Spielman Answers Hall Call
Spielman’s porn ’stache will be inducted in 2010Finally, Chris Spielman has been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
He becomes the 28th Buckeye to receive the honor and I can’t stress enough how happy I am personally to be able to post the news on our site. Besides being my favorite Buckeye of all time (by a mile) he’s also easily the most humble, classy, honest and giving of them all.
Throw in all the work he and Stephanie have done to raise money and awareness in their very personal battle with cancer and you’ve got a guy who is also a first ballot selection in the Human Being Hall of Fame. And how impressive was it to watch him handle a career ending injury when you know the man was put on this earth to play middle linebacker? There’s never been a more class guy off the football field.
On the field, Spielman was an absolute beast and his intensity completely engulfed those around him. He looked the part roaming the field in his neckroll, hand guards and full fledged porn ’stache with nothing but bad intentions.
Not only did he look the part, but he played the part racking up credentials that jump off the page:
- 1987 Lombardi Award winner
- Two time All-American
- OSU all time leader in solo tackles with 283
- Third on OSU all time total tackles list with 546
- OSU single season solo tackle record holder with 105
- Three time all Big Ten selection
- School record 29 tackles against Michigan in 1986
In his honor, I’d like it if you could all chime in with your favorite stories or memories about the great #36. For me, I’d have to go with the 1985 upset of Iowa in the rain at the ‘Shoe. Taking on Chuck Long and the high powered Hawkeye attack, Spielman blew up for 19 tackles including a huge 4th and 1 stop of Ronnie Harmon preserving a 15-7 lead late in the 3rd quarter. Spielman also intercepted Long twice in what was one of the most dominating defensive efforts I’ve ever witnessed.
Speilman spent the first quarter of his first game as a frosh, pacing up and down the sidelines behind Earl Bruce, screaming “Play Me” until Earl gave in and put him in the game. He never came out again. He wasn’t the biggest, wasn’t the strongest, wasn’t the fastest, but he was the smartest and had the best instincts of any LB I have ever seen. Way to go Chris, You’ve always made Buckeyes proud you were one of us!
we live in a day and age where most football players are better at playing football than they are at being human beings. me-first attitudes, guns, arrests, thug culture, DUIs, drugs, etc. chris spielman was never one of those people.
great football players, better person. congrats to the most deserving member of this class.
you have represented ohio state in a positive way every day since you stepped on campus, and for that we thank you, sir.
Amen Morgan. Spiels is a rare combination of great player and great person. Buckeye Nation is lucky to call Spiels one of their own. Congrats Chris!
I was fortunate enough to play baseball at Ohio State when Spielman played. While playing outfield in practice (our practice field was right next to the football practice field) I would watch Spiel and Pepper practice right next to me. He would often come to baseball games and I would pass him mornings on the oval walking to class. He would always have a giant dip in which had to be at least half a tin. From that point on, a giant dip is now referred to as a “Spielman”. It was a pleasure to watch him on the football field and I was standing on the field at the end of the Iowa game in the rain when he made that great interception. One of the greatest Buckeyes ever and his disdain for Michigan is admirable,
I was at Earle’s last game in 1987. Spielman’s heart and leadership that day (and every day before that) will never be forgotten.
As a great aside, my dad’s boss was a Michigan alum and had season tickets in the Victor’s Section. That’s where we sat, in our scarlet and gray, cheering on the Buckeyes much to the dismay of the pissants around us.
I remember watching Earle’s last game vs Michigan on TV… spielman was awesome that day and he led the carrying of the coach after that great victory.
awesome day. i was out on the field after the game standing 3 feet from spielman in the post-game euphoria.
Spielman was before my time, but you gotta respect anoyone putting up 29 tackles against scUM. His other stats make him look like a beast as well. Plus I can relate in a way as Katzenmoyer is my favorite football player of all time and that will never change. Even though injuries stopped his career I don’t think I will ever see anyone as good as him again.
The Big Kat was a great player. He had it all, size, speed, instincts, but he lacked the one thing Speils had, HEART. That’s why Speilman is the best in OSU history. If Katz had Speils heart, he would have been banned from the game for killing guys on the field.
haha, sounds like Speils was someone I wish I seen play in scarlet. I think I remember him on the lions but might be confusing him with Stephon Boyd. He played when I was real young.
He was an animal. He had studied so much that he knew where a play was going as the ball was being snapped. Then he had the innate ability to shed blockers and get to the ball carrier. Once he got there, he threw himself into the tackle as if his life depended on it. He always played with class, but he also played with bad intentions.
I have to say even tho im to young to remember what all he did on the field I know he is my favorite buck of all time. the class he showed when his wife was sick and the way he played as a pro. This guy should have been in the hall sooner. if it wasnt for the injury bug he still might be playing in the nfl. I would love to see him come on as a d.coach and make his way up to being the head coach. (after tress of course) Spielman today the buck nation salutes you!
Chris was an absolute beast. Although I never got to see him play at OSU as I was too young, I do remember him when he was with the Lions. Although, My favorite linebacker was Katzenmoyer too; he doesn’t stack up to the man that Chris Spielman is.
Doesn’t Chris have a son that is in high school now? Anyword if he plays linebacker?
Sorry to stop the fellating…While I respect the on the field accomplishments and charity work, many people who’ve spent time around him don’t have many nice things to say about his character.
Not the time or the place.
Go write this stuff on a UM blog.
Spiels was the first athlete that got me paying attention to sports. I remember turning to my dad as a 12 year old and asking who #36 was, because he is in on EVERY play. As Chris said, Spiels has always been my favorite Buckeye by a landslide.
Nowadays, he constantly makes me laugh on my drive home from work and for me, is one of the top college football in-game analyst. How about him on the sidelines of the OU/OSU game last year? I thought he was going to jump into the OSU huddle and grab dudes by the facemask.
…and he should have
I wasn’t born until 1985, but all you have to do is listen to Spielman and his tenacity to know he was a beast. His color commentary is gold. “You gotta drive to the ground young man!”
My favorite memory is a little different. Being a Buckeye & Browns fan that has lived in Ohio his whole life, I grew up as a little guy watching Spielman for the Buckeyes and followed his career into the pros with Detroit and Buffalo….He was a man among boys everywhere he played. But my absolute favorite memory was watching him walk out for his first practice as a Brown, knowing that he was a Browns fan growing up and looking at the determination on his face gave me goose-bumps. Sadly he was never able to play a game for the Browns and I was crushed when I heard the news as I’m sure he was. But, that first moment I saw him walking out, I didn’t think there could be anything better in the world.
Congratulations 3-6, no one deserves it more than you…..and it is WAY overdue.
Congrats to Chris! To andswer the question he does have a 12 year old son who plays LB. Kid looks like he is 17 already. Gonna be a beast
My favorite Spielman story happened far away from the football field. I was a student at OSU at the same time he was, and I often ran into him in the game room at the old Ohio Union. We both shared a love for the game “Mat Mania”, which was a professional wrestling game in the tradition of “Punch Out”. Eventually, I became so proficient at the game that I could play endlessly. One time I was playing I noticed Spielman come over and start waiting to play. As time went on, he became increasingly restless, spitting his dip on the carpet in between the game machines. I started to feel the menacing glare of a guy who could have broken me in half had he wanted to, and so I decided that discretion was the better part of valor and handed the rest of my game over to him. He was very appreciative, and I was happy to escape with all of my limbs intact.
I was fortunate to have met Chris on the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer in Feb. If you are not aware, this cruise raises money for the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at Ohio State’s James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. One of the many activities was “Football 101, for ladies only” taught by Ryan Miller and Craig Krenzel. When Ryan Miller was talking about the D, Chris happened to wander in eating an ice cream cone. We were on this ship for 5 days and I never once saw him without an ice cream cone. Anyway, as Miller was speaking, Chris jumped on the stage and pushed him aside. He then proceeded to tell us all we needed to know: “SEE BALL GET BALL.” After repeating that a couple of times he yelled “GOT IT?????”, walked off the stage ice cream cone in hand.
To the moron who questioned his character, well, you are a moron.
Ha that was my exact form of motivation when I played outside backer (more like the star in our D) in HS. Make that big hit in the backfield or try to strip the ball. I miss flying around and trying to place my facemask right where the carrier was holding the ball and watching it explode out. CANT WAIT until the Silver Bullets are back in action….its gonna be a loooooong summer
My Spielman story is an off the field one like a couple posted before me…Spiels was playing in a charity golf outing at Tartan Fields(where I used to work) and was on the 15th hole when I received a call to pick him up because he had to leave to attend another function. So I drive the cart out to the 15th green, he jumps in and explains that he has to go to his sons practice and promised that he would be there no matter what. For the next ten minutes driving from the green to his car he talked about the importance of being there for your family and kids in general. As badly as I wanted to pick his brain about the upcoming Buckeye football season he made it seem so insignificant at the time that I had forgotten to even bring up the subject up. It was at that point that I realized the man on the field that I had always admired was not only that but a humble, good hearted, family man as well…he is truely one of a kind!
Congrats Spiels!
Dont have much to add that hasn’t already been said. If you’re a young guy who isn’t that familiar with Spiel’s playing days, I highly suggest watching video of the 29 tackle game at Michigan. That single game is the reason being a Buckeye linebacker is such a great honor and duty. It is what EVERY young linebacker should aspire to play like in his career.
Why doesn’t Spiels play a bigger role on the Buckeye coaching staff?
one other thing I remembered about Speils. I’m the same age as Chris and was lucky enough to watch him tear apart my HS (Newark) team 2 years in a row before he got to OSU. If I remember right, when he was in HS, I believe Speils said his life goals were to 1) Play LB at OSU, 2) Play LB in the NFL, and 3) Become Head Coach at OSU. I hope he does as well with the 3rd as he did with the first 2.
#3 will never happen. You know who will be the next head coach at OSU – Tim Spencer. Tressel has about 2-3 years left in him.
How do you know this about Tim Spencer? Do you have a source? Just curious, really. I was pulling for Fickell, but frankly I’d love to see Spielman get into the mix, we do need his passion.
Also, has Tressel said anything about leaving so soon? It would be a sad day in Buckeye-land…
It’s a gut feeling. I predicted Tressell would go 10-1 against Michigan. So far I am right. I also have a gut feeling about Spencer. Have you ever met him? I have and he has what it takes to be a head coach. You can only take so much and you have to take care of yourself.
I don’t know about ever, but I did love me some “7-11, always open” Ted G. and Gonzo
I’m curious….who do you guys think was the best WR to ever play at tOSU?
Carter and it’s not even close.
for pure athletic ability, Carter. plus the eyebrows.
Although, I will always love jenkins. Krenzel to Jenkins in the corner of the endzone was unstoppable.
Terry Glenn and David Boston were freaks, but didn’t have it upstairs.
Holy Buckeye!!
Had to be Carter. Saw him play in HS also. Amazing! He had something like a 46″ vertical. Hope his kid is even half as good.
I think Carter is the easy pick now, not only because he was the first Ohio State All American WR and obviously had a great Buckeye career, but also had a great NFL career as well.
However, David Boston, even though he was a head case and because of that he didn’t pan out to be the player he could have been at he next level, actually was the most productive WR Ohio State has had. He has almost every major record for a receiver in Ohio State history including career receptions, receptions a season, receptions a game, yards in a season, touchdowns in a season and 100 yard games in a season as well as in a career.
Boston did play on a team more geared towards passing than that of the teams Carter played for, but don’t think Carter is as far and above everyone else as people think he is….
I still remember what a big deal it was when he was on the Wheaties box while in high school. I remember getting a box just to see it and telling everybody about this guy who was going to OSU. I was only 12 or 13 at the time.
That first game he came in to play and he made an immediate impression on the announcers. They started gushing about his hustle and he was all over the field. I just kept saying, “That’s the guy I was telling you about. The one from the Wheaties box!”
Too young to have watched him play. But from what I’ve seen on DVDs and read in articles, there were only a hand-full of all-time players who were put on this planet to play football in college as a Buckeye. Harley, Griffin, and unquestionably Chris Spielman. There were no other college choices in his mind, he had been a fan of the Scarlet and Gray his entire life growing up in the football Mecca of the Canton/Massilon area. Regardless of his contract with ESPN as an announcer, to this day you will hear him on Columbus Radio every November trashing Michigan like any one of us might. I mean, what Rudy was to Notre Dame without athletic ability, Chris Spielman was to Ohio State with some of the best linebacking ability in the history of college football.
Off the field – a model person…clearly an hero for anyone who has ambition to be a good father and a good husband. You summed it up, Chris…he’d easily be a Human Hall of Fame inductee – I like that!
#36 – forever immortalized.
As I mentioned earlier, I met Chris on the Buckeye Cruise. The last day we cruised back from Cozumel to Tampa. Poolside, Herbie, Chris and Bruce Hooley did a College Game day from the pool deck. Herbie is Herbie, cool, calm, handsome and low key. Not Chris. He got so mad a couple of times talking about the last 3 BCS bowls and USC he was screaming “It’s not good enough!!” “It’s unacceptable!!” His passion for the Buckeyes is amazing.
I know its not the ideal position but I hear we have(figuratively) an OL coaching position open. Sounds like he can light a fire under some places that need to be lit.
He also told the story of how he was asked to address the team when they were playing in Ann Arbor ( I forget what year). He decided to talk to them about pride, tradition and how it is a privilege to be a Buckeye. Walking to the locker room he heard the shit the UM fans were saying. He went in and started yelling “I want you to kick the shit out of those motherfucker’s!! ” And they did.
Even though the Bucks lost that day, his 29 tackle performance against scUM in 1986 still stands out to me. He’s a legend in every sense of the word and is now rightfully enshrined in South Bend @ the College H.O.F…congrats #36.
As much as I hate to agree with Dr Saturday’s assessment (see Good Shizzy), I think he’s pretty much on the money. LiC can’t do it all. The young studs have to bring it up a notch or 2. A little more creative play calling would also help.
10-2
He down played the amount of young talent quite a bit. TP will put up huge numbers this year because he is behind a better o-line with better weapons and will have an entire playbook to run plays from. Last year they basically ran 4 plays for TP.
The buckeyes should run the table this year. USC is breaking in a first year starter at QB and they lost 8 players off the defense. That is a recipe for a blow out in the shoe’. We’ll see what Dr. Sat. has to say after TP and the buckeyes drop 40 on the Trojans. Anything less would be a let down. I think the team will enjoy the underdog role this year. Seriously though how can you not be a great team when you bring in two top 5 class in the last two years. Its time to cash those checks.
USC has lost by more than seven points precisely once under Carroll. It has given up more than forty just twice.
No shame in agreeing with the Good Doctor. You won’t find anyone else who has the depth and breadth of knowledge that he does when it comes to college football. After all, he’s a Doctor.
Speils is a great Buckeye, was a great player and his induction is well deserved. He makes me laugh on my way home too. Those traits and his ability to get fired up woundn’t necessarily make him a good head coach. At the time Tress was hired, Tress talked to Speils about an assistant position but he was not interested. It appeared that Speils wanted to go from football legand to HC with out taking the required steps.
Hats off to him. This is a great honor.