DE Van DeCree (All B1G, All-American, OSU HOF)

[Buckskin86]

Van Ness DeCree, from Warren, Ohio, is a former football defensive end who was a two-time All-American (1973, 1974) at Ohio State University. DeCree is a member of the Ohio State Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1990) He was also a three-year starter and a three-time All-Big 10 selection at defensive end, having been voted all-conference as a sophomore, junior, and senior. He was also voted to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team in 1999.

DeCree was part of a 1973 Buckeyes team that was considered among the best in school history. The defense had solid players from the line? tackle Pete Cusick, to the linebackers? Rick Middleton and Randy Gradishar, to the secondary? Neal Colzie, Steve Luke, and Tim Fox. This unit led by All-Big 10 selection DeCree, shut out four opponents in 1973, including three in a row.

Four of DeCree's teammates (Middleton, Gradishar, Colzie, and Fox) all became first-round draft picks in the NFL, as did Archie Griffin, John Hicks, and Kurt Schumacher on offense. Punter Tom Skladany was also a high NFL draft picks. The offensive skill players included Cornelius Greene at quarterback wingback Brian Baschnagel and fullback Pete Johnson and halfback Griffin, who led the Big Ten in rushing, running behind the tackle duo of Schumacher (an All-American) and Hicks (also an All-American) and winner of the 1973 Outland Trophy and the 1973 Lombardi Trophy.

The 9-0-1 Buckeyes, in the 1974 Rose Bowl Game, beat Johnny McKay's 9-1-1 USC Trojans 42-21. The following year in the 1975 Rose Bowl, USC edged the Buckeyes 18-17, which ended DeCree's career.

DeCree played professional football for the World Football League in 1975 for the Chicago Winds. The Chicago Winds signed Van DeCree. Winds coach Gibron planned to use DeCree at linebacker. Due to the Chicago franchise folding due to league-wide financial troubles, DeCree ended playing the rest of the season (which was ultimately suspended) with Birmingham.

DeCree still resides in Columbus, Ohio, and remains an avid Buckeyes follower.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_DeCree

Ex-OSU football standout faces drug charge in Warren muni
Published: Sat, January 7, 2012
Staff report

WARREN

Van DeCree, 58, of Tod Avenue Northwest, a former All-American defensive end at Ohio State University in 1973 and 1974, appeared in Warren Municipal Court on Friday morning on a felony drug-possession charge.

An innocent plea was entered, and DeCree was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond, meaning he didn?t have to pay anything.

DeCree, a Warren Western Reserve High School graduate, also pleaded innocent to a minor-misdemeanor charge of failing to use his headlights at night.

A Warren police officer said he made a traffic stop on DeCree?s 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass four-door at 8:51 p.m. as it was headed west on Atlantic Street Northwest near Mahoning Avenue because the car?s headlights were not on.

The officer determined that DeCree was driving on a suspended driver?s license and placed him under arrest.

While searching DeCree, the officer found two small bags of crack cocaine in his pants pocket, according to a Warren police report. DeCree, who is listed on the report as being 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, complained to the officer of chest pains and was taken to ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital.

DeCree is a member of the Ohio State Football Hall of Fame Class of 1990.

He was a three-year starter and three-time All-Big-10 selection at defensive end, having been voted all-conference as a sophomore, junior and senior.

He was also voted to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team in 1999. He played professional football for the World Football League in 1975 for the Chicago Winds.

http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/jan/07/ex-osu-football-standout-faces-drug-char/

 

[Buckskin86]

Former All-American DeCree indicted on drug charges, fraud
Published: Thu, March 15, 2012
Staff report

WARREN

Van DeCree, 58, of Tod Avenue Northwest, a former All-American defensive end on the football team at Ohio State University in 1973 and 1974, has been indicted on five drug charges and one count of workers? compensation fraud.

He will be arraigned on the six felonies and one misdemeanor at 1:30 p.m. next Thursday before Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

DeCree, a Warren Western Reserve High School graduate, was stopped by a Warren police officer Jan. 5 on Atlantic Street Northwest near Mahoning Avenue for failing to use his headlights at night.

The officer determined that DeCree was driving on a suspended driver?s license and placed him under arrest.

While searching DeCree, the officer found two small bags of suspected crack cocaine in his pants pocket, according to a Warren police report. DeCree, who is 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, complained to the officer of chest pains and was taken to ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital.

DeCree?s indictment accuses him of falsifying or altering documents related to a claim he filed with the Ohio Bureau of Workers? Compensation or a self- insuring employer on Dec. 8, 2011.

He?s also accused of using deception to obtain Vicodin in bulk amounts from October 2010 through early 2011.

http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/mar/15/decree-indicted-on-drug-charges-fraud/

 

[Buckskin86]

Ex-OSU football player pleads guilty
Published: Tue, October 30, 2012
Staff report
WARREN

Van DeCree, 59, of Tod Avenue Northwest, a former All-American defensive end for The Ohio State University football team in 1973 and 1974, has pleaded guilty to six drug charges and worker?s compensation fraud.

DeCree, a Warren Western Reserve High School graduate, will be allowed to take part in the treatment-in-lieu-of-conviction program, meaning the charges will be dismissed if he successfully completes a one-year drug treatment program.

If he fails to complete the program, he could spend several years in prison.

DeCree entered his plea Monday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court before Judge Peter Kontos.

DeCree pleaded guilty to felony cocaine possession and five felony counts of deception to obtain a dangerous drug (Vicodin), as well as misdemeanor worker?s compensation fraud.

Police charged DeCree with cocaine possession Jan. 5 after a traffic stop on Atlantic Street Northwest near Mahoning Avenue for failing to use his headlights at night.

The officer determined that DeCree was driving on a suspended driver?s license and placed him under arrest.

While searching DeCree, the officer found two small bags of suspected crack cocaine in his pants pocket, police said.

He used deception to obtain Vicodin in bulk amounts from October 2010 through early 2011, according to DeCree?s indictment.

http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/oct/30/ex-osu-football-player-pleads-guilty/

 

[Buckskin86]

Football: Ex-Buckeye DeCree, 59, hit with probation violations
TUESDAY AUGUST 13, 2013

Van DeCree, 59, an All-America defensive end at Ohio State in 1973 and ?74, was cited with two probation violations for failing to provide a urine sample at a hearing last week and for giving a phony sample yesterday at the Trumbull County courthouse.

Tracy Hunt, DeCree?s probation officer, said a sheriff?s deputy accompanied DeCree to a restroom to provide the sample. The container DeCree provided was ?ice cold? clear water, suggesting that he had filled up the container with water from the toilet, Hunt said.

In October, DeCree was ordered to take part in a one-year drug treatment program. If he finished, it would remove six drug charges and a worker?s compensation fraud charge from his record.

DeCree?s next hearing will be Sept. 16.

http://buckeyextra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2013/08/13/0813-ohio-state-football.html

 

[Buckskin86]

Ex-football star pleads to probation violation
September 24, 2013
By CHRISTOPHER BOBBY Tribune Chronicle ([email protected]) , Tribune Chronicle | TribToday.com

WARREN - Given a risky chance to kick his cocaine or painkiller addiction through a court-monitored treatment program, former Ohio State All-American defensive end Van DeCree was sentenced to seven months in prison Monday after flunking drug tests a probation officer gave him.

Originally, the 59-year-old DeCree was set to challenge the probation violation Monday. Instead, DeCree pleaded guilty rather than produce an expert witness he said previously could counter the drug screening procedures used in the local court.

''I've told you and everyone who chooses the treatment-in-lieu-of-conviction program, it's very high risk and high reward. But you only get one bite at the apple. You're going to prison today,'' said Common Pleas Judge Peter Kontos.

Van DeCree of Warren, right, with his attorney Brendan Keating

cont...

http://www.tribtoday.com/page/conte...r-pleads-to-probation-violation.html?nav=5021

 

[stehewing]

Van Decree was a good friend of my late husband and I. He is a really good man. I wish I could here from him again.

 

[ScarletInMyVeins]

Van Decree was a good friend of my late husband and I. He is a really good man. I wish I could here from him again.

I wish you could here from him too. Maybe you will see him from hear or there.