My Woody Hayes Story

It's a perfect September Saturday afternoon, I'm watching college football, and I happen to think of the time I met Woody Hayes.

One evening many years ago I was at Ohio State, after a class, walking down a long hallway when I saw someone approaching me. It was Coach Hayes himself. Just him and me, he and I, in that long hall. I'm sure my eyes got bigger as the distance between us grew shorter. (Can something grow shorter? I wasn't thinking very clearly then, either.)

"Hello, Coach," is what I was finally able to stamnmer as we met, then passed each other. "Hello." Or some such. I don't remember exactly what he said, but I guess that's what it was. When you're in the presence of a living legend, it's hard enough to talk, let alone listen. It was in a friendly tone, though, I know that. And I was relieved that he seemed to be in a good mood.

I related this story to someone on an online forum a couple of years ago, someone who is an absolutely die-hard Ohio State Buckeyes fan. He responded with something like this: "No disrespect intended, but that must have been a little bit like meeting God himself." I had to laugh, but I understood what he meant. It's a moment I'll never forget, that's for sure.

Go Buckeyes! Fight to the end for O-HI-O!

(Photo from the OSU Archives, courtesy Bucknuts)