Hard to believe it's been 21 years since Woody's passing. As recounted last year, and like most of us, I remember exactly where I was and exactly how I was told of his death. I was in 8th grade at the time but used to go to the elementary school across the street to shoot hoops with my old gym teacher before the bus arrived.
Armed with the bad news, my mom actually walked over to the school and came inside the gym to tell me. Due to my age, I barely had any personal recollection of Woody coaching but growing up in a Buckeye family, I definitely understood the magnitude of what I had just heard. I apologize to the 17 visitors who read this last year but it's always the first thing I think of when the topic of Woody's death comes up. Where were you when you heard the news?
Each year, various media outlets compile interviews, quotes etc. for inclusion in articles to commemorate the anniversary but this one from the Dispatch last year is one of my favorites.In honor of the great Woody Hayes, we recently added a few shirts to the 11W store showcasing two of our favorite quotes from the most important figure in the history of Ohio State Football.
The guy built a football machine and with it a culture that makes makes Football Saturday's the best 13 days of the year. His key achievements include:
- Won five national titles (1970, 1968, 1961, 1957 and 1954)
- Won 13 Big Ten championships
- Won 205 overall and 152 conference games
- Led Ohio State to 11 bowl games (eight Rose Bowls)
- Took Ohio State to four-consecutive Rose Bowls (1972-75)
- Produced 56 first team All-Americans
- Coached three Heisman Trophy and three Outland Trophy winners
- Coached two Lombardi Award winners
We tip our 40 to the one and only Wayne Woodrow Hayes.
Comments
I was at school - high school, to be exact - when I heard the news, and our school let out early. I kid you not.
My mother let me stay home and watch his funeral on television. I remember being both very saddened that Woody had died, and amazed that so many ex-presidents came to his funeral. I was particularly excited to see Nixon there.
Next to his firing, Woody's death is one of the most vivid "Where was I?" dates in my mind.
I still have my copies of the Dispatch, the Lantern and a few other newspapers announcing his death, too.
I think even more than his achievements on the field in building a great program, Woody was a great human being that constantly gave selflessly of his time and fame to help the disabled and less fortunate. The sad thing is that many non-OSU fans remember him, not for his wins and impressive resume, or the great work he did in the community, but for one lapse of judgement where he punched an opposing player.
Pay it forward is one of the greatest sentiments uttered by a sports personality and is truly a motto to live by.
I still could have been aborted when he died, still in the womb, to be born 8 months later.
Off topic. But in case you might want a gage about how USC feels about the game against OSU, here is a quote from one of the quarterbacks:
Q: Who would you like to play if you won the job and led USC to the national championship game?
A: Oh man, that's easy. Florida. I think that there's a lot of other teams and I think everybody's kind of sick to death of hearing about the other teams. We play one of them this year. . . . Florida, at least the way I've seen it, has been I guess you could say our equivalent, not in the sense they've had our history in the last five or six years, just in the fact that they're the big team. They're the sexy team in the East. On the East Coast they're it.
full article: http://www.latimes.com/sports/...
That's some crazy smack, AB.
Somewhat inline with the anniversary of Woody's death is that 20 years ago today spawned the genesis of the Rick Roll.
I lived in the Stadium Dorm in '84-'86. Woody came each year just to talk. He would stand at a podium and take questions for 2 hours. A great man and the epitome of what being a Buckeye is all about. I was able to attend his Memorial in the stadium in '87 and remember one quote distinctly, when told he was graduating football players at a 89% rate he looked down, shook his head and said, "well I guess were just not doing our job." However, if you are thinking of posting another Favorite Quote shirt, I would go with, "Because they wouldn't let me go for 3!"
Rest well in football heaven W.W., we have it under control down here.
That's a great Woody story. Thanks for sharing.
Put this one on a T and I'll buy it - "Because they wouldn't let me go for three."
Arkansas Buckeye - Can you blame him? He played in the eeeeeCEEEEEseeee.
Couldn't cut it at Arkansas.
Besides, I head James Laurinaitis wasn't only going to get in his face, he was going to get inside his face.
To get inside his face, or even in his face means we must blitz a little. I'll believe it when I see it.