Remembering A Buckeye: Ron Springs

It is hard to believe that Woody Hayes came to Lafayette High School, in Williamsburg Virgina on FIVE recruiting trips. You would think that he would have been too busy trying to keep all the great Ohio football players in Ohio. Something, or someone special, had to have been playing in Virgina. That someone was Ron Springs.

Springs graduated from Lafayette High School and went from being a navy blue and gold Ram to a scarlet and gray Buckeye (with a stop in Coffeyville for a season). A running back, Ron rushed for 2,140 yards all time as a Buckeye. He still ranks 18th on the all time rushing list at Ohio State.

After being drafted in the fifth round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Cowboys, Ron went on to play for Tampa Bay before his career ended in 1986. He amassed over 2,000 yards both rushing and receiving in his NFL career, scoring 28 touchdowns.

ITS Mourns the Loss of Jack Tatum

Former Buckeye legend and NFL All Pro Safety Jack Tatum died of a heart attack at age 61 yesterday. Tatum was part of the "super sophs" class that lead Ohio State to an undefeated season and national championship in 1968. In his three years as a starting safety at Ohio State, the Buckeyes went 27-2 and also won two Big Ten titles. Coach Tressel had this to say about Tatum:

"We have lost one of our greatest Buckeyes. When you think of Ohio State Defense, the first name that comes to mind is Jack Tatum. His loss touches every era of Ohio State players and fans."

Who is the best Buckeye basketball player of all time?

My favorite player of all time used to be Jimmy Jackson, but after watching Evan Turner (aka "the Villian") tear through the Big Ten tournament he has taken the NO. 1 spot away from J.J. It got me thinking "who does Buckeye nation thinks is the greatest Buckeye basketball player of all time? Please chime in with your comments and opinions, I am interested to hear what the fans think. Please, I don't want to hear about some guy from the 1920's that was good when the game was being played at the pace of a snails race. Lets keep it real, and have some good logical feedback!!!

A look back in Buckeye History.

Last BH post.

Every now and then, we will look back to great moments in Ohio State history and recap what happened. Today we will be looking back to the 1974 Rose Bowl game aganist USC and a little bit of the Michigan game before that USC game.

Ohio State - 42  USC - 21

Looking for revenge as well as redemption, the 1974 Buckeye squad was a good one. The 60th Rose Bowl then, the Buckeyes would be facing the USC Trojans. The Buckeyes won in a dominant way, with the running attack in Archie Griffin, but also with the precision passing of Cornelius Greene. Greene would end up being the MVP of the Rose Bowl that year, much like Terrelle Pryor was this year. He finished only 6 of 8 passing for 129 yards though. Griffin, a sophomore then, had his 11th straight 100 yard rushing game on the season. He ended up with 149 yards on 22 carries. Hayes said that the week before they had been working on passing the ball more because USC knew what was coming in Griffin. The Buckeye's defense was key, although allowing over 200 yards passing, they shut down the running game, including Anthony Davis, USC's leading rusher. The game was tied at 14 at the end of the first half, but the Buckeyes exploded in the second half scoring 28 unanswered points.

 Archie Griffin had the Buckeye's last play, a beautfiul 47 yard run late in the fourth quarter. This was a big win, not only for the Buckeyes, but for the Big Ten, as they had lost 4 straight in the Rose Bowl prior to Ohio State winning it. The Buckeyes coach said he thought they deserved the title of number one, on the fact they were undefeated, with a tie. That tie, though, came to Michigan. A 10-10 tie that will go down in College Football history as one of the greatest, and most controversial. To start, Ohio State ripped down the "Support Michigan" banner. Then, fierce play that resulted in a tie led most to believe that Michigan, not Ohio State, would be headed to the Rose Bowl. The band had started playing "California Dreamin", and most Buckeyes thought since they were the ones who got "upset" they woulnd't be going. The next day, however, the Big Ten wanted so badly to win the Rose Bowl, they deceided to give themselves a fighting chance. So they sent Ohio State.

How can you not love this??

• Bo Schembechler said the desicion was tragic.

• Most Buckeye fans didn't think so.

•  Ohio State's Archie Griffin would go onto to win the Heisman trophy as a junior, and a senior. The only two-timer ever.

A look back in Buckeye History.

Last BH post

Every now and then, we will look back to great moments in Ohio State history and recap what happened. Today we will be looking back to the 1984 game against Illinois.

Ohio State - 45 Illinois - 38

Many people will remember this game as the game that Keith Byars broke a ton of rushing records, and at the same time, lost his shoe doing a 67 yard touchdown run. In front of the second largest crowd in history (back then), 89,937, the Buckeyes had rallied from a 24 point deficit to win it out. Byars, led the attack, rushing for 274 yards on 39 carries. He also added 5 touchdowns for the day. This broke a record held by Archie Griffin, who had rushed for 246 against Iowa in 1973. Also, the 5 touchdowns resulted in a tie for most touchdowns scored which was held by Pete Johnson. This win was a marquee win for the Buckeyes, as it moved them into a tie for the Big Ten with Iowa, Michigan, and Purdue. It all started in the second quarter, when Byars led his team to a 91 yard, ten play drive that resulted in Byars scoring on a 16 yard run. On the next possession, quarterback Mike Tomzack threw a 30 yard pass to freshman receiver Cris Carter, and Byars jumped into the endzone on a 4 yard run. In Ohio State's fourth scoring drive, Byars did it all. He had all 26 yards of their offense, and put tOSU ahead 27-24.

Chris White, for the Illini, then boomed a kick deep from 46 yards, to put the teams at a tie. The game then became tied again, this time at 35. Illinois's offense then had a chance to take the lead again, and maybe secure a win, but they stalled which resulted in Ohio State's ball. Byars and Ohio State's other running back, Wooldridge, alternated in the last drive, which started at their own 20 yard line. On second and goal, Byars took a pitch left and went around the pile, and ran into the endzone for the 5th, and game winning, touchdown for Keith Byars. The 1984 Buckeyes would proceed to win against Michigan 21-6, which would propel them into the Rose Bowl to face USC. Earle Bruce led the team to the Rose Bowl, but couldn't pull it out, as Mike Tomzack threw 3 interceptions, and Byars was used sparingly, as Tomzack threw 37 times, resulting in USC winning 20-17. As an endnote, Keith Byars did not win the Heisman trophy, although many thought he should have. Maybe if Doug Flutie hadn't thrown that Hail Mary, it might have been Byar's name on that trophy, and not Flutie's.

A look back in Buckeye History.

This will start a new thing here at INS (Inside The Shoe). Every now and then, we will look back to great moments in Ohio State history and recap what happend. Today we will be looking back at 1995 when we played Notre Dame here in the Shoe. The reason for doing this game is because it goes along with our POW. Let us know if you like this!

Ohio State - 45 Notre Dame - 26

The last time these two teams met before that day was 1935, which then, was 60 years ago. Last time the team's met, Notre Dame erased a 13-0 4th quarter deficit to win 18-13. Then, it was the the game of the century, and it seemed like it was.

 This time around, when Notre Dame was ahead 20-14 in the 3rd Quarter, Ohio State was punting, and then Notre Dame squandered three straight chances to score, because of the next three possessions resulting in 2 fumbles and an interception. After some confusion on a punt return, Ohio State quarterback Bobby Hoying took advantage of the turnover and 3 plays later, scored on a 15 yard touchdown throw to Rickey Dudley which put OSU up 21-20. After an interception, on the heels of a 56 yard throw, Ron Powlus threw an interception. Then the Buckeyes proceeded with a 4 play drive resulting in an 82 yard touchdown throw from Hoying to Terry Glenn. The play was fairly short, but in the middle of the field, Glenn's speed was to much for the Irish.

 That drive itself was enough of a statement to put fear into the Irish. Powlus's next drive resulted in him fumbling a snap, which lead to a third three play drive for the Buckeyes in which Heisman canididate Eddie George stormed into the end zone giving the Buckeyes the lead, 35-20. The Fighting Irish were inspired to keep playing, coming as close as 35-26, but the back breaker was certainly on the next drive where Eddie George broke free on a sweep to the left for 61 yards, and a Buckeye touchdown. Irish coach Lou Holtz gave credit to the Buckeyes saying that their big play ability gave them the win. Eddie George finished with 35 carries for 207 yards on the day. This was Eddie's 4th 200 yard game in his career and his second on the year. The win over Notre Dame gave John Cooper his first out of two wins that would come the following year aganist the Irish, and it would give way to a 11-0 start to the season. Michigan then proceeded to upset the Buckeyes 31-23 as Cooper's Michigan woes became more solid into his career. The Buckeyes followed up with another loss, this time to Tennesee in their bowl game that year losing to the SEC by a touchdown, 20-14. Eddie George did manage to win the Heisman despite those losses, giving the Buckeyes their 5th Heisman.