Video: Hear from the 2008 Varsity “O” Hall of Famers – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | General
Watch interviews with Drew Durbin, Bob Hoying, Krista Keir, Amy Langhals and Jeff Uhlenhake
On July 9, the Ohio State Varsity “O” Association announced it will induct 12 members into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame Friday and Saturday.
The class will be officially inducted in two separate ceremonies Friday and introduced to the public at halftime of the Ohio State home football game against Ohio Saturday.
The 2008 class includes: Men Drew Durbin (gymnastics), John Edwards (baseball), Bobby Hoying (football), Fred Keller (lacrosse and soccer), Bob Todd (baseball coach) and Jeff Uhlenhake (football); Women Krista Keir (track and field), Amy Langhals (golf), Maxi Meissner (rowing), Megan Mirick (lacrosse), Carolina Moraes (synchronized swimming) and Isabela Moraes (synchronized swimming).
At the links above, watch videos of the hall of famers as they react to their inductions.
2008 Ohio State Hall of Fame Inductees (Men)
Bob Todd, Baseball Coach 1987-present
Bob Todd has been the head coach of the Ohio State baseball team since 1988. In his 21 seasons at the helm, Todd has won 831 games, the most in school history, and he has led the team to 14 Big Ten Conference regular season or tournament championships. In January of 2009, he will be inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Ohio State has won six Big Ten regular season championships under Todd and eight Big Ten tournaments. He has led the program to 12 NCAA regional appearances (1991-95, 1997, 1999, 2001-03, 2005, 2007). He has coached Ohio State teams to 30 or more wins every season and his teams have made 20 of 21 Big Ten tournaments, including a Big Ten record 12 consecutive tournament appearances from 1997-2008. Todd guided the Buckeyes to two regional championships and appearances in super regionals in 1999 and 2003. The program won a school-record 52 games in 1991 and his teams have never had a losing season, winning 40 or more games 10 times. Todd is one of only two conference coaches to win more than 300 Big Ten games and he is 395-229 (.633) in Big Ten Conference play. Todd has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year four times (1989, ’94, ’99, and ’01), the most of any Big Ten coach. He was nominated for national coach of the year honors in 1991, ’94, ’99 and ’03 and was chosen National Coach of the Year in 1994 by the Columbus Touchdown Club. In 1994 and ’01, Todd was an assistant coach for Team USA.
Drew Durbin, Gymnastics 1994-97
Drew Durbin was a six-time All-American gymnast and three-time national champion on pommel horse. A four-year letterwinner, Durbin was named All-Big Ten each of his four seasons and Big Ten Gymnast of the Year in 1994, his freshman season. In 1996, Durbin was a member of the Buckeyes’ national championship squad. That same season Durbin set the program record on pommel horse, recording a 9.975 at the NCAA East Regional. The next season, 1997, Durbin and his teammates set the OSU team record on pommel horse with a score of 39.000. In his career, Durbin won five Big Ten individual championships, two each on pommel horse and parallel bars and one in the all-around.
Bobby Hoying, Football 1993-95
A three-year starter, Bobby Hoying is one of the all-time great Buckeye quarterbacks. In his career, Hoying led Ohio State to a combined record of 30-7-1 and rewrote the passing record book. As a senior in 1995, he was elected team captain and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. Hoying set or tied numerous records while at Ohio State, with most of his production coming in the last two seasons of his career. In 1995, Hoying set the record for season passing efficiency (163.4), games with 200 yards passing in a season (11), total offense in a season (3,290), touchdown passes in a career (57) and most completions in a career (498), and tied his prior record of touchdown passes in a game (5 vs. Purdue in 1994 and at Pitt in ’95). Also in his senior season, Hoying had the second-most yards passing in a season (3,269), second-most completions in a season (211), fourth-best completion percentage for a season (.619, 211/341) and second-most touchdown passes (29). Hoying led Ohio State to a share of the Big Ten title in 1993 and a final AP ranking of 11. In 1994, Hoying went 20 for 24 with five touchdown passes against Purdue, giving him the third-best completion percentage (.833) in a game and most touchdown passes (5). Other career records include first in 200-yard passing games (16), second in career total offense (7,151 yards) and passing yards in a career (7,232), and fourth in career completion percentage (.580, 498/858). Hoying set the record for most consecutive games of 100 or more yards passing with 17. In 1995, Hoying, a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, won the Vincent DePaul Draddy Award, which goes annually to the top senior student-athlete in college football. After graduating, Hoying played in the NFL for five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders.
Hoying Quotes
On his legacy at Ohio State
“I was part of a group of offensive players that really changed the identity of Ohio State. For as far as I could remember Ohio State football, growing up it was always I-formation, run right, run left, play-action pass. But when I was here, as (former Ohio State head coach) John Cooper came in and (former Ohio State offensive coordinator) Walt Harris came in, we were able to open things up and change the way we played, which is something I’m proud of. I was very fortunate to be here at a time when I had so much talent around me, either catching passes or blocking in front of me.”
On what Ohio State and Columbus mean to him
“I’ve lived here for nine years now. It’s something my buddies in the National Football League ask me, Why would you move back to Columbus?’ especially after I played in California for the Raiders. I just tell them you have to go to Columbus and Ohio State to understand what it is like there.”
John Edwards, Baseball 1958
John Edwards was a stand-out catcher for the baseball team in 1958. That season, he made only three errors behind the plate, compiling a fielding percentage of .973. Edwards also led the team in hits with 24. He went on to have a successful 14-year career in the major leagues, where he was a three-time All-Star (1963-65) and two-time Gold Glove winner (1963-64) at catcher. Edwards competed in two World Series, 1961 with the Cincinnati Reds and 1968 with the St. Louis Cardinals. The 1969 season with the Houston Astros was Edwards’ best as he garnered votes for the National League MVP award.
Jeff Uhlenhake, Football 1985-88
A four-year letterwinner, Jeff Uhlenhake was a first-team All-American and team MVP in 1988, his senior season with the Buckeyes. He was also elected team captain as a senior. In 1986, Uhlenhake was first-team All-Big Ten and helped lead Ohio State to a share of the Big Ten championship. Uhlenhake played in two bowl games, including the Buckeyes’ upset of Texas A&M in the 1987 Cotton Bowl. Uhlenhake went on to play 10 seasons in the NFL.
Uhlenhake Quotes
On his former teammates and coaches at Ohio State
“Chris Spielman was a guy I used to play with who would drive you every day. Tom Tupa was my roommate for four years. These two guys along with a cast of others, including Coach Bruce and Coach Cooper, are people that I truly have appreciated helping me getting to where I am today.”
On coming back to coach with Jim Tressel at Ohio State
“Coach Jim Tressel is one of the most remarkable people I’ve ever been around. He helps kids on and off the field, making sure they become better people and students. He has had a huge impact on this program.”
Fred Keller, Lacrosse 1956-58 and Soccer 1955-57
Fred Keller was a two-sport star at Ohio State, earning six letters, three each in soccer (1955-57) and lacrosse (1956-58). In both 1957 and ’58, Keller received All-America accolades and was named to the All-Midwest Lacrosse Association squad. In 1958, Keller had 14 goals to lead the team and was second with 17 points while serving as a team co-captain. During the 1957 campaign, he was second on the team in goals (16) and third with 20 points. He was a second-team All-MLA selection in 1956.
2008 Ohio State Hall of Fame Inductees (Women)
Carolina Moraes, Synchronized Swimming 1999-02
Carolina Moraes is one of the most decorated synchronized swimmers in Ohio State history, winning 11 national championships, including the coveted team routine title in 2000. A four-year letterwinner, Moraes, along with her sister, Isabela, was a member of the duet and trio routines that won the national title four-consecutive years from 1999 to ’02. Moraes also was the solo champion in 2001 and ’02. Moraes was a member of three national championship squads during her career (2000-02). In her senior season, Moraes was a Big Ten Medal of Honor finalist. At the 2000 and ’04 Olympics, Moraes and Isabela competed in the duet routine for their home country of Brazil. During her time at Ohio State, Moraes was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient and four-time OSU Scholar Athlete and Honorary Academic All-American.
Isabela Moraes, Synchronized Swimming 1999-02
Isabela Moraes finished her career at Ohio State as an 11-time national champion. Isabela contributed to the national champion squads that captured three consecutive team routine crowns from 2000-02. From 1999-2002, Moraes, along with her sister, Carolina, was a member of the national champion duet and trio routines. She was a finalist for the Big Ten Medal of Honor her senior season. A four-year letterwinner, Moraes was Academic All-Big Ten on three occasions and a four-time OSU Scholar Athlete and Honorary Academic All-American. In 2000 and 2004, Moraes and her sister, Carolina, represented Brazil in the Olympics in the duet routine.
Amy Langhals, Women’s Golf 1994-97
During her career at Ohio State, Amy Langhals was a three-time All-Big Ten honoree and capped off her career as the 1997 Big Ten Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-America honoree. As a senior, she was named the Ohio State Female Athlete of the Year after leading the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title while capturing the individual championship. That season the Buckeyes won the NCAA East Regional before finishing tied for eighth at the NCAA championships. A four-year letterwinner, Langhals was a two-time captain and began her career as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She claimed medalist honors three times during her career while leading the Buckeyes to victory in eight tournaments and14 runner-up finishes. After graduating from Ohio State with a degree in sport and exercise science, Langhals played professionally for several years, including two years on the LPGA TOUR. She returned to Ohio State as the assistant women’s golf coach in 2005.
Langhals Quotes
On being inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame
“It’s just an honor to be nominated. I had been nominated before, so it was almost a relief that I made it.”
On the 2008 Hall of Fame class
“I’ve learned a lot today about the class. I was actually getting goose bumps hearing all of the other people’s rsum and accomplishments. This is a great class to go in with.”
On joining Jack Nicklaus in the Varsity “O” Hall of Fame
“I didn’t think I’d ever be in his league but it’s nice to share something with him now.”
Krista Keir, Women’s Track and Field 2000-03
Krista Keir was a three-time NCAA women’s track and field qualifier and the 2002 Big Ten discus champion. In 2002, Keir finished third at the Big Ten Championships in the shot put and garnered a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships in discus. Keir qualified for both the indoor and outdoor NCAA Championships in 2003 in the shot put. During her career at Ohio State, Keir set the Ohio State and Big Ten indoor shot put records and the Ohio State discus record. In 2001, Keir represented the United States at the World University Games competing in discus. She graduated from Ohio State summa cum laude in 2003 with a degree in education.
Keir Quotes
On being inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame
“It’s such an honor to be a part of such an amazing group of women. When I competed here I just did my thing and never even thought about the accolades that went along with it. Now that I’m here, I’m just thrilled.”
On being the first thrower inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame
“When I think of the caliber of athletes that were here when I was, it’s just amazing to me that I fit into such an elite group of people here. Usually the field events take a backseat to the runners but today I’m glad we can step out a little bit.”
Megan Mirick, Women’s Lacrosse 1999-02
Megan Mirick is one of the most decorated OSU women’s lacrosse players in the program’s history. A four-year letterwinner, as a senior Mirick was the American Lacrosse Conference Player of the Year and the program’s first first-team All-American. She was also a finalist for the Ohio State University Lacrosse Player of the Century award. Mirick concluded her career with the most goals (143) in Ohio State history and second in career scoring (182). She also had the most goals (53) and third-most points (59) in a single season. During her time at Ohio State, she was a three-time Ohio State Scholar Athlete, three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and an Academic All-American Lacrosse Conference honoree. Mirick joined the Ohio State coaching staff following her playing career.
Maxi Meissner, Rowing 2000-03
Maxi Meissner was a key part of Ohio State’s first Big Ten rowing championship team in 2002. The two-time captain was twice a first-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten rower. In 2001 and ’03, Meissner was selected to the first-team All-Central Region team. Those same years, she was named MVP of the rowing team. Meissner was a four-time Ohio State Scholar Athlete and three-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient. In 2003, she was named the most outstanding student from the Midwestern Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine.
