I got to thinking about Larry Johnson (Pay the Man!) and his invaluable contributions thus far to TOSU's football program and defensive line, and decided that while Head Coaches are much like the CEO's of major corporations, it's the great assistant coaches who really are the backbone of a team's success.

One who comes to my mind is Jim Heacock, who was DL coach and later Defensive Coordinator for Jim Tressel (and Luke Fickell's interim season). He helped the Bucks win a NC in the 2002 season. And interestingly, Heacock gave Urban Meyer his first assistant coaching job when Jim was HC at Illinois State in 1988. Talk about coming full circle in Paying It Forward!

(Jim Heacock with his 2007 Broyles Award)

Although assistant coaches come and go, with varying degrees of success, some will become the Bootmakers To Kings, "occupying positions of ultimate service," and toil quietly behind the scenes. They are the selfless NCO's of the CFB coaching ranks.

So banter and debate, Buckeye fans. It's another off-season day to whittle away.

Go Bucks.