25 Years Ago: Mike Tomczak
Succeeding a legend is always difficult; expectations run high and any flaw is magnified by unfair comparisons. Ohio State is not really known as a quarterback factory, and as a result the few truly great ones that come through are hailed as conquering heroes by Buckeye fans.
But the flip side is that whoever succeeds a great one will probably get less adoration than he deserves. Who can forget the Columbus Dispatch headline that ran during Steve Bellisari’s first season as QB for Ohio State: “He’s No Joe” (referring to his predecessor, Joe Germaine)? Ok, maybe that’s not such a great example. But more recently, there is a sense that Todd Boeckman never got a fair shake from the fans for the good work he did, because he did not compare favorably with Troy Smith.
If you can feel Todd’s pain, then you know what it must have been like for Mike Tomczak to succeed 4-year starter and all-time OSU passing leader Art Schlichter.
Is it a run right, a run left, or a run up the middle?Tomczak hailed from Calumet City, IL, where as a senior at the oddly-named Thornton Fractional North High School he was named Illinois High School Player of the Year. During his 4 seasons at Ohio State, Tomczak completed 376 of 675 passes for 5569 yards and 32 touchdowns, finishing his career 2nd only to Schlichter in school history in all of those categories.
Tomczak was not drafted out of college, but he signed with Chicago as a free agent and proceeded to play 15 years in the NFL with 4 different teams (he signed with Detroit to play a 16th season in 2000, but a pre-season injury convinced him to retire). Tomczak earned a Super Bowl ring as a back-up for the Bears in 1985, and was even seen playing a little guitar with his teammates. In total, he started 73 games out of 185 played, completing 53% of his passes for 16,079 yards with 88 TD’s against 106 INT’s.
Backing up Schlichter as a freshman (and also holding for PAT’s and FG’s), Tomczak was considered the heir apparent for the job after the senior QB departed. His first two starts as a sophomore were both victories, but a match-up with Stanford and future NFL Hall of Fame QB John Elway loomed in week 3. Late in the game, with OSU holding a slim lead and trying to run down the clock, coach Earle Bruce called for a bootleg left where Tomczak would have the option to run or pass. Spotting WR Gary Williams open in the end zone, Tomczak lofted the ball toward him. But the ball hung too much and Stanford intercepted. You can guess the rest. Elway led his team down the field in one of those 2-minute drills for which he would be famous later. After the game, I could hear chants of “Bring back Woody” from the stadium dorm windows as I was walking through the parking lot (a direct shot at Bruce, who apparently was a little too pass-happy for their taste). Many commentators pinned the loss on Tomczak, whose wobbly performance and poor decision-making on the key play was contrasted with the heroics of Schlichter (past) and Elway (present).
It did not get much better in the next two games. Tomczak was ineffective and was benched in favor of Brent Offenbecher during a home loss to Florida State, and in week 5 he sat the entire game while Offenbecher directed the offense to a 6-0 shutout loss to Wisconsin. But Tomczak earned back the starting job the next week for a road tilt at Illinois, and he out-dueled future Super Bowl adversary Tony Eason as OSU posted a much-needed 26-21 victory. Tomczak passed for 247 yards, including a 74-yard bomb that opened the scoring and set the tone for the game. Throughout the remainder of the season, Tomczak’s effective passing opened up the field for the powerful running of Tim Spencer and the Buckeye offense rolled through the rest of the schedule. The team also rolled, beating the Big 10 champion Michigan and crushing the BYU Cougars (featuring another future NFL Hall of Fame QB, Steve Young) in the Holiday Bowl to finish off the season.
The 1983 season was one of poise and consistency for Tomczak and the team. It was another 9-3 campaign, but that was almost understandable considering the difficulty of the schedule (road games at Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan). Tomczak finished the season by leading the team in a 2-minute drill of his own to defeat the Pitt Panthers in the Fiesta Bowl. With RB Keith Byars firmly established as the starter and almost the entire offensive line returning for the 1984 season, expectations were high for Tomczak and the Buckeye offense. And then the unthinkable happened.
During the 1984 spring game, Tomczak broke his leg. Back-up Jim Karsatos had subbed for Tomczak in the 1983 Illinois game, but the offense clearly suffered and Bruce mostly stuck to the ground when he was in. Now it was doubtful when or if Tomczak would be able to return, and how effective he would be if he did. Fortunately, he did recover and missed only the first game against Oregon State. In game 2 against Washington State, Tomczak did not start but entered the game to a standing ovation on the 4th Buckeye series. He proceeded to lead the team to TD’s on 3 straight possessions, and it became clear that he had come all the way back from the injury. Tomczak had never been an elite passer, but he was effective and provided solid leadership for the team. The offense, and the team, responded well to his return.
The 1984 team did not throw the ball a lot, mostly because Keith Byars was so dominant on the ground. Byars and the veteran offensive line made it difficult for any team to stop the running game, and so it was rarely necessary for Tomczak to carry the team. One game in which it was necessary came against Michigan State, and Tomczak rose to the challenge, passing for 256 yards on only 16 completions. The team ground out a 23-20 road victory, and then won 3 of its last 4 regular season games.
Against Michigan in the season finale, coach Bruce called for more passing early in the game in an effort to get out to an early lead. It seemed to work at first, but the offense got bogged down with untimely turnovers in the first half and led only 7-3. However, when the game was on the line, Tomczak led the team to the go-ahead TD, completing a key 3rd down pass to a diving Mike Lanese along the way. In the Rose Bowl loss to USC, Tomczak shined again as OSU was forced to throw the ball in order to make a comeback. They fell short, but Tomczak passed for 290 yards in his swan song as a Buckeye. Overall, he finished the season with 1952 yards passing, which may not seem like a lot but is impressive when you consider that Byars had almost 1800 yards rushing.
After retiring from the NFL, Tomczak spent some time as an announcer in Pittsburgh and has done some college football commentary. These days he works with former NFL LB Shane Conlan at SMG Sports Management in Conshohocken, PA (suburban Philly). Presumably, he now represents players the way he once represented The Ohio State University on the field: with consistency, courage, and class.
Anyone remeber the hit he took at Illinois. Head hit the turf – he gets up and stays in the game. I think he had an int and then came out of the game. Anybody remember the year? Hey Bag of Doritos thanks for having my back. Trying to take the high road. Glad I keep my posts clean language wise.
That was the 1983 game at Illinois. He took a shot to the head and suffered a concussion. You are correct that he didn’t come out of the game immediately, but he threw an INT that Illinois returned for a TD and that’s when Bruce removed him and put in Karsatos. The team actually led late in the game and had a 4th down play deep in Illinois territory. Bruce eschewed the FG because the kicker Paul Allen had missed an easy one earlier in the game, and because the wind was always unpredictable in that stadium. So he called a QB option keeper for Karsatos because he thought it would surprise them. Well, Jim was never the quickest guy in the world and he was tackled for a loss on the play. Then Illinois drove right down the field for the winning TD. It was a real depressing loss at the time.
Between that 4th down option, and the infamous, (I still call it, the worst play call in the history of football) 4th and 3 in a tie game against Meatchickin (Greg Frey! You’ve got to be kidding me!). I pray we never run an option on 4th down again. Anyone remember 4th and 3 at Purdue? We spent 50 years running on 4th down to set that play up, and it worked! Oh and 4th and 17 against Miami wasn’t bad either. Vive la Krenzel!
The 4th down keeper by Frey was made necessary by a horrendous clipping penalty against Jeff Graham two plays prior. We had a first down, but the penalty set us back with a 3rd and 12 or something like that. A draw to Raymont Harris got us to a 4th and 1 situation, and that is where they called the option for Frey. The play didn’t work, but it wouldn’t have been necessary if the zebras hadn’t given scUM a huge break with the penalty. Many replays showed that Graham had actually hit the guy in the front, but of course that didn’t matter. Sigh, just another milestone in the sad legacy of JHC.
It was my first year at Ohio State playing baseball and Tomczak was still out with a broken leg. My dad and I were standing in the front lobby of the Biggs facility and the football team was heading out to the field to practice. Tomczak walks by and my dad asks…”How is the leg Mike?” He responds:
“It’s Showtime Boys”. What an arrogant D-Bag.
For us who missed it, thanks for the lesson. I started following the Bucks in 1987, when Carlos Snow was playing. So here’s a question: Kirk Lowdermilk, how was he as a lineman?
The reason I ask was because a few weeks ago I was in a store that had un-opened packs of football cards so I bought a few packs. Among the best was Chris Carter in an Eagles uniform, Deion Sanders rookie card, and a second year Barry Sanders. When I was spliting the rest up for my kids and nephews I happened to notice Kirk Lowdermilk went to OSU and kept it.
Thoughts?
Kirk Lowdermilk was one tough hombre. He was the kind of guy that every line needs to set the tone, sort of like Boren is doing for the guys today. I’d keep the card.
Hope you keep the card, it might be worth it!
Don’t ask.
Cool, thanks. I don’t collect cards much, but figured it would be cool to keep.
Joe,
Your articles get me so pumped for some Buckeye football, I find it hard to concentrate at work the rest of the day. Guess that means you do a great job. Thanks and keep up the good work.
I guess one of things I love most about Buckeye football is that when you watch a game you never know if it will be one everyone is talking about in another 25 years, I got a feeling Terrelle Pryor will give us a few of those games. GO BUCKS!
Great reply. I live in georgia and the Bucks mean more to me now. Its my connection to the great state of OHIO.
My little league baseball coach was at the 83 illinois game in champaign. He almost got hit by the goal posts walking out.
My dad was at both Illinois and SCum games in 84. What two games to go to. Much less the Illinois game.
Re: ESPN announcer changes—did they can Paul Maguire? If so, thank God. Also, Andre Ware is no longer in the slot for the majority of big 10 games. Awesome.
They did can Paul McGuire or at least gave him a very small role throughout the season.
Spielman v. Griese is going to be must see TV every week.
Ware might be the worst “analyst” of all time. I remember writing about him in Five Things after the Illinois game last year – I think I said he was Raycom quality, at best. That might have been giving him too much credit.
Andre “I ran up the score to 70 pts. a game, but don’t you dare do it yourself on accident” Ware you mean?
Ware’s new nickname…. Mr. Overrated.
Running up the score against nobody’s in college won him the Heisman and a number one draft pick. How’d that work out for him?
Then gets a great gig in the booth and totally bombed doing that too. Is there anything in life this guy deserves?
Never been a Mcguire or Mike Patrick fan.
Since he played as I was growing up, Tomczak was and remains one of my favorite Buckeyes. I remember the 84 Illinois game in which he and coach Bruce were engaged in a shouting match on the sidelines after they fell behind 24-0. Of all the OSU games I have attended that may have been the best and most exciting one (along with 06 UM and Miami in Temps). I also remember his head shot in the game program which was a spitting image of Ferris Bueller, which was funny became the movie came out around that same time and took place in the suburbs of Chicago, which is where Tomczak was from. To this day I still have the #15 road jersey that my dad bought for me at Long’s bookstore before one of the games. Thanks for the memories, Dad and Mike!
a good read
Who’s The Bigger BCS Bust? Ohio State or Oklahoma
http://cfn.scout.com/2/877742.html
it was a fun read, but i think we all knew that oklahoma was the bigger bcs bust as of now. i would actually rank the boise state game and the florida game as their biggest disappointing losses. i mean if im a fan of oklahoma and i see my team blow a comfortable lead late in the fourth quarter to boise state…..and then watch them get a shot at the national title 2 years later……where many botched opportunities practically hand florida the trophy……i start coming after stoops. i think they are beyond agitated at stoops……and if anyone remembers, i believe stoops was asked if he would consider being the head coach at osu when cooper stepped down….thank god he turned it down immediately.
Consider this too: Oklahoma lost to LSU by seven; we lost to them by 14. Okie lost to Florida by ten. We lost to them by 27. They lost to USC by 36. We lost to SC by 32.
I’d say it’s about even with my scarlet-tinted glasses on.
We’ve gone 4-3…Oklahoma has gone 2-5.
Sam, I’m going to start getting nasty with you because you piss me off as a fan…fuck off.
Eh, suit yourself. All I’m saying is Oklahoma has kept it close against teams we haven’t.
Totally circumstantial and irrelevant.
Actually, I’d say it goes a long way in explaining why Oklahoma gets the respect we supposedly don’t.
At this point it doesn’t really matter. We’re both in a slump, both got beat by LSU and FLA and USC, the only difference is they lost to Boise and we didn’t. The arguement is irrelevant. Not meaning to bust your bubble though.
So after looking at the new ESPN commentator line-up for this season I just had to say “Hallelujah!”: I will no longer be forced to listen to Andrew Ware during a game.
Yeah, and notice how everything on that list somehow relates to ESPN’s “landmark” 15 year agreement with that conference.
I think the SEC being in the south must mean Disney has something to do with it, the evil empire started with taking over ESPN then right on down the line with the SEC.
I actually like Brock Huard, always has something positive to say about OSU, too bad he’s relegated to SEC duty.
All I ask for is for announcers to leave their biases out of the booth. There’s nothing more infuriating than listening to some talking head drone on and on about how great a team or conference is. Or even worse, those announcers who abuse the phrase, “..the greatest (play, player, hit, etc.) I’ve ever seen.”
I like Herbstreit and all, that handsome devil, but he seems to overcompensate for the fact he was a Buckeye by going too far the other way on issues as to not look biased. I use to think it was all part of a master plan, but after the last few seasons I’m not so sure.
If only we could have Brent Musburger for every game.
Actually Herbie and Musberger are opposites. I remember a time when every Buckeye fan hated Musberger, seemed that every time a team took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, Musberger would follow it up with “… and we’ve got an upset brewing in Columbus.” Almost like he wanted to see the Bucks go down. Eventually after much hate mail he seemed to change his atitude towards OSU a bit, now I kind of like the old fart.\
You’re right on Herbie though, after the “debacle in the desert” he may have taken the most flak of all-time for an analyst from any certain team. Now its almost as if I expect him to take out a picture of Tebow or Taylor Mays and start french kissing it on national television.
OK check out Craig’s List – Columbus,Ohio – scroll down until you find
Re:OSU/USC – $1 (Back again! Flaggers) – 1$ (You just don’t get it)
This guy unloads on USC fans. I think its someone from 11 Warriors.
GA Buck, can’t find it. Please post a link if it’s cool.
they took it down.
BJ Mullens also impressed today with his big time performance. After looking a bit uncomfortable earlier in the week, BJ showed what he is capable of, shooting a brilliant 9-12 from the field for 18 points. After a couple turnaround jumpers in the post, BJ had to leave the game after getting his mouth bloodied by Jason Ellis on a contested rebound. BJ came back with a vengeance on the offensive boards with a couple of nasty putbacks and a series of transition dunks. Mullens fell to 24th in the draft due to motivational question marks, but with his size and agility (and teams all missing the boat on DeAndre Jordan last year) it’s a surprise he fell so far. Bigmen take the longest to develop.
One name: Nikoloz Tskitishvili
Matt, I think Dan Fouts in the Miami game was the worst case of homerism ever.
I agree. His old mate Winslow’s son was playing for “The U”, and so he was obviously not going to be objective. In general, I thought Fouts was lousy in the booth for college games. Very surprising though, because I always thought he was one of the best doing NFL games.
Definitely. What about him wailing “bad call! bad call!” before the replay was even played on the (still incredibly obvious) PI?
Still makes the DVD tough to watch.
Not any worse than trying to watch the Alamo Bowl and having to listen to Mike Tirico bring up Mo C. every 1.6 minutes. Aside from having to listen to him prattle on about that I’d say that’s my favorite (recent) bowl game to watch.
Go back to the second TD, the one that put us up 14-7. After Clarett scored, they did a crowd shot and focused on a young lady wearing a shirt that said “F*** Michigan”. As soon as the cameraman realized what the shirt said, he jerked the camera over to an innocuous crowd view. I still think that’s hilarious, especially since the girl wearing the shirt was an old co-worker of mine. Jason might also remember her (maybe).