Cooper, Spielman, & Otis for HoF

[KevinBuck]

Just saw that John Cooper and Chris Spielman are on this year's CFB Hall of Fame ballot--what do you guys think of their chances, this year or on future ballots? I was too young to really see Spiels in action, but of course I know he's one of the best LBs ever to play at OSU.

Cooper I'm sure will get a mixed reaction, but I say he deserves it, if nothing else for his novelty achievement of winning the Rose Bowl from both the PAC and Big10. I believe he's just shy of 200 career wins, has a good winning %, and was instrumental in changing the way OSU (and the Big10) recruits. If only... in 1996/98--he'd be a shoo-in.

[HineyBuck]

Jim Houston and Rex Kern are also on the ballot. Both of them are overdue. I'd like to see Spielman make it also, but if he has to wait a few more years in order to get Houston and Kern in first, he'll make it eventually.

Who is this Cooper fellow you mention?

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

LINK

2005 DIVISION I-A BALLOT

PLAYERS
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=500 border=1><TBODY><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>CANDIDATE</TD><TD>SCHOOL</TD><TD>POSITION</TD><TD>YEARS</TD><TD></TD><TR><TD>Troy Aikman</TD><TD>Oklahoma/UCLA</TD><TD>Quarterback</TD><TD>1984-85,1987-88</TD></TR><TR><TD>Trev Alberts</TD><TD>Nebraska</TD><TD>Linebacker</TD><TD>1990-93</TD></TR><TR><TD>Bobby C. Anderson</TD><TD>Colorado</TD><TD>Running Back</TD><TD>1967-69</TD></TR><TR><TD>Otis Armstrong</TD><TD>Purdue</TD><TD>Running Back</TD><TD>1970-72</TD></TR><TR><TD>Steve Bartkowski</TD><TD>California</TD><TD>Quarterback</TD><TD>1972-74</TD></TR><TR><TD>Benny Blades</TD><TD>Miami (Fla.)</TD><TD>Defensive Back</TD><TD>1985-87</TD></TR><TR><TD>Cornelius Bennett</TD><TD>Alabama</TD><TD>Linebacker</TD><TD>1983-86</TD></TR><TR><TD>Rik Bonness</TD><TD>Nebraska</TD><TD>Center</TD><TD>1973-75</TD></TR><TR><TD>Dave Brown</TD><TD>Michigan</TD><TD>Defensive Back</TD><TD>1972-74</TD></TR><TR><TD>Ronnie Caveness</TD><TD>Arkansas</TD><TD>Center</TD><TD>1973-75</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jim Crawford</TD><TD>Wyoming</TD><TD>Running Back</TD><TD>1954-56</TD></TR><TR><TD>Tom Curtis</TD><TD>Michigan</TD><TD>Defensive Back</TD><TD>1967-69</TD></TR><TR><TD>Anthony Davis</TD><TD>Southern California</TD><TD>Running Back</TD><TD>1972-74</TD></TR><TR><TD>Art Davis</TD><TD>Mississippi State</TD><TD>Running Back</TD><TD>1953-55</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jeff Davis</TD><TD>Clemson</TD><TD>Linebacker</TD><TD>1978-81</TD></TR><TR><TD>Eric Dickerson</TD><TD>Southern Methodist</TD><TD>Running Back</TD><TD>1989-82</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jim Dombrowski</TD><TD>Virginia</TD><TD>Offensive Tackle</TD><TD>1982-85</TD></TR><TR><TD>Keith Dorney</TD><TD>Penn State</TD><TD>Offensive Tackle</TD><TD>1975-78</TD></TR><TR><TD>D.J. Dozier</TD><TD>Penn State</TD><TD>Running Back</TD><TD>1983-86</TD></TR><TR><TD>Ed Dyas</TD><TD>Auburn</TD><TD>Fullback</TD><TD>1958-60</TD></TR><TR><TD>Carl Eller</TD><TD>Minnesota</TD><TD>Tackle</TD><TD>1961-63</TD></TR><TR><TD>Thomas Everett</TD><TD>Baylor</TD><TD>Free Safety</TD><TD>1983-86</TD></TR><TR><TD>Kirk Gibson</TD><TD>Michigan State</TD><TD>Wide Receiver</TD><TD>1975-78</TD></TR><TR><TD>Bob Golic</TD><TD>Notre Dame</TD><TD>Linebacker</TD><TD>1976-78</TD></TR><TR><TD>Terrence Hanratty</TD><TD>Notre Dame</TD><TD>Quarterback</TD><TD>1966-68</TD></TR><TR><TD>Al Harris</TD><TD>Arizona State</TD><TD>Defensive End</TD><TD>1975-78</TD></TR><TR><TD>Major Harris</TD><TD>West Virginia</TD><TD>Quarterback</TD><TD>1987-89</TD></TR><TR><TD>Mark Herrmann</TD><TD>Purdue</TD><TD>Quarterback</TD><TD>1977-80</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jim Houston</TD><TD>Ohio State</TD><TD>End</TD><TD>1957-59</TD></TR><TR><TD>John Huarte</TD><TD>Notre Dame</TD><TD>Quarterback</TD><TD>1962-64</TD></TR><TR><TD>Dick Jauron</TD><TD>Yale</TD><TD>Running Back</TD><TD>1970-72</TD></TR><TR><TD>Johnnie Johnson</TD><TD>Texas</TD><TD>Safety</TD><TD>1976-79</TD></TR><TR><TD>Chip Kell</TD><TD>Tennessee</TD><TD>Center</TD><TD>1968-70</TD></TR><TR><TD>Rex Kern</TD><TD>Ohio State</TD><TD>Quarterback</TD><TD>1968-70</TD></TR><TR><TD>George J. Kunz</TD><TD>Notre Dame</TD><TD>Tackle</TD><TD>1966-68</TD></TR><TR><TD>Roosevelt Leaks</TD><TD>Texas</TD><TD>Fullback</TD><TD>1972-74</TD></TR><TR><TD>Tony Mandarich</TD><TD>Michigan State</TD><TD>Offensive Tackle</TD><TD>1985-88</TD></TR><TR><TD>Mark May</TD><TD>Pittsburgh</TD><TD>Offensive Tackle</TD><TD>1977-80</TD></TR><TR><TD>Reuben Mayes</TD><TD>Washington State</TD><TD>Running Back</TD><TD>1982-85</TD></TR><TR><TD>Pat McInally</TD><TD>Harvard</TD><TD>Tight End</TD><TD>1972-74</TD></TR><TR><TD>Marlin McKeever</TD><TD>Southern California</TD><TD>End</TD><TD>1958-60</TD></TR><TR><TD>Art Monk</TD><TD>Syracuse</TD><TD>Wide Receiver</TD><TD>1976-79</TD></TR><TR><TD>Paul Naumoff</TD><TD>Tennessee</TD><TD>Linebacker</TD><TD>1964-66</TD></TR><TR><TD>Ken Norton Jr.</TD><TD>UCLA</TD><TD>Linebacker</TD><TD>1984-87</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jay Novacek</TD><TD>Wyoming</TD><TD>Tight End</TD><TD>1982-84</TD></TR><TR><TD>Tom Nowatzke</TD><TD>Indiana</TD><TD>Fullback</TD><TD>1961-64</TD></TR><TR><TD>Phillip Olsen</TD><TD>Utah State</TD><TD>Defensive End</TD><TD>1967-69</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jim Otis</TD><TD>Ohio State</TD><TD>Fullback</TD><TD>1967-69</TD></TR><TR><TD>Dave Parks</TD><TD>Texas Tech</TD><TD>End</TD><TD>1961-63</TD></TR><TR><TD>Mike Phipps</TD><TD>Purdue</TD><TD>Quarterback</TD><TD>1967-69</TD></TR><TR><TD>Mike Rozier</TD><TD>Nebraska</TD><TD>Running Back</TD><TD>1981-83</TD></TR><TR><TD>Lucius Sanford</TD><TD>Georgia Tech</TD><TD>Linebacker</TD><TD>1974-77</TD></TR><TR><TD>Rod Shoate</TD><TD>Oklahoma</TD><TD>Linebacker</TD><TD>1972-74</TD></TR><TR><TD>Ron Simmons</TD><TD>Florida State</TD><TD>Noseguard</TD><TD>1977-80</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jeff Siemon</TD><TD>Stanford</TD><TD>Linebacker</TD><TD>1968-71</TD></TR>< <TR><TD>Chris Spielman</TD><TD>Ohio State</TD><TD>Linebacker</TD><TD>1984-87</TD></TR><TR><TD>Larry Station</TD><TD>Iowa</TD><TD>Linebacker</TD><TD>1982-85</TD></TR><TR><TD>Don Stephenson</TD><TD>Georgia Tech</TD><TD>Center/Linebacker</TD><TD>1955-57</TD></TR><TR><TD>Darryl Talley</TD><TD>West Virginia</TD><TD>Linebacker</TD><TD>1979-82</TD></TR><TR><TD>Jim Taylor</TD><TD>Louisiana State</TD><TD>Fullback</TD><TD>1956-57</TD></TR><TR><TD>Lawrence Taylor</TD><TD>North Carolina</TD><TD>Linebacker</TD><TD>1977-80</TD></TR><TR><TD>Clendon Thomas</TD><TD>Oklahoma</TD><TD>Running Back</TD><TD>1955-57</TD></TR><TR><TD>Thurman Thomas</TD><TD>Oklahoma State</TD><TD>Running Back</TD><TD>1984-87</TD></TR><TR><TD>Anthony Thompson</TD><TD>Indiana</TD><TD>Running Back</TD><TD>1986-89</TD></TR><TR><TD>Gino Torretta</TD><TD>Miami (Fla.)</TD><TD>Quarterback</TD><TD>1989-92</TD></TR><TR><TD>Don Trull</TD><TD>Baylor</TD><TD>Quarterback</TD><TD>1961-63</TD></TR><TR><TD>Joe Walton</TD><TD>Pittsburgh</TD><TD>End</TD><TD>1954-56</TD></TR><TR><TD>Charlie Ward</TD><TD>Florida State</TD><TD>Quarterback</TD><TD>1989, 1991-93</TD></TR><TR><TD>Joe Washington</TD><TD>Oklahoma</TD><TD>Running Back/Returner</TD><TD>1972-75</TD></TR><TR><TD>Paul Wiggin</TD><TD>Stanford</TD><TD>Defensive Tackle</TD><TD>1954-56</TD></TR><TR><TD>Clarence Williams</TD><TD>Washington State</TD><TD>Running Back</TD><TD>1972-74</TD></TR><TR><TD>David Williams</TD><TD>Illinois</TD><TD>Wide Receiver</TD><TD>1982-85</TD></TR><TR><TD>Reggie Williams</TD><TD>Dartmouth</TD><TD>Linebacker</TD><TD>1973-75</TD></TR><TR><TD>Scott Woerner</TD><TD>Georgia</TD><TD>Defensive Back</TD><TD>1977-80</TD></TR><TR><TD>Chris Zorich</TD><TD>Notre Dame</TD><TD>Defensive Tackle</TD><TD>1987-90</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

COACHES

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=500 border=1><TBODY><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>CANDIDATE</TD><TD>SCHOOL</TD><TD>YEARS COACHED</TD><TD>RECORD (%)</TD><TD></TD><TR><TD>Frank Burns</TD><TD>Rutgers</TD><TD>1973-83</TD><TD>78-43-1 (.643)</TD></TR><TR><TD>John Cooper</TD><TD>Tulsa</TD><TD>1977-84</TD><TD>193-83-6 (.695)</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Arizona State</TD><TD>1985-87</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Ohio State</TD><TD>1988-2000</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Herb Deromedi</TD><TD>Central Michigan</TD><TD>1978-93</TD><TD>110-55-10 (.657)</TD></TR><TR><TD>Lone Star Dietz</TD><TD>Washington State</TD><TD>1915-17</TD><TD>96-62-7 (.603)</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Purdue</TD><TD>1921</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Louisiana Tech</TD><TD>1922-23</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Wyoming</TD><TD>1924-26</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Haskell Indian Inst.</TD><TD>1929-32</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Albright</TD><TD>1937-42</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Pat Dye</TD><TD>East Carolina</TD><TD>1974-79</TD><TD>153-62-5 (.707)</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Wyoming</TD><TD>1980</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Auburn</TD><TD>1981-92</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Wayne Hardin</TD><TD>Navy</TD><TD>1959-64</TD><TD>118-74-5 (.612)</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Temple</TD><TD>1970-82</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Dick MacPherson</TD><TD>Massachusetts</TD><TD>1971-77</TD><TD>111-73-5 (.601)</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Syracuse</TD><TD>1981-90</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Billy Jack Murphy</TD><TD>Memphis</TD><TD>1958-71</TD><TD>91-44-1 (.673)</TD></TR><TR><TD>Don Nehlen</TD><TD>Bowling Green State</TD><TD>1968-76</TD><TD>202-128-8 (.609)</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>West Virginia</TD><TD>1980-2000</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Darryl Rogers</TD><TD>Cal State-Hayward</TD><TD>1965</TD><TD>129-84-7 (.602)</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Fresno State</TD><TD>1966-72</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>San Jose State</TD><TD>1973-75</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Michigan State</TD><TD>1976-79</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Arizona State</TD><TD>1980-84</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

That is quite a list of football talent......

Trev Alberts, Nebraska-Linebacker-Named unanimous First Team All-America, BIG-8 Defensive Player of the Year and Academic All-America in 1993. Recipient of the 1993 Butkus Award. Two-time First Team All-Conference selection. NFF National Scholar-Athlete in 1993.

Mark May, Pittsburgh-Offensive Tackle-Named First Team All-America and received the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman in 1980. Selected to play in the Hula and Japan Bowl All-Star Games.

no way.....

Jim Houston, Ohio State-End-Named First Team All-America in 1958 and helped lead Ohio State to the BIG TEN and National Championships in 1957. A two-time First Team All-Conference pick and team MVP, he was named captain in 1958.

Rex Kern, Ohio State-Quarterback-Named First Team All-America and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1969. Named 1969 Rose Bowl MVP, he led Ohio State to the 1968 National Championship. Team captain in 1970.

Jim Otis, Ohio State-Fullback-Named consensus First Team All-America in 1969. Member of the 1968 National Championship team. Named First Team All-BIG TEN conference in 1969 and led the Buckeyes to two conference titles. Led the team in rushing three times.

Chris Spielman, Ohio State-Linebacker-Two-time First Team All-America selection (1986-87) – unanimous in 1987, consensus in 1986. The recipient of the 1987 Lombardi Award, he is a three-time First Team All-Conference selection and a member of two BIG TEN title teams.

John Cooper-Tulsa (1977-84), Arizona State (1985-87), Ohio State (1988-2000)-Led his teams to at least a share of nine conference championships and 14 bowl game appearances. Coached Ohio State to a Top 25 finish in 12 of 13 seasons. Coached 21 First Team All-Americas.

These are some great names in OSU history...besides Coop....

[gbearbuck]

Golic, Kern, and Dickerson would get my vote... I don't know a lot of the guys but speils was somthing else, it might be a bit early for him...

[KevinBuck]

Hey, Coop's resume is the most impressive of those 10 coaches on the ballot... I didn't realize we were actually top-25 in 12 of his 13 seasons--nice. I was about 12 when he was hired, just starting to get into CFB, and I will always appreciate Cooper for the good times I had as a young Buckeye fan (and OSU student) during the 90s.

[AKAKBUCK]

Well-- if the player and coaches categories have separate voting... I'd say Coop's a lock... he's got the best career credentials on that list... I'll throw MacPherson and Nehlen some props too... but... after that....

[KevinBuck]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=500 border=1><TBODY><TR><TD>Lone Star Dietz</TD><TD>Washington State</TD><TD>1915-17</TD><TD>96-62-7 (.603)</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Purdue</TD><TD>1921</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Louisiana Tech</TD><TD>1922-23</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Wyoming</TD><TD>1924-26</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Haskell Indian Inst.</TD><TD>1929-32</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>Albright</TD><TD>1937-42</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>First of all, great name! But how about that career progression? Those all seem like steps down the food chain...

[AKAKBUCK]

I wonder if Lone Star liked to Jam his opponents....

[MililaniBuckeye]

Both Kern and Otis need to be voted in. They were key in the 1968 national championship team which was voted as The Team of the Decade for the 1960s.

[KevinBuck]

So is the CFL HoF induction process different from other sports? Is a player/coach not necessarily in by getting a certain % of votes, but through the determination of some sort of committee? That's what the article I read seemed to imply... Is there a set number or limit on annual inductees?

[gost8]

Originally Posted by KevinBuck

Hey, Coop's resume is the most impressive of those 10 coaches on the ballot... I didn't realize we were actually top-25 in 12 of his 13 seasons--nice. I was about 12 when he was hired, just starting to get into CFB, and I will always appreciate Cooper for the good times I had as a young Buckeye fan (and OSU student) during the 90s.

Love him or hate him, he deserves to be in... If he wins a few more scUM games, a few more bowl games, and maybe throw in a NC, he would be considered one of the greatest coaches in tOSU history. He coached 154 games and his legacy is based on 10 or 12 of them.

[ScarletArrow]

Originally Posted by KevinBuck

So is the CFL HoF induction process different from other sports? Is a player/coach not necessarily in by getting a certain % of votes, but through the determination of some sort of committee? That's what the article I read seemed to imply... Is there a set number or limit on annual inductees?

From the college football hall of fame website

http://www.collegefootball.org/halloffamers.php

The College Football Hall of Fame is one of the ways in which the National Football Foundation fulfills its mission of preserving the game of college football. Founded in 1947, the NFF is dedicated to mobilizing the constructive forces of amateur football, at all levels, for the benefit of society as a whole.

The National Football Foundation currently has more than 10,000 members in 119 local chapters nationwide and recognizes the vital role amateur football plays in the development of our nation's youth and in the education process. The NFF seeks to honor those who have excelled both on and off the field and who demonstrate the Foundation's creed of scholarship, citizenship and athletic ability. Last year, the National Football Foundation and its chapters awarded nearly $1,000,000 in scholarships to deserving high school and college scholar-athletes.

The first class of College Football Hall of Fame inductees was selected in 1951. That inaugural class included 54 legends and pioneers of the game like Walter Camp, Jim Thorpe, Red Grange, Amos Alonzo Stagg and Knute Rockne. Today more than 900 legendary players and coaches from NCAA Division I-A, I-AA, II, III and the NAIA are enshrined in the Hall.

Each player nominated must have: (1) received major first-team All-America recognition; (2) played his last intercollegiate game at least 10 years previously; (3) retired from playing professional football; and (4) proven himself worthy as a citizen after his football career, carrying the ideals of football forward into his community.

A coach becomes eligible three years after retirement, providing he: (1) was a head coach for at least 10 years; (2) coached at least 100 games; and (3) won at least 60% of his games.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by gost8

...He coached 154 games and his legacy is based on 10 or 12 of them.

Yeah, and Woody Hayes coached 276 games at Ohio State and his legecy is based upon one punch. Cooper's success away from the Michigan and bowl games should not be the sole factor of his induction, at least in Buckeye fans' eyes. However, since they look at his entire coaching career, I can sort of understand his being considered. He had only two losing seasons (his first year at Tulsa in 1977 and his first year at Ohio State in 1988) in 24 years as a head coach, and was 192-84-6 (.691), with six top-10, including two #2, teams in his career.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Love him or hate him, he deserves to be in... If he wins a few more scUM games, a few more bowl games, and maybe throw in a NC, he would be considered one of the greatest coaches in tOSU history. He coached 154 games and his legacy is based on 10 or 12 of them.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Would have, should have, could have...you know what I mean......those few wins are the difference between Cooper and Tressel.

[gost8]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

Yeah, and Woody Hayes coached 276 games at Ohio State and his legecy is based upon one punch. Cooper's success away from the Michigan and bowl games should not be the sole factor of his induction, at least in Buckeye fans' eyes. However, since they look at his entire coaching career, I can sort of understand his being considered. He had only two losing seasons (his first year at Tulsa in 1977 and his first year at Ohio State in 1988) in 24 years as a head coach, and was 192-84-6 (.691), with six top-10, including two #2, teams in his career.

Agreed but that is Woody's legacy outside the Buckeye Nation and who really cares about those people anyway?

Originally Posted by bucknuts44820

Would have, should have, could have...you know what I mean......those few wins are the difference between Cooper and Tressel.

I totally agree... hindsight is 20/20. I just have always thought you shouldn't need any coach to get up for the scUM games or bowl games. Cooper's game plans and strategies were killing most other teams during those "should have been" NC years.