Eddie runs for daylight against Illinois in
1995 (OSU Archives)
Eddie George's career did not get off to a rousing start at Ohio State. Who can forget in 1992 when, as a freshman, Eddie fumbled on the goal line twice in the same game? The Philadelphia native was a big RB that showed some promise, but a future Heisman Trophy candidate? Whatever.
However, Eddie began to develop. He did a great job replacing Raymont Harris in his first year as a starter in 1994 as he rushed for over 1400 yards. Still, no one really thought he'd be one of the top Heisman candidates going into 1995.
No one thought OSU would really be that great either, but both the Buckeyes and Eddie began proving people wrong. It started on prime-time national television when the Buckeyes defeated nationally-ranked Washington while Eddie ran for over 200 yards. And when he ran for over 200 to help OSU romp over top ten ranked Notre Dame, he officially threw his hat into the ring. From that point on, it was all uphill for Eddie.
OSU Archives
Eddie would go on to have perhaps the single greatest season for a running back in OSU history. On 328 attempts, he rushed for a Buckeye record 1,927 yards, with 24 TDs (one short of a Buckeye record), 5.9 yards per carry, 148.2 yards a game (a Buckeye record), and 12 100-yard rushing games in the season (another Buckeye record). Plus, he had a Buckeye receiving record for a running back with 47 catches. He did all this despite the fact that OSU threw the ball as much as they ever had in a season (Bob Hoying had the second-most ever yards passing for an OSU QB that season, and at the time, it was the most ever by far before Joe Germaine broke his record). And who can ever forget the game he had against Illinois...
The scoreboard tells the story (OSU
Archives)
It seemed like he would never stop running! On the day, Eddie finished with 314 yards on 36 carries, which was good for the all-time OSU single game record. And he did it even though he sat out most of the fourth quarter.
Eddie was rewarded for his season with the Heisman Trophy as well as the Big Ten MVP award, the Doak Walker Award, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. That 1995 season will probably be remembered for the fact that the team failed to reach the national championship destination that they seemed to be headed towards, but perhaps it should be remembered for Eddie's accomplishments. When you look at the resume, there is little doubt that it was indeed the best season an Ohio State running back ever had.
Eddie, as you know, is now writing his legacy in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans. Even though he fell to 14th in the NFL draft, Eddie has made the teams who passed on him sorry as he has rushed for over 1000 yards three straight times and seems set to do it again. But Eddie's legacy as a Buckeye is etched in stone. No matter what he does from here on out, he will always be a Buckeye fan favorite and a true Buckeye great.
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