Vic Janowicz

To celebrate 31 days until the start of Ohio State's season I put together a little piece on Vic Janowicz. To read about the other 4 players to wear No. 31 go here.

Janowicz won the Heisman in 1950. Perhaps just as impressive, he had a 90-yard punt against Minnesota.

Janowicz was known as a player who could do it all. Vic could run. Vic could pass. Vic could block. Vic could tackle. Vic could kick. Vic could punt. Janowicz won the Heisman because of his running and passing abilities, but his record setting punting performance and 27-yard FG against That Team in the 1950 Snow Bowl is believed to be what clinched the Heisman for him.

Janowicz has a street and a park named for him in Elyria. Elyria High School's address is 311 Vic Janowicz Drive.

Vic Janowicz, RB (1949-51)
Born: 1930 (Elyria, Ohio)
High School: Elyria
Died: 1996 (Columbus)

Ohio State
The Buckeyes were 17-7-4 with Janowicz on the team.
1949 Big Ten Title.
1950 Defeated No. 3 California 17-14 to win the Rose Bowl.

Honors
1950 Heisman Trophy Winner.
1950 Big Ten MVP.
1950 Team MVP.
1951 Team MVP.
1950 All-American.
1950 All-Big Ten.
1951 All-Big Ten.
1977 Inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame.

Vic Janowicz's Ohio State career per ohiostatebuckeyes.com:

Vic was the man.

During his junior season in 1950, Janowicz put together one of the greatest campaigns by an individual player in OSU football history. Accounting for 16 touchdowns and 875 yards in total offense, he proved he could be a threat on both sides of the ball.

Gene Feteke, who was an assistant coach when Janowicz was a player, said Janowicz was the whole package wrapped into one. Janowicz's natural athletic ability allowed him to play offense and defense in any situation.

"He could do everything we asked him to do," Feteke said. "And he could do it in a masterful-type situation."

One of his masterful performances occurred in a game against Iowa, in which he ran for two touchdowns and threw for four more in an Ohio State 83-21 win. He completed five-of-six passes for 128 yards in the Buckeye win and also set a Big Ten record with 10 extra points.

Janowicz could do it all. Against Iowa in 1950 he rushed for two touchdowns, passed for four touchdowns and kicked a Big Ten Record 10 extra points.

But perhaps even more amazing was the Michigan game, now called the Snow Bowl of 1950, in which Janowicz kicked a 27-yard field goal into blizzard-like conditions. His kick is considered one of the greatest individual accomplishments in OSU history and perhaps sealed the Heisman Trophy nomination. His 21 punts for 685 yards set two more school records that day.

Janowicz set an Ohio State record with 21 punts for 685 yards in the 1950 Snow Bowl.

"That field goal was straight down the middle," Fekete said. "It was absolutely phenomenal to kick that far in those kind of conditions."

Janowicz set an Ohio State record with 21 punts for 685 yards in the 1950 Snow Bowl.

At the end of the season, Janowicz was named an All-America and the Heisman Trophy winner. In all, he had rewritten several records in the OSU football history book and forever put his name on its pages.

His senior year of college was a time of change for Janowicz and the Ohio State football program. Coached by Wes Fesler his first two seasons, Janowicz finished out his college career under the helm of legendary coach Woody Hayes.

Hayes not only brought a new face to the football team, he brought with him a new coaching style. A style that included his famous "T" formation.

Woody Hayes' first year was Janowicz's senior year. Woody's offensive style took the ball out of Janowicz's hands.

Woody Hayes' first year was Janowicz's senior year. Woody's offensive style took the ball out of Janowicz's hands.

The formation often took Janowicz out of the play but he still kicked two game-winning field goals to finish his OSU career.

"Woody made a defensive player out of him," Kessler said. "And Janowicz adapted to that after a time. He was probably one of the smartest players ever in that sense."

The retirement of the No. 31 per ohiostatebuckeyes.com:

Touted by many as one of the greatest all-around football players in Ohio State history, Vic Janowicz is finally getting his due. On Sept. 23, during the halftime ceremonies of the OSU-Penn State game, Janowicz's No. 31 will become the second jersey number to be officially retired in OSU football history.

Janowicz is one of two players to have his number retired this season. Howard "Hopalong" Cassidy's No. 40 will be retired Nov. 18 during the halftime ceremonies of the OSU-Michigan game.

No. 31 was retired in 2000.

"We are retiring all the jersey numbers worn by Heisman Trophy winners at Ohio State," Andy Geiger, director of athletics, said. "Vic Janowicz was truly a great OSU player and I think it's appropriate his name and number be displayed in the stadium. He made a marvelous contribution to Ohio State football history."

Past teammates, coaches and sports writers agree Janowicz's athletic ability was one of a kind. And many feel the retirement is long overdue.

"I think it's wonderful and well-deserved," Kaye Kessler, a sports writer for the Columbus Citizen Journal in 1950, said. "Everyone knows No. 31."

Former teammate Skip Doyle said Janowicz was a natural with the ball.

"Ohio State had to retire his number," Doyle said. "He was the best all-around player they ever had."

The 1950 Heisman Trophy winner, Janowicz is said to have been every player rolled into one with his great passing, running and kicking abilities. As evidence of his great athletic ability, he won the Heisman despite the Buckeyes' 6-3 season record.

Baseball or football? Despite not playing baseball since his senior year in high school Janowicz was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play catcher. His decision per Wikipedia:

After college, Janowicz passed up offers to play professional football in order to pursue a baseball career. He reached the major leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but hit only .214 over two seasons as a bench player.

Janowicz's NFL career and personal tragedies per ohiostatebuckeyes.com:

After two seasons (of baseball), Janowicz returned to football after signing a conditional contract with the Washington Redskins. He played for two seasons before having his career cut short by a serious car accident which left him partially paralyzed on the left side.

Off the field, Janowicz faced much adversity after his college success. Four days before the car accident, his daughter was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which she fought for eight years. Following the death of his daughter, he went to work in the Abstract Manufacturing Company to help pay for the mounting bills.

Janowicz, who was a devout member of the St. Agatha Church, worked with youth groups and volunteered often in the community despite his own personal tragedies.

"Vic was a quiet, unassuming man," Fekete said. "But, he would do anything for you."

Doyle agreed and said Janowicz was one of his best friends.

"He was a goody-goody. He was such a nice man," Doyle said.

Janowicz, who was named to the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame and the Ohio State Hall of Fame, died of cancer in February of 1996.