Believable Best

The 1973 Ohio State Buckeyes are believably the best team in scarlet and gray football history. Coached by the legendary workhorse, Woody Hayes, the ‘73 team dominated the regular season on way to a 10-0-1 Big Ten conference co-championship season. The final game on the schedule, a November 24th showdown with rival Michigan, was the only Buckeye glitch. The game at Ann Arbor’s Big House resulted in a 10-10 tie and compounded a complicate, complex conclusion in the conference. The Big Ten’s athletic directors gathered to vote on which powerhouse would represent the conference in the Rose Bowl.
The Buckeyes went on to the procedural Pasadena production, and toppled the USC Trojans 42-21 in the ‘74 Rose Bowl game. Ohio State rolled up 323 ground yards that New Years’ and got revenge against the previous year’s humiliating 42-17 crushing by John McKay’s squad. The emphatic victory was accomplished with touchdowns by burly back, Pete Johnson and an automated, Archie Griffin. Johnson scored three touchdowns and Griffin padded the score in the fourth quarter with his swift 47 yard burst. USC was spotted a 21-14 third quarter lead in the ‘74 bowl game before Ohio State’s offense exploded for 28 second-half points. The Bucks buried the horsemen for a cool celebration in Southern California on an early winter day.
Sophomore quarterback, Cornelius Greene, propelled Hayes’ offense in 1973 with his gun for an arm. The flashy Greene was Hayes’ preference over other viable signal-callers because of his excellent running ability. Greene was Ohio State’s first African American quarterback. Griffin was another leading man on the team, and also in his second school year. The halfback led the Big Ten in 1973 with over 1,500 yards rushing. The offense line was anchored by Outland and Lombardi Trophy winner, John Hicks. Hicks went on to play for the Giants and the Steelers in the NFL after his success as the Buckeyes’ best lineman in school history. Kurt Schumacher teamed up with Hicks in the gifted tackling front line sporting scarlet and gray. Bruce Elia, the former Miami Dolphin and San Francisco 49er, hailed from New Jersey but excelled in Columbus in 1973. Elia was a junior fullback and solid contributor in the backfield as a converted linebacker. Freshman Johnson and second year wingback, Brian Baschnagel made up Ohio State’s inexperienced, young set of skill players. Both were extravagantly talented though, leaving the Bucks with very few weaknesses personnel-wise. Randy Gradishar was in the running for the Heismann and finished in the top six to end the season. Gradishar and Rick Middleton were unstoppable linebackers for Hayes’ defense, which embodied greatness at every level. Tackles Pete Cusick and Van Ness DeCree contributed at the line and the secondary shined with style. Steve Luke, Neal Colzie and Tim Fox were the defensive gems gaining attention in 1973 as the Buckeyes completed an undefeated year. The impenetrable unit allowed just two touchdowns in the first eight games in 1973, and pitted shutouts in Wisconsin and Illinois, and at home against Northwestern and Michigan State. The Bucks smashed Northwestern 60-0 that year and annihilated the Spartans, 35-0. The season began with an overpowering performance at home against the Golden Gophers of Minnesota. Ohio State won 56-7 in. The team would not allow more than seven points until the ninth game of the season. A winless Iowa team compiled 13 points in a second-rate effort, losing 55-13 at home.
The final game against Michigan was the most telling of the year for Ohio State. The challenge of playing against an undefeated Wolverines team foaming at the mouth for a Rose Bowl appearance was enormous. Bo Schembechler wanted tremendously to beat his mentor Hayes in the incredible rivalry game. Hayes’ decision to put the game in the hands of his defense backfired after the Buckeyes took the 10-0 advantage at the half. The conservative coach thought he could control the game but Michigan turned out to be in the driver’s seat once the second half began. The maize and blue out-gained Ohio State in yardage and stormed back to tie the game in the fourth quarter. Mike Lantry missed two field goals for Michigan in the waning seconds. The pair of missed opportunities preserved the deadlock and sent the matter into the Big 10 meeting room for further review.
The 1973 Ohio State team indeed was an impressive bunch of Buckeyes. Seven players were eventual first round draft picks in the NFL and three Buckeyes ranked in the top six for the Heisman race. Hicks came in second and Griffin and Gradishar finished fifth and sixth. Ohio State was the only Big 10 Rose Bowl winner in the entire decade of the 1970’s. It was perhaps Hayes’ finest moment as a head coach and one season that will be remembered forever.

Parting points: Song of the day- “It’s Alright”- 311

Page turner- “The Sun Also Rises”- Ernest Hemingway