Okay, it's Michigan week, so it's time for a special "Greatest Buckeye Ever" poll. Now it's your chance to vote for the greatest Buckeye football player of all time, regardless of position or era. Here are your choices (
Please make THREE selections):
Hopalong Cassady (1952-55). Cassady is known as one of the greatest running backs in Ohio State history (2,466 yards, 5.67 ypc), but he also started at cornerback for the Buckeyes (10 interceptions, including an 88-yard touchdown return against Wisconsin in 1954). During his Ohio State career (36 games), Hopalong amassed 4,403 all-purpose yards, scored 37 touchdowns, was a two-time unanimous All American, won the 1955 Heisman Trophy, and led the Buckeyes to the 1954 national championship.
Archie Griffin (1972-75). An obvious choice for this poll, Archie was a three-time All American (1973-75), a two-time Heisman winner (1974-75), and remains Ohio State's all-time leading rusher (5,589 yards, 121.5 yards per game, 6.05 ypc, 34 games over 100 yards). In addition to the individual accomplishments, Archie led the Buckeyes to a 40-5-1 record and four straight Big Ten titles during his time in scarlet and grey.
Chic Harley (1916-17, 1919). According to Archie Griffin, "Chic put Ohio State football on the map," and Ohio Stadium is still known as "The House That Harley Built". Harley was a consensus All American for each of his three seasons, and he led the Buckeyes to a 21-1-1 overall record and two outright Big Ten championships during that time. Chic scored 23 touchdowns, 8 field goals, and 35 PAT's in just 23 games for Ohio State. In 1950, Harley was named a member of the AP college All Star team for the first half of the 20th century.
Les Horvath (1940-42, 1944). In 1942, Horvath helped lead Ohio State to a 9-1-0 record and the school's first recognized national championship; just two years later, he was an integral member of the 1944 squad that finished a perfect 9-0-0 and won the so-called "civilian national championship". Horvath led the Big Ten in rushing and total yards as a senior, and won the 1944 Heisman Trophy.
Vic Janowicz (1949-51). Janowicz is often considered the greatest all-around player in the history of Ohio State football. During his three years with the Buckeyes, Vic played quarterback, halfback, and defensive back, plus handled the punting, place kicking, and return duties. After his outstanding junior season (1950), Janowicz won the Heisman Trophy.
Orlando Pace (1994-96). Many consider Pace to be the best offensive lineman in the history of college football. In only three years at Ohio State, Orlando was a two-time unanimous All American (1995-96), and won the Lombardi Award twice (1995-96) and the Outland Trophy once (1996); he also finished fourth in the 1996 Heisman balloting. Pace single-handedly put the term "pancake block" into the college football lexicon, and he did not yield a sack during his final two seasons in Columbus.
Chris Spielman (1984-87). Spielman was the best linebacker in Ohio State history, and that is saying something given the number of great players at that position. Chris is the Buckeyes' career leader in solo tackles with 283 (his 546 total tackles puts him in third place), and he is perhaps best remembered for his epic 29-tackle performance against Michigan in 1986. Chris was a two-time consensus All American (1986-87), and he won the Lombardi Award after his senior season.
Jack Tatum (1968-70). Nicknamed "The Assassin", Jack Tatum was a player whom Buckeye opponents truly feared. A two-time unanimous All American selection, Tatum led the Buckeyes to a 27-2 record, three Big Ten championships (two outright), and two national championships (one consensus) during his three years in Columbus. He was also named the National Defensive Player of the Year in 1970.
