Howard “Hopalong” Cassady is known for many reasons around Ohio State. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1955. His number was retired by OSU after he left. He won a National Championship for us.
But one accomplishment that is not often listed is that he helped saved the job of Woody Hayes.
Following the 1953 season, Woody had only won 16 games in three seasons and the boosters were getting anxious. Ohio State had gone through multiple coaches over a long period of time and none of them seemed to work out anymore. Woody Hayes was looking as if he’d be just another mediocre coach to throw on the trash heap.
But the players knew Hayes better than any booster ever could, and they recognized the greatness in the man. The 1954 season was filled with great players, and perhaps the best was Cassady. Facing the dismissal of their beloved head coach, they banded together like no Buckeye team ever had before and went 10-0, winning a National Championship along the way.
Because of the greatness of Cassady and his teammates, the detractors to Woody Hayes were silenced. Hayes would win 4 more rings for OSU and an entire legend was built.
Thanks, Hopalong.
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