Ernie Godfrey is in the college football hall of fame and deserves it.   Was an assistant at OSU for 32 years.   Esco Sarkinnen is right with him - at OSU from the 40s until ‘78 and belongs in the hall.  

Larry Johnson has been here much shorter but his overall body of work suggests he belongs in their company.

Go Bucks!

I thought that UA had won a series of state football titles (in those days there was the AP votes; there was no state football playoffs until '72) in the late 1960s under Marv Morehead.   They won something like 57 out of 58 games during that period.   Those teams were legendary in central Ohio (as were some very good Watterson teams, at least one of which also won a state title).

We have been going to Northwestern games since my wife and I moved to the Chicago area thirty years ago.   We have had season tickets to Northwestern football and men's basketball for much of that time (except when our sons' sports interfered).   The football stadium - Ryan field - is located at the corner of Central Street and Ashland, at the north end of Evanston and separate from the rest of the Northwestern campus.   The basketball stadium and baseball field are also located just north of the football stadium, and each has been rebuilt in the last two to three years.

One consideration is that the game is likely a sell out driven by OSU fans, and if past is prologue, there will be more scarlet in the stadium than there will be purple.   This means that street parking will be harder to come by and further away, but still quite doable.   Also, if you are willing to pay, there are small converted parking areas around (driveways, businesses, etc) but expect to pay a pretty penny - especially for this game.   My suggestion is that you do street parking, especially if you are willing to walk a fair distance.   Truthfully, in mid October, even for an evening game, a walk should be pretty comfortable, and the area around the stadium should be quite safe, even late in the evening.

There is street parking both west of the stadium and north of the stadium, but not in the immediate streets.   West of the stadium will go quickly and be limited for a sell out (Boulderbuck's suggestions are west of the stadium makes a lot of sense for many of the games during the season, and would require you get there early for the parking for the OSU game).   North of the stadium (north of Isabella) is Wilmette, which is a lovely tree lined suburb - in which we live.   5th Street in Wilmette, which runs North-South, turns into Ashland in Evanston, and is on the west side of Ryan Field.  You will not be able to park in the streets immediately near the stadium, and will have signs up to that effect, but you should be able to park in Wilmette and walk.   Hundreds of cars park in Wilmette for all the games - Greenleaf between 6th and 8th or Central between 6th and 8th is a reasonable target if you get to the game roughly a half hour early.   Give yourself 15 minutes to walk to the stadium.  Make sure you write down where your car is parked, because these are residential areas with limited street lights when the game ends late at night.

I hate the fact that this a Friday night game.   Everything about my being hates this, but we will be there rooting for the Scarlet and Gray.

Hope this helps and Go Bucks!

this season marks the 150th anniversary in college football.   I’m old enough to reminder the 100th - the 1969 season.   It was a season with such hope and expectations and great disappointment for Buckeyes.   Let’s hope this one ends better.   I was excited for that season and every bit as excited for this, and technology means I know a lot more about this one.   

At the same time, it Is hard for me to take any thread involving Mr. Tim Brando serious.   He’s the one who predicted that Alabama would blow the doors off our 2014 team.   He’s the one who sought to defend wealthy Johnny football of the SEC for selling autographs while condemning our players and university for trading trash and trinkets for tattoos.   He is a Louisiana boy with no sense of balance or integrity and no real knowledge of the game.   His idea of geographic diversity is the ACC.  

As for me, I think that Big Ten fans are looking forward to the season.   The west feels wide open - NW was a major surprise to win the west last year, and Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Purdue all expect to be stronger, and Minnesota and NW had the best close to their seasons in decades.   Any time you have a head coaching change there is plenty of excitement, and that is certainly true in Columbus but also at Maryland.    PSU, MSU and tsun all have new found hope with Urban gone.   

Go Bucks!

From my perspective, Archie deserved the Heisman in 1975.   The vote wasn’t close and I don’t believe it was all that close when viewed in context.   Let’s go back 44 years - when there was no ESPN, the Dispatch was the afternoon newspaper in Columbus, and the only televised college game was the ABC game of the week.   

Tony Dorsett was a great running back - the best pro of the top four Heisman finalists in ‘75 but there are reasons why he finished fourth not second in the Heisman vote that year.   He was a deserving winner in ‘76 and led his team to a national championship but was not in 1975.  First, most of his scores in 1975 - seven of 12 - came in two games - against army and William and Mary, two teams that each won two games all season.  Second, although he had a great game against Notre Dame late in the season, he rushed for 17 yards in the biggest game before that against Oklahoma, averaging 1.5 yards per carry.   He was out of Heisman consideration after that game.   Third, his team only scored 30 points  twice in the season and had multiple games of 14 points or less.   He gained a lot of yards but had limited impact on the outcomes of games.   His team finished 8-4 losing to their rivals of West Virginia and Penn State.   His play allowed Pitt to finish 20th in the country no better.   Pitt’s defense saved them that season not their offense.

Ricky Bell at USC faced the same basic challenge as Archie, defenses crowding the line of scrimmage.   He was a workhorse back averaging 5 yards a carry and had over 100 more carries than Archie.   His yards per carry were almost half a yard less than Archie despite running behind a stronger offensive line.   More importantly, His team lost four in a row down the stretch.  USC was a top 5 pre-season team that barely finished with a top 20 season.  Bell didn’t change the trajectory in a disappointing season for his team.   There was no wow factor, and the best won arguably was against Cal.

Chuck Muncie at Cal was a revelation that season after two seasons of failing to rush for 1000 yards in any season  He had an advantage over Archie and Ricky in that defenses could not crowd the line of scrimmage because of Mike White’s diversified offense.   Cal was unusual in that 50% of its offensive output led by QB Joe Roth came in the air - very rare in an age of option football - the veer, the wishbone  and so on. My recollection is that cal had a receiver who had almost as many touchdowns in the air as Muncie had on the ground.   Muncie also still only carried his team to an 8-3 season and the #14 ranking.

the simple truth is that none of the other top four finalists were on top 10 teams.   Joe Washington, archie’s primary Heisman competition going into the season at Oklahoma, didn’t even reach 1000 yards and I think Oklahoma was on probation so the games may not have been televised.  

Meanwhile, Archie faced defenses ganging  up to stop the run.   The Bucks only completed less than 6 passes a game , so this was a sound strategy.  Woody had a great ground game with Archie, Pete Johnson, Corny and Brian, so why take risks was probably his mentality.  The problem was that the offensive line was a shell of what it was the year before.   The top offensive linemen from OSU’s 1974 team had been drafted in the 1st round - Kurt Schumacher and Doug France - and no returning starter would go on to be drafted before the 17th round.   Archie may have only averaged 5.5 yards per carry but Pete averaged a yard per carry less.   

Despite these challenges, Archie extended his consecutive 100 yard game streak to 31, almost double the prior record.   He broke Ed Marinaro’s NCAA career rushing record.   He led the bucks to a #1 rating and an average margin of victory of 27 points per game, a big ten championship and an undefeated regular season.   The Bucks at time were totally dominant, beating Wisconsin by 56 and Iowa by 49, for instance.   The win at Illinois by 37 was the most lopsided win in Champaign by the bucks in the history of the rivalry.   Also remember that the lopsided margins meant more carries for other players.   Eight different Buckeyes had 15 or more carries that season.  

Further, Archie became the prohibitive front runner for the Heisman in the first four games of the season.   Not only did he rush for over 100 yards in each of these games, but it was against Michigan State, Penn State and UCLA, all top 15 schools.   After he rushed for 160 against UCLA, the race for the Heisman was largely over.   For Archie, there was win after win, 100 yard game after 100 yard game.   Only the game in Ann Arbor was won by seven points.   All others has bigger margins of victory.  There was no four game collapse like bell’s Trojans, no 1.5 yards per game like Dorsett against Oklahoma, no disappointment like Washington’s season, nobody like him. He was the coast to coast winner and deservedly so.

Two final notes are in order.  

First, for those of you too young to have watched OSU football before Archie.   For the prior 15 years before Archie came along, Our leading rusher was usually the fullback not the halfback.   Bob White, Bob Ferguson, Matt Snell, Jim Otis were all fullbacks and all led OSU in rushing.   Ferguson - a favorite of my dad’s - and Otis - one of my favorites before Archie- both led the Bucks three years in a row in rushing.   Archie changed that, and I can’t think of the last time we have had a fullback lead the team in rushing since Archie.   He is the only buckeye to lead the team in rushing in four consecutive seasons in the Heisman era (don’t know about Chic Harley). 

Second, today’s OSU fans don’t always appreciate how great a player Pete Johnson was.   He was Woody’s choice to carry the ball inside the 15, and it is no accident that he scored 25 touchdowns in 1975 - more than any of the Heisman top vote getters- and 58 for his Buckeyes career.   In the pros he had the multiple double digit touchdown seasons, and his 82 pro touchdowns were only 8 less than Dorsett (and higher than Muncie and Bell), in 3-4 fewer seasons than Dorsett.   His accomplishments should not go unrecognized and should not diminish what a great running back Archie was, which is the touchdowns scored was not a big deal in the moment.  If it was, then Pete should have won the Heisman that year.

Sorry for being long winded, but context is important.  

Go Bucks!!

I felt we were blessed to be Buckeyes when Coach Hayes was here.

i have had the same feelings with Coach Meyer.

We have received a remarkable gift in his tenure, and we should not take the level of excellence that Coach Meyer brought for granted.  

Thank you Coach Meyer (and those who gave so much to and for this program, university and state).

Wish all the best for you and your family.

Go Bucks!

To me, Finebaum owes a huge debt of gratitude to Urban Meyer and OSU.   We are the university, the program, Urban Meyer's program, whose success was key to Finebaum becoming a national college football commentator instead of just another SEC hack.   Don't think for a minute that he doesn't recognize the strength of the OSU brand, and the topic of Urban Meyer, as pivotal to improving his ratings, to get fans to pay attention to what he has to say, beyond the Southeast.  Finebaum gets to ride on Coach Meyer's coat tails to get ratings (as he has in home region with Coach Saban), without taking significant personal risks. 

Finebaum is speculating on the future plans of Urban Meyer at OSU.   It is just that, improbable speculation.   

Finebaum is going to get mileage out of anything he has to say about Coach Meyer and the OSU program, regardless the quality of the insight.   He will inflame passions in the Southeast (remember that the largest start in the SEC region is Florida, and there is plenty of interest in Urban Meyer there, and his teams in Gainesville played all of the SEC Big Boys and did pretty darn well.   At 2-2 with Nick Saban, Meyer stirs up considerable emotions and viewpoints in Birmingham and beyond), as well as in Big Ten country (Urban is the most successful Big Ten coach in the post World War II era through his first six seasons).  

Finebaum is simply playing off the same playbook that has made him a national figure.   His speculation seems highly unlikely to me for many reasons.   Urban has plenty of motivation for this year and beyond, and the level of support from his team, his friends, and the Buckeye fan base should objectively be highly nurturing.   People clearly believe in both the integrity of the man and the quality of the coach, and for the overwhelming majority of OSU fans, we are very grateful and proud that he leads our program (he is human and not always perfect, his success makes him a target, but he is a remarkable learner, leader and innovator, and he cares deeply about what he does and how he does it, and he demands no more of others that he doesn't demand of himself - what's not to respect about this). 

There is a chance that Finebaum will be right and our coach will walk off into the sunset at the end of the season, despite my skepticism - after all a broken clock is right twice a day. 

But I don't spend a lot of time using a broken clock to gauge the time, and I don't think Paul Finebaum has justified any more credibility.

I'm going to spend my time pulling for my team, watching the players grow and give their all, watching our coaches making adjustments, and cheering along with my OSU brethren.   and maybe I'll chuckle the next time I see a broken clock.

Go Bucks!!  Can't wait for the 2018 season to start.

Thought he was 23 (before MJ and LeBron, and Ron Springs for that matter).

Go Bucks!!

Obviously Archie - the greatest of my lifetime.

Big Kat was special

but why no acknowledgement of Bo Rein?

Go Bucks!!

Don't forgot Tom Matte #41, who was there with him in '59 and '60.  Matte moved to running back for the Colts (with that memorable return to quarterback), and he and Snell both rushed for over 100 yards in Super Bowl 3.  Thought they both had better games than Broadway Joe.

Go Bucks!!

Agree very much with NW Buckeye's observations.  

Stan White left OSU after the 1971 season as the all time leading tackler, and set the stage for the great linebackers that overlapped and followed (Gradishar, Middleton and Koegel to start).  I also seem to recall Stan's being not only a linebacker but doing double duty as a kicker - he did kickoffs and extra points in between Jim Roman and Fred Schram if my memory is accurate.  (Please anyone correct).

Worth also noting that over his eleven seasons in the NFL, Stan White was a tremendous ballhawk with 34 interceptions and 49 turnovers, which ranks third all time among NFL linebackers (only Ray Lewis and Jack Ham have more), and received various all conference and all NFL recognition.   He was picked on the Colts all-time team as a linebacker, something I would guess most Buckeye fans today don't know. 

Go Bucks!

and can't wait for 87 more...

RIP.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

A tremendous competitor and player.   Ironic that he had heart troubles, because his heart was so big on the field. 

Was undersized even in that era, but his motor never quit while he was on the field.   For those too young to have seen him live, he was constantly in motion.   You can see him on some of the U-Tube video recordings of select OSU games he played in, including the Rose Bowl on 1/1/69.  

Even as a boy scout usher in C deck, I could notice 68 on many tackles, and having unusual burst and range.  

Lots of great Buckeyes have warn that number proudly - from Doug Van Horn to LaCharles Bentley to Taylor Decker. 

I think that as of today, only one is in the College Football Hall of Fame  - Jim Stillwagon was a special player and a special Buckeye.

Go Bucks!

The irony is that Alabama is on a beach somewhere if OSU doesn't get two top five wins against Penn State and Wisconsin.

OSU has three top ten wins this season.   If Alabama wins tonight, it will have two.  If Georgia wins, it will tie OSU with three.

Go Bucks!

and for the 38th consecutive year, no Buckeye head coach wins Big Ten Coach of the Year

In the optimistic case for the Saban apologists, Alabama's season results in 2017 equals Ohio State in 2015 - a one loss team that didn't qualify for the conference championship game without any great out of conference wins - but without the credential that OSU had having won the national championship the year before, and without the same quality of NFL talent (who on Alabama today is the equal of a Bosa or an Elliott, where are the five first round draft picks in the next draft, and ten in the first three rounds?).  Alabama's performance during the season as a one loss team can not be compared to OSU last year - where OSU went into Norman and beat a top five team on its field by 21 points.  Alabama simply lacks that kind of signature win.

Where was the ESPN and Herbstreet outcry when our one lost Buckeyes did not get in to the 2015 playoffs - where was the suggestion that they didn't meet the look test (who were clearly better than several of the teams who got in)?  They are in my view frauds and at a minimum inconsistent - picking their favorites because I suspect they are told by their bosses that an Alabama-Clemson game will attract a greater fan base to the game.  

There is also a bitter irony in that these overpaid and overhyped pundits praise the SEC and Alabama's level of competition.   Alabama played four away games at opponents this year - and won only one by more than 8 points, and lost one by 16.   Alabama is a terrific team, and a strong case can be made for them as for the Buckeyes, but don't belittle OSU (only two teams in the country beat two top five teams - OSU and Auburn - it would be ironic if neither made the playoffs, and only OSU won its conference championship). 

Go Bucks!

My lineup would be:

LT  Orlando Pace

LG Jim Parker

C   Nick Mangold

RG Jim Lachey

RT Jim Tyrer

Like your other choices, including honorable mentions (think we are especially deep at tackle, and would probably move Bentley to guard). 

Would also add:  Dave Foley (as suggested above), Rufus Mayes (RIP - a personal favorite, on and off the field), Doug France, and Lin Houston (before my time, but not my dad's, and a key to the Browns' and Otto Graham's early success) to the list

And here's hoping that some current NFL Bucks and current Bucks will someday be added to this list.

Go Bucks!

My lineup would be:

LT  Orlando Pace

LG Jim Parker

C   Nick Mangold

RG Jim Lachey

RT Jim Tyrer

Like your other choices, including honorable mentions (think we are especially deep at tackle, and would probably move Bentley to guard). 

Would also add:  Dave Foley (as suggested above), Rufus Mayes (RIP - a personal favorite, on and off the field), Doug France, and Lin Houston (before my time, but not my dad's, and a key to the Browns' and Otto Graham's early success) to the list

And here's hoping that some current NFL Bucks and current Bucks will someday be added to this list.

Go Bucks!