INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS
"Just build a wall around it."
It was the prevailing plea during those lost, formative seasons early in the John Cooper era when Ohio talent was fleeing the state annually. Meanwhile, Coop's Buckeyes failed to reach even Earle Bruce's unacceptable nine-win ceiling once over his first five years.
Vonn Bell (TN), Joey Bosa (FL) & Eli Apple (NJ)
That quieted somewhat when double-digit winning seasons became normal again with Ohio State winning in Pasadena via Joe Germaine (Arizona) David Boston (Texas) Michael Wiley (California) among many, many other imports. The first Rose Bowl victory season in 23 years went down just months after the Heisman winner (Pennsylvania) and best tight end in the country (Texas) helped the Buckeyes break several school records.
There was no wall around Ohio. The Buckeyes compensated by finding talent everywhere.
Today they still win with the same national recruiting footprint. Ohio State just signed a bunch of players from 10 states other than Ohio - but to this day there remains an underlying fear about the ones that get away. It's a natural, anxious reaction.
Look at Michigan's roster at the peak of Cooper's rebuilding job: Lincoln Heights' Michael Taylor was the Wolverines' quarterback until Willoughby Hills' Elvis Grbac replaced him. They both handed off to Ashtabula's Jerrod Bunch (team captain!) and threw to Warren's Alfie Burch and Cleveland's Desmond Howard. Those guys killed Ohio State - and there were so many others.
The exodus occurred for a number of reasons, ranging from "grew up a Michigan fan" to "the well-respected local sports guy in Columbus went on television after the Illinois game in 1992 and point-blank said Cooper should be fired." That uneasiness helped send Westerville's Ki-Jana Carter to State College - and there were so many others. Ohio's greatest natural resource was being fleeced and then used against it.
Cooper's problem was the sharper edge of the same sword that helped him transform Ohio State football into the powerhouse it still is today: He just didn't
get Ohio, which helped him see the rest of the country a lot better. Meanwhile - and unfortunately - Bo Schembechler
totally got Ohio. Gary Moeller did as well.
There's no wall around Ohio. There never was, there never will be and Bo knew
exactly what he was up against. The Buckeyes went 5-1 against Michigan when Bo was coaching on Ohio State's sideline. He left Columbus with five Gold Pants. The only national championship ring he ever won had OHIO STATE engraved on it. He knew Ohio as well as Woody ever did.
Entire article:
http://www.elevenwarriors.com/colle.../2016/02/67891/invasion-of-the-body-snatchers
