Football: 1942 National Championship Team to be Recognized at Halftime of Northwestern Game
COLUMBUS, Ohio ? Ohio State?s contest vs. Northwestern Saturday marks the 500th football game played in Ohio Stadium. At halftime, Buckeye fans will be able to celebrate the occasion with members of Ohio State?s first national championship squad from 1942.
Paul Brown, a coaching legend in both the collegiate and professional ranks, guided the 1942 Buckeyes to a 9-1 record and outscored opponents by an average of 34 to 11. Ohio State finished the season ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press national polls.
Brown is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Others from the 1942 team with that distinction include Dante Lavelli, an offensive end, and Bill Willis, a tackle for the Buckeyes who claimed All-America honors in 1943. The trio combined to lead the Cleveland Browns to the 1950 NFL Championship.
The Buckeyes had a total of five All-Americans on the 1942 team. Charles Csuri, Gene Fekete, Lindell Houston, Paul Sarringhaus and Robert Shaw all gained All-America accolades.
Csuri, Fekete, Lavelli, Shaw and Willis are among the 1942 team members scheduled to attend the game Saturday. All members of the team and those representing 1942 players will be available for interviews on the field following the team?s recognition at halftime. Interviews will be held on the south sideline.
Pronunciation Guide:
Charles Csuri (surrey)
Gene Fekete (feck-eh-tee)
Dante Lavelli (lah-vell-lee)