Who's the Greatest Buckeye Defensive Tackle? (Vote for FOUR)

[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 Defensive Tackle; please make FOUR selections.

Link to the 2004 poll

[Best Buckeye]

not enough old guys again , mumble , grumble whine , complain.

[Big Papa]

BB complaining about old guys, go figure.

[Taosman]

Stillwagon! By far! Played with a nasty attitude.
With Marshal a close second.
Darrion Scott was great when healthy.
Big Daddy, I don't remember him being as active as even Scott!
Marshall was too long ago, but he became a great pro.

[Taosman]

The Purple People Eaters was the nickname of the Minnesota Vikings football team's defensive line of the late 1960s to the late 1970s, when the Vikings played in four Super Bowls. The name comes from the purple color of the Vikings' uniforms and a song by Sheb Wooley entitled Purple People Eater. Members of the line were:

• Defensive tackle Alan Page, who was the 1971 NFL MVP, and who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
• Defensive end Carl Eller, whose nickname was "Moose," and who was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in 2004.
• Defensive end Jim Marshall, who is the NFL record holder for recovered fumbles (29), and who held the NFL record for playing in 282 consecutive games (until 2005, when his record was broken by punter Jeff Feagles); 270 of those games were with the Vikings.
• Defensive tackle Gary Larsen, who was replaced by Doug Sutherland in 1974.

[BB73]

I went with Stillwagon, Marshall, Wilkinson, and other (Pete Cusick).

[DaddyBigBucks]

Originally Posted by BB73

I went with Stillwagon, Marshall, Wilkinson, and other (Pete Cusick).

co-sign

Cusick was the original weight-room freak. He lifted before lifting was cool.

[ScriptOhio]

Jim Stillwagon
Jim Marshall
Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson
another guy (that at least deserves a mention)
Alonzo Spellman

[Jaxbuck]

Originally Posted by Taosman

Stillwagon! By far! Played with a nasty attitude.
With Marshal a close second.
Darrion Scott was great when healthy.
Big Daddy, I don't remember him being as active as even Scott!
Marshall was too long ago, but he became a great pro.

When he decided to play, and he did quite a bit, he was completely unstoppable. The knock will always be his work ethic and how he could dissapear in a game for a while but on pure talent he was the best I've ever seen.

Not my favorite Buckeye but I can't leave him off the list.

BTW
1) Big Daddy
2) Stillwagon
3) Marshall
4) Other...the gap between those 3 and the others on this list is so large its scary. The others listed here are all just nice complimentary players from recent years, none should be in a GOAT discussion.

[stowfan]

IIRC Stillwagon (Mount Vernon) was only about 5'7".

[UpNorthBuckeye]

I voted for "Other" because Buonamici was the coolest. He used to go on Woody's late night Saturday show with his big freakin' Afro.

I wonder what he is doing now???

Anyone else remember Nick Buonamici?

[Brutus1]

One of my favorites and vastly underrated: Chunky Brown, MG.

All Big Ten '76 and '77

First team All America '77

From Warren Western Reserve.

[LordJeffBuck]

Originally Posted by Jaxbuck

1) Big Daddy
2) Stillwagon
3) Marshall
4) Other...the gap between those 3 and the others on this list is so large its scary. The others listed here are all just nice complimentary players from recent years, none should be in a GOAT discussion.

Pretty much sums it up - lots of good DT's at Ohio State, but very few great ones.

Originally Posted by Brutus1

One of my favorites and vastly underrated: Chunky Brown, MG.

All Big Ten '76 and '77

First team All America '77

From Warren Western Reserve.

Aaron Brown received only 6 votes out of 77 ballots (7.79 %) in the 2004 poll, so I left him off this time around. Good player, probably about in the same talent level as Pitcock, but before most BP'er's frame of reference.

[Taosman]

Stillwagon actually played middle guard in a 52 type defense. His lack of height(5-7 ish) was not a problem in that position.

Many younger Buckeye fans may have never even heard of Stillwagon, but if you ask any old timer about the defensive tackle their descriptions will be full of superlatives. Stillwagon, a product of Mount Vernon, Ohio, is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and was a two time All-American. He received consensus All-American honors in 1969 and was a unanimous All-American selection, as well as Outland and Lombardi Trophy recipient, in 1970.

Stillwagon’s play can best be described as gritty. He was not a flashy lineman, for that is an almost oxymoronic combination of words. Until Mike Kudla came along, Stillwagon owned most Buckeye strength records and this power was obvious as he discarded opposing linemen like common trash at a diminutive (by today’s standard) 220 lbs.

Among the most impressive of “the Wagon’s” accomplishments was his selection as team MVP in 1970. That 1970 squad included several Buckeye greats, including #10 (on this list) Rex Kern and Jack Tatum, who also made the list.
The Ten Greatest Buckeyes Of All-Time: #9 Jim Stillwagon | Buckeyes | The best Browns, Cavs, Indians, and Buckeyes coverage on the web!

[ScriptOhio]

Originally Posted by UpNorthBuckeye

I voted for "Other" because Buonamici was the coolest. He used to go on Woody's late night Saturday show with his big freakin' Afro.

I wonder what he is doing now???

Anyone else remember Nick Buonamici?

I remember him; and yes, I wondered how he got that much hair inside his helmet.