Who's the Greatest Buckeye Multi-Purpose Player? (Vote for 3)

[LordJeffBuck]

Three years ago, we did a series of polls in which the BP community selected the "Greatest Buckeye Ever" team. Since then, many more great players have passed through the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, so it's probably a good time to revisit the polls.

Every week, we will post a poll on "Who's the Greatest Buckeye" at each of the positions. The first poll, quarterback, will open today, and run for a month.

All players selected for the poll will be from the "modern era", which we have more-or-less arbitrarily determined to have begun with the hiring of Woody Hayes in 1951. However, there will be a special poll for the older Buckeye stars, where you will be allowed to choose amongst such greats as Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, Chic Harley, etc.

Please vote on each poll, if you can. Also, please note that each poll will allow you to vote at least twice, as we would like to compile a first and second team. If you vote for "other", please let us know your selection(s) by setting forth the name(s) in a post.

Polls will be posted as follows:

1. Quarterback
2. Multi-purpose player
3. Tailback
4. Fullback
5. Wide Receiver
6. Tight End
7. Offensive Tackle
8. Offensive Guard
9. Offensive Center
10. Defensive Tackle
11. Defensive End
12. Outside Linebacker
13. Middle Linebacker
14. Safety
15. Cornerback
16. Kicker
17. Punter
18. "Old Timer"
19. Head Coach

So, please vote now for your All-Time Greatest Buckeye Multi-Purpose Player; please make THREE selections.

Thans for your participation.

NOTES: Bruce Elia started at FB in 1973, and led the Bucks in scoring (84 points); in 1974, he started at LB and led the team in tackles (144).

Although Neal Colzie was an All-American at CB in 1974 (and could probably earn a spot at that position), he was arguably the best punt returner ever to play at OSU (17 yard per return average in 1973).

Hopalong Cassady is known as one of the greatest running backs in Ohio State history (1954 national championship season, 1955 Heisman winner, 2-time All American), but he also started at cornerback for the Buckeyes. Supposedly, Cassady never gave up a completion to the man whom he was covering, and one of his all-time greatest plays was an 88-yard interception return for a touchdown against Wisconsin in 1954. Hopalong also starred in baseball while at Ohio State, leading the team in home runs in 1955 and stolen bases in 1956.

Link to the 2004 poll

 

[LordJeffBuck]

This one is tough - Cassady and Warfield for sure, but then it's difficult to choose among Gamble, Ginn, and Colzie for the third and spot. And what Bruce Elia accomplished in 1973-74 was really quite amazing, especially considering the amount of talent that was on those two Buckeye squads.

 

[ScriptOhio]

I agree: Cassady, Gamble, and Warfield.

 

[Jaxbuck]

OSU's 2nd 3 time AA, Wes Fesler played fullback and end. I'd give him the nod with Hop and Warfield.

The guy was a 2 time AA at fullback, then moves to end his SR year where he makes AA again and B10 MVP. Was also an AA in basketball.

Sorry thats a little more impressive to me than anything Gamble, Ginn or Grant have done(although they were all fine players).

 

[BB73]

I went with Hop, Colzie, and Ginn.

 

[Big Papa]

Cassady, Ginn and Warfield.

 

[CCI]

I like Gamble and Ginn

 

[Wells4Heisman]

Cassidy, Gamble, Grant even though thats biased.. just watched the Cie Grant Carmen Ohio video.

 

[cincibuck]

Sorry, but Ginn played exactly zero plays on the Buckeye defense. He covered no kick offs or punts. The potential? Hell yes, but in that sense alone Gamble walks away the winner. Cassidy played in the era of "two platoon" football (it was the late fifties when NCAA went back to one platoon football and made LSU's Chinese Bandits famous) which meant his presence on the defense was a recognition of his importance on the field (like Gamble). I saw him make critical plays on both sides of the ball and there was no question as to his leadership of the team. Winning the Heisman didn't hurt.

Warfield couldn't catch a cold when he first came up and halfback was the "other guy" in the backfield that year with Ferguson and Matte getting the ball constantly. Paul didn't really become that much of a pass receiver until he went to the pros. I did see him play defensive back against the "Ron Vanderkellen to Pat Richter" Badgers when the then #1 Badgers came into town. Paul shut Richter down, but that was the only game in which he played both ways.

Nod to Hopalong

 

[Jaxbuck]

Ok, ok, ok. I understand that Wes Fesler is considerd an old timer and not eligible. Thats fine.

As of right now 32 people have voted and only 27 have voted for Hop Cassady. If I'm reading this right that means 5 people don't feel as though Hop Cassady is among the top 3 multi purpose players in OSU history?

Sweet sassy molassy .

Only Heisman trophy winner on that list that I saw.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Obviously I never saw Hopplay, but in everything I've ever read, with the possible exceptions of Archie and Kern, Hop was probably Woody's pick as all time best player. I read that when Pete Johnson scored the TD (against Mich, if I recall what I read) which broke Hop's record for TDs Woody remarked afterwards "If I had know he'd have broken Hop's record, I wouldn't have given him the ball"

Like Cinci says, he was "the man" on both sides of the ball. I guess he was particularly crushing against very good Wisconsin teams, returning a pick for six in a very critical moment of a very big game.

So.... I vote Hop.

I also take Chris Gamble. His participation in 2002 was incredible. He literally was counted on to "do it all" and he did it all. I figure everyone on this board has no problem remembering what Gamble meant, so I won't over state it here.

As for third pick.... I'm just going to go with a guy not listed. First, I never saw Warfield play, nor Colzie, Elia and Baschnagel, so my vote here may not be fair... and while I'd love to pick Ted, since his exploits are so recent and so vivid, I'm going to give them a few years to sink in so I can truly appreciate them.. (and, Santonio Holmes was a pretty damn good WR, Return man too, I'd add..)... I'm going with David Boston, WR PR. I almost picked Shawn Springs, CB KR, who literally gave up only 2 Tds his 3 years here.. 1 time as a freshman and one time on a slip. He was so damn good it's not even funny. But... Boston... Obviously an outstanding WR.. starting from the moment he stepped foot on campus... the guy returned a punt for 6 with only 8 other teammates on the field. Clutch catches, Rose Bowl, for example... Absolute stud.

Again, not fair to the guys I didn't see play, and I take Hop without having seen him play, but having read a great deal about his exploits (as they seem to stand out more in my mind than any of the others listed (that I haven't seen play), there's no way I can leave him off.

 

[Taosman]

#1 Got to go with Gamble because of the number of plays he was participating in on both sides of the ball. Amazing!

#2 Hop! Played both ways and excelled.

#3 Bruce Elia! If you don't remember him that's a shame because he played fullback and LBer and was very good at both. A fan favorite.

 

[Best Buckeye]

A lot of tremendous players . I went with Hop, Gamble, and Warfield.

 

[Taosman]

Bruce Louis Elia (born January 10, 1953 in Hoboken, New Jersey) is a former college and professional American football player. In college, Elia played on both the offensive and defensive teams for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Professionally, he was a linebacker, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers.
Elia is one of the few Ohio State players in the modern era to start on both the offensive and defensive teams. He graduated from Cliffside Park High School in New Jersey in 1971, where he had played as both a running back and linebacker. He was recruited to Ohio State by head coach Woody Hayes as a fullback. Before the third game of the 1972 season, Elia was claimed by the Ohio State defensive coordinator, and made into a linebacker.
Early in the 1973 season starting fullback Champ Henson was injured, and freshman backup Pete Johnson was judged unready to take over. Hayes moved Elia back to the offense as fullback. That season Elia led the Buckeyes in scoring (14 touchdowns for 84 points). In 1974 he returned to linebacker and was the team's leading tackler (144 - 74 solo, 70 assisted).
Elia was selected in the fourth round of the 1975 draft by the Miami Dolphins as a linebacker. Prior to the 1976 season he was taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the expansion draft. Tampa then traded Elia, wide receiver Willie McGee and a second-round draft pick to the San Francisco 49ers for quarterback Steve Spurrier. Elia spent the next three years with the 49ers.
Elia is currently a real estate broker in Fort Lee, New Jersey and resides in Cliffside Park.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Some might say Springs is partly responsible for OSU's recent 10 - 15 year run of great DBs.... he really "started" it all (for the current string, anyway) Felt like I should at least throw out his candidacy for votes. (Even if I didn't vote for him in the end)