, Ohio BTN W 20?2
September 15* 3:30 p.m. at Washington #10 Husky Stadium ? Seattle, Washington ABC W 33?14
September 22 3:30 p.m. Northwestern #9 Ohio Stadium ? Columbus, Ohio ESPN (ABC in Ohio and Chicago) W 58?7
September 29 8:00 p.m. at Minnesota #8 H.H.H. Metrodome ? Minneapolis, Minnesota ESPN2 W 30?7
October 6 8:00 p.m. at #20 Purdue #4 Ross-Ade Stadium ? West Lafayette, Indiana ABC W 23?7
October 13* 12:00 p.m. Kent State #3 Ohio Stadium ? Columbus, Ohio BTN W 48?3
October 20? 3:30 p.m. Michigan State #1 Ohio Stadium ? Columbus, Ohio ABC W 24?17
October 27 8:00 p.m. at #25 Penn State #1 Beaver Stadium ? University Park, Pennsylvania ABC W 37?17
November 3 12:00 p.m. #19 Wisconsin #1 Ohio Stadium ? Columbus, Ohio BTN W 38-17
November 10 3:30 p.m. Illinois #1 Ohio Stadium ? Columbus, Ohio (Illibuck) ABC L 28?21
November 17 12:00 p.m. at #23 Michigan #7 Michigan Stadium ? Ann Arbor, Michigan (Michigan-Ohio State rivalry) ABC W 14-3
January 7* 7:00 p.m. #2 LSU #1 Louisiana Superdome ? New Orleans, Louisiana (BCS Championship) FOX
*Non-Conference Game. ?Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
Panoramic view of the Buckeye vs. Wildcats game
Panoramic view of the Buckeye vs. Wildcats game

[edit] Players

[edit] Roster

Wide Receivers

* 5 Dukes, Albert - Junior
* 9 Hartline, Brian - Sophomore
* 89 Hummel, Garrett - Freshman
* Jordan, Devin - Senior
* 18 Lisko, David - Junior
* 18 Lyons, Devon - Junior
* 86 Potokar, Dan - Sophomore
* 80 Robiskie, Brian - Junior
* 15 Ruhl, Kyle - Junior
* 12 Sanzenbacher, Dane - Freshman
* 4 Small, Ray - Sophomore
* 81 Ullery, Brent - Senior
* 19 Washington, Taurian

Offensive Lineman

* 68 Blankenship, Evan - Freshman
* 75 Boone, Alex- Junior
* 70 Browning, Bryant - Freshman
* 78 Dye, Daniel - Senior
* 65 Ebner, Doug - Junior
* 57 Malone, Chris - Sophomore
* 66 Moses, Andrew - Sophomore
* 76 Sika, Scott - Sophomore
* 79 Skinner, Jon - Junior
* 69 Slagle, Zach - Freshman
* 77 Smith, Connor - Freshman

Offensive Guard

* 67 Mitchum, Kyle - Junior
* 63 Person, Ben - Junior

Center

* 64 Cordle, Jim - Sophomore

Tight End

* 86 Ballard, Jake - Sophomore
* 46 Larson, J.D - Sophomore
* 82 Miller, Andy - Freshman
* 88 Nicol, Rory - Junior
* 87 Smith, Brandon - Junior

Quarterback

* 17 Boeckman, Todd- Junior
* 14 Bauserman, Joe - Freshman
* 7 Henton, Antonio - Freshman
* 13 Kacsandi, Ben - Junior
* 11 Schoenhoft, Rob - Sophomore



Running Back

* 46 Christian, K.C. - Freshman
* 35 DeLande, Bo - Freshman
* 33 Gantz, Joe - Sophomore
* 2 Herron, Daniel - Freshman
* 16 Robinson, Trever - Senior
* 3 Saine, Brandon - Freshman
* 28 Wells, Chris - Sophomore
* 34 Wells, Maurice - Junior
* 24 Williams, Marcus - Freshman

Fullback

* 49 Johnson, Dionte - Senior
* 43 Olson, Aram - Freshman
* 48 Smith, Spencer - Freshman
* 42 Whaley, Tyler - Senior

Defensive Lineman

* 92 Daly, Brett - Senior
* 92 Denlinger, Todd - Sophomore
* 50 Gholston, Vernon - Junior
* 90 Gray, Bryan - Sophomore
* 95 Rietschlin, Chris - Junior

Defensive Tackles

* 93 Abdallah, Nader - Junior
* 97 Heyward, Cameron - Freshman
* 72 Larimore, Dexter - Freshman

Defensive End

* 78 Barrow, Alex - Junior
* 57 Ingham, Tom - Sophomore
* 9 Rose, Robert - Freshman
* 98 Thomas, Solomon - Freshman
* 87 Wilson, Lawrence - Junior
* 84 Worthington, Doug - Sophomore

Cornerbacks

* 13 Amos, Andre - Sophomore
* 4 Coleman, Kurt - Sophomore
* 2 Jenkins, Malcolm - Junior
* 29 Lane, Shaun - Junior

Defensive Backs

* 5 Chekwa, Chimdi - Freshman
* 32 Clifford, Eugene - Freshman
* 36 Daniels, Matt - Junior
* 39 Dougherty, Michael - Junior
* 30 Evege, Donnie - Freshman
* 41 Haslam, De'Angelo - Senior
* 24 Schwartz, Grant - Freshman
* 11 Scott, James - Freshman
* 20 Washington, Donald - Sophomore
* 17 Willis, Zach - Junior



Linebackers

* 1 Freeman, Marcus Jr.
* 37 Gibson, Thaddeus - Freshman
* 6 Grant, Larry - Senior
* 7 Hines, Jermale - Freshman
* 51 Homan, Ross - Sophomore
* 44 Johnson, Mark - Freshman
* 33 Laurinaitis, James - Junior
* 59 Libby, Kyle - Freshman
* 49 Lukens, Ryan - Junior
* 26 Moeller, Tyler - Freshman
* 36 Rolle, Brian - Freshman
* 38 Spitler, Austin - Sophomore
* 55 Terry, Curtis - Senior

Safety

* 8 Gant, Aaron So.
* 3 O'Neal, Jamario Jr.
* 14 Oliver, Nate Fr.
* 23 Patterson, Nick Jr.
* 25 Pentello, Rocco Fr.
* 21 Russell, Anderson So.
* 10 Torrence, Devon Fr.

Long Snappers

* 52 Curtis, Don - Freshman
* 61 Haas, Jackson - Senior
* 53 Howe, Patrick - Freshman
* 56 Makridis, Dimitrios - Senior
* 96 McQuaide, Jake - Freshman

Kickers

* 12 Barclay, Devin - Freshman
* 39 Good, Andrew Jr.
* 41 Mattimoe, Matt - Sophomore
* 20 Pettrey, Aaron - Sophomore
* 85 Pretorius, Ryan Jr.

[edit] Coaching staff

* Jim Tressel - Head Coach
* Jim Bollman - Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line
* Jim Heacock - Defensive Coordinator
* Darrell Hazell - Asst. Head Coach/Wide Receivers
* Dick Tressel - Running Backs
* Joe Daniels - Quarterbacks

[edit] External links

* Ohio State Buckeyes Football official site

[hide]
v ? d ? e
Ohio State Buckeyes football teams
All-time record 798?302?53 (.692)
Key Personnel Head Coach: Jim Tressel ? Offensive Coordinator: Jim Bollman ? Defensive Coordinator: Jim Heacock
2002 ? 2003 ? 2004 ? 2005 ? 2006 ? 2007 ? 2008
Rivalries : The Michigan Game ? Illinois-Illibuck Trophy ? Penn State
National championships (7) 1942 ? 1944 ? 1954 ? 1957 ? 1961? 1968 ? 2002
Big Ten championships (32) :1916 ? 1917 ? 1920 ? 1935 ? 1939 ? 1942 ? 1944 ? 1949 ? 1954 ? 1955 ? 1957 ? 1961 ? 1968 ? 1969 ? 1970 ? 1972 ? 1973 ? 1974 ? 1975 ? 1976 ? 1977 ? 1979 ? 1981 ? 1984 ? 1986 ? 1993 ? 1996 ? 1998 ? 2002 ? 2005 ? 2006 ? 2007
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football_team"

Categories: Current sports events | 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season | Ohio State Buckeyes football
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Ohio State Buckeyes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes athletic logo
University The Ohio State University
Conference Big Ten
NCAA Division I
Athletics director Gene Smith
Location Columbus, OH
Varsity teams 19 men and 20 women varsity teams
Football stadium Ohio Stadium
Basketball arena Jerome Schottenstein Center
Baseball stadium Bill Davis Stadium
Other arenas OSU Ice Arena
St. John Arena
Mascot Brutus Buckeye
Nickname Buckeyes

Shield
Fight song Across the Field and Buckeye Battle Cry
Colors Scarlet and Gray


Homepage The Ohio State Buckeyes Official Athletics Site - OhioStateBuckeyes.com

The Ohio State University's intercollegiate sports teams and players are called the "Buckeyes" (after the state tree, the Buckeye), and participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports. (The men's hockey program competes in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and its women's hockey program competes in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association). The school colors are scarlet and gray (see trivia note below). The mascot of OSU is Brutus Buckeye.

Ohio State is one of only three universities (Michigan and Cal being the others) to have won an NCAA national championship in baseball, basketball and football. Ohio State has also won national championships in men's swimming & diving, men's outdoor track & field, men's golf, men's gymnastics, men's fencing, co-ed fencing, and synchronized swimming.[1] Since the inception of the Athletic Director's Cup, Ohio State has finished in the top 25 each year, including top 6 finishes in three of the last five years.[2] During the 2005-2006 school year Ohio State became this first Big Ten team to win conference championships in football, men's basketball and women's basketball in the same season. They repeated this feat in the 2006-2007 season.

Outstanding sports figures that were student athletes at Ohio State include Jesse Owens (?The Buckeye Bullet?; track and field), John Havlicek, Jerry Lucas, and Katie Smith (basketball), Frank Howard (baseball), Jack Nicklaus (golf); and Chic Harley (three-time All-American football running back). Hall of Fame coaches at Ohio State have included Paul Brown and Woody Hayes in football, Fred Taylor in basketball, Larry Snyder in track and field, and Mike Peppe in swimming and diving. Notable sports figures in Ohio State history may be inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame.One of the winningest programs in NCAA collegiate history
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Football
* 2 Men's Basketball
* 3 Golf
* 4 Synchronized swimming
* 5 Olympians
* 6 Trivia
* 7 Pageantry
* 8 Notes

[edit] Football

Main article: Ohio State Buckeyes football
See also: 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

The Ohio State football team, which plays at Ohio Stadium (a.k.a. the Horseshoe or simply the 'Shoe'), won the 2002 college football national championship at the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. It was the seventh national championship for Ohio State, which also topped the nation in 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, and 1968. Although The Ohio State University does not recognize championships won in 1933, 1944, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, and 1998, various organizations awarded it the national championship, reaching a total of 14 titles.

Five former Ohio State head coaches have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame: Howard Jones, John Wilce, Francis Schmidt, Woody Hayes, and Earle Bruce. The coach perhaps most strongly associated with Ohio State football was the colorful and legendary Woody Hayes (1913-1987), who passionately taught players and students that a person succeeds in life through "outworking" the opposition.

The Buckeye's newest coach is Jim Tressel. Coach Tressel has helped lead the buckeyes to a bowl game in every season during his tenure including three National Title games.

The Buckeye football team boasts six Heisman trophy winners, including the only two-time winner Archie Griffin (in 1974 and 1975), Les Horvath (1944), Vic Janowicz (1950), Howard ?Hopalong? Cassady (1955), Eddie George (1995), and Troy Smith (2006). Ohio State is a part of the intense athletic Ohio State-Michigan Rivalry (particularly in football). The University of Michigan leads the historical series 57-40-6, but Ohio State is 6-1 in the game since Jim Tressel became its coach in 2001. The OSU/UM game has been called the greatest rivalry in sports by ESPN.[3]

Five Ohio State football players were drafted in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Three of them were defensive players, including two outside linebackers (A. J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter). Other Ohio State players drafted in the first round were strong safety Donte Whitner, wide receiver Santonio Holmes, and center Nick Mangold. Cornerback Ashton Youboty and inside linebacker Anthony Schlegel were drafted in the third round. Safety Nate Salley and offensive guard Rob Sims were selected in the fourth round.

Ohio State Players Selected In 2006 NFL Draft
Round Overall Pick # Team Player Position
1 5 Green Bay Packers A. J. Hawk Outside Linebacker
1 8 Buffalo Bills Donte Whitner Safety
1 18 Dallas Cowboys Bobby Carpenter Outside Linebacker
1 25 Pittsburgh Steelers Santonio Holmes Wide Receiver
1 29 New York Jets Nick Mangold Center
3 70 Buffalo Bills Ashton Youboty Cornerback
3 76 New York Jets Anthony Schlegel Inside Linebacker
4 121 Carolina Panthers Nate Salley Safety
4 128 Seattle Seahawks Rob Sims Guard

Ohio State players entered in the NFL Draft, but not selected, include defensive end Mike Kudla and placekicker Josh Huston. Mike Kudla was signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers and released in August.[4]

The Daily Oklahoman ranked Ohio State the number one school for running backs in the nation in a July 10, 2006 sports section article.

[edit] Men's Basketball

Main article: Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
See also: 2006-07 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team

The Ohio State men's basketball team has played in Ten NCAA Final Fours, winning the championship in 1960, when they were led by Basketball Hall of Famers Jerry Lucas, John Havlicek, and Bob Knight off the bench. Twenty-three times a Buckeye has been named first team All American including five two-time All Americans and one three-time All American. Between 1960 and 1964 Ohio State won five consecutive Big Ten championships, an achievement that has yet to be matched.

In 2004, Ohio State University fired men's basketball coach Jim O?Brien for recruiting violations and self-imposed a one year penalty, including a ban on post-season play and reduction of scholarships. In light of these University self-imposed penalties, the NCAA Division I Committee on infractions merely placed Ohio State University on three years probation for the violations, and gave heavier penalties to Coach O?Brien and a former assistant coach.[5] The lightness of this judgment was seen as encouragement for schools to be proactive in responding to violations. Nevertheless, O?Brien successfully sued Ohio State for improper termination. Thad Matta, the current coach of the Buckeyes, took over O'Brien's spot three years ago. Ohio State recruited such talents as Greg Oden, and Mike Conley, Jr. to start the 2006-2007 year. The Buckeyes finished the season with a 27-3 record; won the Big Ten tournament, and earned a number 1 seed for the NCAA tournament. After a very close game with state rival Xavier, and a thrilling 20 point come from behind victory against the Tennessee Volunteers, the Buckeyes managed to hold off Georgetown Hoyas 67-60 to reach the Championship Game for the first time since 1962, which they lost to defending NCAA champions Florida Gators, 84-75. The Buckeyes ended the 2006-2007 season with a record of 35-4.

[edit] Golf

Ohio State's two golf courses, the Scarlet and the Gray, were completed in 1938. The Scarlet was designed by architect Alister MacKenzie, who designed the Masters course at Augusta National. However, his original design was not implemented fully, and the greens were the only part of the course that truly resembled his designs. Golf magazines annually rate the Scarlet Course as one of the top collegiate courses in the nation. The Scarlet recently underwent a $4.2 million renovation under the supervision of Jack Nicklaus. Ohio State has won the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships in 1945 and 1979. Five times, Buckeye men have won the NCAA golf individual championship: John Lorms in 1945, Tom Nieporte in 1951, Rick Jones in 1956, Jack Nicklaus in 1961 and Clark Burroughs in 1985.

[edit] Synchronized swimming

Ohio State has been the best program in the first 30 years of national collegiate synchronized swimming competition. In the team event, Ohio State won 24 collegiate championships between 1977, the first year of the collegiate national championships, and 2004. Head coach Mary Jo Ruggieri (Olympic Coach,) led the team to 17 wins between 1977 and 1995, and Linda Lichter-Witter added seven more since 1996. Ohio State also has taken 61 individual honors in that span, including 11 by Karen and Sarah Josephson.

[edit] Olympians

Ohio State has produced over two hundred Olympic athletes, most notably Jesse Owens who won four Olympic gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and is often considered the greatest Olympian in history. In all, 48 Ohio State athletes have combined for a total of 77 Olympic medals which includes 33 gold, 28 silver and 16 bronze medals. Were Ohio State to be considered as a separate nation, it would rank 31st for all time medalists and 26th for all time gold medalists.[6]

[edit] Trivia
Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
Official logo sporting an inverse color scheme.

The Ohio State school colors of scarlet and gray were chosen by a committee of three students (Curtis C. Howard, Harwood R. Pool, and Alice Townshend) prior to the school's first graduation ceremony in 1878. The committee's original recommendation was to be orange and black. The committee soon discovered that Princeton already used the colors, however, and changed their recommendation.[7] For this reason some references claim that Ohio State's original school colors were orange and black. This claim is not quite accurate, in that the committee never filed the original report with that recommendation.

During the 2005 - 2006 academic year Ohio State became the first school in the Big Ten to be the conference champions in football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. This was repeated during the 2006 - 2007 academic year on February 25, 2007 when the men's basketball team defeated Wisconsin in the Big Ten's first 1 versus 2 basketball game.

[edit] Pageantry

Team Colors: Scarlet and Gray
Fight Songs: Across the Field, Buckeye Battle Cry (Hang on Sloopy also popular)
Nicknames: Buckeyes, ?The Bucks?
Mascot: Brutus Buckeye
Marching Band: The Ohio State University Marching Band, known as TBDBITL, or The Best Damn Band In The Land. Famous for "Script Ohio" and the "Ramp Entrance". The dotting of the "i" in "Script Ohio" by a sousaphone (tuba) player who high-kicks out and does a giant bow to the crowd was voted the #1 greatest sports tradition ever, in Athlon Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated.
Radio Network The Ohio State Buckeyes Radio Network; WBNS (AM) 1460 The Fan
Announcers Paul Keels (Play By Play); Jim Lachey (Color (football)); Marty Bannister (Sideline (football)); Ron Stokes (Color (basketball))

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Schools with the Most NCAA National Championships. NCAA. Retrieved on 2006-08-14.
2. ^ U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup Previous Scoring. Athletic Director's Cup. Retrieved on 2006-08-14.
3. ^ "The 10 greatest rivalries", ESPN.com, 2005-01-03. Retrieved on 2006-08-14.
4. ^ Steelers.com (2006-08-08). "Steelers waive OLB Kudla". Press release. Retrieved on 2006-08-14.Where is Huston though? Nobody knows.
5. ^ NCAA (2006-03-10). "Ohio State University and Former Men's Basketball Coaches Penalized for Infractions". Press release. Retrieved on 2006-08-14.
6. ^ See All-time Olympic Games medal count
7. ^ J. H. Galbraith, "Choosing the University Colors," The Ohio State University Monthly, Dec. 1914-Jan. 1915, pp. 11-13

[show]
v ? d ? e
Big Ten Conference
Illinois (Fighting Illini) ? Indiana (Hoosiers) ? Iowa (Hawkeyes) ? Michigan (Wolverines) ? Michigan State (Spartans) ? Minnesota (Golden Gophers)
? Northwestern (Wildcats) ? Ohio State (Buckeyes) ? Penn State (Nittany Lions) ? Purdue (Boilermakers) ? Wisconsin (Badgers)
Television Channel: Big Ten Network
[show]
v ? d ? e
Central Collegiate Hockey Association
Alaska Nanooks (Carlson Center) ? Bowling Green Falcons (BGSU Ice Arena) ? Ferris State Bulldogs (Ewigleben Arena) ? Lake Superior State Lakers (Taffy Abel Arena) ? Miami RedHawks (Goggin Ice Center) ? Michigan Wolverines (Yost Ice Arena) ? Michigan State Spartans (Munn Ice Arena) ? Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (Qwest Center Omaha) ? Northern Michigan Wildcats (Berry Events Center) ? Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Joyce Center Rink) ? Ohio State Buckeyes (Value City Arena) ? Western Michigan Broncos (Lawson Arena)
NCAA ? List of CCHA Tournament champions ? Joe Louis Arena (conference tourney site)
[show]
v ? d ? e
Western Collegiate Hockey Association
Men's: Alaska Anchorage Seawolves (Sullivan Arena) ? Colorado College Tigers (World Arena) ? Denver Pioneers (Magness Arena) ? Michigan Tech Huskies (John MacInnes Ice Arena) ? Minnesota Golden Gophers (Mariucci Arena) ? Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (Duluth Entertainment Convention Center) ? Minnesota State Mavericks (Alltel Center) ? North Dakota Fighting Sioux (Ralph Engelstad Arena) ? St. Cloud State Huskies (National Hockey Center) ? Wisconsin Badgers (Kohl Center)
Women's: Bemidji State Beavers (John S. Glas Field House) ? Minnesota Golden Gophers (Ridder Arena) ? Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (Duluth Entertainment Convention Center) ? Minnesota State Mavericks (Alltel Center) ? North Dakota Fighting Sioux (Ralph Engelstad Arena) ? Ohio State Buckeyes (OSU Ice Arena) ? St. Cloud State Huskies (National Hockey Center) ? Wisconsin Badgers (Kohl Center)
NCAA ? MacNaughton Cup ? Broadmoor Trophy ? List of champions: (Men's)/(Women's)
[show]
v ? d ? e
Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association
Shondell/Dunlap League: Ball State ? IPFW ? Lewis ? Loyola ? Mercyhurst ? Ohio State ? Quincy
Coleman League: Carthage ? Clarke ? Central State ? MSOE
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_State_Buckeyes"

Categories: Articles with trivia sections from September 2007 | Big Ten Conference | Central Collegiate Hockey Association | Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Conference | Ohio State Buckeyes athletics | Ohio State University | University and college sports clubs | Sports in Columbus, Ohio
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Ohio State Buckeyes football
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
For information specifically about the 2006 season, see 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team. For the 2007 team, see 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team.
Ohio State Buckeyes football
Current season or competition 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
?

Head coach Jim Tressel
7th year, 73?15
Home stadium Ohio Stadium
Capacity 102,329 - FieldTurf
Conference Big Ten
First year 1889
Athletic director Gene Smith
Website OhioStateBuckeyes.com
Team records
All-time record 798?302?53 (.692)
Postseason bowl record 18?20
Awards
Wire national titles 5
Conference titles 32
Heisman winners 7
All-Americans 128
Pageantry
Colors Scarlet and Gray
Fight song Across the Field and Buckeye Battle Cry
Mascot Brutus Buckeye
Marching band The Ohio State University Marching Band
Rivals Michigan Wolverines
Illinois Fighting Illini (traditional)
Penn State Nittany Lions (designated by Big Ten)

The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) level. The team nickname is derived from the state tree of Ohio. The Buckeyes have played their home games in Ohio Stadium since 1922.

In their 116-year-history, the Buckeyes have been consensus Division IA National Champions five times. Jim Tressel has been the Buckeyes head coach since 2001.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 History
o 1.1 1890-1933: Beginnings
o 1.2 1934-1978 Big-time football
o 1.3 1979-present
o 1.4 Coaching staff
o 1.5 Player roster, depth chart, and schedule
* 2 Buckeye football traditions
* 3 Rivalries
* 4 All-time records
o 4.1 All-time coaching records
o 4.2 All-time Bowl Games
o 4.3 All-time Big Ten records
* 5 Individual awards and achievements
o 5.1 Heisman Trophy
o 5.2 Lombardi Award
o 5.3 Maxwell Award
o 5.4 Outland Trophy
o 5.5 Walter Camp Award
o 5.6 Other Awards
o 5.7 Season MVP
o 5.8 All-Century Team
o 5.9 Ohio State's All-Time Team
o 5.10 NCAA Coach of the Year
o 5.11 All-American and All-Conference honors
* 6 Academic awards and achievements
o 6.1 Rhodes Scholarship
o 6.2 College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-Americans
o 6.3 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame
* 7 Individual school records
o 7.1 Rushing records
o 7.2 Passing records
o 7.3 Receiving records
o 7.4 Kickoff return records
o 7.5 Punt return records
* 8 Buckeyes in the NFL
o 8.1 Ohio State Players Selected In 2007 NFL Draft
* 9 References
* 10 External links

[edit] History
Ohio State vs. Northwestern, September 22, 2007
Ohio State vs. Northwestern, September 22, 2007

Main article: History of Ohio State Buckeyes football

[edit] 1890-1933: Beginnings

In the spring of 1890 George Cole, an undergraduate, persuaded Alexander S. Lilley to coach a football team at the Ohio State University. The Buckeyes first game, played on May 3, 1890, at Delaware, Ohio, against Ohio Wesleyan University, was a victory.[1]

"In the fall, life for many in Columbus revolves around Ohio State University football, from the first kickoff in September to the last play in November. O.S.U.?s first home game took place at 2:30 p.m. on November 1, 1890. The Ohio State University played the University of Wooster on this site, which was then called Recreation Park. Just east of historic German Village, the park occupied the north side of Schiller (now Whittier) between Ebner and Jaeger in what is now Schumacher Place. The weather was perfect, and the crowd reportedly including a number of women, who cheered loudly. Nonetheless, O.S.U. lost to Wooster, 64-0. Wooster, physically fit for the game, showed O.S.U. that training is critical to winning. The tradition of training continues. Today, on football Saturdays in Ohio Stadium on Woody Hayes Drive, the sound of an O.S.U. game can be heard around the world.?

Over the next eight years, under a number of coaches, the team played to a cumulative record of 31 wins, 39 losses, and 2 ties. The first game against Michigan, in Ann Arbor, was a 34-0 loss in 1897, a year that saw the low point in Buckeye football history with a 1-7-1 record.

In 1899 the university hired John Eckstorm to bring professional coaching skills to the program and immediately went undefeated.[2] In 1901, however, center John Segrist was fatally injured in a game and the continuation of football at Ohio State was in serious question. Although the school's athletic board let the team decide its future, Eckstorm resigned. [3] In 1912 football underwent a number of developments that included joining the Western Conference, making football as part of a new Department of Athletics, and hiring Lynn W. St. John to be athletic director.

Ohio State's team came into national prominence in 1916 with the play of Charles W. "Chic" Harley, its first "triple threat" (runner, passer, and kicker). 1909 saw the tenth Buckeye loss to Michigan. Harley's popularity at Ohio State resulted in the construction of Ohio Stadium, a new, larger facility that opened in 1922.[4] Criticism of Wilce, particularly from "downtown coaches", led him to resign after the 1928 season, and was the first major negative influence of boosters and fans on the football program[5]

[edit] 1934-1978 Big-time football

In hiring Francis Schmidt in March 1934 to coach its football team, Ohio State moved its program to a "big-time" level of competition. Schmidt was a well-established coach and an acknowledged offensive innovator. His offensive schemes were a "wide-open" style called "razzle-dazzle" and led him to be the first Buckeye football coach granted a multi-year contract. Schmidt's first four seasons saw victories over archrival Michigan, all by shut-out. The 1935 squad went 7-1, its sole loss was to Notre Dame, 18-13, in the first contest between the programs. However Schmidt's remaining seasons were less successful, except in 1939 when the Buckeyes won the Big Ten championship, and his popularity faded for a number of reasons.[6] On December 17, 1940, he resigned.

Ohio State hired the coach of Massillon Washington High School football team, Paul Brown, to succeed Schmidt. Brown's Tigers had just won their sixth straight state championship. Brown immediately changed Ohio State's style of offense, planned and organized his program in great detail, and delegated to his assistant coaches using highly-structured practices. In 1942, Ohio State lost 22 veteran players to military service at the start of World War II, and with a team of mostly sophomores went on to lose only once in winning its first national championship. Brown accepted a commission in the United States Navy in 1944 and directed his assistant Carroll Widdoes to head the team in his absence. The 1944 team fielded 31 freshmen but went undefeated and untied, including a victory over Paul Brown's Great Lakes Navy team. Ohio State finished second in the national rankings behind Army and Les Horvath became the first Buckeye to be awarded the Heisman Trophy. Also prominent on the 1942-44 teams was the first Buckeye African-American star, Bill Willis.

Brown chose not to return to Ohio State after the war, going into professional football instead. Widdoes, despite having the highest two-year winning percentage of any Buckeye coach, asked to return to an assistant's position. Paul Bixler, an assistant, replaced Widdoes and endured a mediocre 4-3-2 season. Bixler resigned and talk of Ohio State being a "graveyard of coaches" became commonplace, a reputation that lingered for decades.[7]

Wes Fesler became head coach in 1947 but finished last in the Big Ten for the only time in team history. Ohio State improved greatly in 1948, winning 6 and losing 3, then in 1949 enjoyed a successful season due to the play of sophomore Vic Janowicz. Ohio State received the Rose Bowl invitation, where they came from behind to defeat California. In 1950 Fesler, rumored to be resigning because of pressures associated with the position and abuse of his family by anonymous critics, returned to coach the Buckeyes, who won six games in a row to move into the top ranking in the AP poll. However the season fell apart as the Buckeyes lost to Michigan during a blizzard, a game that came to be known as the "Snow Bowl". Two weeks later, citing concerns about his health and family, Fesler resigned.
Coach Woody Hayes
Coach Woody Hayes

Wayne Woodrow Hayes beat out Paul Brown, among others, to be named head coach on February 18, 1951. He instituted a demanding practice regimen and was both aggressive and vocal in enforcing it, alienating many players accustomed to Fesler's laid-back style. The 1951 Buckeyes won 4, lost 3, and tied 2, leaving many to question the ability of the new coach. In 1952 the team improved to 6-3, and recorded their first victory over Michigan in eight years, but after a 1953 loss to Michigan, critics called for the replacement of Hayes.

In 1954 the Buckeyes were picked to finish no higher than 10th in the Big Ten. Hayes, however, had the talents of Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, and a historic goal-line stand against Michigan propelled Ohio State to a perfect season. Hayes led the powerhouse Buckeyes to a shared national championship (his first and the team's second). In 1955 the team again won the Big Ten, set an attendance record, and won in Ann Arbor for the first time in 18 years, while Hopalong Cassady was securing the Heisman Trophy. Ohio State passed only three times against Michigan (the sole reception was the only completion in the final three games of the year), leading to characterization of Hayes' style of offensive play as "three yards and a cloud of dust".

In a 1955 article in Sports Illustrated, Hayes admitted making small personal loans to financially-needy players.[8] The article resulted in a furor over possible violations of NCAA rules, and the faculty council, followed by the Big Ten and NCAA, conducted lengthy investigations. Big Ten Commissioner Kenneth "Tug" Wilson found Hayes and the program guilty of violations and placed it on a year's probation in 1956. In 1957 Ohio State won all of its remaining games after an opening loss to claim the Big Ten championship, win the Rose Bowl over Oregon, and share a national championship title with Auburn, for which Hayes was named Coach of the Year.

In 1961 the team went undefeated to be named national champions by the FWAA but a growing conflict between academics and athletics over Ohio State's reputation as a "football school" resulted in a faculty council vote to decline an invitation to the Rose Bowl, resulting in much public protest and debate.[9] Over the next 6 seasons Ohio State finished no higher than 2nd, and had a losing season in 1966, and public speculation that Hayes would be replaced as coach grew to its highest point since 1953.

In 1968 Ohio State defeated the number one-ranked Purdue Boilermakers and continued to an undefeated season including a 50-14 rout of Michigan and a Rose Bowl victory over the USC Trojans that resulted in the national championship. The Class of 1970 became known as the "super sophomores" in 1968, and might have gone on to three consecutive national championships except for what may have been the bitterest loss in Buckeye history. The winning streak reached 22 games as Ohio State traveled to Michigan. The Buckeyes were 17-point favorites but directed by first-year coach Bo Schembechler, Michigan shocked the Buckeyes in a 24-12 upset.

The 1969 loss to Michigan initiated what came to be known as "The Ten Year War," in which the rivalry, which pitted some of OSU?s and UM?s strongest teams ever, rose to the uppermost level of all sports and the competition between Schembechler and Hayes became legendary. [10] Four times between 1970 and 1975, Ohio State and Michigan were both ranked in the top five of the AP Poll before their matchup. Hayes had the upper hand during the first part of the war, in which Ohio State won the conference championship and went to the Rose Bowl four straight years, while Michigan won the final three.

Archie Griffin came to Ohio State in 1972, set a new Buckeye single-game rushing record and led the team in rushing for the season. The following season Hayes installed an I-formation attack with Griffin at tailback and the Buckeyes went undefeated with a powerful offense and equally impenetrable defense, the only blemish on their record a 10-10 tie with Michigan. The falloff in success of Hayes' last three years was not great but resulted in growing criticism of Hayes and his methods, particularly his on-the-field fits of temper. His downfall was sudden and shocking when at the 1978 Gator Bowl, Hayes took a swing at a Clemson middle guard in frustration after an interception. Hayes was fired after the game.

[edit] 1979-present

Hayes was replaced by a former proteg?, Earle Bruce, who inherited a strong team led by sophomore quarterback Art Schlichter and returned to the Rose Bowl with an opportunity once again to be national champions. The Buckeyes lost both by a single point, but Bruce was named Coach of the Year. His success was hailed by those in the media who saw it as a rebuke of Hayes and the start of a "new era".[11]

1980, however, saw the start of a trend that eventually brought criticism to Bruce, when Ohio State finished with a 9-3 record. This was the first of six consecutive years at 9-3. While each of these seasons, and a 10-3 season that followed them, culminated in a bowl game, Ohio State did not appear to be any closer to a national championship than during the end of the Hayes era.

In 1986 Bruce received a 3-year contract, the first for the modern program, but the team opened with two losses for the first time in over 90 years. The Buckeyes then won nine in a row before losing to Michigan in a close game. After the season Bruce was offered the position of head coach at the University of Arizona but was persuaded to stay at his alma mater by Athletic Director Rick Bay. Hopes for a standout season in 1987 suffered a serious setback when All-American wide receiver Cris Carter was dropped from the team for signing with an agent. Heading into the Michigan game at the end of the season Ohio State was in the midst of a three game conference losing streak.

On the Monday of Michigan week, after a weekend of rumors and speculation, Ohio State President Edward Jennings fired Bruce but tried to keep the dismissal secret until after the end of the season. Jennings aggravated the situation by refusing to provide a reason for the dismissal,[12] but the Buckeyes enjoyed an emotional come-from-behind victory over Michigan after the entire team wore headbands bearing the word "EARLE".

John Cooper was hired as head coach with a winning record at both Tulsa and Arizona State University that stood out among his credentials, as did a victory over Michigan in the 1987 Rose Bowl. Cooper's thirteen years as the Buckeye's head coach are largely remembered for a litany of negative statistics associated with him: a notorious 2-10-1 record against Michigan, a 3-9 record in bowl games, a five year losing streak to Illinois, a 63-14 loss to Penn State, and a 28-24 loss to unranked Michigan State when the Buckeyes were the top-ranked team in the nation and en route to a national championship. However, his tenure also included many positives: back-to-back victories over Notre Dame, two second-ranked finishes in the polls, and three Big Ten championships (albeit shared). Cooper also recruited fifteen players who were first-round draft picks in the National Football League.[13]

In January 2001, The Ohio State University dismissed Cooper. A loss in the 2000 Outback Bowl was a factor in his subsequent firing, as was negative publicity regarding player behavior before and during the game. Other contributing factors included his record against Michigan (which was actually considered by most people to be the biggest reason for his firing), his perceived inability to win "big games", the lack of a national championship, the perception of him as an outsider by many alumni, the poor bowl game record, and finally a perceived lack of discipline on the team.

Ohio State quickly sought a replacement for Cooper and after a nationwide search hired Jim Tressel. With four NCAA Division I-AA National Championships at Youngstown State Tressel, formerly an assistant coach for Earle Bruce, was an Ohioan who was considered to be appreciative of Buckeye football traditions. Although there were some doubts as to whether or not Tressel could repeat his earlier success at the Division 1A level, most fans and alumni met the coaching change with enthusiasm. On the day of his hiring, Jim Tressel, speaking to fans and students at a Buckeye basketball game, made a prophetic implication that he would lead the Buckeyes to beat Michigan in Ann Arbor the following November.[14]

Tressel's first season was difficult as the Buckeyes finished 7-5, but he made good on his promise, beating Michigan in Ann Arbor. While its fans were optimistic about the chance for success of the 2002 team, most observers were surprised by Ohio State's National Championship.[15][16] Ohio State used strong defense, ball-control play-calling, and field position tactics to win numerous close games, a style of play characterized as "Tresselball",[17] and disparaged by detractors as "the Luckeyes".[18] One of the most notable examples occurred against Purdue on November 9, when quarterback Craig Krenzel threw a 4th down touchdown pass to Michael Jenkins late in the game to win, on a play that has gone down in Buckeye lore as "Holy Buckeye". (Buckeye Commentary - Holy Buckeye)

A dramatic second-straight victory over Michigan propelled them into the BCS National Championship Game at the Fiesta Bowl, where they defeated the heavily favored Miami Hurricanes in two overtimes in what ESPN has described as one of the greatest championship games ever.[19][20]
Ohio State's Troy Smith hands off to Antonio Pittman vs the 2006 Longhorns
Ohio State's Troy Smith hands off to Antonio Pittman vs the 2006 Longhorns

The team's success continued with an additional Big Ten championships in 2005. In the initial USA Today Coaches' Poll of 2006, Ohio State was ranked the number one in Division I-A.[21] When the first BCS rankings were released in October Ohio State found itself at the top and remained there throughout the regular season. On November 18, 2006 the Buckeyes defeated the second ranked, and unbeaten, Michigan Wolverines 42-39. It was the first time in the 103-year history of the rivalry that the teams entered the game ranked first and second.[citation needed] As a result, Ohio State won the Big Ten championship and a spot in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game. Ohio State also received a perfect score of 1.000 under the BCS formula, the first team ever to do so.[citation needed] In the championship game the Buckeyes were defeated by the University of Florida Gators 41-14. At the close of the 2006-07 season Jim Tressel's record as head coach of the Buckeyes was 62-14.[citation needed]

Ohio State's recent run of success continued in 2007 with another Big Ten championship and their sixth victory in seven years over Michigan. Ohio State will play for the BCS National Championship Game for the third time in six years on January 7, 2008, in New Orleans.[citation needed]

[edit] Coaching staff

Since January 18, 2001, the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes has been Jim Tressel. He heads a staff of approximately eighty:

* ten assistant coaches,
* a strength and conditioning staff of three,
* a program operations and support staff of eleven (including two part-time coaches),
* a sports medicine staff of eleven team physicians and seven consultants,
* twenty-five athletic trainers,
* six equipment managers, and
* approximately ten to twelve student managers.

Name Position Year Former OSU positions held Alma mater
Jim Tressel Head Coach 2001 Quarterbacks 1983-85, Running backs 1984-85 Baldwin-Wallace College 1975
Jim Bollman Offensive Coordinator-Offensive Line 2001 Ohio University 1977
Joe Daniels Passing Game Coordinator 2004 Quarterbacks 2002; Wide Receivers 2002-2003 Slippery Rock University 1964
Darrell Hazell Assistant Head Coach-Wide Receivers 2004 Muskingum College 1986
John Peterson Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator 2004 The Ohio State University 1991
Dick Tressel Running Backs 2004 Associate Director of Football Operations 2001-2003 Baldwin-Wallace College 1970
Jim Heacock Defensive Coordinator-Defensive Line 2005 Defensive Tackles 1996-1999, Defensive line 2000 Muskingum College 1970
Luke Fickell Co-Defensive Coordinator-Linebackers 2005 Special teams 2002-2003, Linebackers 2004 The Ohio State University 1997
Taver Johnson Corner Backs 2007 Wittenberg University 1993
Paul Haynes Safeties 2005 Kent State University 1993
Eric Lichter Director of Football Performance 2006 Weber State University 1997
Joe Rudolph Strength Coordinator 2006 University of Wisconsin-Madison 1995
Butch Reynolds Speed Coordinator 2005 The Ohio State University 1991
Bob Tucker Director of Football Operations 2001 College of Wooster 1965
Stan Jefferson Associate Director of Football Operations 2004 The Ohio State University 1974

[edit] Player roster, depth chart, and schedule

Main article: 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

[edit] Buckeye football traditions

Ohio State football is rich in traditions, and Coach Tressel has since his hiring made upholding tradition a cornerstone of his program.[22] The following are football traditions in chronogical order of longevity:

* Senior tackle

Begun in 1913 by head coach John Wilce, seniors on the team are recognized at the last practice of the season, either before the Michigan game or before departing Columbus to play in a bowl game, and hit the blocking sled a final time.[23]

* Illibuck

The winner of the Ohio State-Illinois game has been awarded the Illibuck trophy since 1925.[24]

* Gold pants

A gold miniature charm depicting a pair of football pants is given to all players and coaches following a victory over the Michigan Wolverines. The tradition began as the result of a comment to reporters by newly-hired head coach Francis Schmidt on March 2, 1934: "How about Michigan? They put their pants on one leg at a time, the same as we do!" The first gold pants, which were a creation of Simon Lazarus (president of the Lazarus chain of department stores) and Herbert Levy,[25] were awarded that year for a 34-0 drubbing of the Wolverines.[26]

* Captain's Breakfast

1934 also saw the first gathering of former team captains for breakfast on the Sunday following the Homecoming game. The event began when local businessman Walter Jeffrey invited twenty former captains to the Scioto Country Club to honor them, and continues to welcome new captains and award them mugs bearing their names and season.[27][28]

* Buckeye Grove

Begun in 1934, each player who wins "first-team All-American" honors is recognized by the planting of a buckeye tree and installation of a plaque in Buckeye Grove, now located near the southwestern corner of Ohio Stadium next to Morrill Tower. Trees are planted in ceremonies held prior to the Spring Game. All 125 Buckeye All-Americans dating back to 1914 have been so honored.[29]

* Michigan Week

Since 1935 the annual game against Michigan has been the final meeting of the regular season for both teams. The week prior to "The Game", known as Michigan Week, is characterized by scheduled school spirit and public service events, such as rallies, touch football games, and blood drives;[30] and by massive displays of school colors and banners in much of Ohio. In an unofficial culmination to Michigan Week, since 1990 on the Thursday night before "The Game" students have participated in the "Mirror Lake jump", an unofficial gathering at Mirror Lake, a pond between Pomerene Hall and The Oval, in which masses of students jump into the water.[31]

* Kickoff

During kickoffs at home games, the crowd shouts "O-H-I-O." Occasionally the chant can be heard at away games where there is a large number of Buckeye fans.[citation needed]

* Block O

Since 1938 the registered student organization Block O has been the "Official Cheering Section" of the Buckeyes. "Known for spreading spirit, starting cheers and performing card stunts, Block 'O' was founded...by Clancy Isaac".[32] They occupy Section 39A in the South grandstand of Ohio Stadium, next to the band.[33][34]

* Victory Bell

The Victory Bell is rung after every Ohio State victory by members of Alpha Phi Omega, a tradition that began after the Bucks beat California October 2, 1954. Reputedly the ringing can be heard five miles away "on a calm day." Located 150 feet high in the southeast tower of Ohio Stadium, the bell was a gift of the classes of 1943, 1944 and 1945, and weighs 2,420 pounds. [35]

* Hang on Sloopy

First played at the Illinois game of October 9, 1965, the rock song Hang On Sloopy is now played by the marching band before the start of the fourth quarter, with fans performing an O-H-I-O chant in the intervals between the refrains. The song is also played to encourage the team's defensive players when opponents are moving the ball on offense late in a game. This is also played at the end of the third quarter at Cleveland Browns games.[36]

* Buckeye leaves

Since 1968 the helmets of Ohio State players have been adorned with white decals approximately the size of a quarter depicting a buckeye leaf, awarded for making significant plays and for consistency of performance.[37]

* Tunnel of Pride

The Tunnel of Pride began with the 1994 Michigan game when all former players who were in attendance formed a tunnel through which the team ran to take the field, and Ohio State beat its rival that day, 22-6. Rex Kern, quarterback of the 1968 National Championship team, and then Director of Athletics Andy Geiger together used the concept as a means of connecting current Buckeyes with those who played before them. The Tunnel of Pride was next formed for the 1995 Notre Dame game, which the Buckeyes also won. In each home game against Michigan since, the tradition has been repeated. [38][39]

* Carmen Ohio

Instituted by Coach Tressel in 2001, at the conclusion of all home games the coaches, players and cheerleaders gather in the south end zone next to the marching band to sing the university's alma mater, Carmen Ohio.[40]

* The Hive and pre-game circle

Tressel brought to the Buckeye football program two pre-game traditions he developed at Youngstown State. Prior to its warmup routine before every football game, the team exits the locker room as a unit in a controlled manner, linked arm-in-arm in a group known as "The Hive". After warmups the team returns to the locker room, and when it next appears, runs onto the field and forms a circle of players around the strength coach, who exhorts the team into a frenzy in which they pummel each other with fists.[41]

* TBDBITL

Main article: The Ohio State University Marching Band

The Marching Band, known by its acronym as "The Best Damn Band In The Land," is the most visible and possibly best-known tradition of Ohio State football.[42] Home games are preceded by three much-anticipated traditions, and a fourth, "dotting the 'i'" of Script Ohio, enjoys a reputation all its own:[43]

*
o Skull Session
o Ramp entrance
o The Back Bend
o Script Ohio

[edit] Rivalries
The 2006 football team take the field before the Michigan game.
The 2006 football team take the field before the Michigan game.

Main article: Michigan-Ohio State rivalry
Main article: Illibuck Trophy

While its rivalry with the University of Michigan is its most renowned and intense, Ohio State has two other series marked by their longevity, both Big Ten Conference rivals, those of Indiana and Illinois. The series versus Indiana began as a non-conference matchup, with Indiana going undefeated at 4-0-1. In conference, however, the Buckeyes (despite losing the opening conference game) are 65-8-4 through the 2006 season, the most wins against any opponent. Illinois also began with non-conference games (0-1-1) but became the longest continuous series in 2002 when the schools played in their 89th consecutive year. (That record was tied by Michigan in 2007.) Through 2006 Ohio State's record against the Illini is 60-29-4.

When Penn State was added to the conference football play in 1993, every member was given two designated rivals, teams to be played every year, with the other conference teams rotated out of the schedule at regular intervals. For geographic convenience, the Big Ten named Penn State as Ohio State's new designated rival in addition to Michigan, and in doing so undermined Ohio State's historical rivalry with Illinois.

[edit] All-time records

[edit] All-time coaching records
Head Coach Period W-L-T Record Win % Big10 N/C vs Michigan
Alexander S. Lilley 1890-1891 3-5 37.5 n/a n/a
Frederick B. "Jack" Ryder 1892-95/1898 22-22-2 50.0 n/a n/a
Charles A. Hickey 1896 5-5-1? 50.0 n/a n/a
David F. Edwards 1897 1-7-1 16.7 n/a 0-1
John B. Eckstorm 1899-1901 22-4-3 84.7 n/a 0-1-1
Perry Hale 1902-1903 14-5-2 71.4 n/a 0-2
Edwin R. Sweetland 1904-1905 14-7-2 65.2 n/a 0-2
Albert E. Herrnstein 1906-1909 28-10-1 73.1 n/a 0-4
Howard H. Jones 1910 6-1-3 75.0 n/a 0-0-1
Harry Vaughn 1911 5-3-2 60.0 n/a 0-1
John R. Richards 1912 6-3 66.7 0-1
John W. Wilce 1913-1928 78-33-9 68.8 3 4-7
Sam S. Willaman 1929-1933 26-10-5 69.5 2-3
Francis A. Schmidt 1934-1940 39-16-1 70.5 2 4-3
Paul E. Brown 1941-1943 18-8-1 68.5 1 1 1-1-1
Carroll C. Widdoes 1944-1945 16-2 88.9 1 1-1
Paul O. Bixler 1946 4-3-2 55.6 0-1
Wesley E. Fesler 1947-1950 21-13-3 60.8 1 0-3-1
W.W. "Woody" Hayes 1951-1978 205?61-10 76.1 13 5? 16-11-1
Earle Bruce 1979-1987 81-26-1 75.5 4 5-4
John Cooper 1988-2000 111-43-4 71.5 3 2-10-1
James P. Tressel 2001-Current 73-15 83.0 4 1 6-1
TOTALS 1890-Current 798-302-53 71.5 32 7 41-57-6

All totals per OSU Athletics

? Hickey was hired part-way into the season and a student coached the team several games.
? 1970 national title recognized by OSU Athletics

[edit] All-time Bowl Games

2006/07 BCS Championship? Florida 41, Ohio State 14 (final #2 ranking)

2005/06 Fiesta? Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 20 (final #4 ranking)

2004/05 Alamo? Ohio State 33, Oklahoma State 7

2003/04 Fiesta? Ohio State 35, Kansas State 28 (final #4 ranking)

2002/03 Fiesta? Ohio State 31, Miami (FL) 24 (2OT) (National Champions)

2001/02 Outback? South Carolina 31, Ohio State 28

2000/01 Outback? South Carolina 24, Ohio State 7

1998/99 Sugar? Ohio State 24, Texas A&M 14 (final #2 ranking)

1997/98 Sugar? Florida State 31, Ohio State 14

1996/97 Rose? Ohio State 20, Arizona State 17 (final #2 ranking)

1995/96 Citrus? Tennessee 20, Ohio State 14

1994/95 Citrus? Alabama 24, Ohio State 17

1993/94 Holiday? Ohio State 28, Brigham Young 21

1992/93 Citrus? Georgia 21, Ohio State 14

1991/92 Hall of Fame? Syracuse 24, Ohio State 17

1990/91 Liberty? Air Force 23, Ohio State 11

1989/90 Hall of Fame? Auburn 31, Ohio State 14

1986/87 Cotton? Ohio State 28, Texas A&M 12

1985/86 Citrus? Ohio State 10, Brigham Young 7

1984/85 Rose? Southern California 20, Ohio State 17

1983/84 Fiesta? Ohio State 28, Pittsburgh 23

1982/83 Holiday? Ohio State 47, Brigham Young 17

1981/82 Liberty? Ohio State 31, Navy 28

1980/81 Fiesta? Penn State 31, Ohio State 19

1979/80 Rose? Southern California 17, Ohio State 16

1978/79 Gator? Clemson 17, Ohio State 15

1977/78 Sugar? Alabama 35, Ohio State 6

1976/77 Orange? Ohio State 27, Colorado 10

1975/76 Rose? UCLA 23, Ohio State 10

1974/75 Rose? Southern California 18, Ohio State 17

1973/74 Rose? Ohio State 42, Southern California 21

1972/73 Rose? Southern California 42, Ohio State 17

1970/71 Rose? Stanford 27, Ohio State 17

1968/69 Rose? Ohio State 27, Southern California 16

1957/58 Rose? Ohio State 10, Oregon 7

1954/55 Rose? Ohio State 20, Southern California 7

1949/50 Rose? Ohio State 17, California 14

1920/21 Rose? California 28, Ohio State 0

[edit] All-time Big Ten records

Source: Ohio State Athletics football page

Over the years, Ohio State has either won outright or shared 30 Big Ten titles. The championship in 2006 was OSU's third under Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes also shared the title in 2005 (7-1 Big Ten) and in 2002, notching a perfect 8-0 record. With a 7-1 league record as of November 17, 2007, Ohio State owns an all-time Big Ten record of 444-188-28 in 94 seasons of league competition.
Opponent W-L-T record
Chicago 10-2-2
Illinois 60-30-4
Indiana 65-12-5
Iowa 44-14-3
Michigan 41-57-6
Michigan State 26-12-0
Minnesota 40-7-0
Northwestern 58-14-1
Penn State 12-11-0
Purdue 36-12-2
Wisconsin 51-17-5
TOTAL 443-188-28

[edit] Individual awards and achievements
Retired football jerseys[44]
Number Player
45 Archie Griffin
31 Vic Janowicz
40 Howard "Hopalong" Cassady
22 Les Horvath
27 Eddie George
47 Charles "Chic" Harley
99 Bill Willis

Through the 2006 season Ohio State players have by a significant margin won more trophies than any other NCAA Division 1A program. Ohio State players have won 34 of the listed major awards, with the next closest being 26 (Oklahoma). Ohio State is the only university to have received each of the awards at least once. Of the five awards created prior to 1980 (Heisman, Lombardi, Maxwell, Outland, and Walter Camp), Ohio State has received the most with 25 (Notre Dame follows with 23).

[edit] Heisman Trophy

Ohio State players have won the Heisman Trophy seven times. Archie Griffin is the only two-time recipient in the history of the award.

* Les Horvath 1944
* Vic Janowicz 1950
* Howard "Hopalong" Cassady 1955
* Archie Griffin 1974
* Archie Griffin 1975
* Eddie George 1995
* Troy Smith 2006

[edit] Lombardi Award

Ohio State players have won the Lombardi Award six times. Orlando Pace is the only two-time recipient in the history of the award.

* Jim Stillwagon 1970
* John Hicks 1973
* Chris Spielman 1987
* Orlando Pace 1995
* Orlando Pace 1996
* A.J. Hawk 2005

[edit] Maxwell Award

Four Ohio State players have won the Maxwell Award:

* Howard Cassady 1955
* Bob Ferguson 1961
* Archie Griffin 1975
* Eddie George 1995

[edit] Outland Trophy

Four Ohio State players have won the Outland Trophy:

* Jim Parker 1956
* Jim Stillwagon 1970
* John Hicks 1973
* Orlando Pace 1996

[edit] Walter Camp Award

Four Ohio State players have won the Walter Camp Award:

* Archie Griffin 1974
* Archie Griffin 1975
* Eddie George 1995
* Troy Smith 2006

[edit] Other Awards

* Eddie George received the Doak Walker Award in 1995
* Terry Glenn received the Biletnikoff Award in 1995
* Andy Katzenmoyer received the Butkus Award in 1997
* Antoine Winfield received the Jim Thorpe Award in 1998
* LeCharles Bentley received the Dave Rimington Trophy in 2001
* B.J. Sander received the Ray Guy Award in 2003
* Mike Nugent received the Lou Groza Award in 2004
* James Laurinaitis received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2006
* Troy Smith received the Davey O'Brien Award in 2006
* James Laurinaitis received the Butkus Award in 2007

[edit] Season MVP

Voted by players at the end of the season.

* 1930: Wes Fesler - end - also Big Ten MVP
* 1931: Robert Haubrich - tackle
* 1932: Lew Hinchman - halfback
* 1933: Mickey Vuchinich - fullback
* 1934: Gomer Jones - center
* 1935: Gomer Jones - center
* 1936: Ralph Wolf - center
* 1937: Ralph Wolf - center
* 1938: Jim Langhurst - fullback
* 1939: Steve Andrako - center
* 1940: Claude White - center
* 1941: Jack Graf - fullback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1942: Chuck Csuri - tackle
* 1943: Gordon Appleby - center
* 1944: Les Horvath - quarterback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1945: Ollie Cline - fullback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1946: Cecil Souders - end
* 1947: Dave Templeton - guard
* 1948: Joe Whisler - fullback
* 1949: Jack Lininger - center
* 1950: Vic Janowicz - halfback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1951: Vic Janowicz - halfback
* 1952: Fred Bruney - halfback
* 1953: George Jacoby - tackle
* 1954: Howard "Hopalong" Cassady - halfback
* 1955: Howard "Hopalong" Cassady - halfback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1956: Jim Parker - guard
* 1957: Bill Jobko - guard
* 1958: Jim Houston - end
* 1959: Jim Houston - end
* 1960: Tom Matte - quarterback
* 1961: Bob Ferguson - fullback
* 1962: Billy Armstrong - center
* 1963: Matt Snell - fullback
* 1964: Ed Orazen - defensive lineman
* 1965: Doug Van Horn - offensive guard
* 1966: Ray Pryor - center
* 1967: Dirk Worden - linebacker
* 1968: Mark Stier - linebacker
* 1969: Jim Otis - fullback
* 1970: Jim Stillwagon - defensive lineman
* 1971: Tom DeLeone- center
* 1972: George Hasenohrl - defensive lineman
* 1973: Archie Griffin - tailback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1974: Archie Griffin - tailback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1975: Cornelius Greene - quarterback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1976: Bob Brudzinski - defensive end
* 1977: Dave Adkins - linebacker
* 1978: Tom Cousineau - linebacker
* 1979: Jim Laughlin - linebacker
* 1980: Calvin Murray - tailback
* 1981: Art Schlichter - quarterback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1982: Tim Spencer - running back
* 1983: John Frank - tight end
* 1984: Keith Byars - running back - also Big Ten MVP
* 1985: Jim Karsatos - quarterback
* 1986: Cris Carter - wide receiver
* 1987: Chris Spielman - linebacker
* 1988: Jeff Uhlenhake - center
* 1989: Derek Isaman - linebacker
* 1990: Jeff Graham - wide receiver
* 1991: Carlos Snow - tailback
* 1992: Kirk Herbstreit - quarterback
* 1993: Raymont Harris - tailback
* 1994: Korey Stringer - offensive tackle
* 1995: Eddie George - tailback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1996: Orlando Pace - offensive tackle - also Big Ten MVP
* 1997: Antoine Winfield - defensive back
* 1998: Joe Germaine - quarterback - also Big Ten MVP
* 1999: Ahmed Plummer - defensive back
* 2000: Derek Combs - tailback
* 2001: Jonathan Wells - tailback
* 2002: Craig Krenzel - quarterback / Chris Gamble - wide receiver/defensive back
* 2003: Michael Jenkins - wide receiver
* 2004: Mike Nugent - place kicker
* 2005: A. J. Hawk - linebacker
* 2006: Troy Smith - quarterback - also Big Ten MVP

[edit] All-Century Team

See also: Ohio State Football All-Century Team


[edit] Ohio State's All-Time Team

Chosen in 2001 by Athlon Sports. [1]

Offense
WR Paul Warfield 1961-63
WR Cris Carter 1984-86
WR Terry Glenn 1993-95
WR David Boston 1996-98
TE John Frank 1980-83
OL Jim Parker 1954-56
OL Korey Stringer 1992-94
OL Gomer Jones 1934-35
OL John Hicks 1970, 72-73
OL Orlando Pace 1994-96
QB Les Horvath 1940-42, 44
RB Howard Cassady 1952-55
RB Archie Griffin 1972-75
RB Eddie George 1992-95
K Vlade Janakievski 1977-80


Defense
DL Wes Fesler 1928-30
DL Bill Willis 1942-44
DL Jim Stillwagon 1968-70
DL Dan Wilkinson 1992-93
DL Mike Vrabel 1993-96
LB Tom Cousineau 1975-78
LB Chris Spielman 1984-87
LB Andy Katzenmoyer 1996-98
LB Marcus Marek 1979-82
LB Steve Tovar 1989-92
DB Vic Janowicz 1949-51
DB Jack Tatum 1968-70
DB Mike Sensibaugh 1968-70
DB Neal Colzie 1972-74
DB Antoine Winfield 1995-98
P Tom Tupa 1984-87

[edit] NCAA Coach of the Year

Three Ohio State head coaches have received the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award as NCAA Coach of the Year a total of five times:

* Woody Hayes 1957, 1968, 1975
* Earle Bruce 1979
* Jim Tressel 2002

In addition, two coaches were voted "National Coach of the Year" before the inception of the Bryant Award. Carroll Widdoes, acting head coach after Paul Brown had entered the U.S. Navy, was voted the honor in 1944. Brown himself was voted the honor in 1942 for winning the National Championship but declined in favor of Georgia Tech's Bill Alexander.

[edit] All-American and All-Conference honors

Through 2006 128 Buckeyes have been named first team All-Americans since 1914. 234 have been named to the All-Big Ten team, and 15 have won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football, the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player award, including Troy Smith for 2006. The Athletic Directors of the Big Ten Conference voted Eddie George Big Ten-Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year for 1996.

On November 22, 2006, ten Buckeyes were named to either the Coaches or Conference media All-Big Ten First Team selections for the 2006 season, and seven were named to both. Troy Smith was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Four other Buckeyes received Second Team honors.

[edit] Academic awards and achievements

[edit] Rhodes Scholarship

On December 6, 1985, Mike Lanese was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University.

[edit] College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-Americans

Academic All-American Hall of Fame

* Class of 1992 Randy Gradishar

Academic All-Americans

Academic All-American Player of the Year

* 2003 Craig Krenzel

Academic All-Americans
Year Player Position
1952 John Borton Quarterback
1954 Dick Hilinski Tackle
1958 Bob White Fullback
1961 Tom Perdue End
1965 Bill Ridder Middle guard
1966 Dave Foley Offensive tackle
1967 Dave Foley Offensive tackle
1968 Dave Foley Offensive tackle
1968 Mark Stier Linebacker
1969 Bill Urbanik Defensive tackle
1971 Rick Simon Offensive tackle
1973 Randy Gradishar Linebacker
1974 Brian Baschnagel Running back
1975 Brian Baschnagel Running back
1976 Pete Johnson Fullback
1976 Bill Lukens Offensive guard
1977 Jeff Logan Running back
1980 Marcus Marek Linebacker
1980 John Weisensell? Offensive guard
1982 Joe Smith Offensive tackle
1982 John Frank Tight end
1983 John Frank Tight end
1983 Dave Crecelius? Defensive tackle
1984 Dave Crecelius Defensive tackle
1984 Mike Lanese Wide receiver
1984 Anthony Tiuliani? Defensive tackle
1985 Mike Lanese Wide receiver
1987 Joe Staysniak? Offensive tackle
1989 Joe Staysniak Offensive tackle
1990 Greg Smith? Defensive line
1992 Len Hartman Offensive guard
1992 Greg Smith Defensive line
1995 Greg Bellisari Linebacker
1996 Greg Bellisari Linebacker
1998 Jerry Rudzinski? Linebacker
1999 Ahmed Plummer Cornerback
2002 Craig Krenzel? Quarterback
2002 Maurice Clarrett? Running back
2003 Craig Krenzel Quarterback

?2nd team award

[edit] National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame

Vincent dePaul Draddy Trophy ("Academic Heisman")

* 1995 Bobby Hoying
* 2003 Craig Krenzel

National Scholar-Athlete Awards

Ohio State's eighteen NFF Scholar-Athlete Awards rank second only to Nebraska's twenty among all college football programs.

* 1965 Willard Sander
* 1968 David Foley
* 1970 Rex Kern
* 1973 Randy Gradishar
* 1975 Brian Baschnagel
* 1979 Jim Laughlin
* 1982 Joe Smith
* 1983 John Frank
* 1984 Dave Crecelius
* 1985 Mike Lanese
* 1989 Joe Staysniak
* 1990 Greg Frey
* 1992 Greg Smith
* 1994 Joey Galloway
* 1995 Bobby Hoying
* 1996 Greg Bellisari
* 1999 Ahmed Plummer

[edit] Individual school records

See also: Ohio State Buckeyes football yearly statistical leaders

[edit] Rushing records

* Most rushing attempts, career: 924, Archie Griffin (1972-75)
* Most rushing attempts, season: 336, Keith Byars (1984)
* Most rushing attempts, game: 44, Champ Henson (November 18, 1972 at Northwestern)
* Most rushing yards, career: 5,589, Archie Griffin (1972-75)
* Most rushing yards, season: 1,927, Eddie George (1995)
* Most rushing yards, game: 314, Eddie George (November 11, 1995 vs. Illinois)
* Most rushing yards against Michigan, game: 222, Beanie Wells (November 17, 2007)
* Most rushing touchdowns, career: 56, Pete Johnson (1973-76)
* Most rushing touchdowns, season: 25, Pete Johnson (1975)
* Most rushing touchdowns, game: 5, Pete Johnson (September 27, 1975 vs. North Carolina) and Keith Byars (October 13, 1984 vs. Illinois)
* Longest run from scrimmage: 89 yards, Gene Fekete (November 7, 1942 vs. Pittsburgh)
* Most games with at least 100 rushing yards, career: 34, Archie Griffin (1972-75)
* Most games with at least 100 rushing yards, season: 12, Eddie George (1995)
* Most games with at least 200 rushing yards, career: 5 Eddie George (1992-95)
* Most games with at least 200 rushing yards, season: 3, Eddie George (1995)

[edit] Passing records

* Most passing attempts, career: 934, Art Schlichter (1978-81)
* Most passing attempts, season: 384, Joe Germaine (1998)
* Most passing attempts, game: 52, Art Schlichter (October 3, 1981 vs. Florida State)
* Most passing completions, career: 498, Bobby Hoying (1992-95)
* Most passing completions, season: 230, Joe Germaine (1998)
* Most passing completions, game: 31, Art Schlichter (October 3, 1981 vs. Florida State) and Joe Germaine (October 31, 1998 at Indiana)
* Most passing yards, career: 7,547, Art Schlichter (1978-81)
* Most passing yards, season: 3,330, Joe Germaine (1998)
* Most passing yards, game: 458, Art Schlichter (October 3, 1981 vs. Florida State)
* Most passing touchdowns, career: 57, Bobby Hoying (1992-95)
* Most passing touchdowns, season: 30, Troy Smith (2006)
* Most passing touchdowns, game: 5, John Borton (October 18, 1952 vs. Washington State) and twice by Bobby Hoying (October 22, 1994 vs. Purdue and September 23, 1995 at Pittsburgh)
* Longest pass completion: 86 yards, Art Schlichter to Calvin Murray (September 22, 1979 vs. Washington State)
* Most games with at least 200 passing yards, career: 16, Bobby Hoying (1992-95)
* Most games with at least 200 passing yards, season: 11, Bobby Hoying (1995) and Joe Germaine (1998)
* Most games with at least 300 passing yards, career: 8, Joe Germaine (1996-98)
* Most games with at least 300 passing yards, season: 7, Joe Germaine (1998)

[edit] Receiving records

* Most receptions, career: 191, David Boston (1996-98)
* Most receptions, season: 85, David Boston (1998)
* Most receptions, game: 14, David Boston (October 11, 1997 at Penn State)
* Most receiving yards, career: 2,898, Michael Jenkins (2000-03)
* Most receiving yards, season: 1,435, David Boston (1998)
* Most receiving yards, game: 253, Terry Glenn (September 23, 1995 at Pittsburgh)
* Most touchdown receptions, career: 34, David Boston (1996-98)
* Most touchdown receptions, season: 17, Terry Glenn (1995)
* Most touchdown receptions, game: 4, Bob Grimes (October 18, 1952 vs. Washington State) and Terry Glenn (September 23, 1995 at Pittsburgh)
* Longest pass reception: 86 yards, Calvin Murray from Art Schlichter (September 22, 1979 vs. Washington State)
* Most games with at least 100 receiving yards, career: 14, David Boston (1996-98)
* Most games with at least 100 receiving yards, season: 9, David Boston (1998)

[edit] Kickoff return records

* Most kickoff returns, career: 72, Maurice Hall (2001-04)
* Most kickoff returns, season: 31, Ken-Yon Rambo (1999)
* Most kickoff returns, game: 7, Vince Workman (November 7, 1987 at Wisconsin)
* Most kickoff return yards, career: 1,642, Maurice Hall (2001-04)
* Most kickoff return yards, season: 653, Ken-Yon Rambo (1999)
* Most kickoff return yards, game: 213, Carlos Snow (September 17, 1988 at Pittsburgh)
* Most kickoff return touchdowns, career: 2, Dean Sensanbaugher (1943-47) and Lenny Willis (1974)
* Longest kickoff return: 103 yards, Dean Sensanbaugher (October 9, 1943 at Great Lakes)

[edit] Punt return records

* Most punt returns, career: 98, David Boston (1996-98)
* Most punt returns, season: 47, David Boston (1997) (also a Big Ten Conference record)
* Most punt returns, game: 9, Tom Campana (October 16, 1971 at Indiana)
* Most punt return yards, career: 959, David Boston (1996-98)
* Most punt return yards, season: 679, Neal Colzie (1973) (also a Big Ten Conference record)
* Most punt return yards, game: 170, Neal Colzie (November 10, 1973 vs. Michigan State)
* Most punt return touchdowns, career: 6, Ted Ginn, Jr. (2004-06) (also a Big Ten Conference record)
* Longest punt return: 90 yards, Brian Hartline (October 13, 2007 vs. Kent State)

[edit] Buckeyes in the NFL
Buckeyes in the NFL
NFL Draft selections
Total selected: 325
First picks in draft: 3
1st Round: 66
NFL achievements
Total Players: 308
In the Super Bowl: 54
Hall of Famers: 5

52 former Ohio State players are currently active on rosters of National Football League teams: Will Allen, Tim Anderson, Rodney Bailey, LeCharles Bentley, David Boston, Bobby Carpenter, Drew Carter, Adrien Clarke, Nate Clements, Na'il Diggs, Mike Doss, Simon Fraser, Joey Galloway, Chris Gamble,Ted Ginn Jr, Terry Glenn, Marcus Green, Andy Groom, Anthony Gonzalez,Roy Hall, Ben Hartsock, A.J. Hawk, Santonio Holmes, Kevin Houser, Josh Huston, Michael Jenkins, Mike Kudla, Nick Mangold, Donnie Nickey, Mike Nugent, Shane Olivea, Orlando Pace, Kenny Peterson, Ryan Pickett, Quinn Pitcock, Robert Reynolds, Nate Salley, Darnell Sanders, Anthony Schlegel, Darrion Scott, Rob Sims, Will Smith, Troy Smith, Shawn Springs, Alex Stepanovich, Mike Vrabel, Tyson Walter, Donte Whitner, Matt Wilhelm, Dan Wilkinson, Antoine Winfield, and Ashton Youboty.

Former notable NFL players who played at Ohio State include: Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, Jim Parker, Bill Willis, Cris Carter, Paul Warfield, Jim Marshall, Jim Houston, Jack Tatum, Randy Gradishar, Dick Schafrath, Jim Lachey, Tom Tupa, Chris Spielman, Korey Stringer, Raymont Harris, and Eddie George. Groza, Lavelli, Parker, Warfield, and Willis have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In the 2004 NFL Draft, 14 Buckeyes were drafted, a record number for any school in a single draft.

[edit] Ohio State Players Selected In 2007 NFL Draft

With two first-round selections in 2007, the Buckeyes have the second most first-round selections all-time in the history of the NFL draft, one less than USC (67).[45]

2007 NFL draft selections

Round Pick # Team Player
1 9 Miami Dolphins Ted Ginn Jr. Wide receiver
1 32 Indianapolis Colts Anthony Gonzalez Wide receiver
3 18 Indianapolis Colts Quinn Pitcock Defensive end
4 107 New Orleans Saints Antonio Pittman Running Back
5 138 Oakland Raiders Jay Richardson Defensive tackle
5 169 Indianapolis Colts Roy Hall Wide receiver
5 174 Baltimore Ravens Troy Smith Quarterback
6 198 Atlanta Falcons Doug Datish Center

[edit] References

1. ^ Jack Park (2002). The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing LLC, p.10. ISBN 1-58261-006-1.
2. ^ OSU Record Book (Part 2). Retrieved on 2007-11-26. ]
3. ^ Park, p.28
4. ^ The Ohio Stadium Story. Football Ballparks. Retrieved on 9 Aug 2006.
5. ^ Park, p.112-115
6. ^ Park, p.166.
7. ^ 2006 Team previews- Ohio State. SI.com. Retrieved on 20 Aug 2006.
8. ^ #11?Iowa at Ohio State?November 11, 1957. The Buckeye 50 Yard Line. Retrieved on 2 Oct 2006.
9. ^ Park, pp. 340 and 342.
10. ^ UM-OSU more than just a game. ESPN. Retrieved on 13 Oct 2006.
11. ^ Making 'Em Forget Woody. Time Magazine. Retrieved on 11 Dec 2006.
12. ^ Park, pp. 537-538
13. ^ John Cooper Profile. TOSU Football Official Site. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006.
14. ^ Tressel Eyes Finally Bucking the Wolverines. The Michigan Daily. Retrieved on 11 Dec 2006.
15. ^ BCS National Title Game Bowl preview. Covers.com. Retrieved on 13 Jan 2007.
16. ^ Paul Keels (2003). "Chapter 1 Expectations", Paul Keels Tales from the Buckeyes' Championship Season. Sports Publishing LLC, P.6. ISBN 1-58261-539-X.
17. ^ Tresselball just keeps winning. ESPN. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006.
18. ^ Ohio State must shake Luckeyes image. Akron Beacon-Journal. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006. Chosen at random to find media source. Google "Luckeyes" for 4560 hits.
19. ^ In first OT national title game, Buckeyes prevail. ESPN. Retrieved on 13 Jan 2007.
20. ^ This title game trumps the rest. ESPN. Retrieved on 13 Jan 2007.
21. ^ "Breaking down the top 25 teams", USA Today, 5 August 2006. Retrieved on 2006-08-07.
22. ^ Park, p.1
23. ^ Todd Lamb, editor (2002). Ohio State Football Gameday. The Ohio State Athletics Communications Office, 42-43.
24. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.42
25. ^ Snook, "Charlie Ream 1934-1937", p.3
26. ^ Park, p.141
27. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.42
28. ^ Park, p.145
29. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.42
30. ^ Beat Michigan Week. The Ohio State University Union. Retrieved on 26 Jul 2006.
31. ^ How the Mirror Lake Jump Came to Be. The Lantern 17 Nov 2005. Retrieved on 26 Jul 2006.
32. ^ Football Traditions. TOSU Football Official Site. Retrieved on 27 Jul 2006.
33. ^ Block "O". The Ohio State University. Retrieved on 26 Jul 2006.
34. ^ Tradition-Block O. Coach Tressel.com. Retrieved on 26 Jul 2006.
35. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.42
36. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.42
37. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.42
38. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.42
39. ^ Tunnel of Pride. Coach Tressel.com. Retrieved on 26 Jul 2006.
40. ^ Tradition-Carmen Ohio. Coach Tressel.com. Retrieved on 26 Jul 2006.
41. ^ Porentas, John. Roots of Tressel Traditions May be Lost, but the Traditions Carry on at OSU. The O-Zone. Retrieved on 17 Oct 2007.
42. ^ Leeann Parker, editor (2001). Ohio State Football Gameday. The Ohio State Athletics Communications Office, 45.
43. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.43
44. ^ OSF Gameday 2002 p.61
45. ^ Eight Buckeyes in NFL Draft. TOSU Football Official Site. Retrieved on 1 May 2007.


* Official site Ohio State Football
* Ohio State Football Traditions
* Jack Park (2002). The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 1-58261-006-1.
* Jim Tressel (2003). in Jeff Snook: What It Means To Be A Buckeye. Triumph Books. ISBN 1-57243-602-6.
* Greenberg, S.; Ratermann, D. (2004). I Remember Woody. Triumph Books. ISBN 1-57243-674-3.
* Robert Vare (1974). Buckeye: A Study of Coach Woody Hayes and the Ohio State Football Machine. Harper's Magazine Press. ISBN 0-06-129150-1.

[edit] External links

* The Ohio State Buckeyes: BDTITL
* The Buckeye Bunch
* BuckeyeGrove @ Rivals.com
* The-Ozone
* Official Site
* Buckeye Banter
* Buckeye Commentary
* Buckeye Planet
* Buckeye Sports Bulletin
* CoachTressel.com
* Eleven Warriors
* Ohio State @ Scout.com

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Rivalries : The Michigan Game ? Illinois-Illibuck Trophy ? Penn State
National championships (7) 1942 ? 1944 ? 1954 ? 1957 ? 1961? 1968 ? 2002
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2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football
National Champions
Big Ten Co-Champions
Fiesta Bowl BCS National Championship Game, W, 31-24 vs. Miami (Fl)
Conference Big Ten
Ranking
Coaches #1
AP #1
2002 Record 14-0 (8-0 Big Ten)
Head Coach Jim Tressel
Offensive Coordinator Jim Bollman
Defensive Coordinator Mark Dantonio

Home Stadium
Ohio Stadium
Seasons
? 2001 2003 ?

The 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was the national champion of the 2002 college football season. The team was the second, and one of two, in Division 1-A college football history to win 14 games (BYU went 14-1 in 1996). Led by junior quarterback Craig Krenzel and senior safety Mike Doss, they defeated the heavily favored and defending I-A champion Miami Hurricanes in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Preseason
* 2 Schedule
* 3 Game notes
o 3.1 Ohio State 45, Texas Tech 21
o 3.2 Ohio State 51, Kent State 17
o 3.3 Ohio State 25, Washington State 7
o 3.4 Ohio State 23, Cincinnati 19
o 3.5 Ohio State 45, Indiana 17
o 3.6 Ohio State 27, Northwestern 16
o 3.7 Ohio State 50, San Jose State 7
o 3.8 Ohio State 19, Wisconsin 14
o 3.9 Ohio State 13, Penn State 7
o 3.10 Ohio State 34, Minnesota 3
o 3.11 Ohio State 10, Purdue 6
o 3.12 Ohio State 23, Illinois 16 (overtime)
o 3.13 Ohio State 14, Michigan 9
* 4 BCS national championship game
* 5 2002 player personnel
o 5.1 Depth chart
o 5.2 2002 roster
* 6 Coaching staff
* 7 Sources

[edit] Preseason

Despite a 7-5 season the year before, the general feeling was one of optimism in Columbus, Ohio, provided that the defense could carry the team while the offense developed. First year coach Jim Tressel was able to deliver on his promise of an upset victory over the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Twice All-American safety Mike Doss, in an emotional announcement on January 9, 2002, advised that he would not declare himself for the NFL draft and would return to Ohio State for his senior season. (SI, p. 75) Maurice Clarett, a freshman prospect, graduated early from high school and enrolled at Ohio State for the 2002 Winter Quarter to make himself eligible to participate in spring football practice. (Lindy's, p. 15; SI p. 16)

Prior to the 2002 season, the Buckeyes were ranked thirteenth in the AP Poll after losing the 2002 Outback Bowl on a last second field goal to the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Big Ten Conference summer media day sessions predicted Ohio State to finish second in the conference behind Michigan and ahead of Michigan State. (Keels, p. 12)

Team captains selected were seniors Mike Doss and Donnie Nickey. Offensive captains for the season were named weekly, and were: Craig Krenzel (Texas Tech, Penn State, and Michigan), Mike Stafford (Kent State), Ben Hartsock (Washington State and Illinois), Ivan Douglas (Cincinnati), Chris Vance (Indiana), Alex Stepanovich (Northwestern and Purdue), Michael Jenkins (San Jose State), Shane Olivea (Wisconsin), and for the Minnesota game, Andy Groom and Bryce Bishop. (2002 archive 12-10-2002)

[edit] Schedule
2002 14-0 (8-0) Big Ten Co-Champion ? National Champion Date Ranking Opponent Result Score Venue
August 24 13th vs. *Texas Tech W 45 21 Columbus, Ohio ? Ohio Stadium
September 7 8th vs. *Kent State W 51 17 Columbus, Ohio ? Ohio Stadium
September 14 6th vs. #10 *Washington State W 25 7 Columbus, Ohio ? Ohio Stadium
September 21 6th @ *Cincinnati W 23 19 Cincinnati, Ohio ? Paul Brown Stadium
September 28 6th vs. Indiana W 45 17 Columbus, Ohio ? Ohio Stadium
October 5 5th @ Northwestern W 27 16 Evanston, Illinois ? Ryan Field
October 12 5th vs. *San Jose State W 50 7 Columbus, Ohio ? Ohio Stadium
October 19 4th @ Wisconsin W 19 14 Madison, Wisconsin ? Camp Randall Stadium
October 26 4th vs. #17 Penn State W 13 7 Columbus, Ohio ? Ohio Stadium
November 2 4th vs. #19 Minnesota W 34 3 Columbus, Ohio ? Ohio Stadium
November 9 3rd @ Purdue W 10 6 West Lafayette, Indiana ? Ross-Ade Stadium
November 16 2nd @. Illinois W (OT) 23 16 Champaign, Illinois ? Memorial Stadium
November 23 2nd vs. #12 Michigan W 14 9 Columbus, Ohio ? Ohio Stadium
January 3 2nd vs. ? #1 Miami (FL) W (2OT) 31 24 Tempe, Arizona ? Fiesta Bowl
*Non-conference opponent ? ?BCS National Championship

[edit] Game notes

[edit] Ohio State 45, Texas Tech 21
1 2 3 4 Total
Red Raiders 7 0 0 14 21
Buckeyes 14 7 17 7 45

The Buckeyes began the 2002 season in Ohio Stadium against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on August 24, 2002. Like Ohio State, Texas Tech had posted a 7-5 record in 2001, narrowly losing to Iowa in the Alamo Bowl. Tailback Maurice Clarett, the first true freshman to start at tailback in school history, (Athletic Department archive 2002-08-24) scored three touchdowns in his first game, sparking a convincing 45-21 win. Seven sacks of Heisman Trophy candidate Kliff Kingsbury and containment of the Tech offense until late in the game did much to establish the credibility of the Buckeye defense.

[edit] Ohio State 51, Kent State 17
1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Flashes 0 14 0 3 17
Buckeyes 21 17 3 10 51

Ohio State, now ranked 8th in the AP Poll, built a 38-0 lead before halftime against the Kent State Golden Flashes, with quarterback Craig Krenzel completing his first 11 passes, safety Mike Doss and freshman linebacker A.J. Hawk returning interceptions for touchdowns, and Maurice Clarett scoring twice. Kent State scored twice in the last 4 minutes of the first half but never threatened an upset. With the game in hand, backup quarterback Scott McMullen directed the Buckeye offense for much of the second half, completing 7 of his 11 passes. The Buckeyes took only 47 snaps compared to 80 by the Golden Flashes and actually had a 2:1 deficit in time of possession, but outgained Kent State by 60 yards. Sophomore place kicker Mike Nugent, who had been uneven in his kicking as a freshman, gave an indication of his future value to the team by kicking field goals of 41, 33, and 45 yards.

[edit] Ohio State 25, Washington State 7
1 2 3 4 Total
Cougars 7 0 0 0 7
Buckeyes 3 3 12 7 25

Now ranked sixth in the nation, the Buckeyes faced their first marquee opponent and second Heisman quarterback candidate in Jason Gesser on September 14 when they hosted the 10th-ranked Cougars of Washington State. The game was billed by many in the media as a possible Rose Bowl-preview and was televised nationally (Keels p. 28).

Washington State appeared to live up to its billing with an 11-play 80-yard drive midway through the 1st quarter that was capped by short touchdown pass from Gesser. In addition the Cougar defense limited tailback Maurice Clarett to just 36 yards rushing and held the Buckeyes to only a pair of field goals in the half. However Ohio State's defense stymied Washington State throughout the game, intercepting Gesser twice and forcing the Cougars to surrender the ball on downs twice in Buckeye territory.

In the second half Clarett picked up 44 yards on his first rush and destroyed the Cougar defense with 194 second-half yards. His 230 yards rushing for the day was the 6th best in Buckeye history and just short of Archie Griffin's freshman record of 239. (Keels p. 28, Lindy's p. 26) He scored twice and Ohio State got a Nugent field goal and a safety to win convincingly. The following Tuesday, in his weekly luncheon with the media, Coach Jim Tressel revealed that Clarett had suffered a knee injury during the game, had already undergone arthroscopic surgery, and would miss the next game.

[edit] Ohio State 23, Cincinnati 19
1 2 3 4 Total
Buckeyes 0 7 7 9 23
Bearcats 9 3 7 0 19

The first of many nailbiters for Buckeye fans came September 21 against the 1-1 Cincinnati Bearcats as the team required an interception in the end zone by safety Will Allen with 32 seconds remaining to seal a 23-19 victory. Playing a rare road game against an Ohio opponent in Paul Brown Stadium, named for an illustrious former Buckeye head coach, 6th-ranked Ohio State played much of the game trailing the unranked Bearcats of Conference USA, who had narrowly lost by a field goal the previous week to West Virginia. UC put up more than 400 yards of offense, bombing the Buckeye defense with 52 passes, but was stymied by dropped passes and two 4th quarter interceptions.

Sophomore running back Lydell Ross, starting in place of the injured Clarett, rushed for 130 yards. Wide receiver Chris Gamble had practiced all week as a defensive back and was used on a 3rd down for UC from the Ohio State 29 in the 4th quarter, making an interception in the end zone. Craig Krenzel, who had scrambled for 64 yards on 14 carries in the first three games, scored the winning touchdown with less than 4 minutes to play, twisting and spinning through the Bearcat defenders for 6 yards. (Keels p. 35)

[edit] Ohio State 45, Indiana 17
1 2 3 4 Total
Hoosiers 0 10 0 7 17
Buckeyes 7 14 17 7 45

6th-ranked and undefeated Ohio State took care of business in opening the Big Ten schedule with a 45-17 win over the 2-2 Indiana Hoosiers. Maurice Clarett returned to play after 2 weeks recuperating from his knee surgery September 16 and scored three times in the first half while accruing 104 yards rushing. After leading only 21-10 at halftime, Ohio State blew open the game with three scores in the 3rd quarter to win decisively, totalling 244 yards of rushing and 461 overall.

Playing both defense and offense, Chris Gamble scored on a 43-yard reverse on the first drive of the 3rd quarter. Indiana had to punt on the ensuing possession and safety Dustin Fox blocked the kick. Ohio State took over at the Indiana 18 and scored on a short pass from Krenzel to Michael Jenkins to take a 35-10 lead.

[edit] Ohio State 27, Northwestern 16
1 2 3 4 Total
Buckeyes 0 14 10 3 27
Wildcats 6 3 7 0 16

The next week, on the road against the Northwestern Wildcats, which entered the game with a 2-3 record and 0-1 in conference play, Ohio State played a night game in Evanston, Illinois, in accordance with a scheduling agreement between the Big Ten and ESPN (Keels, p.41). The game was again unusually close, with Clarett fumbling three times and caught by the TV cameras arguing with running backs coach Tim Spencer on the sidelines (Keels, p. 42), but he also carried the ball for 140 yards and two scores as Ohio State prevailed 27-16.

Northwestern had a 6-0 lead after the 1st quarter but had had two drives stopped inside the Ohio State ten yard line. They later missed a pair of field goal attempts before scoring a touchdown with less than 2 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter to narrow the Buckeye lead to 24-16. Ohio State replied with a long drive and a field goal by Mike Nugent, then used an interception by Cie Grant and a fumble recovery by Donnie Nickey to keep Northwestern at bay.

[edit] Ohio State 50, San Jose State 7
1 2 3 4 Total
Spartans 0 7 0 0 7
Buckeyes 7 17 17 9 50

Ohio State for the second season in a row played a non-conference West Coast team at mid-season, hosting the San Jose State Spartans for Homecoming on October 12. San Jose State had attempted to cancel the game because its schedule featured seven road games in an 8-week span, but was unable to find a replacement team for the Buckeye home date. The Spartans, 4-2, had already defeated Illinois, had a three-game winning streak, and entered the game with a defense that led Division I-A in taking the ball away from its opponents. The game started slowly and was tied 7-7 early in the 2nd quarter.

The Buckeye defense, however, held SJS to 265 yards of offense, all of it passing yardage, despite the Spartans completing 81.8% of their 44 passes. (Lindy's, p.42) The offense ran up 567 yards, a season-high, with Krenzel and backup Scott McMullen combining for 355 yards passing on only 19 completions. Krenzel threw for three touchdowns to break the game open in the 3rd quarter, Clarett rushed for 132 yards and scored three times, and Mike Nugent connected on three field goals, tying the school record for 15 straight without a miss.

[edit] Ohio State 19, Wisconsin 14
1 2 3 4 Total
Buckeyes 10 3 0 6 19
Badgers 7 7 0 0 14

Ohio State faced its next big test on the road October 19, in Madison, Wisconsin, taking on the Wisconsin Badgers in one of the most hostile stadiums in the nation. Ranked fourth now, Ohio State faced a Badger team that had opened its season 5-0, but had lost its first two conference games, and 7 of its last 9 conference games at home, and was playing without its top wide receiver, Lee Evans. Animosity simmered in both teams as each had resented the other dancing on their logos after road wins in the immediately preceding years. (Keels p. 46)

Ohio State scored on its first possession with a long pass from Krenzel to Jenkins, but by halftime Wisconsin led, 14-13, on two long plays in each quarter. The 3rd quarter was scoreless, but midway through the 4th, on a 3rd and 6 from its own 16, Krenzel delivered a high pass 45 yards to Michael Jenkins, who out-jumped two defenders to give the Buckeyes a first down in Wisconsin territory. Krenzel completed the drive with a short touchdown pass to tight end Ben Hartsock, and although a try for a 2-point conversion failed, the Buckeyes led 19-14.

Wide receiver Chris Gamble, who had played defensive back on key downs earlier in the season, was sent into the game when Wisconsin faced a 3-and-11 at the Buckeye 29-yard line. Gamble intercepted the next pass in the end zone to preserve the lead. Also a key player in the victory was punter Andy Groom, whose six punts averaged 50.2 yards, with a 4th quarter punt that went for 74 yards and another that was downed at the Wisconsin 1-yard line. Maurice Clarett rushed for 133 yards but suffered a shoulder stinger on his last carry, an injury that would severely limit his utility over the next four games.

[edit] Ohio State 13, Penn State 7
1 2 3 4 Total
Nittany Lions 7 0 0 0 7
Buckeyes 0 3 10 0 13

The following week, on October 26, the Buckeyes returned to Columbus to face Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions, ranked 17th in the AP, with a 5-2 overall record and a 1-2 conference record, its losses to Iowa and Michigan. The Ohio State offense struggled throughout the game, exemplified by Craig Krenzel losing a fumble at the Penn State one on Ohio State's first possession, but the defense held Penn State's offense to only seven points and a season-low 179 yards and 8 first downs (tying the Penn State school record for fewest first downs). Heisman Trophy finalist Larry Johnson was held to a season-low 66 yards rushing on 16 attempts.

The game featured Chris Gamble starting on both offense and defense (which had last occurred for Ohio State in 1963) and playing 89 of the game's 138 plays (51 on defense, 31 on offense, and 7 on punt returns). (Lindy's p. 50) After Krenzel's fumble, Gamble caught the Penn State defender from behind at the OSU 41, preventing a touchdown return, and two plays later A.J. Hawk ended the threat with his second interception of the year.

The key play of the game, however, came on the first series of the 3rd quarter with Penn State in possession and having the lead, 7-3. Gamble "jumped the route" of the Penn State receiver, intercepted the ball at the Nittany Lion 40, and returned it down the sideline for a touchdown, the only one scored by Ohio State in the game. In all the Buckeyes intercepted three passes, but controversy ensued near the end of the game when Gamble may have interfered with a Lion receiver but was not called for a penalty. (Lindy's, p. 50) Clarett played only the first series of the game before injuring his shoulder again and leaving the game.

Buckeye radio broadcaster Paul Keels, in his book recounting the season, noted that the fans in Ohio Stadium that day were unusually loud and supportive. (P. 53)

[edit] Ohio State 34, Minnesota 3
1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Gophers 3 0 0 0 3
Buckeyes 0 10 17 7 34

The team was far more dominant on November 2, posting an impressive 34-3 rout of the 19th-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers. Minnesota, at 7-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play, was a contender for the Big Ten title. The Gophers blocked a punt that led to the first score of the day, a field goal, but Ohio State's defense throttled the Minnesota rushing attack, which had been averaging 271 yards a game, (Lindy's, p. 54) holding it to 53 yards and the passing attack to 59, and Minnesota, despite starting its next two possessions at its 45, was unable to score further.

Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall, playing in place of the injured Clarett, rushed for 89 and 93 yards respectively, and Ross scored twice, and Ohio State scored 24 unanswered points in the 2nd half. Defensive linemen Darrion Scott, Simon Fraser, and David Thompson recorded 4 sacks and were instrumental in stopping the run.

[edit] Ohio State 10, Purdue 6
1 2 3 4 Total
Buckeyes 0 3 0 7 10
Boilermakers 3 0 0 3 6

On November 9, the 3rd-ranked Buckeyes, in an unexpectedly close game with the 4-5 Purdue Boilermakers (2-3 in Big Ten play), delivered one of the most thrilling moments in Ohio State football history. The offense had been stagnant the entire game, unable to run against the Purdue defense. Maurice Clarett, still hampered by the recurrence of his stinger injury in the Penn State game, carried the ball only 14 times for 52 yards. Krenzel had completed only 11 passes for 123 yards when Ohio State faced a 3rd and 14 from midfield, trailing 6-3 late in the fourth quarter. He scrambled in the passing pocket and completed a pass along the sideline to tight end Ben Hartsock but came up a yard short of a first down at the 37-yard line with 1:36 remaining in the game.

On fourth down, coach Jim Tressel opted against attempting a 54-yard field goal by Mike Nugent to tie the game, and in an uncharacteristically high-risk move, ran pass play "King Right 64 Y Shallow Swap" instead, whose first option was a short crossing pass ("shallow swap") to Hartsock (the "Y" receiver). Instead, Krenzel went deep to wide receiver Michael Jenkins, jostling with defensive back Antwaun Rogers. Jenkins caught the pass at the goal line and scored. After a Gamble interception of Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton stifled any comeback by the Boilermakers, the Buckeyes escaped West Lafayette with a victory, 10-6. From his call of the touchdown, ABC announcer Brent Musberger uttered a phrase that has gone down in Buckeye lore: "Holy Buckeye". (Buckeye Commentary - Holy Buckeye)

The Buckeye defense was equally stellar, limiting Purdue to a pair of field goals on four possessions inside the Ohio State 20, and an interception by middle linebacker Matt Wilhelm allowed Mike Nugent to kick a tying field goal as the clock ran out in the first half.

[edit] Ohio State 23, Illinois 16 (overtime)
1 2 3 4 OT Total
Buckeyes 6 0 7 3 7 23
Fighting Illini 0 3 10 3 0 16

The Buckeyes had risen in the polls to now rank 2nd, and concluded their season road games in Champaign, Illinois, taking on the 4-6 Illinois Fighting Illini. Illinois was 3-3 in conference play, and what seemed to be a mismatch proved to be yet another dangerously close game as the Illini kicked a field goal on the last play of the 4th quarter to come from behind to force overtime.

As it had on its earlier road games, Ohio State struggled offensively with an inconsistent running game minus Maurice Clarett. Illinois took the lead in the 3rd quarter, only to lose it on a 50-yard strike from Krenzel to Jenkins. The teams exchanged field goals before Illinois missed a 59-yard attempt with only 2 minutes left that appeared to settle the game, but the Illini forced a punt and tied the game as time expired in regulation play.

The overtime game was the first ever played by Ohio State, and on the opening possession the Buckeyes scored, with Krenzel scrambling from the pocket for 14 yards and Maurice Hall scoring on an 8-yard run up the middle. The Illini appeared to make two touchdown receptions in their possession but the first was out-of-bounds and the second a bobbled incompletion. Defensive lineman Tim Anderson knocked down the final attempt to keep the Buckeyes undefeated. (Lindy's p. 62: Keels, p. 74-75)

[edit] Ohio State 14, Michigan 9
1 2 3 4 Total
Wolverines 3 6 0 0 9
Buckeyes 7 0 0 7 14

The regular season finale against the Michigan Wolverines on November 23 logically became the most important of the regular season. Michigan was 9-2, a contender for the conference championship with a 6-1 record, and ranked 9th in the USA Today poll and 12th in the AP. (OSU athletic site, 2002-11-22 archive) The intensity of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry was increased by the stakes: a victory by the 12-0 Buckeyes would secure a spot for them in the BCS National Championship game. Michigan had ruined Ohio State attempts at undefeated regular seasons three times in the past decade (1993, 1995, 1996), and hoped to spoil yet another national title bid, while hoping to capture a share of the Big Ten crown if Iowa also lost.

The game was fittingly intense, with the Wolverines ahead or within striking distance of the Buckeyes for the entire game. Maurice Clarett, returning from injury, scored an early touchdown to put the team ahead 7-3, and the defense held Michigan to three first half field goals that included a crucial stop inside the Ohio State ten just before the half. Trailing 9-7 in the fourth quarter, Krenzel engineered a drive from the Michigan 43 with 8:30 remaining. After gaining a first down on a 4th down quarterback sneak, Krenzel completed a pass (and another play name went into Buckeye legend: Gun Switch Right Dart 59 X Skinny Wheel) (SI, p. 42) to Clarett swinging left out of the backfield ("wheel") while the wide receiver ran a post pattern to decoy the secondary ("X skinny") that resulted in a first down at the Michigan six Two plays later, with 4:55 to go, Maurice Hall took an option pitch from Krenzel and ran into the endzone from two yards out.

After a lost fumble with two minutes remaining, Michigan regained possession at its own 20 with only 50 seconds. They moved the ball, but the final pass attempt by Michigan quarterback John Navarre, with 0:01 left and long to the endzone, was intercepted by Will Allen.

With the victory, Ohio State finished the 2002 season by sharing the conference crown with the Iowa Hawkeyes, who also went undefeated in Big Ten play.

[edit] BCS national championship game

Main article: 2003 Fiesta Bowl

Following their defeat of Michigan, Ohio State faced the number one ranked and heavily favored (11.5 points) Miami Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl on January 3, 2003, selected that year as the championship game for the teams ranked first and second in the BCS ratings. The Hurricanes were attempting to win their second consecutive championship, winning the Rose Bowl in the previous season and winning 34 straight games in dominating fashion. Led by Heisman Trophy finalists quarterback Ken Dorsey and tailback Willis McGahee, Miami was favored by nearly two touchdowns over the offensively anemic Buckeyes.

The Hurricanes jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, quieting the largely scarlet and gray crowd. The second quarter, however, belonged to Ohio State, with a Mike Doss interception setting up a Craig Krenzel touchdown run which was followed by a Ken Dorsey fumble setting up the Buckeyes on the Miami 14. A Maurice Clarett touchdown run put Ohio State ahead 14-7 at halftime.

The Hurricanes stalled on their opening drive of the half, handing the ball over to Ohio State who drove inside the Miami ten yard line before Krenzel was intercepted by Sean Taylor, who was then stripped of the ball by Maurice Clarett on the return. The Buckeyes settled for a field goal and a ten point lead.

A Willis McGahee touchdown run brought the Hurricanes within 3 points by the beginning of the fourth quarter. On third down a catch by Chris Gamble was ruled incomplete due to his being out of bounds. Replays however seem to show that: 1) Gamble had his jersey grabbed on this play which could have resulted in pass interference call and a consequent Ohio first down. 2) Gamble appeared to land inbounds, again a first down. With a first down Ohio State would have been in a position to run the clock out and win the game without it going to overtime. Instead they had to punt and Groom punted the ball 44 yards. Todd Sievers kicked a field goal to send the game into overtime.

On their first possession in overtime, the Hurricanes scored a touchdown on a 7 yard pass to Kellen Winslow. Ohio State had no choice but to play for another overtime, with Krenzel completing a fourth and 14 pass to Michael Jenkins, giving Ohio State new life. On fourth and 3, a pass interference penalty was called by official Terry Porter on Miami defensive back Glenn Sharpe who held receiver Chris Gamble in the end zone. However the penalty was flagged after the play was completed and while Miami was celebrating an apparent victory, causing the call to become controversial. (Note: This play has been reviewed many times with sportcasters and fans offering different viewpoints, and potentially one of many reasons for College Football adding instant replay (although this would later not become a reviewable play) With a first-and-goal at the two, Krenzel scored three plays later on a one-yard touchdown run, sending the game into another overtime. Though initially shrouded in controversy, "The Call" has since been defended by sportswriters as a good one[1][2], was validated by the National Association of Sports Officials[3], and was selected by Referee Magazine as one of the "Best 18 Calls of All Time."[4]

Ohio State took the field again on offense, moving down the field quickly and capping the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run by Maurice Clarett. Miami began its second overtime possession with no options except to score a touchdown. Backup quarterback Derek Crudup, who came in for a play after Dorsey was shaken up, converted a fourth down pass to Winslow, which was followed by facemask and pass interference penalties against Ohio State that now gave Miami an identical first-and-goal situation at the two-yard line. The Hurricanes were stuffed on the first three plays, and pressure forced a desperation throw by Dorsey that fell incomplete in the endzone, ending the game with Ohio State as the 2002 football national champions.

[edit] 2002 player personnel

[edit] Depth chart
Edit
Offense
SE
Michael Jenkins
Drew Carter

LT LG C RG RT
Ivan Douglas Adrien Clarke Alex Stepanovich Bryce Bishop Shane Olivea
Rob Sims Mike Stafford Nick Mangold Scott Kuhnhein Mike Kne

TE
Ben Hartsock
Jason Caldwell

FL
Chris Gamble
Chris Vance

QB
Craig Krenzel
Scott McMullen

FB
Brandon Joe
Brandon Schnittker

RB
Maurice Clarett
Lydell Ross or Maurice Hall
Defense
BCB
Dustin Fox
Nate Salley

DE DT DT DE
Darrion Scott Tim Anderson Kenny Peterson Will Smith
Mike Kudla David Thompson Marcus Green Simon Fraser

FCB
Chris Gamble
E.J. Underwood
FS
Donnie Nickey
Will Allen

Will LB Middle LB Sam LB
Cie Grant Matt Wilhelm Robert Reynolds
A.J. Hawk Mike D'Andrea Bobby Carpenter

SS
Mike Doss
Tyler Everett

Special Teams

Position Name Backup
K Mike Nugent Jeremy Uhlenhake
P Andy Groom B.J. Sander
KR Maurice Hall Chris Gamble
PR Chris Gamble Mike Doss

Source: Athletic Department official site, 2002 football archive 12-10-02 depth chart

[edit] 2002 roster
Edit

Quarterbacks

* 9 Justin Zwick - Freshman
* 10 Troy Smith - Freshman
* 15 Scott McMullen - Redshirt Junior
* 16 Craig Krenzel - Redshirt Junior
* 18 Jim Otis- Redshirt Sophomore
* 24 Matt Trombitas - Redshirt Freshman

Running Backs

* 13 Maurice Clarett - Freshman
* 20 Roshawn Parker - Redshirt Sophomore
* 28 Maurice Hall - Sophomore
* 30 Lydell Ross - Sophomore
* 34 JaJa Riley - Redshirt Freshman
* 36 Michael DeMaria - Redshirt Sophomore

Fullbacks

* 33 Nate Stead - Redshirt Junior
* 38 Brandon Joe - Redshirt Sophomore
* 43 Brandon Schnittker - Redshirt Freshman
* 48 Jack Tucker - Redshirt Senior
* 49 John Adams - Redshirt Sophomore

Wide Receivers

* 3 Bam Childress - Redshirt Sophomore
* 4 Chris Vance - Senior
* 7 Chris Gamble - Sophomore
* 8 Drew Carter - Redshirt Junior
* 11 Mike Young - Redshirt Sophomore
* 12 Michael Jenkins - Junior
* 14 Angelo Chattams - Sophomore
* 17 Santonio Holmes - Freshman
* 23 Scott Petroff- Redshirt Junior
* 37 Jamal Luke - Redshirt Junior
* 82 Roy Hall - Freshman
* 84 John Hollins - Redshirt Sophomore
* 86 Maurice Lee - Redshirt Junior

Tight Ends

* 80 Ryan Hamby - Redshirt Freshman
* 81 R.J. Coleman - Freshman
* 83 Reggie Arden - Redshirt Freshman
* 87 Jason Caldwell - Redshirt Sophomore
* 88 Ben Hartsock - Redshirt Junior
* 96 David Andrews - Redshirt Sophomore



Offensive line

* 50 Michael Stafford - Redshirt Senior
* 51 Mike Bogart - Junior
* 52 Mike Kne - Junior
* 53 Ivan Douglas - Redshirt Junior
* 55 Nick Mangold - Freshman
* 59 John Conroy - Redshirt Freshman
* 61 Ben Nash - Redshirt Freshman
* 62 John McLaughlin - Redshirt Sophomore
* 63 Adrien Clarke - Redshirt Junior
* 64 Adam Olds - Redshirt Freshman
* 66 Doug Datish - Freshman
* 69 Andree Tyree - Redshirt Freshman
* 70 Scott Kuhnhein - Redshirt Senior
* 71 Shane Olivea - Junior
* 72 T.J. Downing - Freshman
* 73 Steve Winner - Redshirt Freshman
* 76 Alex Stepanovich - Junior
* 77 Rob Sims - Freshman
* 78 Bryce Bishop - Redshirt Junior
* 79 Ryan Cook - Redshirt Freshman


Defensive Line

* 54 Tim Anderson - Redshirt Junior
* 56 Darrion Scott - Junior
* 57 Mike Kudla - Freshman
* 65 Steve Graef - Redshirt Sophomore
* 74 Bryce Culver - Redshirt Sophomore
* 75 Simon Fraser - Sophomore
* 90 Quinn Pitcock - Freshman
* 92 Tim Schafer - Freshman
* 93 Will Smith - Junior
* 94 Marcus Green - Redshirt Freshman
* 95 David Thompson - Redshirt Senior
* 97 Kenny Peterson - Redshirt Senior
* 98 Joel Penton - Freshman
* 99 Jay Richardson - Freshman



Linebackers

* 5 Mike D'Andrea - Freshman
* 6 Cie Grant - Redshirt Senior
* 35 Matt Wilhelm - Senior
* 36 Pat O'Neill - Redshirt Junior
* 42 Bobby Carpenter - Freshman
* 44 Robert Reynolds - Junior
* 46 Fred Pagac Jr. - Redshirt Junior
* 47 A. J. Hawk - Freshman
* 58 Joe Bradley - Redshirt Freshman
* 89 Stan White Jr. - Freshman
* 91 Jason Bond - Redshirt Junior


Defensive backs

* 1 Bobby Britton - Junior
* 2 Mike Doss - Senior
* 3 Steven Moore - Redshirt Sophomore
* 4 Rob Harley - Sophomore
* 11 Richard McNutt - Redshirt Junior
* 13 Harlen Jacobs - Redshirt Sophomore
* 14 Antonio Smith - Freshman
* 17 Jermaine Guinyard - Redshirt Sophomore
* 19 LeAndre Boone - Redshirt Freshman
* 20 Chris Conwell - Senior
* 21 Nate Salley - Freshman
* 24 Mike Roberts- Freshman

* 25 Donnie Nickey - Redshirt Senior
* 26 Will Allen - Junior
* 32 Brandon Mitchell - Freshman
* 33 Tyler Everett - Freshman
* 37 Dustin Fox - Sophomore
* 41 Thomas Matthews - Redshirt Sophomore
* 49 E.J. Underwood - Freshman




Punters

* 18 Andy Groom - Redshirt Senior (also PK holder)
* 21 B.J. Sander - Redshirt Junior (also PK Holder)

Kickers

* 5 Jeremy Uhlenhake - Redshirt Senior
* 23 Josh Huston - Redshirt Sophomore (also punter)
* 85 Mike Nugent - Sophomore

Long Snappers

* 60 Kyle Andrews - Redshirt Sophomore
* 62 Jeremy Miller - Redshirt Junior
* 67 Kurt Wilhelm - Redshirt Sophomore

[edit] Coaching staff

* Jim Tressel - Head Coach - 2nd year
* Jim Bollman - Offensive Coordinator/Offensive line coach - 2nd year
* Mark Dantonio - Defensive Coordinator - 2nd year
* Joe Daniels - Quarterbacks/Receivers coach - 2nd year
* Mark Snyder - Linebackers coach - 2nd year
* Jim Heacock - Defensive line coach - 7th year
* Bill Conley - Recruiting Coordinator/Tight ends coach - 12th year
* Tim Spencer - Running backs coach - 1st year
* Luke Fickell - Special teams coordinator - 1st year
* Mel Tucker - Defensive backs coach - 1st year

[edit] Sources

1. ^ Dodd, Dennis. "Months later, 'Canes interference call looks right", CBS Sportsline, 16 July 2003.
2. ^ Clark, Kyle. "National championship complaints need to stop", The Daily Toreador, 16 January 2003.
3. ^ "SI column draws NASO ire", NASO Press Release, 10 January 2003.
4. ^ "Referee Lists Best Calls in Officiating History", Referee Press Release, 14 February 2007.

* Paul Keels (2003). Paul Keels' Tales from the Buckeyes Championship Season. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1582615394.
* Lindy Davis (2002), Lindy's Sports Annuals Presents National Champions!, DMD Publications, Birmingham, Alabama.
* Sandra Bailey, et.al. (2002), Sports Illustrated Presents Ohio State Buckeyes 2002: A Perfect Season (2002-12-18), Time Inc.
* Official site Ohio State Football

[show]
v ? d ? e
BCS National Champions
1998 Tennessee ? 1999 Florida State ? 2000 Oklahoma ? 2001 Miami ? 2002 Ohio State ? 2003 LSU ? 2004 USC ? 2005 Texas ? 2006 Florida
[show]
v ? d ? e
Ohio State Buckeyes football teams
All-time record 798?302?53 (.692)
Key Personnel Head Coach: Jim Tressel ? Offensive Coordinator: Jim Bollman ? Defensive Coordinator: Jim Heacock
2002 ? 2003 ? 2004 ? 2005 ? 2006 ? 2007 ? 2008
Rivalries : The Michigan Game ? Illinois-Illibuck Trophy ? Penn State
National championships (7) 1942 ? 1944 ? 1954 ? 1957 ? 1961? 1968 ? 2002
Big Ten championships (32) :1916 ? 1917 ? 1920 ? 1935 ? 1939 ? 1942 ? 1944 ? 1949 ? 1954 ? 1955 ? 1957 ? 1961 ? 1968 ? 1969 ? 1970 ? 1972 ? 1973 ? 1974 ? 1975 ? 1976 ? 1977 ? 1979 ? 1981 ? 1984 ? 1986 ? 1993 ? 1996 ? 1998 ? 2002 ? 2005 ? 2006 ? 2007
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football_team"

Categories: Ohio State Buckeyes football | NCAA Football National Champions
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History of Ohio State Buckeyes football
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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For general information about the team see Ohio State Buckeyes football

The history of Ohio State Buckeyes football covers 117 years through the 2006 season. The team has represented the Ohio State University in the Western Conference, its successor the Big Ten, and in the NCAA Division I. Its history parallels the development of college football as a major sport in the United States and demonstrates the status of the Buckeyes as one of its elites. Professionally written articles on Associated Content can be read here and here.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 1890-1912: Beginnings
o 1.1 1912: A watershed year
* 2 1913-1933: Conference, stadium, and "downtown coaches"
* 3 1934-1943: Francis Schmidt and Paul Brown
o 3.1 1942: First national championship
* 4 1944-1950: The graveyard of coaches
* 5 1951-1978: Woody Hayes
o 5.1 Early criticism and a national championship
o 5.2 NCAA probation, other difficulties, and a third national title
o 5.3 OSU's super sophomores
o 5.4 The Ten Year War
* 6 1979-1987: Earle Bruce
* 7 1988-2000: John Cooper
* 8 From 2001 to the present: Jim Tressel
* 9 See also
* 10 External links
* 11 References

[edit] 1890-1912: Beginnings

In the spring of 1890 the growing fever of the Walter Camp-style of football, formulated between 1880 and 1883 among colleges of the future Ivy League, reached Columbus, Ohio. George Cole, an undergraduate, is generally given credit for organizing the first intercollegiate team at Ohio State.[1] He persuaded Alexander S. Lilley to coach the squad and brought in a renowned Princeton fullback and soon-to-be coach of the Purdue Boilermakers, Knowlton L. "Snake" Ames,[2] to familiarize the team with fundamentals. The Buckeyes first game, played on Saturday, May 3, 1890, at Delaware, Ohio, against Ohio Wesleyan University, was a victory, but two other projected spring games could not be arranged.

Play resumed in November, with home games played at Recreation Park (near the current Schiller Park in south Columbus),[3] but Ohio State lost all three. The next year representatives met with counterparts from Adelbert, Denison, Buchtel, and Kenyon Colleges to agree to various terms and laid the groundwork for the informal "Big Six" conference of Ohio colleges.[4] Throughout its first decade nearly all of Ohio State's opponents were in-state teams.

Over the next eight years, under a number of coaches, the team played to a cumulative record of 31 wins, 39 losses, and 2 ties. Home games were moved to a field on campus at Neil and 11th Avenues, then in 1898 to University Field at High Street and Woodruff Avenue. Play was brutal and dangerous but continued to grow in popularity. The first game against Michigan, in Ann Arbor, was a 34-0 loss in 1897, a year that saw the low point in Buckeye football history with a 1-7-1 record.

In 1899 the university hired John Eckstorm away from Kenyon College. He brought professional coaching skills to the program and immediately won the Big Six for the first time by going undefeated, as well as beating Oberlin College after previous teams had gone 0-6. His second season was almost as successful, as the 8-1-1 record included a scoreless tie against Michigan. In 1901, however, center John Sigrist, a 27-year-old senior, was fatally injured in a game against Western Reserve and the continuation of intercollegiate football at Ohio State was in serious question. Although the school's athletic board backed away from a confrontation and let the team decide its future, a faculty resolution to cancel the season was not easily defeated and Eckstorm resigned.[5]

In 1902 the team won its first four games by a combined score of 86-0, then traveled to Ann Arbor and lost to the Wolverines?86-0. From that humiliation Fred Cornell, a freshman football player, wrote Carmen Ohio, which became the school's alma mater.[6] In 1906, yet another coaching change saw the hiring of Albert A. Herrnstein, the coach of Purdue, who had been a running back for Michigan and had scored six touchdowns against Ohio State in 1902. Herrnstein's four years were successful (although not against his former team) and also saw the first use of the forward pass by the Buckeyes.[7]

In 1908 the name of University Field was changed to Ohio Field, and although the team continued to prosper, continuing losses to Michigan, Case, and Oberlin saw the cycle of coaching changes continue. By the end of the 1912 season, Ohio State's 23rd, the team had had eleven coaches, sixteen coaching changes, and stood 126-72-17, having never beaten Michigan. Among the oddities occurring during its formative years, the Buckeyes won a game by forfeit (its only win in 1897, over Ohio Medical), lost one by forfeit (Penn State in 1912), and had a player play for both teams in one game (Bob Hager, loaned to Marietta College in 1898, a game which Marietta won).[8]

[edit] 1912: A watershed year

Football underwent a number of developments in 1912 that mark the year as a watershed point in Buckeye history. In the game itself, touchdowns were re-valued to the six points they are now. On April 6, the Western Conference approved Ohio State's application to join. The Bucks would play their first conference schedule in 1913 and be limited by its rules to just seven games a season. The price at the time was steep: Michigan had left the conference in 1906 and conference policy forbade playing the Wolverines.

The program itself was removed from the Department of Physical Education and made a part of the new Department of Athletics, an organization under faculty control, but a move which saw the hiring of full-time coaches with faculty status. The new football coach, John Richards, was also named the first Director of Athletics but resigned from both positions at the end of the football season. Lynn W. St. John, a medical student who had just been hired as business manager for OSU athletics, was named the second AD and served in that capacity for 35 years.

[edit] 1913-1933: Conference, stadium, and "downtown coaches"

Ohio State's entry into the Western Conference initially saw a reduction in the number of games played each season but otherwise continued success for the program, with their first three seasons' record 14-5-2 and finishes in conference standings of 6th, 4th, and 3rd place. Coach John Wilce brought a stability to the program not previously experienced, and in 1916 he also brought Charles W. "Chic" Harley, the first "triple threat" (runner, passer, and kicker), to the varsity team. The Buckeyes had their first undefeated-untied season in 1916, and repeated as conference champions in 1917, going 8-0-1. Harley left school for wartime service in the U.S. Army Air Service, and the Buckeyes saw an undefeated streak broken at 22 games as a result. Harley returned in 1919, named an All-American for the third time, but Ohio State finished second in the Western Conference when Illinois, in the season's last game, scored the only touchdown of the year against the Buckeyes, then kicked a field goal on the final play to win 9-7.[9] However 1919 also saw the first Buckeye victory over Michigan (which had re-joined the conference in 1917), 13-3 in Ann Arbor, the first of three straight wins against its rival.

Harley's exploits prompted both a new surge of popularity in Ohio State football and higher attendance figures, with the demand far outreaching the capacity of Ohio Field. Discussion of a new, larger facility at a location away from High Street had begun as early as 1913 but plans took shape when a horseshoe design was presented by alumnus Howard Dwight Smith ('07) in 1918 and a professionally-managed public fundraising drive begun in October 1920 that quickly pledged more than $1 million of the $1.34 million cost stipulated in the April 1921 construction contract. Ground was broken on August 3, 1921, and Ohio Stadium opened October 7, 1922.[10]

With the opening of the new stadium, however, Buckeye fortunes on the gridiron also turned sour. Ohio State had won its third Big Ten championship in 1920, losing its only game to California in the Rose Bowl, and a superb 1921 season had been marred by two inexplicable losses to Oberlin (the last Buckeye loss to an Ohio team) and to winless Illinois. The dedication game for Ohio Stadium was against Michigan, which became the first of six straight losses to the Wolverines, and the 1922 season the first of three losing seasons. The Buckeyes rebounded in 1926, losing only to Michigan as a result of a missed extra point with two minutes to play. The game was also notable in that more than 90,000 attended, a "standing room only" figure that exceeded stadium seating capacity by nearly forty per cent.

However Ohio State had otherwise unspectacular seasons and never finished higher than third place in the conference, going 28-21-6 in Wilce's final seven years as head coach. Criticism of Wilce was widespread, particularly from the "downtown coaches" (a term that came into usage in the 1920s to describe vocal businessmen and other influential supporters of the program), for both failing to win the conference and for the extended losing streak to Michigan. Wilce forestalled further criticism and possible removal by resigning on June 3, 1928, effective at the end of the upcoming season, to practice medicine. His sixteen years as coach had brought Ohio State to the forefront of intercollegiate football and his .695 winning percentage remains impressive.[11]

Wilce's assistant and former Buckeye letterman, Sam Willaman, was expected to inherit the head coaching position at the December meeting of the Athletic Board, but Athletic Director St. John refused to publicly commit the program to his succession. During 1928 there had been public speculation that Knute Rockne, famed coach of Notre Dame but enduring a mediocre season and stung by persistent criticisms of overemphasis of football at Notre Dame, might leave the Irish to take the position at Ohio State.[12] At least two sources[13][14] indicate that St. John and Rockne met in early January in New Orleans and that Rockne accepted the position at OSU contingent on his release by Notre Dame. Whether Rockne was merely trying to gain leverage for a new, larger stadium in South Bend and fewer road games, or whether he seriously contemplated coaching the Buckeyes will never be known, for history records that he was "unusually silent on the matter."[15]

Willaman, a reticent, methodical man, was then selected and completely overhauled the coaching staff. Among the new coaches hired were Don Miller, one of Notre Dame's famous "Four Horsemen", and Ernie Godfrey, who went on to coach at Ohio State for 33 years. Willaman's stint began auspiciously with three wins that included a victory over Michigan, but the team finished poorly with an overall 4-3-1, and although the 1930 team had a better record, it lost to its rival and still managed only a fourth place finish in the Big Ten. The situation grew worse in 1932 when an experienced Buckeye team disappointed expectations and the effects of the Great Depression significantly lowered attendance. The 1933 team lost only once, but it was to Michigan and again cost the Bucks a conference title. Heavily criticized within and without the university, Willaman resigned in January 1934 to become head coach at Western Reserve, hounded out of Columbus (according to Time Magazine) by the "downtown coaches".[16]

[edit] 1934-1943: Francis Schmidt and Paul Brown

In hiring Francis Schmidt in March 1934 to coach its football team, Ohio State moved an already "big-time" program to a higher level of competition. Schmidt was a well-established high-profile coach, having successfully coached Tulsa, Arkansas, and Texas Christian University, and he was both an appealingly eccentric personality and an acknowledged offensive innovator. His TCU teams had won two straight Southwest Conference championships and had only lost five times in five seasons. Schmidt's offensive schemes?which totaled more than 300 plays using seven formations predicated on speed, passing, trickery, and numerous laterals (a "wide-open" style called "razzle-dazzle")?were always changing. He did not neglect defensive play, either; his TCU teams had won 34 of their 47 victories by shutout. Schmidt was the first Buckeye football coach granted a multi-year contract.

Schmidt's 1934 squad opened the season with a 33-0 victory over Indiana, the initial shutout of the 25 registered during Schmidt's 56-game career at Ohio State. The first touchdown scored by a Schmidt team was a fake reverse that went for 78 yards, epitomizing his style. The Buckeyes won seven of their eight games in 1934, four by shutout (including a 34-0 defeat of Michigan, the first of 4 straight seasons in which the Buckeyes held the Wolverines scoreless), but finished second in the Big Ten to National Champion Minnesota. The only loss of 1934, to Illinois in an away game that honored Red Grange, resulted from a missed point after touchdown. A 76-0 rout of Ohio Wesleyan ended scheduling against other Ohio universities until 1992. (Its record against in-state college opponents through 1934 was 153?45?15.) Recognizing that he had been hired in part to beat Michigan, Schmidt's first four seasons saw victories over their archrival, all by shut-out, beginning with a 34-0 trouncing in 1934. Quarterback Tippy Dye became the first Buckeye signal caller to win three consecutive games over Michigan.

The 1935 squad also went 7-1 but were co-champions of the Big Ten with Minnesota. The sole loss was to Notre Dame, 18-13, in the first contest between the programs. Ohio State had dominated the first half in all aspects, leading 13-0, but did not gain a yard in the second half. Notre Dame took advantage of a serious player substitution mistake by Schmidt that by the rules of the day deprived the Buckeyes of their first string backfield in the last quarter, and also recovered a Buckeye fumble with less than a minute remaining in the game that set up the winning touchdown drive.

Schmidt's next three seasons were less successful, finishing second in the conference twice and just sixth in 1938. However in 1939 the Buckeyes won the Big Ten championship despite a final-game loss to Michigan; this has only occurred twice in the rivalry since, in 1982 and 2004, when Michigan won the Big Ten despite losing to Ohio State. Schmidt's popularity had been fading for a number of reasons,[17] including the mediocre showing in 1938, but the championship in 1939 and anticipation of an even better season in 1940 with 21 returning lettermen appeared to have secured his job. However the Buckeyes lost three games in a row for the first time under Schmidt, then were routed by Michigan and its senior Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon, 40-0, to drop to 4-4. Schmidt's entire coaching staff resigned in early December, followed by Schmidt on December 17, 1940, widely believed to avoid being fired. The Athletic Board accepted all six resignations that same day.

Immediately following the resignations, the Massillon, Ohio newspaper, The Independent, touted the coach of Massillon Washington High School's football team, Paul Brown, to succeed Schmidt. Brown's Tigers had just won their sixth straight state championship and had outscored opponents 477-6 while drawing an attendance of 116,000. An organized movement to hire Brown spread with the endorsement of his candidacy by numerous Ohio periodicals, and by a statewide letter-writing campaign orchestrated by the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association. The Athletic Department interviewed four candidates in a brief but intensive national selection process, and despite his having no previous experience coaching college football and being just 32 years of age, Brown was named head coach on January 14, 1941, with a 3-year contract.[18]

Brown immediately changed Ohio State's style of offense from the complex "razzle-dazzle" schemes of Schmidt to a power attack using the single-wing and T-formations, stressing precise play execution. He also hired a coaching staff of three former assistants from Massillon, two coaches he knew from rival high schools, and one member of Schmidt's deposed staff. Brown planned and organized his program in great detail, delegating to his assistant coaches and using highly-structured practices limited to 90 minutes duration to create a strong sense of team unity and identity.

The 1941 season was colored by the possibility of America's entry into the Second World War and ended just two weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor. In the opener against Missouri, the Tigers befuddled the Buckeyes with a new offensive formation, the Split-T, but failed to score on a number of drives, allowing Ohio State to escape with a 12-7 victory. The Buckeyes then defeated a West Coast school for the first time, stunning the USC Trojans 33-0 in the Los Angeles Coliseum. The remainder of its games were all close, losing only to Northwestern and tying Michigan. Northwestern was led by sophomore tailback Otto Graham, who so impressed Brown in dominating Ohio State that Brown later made him the centerpiece of his AAFC-NFL Cleveland Browns professional team. At 6-1-1 Ohio State tied Michigan for second place in the Big Ten.

[edit] 1942: First national championship

World War II immediately decimated the rosters of most college football teams. Ohio State lost 22 veteran players, 18 of them lettermen, of its 1941 team to graduation and military service, and fielded a team of 24 sophomores, 16 juniors, and 3 seniors, including tailback Les Horvath. The Big Ten allowed an expanded season of ten games and Ohio State added a game against military football teams to both the beginning and end of their schedule.

The initial five games all resulted in victories, including a blowout of a U.S. Army team from Fort Knox. Indiana, with a strong team, followed and Ohio State overcame a late Hoosier lead on a particularlly hot, humid afternoon for a narrow win. USC came into Ohio Stadium and was again beaten, 28-12, resulting in the Buckeyes being ranked first in the Associated Press poll.

On October 31 the Buckeyes traveled to Madison, Wisconsin, to play the Badgers. Wartime demands forced the team to travel on passenger cars that had been in storage when first-line equipment was diverted to the war effort, and to be housed on the 6th floor of a downtown hotel without elevators. The night before the game a massive attack of dysentery struck the team, attributed to the water in the hotel. The subsequent 17-7 loss to Wisconsin has gone down in the annals of Ohio State as the "bad-water game". The Buckeyes' only score came on a drive of 96 yards in the 3rd quarter and they dropped to 6th in the AP poll.

The Buckeyes decisively won the remainder of their games in 1942. Despite defeating Pitt by 40 points the Buckeyes dropped to 10th in the polls, but moved up five spots when they handily defeated Illinois in a game held in Cleveland. They then defeated 4th-ranked Michigan 21-7 before a Homecoming crowd of nearly 72,000 to win the Big Ten championship, passing for three touchdowns in a heavy rain and taking the ball away from the Wolverines five times. In their second extra game, the Buckeyes went on to trounce a U.S. Navy service team coached by Bernie Bierman and made up of former professional and college players. When Holy Cross stunned their rival, top-ranked Boston College, 55-12 and Georgia overwhelmed second-ranked Georgia Tech 34-0, the Buckeyes topped Georgia in the final poll to win its first national championship.

Brown had recruited what was reputedly the finest freshman team in Ohio history in 1942 but lost virtually all of them to military service. In 1943 Ohio State was handicapped when the school affiliated itself with the U.S. Army's ASTP officer training, which did not allow its trainees to participate in varsity sports, while schools such as Michigan and Purdue became part of the Navy's V-12 program, which did. Although the Big Ten promulgated a special wartime exemption in 1943 allowing freshmen to play varsity football, Ohio State found itself in competition against older and larger teams (both military and college) featuring players such as Elroy Hirsch. The 1943 "Baby Bucks" had only five returning players and one starter from the national champion team, six from the 1942 freshman team, and 33 17-year-old freshmen, going 3-6. Prominent on the 1942-44 teams was Bill Willis, the Buckeye's first African-American star, honored in 2007 along with Chic Harley and Archie Griffin as one of the three most important players in Buckeye football history.[19]

[edit] 1944-1950: The graveyard of coaches

Eligible for call-up into the military by the Selective Service, Paul Brown accepted a commission as a lieutenant (junior grade) in the United States Navy on April 12, 1944, and was assigned to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center at Chicago. Brown submitted the name of his assistant coach, Carroll Widdoes, to direct the team in his absence. Widdoes had been an assistant to Brown since 1934 and had turned down the prestigious head coach position at Washington High School to go with Brown to Ohio State. Though his only head coaching experience was at Massillon's Longfellow Junior High School, Widdoes was appointed acting head coach by the OSU Athletic Board on April 14.

The 1944 team fielded only thirteen upperclassmen and 31 freshmen, and lost standout halfback Dean Sensenbaugher to an appointment to West Point. However in August it received a tremendous boost when the U.S. Army's ASTP training program was discontinued at Ohio State and the Big Ten granted graduate student Les Horvath, discharged from ASTP, a fourth year of eligibility. Widdoes moved him to quarterback in the T formation and played him at tailback in the single wing in an otherwise freshman backfield, and as a result Ohio State went undefeated and untied. One of their victories was over Paul Brown's previously unbeaten Great Lakes Navy team, with Horvath scoring two of the Buckeyes' three final quarter touchdowns. The Buckeyes preserved their perfect season with a dramatic 4th quarter drive for a come-from-behind victory over Michigan. Ohio State finished second in the national rankings behind Army and Horvath became the first Buckeye to be awarded the Heisman Trophy.

The football program took an unexpected turn when Paul Brown, still in the Navy and with the war continuing, signed a contract on February 6, 1945, to coach what would become the Cleveland Browns of the professional All-America Football Conference. A week later Carroll Widdoes was made the official head coach of Ohio State. World War II ended by the time the 1945 season began and Widdoes integrated a number of returning military veterans into his team, and although the Buckeyes had a creditable year at 7-2, they were manhandled at home by Purdue and lost a tight game to Michigan, finishing third in the conference behind Indiana and Michigan. Despite having the highest two-year winning percentage of any Buckeye coach, Widdoes asked to return to an assistant's position, which was granted. A few years later he left Ohio State to take the head coach and athletic director's position at Ohio University.

Paul Bixler, an assistant coach, replaced Widdoes as head coach in 1946. Bixler had been hired away from Colgate in 1941 by Paul Brown, familiar with his work when Bixler was an assistant at Canton McKinley High School, and had never head-coached a team before taking over the Buckeyes. Although personable and detail-oriented, Bixler did not garner the respect of his players,[20] partly because he rarely played anyone but the starters,[21] and Ohio State endured a mediocre 4-3-2 season. The season ended with a humiliating 58-6 loss to Michigan. Bixler resigned and returned to Colgate to be its football head coach. Talk of Ohio State being a "graveyard of coaches" became commonplace, a reputation that lingered for decades.[22]

Wes Fesler became head coach with a five-year contract as the result of a collaborative selection process by retiring Athletic Director Lynn St. John and his successor, Dick Larkins. Fesler was an Ohio State alumnus and had been a star athlete, winning nine letters (three in football), had been a three-time All-American, and was Big Ten MVP in 1930. As head coach at Pittsburgh he had nearly beaten Ohio State in 1946 and seemed the best choice to bring stability back to the program.

Fesler employed a single wing offense with returning Dean Sensenbaugher at tailback and Joe Whisler at fullback, but two of his key veterans, Tommy James and Tony Adamle, had left school to play professional football and the Bucks had a dismal 2-6-1 record, shut out four times and scoring only 60 points the entire season. Finishing last in the Big Ten for the only time in team history, only an improbable win against Northwestern had kept the record from matching 1897's worst ever.

Trailing the Wildcats 6-0 and having already turned the ball over on downs with two minutes to play, Ohio State threw an interception on what was apparently the last play of the game, but a penalty gave the Buckeyes an extra play after time had expired. That too was stopped and again negated by penalty. The Bucks then tied the game on a pass, only to have the try for extra point blocked. Again a penalty negated the play, and on the fourth extra play of the game the Buckeyes made the conversion and won 7-6.

Although again hurt by players leaving to play pro football, Ohio State improved greatly in 1948, winning six games and losing three in a year when the Big Ten was an exceptionally strong conference.[23] In 1949 the Buckeyes overcame an early lopsided loss to Minnesota to go on to a successful season, due in great part to the play of sophomore Vic Janowicz. Tying Michigan in Ann Arbor to become Big Ten co-champions, Ohio State also received the Rose Bowl invitation, where they came from behind to defeat California.

1950 was thought to be a rebuilding year for Ohio State after 21 seniors on the 1949 team graduated but that team's sophomores were a very strong class, having been recruited in part by an alumni organization known as "The Front-Liners",[24] and Vic Janowicz was moved to quarterback. Fesler, rumored to be resigning because of pressures associated with the position and abuse of his family by anonymous critics, returned to coach the Buckeyes on a run for a national championship.

Fesler's 5-4-2 defense[25] while strong against the run, proved vulnerable to the pass, and an opening game matchup between Janowicz and SMU's Kyle Rote (the recipient and runner-up, respectively, for the 1950 Heisman Trophy) was lost when the Mustangs overcame a 17-point deficit with four touchdown passes. Fesler responded by playing Janowicz at halfback again, although he continued to be a serious passing threat to opposing teams, and Ohio State won six games in a row, most by wide margins, to move into the top ranking in the AP poll. However the season fell completely apart in the final two games when the Buckeyes turned the ball over seven times to lose to Illinois, and in a game infamously known to Ohio State fans as the "Snow Bowl", lost to Michigan 9-3 in a blizzard. The teams punted a combined 45 times and all the scoring?a Janowicz field goal and a safety and touchdown for Michigan?resulted from blocked punts. Fesler's decision to punt on third down with 47 seconds remaining in the first half, recovered for a touchdown by Michigan, was severely criticized.

Two weeks after the Snow Bowl, citing concerns about his health and family, Fesler resigned to go into real estate. Less than two months later, however, he was named head coach at Minnesota. Detractors of Ohio State in general and Woody Hayes in particular have cited Fesler as a victim of unremitting abuse by "big football" at Ohio State[26]but throughout the 1950 season speculation that Minnesota's Bernie Bierman would retire had repeatedly suggested that Fesler was a prime candidate for his replacement.[27]

[edit] 1951-1978: Woody Hayes

[edit] Early criticism and a national championship

The search for a coach to replace Wes Fesler was in some ways a replay of the talent search to replace Francis Schmidt: Paul Brown, even though he had become a successful coach on the professional level, was the immediate "favorite" and had a well-organized corps of supporters boosting his cause. As in 1940, the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association voiced their support for Brown early on.[28] However Brown had also alienated many Buckeye alumni by failing to return to the coaching position reserved for him at the end of World War II, and the athletics department by signing Buckeye players, Lou Groza chief among them, to professional contracts before their college eligibility had ended.

A unanimous vote of the board of trustees endorsed the choice of the selection committee and on February 18, 1951, named as head coach Wayne Woodrow Hayes, who had achieved success as head coach of both his alma mater Denison University and Miami of Ohio.[29] Hayes, ironically, had not been the committee's first choice. The head coach of Missouri, Don Faurot, had been offered and accepted the position a week earlier, but changed his mind two days later.[30] Going into his first season, Hayes thus did not enjoy widespread support among Ohio State's following.

Hayes had Janowicz returning for his senior year but he converted the Buckeye offense from single-wing to T-formation, limiting the tailback's effectiveness. He also instituted a demanding practice regimen and was both aggressive and vocal in enforcing it, alienating many players accustomed to Fesler's laid-back style. With the exception on a blowout of Iowa in mid-season, the 1951 Buckeyes were a low-scoring team that won 4, lost 3 (including a 7-0 loss to Michigan), and tied 2, leaving many to question the ability of the new coach. In 1952, however, Hayes continued his transformation of the team, playing Howard "Hopalong" Cassady as a freshman and installing a split-T offense. The Buckeyes nearly doubled their point production, improved to 6-3, and recorded their first victory over Michigan in eight years, 27-7. The 1953 team as expected to improve further but also finished 6-3 when they were shut out by Michigan, and critics called for the replacement of Hayes.

In 1954 (even with Cassady now a seasoned junior) the Buckeyes were picked to finish no higher than 5th in the Big Ten. Hayes, however, had hired Lyal Clark back from Minnesota, where he had gone with Fesler, to coach the Buckeye defense and that season no opponent scored more than two touchdowns on the Buckeyes, and seven of the ten were held to a touchdown or less. An 88-yard interception return by Cassady against second-ranked Wisconsin and a goal-line stand against Michigan propelled Ohio State to a perfect season that included a 20-7 victory over USC in the Rose Bowl. Woody Hayes won his first and the team's second national championship (which was shared with co-champions, UCLA).

In 1955 Hopalong Cassady won the Heisman Trophy, and the team again took the Big Ten championship with a 7-2 record, set an attendance record of 490,477, and won in Ann Arbor for the first time in 18 years with a 17-0 shutout in which Michigan crossed the 50-yard line only once, on a penalty. Ohio State passed only three times in the game; the sole reception was the only completion in the final three games of the year, leading to characterization of Hayes' style of offensive play as "three yards and a cloud of dust".

[edit] NCAA probation, other difficulties, and a third national title

In its issue of October 24, 1955, Sports Illustrated, through an article by Robert Shaplen, stated that Hayes had used money he received from his weekly television show to make small personal loans to financially-needy players on his team for expenses such as clothing and travel expenses, stating:

Once signed, a recruit can count on some financial help from Hayes if he is ?in need?. Woody insists that he never forks up for a luxury- another narrow line- but it?s certainly also true that he makes sure he won?t lose any valuable men by financial default.[31]

The article resulted in an immediate furor over possible violations of NCAA rules, although Hayes insisted that the loans were made with his own personal funds and were to be repaid, and in effect plead ignorance of the rules. The faculty council, followed by the Big Ten and the NCAA, conducted lengthy investigations which went beyond the scope of the original allegations, and on April 26, 1956, Big Ten Commissioner Kenneth "Tug" Wilson found Hayes and the program guilty of violations and placed it on a year's probation, making all Buckeye sports teams ineligible for play in NCAA tournaments.

The 1956 season became one of mixed results. The Buckeyes began the season strong with impressive wins over Nebraska and Stanford, and won their Big Ten opener for their eighth victory in a row. The next week they were upset, however, in Ohio Stadium by three-touchdown underdog Penn State, on a missed extra point (and Penn State had been scheduled only after Navy had canceled its game with Ohio State). Ohio State ran its conference game win streak to a record 17 with a victory over Indiana on November 10, but then lost back-to-back to Iowa and Michigan, both by shutouts and the first time a Hayes-coached team had lost 2 in a row. The Iowa game was marked by intemperate verbal exchanges between Iowa coach Forest Evashevski and Hayes over the condition of the field in Iowa Stadium, allegedly unmowed to slow down the Buckeyes. Iowa won the game, the Big Ten championship, and the Rose Bowl that followed.

In 1957 four Big Ten teams were picked in pre-season polls to finish in the Top 10, but Ohio State was not one of them, and in their opener, the Buckeyes lost to TCU, their third defeat in a row. For the only time in its history, however, the team won all of its remaining games after an opening loss to claim the Big Ten championship, win the Rose Bowl over Oregon, and share a national championship with title with Auburn. Hayes was also named Coach of the Year.

Perhaps the most noted game during the season was the rematch with Iowa, which entered the game undefeated, higher-ranked, and a six-point favorite. Ohio State had lost its starting halfback, Don Clark, to a leg injury the week before, and with the discord between the coaches well-publicized, the week leading up to the game took on the frenzy of Michigan Week. The game drew a then-record attendance in Ohio Stadium, including Vice-President of the United States Richard Nixon, and the Buckeyes beat Iowa 17-13 on a late 4th quarter drive featuring sophomore fullback Bob White. Nixon met Hayes after the game and the two became life-long friends.[31]

In the ensuing years the Buckeyes finished 3rd twice and 8th once--the first of his two losing seasons at Ohio State. In 1961 the team went undefeated to be named national champions by the FWAA but a growing conflict between academics and athletics over Ohio State's reputation as a "football school" came to a head when the faculty council voted on November 28 to decline the invitation to the Rose Bowl extended to the team (although they also voted to accept its share of the gate receipts). Nearly a year would pass before the council would rescind the decision, after much public protest and debate.[32]

Over the next 6 seasons Ohio State finished no higher than 2nd, and had a losing season in 1966, although it did beat Michigan four times. When it lost three of its first five games in 1967 (all at home), public speculation that Hayes would be replaced as coach grew to its highest point since 1953. Jack Park, author of the program's official history, states that decision to turn down the Rose Bowl had "strongly impaired...(Ohio State)'s recruiting within its own state".[33]

[edit] OSU's super sophomores

The Class of 1970 was one of the strongest to ever play for Ohio State, and might have won three consecutive undisputed national championships except for what may have been the bitterest loss in Buckeye history. In 1968 Hayes regularly played 13 members during their sophomore season (ten as starters), a practice he had once predicted would cost a loss per sophomore played.[34] While the 1968 team also returned a significant number of veteran players, particularly the offensive line, the Class of 1970 had such an impact on the season that they became known as the "super sophomores."

Ohio State opened the season with four wins at home, defeating SMU, Oregon, Purdue and Northwestern. The Big Ten opener matched them against the number one-ranked Boilermakers and although threatened three times in the first half, Purdue held Ohio State scoreless. In the 3rd quarter junior Ted Provost intercepted a pass, returning it for a touchdown, and after sophomore starting quarterback Rex Kern was injured, senior Bill Long, who had quarterbacked the team the previous two seasons, returned to score the decisive final touchdown in the 13-0 upset. The Buckeyes continued to an undefeated season that saw wins over four ranked teams (three in the top ten), a 50-14 rout of Michigan, and a Rose Bowl victory over the USC Trojans that resulted in the national championship.

The winning streak carried over to the 1969 season and reached 22 games as Ohio State traveled to Michigan. The Buckeyes had encountered little trouble disposing of every team on its schedule, unlike 1968 when a number of games had been closely contested, winning eight games by an average score of 46-9. Despite the fact that Michigan came into the game ranked twelfth and had outscored its four most recent opponents 178-22, the Buckeyes were 17-point favorites. Because of a "no-repeat" policy in the Big Ten regarding the Rose Bowl and guaranteed no worse than a co-championship of the conference, the number one-ranked Buckeyes were playing for a perfect record only. Michigan was directed by first-year coach Bo Schembechler, a former Hayes proteg?. Michigan shocked the Buckeyes and led 24-12 at the half, then totally shutdown the defending champions in the second half, intercepting six Buckeye passes. The 24-12 upset was one of the most significant in college football history, and arguably the greatest in the rivalry.

The super sophomores included three-year starters Rex Kern, Jack Tatum, Jim Stillwagon, John Brockington, Mike Sensibaugh, Jan White, Bruce Jankowski, Tim Anderson, Larry Zelina, Doug Adams, and Mark Debevc. Kern, Tatum, and Stillwagon have since been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

[edit] The Ten Year War
Coach Woody Hayes
Coach Woody Hayes

The 1969 loss to Michigan initiated what came to be known as "The Ten Year War," in which the rivalry, which pitted some of OSU?s and UM?s strongest teams ever, rose to the uppermost level of all sports and the competition between Schembechler and Hayes became legendary.[35] Four times between 1970 and 1975, Ohio State and Michigan were both ranked in the top five of the AP Poll before their matchup. The Wolverines entered every game during those years undefeated and won only once, a 10-7 victory in Ann Arbor on November 20, 1971.

Both teams used the annual game as motivation for entire seasons and after the initial win by Michigan, played dead even at four wins and a tie apiece. Hayes had the upper hand during the first part of the war, in which Ohio State won the conference championship and went to the Rose Bowl four straight years, while Michigan won the final three. It was also an era in which through television Ohio State football again came to the forefront of national attention.

Hayes set the tone in spring practice in 1970, placing a rug at the entrance to the Buckeye dressing room emblazoned with the words: "1969 MICH 24 OSU 12 ? 1970 MICH:__ OSU:__" as a constant reminder of their objective.[36] The "super sophomores", now seniors, used a strong fullback-oriented offense to smash their way through the season undefeated, struggling only with Purdue the week before the Michigan game. The return match in Columbus found both teams undefeated and untied, a "first" in the history of the rivalry, with Michigan ranked fourth and Ohio State fifth. Ohio State combined a powerful defense that held Michigan to only 37 yards rushing, a rushing offense employing two tight ends as blockers, and a 26-yard touchdown pass from Kern to Bruce Jankowski to win 20-9. The Buckeyes returned to the Rose Bowl to be upset by Stanford 27-17. The "super sophomores" had garnered a record of 27-2, the best winning percentage of any three-year period in team history, and won or shared the Big Ten title all three years. The National Football Foundation named Ohio State its national champion for 1970.

1971 was less successful than the preceding seasons, but the middle four years of the 10-year war saw the greatest success for Hayes against Michigan, although the teams fell short of repeating their 1968 national championship. Archie Griffin began his college football career in 1972, taking advantage of new NCAA eligibility rules that allowed freshmen to compete at the varsity level. In his second game, sent in against North Carolina late in the first quarter, Griffin set a new Buckeye rushing record with 239 yards and led the team in rushing for the season with 867.

The following season Hayes installed an I-formation attack with Griffin at tailback and fellow sophomore Cornelius Greene at quarterback. The Buckeyes went undefeated with a powerful offense and equally impenetrable defense, achieving an average margin of victory of 31 points a game. The only blemish on their record was a 10-10 tie with Michigan after both teams had entered the game unbeaten. (The tie was more galling for the Wolverines, however, as the Big Ten selected Ohio State to represent the conference in the Rose Bowl.) Despite soundly defeating defending national champion USC, however, the tie with Michigan resulted in the Buckeyes finishing second to Notre Dame in the final AP rankings. Griffin, Randy Gradishar, Van DeCree, and John Hicks were named All-Americans; Hicks, an offensive tackle, not only won both the Outland and Lombardi Trophies, but placed second in the Heisman Trophy competition.

1974 and 1975 were seasons of both elation and frustration. The Buckeyes twice more defeated Michigan and went to two Rose Bowls, but lost both. The 1974 team seemed bound for another national championship when it was derailed by a loss to unranked Michigan State (Ohio State lost only twice in the regular season during Griffin's 4-year career, both to the Spartans), and the next year the #1-ranked Bucks lost 23-10 to 11th-ranked UCLA in the 1976 Rose Bowl. In all the Buckeyes were 40-5-1 from 1972-75, winning the Big Ten all four years and never losing to Michigan, but each loss and the tie were crucial in failing to win another championship. Archie Griffin, however, received the Heisman Trophy for both years, off-setting much of the frustration, and amassed 5,589 yards in his career.

The falloff in success of Hayes last three years was not great?team records of 9-2-1, 9-3, and 7-4-1, and bowl appearances in all three years (the rules had changed to allow appearances in other than the Rose Bowl)?but frustrations in losing all three years to Michigan, among other factors, resulted in growing criticism of Hayes and his methods, particularly his on-the-field fits of temper. Even so his downfall was sudden and shocking when near the end of the nationally-televised Gator Bowl, Hayes punched Clemson middle guard Charlie Bauman in frustration after Bauman intercepted a pass to kill Ohio State's last chance to win. Hayes was fired after the game by Ohio State president Harold Enarson and athletic director Hugh Hindman.

[edit] 1979-1987: Earle Bruce

Hayes was replaced by a former proteg?, Earle Bruce. Bruce inherited a strong team led by sophomore quarterback Art Schlichter but that had also lost eleven starters, and the 1979 squad exceeded pre-season expectations, ending the 3-year loss drought against Michigan and going to the Rose Bowl with an opportunity once again to be national champions. The Buckeyes lost both by a single point, 17-16, but Bruce was named Coach of the Year. His success was hailed by those in the media who saw it as a rebuke of Hayes and the start of a "new era".[37]

1980, however, saw the start of a trend that eventually brought criticism to Bruce, when Ohio State finished with a 9-3 record, the first of six consecutive years at 9-3. Though each of these seasons, and the 10-3 season that followed them, culminated in a bowl game, Ohio State did not appear to be any closer to a national championship than during the end of the Hayes era. Bruce's teams were not without impact players, however. All-Americans and future National Football League stars included Keith Byars, Cris Carter, Chris Spielman, John Frank, Jim Lachey, Tom Tupa, Marcus Marek, and Pepper Johnson. His program was also known for the number of notable assistant coaches on staff, including Jim Tressel, Glen Mason, Pete Carroll, Nick Saban, Urban Meyer and Dom Capers.

The 1980 team was selected as the top-ranked team of the pre-season AP poll and opened the season with four games at home, but were shocked in the fourth game by UCLA, shut out 17-0. The team rebounded to win its next six easily, but then were shut down by a ball-control Michigan team that allowed the Buckeyes only 23 minutes with the ball, then lost again to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl.

In 1981, Ohio State opened strong, including a victory at Stanford in which senior Art Schlichter out-dueled John Elway, but then lost back-to-back games to Florida State and Wisconsin (their first victory over the Buckeyes in 22 games). The Buckeyes continued to struggle on defense, losing a third time, at Minnesota. Victories over Michigan to gain a share of the Big Ten championship and over Navy in the Liberty Bowl salvaged the season.

For the first time since 1922 the Buckeyes lost three in a row in Ohio Stadium in 1982, including rematches with Stanford and Florida State, and for the second year in a row to Wisconsin, but then won seven straight, the last over BYU in the Holiday Bowl. Sophomore running back Keith Byars had a stand-out season in 1983, rushing for 1,199 yards, and Ohio State defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, but three losses in conference meant a 4th-place finish. 1984 witnessed what Bruce called "the greatest comeback after the worst start" when Ohio State fell behind Illinois 24-0 at home but roared back on 274 yards rushing and five touchdowns by Byars to win 45-38. Ohio State also defeated Michigan to win an outright Big Ten championship. Byars led the nation in rushing and scoring but finished second in Heisman balloting.

Byars broke his toe just prior to the start of the 1985 season, ending his Heisman hopes and seriously handicapping the Buckeye attack. He returned against Purdue with Ohio State at 4-1 and scored twice, but then re-injured his foot the next week against Minnesota. Iowa was top-ranked nationally when they came into Ohio Stadium favored to end the longest home winning streak in the country, and were the first #1 team the Buckeyes faced since Purdue in 1968. Ohio State's defense dominated with four pass interceptions to win 22-13.

In 1986 Bruce received a 3-year contract, the first for the modern program but the team opened with two losses, which had not occurred in over 90 years. The Buckeyes then won 9 in a row before Michigan took a close game when kicker Matt Frantz missed a field goal with a minute to play. After the season Bruce was offered the position of head coach at the University of Arizona with a 5-year contract but was persuaded to stay at his alma mater by Athletic Director Rick Bay. Hopes for a standout season in 1987 suffered a serious setback when All-American wide receiver Cris Carter was dropped from the team for signing with an agent. Indiana defeated Ohio State for the first time since 1951, 31-10, in a game that came to be known as the "darkest day", and Ohio State lost three conference games in a row going into the Michigan game.

On the Monday of Michigan week, after a weekend of rumors and speculation, Ohio State President Edward Jennings fired Bruce but tried to keep the dismissal secret until after the end of the season. Bay, who had been instrumental in keeping Bruce at Ohio State, disregarded Jennings' orders and announced the firing and his own resignation in protest. Jennings made his own situation worse by refusing to give a reason for the firing and the circumstances have been the subject of controversy since.[38] The Buckeyes enjoyed an emotional come-from-behind victory over Michigan in Ann Arbor after the entire team wore headbands bearing the word "EARLE", then declined an invitation to play in the Sun Bowl.

[edit] 1988-2000: John Cooper

John Cooper was hired as the 21st football head coach at Ohio State before the end of 1987 and before he had coached his last game at Arizona State University. Cooper's coaching record at ASU and at Tulsa prior to that stood out among his credentials, as did a victory over Michigan in the 1987 Rose Bowl.

Cooper's thirteen years as Buckeye head coach are largely remembered in the litany of negative statistics associated with him: a notorious 2-10-1 record against Michigan, a 3-9 record in bowl games, a 5-year losing streak to Illinois to start his term and a 6-7 record overall, a 63-14 loss to Penn State in 1994, and a 28-24 loss to unranked Michigan State when the Buckeyes were the top-ranked team in the nation and en route to a national championship. However his record also has many positives: back-to-back victories over Notre Dame, two finishes second-ranked in the polls, and three Big Ten championships (albeit shared). Cooper also recruited 15 players who first-round draft picks in the National Football League.[39]

Both 1988 and 1989 began identically: an impressive season-opening win followed by an embarrassing loss to a highly-regarded team (Pitt and USC); a rebound win against two other highly-regarded programs (LSU and Boston College) followed by a loss to Illinois in the conference opener. However 1987 saw Ohio State lose its first three conference games and a close game at home against Michigan for a losing 4-6-1 record, its first in 22 years. In 1988 the Buckeyes won 6 consecutive Big Ten games before losing its last two to go 8-4. The most noteworthy victory occurred in Minneapolis when Ohio State overcame a 31-0 deficit to Minnesota to win 41-37.

1990 continued the pattern with a 2-win 2-loss start and an overall 7-4-1 record that included an embarrassing loss to Air Force in the Liberty Bowl. 1991 was 9-4, notable primarily as the season that sophomore running back Robert Smith quit the team. 1992, with senior Kirk Herbstreit at quarterback, was 8-3-1, but the losing string to Michigan was broken with a 13-13 tie. Persistent rumors that Cooper would resign or be fired were laid to rest when University President Gordon Gee announced he would be back in 1993.[40]

The next 6 seasons were very successful, winning ten or more games in 5 of the 6 and sharing the conference championship in three. Eddie George won the Heisman Trophy in 1995 after a tremendous senior season, Ohio State defeated Notre Dame in 1995 and 1996, and won half its bowl games. But in three seasons (1993, 1995, and 1996) the Buckeyes entered the Michigan game undefeated, with the possibility of a national championship in at least one, and lost all three to underdog Wolverine teams. Ohio State had won 62 games and lost only 12, but a third of those were to Michigan.

After renewing his contract and becoming a member of the "million dollar coaching club",[41] Cooper started sophomore Austin Moherman against the Miami Hurricanes in the nationally-televised "Kickoff Classic" and was soundly beaten. That presaged a mediocre season in which the Buckeyes finished 6-6, ending their successful 90's run. The 2000 team was more successful, going 8-4, but criticism of Cooper among fans had risen to a clamor again and touched on many areas of the program beyond specific game records. The negative publicity rose to a peak in the days leading up to Ohio State's matchup with South Carolina in the Outback Bowl, when wide receiver Reggie Germany was suspended for having a 0.0 GPA, team captain Matt Wilhelm publicly criticized fellow player Ken-Yon Rambo, and one Buckeye lineman sued another.[42]

In January 2001, the Ohio State University dismissed Cooper. His loss in the Outback Bowl to a team that had not even won a single game the year before was a factor in his subsequent firing, as was negative publicity regarding player behavior before and during the game. Other contributing factors included the record against Michigan (which was actually considered by most people to be the biggest reason for his firing), a reputation of inability to win "big games", the lack of a national championship, the perception of him as an outsider by many alumni, the poor bowl game record, and finally a perceived lack of discipline on the team.

[edit] From 2001 to the present: Jim Tressel

Ohio State quickly sought a replacement for Cooper before the 2001 recruiting season, and after a nationwide search hired Jim Tressel. With a winning tradition at Youngstown State (4 NCAA Division I-AA National Champions from 1986-2000) Tressel, formerly an assistant coach at Ohio State for Earle Bruce, was an Ohioan who was considered to be appreciative of the Buckeyes' football tradition. Although there were some doubts whether Tressel could repeat his earlier success at the Division 1A level, most fans and alumni met the coaching change with enthusiasm. The day of his hiring, Jim Tressel, speaking to fans and students at a Buckeye basketball game, made a prophetic implication that he would lead the Buckeyes to beat Michigan in Ann Arbor the following November.[43]

Tressel's first season was difficult as the Buckeyes went 7-5. At a university that was accustomed to experiencing fewer than 2 or 3 losses a season, 2001 was considered a disappointment until Tressel made good on his promise and did what his predecessor could not, beating Michigan in Ann Arbor. Even more impressive was the fact that Tressel gave the quarterback reins to untested sophomore Craig Krenzel after senior starter Steve Bellisari was suspended following a DWI arrest just prior to the Illinois game, a decision applauded as finally drawing the line on a program perceived as "getting out of hand".[44] Despite its average record, Ohio State elected to accept an invitation to the Outback Bowl for a rematch with South Carolina. Although Ohio State lost this game also, it was marked by a strong second half comeback and were a presentiment that 33 years of frustration at not winning a national championship were about to come to an immediate end.

While fans were optimistic about the chance for success of the 2002 team, most observers were surprised by the Ohio State's National Championship.[45][46] After good offensive performances against Texas Tech and Kent State, and the emergence of freshman Maurice Clarett as a standout running back, Ohio State used strong defense, ball-control play-calling, and field position tactics to win numerous close games, a style of play characterized as "Tresselball",[47] and disparaged by detractors as "the Luckeyes".[48] One of the most notable examples occurred against Purdue on November 9, when quarterback Craig Krenzel threw a 4th down touchdown pass to Michael Jenkins late in the game to win, on a play that has gone down in Buckeye lore as "Holy Buckeye," a phrase coined by ABC Television's Brent Musberger's during his call of the play. (Buckeye Commentary - Holy Buckeye)

A dramatic second-straight victory over Michigan propelled them into the BCS National Championship Game at the Fiesta Bowl, where they beat the Miami Hurricanes in two overtimes in one of the greatest championship games in college football history.[49][50]

Following their championship season, Tressel and the school administration became entangled in a major controversy over allegations of NCAA violations by tailback Maurice Clarett. Clarett accused Tressel of orchestrating a benefits system, including free cars, cash for no-work jobs, and improper academic assistance. However, the NCAA was unable to verify the claims due to a lack of evidence. Clarett left Ohio State and tried to apply to the NFL draft, but was unsuccessful.[citation needed] In 2004, however, Troy Smith's acceptance of $500 from former OSU booster Robert Q. Baker led to a 2-game suspension from the team, which continued into the 2005 season. The businessman was also sanctioned.[51][52]
Jim Tressel and team at halftime of the 2006 game at Texas.
Jim Tressel and team at halftime of the 2006 game at Texas.

Tressel's success continued with two additional Big Ten championships in 2005 and 2006 (the 2006 title outright) and a record through the 2006 regular season of 62-14. The 2005 team was characterized by slow development of the offense and early losses to Texas and Penn State, followed by an offensive explosion that saw the Buckeyes score 40 or more points in five consecutive games, the first time in the team's history. The Buckeyes again defeated Michigan in Ann Arbor and then Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.

However after posting a 12-0 regular season in 2006, and going wire-to-wire during the regular season as the top-ranked team to advance to the BCS National Championship game on January 8, 2007, the Buckeyes endured a shocking defeat to the Florida Gators, 41-14. In the spring of 2007, the NCAA released figures on the football program's Academic Progress Rate (APR) that showed an increase its score from the penalty cut-off point of 925 to 928.[53]

[edit] See also

* 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
* 2003 Fiesta Bowl
* 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
* 2007 BCS National Championship Game
* 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

[edit] External links

Buckeye birthplace Columbus Dispatch article on first Ohio State football game location

[edit] References

1. ^ Jack Park (2002). The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing LLC, p.10. ISBN 1-58261-006-1.
2. ^ Tiger Hall of Famers. Princeton Tiger Football. Retrieved on 3 Aug 2006. Ames also app. coached Northwestern in the same years
3. ^ Historical Society Dedicates Marker at Site of First OSU Home Football Game. TOSU Football Official Site. Retrieved on 21 Oct 2006.
4. ^ Park, p.13. This scheduling arrangement was not formalized.
5. ^ Park, p.28
6. ^ Carmen Ohio Centenniel. OSU Alumni Sarasota. Retrieved on 4 Aug 2006.
7. ^ Park, p. 37
8. ^ Park, p.20, 23, 50
9. ^ Park, p.74
10. ^ The Ohio Stadium Story. Football Ballparks. Retrieved on 9 Aug 2006.
11. ^ Park, p.112-115
12. ^ Ray Robinson (1999). Rockne of Notre Dame: The Making of a Football Legend. Oxford University Press, p. 215. ISBN 0-19-510549-4.
13. ^ My Home Course, by Tom MacWood. Golf Club Atlas.com. Retrieved on 10 Aug 2006.
14. ^ Park, p.118
15. ^ Robinson, p. 216
16. ^ Ins & Outs, 12 Feb 1934. Time Magazine. Retrieved on 11 Aug 2006.
17. ^ Park, p.166. Schmidt's faults were deemed to be a dictatorial demeanor, excessively long practice sessions, and a penchant for profanity
18. ^ The Columbus Evening Dispatch, January 14, 1941, Vol. 70, No. 198
19. ^ In the renovated Woody Hayes Athletic Center, the three are commemorated by a hallway display at the entrance to the media center.
20. ^ Jim Tressel (2003). "Bob Brugge 1944, 1946-47", in Jeff Snook: What It Means To Be A Buckeye. Triumph Books, p.16. ISBN 1-57243-602-6.
21. ^ Snook, "Howard Teifke", p.30
22. ^ 2006 Team previews- Ohio State. SI.com. Retrieved on 20 Aug 2006.
23. ^ Park, p. 249. Michigan was national champion in 1948.
24. ^ Park, p.251, and Vare, p.71
25. ^ 5 linemen, 4 linebackers, and 2 defensive backs
26. ^ Robert Vare (1974). Buckeye: A Study of Coach Woody Hayes and the Ohio State Football Machine. Harper's Magazine Press, p.72. ISBN 0-06-129150-1.
27. ^ Park, p.265, 269, 273
28. ^ Vare, p. 73
29. ^ ibid.p. 76. Dick Larkins, the Athletic Director, and Jack Fullen, executive secretary of the alumni association, were Brown's main opponents
30. ^ Park, p.276
31. ^ a b #11?Iowa at Ohio State?November 11, 1957. The Buckeye 50 Yard Line. Retrieved on 2 Oct 2006.
32. ^ Park, pp. 340 and 342. Vare also looks at the episode in detail, albeit from an entirely one-sided viewpoint.
33. ^ Park, p. 371
34. ^ Park, p.371 The 13 were: QB Rex Kern, RB Leo Hayden, RB Larry Zelina, RB John Brockington, QB Ron Maciejowski, TE Jan White, WR Bruce Jankowski, MG Jim Stillwagon, DE Mark Debevc, LB Doug Adams, CB Jack Tatum, S Mike Sensibaugh, and DB Tim Anderson.
35. ^ UM-OSU more than just a game. ESPN. Retrieved on 13 Oct 2006.
36. ^ Park, p.391. Park has a picture of the rug.
37. ^ Making 'Em Forget Woody. Time Magazine. Retrieved on 11 Dec 2006.
38. ^ Park, pp. 537-538
39. ^ John Cooper Profile. TOSU Football Official Site. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006.
40. ^ Cooper Will Be Back. New York Times. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006.
41. ^ Coach Joining $1 Million Club. New York Times. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006.
42. ^ Getting a Little Payback. CNN-Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006.
43. ^ Tressel Eyes Finally Bucking the Wolverines. The Michigan Daily. Retrieved on 11 Dec 2006.
44. ^ Booze not Boos led to Bellisari's Demise. The Lantern. Retrieved on 11 Dec 2006.
45. ^ BCS National Title Game Bowl preview. Covers.com. Retrieved on 13 Jan 2007.
46. ^ Paul Keels (2003). "Chapter 1 Expectations", Paul Keels Tales from the Buckeyes' Championship Season. Sports Publishing LLC, P.6, 12. ISBN 1-58261-539-X. The Big Ten media day sessions picked Ohio State to finish 2nd in the conference
47. ^ Tresselball just keeps winning. ESPN. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006.
48. ^ Ohio State must shake Luckeyes image. Akron Beacon-Journal. Retrieved on 19 Dec 2006. Chosen at random to find media source. Google "Luckeyes" for 4560 hits.
49. ^ In first OT national title game, Buckeyes prevail. ESPN. Retrieved on 13 Jan 2007.
50. ^ This title game trumps the rest. ESPN. Retrieved on 13 Jan 2007.
51. ^ NCC finds nine violations. ESPN. Retrieved on 14 Jan 2006.
52. ^ Athletic department will sanction businessman. ESPN. Retrieved on 15 Jan 2007.
53. ^ Academic Progress Rate. Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved on 3 May 2007.


* Official site Ohio State Football
* Jack Park (2002). The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 1-58261-006-1.
* Jim Tressel (2003). in Jeff Snook: What It Means To Be A Buckeye. Triumph Books. ISBN 1-57243-602-6.
* Greenberg, S.; Ratermann, D. (2004). I Remember Woody. Triumph Books. ISBN 1572436743.
* Paul Keels (2003). Paul Keels' Tales from the Buckeyes Championship Season. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1582615394.
* Robert Vare (1974). Buckeye: A Study of Coach Woody Hayes and the Ohio State Football Machine. Harper's Magazine Press. ISBN 0-06-129150-1.

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2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
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2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Big 10 Champions
2008 BCS National Championship Game,
Conference Big Ten
Ranking
BCS #1
Coaches #1
AP #1
2007 Record 11-1 (7-1 Big Ten)
Head Coach Jim Tressel
Offensive Coordinator Jim Bollman
Offensive Scheme Multiple
Defensive Coordinator Jim Heacock
Base Defense 4-3

Home Stadium
Ohio Stadium (c. 101,568, Field Turf)
Seasons
? 2006
The Buckeyes kick off.
The Buckeyes kick off.

The 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team competed in football on behalf of the Ohio State University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel and played their home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Tressel led the Buckeyes to their fourth Big Ten championship and third National Title game in six years.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Previous season
* 2 Preseason
o 2.1 Watch lists
* 3 National Championship Game
* 4 Schedule
* 5 Players
o 5.1 Roster
* 6 Coaching staff
* 7 External links

[edit] Previous season

The 2006 Buckeyes squad finished the season as Big Ten Conference champions and ranked #2 in the final AP and Coaches' polls. They finished the regular season undefeated and advanced to the 2007 BCS National Championship Game where they lost to the Florida Gators, ending the season with a record of 12-1.

[edit] Preseason

On March 6, Coach Jim Tressel announced the hiring of Assistant Coach Taver Johnson. Johnson is a native of Cincinnati and a graduate of Wittenberg University. He had spent most of his coaching career at Miami University and had a very brief stint with the Oakland Raiders. Coach Johnson will replace Tim Beckman, who left Ohio State to become Defensive Coordinator at Oklahoma State University. Coach Johnson will coach the Cornerbacks.

[edit] Watch lists

Linebackers James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman along with defensive end Vernon Gholston are among the list of 65 players under consideration for the Bednarik Award while Chris "Beanie" Wells is on the 65-player list for the Maxwell Award.

[edit] National Championship Game

On January 7, 2008 the Buckeyes will play at the BCS National Championship game in New Orleans, Louisiana. This will be the first time in the school's history that the football team has played back to back National Championship games. The Buckeyes will play the Louisiana State University Tigers for the National Championship.

[edit] Schedule
Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result
September 1* 12:00 p.m. Youngstown State #10 Ohio Stadium ? Columbus, Ohio BTN W 38?6
September 8* 12:00 p.m. Akron #11 Ohio Stadium ? Columbus, Ohio BTN W 20?2
September 15* 3:30 p.m. at Washington #10 Husky Stadium ? Seattle, Washington ABC W 33?14
September 22 3:30 p.m. Northwestern #9 Ohio Stadium ? Columbus, Ohio ESPN (ABC in Ohio and Chicago) W 58?7
September 29 8:00 p.m. at Minnesota #8 H.H.H. Metrodome ? Minneapolis, Minnesota ESPN2 W 30?7
October 6 8:00 p.m. at #20 Purdue #4 Ross-Ade Stadium ? West Lafayette, Indiana ABC W 23?7
October 13* 12:00 p.m. Kent State #3 Ohio Stadium ? Columbus, Ohio BTN W 48?3
October 20? 3:30 p.m. Michigan State #1 Ohio Stadium ? Columbus, Ohio ABC W 24?17
October 27 8:00 p.m. at #25 Penn State #1 Beaver Stadium ? University Park, Pennsylvania ABC W 37?17
November 3 12:00 p.m. #19 Wisconsin #1 Ohio Stadium ? Columbus, Ohio BTN W 38-17
November 10 3:30 p.m. Illinois #1 Ohio Stadium ? Columbus, Ohio (Illibuck) ABC L 28?21
November 17 12:00 p.m. at #23 Michigan #7 Michigan Stadium ? Ann Arbor, Michigan (Michigan-Ohio State rivalry) ABC W 14-3
January 7* 7:00 p.m. #2 LSU #1 Louisiana Superdome ? New Orleans, Louisiana (BCS Championship) FOX
*Non-Conference Game. ?Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
Panoramic view of the Buckeye vs. Wildcats game
Panoramic view of the Buckeye vs. Wildcats game

[edit] Players

[edit] Roster

Wide Receivers

* 5 Dukes, Albert - Junior
* 9 Hartline, Brian - Sophomore
* 89 Hummel, Garrett - Freshman
* Jordan, Devin - Senior
* 18 Lisko, David - Junior
* 18 Lyons, Devon - Junior
* 86 Potokar, Dan - Sophomore
* 80 Robiskie, Brian - Junior
* 15 Ruhl, Kyle - Junior
* 12 Sanzenbacher, Dane - Freshman
* 4 Small, Ray - Sophomore
* 81 Ullery, Brent - Senior
* 19 Washington, Taurian

Offensive Lineman

* 68 Blankenship, Evan - Freshman
* 75 Boone, Alex- Junior
* 70 Browning, Bryant - Freshman
* 78 Dye, Daniel - Senior
* 65 Ebner, Doug - Junior
* 57 Malone, Chris - Sophomore
* 66 Moses, Andrew - Sophomore
* 76 Sika, Scott - Sophomore
* 79 Skinner, Jon - Junior
* 69 Slagle, Zach - Freshman
* 77 Smith, Connor - Freshman

Offensive Guard

* 67 Mitchum, Kyle - Junior
* 63 Person, Ben - Junior

Center

* 64 Cordle, Jim - Sophomore

Tight End

* 86 Ballard, Jake - Sophomore
* 46 Larson, J.D - Sophomore
* 82 Miller, Andy - Freshman
* 88 Nicol, Rory - Junior
* 87 Smith, Brandon - Junior

Quarterback

* 17 Boeckman, Todd- Junior
* 14 Bauserman, Joe - Freshman
* 7 Henton, Antonio - Freshman
* 13 Kacsandi, Ben - Junior
* 11 Schoenhoft, Rob - Sophomore



Running Back

* 46 Christian, K.C. - Freshman
* 35 DeLande, Bo - Freshman
* 33 Gantz, Joe - Sophomore
* 2 Herron, Daniel - Freshman
* 16 Robinson, Trever - Senior
* 3 Saine, Brandon - Freshman
* 28 Wells, Chris - Sophomore
* 34 Wells, Maurice - Junior
* 24 Williams, Marcus - Freshman

Fullback

* 49 Johnson, Dionte - Senior
* 43 Olson, Aram - Freshman
* 48 Smith, Spencer - Freshman
* 42 Whaley, Tyler - Senior

Defensive Lineman

* 92 Daly, Brett - Senior
* 92 Denlinger, Todd - Sophomore
* 50 Gholston, Vernon - Junior
* 90 Gray, Bryan - Sophomore
* 95 Rietschlin, Chris - Junior

Defensive Tackles

* 93 Abdallah, Nader - Junior
* 97 Heyward, Cameron - Freshman
* 72 Larimore, Dexter - Freshman

Defensive End

* 78 Barrow, Alex - Junior
* 57 Ingham, Tom - Sophomore
* 9 Rose, Robert - Freshman
* 98 Thomas, Solomon - Freshman
* 87 Wilson, Lawrence - Junior
* 84 Worthington, Doug - Sophomore

Cornerbacks

* 13 Amos, Andre - Sophomore
* 4 Coleman, Kurt - Sophomore
* 2 Jenkins, Malcolm - Junior
* 29 Lane, Shaun - Junior

Defensive Backs

* 5 Chekwa, Chimdi - Freshman
* 32 Clifford, Eugene - Freshman
* 36 Daniels, Matt - Junior
* 39 Dougherty, Michael - Junior
* 30 Evege, Donnie - Freshman
* 41 Haslam, De'Angelo - Senior
* 24 Schwartz, Grant - Freshman
* 11 Scott, James - Freshman
* 20 Washington, Donald - Sophomore
* 17 Willis, Zach - Junior



Linebackers

* 1 Freeman, Marcus Jr.
* 37 Gibson, Thaddeus - Freshman
* 6 Grant, Larry - Senior
* 7 Hines, Jermale - Freshman
* 51 Homan, Ross - Sophomore
* 44 Johnson, Mark - Freshman
* 33 Laurinaitis, James - Junior
* 59 Libby, Kyle - Freshman
* 49 Lukens, Ryan - Junior
* 26 Moeller, Tyler - Freshman
* 36 Rolle, Brian - Freshman
* 38 Spitler, Austin - Sophomore
* 55 Terry, Curtis - Senior

Safety

* 8 Gant, Aaron So.
* 3 O'Neal, Jamario Jr.
* 14 Oliver, Nate Fr.
* 23 Patterson, Nick Jr.
* 25 Pentello, Rocco Fr.
* 21 Russell, Anderson So.
* 10 Torrence, Devon Fr.

Long Snappers

* 52 Curtis, Don - Freshman
* 61 Haas, Jackson - Senior
* 53 Howe, Patrick - Freshman
* 56 Makridis, Dimitrios - Senior
* 96 McQuaide, Jake - Freshman

Kickers

* 12 Barclay, Devin - Freshman
* 39 Good, Andrew Jr.
* 41 Mattimoe, Matt - Sophomore
* 20 Pettrey, Aaron - Sophomore
* 85 Pretorius, Ryan Jr.

[edit] Coaching staff

* Jim Tressel - Head Coach
* Jim Bollman - Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line
* Jim Heacock - Defensive Coordinator
* Darrell Hazell - Asst. Head Coach/Wide Receivers
* Dick Tressel - Running Backs
* Joe Daniels - Quarterbacks

[edit] External links

* Ohio State Buckeyes Football official site

[hide]
v ? d ? e
Ohio State Buckeyes football teams
All-time record 798?302?53 (.692)
Key Personnel Head Coach: Jim Tressel ? Offensive Coordinator: Jim Bollman ? Defensive Coordinator: Jim Heacock
2002 ? 2003 ? 2004 ? 2005 ? 2006 ? 2007 ? 2008
Rivalries : The Michigan Game ? Illinois-Illibuck Trophy ? Penn State
National championships (7) 1942 ? 1944 ? 1954 ? 1957 ? 1961? 1968 ? 2002
Big Ten championships (32) :1916 ? 1917 ? 1920 ? 1935 ? 1939 ? 1942 ? 1944 ? 1949 ? 1954 ? 1955 ? 1957 ? 1961 ? 1968 ? 1969 ? 1970 ? 1972 ? 1973 ? 1974 ? 1975 ? 1976 ? 1977 ? 1979 ? 1981 ? 1984 ? 1986 ? 1993 ? 1996 ? 1998 ? 2002 ? 2005 ? 2006 ? 2007
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football_team"

Categories: Current sports events | 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season | Ohio State Buckeyes football
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Ohio State Buckeyes
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Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes athletic logo
University The Ohio State University
Conference Big Ten
NCAA Division I
Athletics director Gene Smith
Location Columbus, OH
Varsity teams 19 men and 20 women varsity teams
Football stadium Ohio Stadium
Basketball arena Jerome Schottenstein Center
Baseball stadium Bill Davis Stadium
Other arenas OSU Ice Arena
St. John Arena
Mascot Brutus Buckeye
Nickname Buckeyes

Shield
Fight song Across the Field and Buckeye Battle Cry
Colors Scarlet and Gray


Homepage The Ohio State Buckeyes Official Athletics Site - OhioStateBuckeyes.com

The Ohio State University's intercollegiate sports teams and players are called the "Buckeyes" (after the state tree, the Buckeye), and participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports. (The men's hockey program competes in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and its women's hockey program competes in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association). The school colors are scarlet and gray (see trivia note below). The mascot of OSU is Brutus Buckeye.

Ohio State is one of only three universities (Michigan and Cal being the others) to have won an NCAA national championship in baseball, basketball and football. Ohio State has also won national championships in men's swimming & diving, men's outdoor track & field, men's golf, men's gymnastics, men's fencing, co-ed fencing, and synchronized swimming.[1] Since the inception of the Athletic Director's Cup, Ohio State has finished in the top 25 each year, including top 6 finishes in three of the last five years.[2] During the 2005-2006 school year Ohio State became this first Big Ten team to win conference championships in football, men's basketball and women's basketball in the same season. They repeated this feat in the 2006-2007 season.

Outstanding sports figures that were student athletes at Ohio State include Jesse Owens (?The Buckeye Bullet?; track and field), John Havlicek, Jerry Lucas, and Katie Smith (basketball), Frank Howard (baseball), Jack Nicklaus (golf); and Chic Harley (three-time All-American football running back). Hall of Fame coaches at Ohio State have included Paul Brown and Woody Hayes in football, Fred Taylor in basketball, Larry Snyder in track and field, and Mike Peppe in swimming and diving. Notable sports figures in Ohio State history may be inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame.One of the winningest programs in NCAA collegiate history
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Football
* 2 Men's Basketball
* 3 Golf
* 4 Synchronized swimming
* 5 Olympians
* 6 Trivia
* 7 Pageantry
* 8 Notes

[edit] Football

Main article: Ohio State Buckeyes football
See also: 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

The Ohio State football team, which plays at Ohio Stadium (a.k.a. the Horseshoe or simply the 'Shoe'), won the 2002 college football national championship at the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. It was the seventh national championship for Ohio State, which also topped the nation in 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, and 1968. Although The Ohio State University does not recognize championships won in 1933, 1944, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, and 1998, various organizations awarded it the national championship, reaching a total of 14 titles.

Five former Ohio State head coaches have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame: Howard Jones, John Wilce, Francis Schmidt, Woody Hayes, and Earle Bruce. The coach perhaps most strongly associated with Ohio State football was the colorful and legendary Woody Hayes (1913-1987), who passionately taught players and students that a person succeeds in life through "outworking" the opposition.

The Buckeye's newest coach is Jim Tressel. Coach Tressel has helped lead the buckeyes to a bowl game in every season during his tenure including three National Title games.

The Buckeye football team boasts six Heisman trophy winners, including the only two-time winner Archie Griffin (in 1974 and 1975), Les Horvath (1944), Vic Janowicz (1950), Howard ?Hopalong? Cassady (1955), Eddie George (1995), and Troy Smith (2006). Ohio State is a part of the intense athletic Ohio State-Michigan Rivalry (particularly in football). The University of Michigan leads the historical series 57-40-6, but Ohio State is 6-1 in the game since Jim Tressel became its coach in 2001. The OSU/UM game has been called the greatest rivalry in sports by ESPN.[3]

Five Ohio State football players were drafted in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Three of them were defensive players, including two outside linebackers (A. J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter). Other Ohio State players drafted in the first round were strong safety Donte Whitner, wide receiver Santonio Holmes, and center Nick Mangold. Cornerback Ashton Youboty and inside linebacker Anthony Schlegel were drafted in the third round. Safety Nate Salley and offensive guard Rob Sims were selected in the fourth round.

Ohio State Players Selected In 2006 NFL Draft
Round Overall Pick # Team Player Position
1 5 Green Bay Packers A. J. Hawk Outside Linebacker
1 8 Buffalo Bills Donte Whitner Safety
1 18 Dallas Cowboys Bobby Carpenter Outside Linebacker
1 25 Pittsburgh Steelers Santonio Holmes Wide Receiver
1 29 New York Jets Nick Mangold Center
3 70 Buffalo Bills Ashton Youboty Cornerback
3 76 New York Jets Anthony Schlegel Inside Linebacker
4 121 Carolina Panthers Nate Salley Safety
4 128 Seattle Seahawks Rob Sims Guard

Ohio State players entered in the NFL Draft, but not selected, include defensive end Mike Kudla and placekicker Josh Huston. Mike Kudla was signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers and released in August.[4]

The Daily Oklahoman ranked Ohio State the number one school for running backs in the nation in a July 10, 2006 sports section article.

[edit] Men's Basketball

Main article: Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
See also: 2006-07 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team

The Ohio State men's basketball team has played in Ten NCAA Final Fours, winning the championship in 1960, when they were led by Basketball Hall of Famers Jerry Lucas, John Havlicek, and Bob Knight off the bench. Twenty-three times a Buckeye has been named first team All American including five two-time All Americans and one three-time All American. Between 1960 and 1964 Ohio State won five consecutive Big Ten championships, an achievement that has yet to be matched.

In 2004, Ohio State University fired men's basketball coach Jim O?Brien for recruiting violations and self-imposed a one year penalty, including a ban on post-season play and reduction of scholarships. In light of these University self-imposed penalties, the NCAA Division I Committee on infractions merely placed Ohio State University on three years probation for the violations, and gave heavier penalties to Coach O?Brien and a former assistant coach.[5] The lightness of this judgment was seen as encouragement for schools to be proactive in responding to violations. Nevertheless, O?Brien successfully sued Ohio State for improper termination. Thad Matta, the current coach of the Buckeyes, took over O'Brien's spot three years ago. Ohio State recruited such talents as Greg Oden, and Mike Conley, Jr. to start the 2006-2007 year. The Buckeyes finished the season with a 27-3 record; won the Big Ten tournament, and earned a number 1 seed for the NCAA tournament. After a very close game with state rival Xavier, and a thrilling 20 point come from behind victory against the Tennessee Volunteers, the Buckeyes managed to hold off Georgetown Hoyas 67-60 to reach the Championship Game for the first time since 1962, which they lost to defending NCAA champions Florida Gators, 84-75. The Buckeyes ended the 2006-2007 season with a record of 35-4.

[edit] Golf

Ohio State's two golf courses, the Scarlet and the Gray, were completed in 1938. The Scarlet was designed by architect Alister MacKenzie, who designed the Masters course at Augusta National. However, his original design was not implemented fully, and the greens were the only part of the course that truly resembled his designs. Golf magazines annually rate the Scarlet Course as one of the top collegiate courses in the nation. The Scarlet recently underwent a $4.2 million renovation under the supervision of Jack Nicklaus. Ohio State has won the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships in 1945 and 1979. Five times, Buckeye men have won the NCAA golf individual championship: John Lorms in 1945, Tom Nieporte in 1951, Rick Jones in 1956, Jack Nicklaus in 1961 and Clark Burroughs in 1985.

[edit] Synchronized swimming

Ohio State has been the best program in the first 30 years of national collegiate synchronized swimming competition. In the team event, Ohio State won 24 collegiate championships between 1977, the first year of the collegiate national championships, and 2004. Head coach Mary Jo Ruggieri (Olympic Coach,) led the team to 17 wins between 1977 and 1995, and Linda Lichter-Witter added seven more since 1996. Ohio State also has taken 61 individual honors in that span, including 11 by Karen and Sarah Josephson.

[edit] Olympians

Ohio State has produced over two hundred Olympic athletes, most notably Jesse Owens who won four Olympic gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and is often considered the greatest Olympian in history. In all, 48 Ohio State athletes have combined for a total of 77 Olympic medals which includes 33 gold, 28 silver and 16 bronze medals. Were Ohio State to be considered as a separate nation, it would rank 31st for all time medalists and 26th for all time gold medalists.[6]

[edit] Trivia
Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
Official logo sporting an inverse color scheme.

The Ohio State school colors of scarlet and gray were chosen by a committee of three students (Curtis C. Howard, Harwood R. Pool, and Alice Townshend) prior to the school's first graduation ceremony in 1878. The committee's original recommendation was to be orange and black. The committee soon discovered that Princeton already used the colors, however, and changed their recommendation.[7] For this reason some references claim that Ohio State's original school colors were orange and black. This claim is not quite accurate, in that the committee never filed the original report with that recommendation.

During the 2005 - 2006 academic year Ohio State became the first school in the Big Ten to be the conference champions in football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. This was repeated during the 2006 - 2007 academic year on February 25, 2007 when the men's basketball team defeated Wisconsin in the Big Ten's first 1 versus 2 basketball game.

[edit] Pageantry

Team Colors: Scarlet and Gray
Fight Songs: Across the Field, Buckeye Battle Cry (Hang on Sloopy also popular)
Nicknames: Buckeyes, ?The Bucks?
Mascot: Brutus Buckeye
Marching Band: The Ohio State University Marching Band, known as TBDBITL, or The Best Damn Band In The Land. Famous for "Script Ohio" and the "Ramp Entrance". The dotting of the "i" in "Script Ohio" by a sousaphone (tuba) player who high-kicks out and does a giant bow to the crowd was voted the #1 greatest sports tradition ever, in Athlon Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated.
Radio Network The Ohio State Buckeyes Radio Network; WBNS (AM) 1460 The Fan
Announcers Paul Keels (Play By Play); Jim Lachey (Color (football)); Marty Bannister (Sideline (football)); Ron Stokes (Color (basketball))

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Schools with the Most NCAA National Championships. NCAA. Retrieved on 2006-08-14.
2. ^ U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup Previous Scoring. Athletic Director's Cup. Retrieved on 2006-08-14.
3. ^ "The 10 greatest rivalries", ESPN.com, 2005-01-03. Retrieved on 2006-08-14.
4. ^ Steelers.com (2006-08-08). "Steelers waive OLB Kudla". Press release. Retrieved on 2006-08-14.Where is Huston though? Nobody knows.
5. ^ NCAA (2006-03-10). "Ohio State University and Former Men's Basketball Coaches Penalized for Infractions". Press release. Retrieved on 2006-08-14.
6. ^ See All-time Olympic Games medal count
7. ^ J. H. Galbraith, "Choosing the University Colors," The Ohio State University Monthly, Dec. 1914-Jan. 1915, pp. 11-13

[show]
v ? d ? e
Big Ten Conference
Illinois (Fighting Illini) ? Indiana (Hoosiers) ? Iowa (Hawkeyes) ? Michigan (Wolverines) ? Michigan State (Spartans) ? Minnesota (Golden Gophers)
? Northwestern (Wildcats) ? Ohio State (Buckeyes) ? Penn State (Nittany Lions) ? Purdue (Boilermakers) ? Wisconsin (Badgers)
Television Channel: Big Ten Network
[show]
v ? d ? e
Central Collegiate Hockey Association
Alaska Nanooks (Carlson Center) ? Bowling Green Falcons (BGSU Ice Arena) ? Ferris State Bulldogs (Ewigleben Arena) ? Lake Superior State Lakers (Taffy Abel Arena) ? Miami RedHawks (Goggin Ice Center) ? Michigan Wolverines (Yost Ice Arena) ? Michigan State Spartans (Munn Ice Arena) ? Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (Qwest Center Omaha) ? Northern Michigan Wildcats (Berry Events Center) ? Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Joyce Center Rink) ? Ohio State Buckeyes (Value City Arena) ? Western Michigan Broncos (Lawson Arena)
NCAA ? List of CCHA Tournament champions ? Joe Louis Arena (conference tourney site)
[show]
v ? d ? e
Western Collegiate Hockey Association
Men's: Alaska Anchorage Seawolves (Sullivan Arena) ? Colorado College Tigers (World Arena) ? Denver Pioneers (Magness Arena) ? Michigan Tech Huskies (John MacInnes Ice Arena) ? Minnesota Golden Gophers (Mariucci Arena) ? Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (Duluth Entertainment Convention Center) ? Minnesota State Mavericks (Alltel Center) ? North Dakota Fighting Sioux (Ralph Engelstad Arena) ? St. Cloud State Huskies (National Hockey Center) ? Wisconsin Badgers (Kohl Center)
Women's: Bemidji State Beavers (John S. Glas Field House) ? Minnesota Golden Gophers (Ridder Arena) ? Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (Duluth Entertainment Convention Center) ? Minnesota State Mavericks (Alltel Center) ? North Dakota Fighting Sioux (Ralph Engelstad Arena) ? Ohio State Buckeyes (OSU Ice Arena) ? St. Cloud State Huskies (National Hockey Center) ? Wisconsin Badgers (Kohl Center)
NCAA ? MacNaughton Cup ? Broadmoor Trophy ? List of champions: (Men's)/(Women's)
[show]
v ? d ? e
Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association
Shondell/Dunlap League: Ball State ? IPFW ? Lewis ? Loyola ? Mercyhurst ? Ohio State ? Quincy
Coleman League: Carthage ? Clarke ? Central State ? MSOE
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_State_Buckeyes"

Categories: Articles with trivia sections from September 2007 | Big Ten Conference | Central Collegiate Hockey Association | Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Conference | Ohio State Buckeyes athletics | Ohio State University | University and college sports clubs | Sports in Columbus, Ohio
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