1978 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

American college football season

1978 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Gator Bowl, L 15–17 vs. Clemson
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record7–4–1 (6–2 Big Ten)
Head coach
  • Woody Hayes (28th season)
MVPTom Cousineau
Captains
  • Byron Cato
  • Tom Cousineau
  • Ron Springs
  • Tim Vogler
Home stadiumOhio Stadium
Seasons
← 1977
1979 →
1978 Big Ten Conference football standings
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 5 Michigan + 7 – 1 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 12 Michigan State + 7 – 1 – 0 8 – 3 – 0
No. 13 Purdue 6 – 1 – 1 9 – 2 – 1
Ohio State 6 – 2 – 0 7 – 4 – 1
Minnesota 4 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Wisconsin 3 – 4 – 2 5 – 4 – 2
Indiana 3 – 5 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Iowa 2 – 6 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
Illinois 0 – 6 – 2 1 – 8 – 2
Northwestern 0 – 8 – 1 0 – 10 – 1
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1978 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1978 Big Ten Conference football season. The Buckeyes compiled a 7–4–1 record, including the 1978 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida, where they lost, 17–15, to the Clemson Tigers. This would be Woody Hayes' last season as head coach of the team, as he was fired following an incident in the game in which he punched Clemson defender Charlie Bauman.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 161:30 p.m.No. 5 Penn State*No. 6ABCL 0–1988,203
September 232:30 p.m.at MinnesotaNo. 16
W 27–1055,200
September 301:30 p.m.Baylor*No. 13
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 34–2887,998
October 71:30 p.m.SMU*No. 14
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
T 35–3587,721
October 142:30 p.m.at PurdueNo. 16L 16–2769,465
October 211:30 p.m.Iowa
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 31–787,326
October 281:30 p.m.Northwestern
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 63–2087,296
November 42:00 p.m.at WisconsinW 49–1479,940
November 111:30 p.m.Illinois
W 45–787,819
November 181:30 p.m.at IndianaNo. 19
W 21–1847,540
November 2512:30 p.m.No. 6 MichiganNo. 16
ABCL 3–1488,358
December 299:00 p.m.vs. No. 7 Clemson*No. 20ABCL 15–1772,011[1]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time


Game summaries

Penn State

1 234Total
• Penn St 3 079 19
Ohio St 0 000 0
  • Date: September 18
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:48
  • Game attendance: 88,202
  • Game weather: Cloudy; 80 °F (27 °C); wind 10 mph (16 km/h) SW
  • Television network: ABC
Scoring summary
Q19:52PSUBahr 30 yard field goalPSU 3–0
Q34:52PSUSuhey 3 yard run (Bahr kick)PSU 10–0
Q413:12PSUBahr 41 yard field goalPSU 13–0
Q46:45PSUBahr 25 yard field goalPSU 16–0
Q42:53PSUBahr 30 yard field goalPSU 19–0

Art Schlichter started the game at quarterback while Rod Gerald, the starter for the two previous seasons, opened the game at split end.[2]

Minnesota

Ohio State Buckeyes (0–1) at Minnesota Golden Gophers
Period 1 2 34Total
Ohio St 7 14 0627
Minnesota 0 0 077

at Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: September 23
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny • 71 °F (22 °C) • Wind SW 20 miles per hour (32 km/h; 17 kn)
  • Game attendance: 55,200
  • Referee: R. McVay
  • Ohio State Football Archives
Game information
Ohio St
  • Schlichter
    3/7, 57 Yds, INT
  • Springs
    17 Rush, 82 Yds, TD
  • Donley
    2 Rec, 57 Yds
Minnesota
  • Avery
    6/14, 95 Yds, 2 INT
  • Barber
    17 Rush, 57 Yds
  • Bailey
    3 Rec, 62 Yds

[3]

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP OSU MINN
1 11:02 6 17 3:58 Ohio St Schlichter 3-yard touchdown run, Janakievski kick good 7 0
2 14:28 10 51 Ohio St Payton 1-yard touchdown run, Janakievski kick good 14 0
2 1:31 8 54 Ohio St Schlichter 1-yard touchdown run, Janakievski kick good 21 0
2 0:04 5 58 Minnesota 39-yard field goal by Rogind 21 3
4 12:48 11 41 Ohio St Springs 3-yard touchdown run, Janakievski kick no good 27 3
4 1:41 6 17 Minnesota Dilulo 15-yard touchdown reception from Carlson, Rogind kick good 27 10
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 27 10

Baylor

SMU

Purdue

Iowa

Northwestern

Wisconsin

1 234Total
• Ohio State 7 141414 49
Wisconsin 0 707 14
Scoring summary
1OSUSchlichter 1-yard run (Janakievski kick)OSU 7-0
2OSUOtha Watson recovered blocked punt in end zone (Janakievski kick)OSU 14-0
2WISCharles 7-yard pass from Kalasmlki (Veith kick)OSU 14-7
2OSUTy Hicks 96-yard kickoff return (Janakievski kick)OSU 21-7
3OSUSkillings 61-yard interception return (Janakievski kick)OSU 28-7
3OSUMurray 14-yard run (Janakievski kick)OSU 35-7
4OSUCastignola 15-yard run (Janakievski kick)OSU 42-7
4OSUCastignola 6-yard run (Jankievski kick)OSU 49-7
4WISGreen 1-yard run (Veith kick)OSU 49-14

[4]

Illinois

1 234Total
Illinois 0 700 7
• Ohio St 7 71021 45
Scoring summary
Q1OHSTSchlichter 7 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 7–0
Q2ILLPowell 2 yard run (Finzer kick)Tie 7–7
Q2OHSTSchlichter 7 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 14–7
Q3OHSTAtha 31 yard field goalOHST 17–7
Q3OHSTCampbell 1 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 24–7
Q4OHSTSchlichter 5 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 31–7
Q4OHSTGerald 7 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 38–7
Q4OHSTJohnson 8 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 45–7

[5]

At Indiana

Ohio State Buckeyes (6–2–1) at Indiana Hoosiers (4–5)
Period 1 2 34Total
Ohio St 7 0 7721
Indiana 7 3 0818

at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

  • Date: November 18, 1978
  • Game weather: Overcast • 41 °F (5 °C) • Wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn) to 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)
  • Game attendance: 47,540
  • Box Score
Game information
First quarter
  • OSU – Paul Campbell 3-yard run (Vlade Janakievski kick), 10:19. Ohio St 7–0. Drive:
  • IU – Mike Harkrader 1-yard run (David Freud kick), 2:04. Tie 7–7. Drive:
Second quarter
  • IU – David Freud 30-yard field goal, 6:52. Indiana 10–7. Drive:
Third quarter
  • OSU – Art Schlichter 3-yard run (Vlade Janakievski kick), 2:58. Ohio St 14–10. Drive: 20 plays, 98 yards.
Fourth quarter;
  • OSU – Ricky Johnson 46-yard run (Vlade Janakievski kick), 13:13. Ohio St 21–10. Drive: 8 plays.
  • IU – Darrick Burnett 1-yard run (pass good), 5:01. Ohio St 21–18. Drive:
Top passers
  • OSU – Art Schlichter – 4/11, 22 yards, INT
  • IU – Tim Clifford – 10/19, 81 yards
Top rushers
  • OSU – Ricky Johnson – 18 rushes, 109 yards, TD
  • IU – Darrick Burnett – 18 rushes, 65 yards, TD
Top receivers
  • OSU – Ricky Johnson – 2 receptions, 9 yards
  • IU – Dan Powers – 6 receptions, 62 yards

  • Ricky Johnson played in place of the injured Ron Springs and Calvin Murray
  • Woody Hayes' last victory as Ohio State's head coach

Michigan

Michigan Wolverines at Ohio State Buckeyes
Period 1 2 34Total
Michigan 7 0 7014
Ohio St 3 0 003

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Date: November 25, 1978
  • Game time: 12:56 p.m.
  • Game weather: Overcast, 40 °F (4 °C)
  • Game attendance: 88,358
  • TV: ABC
  • Box Score
Game information

First quarter

  • OSU – Bob Atha 29-yard field goal, 1:13. Ohio St 3–0. Drive: 6 plays, 38 yards, 2:12.
  • MICH – Rodney Feaster 30-yard pass from Rick Leach (Gregg Willner kick), 0:09. Michigan 7–3. Drive: 4 plays, 70 yards, 0:59.

Third quarter

  • MICH – Roosevelt Smith 11-yard pass from Rick Leach (Gregg Willner kick), 4:12. Michigan 14–3. Drive: 13 plays, 69 yards, 5:19.
Top passers
  • MICH – Rick Leach – 11/21, 166 yards, 2 TD
  • OSU – Art Schlichter – 4/9, 43 yards, INT
Top rushers
  • MICH – Roosevelt Smith – 10 rushes, 67 yards
  • OSU – Ron Springs – 12 rushes, 63 yards
Top receivers

Gator Bowl (vs. Clemson)

Gator Bowl: #7 Clemson Tigers (10–1) vs. #20 Ohio State Buckeyes (7–3–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Ohio St 0 9 0615
Clemson 0 10 7017

at Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, Florida

  • Date: December 29, 1978
  • Game time: 9:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 72,011
  • Referee: Jim Artley
  • TV: ABC
  • Box Score
Game information

Second quarter

  • OSU – Bob Atha 27-yard field goal, 12:08. Ohio St 3–0. Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards.
  • CLEM – Steve Fuller 4-yard run (Obed Ariri kick), 5:03. Clemson 7–3. Drive: 15 plays, 80 yards.
  • OSU – Art Schlichter 4-yard run (kick failed), 1:21. Ohio St 9–7. Drive: 9 plays, 78 yards.
  • CLEM – Obed Ariri 47-yard field goal, 0:05. Clemson 10–9. Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards.

Third quarter

  • CLEM – Cliff Austin 1-yard run (Ariri kick), 2:18. Clemson 17–9. Drive: 19 plays, 84 yards.

Fourth quarter

  • OSU – Art Schlichter 1-yard run (run failed), 8:11. Clemson 17–15. Drive: 12 plays, 87 yards.
Top passers
  • OSU – Art Schlichter – 16/20, 205 yards, INT
  • CLEM – Steve Fuller – 9/20, 123 yards
Top rushers
  • OSU – Art Schlichter – 18 rushes, 70 yards, 2 TD
  • CLEM – Tracy Perry – 14 rushes, 54 yards

Warren Ratchford – 10 rushes, 54 yards

Top receivers
  • OSU – Doug Donley – 3 receptions, 54 yards
  • CLEM – Jerry Butler – 4 receptions, 44 yards

Personnel

Roster

1978 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
OL Ernie Andria
TE Ron Barwig
RB Cliff Belmer
OL Tim Brown
RB Paul Campbell
QB Greg Castignola
WR 47 Doug Donley So
OL Keith Ferguson
G 56 Ken Fritz Jr
WR 8 Rod Gerald Sr
RB Ty Hicks
WR Chuck Hunter
RB 21 Ricky Johnson
TE Jimmy Moore
RB Calvin Murray
RB Joel Payton
OL Joe Robinson
OL Jim Savoca
QB 10 Art Schlichter Fr
RB Ron Springs (C)
QB Mike Strahine
OL Tim Vogler
RB Ricardo Volley
OL Tom Waugh
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
CB 25 Todd Bell So
DL Byron Cato
LB 36 Tom Cousineau (C) Sr
LB Kelton Dansler
DL Gary Dunn
CB 27 Ray Ellis So
LB 65 Keith Ferguson So
DB Mike Guess
DL Luther Henson
LB 5 Jim Laughlin Jr
LB Paul Ross
DB Vince Skillings
DL Mark Sullivan
LB Al Washington
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K Bob Atha
K 13 Vlade Janakievski Jr
P 19 Tom Orosz So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

Depth chart

Defense


FS
Vince Skillings
Bob Murphy


WLB ILB ILB SLB
Paul Ross Al Washington Tom Cousineau Kelton Dansler
Jim Laughlin Tony Megaro Terry Vogler ⋅
ROV
Todd Bell
Duncan Griffin
CB
Mike Guess
⋅


DE NT DE
Byron Cato Mark Sullivan Gary Dulin
Joe Hornik ⋅ ⋅
CB
Ray Ellis
Lenny Mills
Offense
SE
Rod Gerald
⋅
LT LG C RG RT
Keith Ferguson Ken Fritz Tim Vogler Jim Savoca Joe Robinson
Tim Burke Scott Burris Tom Waugh ⋅ Tim Brown
TE
Jimmy Moore
Jim Houston
FL
Doug Donley
⋅
QB
Art Schlichter
Greg Castignola
FB
Paul Campbell
Ricardo Volley
Special teams
PK Vlade Janakievski
PK Bob Atha
P Tom Orosz


LS John Hutchings
RB
Ron Springs
Ricky Johnson

[6]

1979 NFL draftees

Player Round Pick Position NFL club
Tom Cousineau 1 1 Linebacker Buffalo Bills
Ron Springs 5 136 Running Back Dallas Cowboys
Jimmy Moore 6 150 Guard Baltimore Colts
Joe Robinson 9 229 Tackle Kansas City Chiefs

References

  1. ^ "Woody adds punch to Gator Bowl". The Miami News. December 30, 1978. Retrieved January 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives Archived 2015-06-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-Jun-21.
  3. ^ "Buckeyes win by run." Eugene Register-Guard. 1978 Sept 24.
  4. ^ "Buckeyes' Defense Overcomes Badgers." Palm Beach Post. 1978 Nov 5.
  5. ^ Palm Beach Post November 12, 1978
  6. ^ 1979 Ohio State Football Media Guide
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