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Leo Brown (1st African-American captain, National Champion, R.I.P.)

Jake

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  • OSU's first African-American football captain Leo Brown, died over the weekend. Seemed like someone who should be noted at BP. He was teammates with NFL standouts Jim Marshall and Dick LeBeau on the 1957 Buckeyes, who were crowned UPI national champs and defeated Oregon in the Rose Bowl 10-7 (1/1/58).

    After football, Brown served 20 years in the Air Force before retiring as a colonel.

    Ohio State football: Leo Brown, first African-American captain, dies at 84
     


    As this issue of the Columbus Historical Society Newsletter goes to press in late December 2022, the Ohio State football team is preparing to play Georgia in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, where a victory could lead to a National Championship. A similar situation existed sixty-five years ago this week as the 1957 Ohio State football team was preparing to meet Oregon in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, with the goal of winning a National Championship.

    In 2022, the Buckeyes are led by six co-captains. In 1957, there were only two--senior fullback Galen Cisco and senior end Leo Brown, the first African-American team captain in Ohio State football history.

    Leo Brown compiled a stellar playing career as a three-year letterman at Ohio State. Playing end on both offense and defense, he was a member of the 1955 Big Ten champion team as a sophomore. In 1956, Ohio State set a record of 17 consecutive conference wins, and Leo Brown earned first team All-Big Ten recognition. As a senior in 1957, he was elected team co-captain and again was named to the All-Big Ten team. He was a key contributor to the Big Ten Championship team that went on to win the Rose Bowl and was named the National Champion.

    During that notable 1957 season, the Buckeyes were upset by TCU 18-14 in the opening game, then regrouped and achieved a remarkable string of eight consecutive victories against Washington, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Purdue, Iowa, and Michigan (31-14 at Ann Arbor). With a conference record of 7-0, Ohio State was the Big Ten Champion and Rose Bowl representative. With an overall record of 8-1, Ohio State was ranked number 1 in the nation by the UPI Coaches Poll going into the Rose Bowl game.

    Ohio State was favored by about 20 points over 7-3 Oregon, the Pacific Coast Conference co-champ, but the game turned out to be a tight defensive struggle. Ohio State scored a touchdown in the first quarter on a quarterback sneak. Oregon answered with a TD in the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7 at the half. Following a scoreless third quarter, Ohio State’s Don Sutherin kicked a 34-yard field goal in the first minute in the fourth quarter to give the Buckeyes a slender 10-7 lead. On its next possession, Oregon made two straight first downs and seemed to be gaining the momentum to mount a scoring drive. At this point, Captain Leo Brown made two outstanding defensive plays back-to back to help preserve the lead. The January 2, 1958 edition of The Columbus Dispatch reported that on first down at the Oregon 44, running back Morris “was trapped on a wide pitchout and dropped by Brown for a 3-yard loss.” Facing second down and 13, “Crabtree passed to Stover who was tackled hard by Brown and fumbled. Cannavino [of OSU] pounced on the ball on the Ohio 27,” stopping the Oregon threat. Oregon attempted one more fourth-quarter drive but again the Buckeye defense held. Ohio State was the National Champion and Coach Woody Hayes received Coach of the Year honors.

    Following his collegiate playing days, Leo Brown entered Ohio State’s College of Dentistry while employed as a graduate assistant with the football team under Coach Hayes. Upon earning his degree, Dr. Brown joined the U.S. Air Force and served as an oral surgeon for over 20 years, retiring with the rank of colonel. Leo Brown passed away at age 84 at his home in in Lakewood, Colorado in March 2018 and was honored with a military burial service at the Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver.
     
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