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HB/S/P/PK "Chic" Harley (3x All-American, CFB HOF)

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RB07OSU said:
I had to do a little digging on the history, but the name Chic Harley was rattling around in my brain although none of us (even you @BB73 ) were alive when he played. I'm relying on several sources so correct me if I have any of this wrong, but he was a consensus 3x First Team All American that truly did it all starting in his freshman year as a halfback, safety, kicker and punter. He never came off the field from the second he hit campus.

He almost literally was the entire team in his first year (1916) and led OSU to an undefeated 7-0 season and our first conference championship. He followed it up with another conference championship in 1917 and another consensus AA, then consensus first-team AA again. Unfortunately in 1918 he had to take a year off...to be a pilot in WW1. He only lost 1 game in his entire career and could have been a 2-3 time Heisman winner if the award existed then. He also somehow lettered in baseball, basketball and track while he was at OSU. OSU was able to build a new stadium because of his success and of course led to "The House That Harley Built" because we could not fit in all the fans that wanted to see him play.

Freaking legend and he started it in his freshman year when football was basically becoming a more recognized sport, so in light of the time and what Harley did, my vote might be for him. Honestly I don't know how you can be more fundamental and iconic than that. I know a lot of what I said was not directly to the topic of the thread, but his freshman year was pretty epic for a 5'8 kid that was in a sport that was just getting its start. Lets at least throw his hat into the ring on the discussion.

Edit: Chic's first year was not technically his frosh year since frosh were not allowed to play varsity then. But considering that ridiculous restriction, I would count him as a true freshman. Apparently some said he was more like 5'7 150 lbs even though he was listed at 5'9 165. Unreal to play like that at either size tbh.
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I didn’t include Harley since freshmen weren’t allowed to play back then. Archie played as a frosh the very first year (1972) they became eligible.

One telling factor indicating Chic Harley’s greatness is that for the AP All-American team for the years 1900-1950, Harley and Jim Thorpe were the first team halfbacks, Red Grange was on the second team. Chic also picked off 4 passes in a game against TSUN, a single-game record that will probably stand forever.
 
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BB73 said:
I didn’t include Harley since freshmen weren’t allowed to play back then. Archie played as a frosh the very first year (1972) they became eligible.

One telling factor indicating Chic Harley’s greatness is that for the AP All-American team for the years 1900-1950, Harley and Jim Thorpe were the first team halfbacks, Red Grange was on the second team. Chic also picked off 4 passes in a game against TSUN, a single-game record that will probably stand forever.
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I figured Chic wasn't on your list for that reason. I just had to bring him up because it was such a different time, so maybe he was the best true freshman in that era. Can you imagine winning two AA's, going to war, then coming back for one more AA? That is the most badass thing I've ever read of any athlete, and certainly he did it well under 6 foot and 180 lbs. Pretty impressive.

4 picks is unreal, but against ttun? The stadium should legit be named after him.
 
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BB73 said:
I didn’t include Harley since freshmen weren’t allowed to play back then. Archie played as a frosh the very first year (1972) they became eligible.

One telling factor indicating Chic Harley’s greatness is that for the AP All-American team for the years 1900-1950, Harley and Jim Thorpe were the first team halfbacks, Red Grange was on the second team. Chic also picked off 4 passes in a game against TSUN, a single-game record that will probably stand forever.
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Another telling factor, as was mentioned earlier... the Shoe was built because of him.
 
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RB07OSU said:
Exactly why he is such a badass, that's unreal. The Shoe was built because of that man. Fluffin insane. He gets my solid vote for best true frosh. He built our program and stadium.
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I read a book on Harley years ago. I wish i could recall the name of it. I recommend looking into it tho. Was a quick read. Maybe 120 pages, if memory serves.

One of the Lighter Sides I wrote when we did game previews... illinois game, I'm certain... i think I mentioned the book. I certainly used the information learned from it in the piece. Maybe the search function will win the day?

If you don't find it I'll look. For now, gotta eat
 
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Buckeyeskickbuttocks said:
I read a book on Harley years ago. I wish i could recall the name of it. I recommend looking into it tho. Was a quick read. Maybe 120 pages, if memory serves.

One of the Lighter Sides I wrote when we did game previews... illinois game, I'm certain... i think I mentioned the book. I certainly used the information learned from it in the piece. Maybe the search function will win the day?

If you don't find it I'll look. For now, gotta eat
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Go eat my guy, but do let me know the name of the book if you can find it. I'll read it and be a sponge. I love Ohio State history and reading it all really makes me tick. The book will be absorbed on my end.

Chic was a damn legend after reading what he did. He didn't either, to the point of this thread. Just wanted to give him his due credit.
 
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RB07OSU said:
Go eat my guy, but do let me know the name of the book if you can find it. I'll read it and be a sponge. I love Ohio State history and reading it all really makes me tick. The book will be absorbed on my end.

Chic was a damn legend after reading what he did. He didn't either, to the point of this thread. Just wanted to give him his due credit.
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Buckeyeskickbuttocks said:
I read a book on Harley years ago. I wish i could recall the name of it. I recommend looking into it tho. Was a quick read. Maybe 120 pages, if memory serves.

One of the Lighter Sides I wrote when we did game previews... illinois game, I'm certain... i think I mentioned the book. I certainly used the information learned from it in the piece. Maybe the search function will win the day?

If you don't find it I'll look. For now, gotta eat
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From GPT:
  • Chic: The Extraordinary Rise of an Ohio State Legend
    • Author: Mark Rea
    • Publisher: Orange Frazer Press (2009)
    • ISBN: 978-1933197986
    • This biography details Harley’s early life, his playing days at Ohio State, and how he captured the imagination of Buckeye fans. It also explores the broader impact Harley had on the university’s football program.
  • The One and Only: Chic Harley, America’s Great Athlete
    • Author: Todd Wessell
    • Publisher: Xlibris (2011)
    • ISBN: 978-1462880126
    • Todd Wessell’s book provides a comprehensive look at Harley’s athletic achievements, his service in World War I, and his post-football life. It also places Harley’s career in the context of early 20th-century college football.
 
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RB07OSU said:
Go eat my guy, but do let me know the name of the book if you can find it. I'll read it and be a sponge. I love Ohio State history and reading it all really makes me tick. The book will be absorbed on my end.

Chic was a damn legend after reading what he did. He didn't either, to the point of this thread. Just wanted to give him his due credit.
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I found the draft preview I wrote. It doesn't give insight into the book I mentioned.... This piece was 2010, so maybe the one above from 2009 is right? Anyway, here's what I wrote, in relevant part:

Take October 14, 1916, for example. It was on this date that Ohio State delivered a 128 - 0 flogging to Oberlin. The game still stands as the largest point total, and margin of victory, in Ohio State history. Like the 2010 Buckeyes, the 1916 Buckeyes enjoyed the physical exploits of a young man who was, in every way, superior to the other guys on the field with him. In 2010 that man is QB Terrelle Pryor. In 1916 it was HB Chic Harley. Like 1916, Ohio State would follow up the blood-letting with a contest against the Fighting Illini of Illinois.

Times are changed in some ways. In 1916, Illinois and Ohio State were fairly evenly regarded with Illinois enjoying a slight edge. In the two contests prior to Harley's first go around, Illinois and Ohio State had tied one in 1915 and the Illini had taken it to the Bucks 37-0 in 1914. The 1916 game was indeed a "big game" for the Buckeyes. Illinois, while losing to Colgate the week prior, was 13-1-2 prior to the match and had not lost a conference game since 1913 while Ohio State had established itself as a pretty good team in its own right in the two seasons prior, going a combined 12-3-1. The contest, at Illinois, was a slugfest played in a day long rain. It would come down to Chic Harley, who scored Ohio State's lone TD in the waning moments of a 6-0 game. After his TD tied it 6-6, it was Harley's extra point which would seal the deal. Ohio State went on to win all seven games it would play in 1916. Illinois ended the season 3-3-1. There was no Heisman in those days, but Ohio State's Chic Harley would certainly have been a strong candidate. In any event, he was a unanimous All American selection.

Winning was what Chic Harley did. Having made a name for himself in High School, Harley is the man responsible for what we now know as Ohio State. Sure, other great men had their hands in it too, John Wilce - Harley's coach - for example, or the AD at the time - Lynn St. John. But, it was Harley's exploits which built the proud tradition that is Ohio State football today. It was because of Harley that the Ohio State ended up building the Shoe. Prior to Chic's days on campus, the Buckeyes might get several thousand to a game at Ohio Field which had a capacity of about 14,000. But, by the time Chic's career at Ohio State would come to a close, Ohio Field could no longer contain the numbers of people who wanted to see the man in action. Ohio Field would become Arps Hall, Ramseyer Hall and a parking garage. Vacant land next to the Olentangy would become the "House the Harley built."

It was Chic Harley's 1919 team which was the first Ohio State team to ever beat a Michigan squad. You know those fans that like to talk about "all time winningest program?" Yeah, it's these days to which they refer. The Buckeyes would win 13-3 marking the 19th time in 20 games Harley played in which the Buckeyes prevailed. The one game the Buckeyes didn't win? A 0-0 tie with Auburn in 1917, a week after beating Illinois 13-0, and a week in which most of the Ohio State players contemplated the War - a former teammate (and Chic's High School teammate, at that) having been killed in action at about that same time. Harley would go to serve in World War I in 1918. Ohio State went 3-3 without him. But, again, Harley returned to play in 1919, and led the Buckeyes to yet another undefeated seeason entering the finale with Illinois. Harley, who had never lost a game in college, Harley, the greatest athlete of his time, Harley, the man who's popularity compelled the building of a 66,000 seat stadium ... in his final game as a collegian ... lost. To Illinois. Nine to seven. The Buckeyes had been leading 7-6 in a tightly fought battle that looked like it might well end that way. But, with 8 seconds left, Illinois kicked a 25 yard field goal. Harley - after bringing Ohio State 2 prior seasons of glory and the Buckeyes first win over Michigan - blamed himself for the loss.

Why this story? Well, for one, it's this history which is why Ohio State is what it is today. The team you root for, the team you love, was built by the man who's #47 finally is recognized on the stadium which might have well bared his name. We owe a great deal to Chic. But, for another, it's Illinois week. Look, no one these days gets too excited to face the Zookers. Times have changed. But, this Ohio State team - the 2010 version - reminded me of the 1916 team when it gave the Eagles its old school beat down. While that '16 team beat Illinois, what occurs to us is that we owe Chic Harley a win. Men like Harley aren't supposed to lose their last game. But, he did and it was the Illini which beat him. So, this week, Buckeyes, how about a little something for Chic? Granted, it's in Champaign and not the Shoe - but then, Chic himself was from Chicago. Fitting, I say. Sure, Ohio State has beaten the Illini plenty of times since 1919. Sure Ohio State has the IlliBuck holding Gene Smith's door open (or whatever it is we do with it). But, in a year where Ohio State is running up old school scores, perhaps it's time to settle an old school score. Make Chic proud this week. Go Bucks!
 
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