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OT John Hicks (Outland / Lombardi Award, R.I.P.)

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Reveling in Roses: Former OSU great John Hicks excited by Buckeyes' Pasadena trip (and his Hall of Fame honor): OSU Insider
By Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer
December 22, 2009

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OSU photo
A return to the Rose Bowl by Ohio State prompts plenty of emotion for former All-American tackle John Hicks. ?It?s so commercial now, it?s not a privilege, it?s an expectation,? he said. ?Back then it was a privilege. You earned the right to play in the Rose Bowl by winning the title.?

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Sometimes the Rose Bowl never leaves you. Even the ones you missed out on.

In 2001, 28 years after the Big Ten voted to send Ohio State to the Rose Bowl instead of Michigan following the 1973 season, former Buckeye John Hicks was still consoling former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler at a banquet.

"Bo was still bitter," Hicks said last week with a laugh. "I had to give him a hug and a kiss. He said, 'You know we should have gone.' I said, 'Bo, will you calm down? This is 2001.'"

When it comes to the Rose Bowls of that era, people never forget. Now Hicks is being remembered as well. The 58-year-old Cleveland native will be inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame next week, the sixth Buckeye so honored, following his coach, Woody Hayes, running backs Archie Griffin and Pete Johnson, quarterback Rex Kern and fullback Curly Morrison.

As an offensive tackle, Hicks was a two-time All-American, won the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy and finished second in Heisman Trophy balloting. But Hicks was the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes followed the 1970, 1972 and 1973 seasons, when Hicks was a starter, with Rose Bowl trips. He was the first player to ever start three Rose Bowls. When he missed the 1971 season with an injury, Michigan went.

So maybe Schembechler should have thanked Hicks for getting hurt. Though the Buckeyes made six Rose Bowl trips in eight years between the 1968 and 1975 seasons, Hicks said the experiences were never taken for granted.

"It's so commercial now, it's not a privilege, it's an expectation," Hicks said. "Back then it was a privilege. You earned the right to play in the Rose Bowl by winning the title."
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Reveling in Roses: Former OSU great John Hicks excited by Buckeyes' Pasadena trip (and his Hall of Fame honor): OSU Insider | Ohio State Buckeyes - cleveland.com - - cleveland.com
 
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OSU notebook: Hicks' play opens hall door
Lineman credits teammates during Rose induction
Thursday, December 31, 2009
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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Neal C. Lauron | Dispatch photos
Former Ohio State offensive lineman John Hicks played in the 1971, '73 and '74 Rose Bowls. The '74 game served as a springboard for Archie Griffin's back-to-back Heisman Trophy seasons.

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John Hicks looks as if he could still open up holes for Archie Griffin.

PASADENA, Calif. -- Some 36 years after John Hicks opened holes in the Southern California defense for Archie Griffin to run through in the 1974 Rose Bowl, Griffin welcomed his Ohio State teammate through the door into the bowl's hall of fame yesterday.

"John was a fabulous player at Ohio State, as many of you know, but he's a fabulous friend, too," said Griffin, president of OSU's alumni association. "And he does still open doors in many, many ways, and I've always appreciated John and all that he does for Ohio State."

Hicks was beaming as he was added to Rose's hall of fame, along with former Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez and former Pacific-10 Conference commissioner Tom Hansen. But Hicks had a hard time taking a bow, even if this was the latest trophy for a resume that includes the Outland and Lombardi awards, finishing second in the Heisman Trophy race in 1973 and membership in the College Football Hall of Fame.

"This isn't about me, it's about the great guys I played with," said Hicks, who played in the 1971, '73 and '74 Rose Bowls, the last being the game that launched a sophomore Griffin to back-to-back Heismans. "I just happened to be a member of some great teams, two of which could have won the national championship if we had taken care of business in the Rose Bowl. I was just blessed."

Hicks, a Cleveland native, is the sixth Buckeye named to the Rose hall of fame. Coach Woody Hayes was the first, followed by Griffin, quarterback Rex Kern, lineman Fred "Curly" Morrison and fullback Pete Johnson.

"We grew up watching the parade and then the game; it was a big event for the family back then," Hicks said. "Then all of a sudden, here I come from John Hay High School, which never had a Big Ten player, and in the 1970 season I'm starting at tackle as a sophomore for Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.

"For my mom and dad, that was the greatest trip they had in their life."
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OSU notebook: Hicks' play opens hall door | BuckeyeXtra

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTP_CfV_a7c]YouTube - John Hicks Emotional Rose Bowl Hall of Fame Induction[/ame]
 
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Buckeye Hicks blazed trail on the line
By Rich Kaipust
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
2009 Outland Trophy winner Ndamukong Suh, left, and 1973 Outland Trophy winner John Hicks of Ohio State, share a light moment while speaking to reporters following a visit to Boys Town, Neb. on Wednesday.

John Hicks explains his success in simple terms.

Hicks won?t say he won the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award because he was some great tactician or flawless performer on the Ohio State offensive line.

He won?t credit being a Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1973 to being some superior genetic specimen with training ahead of his time.

?I liked to play,?? Hicks said Wednesday. ?I just liked to play.??

Hicks, 58, will receive his long-awaited Outland Trophy during the annual banquet tonight at the downtown Doubletree Hotel. Hicks will be honored along with 2009 winner Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska.

As with Suh, Hicks also has a Heisman story to tell.

Hicks is the last offensive or defensive lineman to be the runner-up in Heisman voting, although without all of the fanfare and publicity that now goes along with the award. He was one of three Buckeyes finishing behind Penn State tailback John Cappelletti, followed by tailback Archie Griffin fifth and linebacker Randy Gradishar sixth.

Suh last month was considered a strong challenger to offensive-skill players Mark Ingram, Toby Gerhart, Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow. Ingram won in a close vote, with the Husker defensive tackle finishing fourth.

?I watched Ndamukong,?? Hicks said. ?He tore Texas apart. He played real well all year.

?It?s hard for a lineman to win the Heisman because it?s primarily designed for the running backs and quarterbacks. It?s hard to say. Orlando Pace made a good run at it (fourth in 1996). Ndamukong probably knocked out McCoy.??

After leaving Ohio State, Hicks was not surprised to see Griffin proceed to win back-to-back Heismans in 1974 and ?75, remaining the only player to do so.

?He was just a great tailback,?? Hicks said. ?He started as a freshman. But we had a great offensive line.??

Hicks anchored it before going on to be the No. 3 overall pick by the New York Giants in the 1974 draft ? behind Tennessee State defensive end Ed ?Too Tall?? Jones at No. 1 and Colorado back Bo Matthews at No. 2, and just ahead of Nebraska defensive end John Dutton at No. 5. Hicks played five NFL seasons and was named the NFC rookie of the year by UPI before his career was cut short by injury.

He squeezed in between Rich Glover of Nebraska (1972) and Randy White of Maryland (1974) as winners of both the Outland and Lombardi. Already a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Hicks last month was named to the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.

Hicks played in three Rose Bowls and for Ohio State teams that went a combined 28-3-1, almost fairy tale-like for a Cleveland native whose parents worked for the State of Ohio.

?To play for Coach (Woody) Hayes, it was like a dream come true,?? he said.
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Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: Big Red Today - Buckeye Hicks blazed trail on the line
 
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Rapp Around: Hicks Protects OSU's Great Tradition
October 26, 2010

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Hicks owns his own company ... and 50-yard-line seats.

When you?re awaiting the arrival of John Hicks for a friendly lunch, you envision in your mind the behemoth who dominated the trenches for the Buckeyes, doing it so thoroughly in 1973 that he nearly added the Heisman Trophy to the Lombardi and Outland awards.

But 37 years removed from his truly outstanding Ohio State career, Hicks isn?t quite the same imposing figure. He?s slimmed down, professional-looking and charms you with his pleasant voice and genuine warmth so quickly you?d think you are catching up with your favorite teacher.

An offensive lineman who used to protect Rex Kern?s blindside and open up holes for Archie Griffin, Hicks was as close to perfection as a collegiate football player as just about anyone in OSU history. He used his huge upper body, strong legs and thick hands to drive defenders into submission. And he was the quintessential power blocker of the Woody Hayes era.

Hicks was a recruit from John Hay High School in Cleveland when he watched Ohio State destroy Michigan in the Horseshoe in 1968. After sitting out his freshman year of 1969, he moved into a starting role in the following year.

A knee injury shelved him in the fall of 1971 but also allowed him a medical redshirt. He then reached an All-American status in 1972 and ?73, anchoring a line that allowed tailback Griffin, quarterback Cornelius Green and wingback Brian Baschnagel to terrorize the Big Ten.

But Hicks doesn?t overwhelm his visitors with stories of the good old days. He?s gone on to marry, raise a family, thrive in real estate and head up his own business in Columbus, the John Hicks Co. So when 60-year-old John Hicks looks back on his OSU experience he focuses on the winning and the camaraderie that he cherishes more and more each day.
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?I was in Troy (Smith)?s golf tournament,? he said. ?I was the oldest guy there and here comes Eddie George hugging me and Troy is telling me, ?I love you.? Terrelle (Pryor) was there, too. There?s just a closeness that comes with being a Buckeye.
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http://sportsrappup.com/sections/st...und_Hicks_Protects_OSU_s_Great_Tradition.aspx
 
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Former Outland Trophy winner John Hicks said the troubles faced by the Ohio State program have affected people all over the world.

"It shook up a lot of OSU fans and ex-players," Hicks said. "I've had people from New York, California and even Europe emailing me about it."

Hicks doesn't believe Tressel is totally at fault for the OSU mess.

"The media and the NCAA think we pay our athletes (at Ohio State)," Hicks said. "The athletes come here for the tradition and the guys here. We don't need to cheat.

"Maybe there were some things Terrelle did where he didn't use good judgment, but we didn't pay him to come here. We're going through a tough time right now, but we'll try to cure the mistakes and keep moving."
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Hicks said, "Luke will be fine. I've known him a long time. He'll have to learn his way, but he will be here a long time."
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http://www.marionstar.com/article/20110619/SPORTS/106190326/Buckeyes-will-back?odyssey=nav|head
 
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Ohio State football: Former players to line up in support
Thursday, July 28, 2011
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

John Hicks grew weary of talking heads criticizing Ohio State and its football program, so he decided to do something about it. He has mustered former players young and old to show their support for the Buckeyes.

"We're doing the tunnel of pride just like we have for a long time for the Michigan game, except we're doing it for the season opener (Sept.3) against Akron," said Hicks, an All-America lineman at Ohio State in the early 1970s. "We're going to have 1,500 to 2,000 out there. People are up in arms. We've got former basketball players and other sports that want to join us."
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http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...er-players-to-line-up-in-support.html?sid=101
 
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Ohio State football: Former players take Posey?s case to NCAA
By Bill Rabinowitz
The Columbus Dispatch Thursday October 20, 2011

It?s not in John Hicks? nature to get on a soapbox.

?I?m not an activist,? the legendary former Ohio State offensive lineman said.

But the latest five-game NCAA suspension given to Ohio State receiver DeVier Posey has caused Hicks to take a stand. Hicks is the most prominent of nine former Buckeyes who sent a letter dated Oct. 14 written by Cleveland attorney and 1968 national championship team member Jim Conroy to NCAA president Mark Emmert asking to reconsider.

?I just think what they did to DeVier was just criminal,? said Hicks, the 1973 Heisman Trophy runner-up and Outland and Lombardi Trophy winner. ?Ten games, that?s criminal. OK, redshirt him, put him out of school, but don?t make him sit there for 10 games and watch games.?

Redshirting is not a viable option. If Posey chose to redshirt, his suspension would carry over to next year.

Hicks, 60, said the NCAA operates under an outdated model that doesn?t benefit student-athletes.

?Coach (Woody) Hayes always told us that when TV takes over college athletics, that would be the end of college athletics because it?s (run by) money,? Hicks said. ?Our kids are victims of a bad business plan. It?s bad for the kids. It?s really one-sided. There?s no due process. They tell you up front, ?You don?t have any due process. What we find, we rule upon.? ?

Hicks said he knows Posey but can?t have the kind of mentoring relationship he?d like because of NCAA rules.

?It?s hard to sit down and give that back to the kids,? he said. ?The kids want it. They love it, and the kids know that we love them. When your time comes and you?ve moved on with your life, you have things to share with them.?

Hicks said he talked with running back Jordan Hall, who?d been suspended for two games for accepting money at a Cleveland-area charity event.

?He was just so tense,? Hicks said. ?I told him, ?It?s OK. There are people who love you, and keep working hard and people have forgiven you.? That?s a lot on a kid.

?I sat down with (former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor), and he was like a little kid talking with me ? a big smile. He appreciated the honesty. Those are the kind of things programs build on. This whole no-contact thing has gotten out of hand.?

cont...
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http://www.buckeyextra.com/content/stories/2011/10/20/former-buckeyes-take-poseys-case-to-ncaa.html
 
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Time & Change: John Hicks
Former OSU All-America lineman sees success ahead for Buckeyes
Updated: August 9, 2012
By Brad Bournival | BuckeyeNation

There haven't been many to come down the chute like John Hicks at Ohio State.

Hicks, 61, was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten and two-time first-team All-America selection for the Buckeyes during his days at Ohio State from 1970-73.

He was the last lineman to finish runner-up in the Heisman -- Penn State's John Cappelletti won the award in 1973.

An Outland and Lombardi Trophy winner, Hicks, who lives in Dublin, Ohio, was elected into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 2009 -- a game Hicks played in three times.

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Courtesy of Ohio State University
John Hicks was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1973 as an offensive lineman.

Taken with the third pick in the 1974 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, Hicks played with the team from 1974-77.

In 1978, he was traded to Pittsburgh but never played for the Steelers.

He is currently the CEO and president of the John Hicks Company, a commercial real estate business.

BuckeyeNation recently caught up with Hicks, who talked about his friendships, losing three games in four years as a Buckeye and the hunger that the 2012 Buckeyes must feel.

BN>: You had a good stint in the NFL. Do you ever find yourself missing your days on the field?

Hicks: No. I had a good time, but I'm 61 years old. It's been a long time.

BN: What lessons did Coach Woody Hayes teach you and how have you used them in everyday life?

Hicks: He said the finest people I'd ever meet were in this [locker room] and he was right. He said to stay humble and I have.

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http://espn.go.com/colleges/osu/story/_/id/8248933/former-lineman-john-hicks
 
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