COLUMBUS, Ohio — Every once in a blue moon, a team lands a phenom, a world-class athlete who comes out of nowhere and surpasses all expectations.
Fifty years ago, that phenom for Ohio State University was Archie Griffin.
A homegrown talent, the Columbus native came to Ohio State from Eastmoor High School. The only two-time Heisman Trophy winner and multiple record-setter, Griffin blew fans away when he stepped onto the field at exactly the right time.
Head Coach Woody Hayes was disappointed at the way his Buckeyes were playing in a game against North Carolina, so he took the advice of Assistant Coach Rudy Hubbard.
“He said, you know, ‘we’ve got a fifth-string tailback here, he had a terrific week of practice,’” sports historian Jack Park said. “I know he’s only the fifth-teamer, but play a hunch.”
“People were literally flipping through their programs, that’s all we had then,” said sports reporter Bill Rabinovitch, who attended the game as an eight-year-old, with his father.
Everyone wanted to know who was this guy as he set the single-game rushing record with 239 yards.
In a 2016 interview, Griffin described the reaction of fans that day.
“It was a wonderful, wonderful feeling that I had leaving that field and seeing those people stand up,” he said. “I’ve played four Rose Bowls. I’ve played in a Super Bowl. I played for Cincinnati for seven years, and that’s the most exciting moment that I ever had.”
