8. The 1957 Ohio State Buckeyes
In 1957, a mediocre team from Texas Christian (5-4-1) once again cost Ohio State a perfect season and a chance for a consensus national championship. The Buckeyes began the season unranked, so expectations for that team were not very high. But after playing poorly in an 18-14 loss to the Horned Frogs in the opening game, it seemed that the 1957 season was going to be even worse than anticipated.
However, under the guidance of head coach Woody Hayes, the Buckeyes quickly righted the ship and ran off nine straight victories to close out their schedule. The highlights were road wins against Washington, #19 Wisconsin, and archrival Michigan, and a hard-fought home victory against #6 Iowa. The Buckeyes capped off their surprising season with a 10-7 triumph over #17 Oregon in the Rose Bowl, and they were named national champions in the coaches poll and by the FWAA.
In looking back on the 1957 season, it is difficult to see greatness in that Ohio State squad as there were no real stars on either side of the ball. The leading rushers were Don Clark (737 yards, 8 TDs) and Bob White (645 yards, 1 TD). Quarterback Frank Kremblas completed just 20 of 47 passes (42.6%) for 337 yards and 3 touchdowns. The lone All American was guard Aurealius Thomas, although Jim Houston would soon emerge as a star and become an All American in 1958 and 1959 and a first round selection in the 1960 NFL draft.
Several members of the 1957 Buckeyes are best remembered for their exploits after leaving The Horseshoe. Halfback Dick LeBeau had an undistinguished career at Ohio State (727 yards from scrimmage, 9 touchdowns), but he played 14 seasons in the NFL as a defensive back for the Detroit Lions, recording 62 interceptions and eventually becoming enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After his playing days were over, LeBeau became one of the foremost defensive minds in football, and he has spent the last forty-plus years coaching in the NFL.
Dick Schafrath never even made an All Big Ten team while at Ohio State, but he developed into one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL. Schafrath anchored the Cleveland Browns' offensive line for thirteen seasons, during which time he made six Pro Bowls and helped pave the way for Hall of Famers Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, and Leroy Kelly.
Jim Marshall became an end on the Minnesota Vikings famed "Purple People Eaters" defense. He was twice named an All Pro, and for a long time held NFL records for most consecutive games played (282) and most consecutive starts (270). Marshall still holds the record for the NFL's shortest play, -66 yards, after he ran the wrong way with a fumble recovery that resulted in a safety for the opposing team.
Don Sutherin kicked the game-winning field goal in the 1958 Rose Bowl and then went on to a Hall of Fame career in the CFL where he scored 714 points as a place kicker and intercepted 58 passes as a defensive back. Fullback Galen Cisco became a major league pitcher and then a pitching coach for nearly thirty years.
Final thoughts: Based on talent alone, the 1957 Buckeyes would not even crack the top twenty. However, the 1957 squad was able to bring a national championship to Columbus while several more talented teams (1969, 1970, 1975, 1979, 1996, 1998, and 2006 just to name a few) folded under pressure.
In 1957, a mediocre team from Texas Christian (5-4-1) once again cost Ohio State a perfect season and a chance for a consensus national championship. The Buckeyes began the season unranked, so expectations for that team were not very high. But after playing poorly in an 18-14 loss to the Horned Frogs in the opening game, it seemed that the 1957 season was going to be even worse than anticipated.
However, under the guidance of head coach Woody Hayes, the Buckeyes quickly righted the ship and ran off nine straight victories to close out their schedule. The highlights were road wins against Washington, #19 Wisconsin, and archrival Michigan, and a hard-fought home victory against #6 Iowa. The Buckeyes capped off their surprising season with a 10-7 triumph over #17 Oregon in the Rose Bowl, and they were named national champions in the coaches poll and by the FWAA.
In looking back on the 1957 season, it is difficult to see greatness in that Ohio State squad as there were no real stars on either side of the ball. The leading rushers were Don Clark (737 yards, 8 TDs) and Bob White (645 yards, 1 TD). Quarterback Frank Kremblas completed just 20 of 47 passes (42.6%) for 337 yards and 3 touchdowns. The lone All American was guard Aurealius Thomas, although Jim Houston would soon emerge as a star and become an All American in 1958 and 1959 and a first round selection in the 1960 NFL draft.
Several members of the 1957 Buckeyes are best remembered for their exploits after leaving The Horseshoe. Halfback Dick LeBeau had an undistinguished career at Ohio State (727 yards from scrimmage, 9 touchdowns), but he played 14 seasons in the NFL as a defensive back for the Detroit Lions, recording 62 interceptions and eventually becoming enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After his playing days were over, LeBeau became one of the foremost defensive minds in football, and he has spent the last forty-plus years coaching in the NFL.
Dick Schafrath never even made an All Big Ten team while at Ohio State, but he developed into one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL. Schafrath anchored the Cleveland Browns' offensive line for thirteen seasons, during which time he made six Pro Bowls and helped pave the way for Hall of Famers Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, and Leroy Kelly.
Jim Marshall became an end on the Minnesota Vikings famed "Purple People Eaters" defense. He was twice named an All Pro, and for a long time held NFL records for most consecutive games played (282) and most consecutive starts (270). Marshall still holds the record for the NFL's shortest play, -66 yards, after he ran the wrong way with a fumble recovery that resulted in a safety for the opposing team.
Don Sutherin kicked the game-winning field goal in the 1958 Rose Bowl and then went on to a Hall of Fame career in the CFL where he scored 714 points as a place kicker and intercepted 58 passes as a defensive back. Fullback Galen Cisco became a major league pitcher and then a pitching coach for nearly thirty years.
The 1957 Ohio State Buckeyes
Final record: 9-1-0
Poll rankings: #2 AP; #1 CP
Defeated #6 Iowa; #17 Oregon; #19 Wisconsin
Lost to unranked Texas Christian
Final record: 9-1-0
Poll rankings: #2 AP; #1 CP
Defeated #6 Iowa; #17 Oregon; #19 Wisconsin
Lost to unranked Texas Christian
Final thoughts: Based on talent alone, the 1957 Buckeyes would not even crack the top twenty. However, the 1957 squad was able to bring a national championship to Columbus while several more talented teams (1969, 1970, 1975, 1979, 1996, 1998, and 2006 just to name a few) folded under pressure.