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Greatest Buckeye Running Back

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Greatest Buckeye Running Back

  • Maurice Clarett

    Votes: 7 4.5%

  • Eddie George

    Votes: 19 12.3%

  • Archie Griffin

    Votes: 117 76.0%

  • Other

    Votes: 11 7.1%
  • Total voters
    154
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On this list, I chose Archie.

My favorite player as a youngster was Byars. #41 was my first jersey.

I was attending OSU while Eddie was running around people.

2 Heismans takes the cake.
 
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Archie is not only the greatest RB and arguably the greatest player (thank you, WW), but is also one of the greatest MEN to be affiliated with the football program and tOSU. A complete class act, and one of the most generous people I've ever met with his time.

And a Columbus native.

Archie.
 
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So why other? Well, 8 game seasons vs 12/14, varied defenses, frosh allowed/not allowed, overall quality of the Big 10 then vs now, guys who played 2 ways. Give me Harley. Guys who could only run, vs guys who ran, passed, AND kicked, give me Harley.
 
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cincibuck;2017628; said:
So why other? Well, 8 game seasons vs 12/14, varied defenses, frosh allowed/not allowed, overall quality of the Big 10 then vs now, guys who played 2 ways. Give me Harley. Guys who could only run, vs guys who ran, passed, AND kicked, give me Harley.
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Don't we make fun of Michigan fans for trying to make comparisons between totally different eras?

Guys who can only run? Give me a break.

Put Archie or pretty much any modern player back in 1916 and I'm confident they could dominate across the board in all facets of the game.
 
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My point would be that Hoppy, Harley, Janowicz and the other Heisman winner whose name eludes me, don't look as good as the modern era players. These Four were outstanding athletes on both sides of the ball, but they played in a shorter season so their stats don't glow with the same numbers.

Their absence in a list of "Greatest Running Back at OSU" diminishes the proud history of the program.

In the case of Harley, he may well be the reason OSU becomes the dominant program that it is -- just like the statue of Red Grange outside Memorial stadium tells you all you need to know about Illinois, and Fritz Crisler's "helmets with wangs" still serve as an icon for Michigan football.
 
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1) Never saw Archie play, but there's a reason the man is a legend. I've seen clips of him and he was by far one of the most nimble, effective RBs ever.

2) Ed-die. Ed-die.

3) Keith Byars

4) MoC - Small sample size.

5) Beanie Wells - Would have loved to have seen him running behind the line that Eddie had. That would be a whole 'nother discussion.
 
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I can't believe this thread is 3 pages long. The question is maybe the easiest to answer in the history of poll questions. People who didnt vote for Archie should never get to vote for anything ever again.
 
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Bestbuck36;2018492; said:
I can't believe this thread is 3 pages long. The question is maybe the easiest to answer in the history of poll questions. People who didnt vote for Archie should never get to vote for anything ever again.
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Mia culpa, mia maxima culpa. I shall prostrate myself at your feet that I might be worthy of hearing the truth and knowing it. Amen.
 
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LordJeffBuck;2015805; said:
This should be easy, but....


Maurice Clarett:
Eddie George:
Archie Griffin:
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WoodyWorshiper;2015862; said:
That at the point of this post that Archie has received only 74% of the vote is disturbing.

I mean really.

Seriously?

Peace
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MightbeaBuck;2015897; said:
...But you left out the guy that caused the 'Shoe to be built. While Archie was indeed great, he didn't cause a 50,000 seat addition to the stadium. Many fans came to see the Buckeyes win, but more came to see Harley run.

Chic Harley was a three time All American. Every single year he played. If being an All American every year they played would be a requirement, then both none of the guys you list would make the cut. If being All American for three years were a requirement, then Maurice and Eddie would be dropped from your list.

Back then players could only play varsity for three years. During Chic's three years, the Buckeyes only lost once (on the last play of the Illinois game, fwiw)

On the AP All Half Century Team, Harley was in the starting backfield. To put that in perspective, Red Grange was second team. Awesome players NOT making the team include Tom Harmon, Doc Blanchard (Mr. Inside), Glenn Davis (Mr. Outside), and Any Horseman from Notre Dame.

The coolest thing he did, per the record books anyway? He gave OSU their first victory over Michigan

Chic Harley did all this in split seasons. He was All American in 1916. Then he joined the Army for WWI, and was a fighter pilot. He then got out in time to play in 1918.

To this day he still has the Buckeye record for points per game over a three year or longer career.

...All that being said, I will go with Archie Griffin as the greatest, followed by Hopalong Cassidy and Keith Byars. :biggrin:
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Chic Harley is the best IMO and the reason I voted other.

Charles William "Chic" Harley (September 15, 1894 ? April 21, 1974) was one of the outstanding American football players of the first half of the 20th century and the player who first brought the Ohio State University football program to national attention. Harley was Ohio State's first consensus first-team All-America selection and first three-time All-America selection. In 1951, he became a charter inductee in the College Football Hall of Fame.
In 1941, James Thurber described Harley's running skills for the New York City newspaper, PM, "If you never saw him run with a football, we can't describe it to you. It wasn't like Red Grange or Tom Harmon or anybody else. It was kind of a cross between music and cannon fire, and it brought your heart up under your ears."[1]

The guy helped build the program, delivered our first Big 10 Championship and paved the way for Archie et al.

Lastly, the Heisman/DAC Trophy came around AFTER Harley played so to state that Archie winning two is reason he is the best isn't the end all since that measurable can't apply to all candidates.
 
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Buckeye86;2017640; said:
Don't we make fun of Michigan fans for trying to make comparisons between totally different eras?

Guys who can only run? Give me a break.

Put Archie or pretty much any modern player back in 1916 and I'm confident they could dominate across the board in all facets of the game.
Click to expand...

Put Beanie Wells against defenses from the 1970's and he might have won 3 Heisman trophies. Greatest doesn't necessarily mean you put them all on the same field in their prime and let them show their stuff. If that were the case those shouting Archie would look pretty foolish when he stood between Eddie and Beanie and became the small, slow and weak link in the running back chain.

OSU_D/;2018660; said:
Chic Harley is the best IMO and the reason I voted other.

Charles William "Chic" Harley (September 15, 1894 ? April 21, 1974) was one of the outstanding American football players of the first half of the 20th century and the player who first brought the Ohio State University football program to national attention. Harley was Ohio State's first consensus first-team All-America selection and first three-time All-America selection. In 1951, he became a charter inductee in the College Football Hall of Fame.
In 1941, James Thurber described Harley's running skills for the New York City newspaper, PM, "If you never saw him run with a football, we can't describe it to you. It wasn't like Red Grange or Tom Harmon or anybody else. It was kind of a cross between music and cannon fire, and it brought your heart up under your ears."[1]

The guy helped build the program, delivered our first Big 10 Championship and paved the way for Archie et al.

Lastly, the Heisman/DAC Trophy came around AFTER Harley played so to state that Archie winning two is reason he is the best isn't the end all since that measurable can't apply to all candidates.
Click to expand...

This. I'm surprised at the overwhelming support for Archie over those that came before him...probably speaks more to the demographics of the site than anything else.
 
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My heart will always be with Keith Byers because I felt he should have had two Heisman trophies (the Flutie pass and the broken foot still depress me) but I voted for Archie because, I remember watching him when I was a kid and really felt Archie was probably one of the best RB's in college - not just at tOSU. But I've got scarlet lenses on so what do I know?

I think about all my favorites have been mentioned so I'd like to give some other mentions :

How about Howard "Hopalong" Cassidy? Won a Heisman in '55. . . as a reminder he beat out Earl Morrell and Paul Hornung! Plus, he played defensive back and in 4 years a pass was never completed on him. I mean, honestly, if we're talking pure RB's it clearly goes to Archie but if we're talking about best tOSU players - Cassidy's name has to be mentioned.

Beanie was already mentioned, so much raw talent even today still, one of those guys that you just love to watch run. That 50-something yard run his freshman year against scUM will forever play in my mind when I think about him. :)

Tim Spencer was freaking amazing and he ranks 3rd in rushing yards at tOSU. It's a shame he always seems to be overlooked but, man, I remember thinking Tim could pretty much do it all.

The first time I saw Robert Smith run, I thought, oh my Lord, this guy could be the best RB to ever wear a tOSU uniform. He was truly phenomenal.

Clarett is just tragic. So much has been written and said but he won me over with his heart and that strip in the Championship game was the difference. That play defined that team, God I loved that team.

Honorable mentions - Raymont Harris, Antonio Pittman and Michael Wiley were three of my other favorites to watch.
 
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