No. 1 Ohio State Confronts No. 22 Penn State – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Buckeyes (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) lead nation in scoring defense, total defense and pass efficiency defense; Chris Wells coming off 221 outing vs. MSU
FIRST AND 10
Ohio State is 8-0 and 4-0 in the Big Ten; Penn State is 6-2 and 3-2 in the Big Ten
Ohio State has set a school record with 26 regular-season wins in a row
The Buckeyes lead the nation in scoring defense (7.88), total defense (208.5) and pass efficiency defense (86.83)
Coach Jim Tressel is 70-14 in seven years at Ohio State; 205-71-2 in 22 years overall
Tressel is the third winningest active FBS coach, behind Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno
Ohio State is second nationally in rushing defense (62.38) and pass defense (146.13)
The Buckeyes have scored at least one touchdown in their last 134 games
The Ohio State defense has allowed only four touchdowns this season
Todd Boeckman leads the Big Ten in passing efficiency (161.36)
Ohio State is the two-time defending Big Ten champion
THE GAME
No. 1-ranked Ohio State (8-0/4-0 in the Big Ten) visits Big Ten opponent No. 22 Penn State (6-2/3-2) in an 8 p.m. game Saturday at Beaver Stadium (107,282) in State College, Pa.
THE SERIES
The series between the Buckeyes and the Nittany Lions is tied 11-all. Penn State has a 5-3 lead in all games played at Beaver Stadium. Ohio State was a 28-6 winner in Columbus last year.
SERIES INFORMATION
Overall: Tied, 11-11
In Columbus: Ohio State leads, 8-5
In University Park: Penn State leads, 5-3
Neutral Site: Penn State leads, 1-0
Last Ohio State Win: 28-6, 2006
Last Penn State Win: 17-10, 2005
Biggest Margin of Victory for OSU: 45-6, 2000
Biggest Margin of Victory for PSU: 63-14 , 1994
Longest Winning Streak for OSU: 2 (75-76, 95-96)
Longest Winning Streak for PSU: 4 (1912-64)
Current Win Streak: Ohio State, 1
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Ohio State football is in the No. 1 position in the national rankings for the 16th different time since 1942. The Buckeyes’ longest string of consecutive weeks ranked in the top spot was in 2006, when Ohio State was No. 1 for 15 weekly polls.
Ohio State has an all-time record of 65-9-1 when ranked as the nation’s No. 1 team.
BOWL ELIGIBLE
With their win over Purdue, the Buckeyes were one of the first six teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (out of 119) to be bowl-eligible for the 2007 season. The others were: Louisiana State, Cincinnati, Boston College, Hawaii and Arizona State.
Currently, 28 teams have enough wins to be eligible for postseason play.
EIGHT BALL
Ohio State is the only team in the nation to have eight wins at this point of the 2007 campaign.
Ohio State also is one of only five teams to remain undefeated through this point in the season, along with 7-0 Arizona State, Boston College, Kansas and Hawaii.
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
Penn State is ranked No. 22 this week in the USA Today coaches’ poll and No. 24 in the Associated Press media poll.
Ohio State is now 120-100-12 all-time when facing a ranked opponent, and 34-39-7 on the road against ranked teams. Against ranked Big Ten opponents on the road, OSU is 28-33-5. Under Coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are 26-9 overall and 6-4 on the road against ranked teams.
Ohio State faced its first ranked opponent of the 2007 campaign at Purdue. The Boilermakers were ranked No. 20 in the USA Today coaches’ poll and No. 23 in the Associated Press media poll.
IN NIGHT GAMES
Ohio State played back-to-back night games for the first time in school history with Big Ten games under the lights at Minnesota and at Purdue, winning both contests.
Ohio State is 24-10 in road night games since 1959 and 30-11 in night games all-time.
MID-SEASON HONORS
The names of several Buckeyes are prominent as the national college football awards begin to whittle the field for their 2007 selections.
Linebacker James Laurinaitis is a semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi (one of 12) and the Butkus (one of 10) awards. Defensive lineman Vernon Gholston is on the mid-season list for the Ted Hendricks Award, and punter A.J. Trapasso is among the announced field for the Ray Guy Award.
TRESSEL GETS WIN No. 200
The 33-14 win at Washington was the 200th of Coach Jim Tressel’s career. He becomes one of just 19 head coaches of Division I-A schools all-time to record 200 or more career wins (list on page 6). Tressel posted 135 wins at Youngstown State before taking over the Ohio State program in 2001.
Among active coaches, only Bobby Bowden (Florida State), Joe Paterno (Penn State) and Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech) also have 200 career wins.
The Ohio State-Penn State game will be the first matchup of active coaches with 200 wins since Penn State defeated Florida State 26-23 in overtime Jan. 3, 2006, in the Orange Bowl.
REGULAR-SEASON WINS RECORD
Ohio State has won 26-consecutive regular-season games, dating back to a 17-10 loss at Penn State Oct. 8, 2005; the previous Buckeye record for consecutive regular-season wins was 21 games, set from 1967-69.
BIG TEN CONSECUTIVE WINS
Ohio State has won 18 consecutive Big Ten conference games, dating back to a 17-10 loss at Penn State Oct. 8, 2005.
That sets an all-time Ohio State record for consecutive conference wins; the previous OSU best was 17, set from 1954-56, 1967-69 and 1974-76. The Big Ten record for consecutive conference wins is 19, set by Michigan from 1990-92.
THE CAPTAINS
Senior offensive tackle Kirk Barton, senior fullback Dionte Johnson and junior linebacker James Laurinaitis were elected 2007 captains by their teammates. Because of close voting on the defense, a second defensive captain will be named for each game.
Game captains thus far: Youngstown State – Larry Grant; Akron Marcus Freeman; Washington Vernon Gholston; Northwestern Malcolm Jenkins; Minnesota Anderson Russell; Purdue Larry Grant; Kent State Marcus Freeman.
MORE ABOUT THE CAPTAINS
After being elected an Ohio State captain, senior Dionte Johnson and his father Thomas “Pepper” Johnson became the third father-son combination to be elected Buckeye captains. The elder Johnson was an OSU captain in 1984 and 1985. The two previous father-son captain duos were the Herbstreits, James (1960) and Kirk (1992); and the Davidsons, Jim (1964) and Jeff (1989).
James Laurinaitis is the first junior to be elected a captain since 2000 when Steve Bellisari and Joe Cooper both were chosen captains as juniors. Bellisari and Cooper were re-elected as seniors in 2001.
BUCKS WIN 77 PERCENT OF OHIO STADIUM GAMES
The Northwestern game was the 500th home game all-time for the Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes boast an all-time record of 378-104-20 (.773) in Ohio Stadium since that facility opened in 1922. The first game was a 5-0 win over Ohio Wesleyan on Oct. 7, 1922.
Ohio State has won 17 consecutive and 21 of the last 22 games played in the Horseshoe. Ohio State’s all-time record in Columbus is 521-151-35 in 707 games.
Ohio State has hosted 39 consecutive crowds of 100,000 or larger at Ohio Stadium, including an opening-day audience of 105,038 against Youngstown State (21st largest crowd in Ohio Stadium history). Other home crowds this season that rank in the Top 25 all-time:
Michigan State: 105,287 (6th largest)
Northwestern: 105,178 (13th largest)
Kent State: 105,051 (19th largest)
This summer, the old grass field in place at Ohio Stadium since 1990 was removed for a new synthetic surface called FieldTurf. The old field was rolled up and donated to the Columbus Parks and Recreation Service.
THREE AND OUT
Through eight games, the Buckeye defense has forced the opponent to go three-and-out on 49 possessions. Ohio State set a school record with 13 consecutive three-and-out series in the Akron game.
Totals by game: Youngstown State (3); Akron (13); Washington (5); Northwestern (6); Minnesota (8); Purdue (7); Kent State (3); Michigan State (4).
The Buckeye defense has held the opponent to three-and-out on 49.0 percent of all possessions this season (49-100). Turnovers have ended 14 of those other opponent drives.
OHIO STATE W/L RECORDS
Seasons: 118
All-Time Record: 795-301-53
Big Ten: 440-187-28
Ohio Stadium: 378-104-20
Bowl Games: 18-20
Games in October: 353-124-28
October Road Games: 110-62-8
Night Games: 30-11
SCORING DEFENSE BEST ALLOWED SINCE 1975
The Buckeyes held their first eight opponents to a combined 63 points, marking the lowest total points allowed through eight games since the 1975 Big Ten championship team. That season, Ohio State beat Michigan State 21-0, Penn State 17-9, North Carolina 32-7, UCLA 41-20, Iowa 59-0,Wisconsin 56-0, Purdue 35-6 and Indiana 24-14, for a total of 56 points against through eight games.
THE STOPPERS
Ohio State ranks first nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 7.8 points per game, and first in total defense, giving up just 208.5 yards per contest.
The Ohio State defense has allowed only four touchdowns this season, holding Youngstown State to two field goals in the opener before Akron totaled just two points on a first-quarter safety. Minnesota scored once on a four-yard pass play. Northwestern’s touchdown came on a kickoff return. Purdue scored on the last drive of that 23-7 Buckeye road victory. Michigan State’s only points against the defense were a fourth-quarter field goal.
Ohio State allowed Akron to put just two points on the scoreboard with a first-quarter safety, the lowest opponent total since the Buckeyes shut out Minnesota, 44-0, last season in Columbus. The Buckeyes held Akron to just 1-9 third-down conversions in the first half; for the game, the Zips converted just 2-16 third-down chances.
Akron had just two first downs in the first half, both coming on its opening drive of the game. After Akron’s first drive, Ohio State forced the Zips into 13 consecutive three-and-outs on offense, a school record. That streak included four drives of negative yardage for Akron. Four of Akron’s three-and-outs came after Ohio State turnovers.
For the game, Akron had just 69 yards of total offense. After totaling 34 yards on the first drive, the Zips put up 35 yards the rest of the game. The Ohio State record for fewest yards allowed is 27 to Michigan in 1950.
The Buckeyes forced three interceptions against Washington, and also recovered a fumble on special teams.
Northwestern finished with zero yards rushing on 33 attempts. The last time the Buckeyes held an opponent to zero yards rushing was against San Jose State (0 yards, 13 attempts) Oct. 12, 2002. For the game, the Wildcats converted just 6-of-17 third-down chances.
Minnesota was held to just 45 yards rushing; Ohio State had two interceptions against the Gophers. Purdue, the Big Ten’s top offense entering the game, rushed for only 4 net yards and gained only one rushing first down. Kent State scored a field goal on its last drive of the game.
LAURINAITIS LEADS THE WAY
Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis has led or tied for the OSU team lead in tackles in 14 of the last 20 games, including a season-high 14 tackles with 1.5 TFL in the win against the Minnesota Gophers. He had a team-best 12 tackles against Michigan State.
The All-American had two interceptions, a team-high eight tackles and a 5-yard sack against the Washington Huskies, earning Big Ten defensive player of the week honors.
The junior, who won the 2006 Bronko Nagurski Award, has accounted for seven interceptions, seven sacks and 14.5 TFL (-67) during his stellar career.
He is a 2007 semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi and Butkus awards.
CORNER TO CORNER
The Buckeye secondary came up big in the win at Purdue. Corner Chimdi Chekwa was credited with 10 solo tackles and a pass deflection, earning him Big Ten defensive player of the week honors.
Corner Malcolm Jenkins had nine tackles, one for a loss, against the Boilermakers, and Donald Washington added four solo stops and a PBU. Safety Anderson Russell contributed a pair of sacks (-18) and two pass breakups.
Against Kent State, Washington scored on a 70-yard interception return and also recorded his first career sack.
DEFENSIVE BIG PLAYS
Ranked first nationally in total defense allowing just 208.5 yards per game, the Buckeye defense continues to make big play after big play.
Donald Washington’s 70-yard interception return for a touchdown was a highlight of the win over Kent State, and the first score on an interception by a Buckeye since Brandon Mitchell did it last season at Northwestern. A second-quarter Kent State fumble was forced by Doug Worthington and recovered by Shaun Lane.
Worthington recorded his first interception in the win over Michigan State, when the Buckeyes had six tackles-for-loss and four sacks against the league-leading offensive unit.
In the win at Purdue, Ohio State totaled seven pass breakups, five tackles-for-loss and three sacks against the Big Ten’s then-top-rated offense.
At Minnesota, Ohio State got interceptions from Malcolm Jenkins (3 yards) and Larry Grant (19); Grant also had a 9-yard sack, one of seven TFL for the game by the defense.
In the 58-7 win over Northwestern, junior defensive lineman Vernon Gholston scored on a 25-yard fumble return; Gholston also had a pair of sacks for -23 yards.
Nick Patterson (34 yards) and Chimdi Chekwa (9) came up with interceptions for the Buckeyes. Anderson Russell forced the fumble that led to Gholston’s score, and also recorded a 5-yard sack. The Buckeyes had five sacks and 13 tackles-for-loss against the Wildcats.
CATCHING ON
For the season, 14 different Ohio State players have caught at least one pass, with quarterback Todd Boeckman spreading the wealth in the passing game. Nine different Buckeyes have been on the receiving end of passing touchdowns.
Junior Brian Robiskie, who had six receptions for 64 yards at Purdue, is Ohio State’s top target for the season, with 37 catches for 728 yards and seven scores to his credit. Robiskie has now caught a pass in 20 regular season games in a row.
Brian Hartline has 30 catches for the season, with 360 yards and four touchdowns. He was the Buckeyes’ leading receiver with four catches against Michigan State, and he scored on a 14-yard reception against Kent State, as well as a 90-yard punt return. Hartline was on the receiving end of a 6-yard scoring strike at Purdue; his long gain against the Boilermakers was 41 yards.
Ray Small had six receptions for 70 yards at Purdue, including a 26-yard touchdown from Boeckman for the game’s first score; for the year, Small shows 13 catches for 150 yards.
Boeckman connected with nine different Buckeye targets at Minnesota, the leader being Robiskie, with five catches for 99 yards, including an acrobatic 52-yard TD dive just before halftime.
At Washington, there were six OSU different targets, led by Robiskie with 107 yards on four catches, including a 68-yard third-quarter touchdown. The leader against Northwestern again was Robiskie, whose three catches each went for scores of 42, 28 and 19 yards. Small caught a 48-yard scoring strike from Boeckman against Northwestern, the long gain of the day.
Eight Buckeyes caught passes in the win over Akron, led by Hartline with a career-best six receptions totaling 43 yards. Robiskie had four catches for 82 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown reception from Boeckman.
Nine Ohio State players had at least one reception against Youngstown State, including four who had the first receptions of their collegiate careers: fifth-year senior Trever Robinson and true freshmen Dane Sanzenbacher, Devon Torrence, and Taurian Washington.
Sanzenbacher, Washington and Robinson each scored a touchdown on his first career catch; the last Buckeye to do that was Jake Ballard against Indiana in 2006.
The receiving leader for the Buckeyes against YSU was Robiskie, who had nine catches for 153 yards. That total is the most receiving yardage by a Buckeye since Ted Ginn Jr. had 167 vs. Notre Dame in 2006 Fiesta Bowl). Robiskie’s nine grabs were a career best, topping the seven he had vs. Michigan last year. The nine receptions are the most since Ginn had 10 against Bowling Green last season.
Boeckman and Robby Schoenhoft connected with a season-best 10 targets in the win over Kent State.
SCORES AND MORE
Ohio State scored four first-quarter touchdowns against Northwestern. The last time Ohio State scored four touchdowns in the first quarter was a 1995 victory over Iowa, 56-35, in Ohio Stadium. Eddie George and Terry Glenn each scored TDs in the opening period vs. the Hawkeyes. The Buckeyes scored five touchdowns in the second quarter in a 72-0 win over Pitt in 1996.
Against Kent State, the Buckeyes scored 28 points, on touchdowns via the pass, the run, a punt return and an interception return.
The Buckeyes led Northwestern by a score of 45-0 at the half, the most first-half points since Ohio State posted 52 points (52-0) against Pitt Sept. 21, 1996.
The 58 points scored by the Buckeyes was the largest total of the Jim Tressel era. That tops the 54 points scored by the Buckeyes last season at Northwestern. The 58 points were the most since 72 scored against Pitt Sept. 21, 1996.
The 58 points were the most scored against a Big Ten opponent since a 69-18 win against Minnesota in 1983.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Ohio State holds a scoring advantage over its opponents in each quarter this season. In the first quarter, the Buckeyes have outscored the opposition 80-2. In the second quarter, Ohio State is ahead 81-17, and the Buckeyes are up 63-24 in third-quarter action. Ohio State has outscored its 2007 opponents 50-20 in fourth-quarter play.
Ohio State outscores opponents 20.1-2.3 in the first half and 14.1-5.5 in second-half action.
The Buckeyes, who rank first nationally in scoring defense, are outscoring opponents by 26.4 points per game (34.2-7.9).
BEANIE BABY
Sophomore Chris “Beanie” Wells turned in the ninth-best rushing effort in Ohio State history with 221 yards on the ground against Michigan State. His 31 carries were a high mark for Beanie, as was his 47-yard run in the first quarter. He scored on a 5-yard fourth-down gain.
The top 10 rushing performances in Ohio State history:
314 – Eddie George (Illinois, 1995)
274 – Keith Byars (Illinois, 1984)
246 – Archie Griffin (Iowa, 1973)
239 – Archie Griffin (North Carolina, 1972)
235 – Raymont Harris (BYU, 1993)
230 – Maurice Clarett (Wash. St., 2002)
229 – Ollie Cline (Pitt, 1945)
224 – Calvin Murray (Indiana, 1980)
221 – Chris Wells (Michigan St., 2007)
219 – Eddie George (Michigan St., 1994)
Beanie totaled 143 yards on 20 rushes against Akron in his first career 100-yard game. He had a 40-yard gain in the fourth quarter, the second longest in his career after a 52-yard TD run vs. Michigan last season.
At Washington, Wells ended the game with 135 yards on 24 rushes, and he totaled 100 yards on 12 carries against Northwestern (with a 36-yard touchdown) before leaving that game with an ankle injury. Beanie gained 116 yards on 24 carries in the win at Minnesota, scoring two first-quarter touchdowns (his first career multi-touchdown game).
Maurice Clarett was the last Buckeye to record 100 yards rushing in four straight contests, against Indiana, Northwestern, San Jose State and Wisconsin in 2002.
Wells left the Purdue game in the third quarter with an ankle injury after gaining 85 yards on 18 carries, and played sparingly against Kent State, gaining 17 yards on four carries with a 7-yard touchdown.
Beanie is fifth among Big Ten rushers this season at 107.9 yards per game.
BOECKMAN: PASS-EFFICIENT
In his first season as the Ohio State starting quarterback, junior Todd Boeckman has quickly moved to the top of the Big Ten in passing efficiency.
Boeckman is 120-183 passing (65.6 percent) on the year for 1,546 yards, with 18 touchdown passes against just seven interceptions. His pass efficiency rating of 161.36 leads the Big Ten signalcallers and ranks Boeckman seventh nationally.
The junior from St. Henry, Ohio, tied an Ohio State record with 12 consecutive pass completions against Kent State (2) and Michigan State (10); the mark was originally established by Bill Mrukowski (1961), Mike Tomczak (1983), Jim Karsatos (1985) and Craig Krenzel (2002).
Boeckman has completed a touchdown pass to seven different Buckeye receivers this season; his favorite target is Brian Robiskie, who has caught seven of those scores.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Ohio State special units continue to come up with big plays in 2007. Brian Hartline broke an Ohio State record that had stood since 1950 with a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown in the Kent State win. The previous OSU best was an 87-yard return by Robert Demmel against Iowa in 1950. Hartline was awarded Big Ten special teams player of the week honors.
At Purdue, Shaun Lane forced a fumble on a second-quarter Boilermaker kick return that was recovered by Aaron Gant.
Against Northwestern, Larry Grant blocked a Wildcat punt; Grant also blocked a Washington field goal attempt the previous week.
At Washington, James Scott recovered a fumble of a Husky kickoff return. Tyler Moeller blocked a punt in the season opener against Youngstown State.
COACHING STAFF ASSIGNMENTS
Here’s a breakdown of the Ohio State coaching staff assignments for the 2007 season.
On the field:
Paul Haynes: Safeties
Darrell Hazell: Wide Receivers, Assistant Head Coach
Jim Heacock: Defensive Coord., Defensive Front
John Peterson: Tight Ends, Recruiting Coord.
Dick Tressel: Running Backs
In the booth:
Jim Bollman: Offensive Coordinator, Offensive Line
Joe Daniels: Quarterbacks, Passing Game
Luke Fickell: Co-Defensive Coord., Linebackers
Taver Johnson: Cornerbacks
FOR STARTERS
When the Ohio State-Penn State game kicks off, the Buckeyes will have a total of 33 players with at least one game of starting experience.
Tops among those are: Kirk Barton (35); James Laurinaitis (21); Malcolm Jenkins (21); Vernon Gholston (19); Marcus Freeman (19); Alex Boone (18); Steve Rehring (18); and Rory Nicol (16).
First-time starters for the Buckeyes this season (17): Nader Abdallah, Jake Ballard, Todd Boeckman, Chimdi Chekwa, Kurt Coleman, Jim Cordle, Todd Denlinger, Cameron Heyward, Dionte Johnson, Dexter Larimore, Ben Person, Rob Rose, Dane Sanzenbacher, Ray Small, Chris Wells, Lawrence Wilson and Doug Worthington.
QUICK STRIKES
Fourteen of the last 26 Ohio State offensive scoring drives have taken less than 1:42.
At Minnesota, the Buckeyes covered 98 yards in four plays in just 0:57 for a 52-yard touchdown pass from Todd Boeckman to Brian Robiskie. Ohio State covered 54 yards on four plays in 1:22, culminating in a four-yard TD run by Chris Wells.
Ohio State needed just 1:10 to get on the scoreboard against Northwestern on a 42-yard TD pass from Boeckman to Robiskie.
The Buckeyes scored on drives of 0:57, 0:31, 0:57 and 1:42 at Washington. Against Northwestern, Ohio State had drives of 1:10, 0:52, 1:33, 0:48, 1:22 and 0:03.
NEW NAME, NEW ADDRESS
The home of Buckeye football is now officially the Les Wexner Football Complex at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, and its mailing address is now 525 Irving Schottenstein Drive, Columbus 43210.
Both namings recognize generous donations by those individuals and their families to The Ohio State University.
AVERAGE PER DOWN
Here is a breakdown of how the 2007 Ohio State offense is operating on first, second, third and fourth down.
On first down, the Buckeyes have run a total of 244 plays, gaining 1,665 yards for an average of 6.8 per play. On second down, OSU has tried 181 plays for 1,062 yards, a 5.9 average. On third down, the Buckeyes have run 107 plays, gaining 691 yards for a 6.5 average. Ohio State has tried only eight fourth-down attempts, gaining 23 yards.
Ohio State’s touchdowns this season have come nine times on first down (four rushing and five passing TDs), nine times on second down (five rush and four pass), 11 times on third down (nine pass and two rush) and once on fourth down (a rushing score).
MAKE THEM PUNT
Twice this season, an Ohio State opponent has set a school record for most punts in a game. Akron set a Zip record with 14 punts. Purdue’s 12 punts were the most ever in a game by a Boilermaker squad. OSU opponents are averaging 9.2 punts per game.
THREE-WAY SCORING
The win over Kent State was the first game during which the Buckeyes scored a touchdown on offense, defense and special teams since the 1997 37-13 win at Michigan State. In that contest, cornerback Gary Berry scored on a 45-yard interception return and later on a 1-yard blocked punt return; the Ohio State offensive TDs were an 11-yard pass from Joe Germaine to David Boston and a 3-yard Pepe Pearson run.
SCORELESS QUARTERS
Ohio State has held its opponent scoreless in 21 of 32 quarters of action (65.6 percent) thus far during the 2007 campaign. The No. 1-ranked Buckeye defensive unit has given up only four touchdowns, none of them at home.
HELMET STICKERS SUPPORT RON SPRINGS
The Ohio State squad is wearing small “23” decals on the back of the helmet in support of Ron Springs, a Buckeye running back from 1976-78, who is in a coma in a Dallas hospital after unsuccessful surgery. His son Shawn, currently a member of the Washington Redskins, played for Ohio State from 1994-96.
SPECIAL HONORS
The 1957 Ohio State football team, which won the national championship, posted a 9-1 record and defeated Oregon in the Rose Bowl, celebrated the 50th anniversary of that season at a reunion last weekend.
Rex Kern, who quarterbacked the Buckeyes from 1968-70, was be honored on campus for his selection to the College Football Hall of Fame. The first All-America quarterback to play for Coach Woody Hayes, Kern led OSU to three Big Ten titles and the 1968 national championship. A NFF National Scholar-Athlete, Kern earned three degrees from Ohio State. Kern will be formally inducted in ceremonies in December in New York City.
BILL WILLIS TO BE HONORED
Ohio State football legend Bill Willis will have his number retired in ceremonies at the Ohio State-Wisconsin game Nov. 3 at Ohio Stadium.
A Buckeye lineman from 1942-44, Willis was a three-year starter playing both offense and defense. The Columbus native was a devastating blocker on offense and a punishing, relentless tackler on defense, despite his willowy 6-2, 215-pound frame. Willis earned All-America honors in 1943 and 1944 (Ohio State’s first-such African-American honoree), and was a key part of the Buckeyes’ 1942 national championship squad.
Willis went on to a distinguished career with the Cleveland Browns (1946-53); he is considered to be the first African-American starter after the re-integration of professional football.
“Bill Willis is the ultimate Buckeye. His record of accomplishment on the field and the class and dignity he exudes exemplify the qualities of Ohio State. He is the consummate gentleman,” Gene Smith, Ohio State director of athletics, said. “Recognizing his career and legacy as an athletics pioneer by retiring his jersey number is a way to salute not just the Willis family, but the Buckeye program overall.”
Willis, who is retired from his career as director of the Ohio Youth Commission, is a member of the Ohio High School, Ohio State Athletics, College Football and Pro Football halls of fame. Willis, who celebrated his 86th birthday Oct. 5, still lives in the Columbus area, as do two of his three sons.
“Bill Willis is an inspiration to all Buckeye fans and football fans in general,” Jim Tressel, Ohio State head football coach, said. “His career was unparalleled and the class he has always demonstrated is extraordinary. It has been an honor to get to know Mr. Willis.”
Willis’ No. 99 jersey will be retired from service after the 2008 season. Other Ohio State retired numbers since 1999: Archie Griffin (45); Vic Janowicz (31); Howard “Hopalong” Cassady (40); Les Horvath (22); Eddie George (27); and Charles “Chic” Harley (47).
“It’s great to see Bill’s number retired. He is certainly an icon, and his achievements have been a pinnacle at all levels of football. The recognition is very deserving,” Griffin, president of the Ohio State Alumni Association, said. The two-time Heisman Trophy winner was the first Buckeye athlete to have his number retired in any sport.
MAKING THE GRADE
Four former Ohio State walk-ons have been put on scholarship aid for the fall quarter. Offensive lineman Dan Dye is a finance major; wide receiver David Lisko is studying political science and pre-law; long snapper Dimitrios Makridis will complete his degree in operations management and logistics; and punter/holder Jon Thoma is working toward a communications degree.
Not SINCE 1922-24
Ohio State ranks second among all NCAA Div. I programs with 82 consecutive seasons since last posting back-to-back losing records. The Buckeyes have not been under .500 for two or more consecutive seasons since 1922-24, which trails only Tennessee, which has not had back-to-back losing seasons since 1909-11, a span of 95 consecutive seasons.
| School | Years | Last |
| Tennessee | 95 | 1909-11 |
| Ohio State | 82 | 1922-24 |
| Southern Miss | 72 | 1933-34 |
| Arizona State | 59 | 1946-47 |
| Alabama* | 49 | 1854-57 |
| Nebraska | 45 | 1956-61 |
| Southern Cal | 45 | 1960-61 |
| Michigan | 43 | 1962-63 |
| Georgia | 43 | 1961-63 |
HONOR ROLL
A league-best 23 Ohio State football players were named to the Big Ten’s 2006 all-academic team, marking the fifth year in a row the Buckeyes led the conference. Additionally, a record 54 Ohio State football players qualified for the annual OSU Scholar-Athlete Dinner in May, which requires a grade-point average of 3.00 or better for the past academic year. That number was an increase from the previous best of 46 established in 2006.
SUCCESS AGAINST THE BEST
Since 2005, Ohio State has won 27 of its last 28 games. During that tear, the Buckeyes have recorded wins over six of college football’s most successful programs: Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Penn State, Illinois and Iowa.
Michigan tops the all-time victories list (866-282-36), Notre Dame is second (822-270-42) and Texas ranks fourth (815-312-33). The Buckeyes are fifth all-time with 795 wins and Penn State is sixth (786). Illinois (554) and Iowa (554) rank in the Top 50 on the all-time wins list.
WHERE THEY GO NEXT
Ohio State hosts Wisconsin next Saturday. Kickoff time and television coverage have not yet been announced. Penn State hosts Purdue that day.
