Looking Back: The 1998 Buckeye Football Team
Better tackler than studentIn an effort to battle the CFB blogging dead period — or what most people call “June” and “July”, we thought we’d take a look back at the 1998 Buckeye football team, a team that may rival the talent assembled for 2008. This week, we’ll take an introductory look at that team.
With nine starters returning on each side of the ball, it’s hard to remember a Buckeye team more loaded heading into a season. Two years ago a similar situation existed, but even then the offense still had to replace Santonio Holmes who was good for 900+ receiving. While there are components of the 2006 squad that appear to be better than their 2008 equivalents, this year’s team is deeper and ultimately better.
The 2002 team was deep and talented, but to find a comparable team, you probably have to go back a decade to the 1998 squad. That team, for my money, is the most talented Buckeye team ever assembled. A stunning home loss to Michigan State denied that team a chance at the championship, but from a returning talent perspective, there are a lot of similarities between the 1998 and the 2008 teams.
Although three Buckeyes were selected in the NFL draft last month, Gholston is the only one that will be playing on Sundays. So chalk that up as one difference-maker lost to the NFL. The 1998 team entered the season after seeing no Buckeyes taken in that year’s NFL draft — the first and only time that’s ever happened. 1998 featured 17 returning starters and 17 seniors, while the Buckeyes head into 2008 with 18 returning starters and a 27 seniors. Each team also returned this ammo following a 10-win season (which seemed a lot more impressive in 1998 than it does now — thanks Tress).
The 1998 team looks to be superior at certain positions (Germaine and Boston over Boeckman and Robiskie), but 2008 wins its share of position battles (Beanie over Wiley and Boone over Walter). Other positions are almost too close to call (enter the Katzenmoyer/Laurinaitis debate). You have to give the edge to Tressel in the coaching matchup, but did 1998 have a better strength and conditioning program?
Next week, I’ll break down the 1998 and 2008 offenses. If you were too young or have forgotten how awesome the 1998 Buckeyes were, this should catch you up:
I think you left the most talented team off the poll. The 2005 Buckeyes were the most talented squad, at least under Tressel anyway. I really believe had they beat Texas, they would have went all the way….
I actually think the squad this year is the most talented tressel has had so far.
That 2005 loss to Texas was indeed a heartbreaker, and probably sank OSU’s season. Starting the year with a suspended QB didn’t help, either. Troy wasn’t right until late in the season – right on time for the finale, though.
I think the 1998 squad got better line play – on both sides – than this year’s team will, and Germaine would light up the Big T(elev)en with our current group of receivers. I always thought Michael Wiley was a pedestrian back – Wells is a definite upgrade. The 1998 squad was a little quicker, top to bottom, though.
Enough for now. I have to jump in my truck and get over to Hilliard, log in as someone else, and disagree with myself.
-Joe Bauserman
2008 will have the crown soon enough, I think.
I agree Wiley was a pedestrian back, I thought Joe Montgomery should have been the starter that whole year. Oh well, had we won that game we may have never been blessed with “The Vest.”
Joe Montgomery was a devil of a back, and only injuries kept him from really setting things on fire at OSU. He still hung around the pros for three years – no mean feat for a running back. Guy had legs like tree trunks.
The 1998 team was special. If not for that loss of concentration and failure to go for the jugular against MSU (we were up 17-3 at one point in the first half) we surely would have played Tennecheat for the national title. Then the stupid 0-for-whatever against SEC teams would have been history after we rolled over them for the first BCS championship. But that’s really the story of JHC in a nutshell.
I thought I’d be alone in saying the 2005 group was the most talented. It was a better team by the end of the year than either the ‘06 and ‘07 NC teams.
The Smith suspension was indeed a huge set-back. Its not like there weren’t many chances to win the Texas game that were squandered (the Hamby drop haunts me even today and I wake up screaming “Somebody tackle him” thinking about that Texas idiot running around his own endzone on a kick-off). A sharp Troy Smith would have capitalized on enough of those chances to win as well as been much more efficient in Happy Valley.
After ‘05 I’d put the ‘98 team from just pure talent. I’ll never forget sitting by a lovely old Texas A&M fan in the ‘99 Sugar Bowl when she asked me, “What in the world do you feed those boys.” She was pointing at Katzenmoyer. This team would have dismanteled that putrid excuse for a national champion, Tennessee, had they not gaffed.
2002 follows ‘98. Number one in heart, number three in talent. I would have put ‘03 here, but the hole left in the backfield by MC was too much to overcome.
We’ll see what 2008 has for us. I think this edition of the Buckeyes is solid top to bottom and very deep. However, aside from Beanie, Jenkins, and Laurinitis I’m not sure who the “game changers” will be. Don’t get me wrong, the sky is the limit for this team, but they have to earn it to be on this list.
It was before my time, but the 1969 Buckeyes certainly deserve to be on this list. scUM’s upset that year is still one of the greatest upsets of all-time because of the talent in Columbus that year.
So yeah.
Who else watched the re-airing of the ‘98 MSU game on Big Ten this past fall?
They aired it the week of the Illini game. Still think it was a curse to this day.
Pogue,
The real “curse” of the Illinois game was that we played a VERY physical Wisconsin team the week before. Only Penn State beat Indiana the week after playing Wisconsin, and Indiana beat Ball State the week after playing Wisconsin. Every other Big Ten team the Badgers played lost the week after their game. That includes the quirky upsets of Illinois over OSU, Iowa over Illinois, and Northwestern over MSU.
Thankfully, we get Purdue in “The Shoe” after this year’s Wisky game.
While the 2005 team was playing at its best at the end of the season, when it really counts, the beginning of the season was what we call offensively inept. Troy Smith/Justin Zwick, Ted Ginn Jr, and Antonio Pittman didn’t really break out in the Texas game (144 yds passing 111 yds rushing) or Penn State game (230 yds). I was always disappointed we didn’t see a more mobile Smith in 2006, it would have skyrocketed his draft stock if not for the championship game.
Still it was leaps and bounds above 2004.
What if 2008 is leaps and bounds above 2007?
Hot damn, Brotherbuck. Big ups for the research. Wisconsin did kick our ass for the majority of that game. Casillas is a beast.
Agreed. BrotherBuck is on to something.
Even post-Alvarez, you gotta give it up for the Badgers. They bring the wood every week. I think it has contibuted to their injury issues, but you know every team in the Big Ten better be ready to “strap it up” during Wisky week.
By the way. Wisconsin is the only Big Ten team with a winning record against Jim Tressel at Ohio State (3-2).
ill take the 95 team with eddie, t glenn, bobby hoying, i think we had mike vrabel on d with shawn springs. I know im leaving some out but that team was loaded.
ill take the 95 team with eddie, t glenn, bobby hoying, i think we had mike vrabel on d with shawn springs. I know im leaving some out but that team was loaded.http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1287679
O pace was on that team as well. Maybe the best olinemen in college football ever. The year before they had Joey galloway along with t glenn, eddie, and Hoying. This years team should be better if we get a wr to step up big time.
I’m not convinced the Bucks’ run defense in 1995 was up to par… and no, I’m not just thinking of that, well… you know…
That said, the offense was one of the most potent in Buckeye history. The strong side of their offensive line (Dudley and Pace, Dudley mostly lined up on the left) were invincible. Never felt their right side (Porter at Center, Daniels at RG, and Gohlstin at RT) was anything more than ordinary.
Terry Glenn caught about 7 passes in 1994, so I wouldn’t include him in the discussion for 1994.
glenn was included with galloway in 94 because the question is what team was the most “talented” not the best. The best team would be 2002 or 68. The most talented had to be 94 with O pace, Eddie, T glenn, and galloway, vrabel. All pro talent not just college talent
“I agree Wiley was a pedestrian back, I thought Joe Montgomery should have been the starter that whole year. Oh well, had we won that game we may have never been blessed with “The Vest.—
You can poop your pants on that one, Wil. Just poop ‘em and be done with it!
I crapped my pants 5 times during the game…….don’t think I need to do it anymore.
come on guys…my era was the best. plus, i can play safety!
I need help- I have been trying to figure out who this kicker was who played for OSU but wasn’t very good. I think he played around the same time as Bellisari but I am not sure. Can anyone help?!?!?