Aaron Craft, Shawn Springs, Tom Tupa, Logan Stieber Among 15 To Be Inducted Into Ohio State Athletics Hall Of Fame

 

Originally posted on FanNation Buckeyes Now
By Andrew Lind  |  Last updated 6/21/22

Ohio State announced on Tuesday afternoon the 15 former Buckeyes that will be inducted into the athletic department’s Hall of Fame as part of its class of 2022.

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The group includes Bill Ray Anders (football), Greg Bice (men’s lacrosse), John Bluem (men’s soccer coach), Charles W. Bolen (football and men’s basketball), Joel Brown (men’s track), Aaron Craft (men’s basketball), Adam Crompton (men’s fencing), Jenna Harris Griffin (women’s track), Alayna Markwordt (women’s lacrosse), Russ Nagelson (baseball), Shawn Springs (football), Logan Stieber (wrestling), Jonathan Sweet (baseball), Tom Tupa (football) and Dan Whitacre (wrestling).

Created in 1977, the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame has inducted 458 student-athletes, coaches and administrators. That includes 128 football players, 45 men’s basketball players and 30 head coaches, regardless of sport.

This year’s inductees, whose biographies were provided by the athletic department, will be inducted during a dinner at the Covelli Center on Sept. 9. They will then be recognized during Ohio State’s game against Arkansas State on Sept. 10.

Billy Ray Anders

Football, 1965-67

Remarkably, Anders never played football until he tried out for the Ohio State team in 1965. Not only did he make the team, but he was a three-year starter and a three-year letterman (1965-66-67) for Ohio State football teams coached by Woody Hayes. 

Although Hayes’ teams didn’t throw the football much, Anders was the most productive receiver Hayes ever had, catching a school-record 55 passes in 1966 and also setting the school career record with 108 receptions and 1,318 yards for his three-year career. His single-season record stood for 19 years, or until Cris Carter broke the record with 58 in 1985, while his career receptions and yardage records stood until 1983 when John Frank broke both with 121 for 1,418 yards.

Anders was a first-team All-Big Ten Conference performer and an Ohio State team captain in 1967. He started every game between 1965-67, 27 in all. 

Greg Bice

Men’s Lacrosse, 2001-04

A four-year starter from 2001-04 as a member of the men’s lacrosse team, Bice is one of the best defensive players to ever put on the scarlet and gray. A two-time USILA All-American, he was named the Great Western Lacrosse League co-Player of the Year as a senior in 2004 when he led the Buckeyes to their second consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. His play helped Ohio State to a 38-20 record from 2001-04 and back-to-back GWLL regular season titles in 2003 and 2004. Bice was a three-time first-team All-GWLL selection and following his senior season in 2004 was chosen to play in the North/South All-Star Game.

Following his Ohio State career, Bice went on to play professionally for 13 seasons. He was a four-time Major League Lacrosse All-Star and twice was the New Balance Sportsman of the Year while playing for five different teams, including the hometown Ohio Machine.   

Today, Bice remains involved with the game of lacrosse and helping others. He is a color commentator for BTN’s coverage of Big Ten lacrosse and is on the advisory board of the non-profit organization Lacrosse the Nations, which is an “international humanitarian organization that utilizes sport and play to foster education and the development of critical life skills for children living in impoverished communities worldwide.” He and his wife, Emily, spent time teaching at the orphanage in Honduras.

John Bluem

Men’s Soccer Coach, 1997-2017

Bluem is the most accomplished men’s soccer coach in Ohio State history. In 21 seasons in Columbus, Bluem guided the Buckeyes to 206  wins and five Big Ten championships. During his tenure, Ohio State appeared in the NCAA Tournament 10 times and advanced to the College Cup finals in 2007.

In 27 seasons as a college head coach, his teams won 292 matches and advanced to the NCAA tournament 14 times. The Big Ten Conference named Bluem its coach of the year four times, giving him a total of seven conference coach of the year accolades. He won the honor three times while at Fresno State (1991-96).

Not only were Bluem’s teams successful on the pitch, they were equally as productive in the classroom and community. During his tenure, four Buckeyes were named All-Americans, two earned Senior CLASS Awards, six were Big Ten Distinguished Scholars, 31 earned first-team All-Big Ten honors, 191 were Academic All-Big Ten honorees and 17 were Major League Soccer draft picks.

Bluem attend Hartwick College in New York. While there the team made three trips to the NCAA Championships, advancing to the final four in 1974. The Hartwick Hall of Famer (Class of 2002) was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rowdies, who won the 1975 Soccer Bowl.

Charles W. Bolen

Football, 1915-17, Men’s Basketball, 1916-18

Bolen was a three-year letterman on three of Ohio State’s outstanding early-1900s football teams. Ohio State went 20-1-2 between 1915-17 and won consecutive Big Ten Conference championships in 1916 and 1917. The Buckeyes were 5-1-1 in 1915, 7-0 in 1916 and 8-0-1 in 1917 and had a 17-game winning streak at one point, along with a 19-game unbeaten streak.

An end on teams that featured Chic Harley, Bolen was a consensus All-American in 1917 and a first-team All-Big Ten Conference performer.

He also played basketball for the Buckeyes and lettered for three seasons (1916-18). He was team captain in 1917-18 and was a two-year starter. After graduation, Bolen coached football and basketball at Ohio Northern University and is credited with starting the school’s intramural sports program.

Joel Brown

Men’s Track and Field, 2001-04

Brown’s speed as a Buckeye still holds as his career had a lasting impact on the Oho State track and field program. Brown holds the program record in the 55m hurdles (a since retired event) and the 110m hurdles. He held the 60m record for more than a decade and currently ranks third in program history.

Brown was a four-time Big Ten champion, winning the indoor 60m hurdles title in 2003 and outdoor 110m hurdles crowns in both 2003 and ’04. He was also part of the 4x400m relay championship team in 2001. In 2003, Brown earned first-team All-America honors in the 60m hurdles at the NCAA Indoor Championships. He was a three-time outdoor All-American – in the 110m hurdles in 2003 and ’04 and the 4x400m relay in 2001. He also captured the 2004 NCAA Mideast Regional title in the 110m hurdles.

Following the conclusion of his collegiate career, Brown earned sponsorships from Nike and Adidas as he competed worldwide and in the Olympic Trials. He was the national champion in the 60m hurdles in 2005 and finished sixth at World Championships that same year. Brown was a member of the world record breaking shuttle hurdle relay team in 2008 at the Penn Relays. In his Olympic Trials appearances, he finished ninth in 2004, 12^th in 2008 and 11^th in 2012.

Brown returned to Ohio State after graduation as a volunteer coach with the program. In 2014, he earned a full-time role as an assistant coach for sprints and hurdles and has since been promoted to track and field associate head coach. Brown is a four-time USTFCCCA Great Lakes Assistant Coach of the Year and has personally coached more than 25 All-Americans and 20 school records. He has helped lead the Buckeyes to nine Big Ten team championships.

Aaron Craft

Men’s Basketball, 2011-14

Craft is one of Ohio State men’s basketball’s all-time greats. He is the program’s career leader in both steals (337) and assists (694) as he led the team in both categories in each of his four seasons from 2011-14. Craft’s 337 career steals are the most in Big Ten history and, at the time of his induction, are 15th-most in NCAA history.

The Findlay, Ohio, native was a four-time Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection and was twice named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year. He was also the NABC National Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.

Craft played in 148 games over his four seasons, second-most in Ohio State history, and was a part of 119 victories which is tied with classmate Lenzelle Smith Jr. for most by a Buckeye. He scored over 1,300 points and is one of three players in Big Ten history with 600 assists and 300 steals. Craft led the Buckeyes to Big Ten regular season titles in 2011 and 2012 and the Big Ten Tournament title in 2013 where he was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

Craft was just as big a star off the court. He was a three-time CoSIDA first-team Academic All-America. He was twice named the Division I Academic All-American of the Year in men’s basketball (2013, 2014) and was a four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete. In 2012, he received the Elite 89 Award Winner for highest GPA in the 2012 NCAA Final Four. As a senior in 2014, he was Ohio State’s Big Ten Medal of Honor winner.

Adam Crompton

Men’s Fencing, 2003-06

Crompton captured three NCAA men’s sabre titles during his four-year Ohio State career from 2003-06. He was the national champion as a freshman in 2003 and defended his title in 2004, closing out his collegiate career with his third crown in 2006. Crompton was a four-time All-American, with three first-team nods and a second team honor after finishing seventh at the 2005 NCAA Championships.

Crompton was part of the Buckeyes’ 2004 NCAA championship squad, with three other Top 4 team finishes, and four Midwest Collegiate Conference team championships, as well as four conference men’s team champions and men’s sabre squad winners. He won the conference men’s sabre crown in both 2004 and ’06. In all, Crompton notched a 105-05 regular season record in the Scarlet and Gray.

A native of Newark, N.J., Crompton also earned many accolades on the international level and was ranked in the Top 10 in the U.S. Senior Division. He won gold medals for U.S. National and Pan American squads.

Jenna Harris Griffin

Women’s Track and Field, 2004-08

Harris Griffin earned all-conference honors each of her four years as a member of the track & field program at Ohio State with three first-team selections. The 2008 Big Ten Medal of Honor winner was one of the top sprinters of her era, winning four individual Big Ten Championships (60m in 2005 and 2007, 100m in 2005 and 2008) and one relay championship (4x100m relay in 2008) during her collegiate career.

indoors and outdoors, during her Ohio State career. In the classroom, her grades put her on the Academic All-Big Ten team four times and she was also a five-time OSU Scholar Athlete.

After graduating from Ohio State, Harris Griffin completed a graduate certificate in human nutrition at Iowa State. She is currently studying for her doctorate in clinical nutrition, human nutrition and functional medicine at the University of Western States. Harris Griffin is the founder and CEO of Generations Nutrition & Wellness – a wellness and fitness service in Atlanta.

Alayna Markwordt

Women’s Lacrosse, 2009-12

Markwordt is the all-time leader in goals (181) and points (314) and ranks third in assists (133) for the Ohio State women’s lacrosse program. She is the only Buckeye with more than 300 points and her 4.60 points per game average is among the Top 30 in NCAA history.

The native of Woodbine, Md., was a two-time Second Team All-American and a four-time All-Midwest/West Region honoree. The 2009 American Lacrosse Conference Rookie of the Year, she earned first-team All-ALC honors in 2011 and ’12 and second team all-conference accolades in 2009 and ’10. Markwordt ended her career on a program-record 65-game point streak, as she notched 90 points as a senior in 2012, the third-most points in a single season in school history. She started all 68 games over her four-year career and led Ohio State in goals, assists and points in 2011 and in scoring in 2012. She had three games with nine-plus points, including a school-record tying 11 against Johns Hopkins in 2009.

A four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Markwordt earned her master’s degree in medical dietetics from Ohio State and is a medical dietician in Washington, D.C. She signed a multi-year endorsement contract with Brine after her collegiate career.

Russ Nagelson

Baseball, 1964-66

Nagelson was a three-year letter winner on the baseball team from 1964-66. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native played a key role in helping lead the Buckeyes to the program’s only College World Series title in 1966. He was named to the All-College World Series team that year and collected a pair of hits and a team-high three RBI in the championship game victory over Oklahoma State.

Nagelson appeared in 84 games for the Buckeyes over his three seasons. He had a career average of .253 with 69 hits and 12 home runs. Nagelson led the team in runs batted in each of his final two seasons with 29 in 1965 and 30 in 1966. He finished his career with 68 total RBI.

Nagelson was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 14th round of the 1966 draft and went on to play in parts of four seasons in the big leagues for Cleveland and Detroit. 

Shawn Springs

Football, 1994-96

Springs is one of the great cornerbacks in Ohio State history. In his junior season of 1996, he was one of the dominant players in college football and was named the Big Ten Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year despite not recording an interception all season. 

Teams simply chose not to throw at Springs, who still led the team with a then-school record 15 pass break-ups and 39 tackles. He was a consensus All-American that year as well and was named first-team All-Big Ten for the second consecutive year.

Springs was a three-year starter for the Buckeyes and played in 37 games. He totaled 152 career tackles, including 112 solo stops, and 24 pass break-ups along with six interceptions. His 24 pass break-ups total was a school record and it still ranks sixth in school history.  

Springs was selected in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft, the No. 3 pick overall, by the Seattle Seahawks. Springs is the highest drafted cornerback in school history, tied with Denzel Ward, who was the No. 3 overall pick of the first round in the 2018 NFL Draft, by Cleveland.

Logan Stieber 

Wrestling, 2012-15

Stieber is one of the most accomplished collegiate wrestlers in the history of the NCAA. As a Buckeye he won four NCAA Division I national championships, four Big Ten Conference championships and the Dan Hodge Trophy. 

Stieber became only the fourth wrestler in NCAA history and the first in the Big Ten to win four individual national championships, winning his fourth title March 21, 2015. That same year, he led Ohio State to the first wrestling national championship in school history. 

Stieber finished his NCAA career with a record of 119-3, boasting the highest winning percentage (.975) in school history. Two of his NCAA titles were at 133 pounds (2012-2013) and two were at 141 pounds (2014-2015). As a senior, he was 29-0. Over four years as a Buckeye, 96 of his wins were bonus point victories and 50 of those were by fall. He ended his collegiate career on a 50-match win streak.

As a high school wrestler at Monroeville, he won four Ohio High School Division III individual titles and helped the Eagles to the team title in 2010. Internationally, Stieber was a freestyle world champion in 2016 as well as a World Cup and Pan American Champion in 2018. 

Stieber is currently an assistant coach with the Buckeyes.

Jonathan Sweet

Baseball, 1992-94

Sweet was a three-year letter winner on the baseball team from 1992-94., He earned Second Team All-America honors after batting .390 in his final season in Columbus in 1994. The 1994 Big Ten Player of the Year captained the Buckeyes to one of the best seasons in program history when the squad was a nation’s best 49-9 and won the Big Ten title.

As a sophomore in 1993, Sweet appeared in 63 games and batted .341 while helping the team to a Big Ten title and a runner-up finish at the NCAA regional. Sweet also earned freshman All-American honors in 1992 after hitting .291 with 26 RBI.

At the time of his induction, Sweet ranks 14th on the all-time list at Ohio State with a .351 career batting average and eight triples. His remarkable 1994 season still stands out as one of the best individual years by any OSU hitter, as he ranks in the Top 20 in a single season in batting average (.390), hits (87), doubles (21), RBI (56) and runs scored (63).

Sweet was drafted in the 19th round of the 1994 amateur draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He would play six seasons of minor league ball, advancing to Triple-A Nashville in 1998.

Tom Tupa

Football, 1984-87

Tupa was a two-way player for the football Buckeyes while lettering four years between 1984 and 1987. He held six Ohio State punting records at the conclusion of his career, including single season and career average with 47.1 in 1984 and 44.7 for his career. He still holds the two best single season marks, including 47.0 in 1987. His 9,564 career yards still rank second all-time and his 2,963 yards in 1987 rank third. Tupa was a 1987 consensus All-American as a punter. 

Tupa was 6-4-1 as Ohio State’s starting quarterback in 1987 with his most important win coming in Earle Bruce’s last game as coach, 23-20, at Michigan. He threw for 2,252 passing yards and still ranks 23rd on Ohio State’s career yardage list.

Tupa had an 18-year NFL career as a punter, playing for seven teams between 1988 and 2005. He was first-team All-Pro in 1999, was named to the New England Patriots All-1990s decade team and he won a Super Bowl in 2002 with Tampa Bay.

Dan Whitacre

Wrestling, 1925-27

Whitacre competed at heavyweight for Ohio State in wrestling from 1925-27.  He was a two-time Big Ten Champion (1926, 1927) and the second Buckeye to win multiple conference titles in Ohio State history.

A three-time letter winner, Whitacre was a pioneer Ohio State wrestler. The team first competed in 1921 and there were only three Ohio State wrestling teams before he entered school.

 After earning his undergraduate degree from Ohio State, Whitacre attended and graduated from the Ohio State University Medical School and was a Columbus physician for the rest of his life. He provided free medical care for Ohio State wrestlers for many years. His son competed and was a captain for the wrestling Buckeyes in the 1950s.

Where Are They Now: Tom Tupa

Jim Gehman

NYJETS.COM CONTRIBUTOR

Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 08:00 AM

A person gets one chance to make a first impression.

Tom Tupa’s first impression on head coach Bill Parcells was couldn’t have gone much better, and eventually – 11 seasons and four teams later – led the quarterback/punter to join the Jets as a free agent in 1999.

“Coming out of (Ohio State in 1988), I took a few visits before the Draft, and one was to the Giants. That’s when Parcells was there and we hit it off pretty well,” Tupa said. “I ended up getting drafted to, at the time, the Phoenix Cardinals. They were in the same division as the Giants, so I would see him a couple times a year and we’d always talk before games.

“As I moved through my career (as a quarterback for the Cardinals and then play almost exclusively as a punter with the other teams, I became a free agent in 1996). Parcells was at New England and he signed me. We went to the Super Bowl that first year, and then he ended up leaving and went to the Jets. 

“The following year when we played them, I was kind of giving him some crap about signing me and then leaving. He was laughing and said, ‘Well, maybe one of these days I’ll see you again.’ Sure enough, when I became a free agent from New England, I ended up signing back with him (and became a Jet).”

Much like with Parcells, Tupa made a good first impression with the Jets fans, when in his first game with the Green & White, the 1999 season opener against the Patriots, he was pressed into action at quarterback after Vinny Testaverde ruptured an Achilles tendon in the second quarter.

“A rule was in place back then where they could save a roster spot and add someone to it position-wise. So, I was always listed as the second (quarterback),” Tupa said. “When he went down, I didn’t realize I was going to be playing all that much. I thought I might go in for a few plays until they got the next guy ready, Rick Mirer.”

Although Tupa had taken snaps under center in practice running the scout team, he hadn’t attempted to throw a pass during a game in three years. Playing quarterback until Mirer was eligible to enter the game in the fourth quarter, Tupa completed 6 of 10 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns.

“Yeah, I ended up going in and things went pretty well there for a while,” he said. “It was a little bit of a shock obviously; I’m not going to lie. But I think overall, it went pretty well.”

While that went “pretty well,” Tupa’s contribution as a punter went great. Averaging over 45 yards per punt, he was named first-team All-Pro and selected to play in the Pro Bowl.

“I had a year or two in New England where I thought I may have had a chance, but you come in second in the voting or whatnot. I just ended having a pretty good year. A lot goes into that, obviously,” Tupa said. “The long snapper, coverage teams, and all those sorts of things come into it. It was just one of those years where you kind of got on a hot streak and it just kept going game to game.”

With the Jets for three seasons, Tupa played for that many head coaches: Parcells, Al Groh and Herm Edwards. What are his fondest memories from those days?

“We had such a good group of guys there with Vinny (Testaverde) and Wayne (Chrebet), Curtis Martin, Kevin Mawae,” Tupa said. “Unfortunately, there were a couple bad instances. The worst one was we were there when 9/11 happened. That was one thing, our team going downtown and helping out with whatever we could.

“As far as playing, I think one of the most memorable moments was that ‘Monday Night Miracle’ game (in 2000) where we came all the way back against Miami. Basically, the whole stands had emptied out because it was such a deficit going into the fourth quarter, but we rallied back (by scoring 30 points and won in overtime, 40-37).”

As part of the NFL 100 celebration, Tupa was named to the Jets’ all-time team, which will be honored during a pregame ceremony when New York hosts the Dallas Cowboys on October 13.

“I think that’s special when the fans appreciate what you were able to do for the team,” Tupa said. “Coming from the fans, that’s pretty special. It’s a great honor. I’m glad that they acknowledged what I was able to do for the team and what the team did for me. I’m pretty proud of that.”

Tupa is also proud that he was able to play 17 seasons in the NFL from 1988-04; with the Jets, Cardinals, Colts, Browns, Patriots, Buccaneers and Redskins. 

Whomever said, ‘You can’t go home again’ wasn’t talking to Tupa. Because following his playing days, he and his family made their way back to his hometown of Brecksville, Ohio, where he has been the city’s director of recreation since 2006.

“I always wanted to coach the kids as they were coming up through the little leagues and high school,” Tupa said. “So, when I moved back here, the mayor asked if I wanted this job. I told him my first thing was that I wanted to be able to coach my kids. And he said, ‘No problem.’

“That kind of sealed the deal right there. I was able to coach the kids all the way through high school. Those moments are obviously something we’ll never forget.”

Tupa and his wife, Beth, have four children. Tom, who works in the San Francisco 49ers scouting department. Tim, who works in the Los Angeles Chargers scouting department. Tyler, a redshirt junior wide receiver at Ohio University. And Emma, a sophomore at Ohio University, who plays on the volleyball team.

99 WARRIORS: NO. 19, ALL-AMERICAN AND ALL-BIG TEN PUNTER AND STARTING QUARTERBACK TOM TUPA

By Andrew Lind
August 13, 2018

We're counting down the days to kickoff with “99 Warriors,” the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes by jersey number, as voted by the staff of Eleven Warriors.

NO. 19 TOM TUPA

A football, baseball and basketball star at Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Tom Tupa led the Bees to a state title in 1983. He immediately made an impact at Ohio State, where he set the NCAA record for highest average yards per punt as a freshman (47.1). The Buckeyes won the Big Ten and clinched a berth in the Rose Bowl that season.

Tupa was also a backup quarterback, sitting three seasons behind Mike Tomczak and Jim Karsatos. He took over the starting job during his senior year in 1987 — Earle Bruce’s last as Ohio State’s head coach — and threw for 2,252 yards, 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions to lead the Buckeyes to a 6-4-1 record, including win over Michigan.

Tupa was named an All-American punter that same season, as well as All-Big Ten for the fourth-consecutive season, as he punted the ball 63 times for an average of 47 yards per attempt.

Tupa was selected in the third round (68th overall pick) of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Phoenix Cardinals. He punted for seven teams over the next 16 years, including the Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins; was named to the Pro Bowl in 1999; and won a Super Bowl ring in 2002.

Tupa — who averaged 43.4 yards per punt in his NFL career, which is tied for 44th all time — is currently the recreation director for the City of Brecksville. He is also the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, where he coached his sons, Tommy and Tyler.

Tom Tupa, Greg Urbas, Ellis Burks among Greater Cleveland Sports HOF 2018 inductees

July 16, 2018
By Elton Alexander

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Former Ohio State and Cleveland Browns punter Tom Tupa, St. Edward wrestling coaches Howard Ferguson and Greg Urbas the first African-American Olympic individual gold medalist and a record-setting bowler are among the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame's Class of 2018 announced Monday.

The seven-member class, to be inducted in September, includes Indians outfielder Ellis Burks, Olympic gold medalist DeHart Hubbard, jockey Mike Manganello and bowler Joanne Maiden Naccarato.

Here are excerpts from the inductee bios provided in a release by the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame, in addition to Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com reporting:

Tom Tupa

As quarterback at Brecksville High, he helped lead the Bees to the Ohio title in 1983. He also lettered in basketball and baseball. He joined Ohio State, where he was the punter for four seasons, setting the top two seasonal punting averages as a freshman and senior. He was the starting quarterback in 1987, passing for 2,252 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was named All-American and All-Big 10 punter that year and played in the 1988 Hula Bowl.

Tupa was drafted by the Phoenix Cardinals in the third round, the 68th pick overall, to begin an 18-year professional career. Primarily a punter after joining the Indianapolis Colts in 1992, he was with the Browns for three seasons.

He kicked for New England and the New York Jets, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 1999 with the Jets. He won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay in 2002.

He averaged 43.4 yards per punt and passed for 3,430 yards and 12 touchdowns in the NFL.

He returned to his home town to help coach at his alma mater high school, where his three sons and daughter played. Married to Beth, he is also Brecksville Recreation Director.

How a punter changed the course of NFL history

12 Sep 1999: Tom Tupa #7 of the New York Jets passes the ball during the game against the New England Patriots at the Giant Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Patriots defeated the Jets 30-28. Mandatory Credit: Ezra O. Shaw /Allsport

By Noah Frank

December 29, 2017

WASHINGTON — With nine of the 12 available playoff spots already locked down, along with seven of the eight division titles, there are very few important NFL games being played this weekend. In fact, the only game that will affect both a playoff spot and a potential division champion is Carolina vs. Atlanta, with the Panthers having already made the playoffs.

But just because there aren’t many meaningful games doesn’t mean there can’t be some fun ones. In that vein, it’s worth taking a look back and appreciating one of the craziest games in modern NFL history, the aftermath of which’s far-reaching effects are still being felt.

You may remember Tom Tupa (he finished his career with one season in Washington in 2004). A punter with an alliterative name that rolled off the tongue, he was also a college quarterback his senior season at Ohio State, and even a starting quarterback in the NFL, going 4-9 over 13 starts with the Cardinals between 1989-91. Perhaps that’s why when he was the Cleveland Browns’ punter and Bill Belichick was head coach, he was used to score the first two-point conversion in NFL history. Tupa’s fake from the holder position was actually used three times in that 1994 season, earning the nickname Two Point Tupa.

Fast-forward to 1999. Tupa is now playing for the New York Jets, under Bill Parcells, with Belichick as his offensive coordinator. In the opening quarter of the first game of the season against the New England Patriots, franchise quarterback Vinny Testaverde goes down in a heap, his Achilles ruptured.

Parcells had a decision to make. An obscure NFL rule did not allow him to activate his bench quarterback, Rick Mirer, until the fourth quarter, without losing his emergency quarterback (and punter), Tupa. Parcells rolled the dice on putting Tupa under center — the gamble worked.

Tupa wasn’t perfect, taking a number of sacks, including one which led to a fumble and a New England touchdown. But he was otherwise pretty spectacular.

Tupa entered the fourth quarter 6-for-11 for 165 yards and two touchdowns. He came in with his team down 10-7, but Parcells pulled him in favor of Mirer for the fourth quarter, with the Jets within five points. The Jets took the lead with a pick-six with under 10 minutes to play, but Mirer threw the game away — literally. He completed just four of his 11 passes, gaining just 28 yards and throwing a pair of interceptions, including the one that led to the game-winning field goal by none other than Adam Vinatieri.

The Jets missed the playoffs by a single game, with the opener against the Patriots a glaring missed opportunity. Had they made it, Parcells may never have retired, as he did at the end of the ’99 season, opening the door for his assistant, Belichick, to become the next head coach of the Jets. But the Patriots fired their head coach — Pete Carroll — as well. That led to Belichick joining the Patriots and, after a successful stint at USC, Carroll to the Seattle Seahawks.

The rest is not just history, but the dominant history of the league for nearly two decades, with New England drafting Tom Brady the next summer and winning five Super Bowls during his tenure. The fourth win came over the defending champion Seahawks, coached by Carroll, on the final play.

What might the last 18 years of the NFL have looked like if Parcells had let Tupa finish that game? We’ll never know. But it goes to show how even the most simple, insignificant-seeming choices can have ripple effects still felt across the league years later. Who knows — maybe something wild will happen this Sunday, the true impact of which won’t be felt for years to come. If we’re lucky enough to get anything like a Tom Tupa Game, hopefully whoever our unlikely hero is gets a chance to finish the job.

WATCH: That Time a Punter Played QB for the Jets and Threw 2 TD's | NFL Highlights

WATCH: Throwback Thursday: Two Point Tupa

Countdown To Kickoff: Best Buckeye Ever To Wear No. 19

By JAMES GREGA JR.
August 16, 2016

As the countdown to Ohio State's season opener against Bowling Green gets closer, the Buckeye Sports staff is continuing its Best Buckeye Ever series. We stand just 19 days from kickoff, so it is time to reveal our pick for the Best Buckeye Ever to don that number.

We are just 19 days until kickoff in Ohio Stadium and the countdown to kickoff continues with our Best Buckeye Ever series. At No. 19, we had a tough time deciding between two very impressive Ohio State careers but ultimately we decided on one.

First, we will discuss our runner-up, Ahmed Plummer. Plummer graced the Ohio State secondary from 1996-99 and played a big part in the Buckeyes resurgence in the mid to late 1990's.

In his four years, Plummer amassed 14 interceptions, which ranks sixth in Ohio State history. Perhaps his best statistical season came in 1998, when he broke up 17 passes which at the time was most in school history in a single season. That number would later be tied by Bradley Roby in 2012. Plummer also ranks second in school history in career pass break ups with 34, just two behind Roby's 36.

Plummer was a three year starter with his senior campaign raking in the honors. He was a first team all-Big Ten selection, team MVP and a team captain of the 1999 Buckeyes before being selected in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers where he spent six seasons, collecting 12 career interceptions.

While Plummer certainly is deserving of the honor of Best Buckeye Ever to wear the No. 19, we are going with the multidimensional Tom Tupa who both punted and played quarterback for the Buckeyes from 1984-87.

Tupa is perhaps the greatest punter in Ohio State history, recording the top two punting seasons in terms of average in school history. His average yards per punt of 47.1 yards in 1984 still ranks as the best season in school history while his senior campaign ranks second, when he averaged 47.0.

Tupa's talent didn't just stop at punting however, as he won the starting quarterback job in 1987 as a senior in what would be Earle Bruce's final season. He threw for 1,786 yards and 12 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, and saved arguably his best performance for last. Against Michigan in Bruce's final game, Tupa completed 18-of-26 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns to zero interceptions.

He would go on to have a very productive NFL career, mostly as a punter. Tupa was drafted in the third round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Phoenix Cardinals, where he spent four of his 16 seasons in the league. While he would be named to a Pro Bowl in 1999 as a punter, Tupa also spent a portion of his professional career as a backup quarterback as well. He finished his NFL career with 3,430 passing yards and 12 touchdown passes to 25 interceptions as a quarterback.

As a punter, Tupa would go on to win a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2002-03 season before playing his final season in 2005 with the Washington Redskins.

Do you agree with our pick here at No. 19? Make sure to weigh in on our premium message boards. The full list of No. 19's at OSU can be found below.

Alexinas, Edward ..................... 1940
Andrews, David........................2001
Andrews, William .................1981-82
Archer, Stewart “Mickey”.... 1975-76
Barre, B.J............................ 2000-01
Bender, Edward A. ................... 1968
Bliss, Keith H. ...................... 1937-38
Boone, Le Andre..................... 2002
Canestraro, Joe ........................1987
Conley, Gareon ....................2013-14
Glover-Williams, Eric................ 2015
Graham, Taylor..................... 2010-11
Harden, Derek ...................2004-06
Hill, Steve ................................. 1983
Howell, Carroll ....................1952-54
Johnson, Orhian...2008-09-10-11-12
Jones, Demetrius......................1997
Karcher, James N................1934-35
Kilgore, David S. .................1958-59
Klein, Robert J.....................1960-62
Knisley, Heath .......................... 1995
Maloney, Robert....................... 1938
Lamka, Donald.....................1969-71
Lord, James ............................. 1956
Orosz, Thomas.................... 1977-80
Payne, Aaron.............................1991
Plummer, Ahmed.................1995-99
Purdy, David D......................1972-74
Ramstetter, Joe...............2013-14-15
Ratliff, Eli................................... 2012
Russell, Matt............................ 2002
Starks, Eric............................... 1993
Tupa, Thomas...................... 1984-87
Underwood, Brandon ........2004-06
Washington, Taurian ................2007

Tom Tupa named one of the top free agent signings in Patriots' history

#20: Tom Tupa - Backup quarterback and punter, Tupa was a steady member of some successful teams under Bill Parcells and Pete Carroll.

Court Rules for Punter on Injury

August 22, 2012

Tom Tupa, 46, who played 18 seasons in the N.F.L. as a punter, is eligible for workers’ compensation for a career-ending injury on the field, Maryland’s highest court ruled Wednesday.

Tupa sustained the injury while warming up for a preseason game in 2005 at FedEx Field in Landover while playing for the Washington Redskins. The court rejected the idea that football injuries should not be considered accidental because of the rough nature of the sport. Tupa’s injury happened “out of and in the course of (his) employment,” the Maryland Court of Appeals said in its 16-page opinion.

“He was warming up for a game when he landed awkwardly and thereafter sought immediate medical treatment,” Judge John Eldridge wrote in the opinion. “Ample evidence was presented to show that Tupa suffered a compensable accidental injury during the course of his employment.”

The team and insurers argued that Tupa’s injury was not an accidental personal injury within the meaning of Maryland’s workers’ compensation law.

NC Sports clients honored in Ohio State Football's All-Time Dream Team

From Tim Bielik's "Ohio State Football: The All-Time Dream Team"

August 15, 2012

QB: Troy Smith


Of all the Heisman Trophy winners in the school's history, Troy Smith is the only quarterback to bring home the hardware.

Smith's senior season, sans the national championship game, was incredible and almost set the standard for what a true dual-threat quarterback should be able to do.

Smith racked up about 8,000 yards of total offense and 68 touchdowns in his career, 31 of which came in the 2006 season.

Ohio State has had some solid quarterbacks in recent years, but Smith has been a cut above the rest, and he should be the standard for how Buckeye quarterbacks should play.


WRs: Cris Carter, Ted Ginn, Jr.; TE: John Frank




Ohio State has produced as many good receivers in the past 25 years as any other school in the country, and the two best from those eras couldn't be more different.

Ted Ginn, Jr. may have been the fastest receiver in school history, with an ability to get behind almost any DB at will.

Ginn finished his career with over 4,000 all-purpose yards and 26 touchdowns between rushing, receiving and returning.

His last touchdown was a kickoff return against the Florida Gators in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game. Unfortunately, he got injured and missed the rest of the game.

Ohio State has not had a great history of TEs, but John Frank was an excellent player at the position.

Frank is the career leader among TEs in receptions (121) and yards with 1,481. He was a two-time All-American.


DL: Mike Vrabel, Dan Wilkinson, Jim Stillwagon, Bill Willis


The defensive front four of the OSU Dream Team is full of relentless, athletic players that made plays in both the running game as well as while rushing the passer.

Mike Vrabel, now an assistant with the Buckeyes, recorded 33 sacks and 66 TFLs in his career, both of which are school records. He then went on to help New England win three Super Bowls.


LBs: Chris Spielman, Andy Katzenmoyer, A.J. Hawk



Ohio State has long been a linebacker powerhouse and produced three amazingly talented linebackers in three respective decades.

Andy Katzenmoyer may have been the most imposing linebacker in school history, as "Big Kat" towered over opposing offenses.

He started 37 games from 1994-96 and recorded 197 tackles, 50 of which were losses and 18 sacks. He was also the first inside linebacker in school history to win the Butkus Award.


K: Mike Nugent; P: Tom Tupa


When it comes to kickers at Ohio State, Mike Nugent was as reliable as they come.

Nugent has the career marks in FG percentage (.818) and scoring with 365 points. He also won the Lou Groza Award and was named a first-team All-American in 2004.

Tom Tupa was very reliable as well, not just as a punter but also as a quarterback.

He threw for 1,786 seasons and 12 TDs as a senior in 1987, starting both at quarterback and at punter. Tupa enjoyed an 18-year career in the NFL with a career average of 43.4 yards per punt.

More than two points from Tupa

Time and Change: Catching up with ex-QB, whose son is headed to Miami (Ohio)

June 21, 2012

By Brad Bournival | BuckeyeNation

Time and Change is a series at BuckeyeNation where we chat with former Ohio State athletes.

Tom Tupa was an All-America punter and was the starting quarterback during his senior season in 1987, Earle Bruce's final year as head coach.

After being a backup quarterback for three seasons behind Mike Tomczak and Jim Karsatos at Ohio State, Tupa threw for 1,786 yards and 12 touchdowns his senior season. He was selected to the 1988 Hula Bowl.

Tupa, now 46, was a third-round pick in the 1988 NFL Draft, selected by the Phoenix Cardinals with the No. 68 pick. He averaged 43.4 yards per punt, which ranks 36th in NFL history, before retiring in 2006. He won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2002 season.


Tom Tupa had a 16-year NFL career as a quarterback and punter and started 11 games at quarterback for the Phoenix Cardinals in 1991.

A 1999 All-Pro selection, he was a backup quarterback in the NFL and became known as "Two-Point Tupa" for his three two-point conversions in 1994, when the rule was added to the NFL. He scored the first two-pointer in NFL history as a member of the Cleveland Browns.

Tupa is the recreation director for the city of Brecksville, Ohio, where he led the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Bees football team to a state title in 1983. He is also the offensive coordinator for the Bees' varsity squad, where his sons Tommy and Tim play. His youngest son, Tyler, will be a freshman this year, and his daughter Emma will be a seventh-grader.

His son, Tommy Tupa, committed to Miami (Ohio) in May. The RedHawks expect him to be their future quarterback.

BuckeyeNation caught up with Tupa recently and asked him about fatherhood, coaching and his time at Ohio State.

BN: Do you miss your playing days?

Tupa: I do a little bit as far as hanging out with the guys and game days and things like that. To be honest with you, though, I enjoy what I'm doing now. I'm coaching my boys and my daughter, actually. It's just a great situation to coach and watch them and be a part of what they're going through. It's been great so far.

“Obviously, making it to the first Rose Bowl my freshman year, that was a special time. Beating Michigan my senior year. It was Earle's last game up there. That was a special game for us with the circumstances surrounding that whole week.”
-- Former Ohio State quarterback and punter Tom Tupa

BN: What pieces of advice from Earle Bruce have you taken and applied to your everyday life?

Tupa: It's just to go out there and fight for what you want. To compete for the things in your life and what you believe in and not to back down when you believe in them.

BN: What is your fondest memory of Ohio State?

Tupa: To pick one is tough. I have a couple of great memories. Obviously, making it to the first Rose Bowl my freshman year, that was a special time. Beating Michigan my senior year. It was Earle's last game up there. That was a special game for us with the circumstances surrounding that whole week [Bruce was fired early in the week]. There are a lot of moments and games and what not, but those are the ones that stand out.

BN: Is it tough to sit back and not overstep your bounds when you're giving advice to Tim and Tommy as members of the football team?

Tupa: It's tough at times. You're probably always tougher on your kids than any other kids, so they get it more than anyone else. I think they understand that it's just part of being a coach's kid. When we're at home, we try to let it go. It's over with, it's done with. It's on to the next thing. It's tough because I'm looking for them to do the best they can and want to see them be successful. I think they know I'm just looking for what is the best for them.

BN: What does it mean to coach at your high school alma mater?

Tupa: It's great. I'm back in my hometown. We've had a few successful years back-to-back. We've got the program on the right trail again. The kids have bought into what we want to do. We've had a lot of city supporters and people are anxious to see us play. We're not a boring team. People like to see what we're going to do out there. We keep them on the edge of their seats from play to play. It's fun.

BN: What's next?

Tupa: I'm going to do the coaching thing for the foreseeable future. We'll see how long I do this, but I enjoy it. I have fun and we're winning and that makes it all that much better. For now, I'll stay the course, coach the kids and see where it leads us.

Redskins must pay Tom Tupa for back injury

March 8, 2011

By Mike Jones

The Redskins must pay former punter Tom Tupa workers' compensation for a back injury that ended his career in 2005, the Maryland Court of Appeals has ruled.

A 17-year veteran at the time, Tupa was injured while warming up during a preseason game at FedEx Field in August of 2005.

He did not return to action after that injury. Tupa, who punted in all 16 Redskins games in 2004, filed the claim with the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission in 2007, according to court documents and won the claim. The Redskins appealed, however, but lost their appeal Feb. 28 and must pay partial disability and medical expenses to Tupa.

"I am happy for Tom and feel like this is a well-deserved victory," said Tupa's agent, Neil Cornrich when reached by phone.

Cornrich declined to say exactly how much the settlement was for, and Tupa -- now 45 years old and the recreation director at a community center in his home town of Brecksville, Ohio - could not be reached for comment.

Improved benefits to retired players are one of the many issues the NFL Players Association is fighting for in the ongoing CBA negotiations.

Tom Tupa makes All-Jets Team

By BRIAN COSTELLO

January 3, 2010

ALL-JETS TEAM (GIANTS STADIUM ERA — 1984-2009)

QB: Ken O’Brien
Two-time Pro Bowler threw for more than 300 yards eight times at Giants Stadium.

RB: Curtis Martin, Freeman McNeil
Leading rushers in franchise history.

WR: Wayne Chrebet, Al Toon
Two of the most beloved players to wear a Jets uniform.

TE: Mickey Shuler
Only four Jets have more catches.

T: Jeff Criswell, Jason Fabini
These two have 218 starts with the Jets between them.

Gs: Dan Alexander, Brandon Moore
One past, one present stalwart of the offensive line.

C: Kevin Mawae
Six Pro Bowls as a Jet, still going strong in Tennessee.

K: Pat Leahy
No one has played more games as a Jet.

DE: Mark Gastineau, Shaun Ellis
These two have a combined 142 sacks.

NT: Joe Klecko
Could play multiple positions, we’ll put him in the middle.

OLB: Mo Lewis, John Abraham
Abraham not technically a linebacker, but he’s our pass-rush specialist.

ILB: Kyle Clifton, Marvin Jones
Clifton’s 204 games played is third in team history.

CB: Aaron Glenn, Darrelle Revis
Try throwing on these two.

S: Victor Green, Erik McMillan
Kerry Rhodes is close, but McMillan gets the edge with two Pro Bowls.

P: Tom Tupa
All-Pro in 1999 when he also was the emergency quarterback.

KR: Leon Washington
Four kickoff returns for a touchdown already a franchise record.

NC Sports clients abound on All-Ohio State team

A quarter century of Buckeyes: Bill Livingston unveils his All-Ohio State team

By Bill Livingston, The Plain Dealer

December 26, 2009

BILL LIVINGSTON'S ALL-OHIO STATE TEAM (1984-2009).

Big-game performance was the tiebreaker in the picks. Some positions, like wide receiver, were so ridiculously crowded with great players that I decided to pick four and do away with a tight end. That also means only one tailback and no fullback.

Partly, that's because it's my team and my rules. Another part of my thinking is that I never saw tight end John Frank play in the early 1980s. But I just can't see Ricky Dudley taking up a spot that could go to one of the many wideouts who made your blood sing on Saturday afternoons.

QUARTERBACK: Glenville's Troy Smith (2003-06) over Joe Germaine (1996-98).

Smith, like Germaine, was the recipient of the last scholarship given in his recruiting class. Smith won the 2006 Heisman Trophy and Germaine was barely mentioned in 1998. But Smith was out of shape in both body and mind in the national championship game and laid an egg suitable for a giant's breakfast. His three victories over Michigan and his superb play in each game, as well as a big Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame and a stunning 54/13 TDs-to-interceptions ratio, made the difference.

Germaine might have been the better pure passer. He unjustly sat behind Stan Jackson until his senior year, along the way winning the 1997 Rose Bowl out of the bullpen. The 1998 team's loss, at home, to an ordinary Michigan State team, after holding a nine-point second-half lead, is just too much to ignore.

Honorable mention: Craig Krenzel (2000-03), Bobby Hoying (1993-95), Mike Tomczak (1981-84).

TAILBACK: Keith Byars (1982-85) over Eddie George (1992-95).

Say what?

George (1,927 yards, 24 TDs) won the 1995 Heisman Trophy, but he was overshadowed by Tim Biakabutuka in the staggering season-spoiling loss to Michigan. George had critical fumbles that cost OSU the game against Illinois his freshman year. Until his sensational senior year, coaches carped that he left too many yards on the field by not seeing cutback lanes or getting to the hole in time.

Byars (1,764 yards, 22 TDs) had already lost the 1984 Heisman before Doug Flutie threw the Hail Mary pass to beat Bernie Kosar's last University of Miami team. That was simply because the diminutive Flutie represented the romance of college football. But I still remember Byars running for a TD after throwing a shoe in a shootout victory over Illinois. He did everything to win the Heisman except be the runt of the litter, like Flutie.

Honorable mention: Maurice Clarett (2002) because the national championship never happens without him, Euclid's Robert Smith (1990-92), Akron Garfield's "Beanie" Wells (2006-08), Akron Buchtel's Antonio Pittman (2004-06).

WIDE RECEIVERS: Tailback used to be the signature position at Ohio State. It just might be wide receiver now. It might be best that Woody never lived to see it.

Terry Glenn (1993-95) -- Ohio State's only Biletnikoff Award winner as college football's best receiver was a one-year wonder. But what a year, and what a wonder! He seemed to spend half the year in mid-air. Glenn had seven 100-yard games receiving in 1995 for 1,411 yards and 17 touchdowns. He had feet fit for "Dancing with the Stars," tight-roping the sideline for eye-popping catches. Along with Eddie George, Glenn, as Bobby Hoying's favorite target, gave OSU so much firepower, it was hard to believe they could lose -- until John Cooper worked his big-game magic against Michigan.

Cris Carter (1984-86) -- I'll always remember Carter's one-handed catch against Brigham Young in the 1985 Citrus Bowl. Unfortunately, by taking money from an agent, he sabotaged coach Earle Bruce's OSU career.

Joey Galloway (1991-94) -- Galloway (top four in yardage and receptions, second in TDs at OSU) was a consistent performer with speed enough to take Ohio State's passing game into the modern age.

David Boston (1996-98) -- The Texan scored 34 touchdowns and caught the pass -- after turning an Arizona State defender into a pretzel -- that won the 1997 Rose Bowl. Boston also set the school one-season record with 85 receptions in 1998.
Toughest omission: Michael Jenkins (2000-2003). Jenkins was one of the great clutch receivers in OSU history, witness his catch of the fourth-and-2, last-gasp bomb to beat Purdue in 2002 and his 17-yard reception in overtime on fourth-and-14 vs. the Miami Hurricanes in the national championship game.

Honorable mention: Santonio Holmes (2003-05), Dee Miller (1995-98).

OFFENSIVE LINE: I'm not hung up on positions here. I'm just picking five guys.

Orlando Pace overwhelmed nearly every defender he faced during his exemplary career with the Buckeyes.

Orlando Pace (1994-96) -- With two Lombardi Awards (best lineman or linebacker) and an Outland Trophy (best interior lineman), the giant tackle might be OSU's most gifted blocker since Jim Parker in the 1950s. I still see Pace, 60 yards downfield, bullying a helpless Rice safety on a long touchdown pass in 1996.

Korey Stringer (1992-94) -- The late tackle blocked for Robert Smith, who'd have won a Heisman if he had stayed for his senior year, and Eddie George. Enough said.

Jim Lachey (1981-84) -- Lachey became a Pro Bowl left tackle in the NFL with the Redskins, but he played guard at OSU and was platooned until his senior year at OSU. (Take a bow on that talent assessment, Earle.)

Nick Mangold (2002-05) is my center, over LeCharles Bentley. It has nothing to do with Bentley's star-crossed five minutes as a Browns snapper. Mangold didn't win the big centers' award (the Rimington) while Bentley did, but Mangold was on the goal-line offense as a true freshman in the championship game. He also was a bulwark on some very good teams.

St. Ignatius' LeCharles Bentley (1996-2001) -- Bentley played seven games at guard and one at tackle before moving to center for his junior and senior seasons.

Honorable mention: Jeff Uhlenhake (1985-88), Berea's Alex Stepanovich (2000-03), Rob Murphy (1996-98).

DEFENSIVE LINE: Will Smith (2000-2003) -- The leader of the ferocious front four of the 2002 national championship team, he recorded 10.5 sacks and set the tone for the upset of Miami with a bear-paw swat that floored Hurricanes quarterback Ken Dorsey for a loss on the very first play.

Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson (1992-93) -- Don't let the bust his NFL career became as the No. 1 overall pick dim what a force he was for the scarlet and gray. He had 23.5 tackles for a loss and was in the face of Louisville's Jeff Brohm, forcing a wild pass on the two-point try that would have beaten OSU in the 1992 opener.

Vernon Gholston (2004, 06-07) -- This pick is going to get me in trouble. Gholston was a late-bloomer, like Terry Glenn. In 2007, he found the can of spinach or something and turned into Popeye with a score to settle with Bluto. He exploded for 14 sacks, an OSU record, in his junior year, then turned pro. A disappointment in the NFL, Gholston tended to get his sacks at OSU in clusters, sacrificing consistency. But when he was rolling, few were ever more disruptive. He had an overwhelming game against Michigan in 2007, even victimizing the overall No. 1 pick in the 2008 NFL draft, Jake Long.

Mike Vrabel (1993-96) -- A top linebacker in the NFL, Vrabel racked up 36 sacks and 66 tackles for losses, both career OSU records, at defensive end. He had the one-season record for sacking and pillaging backfields until Gholston came along.

Honorable mention: Almost anyone who played alongside Will Smith on the 2002 front four -- Tim Anderson, Darrion Scott, Kenny Peterson (who delivered the game of his life in the championship game) -- and Quinn Pitcock (2003-06).

LINEBACKERS: Andy Katzenmoyer (1996-98) -- The 1997 Butkus Award-winner as the best college linebacker, Katzenmoyer wore Archie Griffin's No. 45 after it was un-retired and was simply a game-changer. He specialized in huge plays (18 tackles for loses, six interceptions) and huge hits. Pieces of Missouri quarterback Corby Jones' equipment and, indeed, body might still be airborne in Columbia, Mo., after Katzenmoyer teed him up in the open field.

Chris Spielman (1984-87) -- The all-time leader in solo tackles with 283, Spielman won the 1987 Lombardi Award. He was the first great Ohio State player I saw. Bruce put him in at the start of the second half in the 1984 opener "and I think he made about 26 tackles," said his assistant coach at the time, Jim Tressel. Spielman kept it up, week after week, season after season.

A.J. Hawk (2002-05) -- The 2005 Lombardi winner moved from so-so recruit to the No. 6 pick in the NFL draft. I still see him sacking Notre Dame's Brady Quinn on fourth-and-short in the red zone early in the Fiesta Bowl.

Toughest omission: James Laurinaitis (2005-08). This is another pick (actually, a non-pick) some fans will disagree with. He was a three-time All-American, but ... the Nagurski Award (best college defender) and Butkus Award winner, Laurinaitis was a coverage linebacker in a read-and-react scheme. That's an untraditional role, and it led to too many tackles too far downfield. He really only made one game-changing play, forcing a fumble against Texas near the goal-line in 2006.

Honorable mention: Bobby Carpenter (2002-05), Anthony Schlegel (2004-05), Pepper Johnson (1982-85), Elyria's Steve Tovar (1989-92), Elyria Catholic's Matt Wilhem (1999-2002).

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Another treasure trove position with lots of lockdown guys and big hitters.

Shawn Springs (1994-96) -- He never had an interception. Foes accorded him the ultimate respect by, Deion Sanders-like, seldom throwing at him. Springs reduced Arizona State's heralded Keith Poole to inconsequence in the Rose Bowl. Unfairly remembered for the slip that let Michigan's Tai Streets go all the way in the only loss of the 1996 season, Springs never pointed out that OSU still led, 9-7, at the time. But I will.

Antoine Winfield (1995-98) -- The Akron Garfield product won the 1998 Thorpe Award as the nation's top college DB. He was the most physical cornerback in the Big Ten a decade ago and now has the same distinction in the NFL.

Mike Doss (1999-2002) -- A three-time All-American, Doss gave OSU the lead against Miami with a pick and rambling return of a pass by the beleaguered Dorsey.

Chris Gamble (2001-03) -- Hard to see the 2002 national title happening without this three-way threat (he also played wide out and returned kicks) who was on the field for 107 plays against Miami. On his interception of a deep ball to an ostensibly open Purdue receiver in 2002, he covered so much ground, it is comparable to Willie Mays and the ball Vic Wertz hit in the 1954 World Series.

Honorable mention: Shaker Heights' Nate Clements (1998-2000), Glenville's Donte Whitner (2003-05), Malcolm Jenkins (2005-2008), Will Allen (200-03).

SPECIALISTS

Punter: Brecksville's Tom Tupa (1984-87) over B. J. Sander, who won the Ray Guy Award as college football's best punter in 2003. Tupa's 1984 (47.1) and 1987 (47.0) averages are the best in OSU history. At practice, it sounded like a small explosion when the ball met his foot.

Kicker: Mike Nugent (2001-04) -- All-time leader by a lot in field goals, he had a leg that could just deflate opponents.

Toughest omission: Josh Huston (2001, 2003-05). I will never forget his booming kickoffs forcing Minnesota to take the ball at its own 20 over and over again in a shootout Ohio State victory in 2005.

Kick returner: Glenville's Ted Ginn Jr. (2004-06) -- As the most dangerous return man in school history, his fingertip snag of a Michigan punt while he and Santonio Holmes played you-take-it, I-got-it and then his zig-zag return for 82 yards in 2004 could no more be plotted on a play diagram than the flight of a bumblebee. How much different might it have been if "friendly fire" didn't fell him after his kickoff return for a TD on the first play of the Florida debacle? Ginn was a huge part of the game plan that night.