Free Republic

Before Woody Hayes threw the punch that would end his career, Keith Jackson handed him a pair of boxing gloves. This seemed funny at the time. Jackson, the ABC announcer, did it at a luncheon the day before the Gator Bowl between Hayes’s Ohio State Buckeyes and Clemson. Hayes had a well-earned reputation for losing his temper. There was the time he shoved a cameraman at the Rose Bowl, and the time he destroyed the sideline markers near the end of a loss to Michigan … well, there were a lot of times. His players at Ohio State had seen...

Legendary University of Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler has died. He collapsed Friday morning at Channel 7’s Broadcast House as he prepared to tape the Big Ten Ticket show. Schemechler passed away at Providence Hospital in Southfield. He was taken to the hospital by paramedics Friday morning. The former coach had 2 major heart attacks and 2 quadruple bypass surgeries. Just 2 weeks ago, he had a pacemaker implanted.

Tipp City man brings Woody back to life By Tom Archdeacon Wednesday, November 15, 2006 He was a little too much Woody for ESPN. A couple of mornings ago, the TV sports guys were at Ohio Stadium filming spots for Saturday's big game and asked him to look into the camera and simply say: "Ohio State versus Michigan." But on cue, Roger Thomas — in his black ball cap with scarlet Block O, short-sleeve white shirt, loose-at-the-neck red tie and silver-framed glasses straight from the '50s — blurted out: "Ohio State versus That Damned School Up North!" The producer waved...

Woody's 'punch' still packs a wallop It's been 25 years since haymaker KO'd OSU coach's career By Eddie Pells Associated Press Wednesday, December 31, 2003 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- For decade upon decade, football coaches have struggled to maintain a delicate balance. They teach a violent, emotional game, yet try to do so without letting the ferocity and passion compromise their image or taint their message. Twenty-five years ago this week, Woody Hayes lost control in that struggle. Even in today's era of reality TV and instant analysis and results, the images and consequences from the Ohio State coach's terrible moment...