1978 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

1978 Ohio State Buckeyes football
1978 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Gator Bowl, L 15–17 vs. Clemson
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	7–4–1 (6–2 Big Ten)
Head coach	Woody Hayes (28th season);
MVP	Tom Cousineau
Captains	Byron Cato; Tom Cousineau; Ron Springs; Tim Vogler;
Home stadium	Ohio 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

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	1:30 p.m.	No. 5 Penn State*	No. 6	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (rivalry)	ABC	L 0–19	88,203	^[1]
September 23	2:30 p.m.	at Minnesota	No. 16	Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN		W 27–10	55,200	^[2]
September 30	1:30 p.m.	Baylor*	No. 13	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 34–28	87,998	^[3]
October 7	1:30 p.m.	SMU*	No. 14	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		T 35–35	87,721	^[4]
October 14	2:30 p.m.	at Purdue	No. 16	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN		L 16–27	69,465	^[5]
October 21	1:30 p.m.	Iowa		Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 31–7	87,326	^[6]
October 28	1:30 p.m.	Northwestern		Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 63–20	87,296	^[7]
November 4	2:00 p.m.	at Wisconsin		Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI		W 49–14	79,940	^[8]
November 11	1:30 p.m.	Illinois		Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (Illibuck Trophy)		W 45–7	87,819	^[9]
November 18	1:30 p.m.	at Indiana	No. 19	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN		W 21–18	47,540	^[10]
November 25	12:30 p.m.	No. 6 Michigan	No. 16	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (rivalry)	ABC	L 3–14	88,358	^[11]
December 29	9:00 p.m.	vs. No. 7 Clemson*	No. 20	Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL (Gator Bowl)	ABC	L 15–17	72,011	^[12]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

^[13]

Game summaries

Penn State

	1	2	3	4	Total
• 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

Art Schlichter started the game at quarterback while Rod Gerald, the starter for the two previous seasons, opened the game at split end.^[14]

Minnesota

Ohio State Buckeyes (0–1) at Minnesota Golden Gophers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
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
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

^[15]

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	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	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

^[16]

Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
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

^[17]

At Indiana

Ohio State Buckeyes (6–2–1) at Indiana Hoosiers (4–5)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio St	7	0	7	7	21
Indiana	7	3	0	8	18

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan	7	0	7	0	14
Ohio St	3	0	0	0	3

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

MICH – Doug Marsh – 2 receptions, 39 yards
OSU – Rod Gerald – 1 reception, 25 yards

Gator Bowl (vs. Clemson)

Gator Bowl: #7 Clemson Tigers (10–1) vs. #20 Ohio State Buckeyes (7–3–1)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio St	0	9	0	6	15
Clemson	0	10	7	0	17

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

Woody Hayes

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
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

^[18]

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

^ "Penn State silences Ohio State's offense". Herald and Review. September 17, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Ohio State 'rushes' to victory". Sunday News. September 24, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Buckeyes win, 34–28". The Times Recorder. October 1, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "SMU 'tutors' Bucks in 35–35 tie". The Lima News. October 8, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Dream comes truw: Purdue trips Ohio State". Chicago Tribune. October 15, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Hayes dots I: Bucks club Iowa". Springfield News-Sun. October 22, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Ohio State offense rolls". Journal and Courier. October 29, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Buckeyes lash Wisconsin". The Pantagraph. November 5, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Frosh tops Illini". The Belleville News-Democrat. November 12, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "No romp, but Buckeyes edge IU anyway 21–18". Anderson Herald. November 19, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Tom Henderson (November 26, 1978). "Leach's 2 TD passes, iron defense send Michigan to Rose Bowl, 14–3". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1E, 6E. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Woody adds punch to Gator Bowl". The Miami News. December 30, 1978. Retrieved January 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "1978 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
^ Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives Archived 2015-06-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-Jun-21.
^ "Buckeyes win by run." Eugene Register-Guard. 1978 Sept 24.
^ "Buckeyes' Defense Overcomes Badgers." Palm Beach Post. 1978 Nov 5.
^ Palm Beach Post November 12, 1978
^ 1979 Ohio State Football Media Guide

[1] "Penn State silences Ohio State's offense". Herald and Review. September 17, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[2] "Ohio State 'rushes' to victory". Sunday News. September 24, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] "Buckeyes win, 34–28". The Times Recorder. October 1, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[4] "SMU 'tutors' Bucks in 35–35 tie". The Lima News. October 8, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[5] "Dream comes truw: Purdue trips Ohio State". Chicago Tribune. October 15, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[6] "Hayes dots I: Bucks club Iowa". Springfield News-Sun. October 22, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[7] "Ohio State offense rolls". Journal and Courier. October 29, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[8] "Buckeyes lash Wisconsin". The Pantagraph. November 5, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[9] "Frosh tops Illini". The Belleville News-Democrat. November 12, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[10] "No romp, but Buckeyes edge IU anyway 21–18". Anderson Herald. November 19, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[11] Tom Henderson (November 26, 1978). "Leach's 2 TD passes, iron defense send Michigan to Rose Bowl, 14–3". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1E, 6E. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[12] "Woody adds punch to Gator Bowl". The Miami News. December 30, 1978. Retrieved January 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[13] "1978 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 21, 2024.

[14] Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives Archived 2015-06-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-Jun-21.

[15] "Buckeyes win by run." Eugene Register-Guard. 1978 Sept 24.

[16] "Buckeyes' Defense Overcomes Badgers." Palm Beach Post. 1978 Nov 5.

[17] Palm Beach Post November 12, 1978

[RecordBook-18] 1979 Ohio State Football Media Guide

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v t e Ohio State Buckeyes football
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