Woody Hayes Forum

I think he should have been one of the birthday people commemorated on the front page!  I think Brimrose would probably agree with me. :)

I always find it funny that this rascally old fella was born on Valentine's Day.  I'm sure some Michigan fans might find it ironic.

The database has almost 400 people with birthdays today, so its tough to have just a few to pick from.  There are other athletes not even in the database with birthdays today.  Canadian curler Emma Miskew was born on this date in 1989.

I always forget Woody was born on Valentine's Day.  The ones I know immediately are Jim Kelly, Steve McNair, Florence Henderson, and Hugh Downs.  I also remember Tyus Edney's birthday is today, but I try not to say that name since it pains me so much.  I also know of a member on here who has a birthday today, but would be too modest to say it.... or maybe he wouldn't. ;)

Oh I know that there are more deserving people than spots, but I couldn't let today go by without mentioning Hayes.  They'd revoke my Buckeye card!

If only I had access to a scanner, I could add an image of him. I think it's sort of surprising that there are only 9 cards of him in the DB.  And it's a travesty that Bo Schembechler has 33!

Gotta go re-watch some videos from the past few OSU/UM games to get in a better mood...

Happy Birthday jupiterhill, I've heard of you not that Woody fella. 🤣

Happy Bithday, jupiterhill! At least you share a birthday with some Hall of Fame talents!  The best player (in any sport) that shares my birthday is John Stallworth.  After that a whole lotta nuthin. ;-)

Happy B-day Phil!

to answer the question:  Yes, I'm with you on the Woody birthday wishes.

Here's a fun Woody fact:  He was so devoted to his players succeeding in life as well as on the field, that he often randomly showed up in classes in which his players were enrolled.  He did this for two reasons:  One, to make sure they were attending class, and two, to make sure the professor teaching the class was worth a damn.  Other professors often hated him for doing that to them. 

Another fun story:  One day, someone asked Woody how Steve (his son) was doing in law school.  It took Woody a while to answer because he couldn't think of what current or former player Steve was at that time in law school.  He wasn't even thinking of his own son!

Stories like that are why Buckeye nation regards him as a great coach.  He may have seemed like a pain in the tuchus to fan bases of other teams, but we know him (knew him) beyond the field.  You'd be hard pressed to find a former player of his that regards his time playing for Woody as time wasted.

Thanks guys.

Hyperdex, some may say wrestling isn't a sport, but Mil Mascaras and Jesse Ventura share your birthday, that's not too shabby.  Also non-sports folks like Forest Whittaker, Joe Satriani, Linda Ronstadt, Rembrandt, and Gabriel Iglesias too.  Barry Melrose isn't a hockey HOF'er, but still a good name to share a birthday to share with.  Most importantly, you share a birthday with Alex Karras!  How awesome is that?  MONGO! and WEBSTER'S DAD!  I'm envious on that fact alone.

Sad part was how Hayes' career ended.   I was watching the Gator Bowl, not really into it,  just watching.   Then Woody punches the Clemson player and I immediately thought "he's done".    That's all it takes to ruin a great career or reputation,  one dumb act.     Today, someone does something like that, athlete or politician, they immediately come out with the phoney apology and everything is good.   Not 35 years ago.

Part of me is ok with how it ended.  It seems to keep him relevant.  If he had kept coaching for another 4-8 years and continued to slip into mediocrity, it would have damaged his legacy.  He went out in the proverbial "blaze of glory'.

I'm not advocating throwing a punch on the sideline, and he certainly deserved to be fired for that.  But to Buckeye fans, that isn't what defines him, and we really don't care if haters want to see that as a black mark on him.  (NJDevils, not to say that's what you are doing or that I don't care what you think, lest that not be clear through typed words!)

I agree though, today he would have had to apologize immediately (and probably insincerely), and depending on what booster said what and when, may have kept the job.