Image via Complex Original
THE Ohio State University may have made its rep as a football powerhouse in the '40s, '50s, and '60s, but it's had its share of glory in the past four decades as well. Archie Griffin. Eddie George. Troy Smith. Don't forget Zack Dumas (Stacy Danley certainly hasn't). Names that give all Buckeyes' fans a smile. As OSU prepares to take on hated rival Michigan today, and usher in the Urban Meyer era next year, we take a look back at the Greatest Ohio State Plays of the Last 40 Years.
10. Anthony Hernandez
Date: 11/19/2005
Game: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Michigan Wolverines
With a BCS berth and Big Ten title on the line, Anthony Hernandez gets acrobatic and tries to throw his nuts in a Michigan defenders facemask while he makes an awesome catch to help the Buckeyes win the game.
9. Ted Ginn Jr.
Date: 1/8/2007
Game: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Florida Gators
If you return the opening kickoff in a national championship game you deserve to be on this list. Unfortunately, this play also proved to change the game, because after Ginn Jr. scored he was injured by one of his teammates tackling him while they were celebrating in the endzone. Without Ginn Jr. in the game, the Buckeyes didn't have a chance, and got destroyed by the Gators 41-14.
8. Troy Smith
Date: 11/18/2006
Game: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Michigan Wolverines
For a Michigan fan, the only thing worse than losing to Ohio State and having your national title hopes dashed, is an Ohio State player having his "Heisman moment" is against the Wolverines, too.
7. Woody Hayes tackle
Date: 12/29/1978
Game: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Clemson Tigers
In the 1978 Gator Bowl, legendary Buckeye head coach Woody Hayes got in on the action. This is the kind of coach you go to war with baby! If this was going on in games, I can only imagine practice. Sadly, this was Hayes' last game, because he was fired the next day.
6. Zack Dumas
Date: 1/1/1990
Game: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Auburn Tigers
Lesson learned. Try not to be on the field the same time as Zack Dumas. The crazy thing about it was after Auburn WR Stacy Danley was hit the momentum swung in the Tigers favor. They scored 31 unanswered points afterwards to win the 1990 Outback Bowl.
5. Michael Jenkins
Date: 11/9/2002
Game: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Purdue Boilermakers
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, who is known to be very conservative, got all mad gunslinger opting for a bomb on 4th and 1. No complaints, that's how championships are won.
4. Chris Gamble
Date: 1/3/2003
Game: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Miami Hurricanes
An incomplete pass would mean the Hurricanes win the championship. So what did Gamble do? Win the football version of the Academy Award for best pass interference penalty for 2003. The play gave Ohio State a second chance in which they tied the game and went into a second overtime. The second time was the charm for the Buckeyes, because they defeated the Canes in double OT.
3. Maurice Clarett
Date: 1/3/2003
Game: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Miami Hurricanes
Maurice Clarett literally stole the ball from Sean Taylor in a play the changed the entire game, because the Buckeyes would lead by ten on the following drive. Sadly, it wasn't Clarett's last experience with stealing.
2. Eddie George
Date: 11/11/1995
Game: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
Every Heisman trophy winner has a Heisman moment. Here was Eddie George's. On the day, he carried the ball 36 times for 314 yards and 3 touchdowns. Shit, he could have won the Heisman off of that game alone.
1. Archie Griffin
Date: 10/6/1973
Game: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Washington State Cougars
The only man to win two Heisman Trophy awards, in 1974 and 1975, shows you why on this acrobatic play. The scary thing was that he was only a sophomore when this sickness occurred.
