1978 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
American college football season
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The 1978 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team that represented the Ohio State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1978 Big Ten season. In their 28th year under head coach Woody Hayes, the Buckeyes compiled a 7–4–1 record (6–2 in conference games), finished in fourth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 324 to 199. In games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 5 Penn State, No. 6 Michigan, and No. 7 Clemson in the 1978 Gator Bowl.[1] This was Woody Hayes' last season as head coach at Ohio State, as he was fired following an incident in the Gator Bowl in which he punched Clemson defender Charlie Bauman.
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record7–4–1 (6–2 Big Ten)
Headcoach
- Woody Hayes (28th season)
OffensivecoordinatorAlex Gibbs (4th season)
| 1978 Ohio State Buckeyes football | |
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Gator Bowl, L 15–17 vs. Clemson | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Record | 7–4–1 (6–2 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Alex Gibbs (4th season) |
| Defensive coordinator | George Hill (8th season) |
| MVP | Tom Cousineau |
| Captains |
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| Home stadium | Ohio Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Buckeyes gained an average of 263.3 rushing yards and 94.1 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 134.5 rushing yards and 151.2 passing yards per game.[2] The team's individual statistical leaders included quarterback Art Schlichter (1,045 passing yards, 45.8% completion percentage), running back Paul Campbell (565 rushing yards, 4.3 yards per carry), and wide receiver Doug Donley (21 receptions for 466 yards).[2] Linebacker Tom Cousineau was a consensus first-team All-American.[3]
The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
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| September 16 | 1:30 p.m. | No. 5 Penn State* | No. 6 | ABC | L 0–19 | 88,203 | [4] | |
| September 23 | 2:30 p.m. | at Minnesota | No. 16 | W 27–10 | 55,200 | [5] | ||
| September 30 | 1:30 p.m. | Baylor* | No. 13 |
| W 34–28 | 87,998 | [6] | |
| October 7 | 1:30 p.m. | SMU* | No. 14 |
| T 35–35 | 87,721 | [7] | |
| October 14 | 2:30 p.m. | at Purdue | No. 16 | L 16–27 | 69,465 | [8] | ||
| October 21 | 1:30 p.m. | Iowa |
| W 31–7 | 87,326 | [9] | ||
| October 28 | 1:30 p.m. | Northwestern |
| W 63–20 | 87,296 | [10] | ||
| November 4 | 2:00 p.m. | at Wisconsin | W 49–14 | 79,940 | [11] | |||
| November 11 | 1:30 p.m. | Illinois |
| W 45–7 | 87,819 | [12] | ||
| November 18 | 1:30 p.m. | at Indiana | No. 19 | W 21–18 | 47,540 | [13] | ||
| November 25 | 12:30 p.m. | No. 6 Michigan | No. 16 |
| ABC | L 3–14 | 88,358 | [14] |
| December 29 | 9:00 p.m. | vs. No. 7 Clemson* | No. 20 | ABC | L 15–17 | 72,011 | [15] | |
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Game summaries
Penn State
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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| • Penn St | 3 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 19 |
| Ohio St | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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
| Q1 | 9:52 | PSU | Bahr 30 yard field goal | PSU 3–0 |
| Q3 | 4:52 | PSU | Suhey 3 yard run (Bahr kick) | PSU 10–0 |
| Q4 | 13:12 | PSU | Bahr 41 yard field goal | PSU 13–0 |
| Q4 | 6:45 | PSU | Bahr 25 yard field goal | PSU 16–0 |
| Q4 | 2:53 | PSU | Bahr 30 yard field goal | PSU 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.[17]
Minnesota
Ohio State Buckeyes (0–1) at Minnesota Golden Gophers
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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| Ohio St | 7 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 27 |
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
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
| Game information | ||
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Baylor
SMU
Purdue
Iowa
Northwestern
Wisconsin
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Ohio State | 7 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 49 |
| Wisconsin | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
- Date: November 4
- Location: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI
- Game attendance: 79,940
| 1 | OSU | Schlichter 1-yard run (Janakievski kick) | OSU 7-0 | |
| 2 | OSU | Otha Watson recovered blocked punt in end zone (Janakievski kick) | OSU 14-0 | |
| 2 | WIS | Charles 7-yard pass from Kalasmlki (Veith kick) | OSU 14-7 | |
| 2 | OSU | Ty Hicks 96-yard kickoff return (Janakievski kick) | OSU 21-7 | |
| 3 | OSU | Skillings 61-yard interception return (Janakievski kick) | OSU 28-7 | |
| 3 | OSU | Murray 14-yard run (Janakievski kick) | OSU 35-7 | |
| 4 | OSU | Castignola 15-yard run (Janakievski kick) | OSU 42-7 | |
| 4 | OSU | Castignola 6-yard run (Jankievski kick) | OSU 49-7 | |
| 4 | WIS | Green 1-yard run (Veith kick) | OSU 49-14 | |
Illinois
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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| Illinois | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • Ohio St | 7 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 45 |
- Date: November 11
- Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
- Game attendance: 87,719
| Q1 | OHST | Schlichter 7 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 7–0 | |
| Q2 | ILL | Powell 2 yard run (Finzer kick) | Tie 7–7 | |
| Q2 | OHST | Schlichter 7 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 14–7 | |
| Q3 | OHST | Atha 31 yard field goal | OHST 17–7 | |
| Q3 | OHST | Campbell 1 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 24–7 | |
| Q4 | OHST | Schlichter 5 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 31–7 | |
| Q4 | OHST | Gerald 7 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 38–7 | |
| Q4 | OHST | Johnson 8 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 45–7 | |
At Indiana
Ohio State Buckeyes (6–2–1) at Indiana Hoosiers (4–5)
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
| Game information | ||
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- 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
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
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Gator Bowl (vs. Clemson)
Gator Bowl: #7 Clemson Tigers (10–1) vs. #20 Ohio State Buckeyes (7–3–1)
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Personnel
Roster
| 1978 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Depth chart
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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 |