Like the porcelain statues of past philosophers and orators which line the steps of the Parthenon in ancient Greece, the retired-numbers on the upper facade at Ohio Stadium act as a tribute to the greatness which once graced this hallowed ground of scarlet and gray warriors. However, while their names sit proudly year-round at “The Shoe”, the fans and media who enter every Saturday to watch Buckeye football move further and further away from the time in which they were the subject of daily football lore in Columbus.

While, OSU has a tremendous fan base which knows their team through and through, current and past, it is always important to take a second to look back at some of the greatest contributors in the 118-year history of Buckeye football. There are seven retired jersey numbers, each player unique and spectacular in their own way. DTI has provided you with a brief glimpse into their playing history, so on August 30th when you look towards the scarlet boxes mounted permanently onto the stadium, you will know just how important these men truly were to the school you so deeply cherish.
Retired Numbers-

(#22)- Les Horvath, QB/RB- The first Buckeye to win the coveted Heisman Trophy Award in 1944 and a key member to their earliest national championship in 42′, Horvath spent 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1944 re-writing the record books while serving as OSU’s “star” in the days leading up to major television. He had over 2,000 all-purpose yards in his Ohio State career and during his 44′ Heisman Trophy Award and Big Ten Player of the Year campaign, he led the conference in rushing (669 yards) and total offense (953 yards). In 1969 he was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame and is also a member of the National Football Foundation and Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame.

(#27)- Eddie George, RB- The most recent of Ohio State’s famed retired members, George has since come back to Columbus to open a restaurant (Eddie George’s Bar and Grill) which like his career, left Buckeyes thoroughly satisfied with his overall service. Second all-time in rushing yards with 3,668 in four seasons (1992-1995), the Philadelphia native battled through tough freshman and sophomore seasons to finish his final two with some of the best of the performances in Buckeye rushing history. He has the third most touchdowns ever wearing the scarlet and gray attire (44) and rushed for 100-yards in 20 games. In 1995, he became the sixth OSU member to win the Heisman Trophy Award when he rushed for a remarkable 1,927 yards and 24 scores. The running back would also compile the Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and was named Big Ten Player of the Year in that season. After college, George went on to a highly successful NFL career where he rushed for over 10,000 yards in nine seasons for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans (14th selection in 1995 NFL Draft) and the Dallas Cowboys.

(#31)- Vic Janowicz, RB- A three-skill athlete rolled up into one quick-footed Buckeye, Janowicz was the face of Ohio State football from 1948-52 and played for OSU coaching greats Wes Fesler as well as Woody Hayes. While he was known primarily as a tailback, no. 31 passed as well as kicked and played safety during a typical game during his illustrious career. During his playing years, Janowicz picked up several notable honors such as the 1950 Heisman Trophy Award after collecting 16 touchdowns on 875 rushing yards. He was also a Big Ten Player of the Year Award winner in the same season. The Elyira, Ohio native might best be known for his miraculous 27-yard field goal in the famous Snow Bowl of 1950 vs. The University of Michigan. A member of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame and Ohio State Hall of Fame, Janowicz is and always will be the best “athlete” who ever donned the scarlet and gray uniform.

(#40)- Howard Cassady, RB- “Hopalong” as he is most commonly referred to in association with his smooth but unconventional running style, proved his doubters wrong by etching his name in the Buckeye record books while standing only 5′10 and weighing 150 pounds. A integral member of Woody Hayes’ first national championship squad (1954), Cassady tore up Ohio Stadium from 1952-55, competing not only as a halfback but as a top secondary player as well. A two time All-American selection, he took home the Heisman Trophy Award in 1955 (958 yards and 15 touchdowns) after finishing third the previous season. The same season, the Buckeye great also collected the Maxwell Award and AP Athlete of the Year Award. For over 20 seasons, Cassady led OSU in rushing yards (2,466), all-purpose yards (4,403) and career scoring (222). While he was an unbelievable football star, he was also an excellent contributor to the baseball team, leading the team in homeruns and then stolen bases in 1955 and 56′ respectively. After college, he experienced great success in a nine-year NFL career with the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles while also gaining notoriety as a scout and coach for the New York Yankees organization.

(#45)- Archie Griffin, RB- A true football institution at The Ohio State University, Griffin is without question the most popular Buckeye in the history of the program. The only college football player to win the Heisman Trophy Award twice during the 1974 and 1975 seasons, “Archie” holds the all-time OSU record in yards (5,589), touchdowns (26) and college football records for most consecutive 100-yard rushing games (31) and games overall (33). The legend owns Two Maxwell Trophy, Big Ten player of the Year and Walter Camp Player of the Year Awards. The Eastmoor Academy graduate also won Four Big Ten Championships and the Top Five Award for his excellence in athletics, academics and leadership. It is the highest award which can be bestowed by the NCAA to a player. The only player to start four Rose Bowl games, Griffin is now the President of the OSU Alumni Association after spending nine years in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals and appearing in Superbowl XVI. A member of the Ohio State, Rose Bowl and College Football Hall of Fame, the 5′9 back is simply Buckeye football at its finest and known by many for his world-class personality as well as his athletic abilities.

(#47)- Chic Harley, RB- OSU’s first consensus All-American and the NCAA’s inaugural three-time winner, Harley became the first Buckeye house-hold name in the time before major radio or television. In his playing career, which stretched from 1916-19 (did not play in 1918), Harley lost only one career game (21-1-1) with Ohio State. He was a member of two Western Conference Championships, later the Big Ten Conference, in 1916 and 1917. An asset on the ground, as a passer, with his foot and in the secondary, he held the school scoring record (198 points on 23 touchdowns, eight field goals and 35 point after attempts) until 1955. Largely responsible for the push to build Ohio Stadium due to the Buckeyes increasing popularity, Harley is a member of the College Football and Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame. Not to mention he played two years as a guard and three years as an outfielder on OSU’s basketball and baseball teams. His most dubious honor came in 1950, when he was named first-team running back on the AP’s top players of the first half of the 20th century list ahead of famed Illinois back Red Grange. For the last 49 years, the Touchdown Club of Columbus has presented the Chic Harley Award, given to the nation’s top player annually. While most fans have never seen a clip or even a photo of the Buckeye legend, he lives on as the man who truly defined Buckeye football before the scarlet and gray uniforms or Ohio Stadium made it what it is today.

(#99)- Bill Willis, DL- An essential member of OSU’s first championship in 1942, Willis was an incredible asset, playing both offensive and defensive line for the Buckeyes from 1942-44. A Columbus product, he was a two-time All-American in 1942 and 43′, the first African-American in OSU history to reach this distinguished honor. An amazing athlete with great football knowledge, the 6-2 212 pound lineman went on to a Hall of Fame career not only in college but in the AAFC and NFL as well as a member of the Cleveland Browns. Following legendary coach Paul Brown to the professional level, Willis was an eight-time All-Pro Selection in the AAFC as well as a three-time selection for Cleveland when the team moved to the NFL. One of the first African-Americans to play and reach great success in the sport of American football, he was a pioneer and hero for those who would follow in his steed. In his time after football, he took a position as director of the Ohio Youth Commission. Along with his NFL and College Hall of Fame status, Willis is also a member of the Ohio High School and Ohio State lifetime honorary list.