Archie Griffin - Big Ten Icon #4

Archie Griffin: 4th best Big Ten athlete?

Over the past few months, the Big Ten Network has been announcing the top 50 student-athletes in conference history.  Most recently, Archie Griffin was chosen as the fourth best student-athlete in the illustrious history of the Big Ten Conference.

Now at first glance, this may seem low for the only player to win two Heisman Trophy awards, but media are speculating that the top three are expected to contain Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Red Grange and another Buckeye Jesse Owens, the top four could be interchanged. 





Jesse Owens was announced during the Big Ten Icons episode profiling Archie Griffin to be the number three icon.  In my opinion, there is no question that Jesse Owens should top the list of Big Ten Icons.  While at Ohio State, Owens was, quite literally, a world-class athlete.  He proved this over a 45 minute span in May 1935 in Ann Arbor, Michi- er, That State Up North by setting three world records and tying another.  Owens tied the world record in the 100 yard (91 meters) dash in 9.4 seconds.  He set a world record in the long jump with a jump of 26 feet, 8 ¼ inches that would stand for 25 years.  The “Buckeye Bullet” would also set world records in the 220 yard dash (20.3 seconds) and the 220 yard low hurdles (22.6 seconds).

Red Grange was destroying Big Ten defenses at Illinois long before Archie Griffin was even a twinkle in his father’s eye.  A three-time All-American, Grange rushed for 2,071 yards and scored 31 touchdowns in just 20 games.  Of his 31 touchdowns, 16 were from 20 yards or longer and nine were from 50 yards plus.  One of the best players not only of his generation, but of all-time collegiately, Grange shocked the college world when he decided to go pro after three seasons and signed with the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day, 1925.



Red Grange dominated Big Ten defenses in the 1920s



The only one on this list that I have a real problem being ahead of Archie is Magic Johnson.  Magic played only two seasons at Michigan State, and despite leading the Spartans to a national title as an All-American, only playing two seasons should have hurt him some in this discussion of the Big Ten’s best “student-athletes.”  Magic had great stats while he was at Michigan State, putting up 17 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists per game during his time in East Lansing.  He also won Most Outstanding Player of the 1979 Final Four.  Putting Magic in the top two seems to be a bit high for a guy who never won a national player of the year award.



Archie Griffin poses with his second Heisman Memorial Trophy

Even though Magic posted solid numbers and won a national title, I still think winning two Heismans, holding the NCAA records for most 100-yard rushing games (33), most consecutive 100-yard rushing games (31) and best career average yards-per-carry (6.13) should rank Archie Griffin ahead of Magic.  Griffin is also currently 5^th in career rushing yards in the NCAA with 5,177 (not including bowl games) and the only player in history to start four Rose Bowl Games.  The greatest rusher in Ohio State history, Griffin had 5,589 yards from 1972-1975, becoming the only player to lead the Buckeyes in rushing for four consecutive seasons.  Griffin was a three-time All-American who finished fifth in the Heisman voting his sophomore year before winning it his final two seasons in Columbus.

While the Big Ten has named Archie Griffin its fourth best student-athlete, Archie will always be number one in the hearts of many Buckeye fans.