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1979 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

American college football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1979 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 1979 Big Ten season. In their first season under head coach Earl Bruce, the Buckeyes compiled an 11–1 record (8–0 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 374 to 109. They were undefeated in the regular season, including victories over No. 17 UCLA and No. 13 Michigan, and were ranked No. 1 in the AP poll at the end of the regular season. The Buckeyes represented the Big Ten in the 1980 Rose Bowl where they lost, 17–16, to No. 3 USC. They were ranked No. 4 in the final AP poll.[1]

ConferenceBig Ten Conference
CoachesNo. 4
APNo. 4
Record11–1 (8–0 Big Ten)
Quick facts Ohio State Buckeyes football, Big Ten champion ...
1979 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Big Ten champion
Rose Bowl, L 16–17 vs. USC
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 4
APNo. 4
Record11–1 (8–0 Big Ten)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorDennis Fryzel (1st season)
MVPJim Laughlin
Captains
  • Ken Fritz
  • Mike Guess
  • Jim Laughlin
  • Tom Waugh
Home stadiumOhio Stadium
Seasons
← 1978
1980 →
Close
More information Conf., Overall ...
1979 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 4 Ohio State $8–0–011–1–0
No. 10 Purdue7–1–010–2–0
No. 18 Michigan6–2–08–4–0
No. 19 Indiana5–3–08–4–0
Iowa4–4–05–6–0
Minnesota3–5–14–6–1
Michigan State3–5–05–6–0
Wisconsin3–5–04–7–0
Illinois1–6–12–8–1
Northwestern0–9–01–10–0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
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The Buckeyes gained an average of 240.3 rushing yards and 134.0 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 120.8 rushing yards and 127.2 passing yards per game.[2] Quarterback Art Schlichter completed 94 of 179 passes (52.5%) for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also tallied for 436 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. The team's other statistical leaders included running back Calvin Murray (799 rushing yards, 5.2 yards per carry) and wide receiver Doug Donley (33 receptions for 690 yards, 20.9 yards per reception).[2] Guard Ken Fritz was a consensus first-team All-American.[3] Art Schlichter also received first-team All-America honors from the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) and The Sporting News.

The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Schedule

More information Date, Time ...
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 81:30 p.m.Syracuse*
W 31–886,205[4]
September 152:30 p.m.at MinnesotaNo. 15
W 21–1743,926[5]
September 221:30 p.m.Washington State*No. 16
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 45–2987,495[6]
September 294:00 p.m.at No. 17 UCLA*No. 14
ABCW 17–1347,228[7]
October 61:30 p.m.NorthwesternNo. 8
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 16–787,406[8]
October 131:30 p.m.IndianaNo. 8
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 47–687,521[9]
October 201:30 p.m.WisconsinNo. 6
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 59–087,585[10]
October 271:30 p.m.Michigan StatedaggerNo. 4
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 42–087,747[11]
November 32:00 p.m.at IllinoisNo. 5
W 44–741,870[12]
November 101:00 p.m.IowaNo. 3
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 34–787,835[13]
November 1712:30 p.m.at No. 13 MichiganNo. 2
ABCW 18–15106,255[14]
January 1, 19805:00 p.m.vs. No. 3 USC*No. 1
NBCL 16–17105,526[15]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time
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[16]

Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
1979 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 47 Doug Donley Jr
G 56 Ken Fritz Sr
QB 10 Art Schlichter So
RB 46 Tim Spencer Fr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
CB 25 Todd Bell Jr
CB 27 Ray Ellis Jr
LB 65 Keith Ferguson Jr
LB 5 Jim Laughlin Sr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 13 Vlade Janakievski Sr
P 19 Tom Orosz Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

Close

Depth chart

More information FS, WLB ...
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[17]

Coaching staff

  • Earle Bruce - Head Coach (1st year)
  • Pete Carroll - Defensive Backs (1st year)
  • Dennis Fryzel - Defensive Coordinator (1st year)
  • Glen Mason - Offensive Line / Defensive Inside Linebackers (2nd year)
  • Bill Myles - Offensive Line (3rd year)
  • Wayne Stanley - Running Backs (1st year)
  • Steve Szabo - Defensive Line (1st year)
  • Bob Tucker - Defensive Outside Linebackers (1st year)
  • Fred Zechman - Quarterbacks/Receivers (1st year)

1980 NFL draftees

More information Player, Round ...
Player Round Pick Position NFL club
Jim Laughlin491LinebackerAtlanta Falcons
Mike Guess6156Defensive BackChicago Bears
Ken Fritz10277GuardPittsburgh Steelers
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[18]

Game summaries

Syracuse

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Syracuse 0 080 8
• Ohio St 7 1437 31
Close
  • Date: September 8
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 2:46
  • Game attendance: 86,205
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy; 67 °F (19 °C); wind 10–15 mph (16–24 km/h) N
Scoring summary
Q12:49OHSTBarwig 11 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick)OHST 7–0
Q213:32OHSTCampbell 3 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 14–0
Q27:18OHSTMurray 2 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 21–0
Q36:32OHSTJanakievski 22 yard field goalOHST 24–0
Q3:23SYRHurley 3 yard run (McCollum run)OHST 24–8
Q47:51OHSTGayle 29 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 31–8

[19]

Minnesota

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
• Ohio St 7 068 21
Minnesota 14 300 17
Close
  • Date: September 15
  • Location: Memorial Stadium
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 2:36
  • Game attendance: 43,926
  • Game weather: Sunny; 68 °F (20 °C); wind 8 mph (13 km/h) SE
  • Referee: Otho Kertz
Scoring summary
Q112:20MINNWhite 29 yard run (kick blocked)MINN 6–0
Q15:45MINNWhite 16 yard pass from Carlson (Bourquin pass from Carlson)MINN 14–0
Q12:48OHSTHicks 39 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick)MINN 14–7
Q2:07MINNRogind 44 yard field goalMINN 17–7
Q37:24OHSTMurray 1 yard run (kick failed)MINN 17–13
Q412:42OHSTSchlichter 32 yard run (Jaco pass from Schlichter)OHST 21–17

[20]

Washington State

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Wash St 3 01016 29
• Ohio St 7 17714 45
Close
  • Date: September 22
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 2:46
  • Game attendance: 87,495
  • Game weather: Overcast; 64 °F (18 °C); wind 10–20 mph (16–32 km/h) NE
Scoring summary
Q19:49WSUDeSanto 47 yard field goalWSU 3–0
Q13:46OHSTSchlichter 5 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 7–3
Q25:18OHSTMurray 13 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 14–3
Q22:51OHSTJanakievski 30 yard field goalOHST 17–3
Q21:27OHSTHicks recovered blocked punt in end zone (Jankievski kick)OHST 24–3
Q313:22WSUWhatley 12 yard pass from Grant (DeSanto kick)OHST 24–10
Q32:27WSUDeSanto 41 yard field goalOHST 24–13
Q3:58OHSTMurray 86 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick)OHST 31–13
Q413:52WSUWilson 11 yard pass from Grant (Beach pass from Grant)OHST 31–21
Q411:25OHSTMurray 8 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 38–21
Q45:53WSUWilson 11 yard pass from Grant (Grant run)OHST 38–29
Q43:13OHSTDonley 29 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick)OHST 45–29

[21]

The longest pass in school history to date, an 86-yard bomb from Art Schlichter to Calvin Murray, helped propel Ohio State to a 45-29 win over Washington State. The previous record was an 80-yard pass from Joe Sparma to Bob Klein in 1961 versus Michigan.[22]

UCLA

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
• Ohio St 0 737 17
UCLA 10 003 13
Close
  • Date: September 29
  • Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 2:46
  • Game attendance: 47,228
  • Game weather: Cloudy; 71 °F (22 °C); light wind SW
  • Referee: Bill Love
Scoring summary
Q18:27UCLACurren 10 yard pass from Bashore (Boermeester kick)UCLA 7–0
Q1:52UCLABoermeester 27 yard field goalUCLA 10–0
Q24:53OHSTMurray 34 yard run (Janakievski kick)UCLA 10–7
Q35:46OHSTJanakievski 24 yard field goalTie 10–10
Q411:00UCLABoermeester 39 yard field goalUCLA 13–10
Q4:46OHSTCampbell 2 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick)OHST 17–13

[23]

Northwestern

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Northwestern 0 007 7
• Ohio St 10 303 16
Close
  • Date: October 6
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 2:41
  • Game attendance: 87,406
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy; 58 °F (14 °C); wind 10–20 mph (16–32 km/h) SW
Scoring summary
Q112:51OHSTJanakievski 26 yard field goalOHST 3–0
Q110:03OHSTDwelle 4 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick)OHST 10–0
Q26:00OHSTJanakievski 26 yard field goalOHST 13–0
Q414:58NWMishler 1 yard run (Poulos kick)OHST 13–7
Q48:01OHSTAtha 50 yard field goalOHST 16–7

[24]

[25]

Indiana

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Indiana 0 060 6
• Ohio St 9 17147 47
Close
  • Date: October 13
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 2:48
  • Game attendance: 87,251
  • Game weather: Cloudy; 44 °F (7 °C); wind 15 mph (24 km/h) NW
Scoring summary
Q111:38OHSTCampbell 2 yard run (kick failed)OHST 6–0
Q15:51OHSTJanakievski 32 yard field goalOHST 9–0
Q211:23OHSTJanakievski 35 yard field goalOHST 12–0
Q23:50OHSTCampbell 3 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 19–0
Q2:28OHSTDonley 21 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick)OHST 26–0
Q311:22OHSTVolley 2 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 33–0
Q37:14OHSTSchlichter 5 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 40–0
Q3:57INDClifford 2 yard run (run failed)OHST 40–6
Q43:58OHSTHicks 11 yard pass from Castignola (Janakievski kick)OHST 47–6

[26]

Wisconsin

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Wisconsin 0 000 0
• Ohio St 14 141021 59
Close
  • Date: October 20
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 2:48
  • Game attendance: 87,585
  • Game weather: Sunny; 77 °F (25 °C); wind 15–20 mph (24–32 km/h) S
Scoring summary
Q111:59OHSTSchlichter 4 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 7–0
Q12:15OHSTHunter 14 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick)OHST 14–0
Q210:28OHSTWilliams 20 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick)OHST 21–0
Q28:16OHSTSchlichter 2 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 28–0
Q37:35OHSTJanakievski 19 yard field goalOHST 31–0
Q36:39OHSTEllis 27 yard interception return (Janakievski kick)OHST 38–0
Q410:51OHSTCastignola 1 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 45–0
Q42:23OHSTSpencer 1 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 52–0
Q4:37OHSTLindsey 38 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 59–0

[27]

Michigan State

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Michigan St 0 000 0
• Ohio St 14 1477 42
Close
  • Date: October 27
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 2:35
  • Game attendance: 87,747
  • Game weather: Mostly sunny; 53 °F (12 °C); wind 10–15 mph (16–24 km/h) S
Scoring summary
Q111:49OHSTDonley 53 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick)OHST 7–0
Q12:48OHSTDonley 12 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick)OHST 14–0
Q213:30OHSTSchlichter 3 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 21–0
Q22:12OHSTVolley 32 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 28–0
Q34:58OHSTSchlichter 6 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 35–0
Q43:11OHSTCastignola 1 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 42–0

[28]

Illinois

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
• Ohio St 3 141017 44
Illinois 0 070 7
Close
  • Date: November 3
  • Location: Memorial Stadium
  • Game attendance: 41,870
  • Game weather: Clear; 51 °F (11 °C); wind 9 mph (14 km/h) NW
Scoring summary
Q18:36OHSTJanakievski 47 yard field goalOHST 3–0
Q214:18OHSTMurray 4 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 10–0
Q22:22OHSTBell 16 yard blocked punt return (Janakievski kick)OHST 17–0
Q311:52OHSTCampbell 3 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 24–0
Q36:49OHSTJanakievski 36 yard field goalOHST 27–0
Q34:00ILLBoeke 10 yard pass from McCullough (Jones kick)OHST 27–7
Q410:46OHSTSchlichter 4 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 34–7
Q48:42OHSTJanakievski 51 yard field goalOHST 37–7
Q42:13OHSTDwelle 4 yard pass from Castignola (Janakievski kick)OHST 44–7

[29]

Iowa

More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
Iowa 0 007 7
• Ohio St 13 1407 34
Close
  • Date: November 10
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 2:51
  • Game attendance: 87,835
  • Game weather: Cloudy; 41 °F (5 °C); wind 10–20 mph (16–32 km/h) NW
Scoring summary
Q15:55OHSTSchlichter 1 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 7–0
Q13:18OHSTJanakievski 35 yard field goalOHST 10–0
Q11:38OHSTJanakievski 29 yard field goalOHST 13–0
Q28:56OHSTVolley 1 yard run (Jankievski kick)OHST 20–0
Q26:40OHSTDonley 33 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick)OHST 27–0
Q412:16OHSTSpencer 1 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 34–0
Q44:07IOWAChappelle 40 yard pass from Gales (Roby kick)OHST 34–7

[30]

At Michigan

See also: 1979 Michigan Wolverines football team and Michigan-Ohio State rivalry
#2 Ohio State Buckeyes at #13 Michigan Wolverines
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Ohio St 0 6 6618
Michigan 0 7 8015
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at Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Michigan

  • Date: November 17
  • Game weather: Sunny • 55 °F (13 °C) • Wind 10–15 mph (16–24 km/h) SW
  • Game attendance: 106,255
  • TV: ABC
  • Ohio State Football - Archives
More information Game information ...
Game information
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Ohio State clinched the Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl with an 18-15 victory over their archrivals. The Buckeyes had not beaten nor scored a touchdown against Michigan since 1975, the last time they had gone to Pasadena.[31]

More information Scoring summary, Quarter ...
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Rose Bowl

1980 Rose Bowl
More information Team, Total ...
Team 1 234Total
• USC 3 707 17
Ohio St 0 1033 16
Close
  • Date: January 1
  • Location: Rose Bowl
  • Game start: 2:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 105,526
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Merlin Olsen, O.J. Simpson
Scoring summary
Q14:37USCHipp 41 yard field goalUSC 3–0
Q29:11USCWilliams 53 yard pass from McDonald (Hipp kick)USC 10-0
Q23:10OHSTJanakievski 35 yard field goalUSC 10–3
Q2:21OHSTMurray 67 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick)Tie 10–10
Q310:53OSUJanakievski 37 yard field goalOHST 13–10
Q49:42OHSTJanakievski 24 yard field goalOSU 16-10
Q41:32USCWhite 1 yard run (Hipp kick)USC 17–16

[32]

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