Buckeyes Celebrate National Championship – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 24, 2015
- Photo Gallery
- Video Highlights (Courtesy The Big Ten Network)
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Approximately 45,000 fans filled A and B Decks in Ohio Stadium Saturday, with some fans even sprinkled into C Deck, to celebrate and salute the 2014 national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, winners of the first College Football Playoff national championship.
“There are going to be many thoughts throughout history when you remember the 2014 Ohio State Buckeyes,” head coach Urban Meyer, a winner of three national championships and one of only two coaches to win national titles at two different schools, said. “This is the most selfless group of players and people that I have ever been around.”
And then he gave some examples of what this team of champions was all about.
- Like introducing the crowd to senior walk-on, Nic Sarac, who earned a scholarship only to have Nik and his Dad tell Meyer to “give the scholarship to someone who needs it. We can afford it. Give it back to your team.”
And then recognizing and naming Evan Spencer as an official team captain for the season for hisselfless play. He described how Spencer, in the semifinal win overAlabama in the Sugar Bowl, threw a touchdown pass, made a key blockto spring Ezekiel Elliott on a game-clinching touchdown, and thenrecovered the onside kick. And finally touching on one of the mostintriguing stories in college football this year: Ohio State losinga Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback, Braxton Miller, only to have J.T. Barrett step up and become a Heisman Trophy candidatehimself, and then Cardale Jones taking over to win three of the biggest games inschool history. Their support for each other throughout the seasonbecoming one of the most selfless acts for a team full of guysplaying for each other.
All three quarterbacks, called a magnificent trio, by Meyer, took a turn at the microphone and each received a warm and resounding roar from the crowd.
And so did captain Jeff Heuerman. And defensive coordinator Luke Fickell. And new offensive coordinator Ed Warinner. And Spencer who, like many who spoke, praised the Ohio State fans.
“This means so much to me,” Spencer said. “Buckeye nation: we love you and this is for you. This is for the state of Ohio. I can’t be prouder playing with the group of guys that I did. Go Bucks!”
Dignitaries from Congress, the state of Ohio and the city of Columbus praised the team, as did president Michael V. Drake.
The Big Ten Network carried the celebration live, as did the IMG Sports Radio Network, and more than 125 press credentials were issued.
Representatives from the three major national championship awarding organizations – the College Football Playoff, the American Football Coaches Association and the Associated Press – each awarded Meyer and the team with their official national championship trophies, with the College Football Playoff trophy receiving the longest and loudest road.
The Buckeyes, after all, are the first-ever College Football Playoff national champions.
