Who's the Greatest Buckeye Fullback? (Please vote for two)

[LordJeffBuck]

Three years ago, we did a series of polls in which the BP community selected the "Greatest Buckeye Ever" team. Since then, many more great players have passed through the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, so it's probably a good time to revisit the polls.

Every week, we will post a poll on "Who's the Greatest Buckeye" at each of the positions. The first poll, quarterback, will open today, and run for a month.

All players selected for the poll will be from the "modern era", which we have more-or-less arbitrarily determined to have begun with the hiring of Woody Hayes in 1951. However, there will be a special poll for the older Buckeye stars, where you will be allowed to choose amongst such greats as Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, Chic Harley, etc.

Please vote on each poll, if you can. Also, please note that each poll will allow you to vote at least twice, as we would like to compile a first and second team. If you vote for "other", please let us know your selection(s) by setting forth the name(s) in a post.

Polls will be posted as follows:

1. Quarterback
2. Multi-purpose player
3. Tailback
4. Fullback
5. Wide Receiver
6. Tight End
7. Offensive Tackle
8. Offensive Guard
9. Offensive Center
10. Defensive Tackle
11. Defensive End
12. Outside Linebacker
13. Middle Linebacker
14. Safety
15. Cornerback
16. Kicker
17. Punter
18. "Old Timer"
19. Head Coach

So, please vote now for your All-Time Greatest Buckeye Fullback; please make TWO selections.

Thans for your participation.

NOTES:

Bob White was an All-American in 1958, when he led the Buckeyes in rushing yards (859) and scoring (72 points on 12 touchdowns). He played three years at Ohio State (1957-1959).

Bob Ferguson was a two-time All-American (1960-61), was Ohio State's MVP (1961), won the Maxwell Award (1961), and was a very close second for the Heisman Trophy (1961). His career totals at Ohio State (1959-1961): 2,162 yards rushing (15th all-time); 5 yards per carry; 26 touchdowns.

Jim Otis was an All-American and Ohio State MVP in 1969. He is 10th amongst Ohio State's rushing leaders (2,542 yards), and tied for 15th in scoring (35 touchdowns). His average of 94.1 yards per game is 2nd only to Archie Griffin (121.5 ypg). He played in 27 games over three seasons (1967-1969) at Ohio State. His son, also named Jim, lettered at Ohio State in 2003.

John Brockington was an All-American in 1970, when he rushed for 1,142 yards (a team record at that time) and 17 touchdowns. Of the six candidates in this poll, Brock probably had the most successful pro career (NFL offensive Rookie-of-the-Year, 1971; three-time Pro Bowl selection, 1971-1973). He played for three seasons at Ohio State (1968-1970).

Pete Johnson holds Ohio State's record for career tocuhdowns (58), and is second for most total points for his career (348). He rushed for 2,308 yards, good for 14th place at Ohio State. He played four seasons (1973-1976).

Harold "Champ" Henson is 13th on the Buckeyes' career scoring leaders (216 points, which places him 8th for non-kickers). Henson scored 36 touchdowns in only 2 full seasons (1972, 1974); he was injured for all but two games of the 1973 season.

Link to the 2004 poll

[LitlBuck]

I know that Pete Johnson will probably get the most votes but I have voted for Bob Ferguson and John Brockington. Ferguson could do everything that Johnson did plus he was just a bull when he ran.

I take Brockington because he was a much better all-around football player. As I mentioned earlier, I would have even considered him for one of the better tailbacks.

[lvbuckeye]

Ferguson is in the CFB Hall of Fame. he and Pete Johnson get my vote.

[Best Buckeye]

Originally Posted by lvbuckeye

Ferguson is in the CFB Hall of Fame. he and Pete Johnson get my vote.

Ditto

[Buckeye Buh Nim]

Fergueson and Johnson.

Fergueson- came in 2nd in Heisman Trophy award.
Johnson- TD leader if I am not mistaken

seems to be a relatively easy choice

[DaddyBigBucks]

Originally Posted by Buckeye Buh Nim

...
seems to be a relatively easy choice

...not if you idolized Brockington when you were 5-years-old.

[Best Buckeye]

Each one a champion , how does one decide? I watched each and everyone of these men play. How lucky I am to have done that.

[BIATCHabutuka]

i voted pete johnson and other, nicky sualua.

pete johnson for the TD's.

sualua because he was the best blocking back i have ever seen in scarlet and gray and deserved at least a mention in the poll but realistically not a vote.

[ScriptOhio]

Originally Posted by ScriptOhio

Pete is undoubtedly Ohio State's #1 fullback of all time.

If you saw him at the game Saturday, he is now "a little over his playing weight". He may have switched to being a "hamburger eating machine ".

COLUMBUS - Pete Johnson, Ohio State's all-time leader in rushing touchdowns, and eight other former Buckeyes have been added to Ohio State's Athletics Hall of Fame, with the official induction scheduled for Sept. 7.
AP filePete Johnson scores a touchdown for the Buckeyes during their 1974 Rose Bowl win over Southern California.

"I'd just ask Coach Tressel to run the fullback five times that day," Johnson, a 245-pound fullback in his playing days, said of the Sept. 8 game against Akron, when the inductees will be introduced at halftime.

Entire article: Pete Johnson headlines Ohio State Hall of Fame class

Originally Posted by LordJeffBuck

Um, no ... that would be Bob Ferguson, but that's next week's poll.

Here are some stats on Bob Ferguson:

2,162 yards rushing (#15 all-time)
Lead tOSU in rushing three times (1959, 1960, 1961)
Averaged 5 yards per carry for his tOSU career
Scored 26 touchdowns for his tOSU career
Two-time All-American (1960, 1961)
Maxwell Award winner (1961)
Ohio State MVP (1961)
Heisman runner-up (1961; lost to Syracuse's Ernie Davis by 53 votes, the second-closest race in history)
National Championship (1961)
College Football Hall of Fame (1996 inductee)
Ohio State Hall of Fame (1987 inductee)
Ohio State All-Century Team

Some additional info:

NFL first-round draft pick
Once rushed for 529 yards in a high school game
Troy High School's football field is named for Bob Ferguson
Master's degree in sociology from The Ohio State University

IMHO, if Ferguson had won the 1961 Heisman, then there would be no discussion on who was the best-ever Buckeye fullback.

You are correct about Ferguson and the Heisman (above); however, without Johnson's blocking Archie may not have won either of his.

I'll still go with Pete Johnson as #1 and Bob Ferguson as #2 at fullback. Pete ended his career with 2,308 total yards and 56 rushing TDs (both more than Ferguson's totals). And yes, I do realize that Pete played as a freshman and Ohio State played more games in the mid 1970s than they did in the early 1960s.

Just curious: I know what is says in the Wikipedia, but can anyone actually confirm that Bob Ferguson has a master's degree in sociology? When I was a student at Ohio State in the late 1960s there were rumors (stories) about Bob Ferguson's academics that would lead you to believe he was very lucky to be academically eligible to play football (let alone actually graduating). It would be nice for someone to verify that the rumors weren't true and he does have a master's degree.

[cincibuck]

Ferguson NEVER lost a yard in all of his playing time. The Makio for 1962 (my freshman year) ran a photo series in which it took seven (!) defensive players to finally stop him and a 8th (!!) to bring him down.

[Jaxbuck]

It should be made clear to the younger guys that FB was the main ball carrier up untill the early 70's. Woody's robust T had the wingbacks lead blocking for the Fb 90% of the time. The FB was not just an extra guard like it is today.

Its apples to oranges when you vote for a guy like Sualua, George Cooper or most recently Jamar Martin.

[POJO_Risin]

I'd go with Pete Johnson at #1...in all seriousness, because he was unstoppable. Talk about a guy that can move a line. To me, it's a toss up between three guys next...

With Fergusen at the #2...but really, all those guys would be alright by me at 2...

[kippy1040]

That is so very true. The FullBack was the smash-mouth player next in line to QB to advance the ball. And Woody Hayes had a number of fullbacks back in those days. I was the only one who singled out Bob White because of one small detail that was noted and brought to fame about his style of Play.

Bob was a bruising and punishing runner that in his practice methods he would use his helmet as a battering ram and causing some hand - fingers and some wrist and arm injurys to his practicing Ohio State defenders.

Then along comes woody with a solution to the problem. He devised a piece of foam rubber across Bobs helmet secured with elastic electric tape to hold it in place. This became very popular and used in many of games back in the 50's. If you have ever seen pictures of this unusual looking helmet - now you know why and now you know the rest of the Story.

[BB73]

Bob Ferguson is in 3rd place in this poll?

I am asking folks to at least read the thumbnail descriptions behind the names in post #1 before voting.

[lvbuckeye]

he should be first.