Gridiron Legend Woody Hayes

"Woody" Hayes was born in the year 1913 in Clifton, Ohio. Clifton is near Cincinnati, Ohio located in Clark and Greene counties. The Clifton Mill located in Clifton, Ohio is one of the largest grist mills powered by water still in existence. In the year 2000 the population was around 179 people in Clifton, Ohio. The Clifton Mill is a big attraction at Christmas time as they are decorated quite extensively. The Clifton Gorge State Nature Reserve is another highlight in Clifton, Ohio. Two very important people are from Clifton, Ohio the first being Woody Hayes, the second being Isaac Kaufman Funk. Isaac put the Funk in Funk and Wagnalls. Funk and Wagnells was a publishing company founded in 1890.

Woody Hayes lined up as a center on his high school football team in the newcomerstown, Ohio. Woody then played tackle under coach Tom Rogers at Denison University where he majored in English and history during his undergraduate studies. Denison University is a private science and liberal arts college located about 30 miles east of Columbus in Granville, Ohio.

Woody's postgraduate career started with assistant coaching positions at 2 Ohio high schools. Woody coached at Mingo Junction from 1935 through 1936. Mingo Junction is located in Jefferson County, Ohio along the Ohio River. In 1937 Woody coached in New Philadelphia, Ohio. New Philadelphia is located along the Tuscarawas River in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, about 70 miles south of Cleveland, Ohio. Woody was promoted to the head coach position when coach John Brickles excepted another position. Woody had a successful first two seasons going 17 -- 2 -- 1 followed by a 1 -- 9 season in 1940.

In 1941 would he enlisted in the United States Navy, climbing the ranks to Lieutenant Commander during World War II. During his service as a Lieutenant Commander he commanded the PC 1251 Palau Islands invasion along with the destroyer escort USS Rinehart in both the Pacific and Atlantic operations.

The football program at Denison University was suspended during World War II, as World War II was coming to an end Denison University was looking to get the football program going again. They initially contacted former coach Roger's who declined and recommended his former team captain Woody Hayes to be the next coach. They were able to contact Woody just before his ship passed through the Panama Canal which would have made him unreachable for a long time. Woody accepted their offer.

Upon Woody's return to Denison University in 1946 it was a struggle the first year only winning the season finale, but initiated a 19 game winning streak. The winning streak prompted an offer from Miami University for the head coaching position. Also known as Miami of Ohio located in Oxford, Ohio the school is referred to as the cradle of coaches. Many gridiron legends have spawned from the school including Wayne Woodrow Hayes, Paul Brown, Bo Schembechler and many more. Woody's two years here led him to the salad bowl in 1950 where they defeated Arizona State University. Woody then went on to the head coaching position at the Ohio State University February 18, 1951.

Woody, now referred to as Professor Hayes by his students was made a full professor of education by the Ohio State University upon acceptance of his head coach position. Woody Hayes had a unique style of both teaching and coaching where he incorporated analogies and examples from history to make his point. Woody maintained a good relationship with other staff members for the most part. Above all, Woody had a never ending commitment to academics.

During his tenure at Ohio State University Woody Hayes achieved an overall record of 205 -- 61 -- 10. As for Woody's coaching style he was both unique and unforgettable. Woody took a rather conservative approach especially in respect to the offense. Woody's offense was commonly referred to as 3 yards and a cloud of dust. If you look up frontal assault in a dictionary it ought to have a picture of Woody Hayes. Woody's accomplishments at Ohio State University included 3 national championships, 13 Big 10 titles, and four of the teams eight trips to the Rose Bowl. Woody's most memorable victory was the win over USC in the 1974 Rose Bowl, that was a 42 to 21 victory.

Woody Hayes also received 4 Paul "Bear" Bryant awards. In spite of the fact he did not like change, Woody was the first in the nation to both recruit and start African-American players. Woody was also the first to hire African-Americans as assistant coaches. Archie Griffin just so happen to be one of those players who went on to win three Heisman Trophy awards. Woody saw 58 players achieve all American accolades during his tenure at the Ohio State University. Many legendary football coachs worked under Woody Hayes including the late Bo Schembechler. Bo Schembechler went on to coach the Michigan Wolverines. Bo also had a very impressive career. Bo and Woody initiated one of the biggest rivalries in sports today. This particular rivalry gaines nationwide exposure. If you are from Ohio or Michigan this game is bigger than the Super Bowl could ever be.

Woody Hayes also had quite a temper that was displayed many times during the game. He would often smash water coolers, take his glasses off and stomp on them or throw anything he got his hands on. Woody was not particularly fond of the media either, on at least one occasion he smashed the camera and in the face of the cameramen stating" I'll take care of you son of a bitch". It was Woody's temper that brought his wonderful career to an end. On December 29, 1978 the Ohio State buckeyes were playing the Clemson Tigers in the gator bowl. Charlie Bauman the middle guard for Clemson had intercepted a pass along the buckeyes sideline during the last seconds of the game, upon getting up he taunted Woody Hayes, Woody's answer to that was a punch to the throat which ultimately ended his career. Woody's lifetime record was 238 -- 72 -- 10.

Woody was famous for his hatred for Michigan

Woody was also famous for his love for history

Woody's determination and will to be the best were legendary

Woody was the master of organization

Woody took his temper out on a lot of things, including his own body

Woody was a man who wanted results and wanted them right away

The opinion of Woody amongst the OSU faculty was mixed

Woody's players succeeded in school as well as life, and he blamed it on himself when his players failed

Woody was competitive in everything

Woody was so fast to erupt at the slightest thing

Woody didn't like those who didn't play fair.

The team came first.

Woody was famous for his motivational speeches and techniques. He always brought past players in to speak to the current team, and one time, he called up ex-Buckeye star defensive lineman Jim Stillwagon to come in and give a pre-game speech before the UM game and tell the players what it means to play in the big game. Stillwagon began his speech, but Woody interrupted in a big way. Stillwagon described what Woody said and did this way: "I start in with whatever it was I said, and all the sudden Woody just goes into this frenzy: 'Yeah, but I mean, tell 'em how it really bleeping was.' BAM. He hits me right in the stomach. 'Tell 'em it's like war.' BAM. He hits me again. 'You gotta kill those sonsabitches!' BAM. I'm getting the snot beat out of me. It's like he's hitting a heavy bag. BAM. 'Now you tell 'em, Jim.' And I'm thinking to myself, 'How did I get into this?' But you know what? Every guy who was there told me later, 'That was a great speech you gave.'" One time after an OSU victory, Woody was addressing his players when suddenly, he received a phone call from President Richard Nixon. Woody put him on hold until he was done talking to his players. When OSU went to Iowa one year for a road game, Woody noticed that the grass was grown extra-high in an attempt to slow down the OSU running backs. Woody got mad, and he also got even. He snuck behind the Iowa bench, stole a couple of heaters, and brought them over to the OSU sidelines., but when doctor told him that a sponge was accidentally sewn inside his abdominal cavity, he was surprisingly understanding. He smiled at the doctor and said, "Gee, that's funny. In 28 years of coaching, I never made a mistake." . One day, he had it arranged that Red Grange would attend an OSU practice. But there was a miscommunication and Grange would not be let in. Woody was furious about this. But then, in the parking lot after practice, where Woody would always ride the first bus out while the team caught the second bus, the first bus left without Woody, and he was enraged. He threw his briefcase in the middle of the parking lot and it split open and playsheets flew everywhere. Woody then hopped on the second bus and the bus driver took off in an effort to catch the first bus. Assistant Lou McCullough recalled, "It was the first time in history that a vehicle of any kind -- let alone a bus -- ever careened through campus at 75 miles an hour, with Woody bellowing every foot of the way. Woody just won't be upstaged, and the driver knew his life wasn't safe if he didn't overtake that first bus." . Once, while on a vacation to the Alps, Woody made a collect call back to Columbus because he knew it was the day that grades came out. When one of the coaches informed him that a player was flunking out of school, Woody freaked. He instructed that the phone be passed to every assistant and ripped into each one of them. Then he said "I can't trust anybody back there! I go away for two weeks and you kill me! I might as well kill myself right here!" The coaches, now in fear of their jobs, could hear Woody screaming over the phone. "I'm gonna kill myself! I'm gonna jump off a goddam Alp!" he yelled. The coaches in the office began chanting softly, "Jump... Jump!" The coach on the phone tried to cover the receiver, but he couldn't. "I will! I will!" Woody yelled. "I heard those sonsabitches! Tell 'em I will! I will!" There was then a cracking sound over the phone, and then silence, and the coaches realized that Woody had ripped the phone out of the wall and threw it across the room.. Some were behind him, believing he was a great leader and was as intelligent as any scholar, but some thought his team that gave OSU an image of a football school diminished the academic image of the institution and that Woody himself was a disgrace because of his volatile behavior. One time while Woody was in the faculty club lounge, a professor decided to rip into Woody and let him know exactly how he felt. The professor hurled insult after insult at Woody, but Woody just sat listening calmly. Woody waited until he was done, and then he pointed his finger at the professor and said, "Okay, now you listen to me. What you say about me and about football may or may not be true. But I can tell you one thing that is very certainly true. (pause) Just remember one thing. I can do your job, but you can't do mine!". Usually, coaches would gather to watch film, which would arrive via TWA earlier in the day. One day, the film was late. Woody got so sick of waiting that he ordered one of the coaches to get the TWA director of shipping on the phone. The coach began to dial, but Woody then changed his mind and instructed him to get Howard Hughes on the phone. The coaches were incredulous, but Woody said, "He owns the goddam airline, get him on the phone! I'll give you ten minutes." The coaches realized this would be impossible, but they began the attempt anyway. Luckily though, the TWA delivery arrived right as they began their call. "Lucky damned Hughes," said Woody. "I'd've sure chewed his butt off.". One night, he was watching film with assistants very late, and they could not find what they were looking for despite watching over and over. The coaches suggested that they stop for the night and pick up the next day. Woody, so incensed that the coaches wanted to stop, threw into a verbal tirade and then began to punch himself in the head repeatedly as hard as he could. The coaches then proceeded to review film for another hour. The next day, he came to practice with two black eyes. When asked what happened, coaches just said "Oh, Woody just got mad last night." It was a surprise to no one.. One time, a television station wanted to use 14 players to shoot a promo for a game. On the day of the shoot, the director and crew arrived for the shoot and began arranging things in a haphazard manner. Finally, when they were all ready for the shoot, Woody, disgusted, asked "How long is this going to take?" The director said 25 minutes, and Woody disagreed and informed him that practice would start in five minutes. Woody then took control, setting up the shoot and getting players to line up and say their parts in one take. The entire piece was finished with no problems, and the director was upstaged in a big way. An observer said, "Hell, given those twenty-five minutes the director wanted, Woody could have made War and Peace. With retakes.". One time early in his career, a group of coaches looked out the window and noticed that Woody had arrived in the parking lot outside. There was one parking spot left in the lot, and Woody saw it and went for it. However, the parking spot was so small that he couldn't get out of his car. Woody then backed the car up, got out of his car, started measuring things like the wind and distance between cars, and he then carefully and slowly proceeded to push his car into the spot. The coaches were amazed. "My God! Either the man is superbrilliant or superstubborn," said one, to which another replied "Probably both, but can you imagine what he thinks of the word 'defeat?'" . One night at an airport in Philadelphia, Woody was scheduled to fly home to Ohio, but the last plane out was cancelled, so Woody decided to drive back to Columbus. An Air Force sergeant, who was overseas for two years, was at the airport and discovered Woody was driving back to Ohio asked him for a ride, saying he had to catch an 8 am flight out of Dayton to get home to Utah or he'd be out of luck. Woody agreed and arranged for his assistant John Mummey in Columbus to drive the man to Dayton when they arrived. Woody never told the man who he was though, only that his name was "Hayes." When Mummey asked the man how his ride went, the man started going into how interesting Woody was and how many history stories he had to tell. "He sounded like a history professor," he said. Mummey realized that the sergeant didn't know who he was riding with, and he let him in on the secret. The man was amazed, and he said that Woody never talked about football or who he really was. Mummey replied, "Yeah, and if I know Woody, he was too busy talking history to mention football."

and anything that had to do with the state (he referred to it, of course, as "that state up north" or "that team up north") . One night on a recruiting trip in the state of Michigan, an assistant noticed that the car he was driving was going to run out of gas. He let Woody, who was dozing in the passenger seat, that he had to pull over for gas. Woody refused, and the assistant drove on. The assistant, who saw the weather was starting to get bad, began to become worried about getting stuck in the middle of nowhere, and once again stressed his desire to pull over and get gas. Woody erupted: "No, goddammit! We do NOT pull in and fill up. And I'll tell you exactly why we don't. It's because I don't buy one goddam drop of gas in the state of Michigan! We'll coast and PUSH this goddam car to the Ohio line before I give this state a nickel of my money!" The assistant knew he wasn't kidding, and they barely made it across the border and sputtered into the first gas station they found in Ohio.