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Blast From the Past: No. 15 Wisconsin 10/22/1955

Matt Gutridge's picture
October 22, 2016 at 9:02am
9 Comments
1955
The 1955 Buckeyes
Record 7–2
B1G Record 6–0, 1st
Coach Woody Hayes (5th year, 33–11–2)
CaptainS Frank Machinsky and Kenneth Vargo

October 22nd • #15 Wisconsin • Camp Randall
The night before the battle with the Badgers, Hayes received tragic news. Former All-Big Ten tackle, Dick Hilinski, died in a car accident 15 miles north of Ann Arbor. A member of Hayes' 1954 championship team, Hilinski was helping the coaching staff in 1955. However, a wedding in Fenton, Michigan, had him away from his team the weekend of his death. 

Hayes shared these words about Hilinski with the Milwaukee Sentinel: "He was just about the most brilliant boy I ever knew...it was a terrible shock, as great an offensive tackle as we ever had."

No. 15 Wisconsin and its then-record 53,529 welcomed the Buckeyes to Camp Randall Stadium and the Badgers led 14-0 early, leading those on hand to believe Ivy Williamson could get his first win against Ohio State. 

But that dream did not come to fruition as the Buckeyes scored the game's final 26 points. Elwood scored three times and Cassady rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown and Ohio State left Madison with a 26-14 victory. 

Williamson retired at the end of the season and finished his career 0–6–1 against Ohio State.

Video of the 1955 game against Wisconsin.
 
THE REST OF THE STORY

This marked the first time since the days of Chic Harley that Ohio State won consecutive Big Ten titles. But the "no repeat" rule prevented the Buckeyes from playing in the Rose Bowl.

In 1955, fans wanted a repeat national championship, but the first win over Michigan in Ann Arbor since 1937 and 13 straight conference victories served as worthy prizes.

1955 Schedule
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION RESULT
SEP. 24 NEBRASKA OHIO STADIUM W, 28–20
OCT. 1 STANFORD STANFORD STADIUM L, 0–6
OCT. 8 ILLINOIS OHIO STADIUM W, 27–12
OCT. 15 NO. 11 DUKE OHIO STADIUM L, 14–20
OCT. 22 NO. 15 WISCONSIN CAMP RANDALL W, 26–16
OCT. 29 NORTHWESTERN OHIO STADIUM W, 49–10
NOV. 5 INDIANA OHIO STADIUM W, 20–13
NOV. 12 NO. 20 IOWA OHIO STADIUM W, 20–10
NOV. 19 NO. 6 MICHIGAN MICHIGAN STADIUM W, 17–0
      7–2, 201–97

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