Front row, left to right: Will Smith, John Hicks, Woody Hayes, Rex Kern, Bill Willis, Nick Mangold. Second row: Tom Skladany, Pete Johnson, Archie Griffin, Eddie George, Jack Tatum. Third row: A.J. Hawk, Shawn Springs, Cris Carter, Antoine Winfield, Mike Vrabel, Jim Parker. Fourth row: Chris Spielman, Orlando Pace, Mike Doss, Randy Gradishar, Jim Lachey. Top row: Paul Warfield, Mike Nugent, John Frank, Jim Stillwagon.The image above, besides conjuring up the sweetest fantasies in any Buckeye fan's mind, represents the Ohio State Alumni Magazine's latest all-time team. But this just isn't any all time Buckeye team, it is the 100th anniversary edition, meaning it's badass in triplicate.
After pondering the roster and then trying to think of any players I feel got the shaft, I have to admit that I really can't think of any. Spiels, check. Archie, check. Winfield, check. Eddie, Rex, Willis, Pace, Parker: check, check, check, check, check. It's not that some amazing players didn't make the list, because there are a handful that were probably close, but the players that were chosen were just a tad better.
The magazine was kind enough to break down the votes1 for the players that placed and therein we find out that Spielman led the team with 1,240 votes (Nugent finished second with 1,229 votes -- which doesn't mean he's more valuable than Archie, just that he's more unrivaled at his position). One thing I did find interesting was Doss placing second in that crazy-stacked secondary. Tatum led the group, but I personally would have moved Winfield ahead of Doss. Though Doss does have a ring...
The coaching spot went to Woody and rightfully so. If Tressel stays for another 10 years, he might make a run at the old man, but he probably won't. In the end, though, the Magazine said it best when they said "In many instances it was like choosing between $1,000 worth of gold or $1,000 worth of silver".
1 Players from last season's team that might figure to make the top ten in voting like Laurinaitis, Wells and Jenkins were ineligible due to fact that the ballots went out last winter.
Comments
Great picks! I would have tried to have Tedd Ginn included just for his game breaking ability (at least on special teams). He may not have the stats but teams had to plan their defense to account for him. I doubt we see a player as fast as him on the field for a very long time.
Is Eddie our 2nd best all-time RB? I'm not sure...I've heard great things about Chic and Hop...they might also be deserving of the honor.
Why isn't Lou Groza on the list for kickers? Granted he only played one year here, but you would think being drafted by the army was a legitimate excuse.
while i understand that in todays game eddie is almost certainly the right pick, i think chic harley may have been the greatest running back in school history when you talk about what he did against his competition. it also doesnt hurt that he was personally responsible for this whole mass hysteria about buckeye football that we currently are a part of...
in any case, that picture is awesome.
Can't think of anyone that got the shaft? Hmmm...the name "Troy" comes to mind. Don't get me wrong, I love Rex Kern. But Troy Smith and Art Schlichter were the two best OSU QB's in my mind. In a similar vein, I love Pete Johnson but I can't see taking him over Keith Byars.
No Katzenmoyer?
Ok, I looked at the list and I can see that they set aside a position for fullback, which explains Pete Johnson. Still hard to believe Byars got so few votes. Also, on the defensive backs, I don't think the modern voters appreciate how good Tim Fox and Ray Griffin were. I also notice Doug Plank didn't even make the top 13. Now that I look again, Dick LeBeau didn't make the list either.
Another vote for Troy Smith (come on, he won a Heisman!)...
I love our linebackers, but I especially love our defensive backs...!!!
Craig Krenzel, MVP of the '02 NCG?
Jim Stillwagon looks eerily similar to Scott Bacula of "Quantum Leap" fame BTW
The QB has to be Troy. It's not even close, imo.
I figure Troy and Keith were left off for how their careers ended - Smith for a bad NC game, Byers with the injuries. However, I can't understand the QB position. Kern was great and won a ring, but he was not as great a QB as Smith or Schlichter.
It seems a lot of revisionists have left Schlichter out of Buckeye history. I bought a DVD of Ohio State football history for my dad on Father's Day. He said that Schlichter (along with Clarrett) were almost not mentioned in the entire documentary. I know Schlichter had his troubles, but he was a great QB as a Buckeye.
Still, my vote always goes to Smith. He won a Heisman, had one of the most prolific seasons ever for a Buckeye QB, and beat Michigan three times. That should account for something.
I would even take Joe Germaine before Rex Kern. Not sure if I'd take Krenzel over Kern though.
sorry folks, I remember Art S. and although he was a "seed change" kind of guy from the old 3 yards and a cloud of dust Woody offenses, his overall resume is not that impressive. He completed only 52% of his passes on his career with an individual season high of only 54%. He threw nearly as many INT's as TDs (46 vs 50), and had a career QB rating of only 126.6. He was 2-2 vs Michigan, and 1-3 in bowls with his sole win being a squeaker over Navy in the Liberty bowl in his last game. His overall winning pct as a starter is only 76%. His teams his JR/SR year were ranked outside the top 10,,,,I know he could run as well, but he ran for far fewer yards than people remember (only 1300 on his 4 year career or just over 300/year),
overall he was a good but not great QB. I would rank Troy and Joe G over him any day.
How does one of 7 Heisman winners get left off?
How does Richard McNutt get left off too?
McNutt getting left off is a tragedy.
i'd have to second the big kat making the list - but then again, who would you take off?