Article published November 04, 2007
BUCKEYES NOTEBOOK
OSU AD: Willis the ultimate Buckeye
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READ: Buckeyes rebound after trailing in 3rd quarter
OHIO STATE
• Sept. 1 - YOUNGSTOWN ST., W 38-6
• Sept. 8 - AKRON, W 20-2
• Sept. 15 - at Washington, W 33-14
• Sept. 22 - NORTHWESTERN, W 58-7
• Sept. 29 - at Minnesota, W 30-7
• Oct. 6 - at Purdue, W 23-7
• Oct. 13 - KENT STATE, W 48-3
• Oct. 20 - MICHIGAN ST., W 24-17
• Oct. 27 - at Penn State, W 37-17
• Nov. 3 - WISCONSIN, W 38-17
• Nov. 10 - ILLINOIS, TBA
• Nov. 17 - at Michigan, noon
HOME GAMES in BOLD |
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By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
COLUMBUS - Ohio State honored former great Bill Willis by formally retiring his No. 99 in a ceremony during yesterday's game against Wisconsin.
Willis was a two-way lineman for the Buckeyes from 1942-44, a three-year starter on both sides of the ball, and an All-American in both 1943 and 1944.
"It's a special day for the Ohio State fans to recognize Bill Willis, who we always say may have been the finest player who ever played here," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said.
"Anyone that is in all the hall of fames that he is in - the high school, the college, the Ohio State, the Pro football one, and the ones for the teams he was on, and the extraordinary records and so forth - I am not sure that we have talked enough about Bill Willis, so to add that honor of retiring his jersey I think is special."
Willis, who attended the halftime ceremony, was part of the Ohio State national championship team in 1942, starting as a lineman despite being just 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds.
He was widely regarded as a standout blocker on offense, and the team's leading tackler on defense.Willis was the first African-American player to win All-America honors at Ohio State, and then he broke the color barrier in the National Football League a year before Jackie Robinson made his historic debut in baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
"He was to football what Jackie Robinson was to baseball, and he did it before Jackie Robinson," Tressel said.
Willis played for the Cleveland Browns (1946-53) and is considered the first African-American starter in professional football.
"Bill Willis is the ultimate Buckeye," Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said.
"His record of accomplishment on the field and the class and dignity he exudes exemplify the qualities of Ohio State.
"He is the consummate gentleman."
A large placard recognizing Willis and his retired No. 99 joins those of Archie Griffin (45), Vic Janowicz (31), Howard "Hopalong" Cassady (40), Les Horvath (22), Eddie George (27) and Charles "Chic" Harley (47) inside the north end of Ohio Stadium.
STREAKING: With yesterday's 38-17 Big Ten victory over Wisconsin, Ohio State has won a school-record 28 straight regular-season games.
The Buckeyes last loss in the regular season came at Penn State on Oct. 8, 2005, by a 17-10 score.
Ohio State has also won 20 straight Big Ten Conference games, which establishes a league record. Ohio State had been tied with Michigan, which won 19 straight Big Ten games from 1990-92.
CROWD CONTROL: Yesterday's game at Ohio Stadium drew a crowd of 105,449, which is the fifth-largest in the history of the facility.
SACK ATTACK: Defensive end Vernon Gholston tied an Ohio State record with four sacks in yesterday's game.
Bobby Carpenter also had four in a 2005 game against Michigan State, as did Jason Simmons against Washington State in 1991.
The Buckeyes sacked Wisconsin quarterback Tyler Donovan 10 times yesterday for 73 yards in losses.
BUCKEYE BITS: Yesterday's win puts the Buckeyes at 10-0, and marks the fifth time in coach Jim Tressel's seven years at Ohio State that his teams have won 10 or more games . . . Ohio State has won 18 straight games in Ohio Stadium, and 22 of its last 23 . . . Tressel's career record at Ohio State is 72-14 . . . sophomore tailback Chris Wells had 169 yards rushing yesterday, his seventh 100-yard game of the season . . . Ohio State receiver Brian Hartline had career highs of seven receptions and 95 receiving yards yesterday . . . junior quarterback Todd Boeckman threw two touchdown passes to Brian Robiskie yesterday, and has thrown at least two touchdown passes in every game this year . . . Ohio State's defense has allowed just seven offensive touchdowns in 10 games . . . Ohio State captain and junior linebacker James Laurinaitis had a career high 19 tackles yesterday, along with a sack and a fumble recovery.
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