Alumni answer: What sports moment sticks with you?
Through the years, Ohio State has provided exhilarating feats, whether varsity teams or personal triumphs. We asked Buckeyes to share their favorites.
The year was 2002, and Grant Downes ’05 was a member of TBDBITL. He vividly recalls the championship game and “watching Maurice Clarett strip the ball back, shouting there was a flag after fireworks for Miami had already gone off, and seeing Cie Grant blitz on the final play—it was an amazing season.”
For Jan White ’71, it was “playing for Coach Hayes in the 1968 national championship.”
Ohio State history is filled with moments, some gigantic and some very personal, that imprint in Buckeyes’ brains. Hundreds wrote in to share their favorites. Here are more.
From left, Makenna Webster ’24, ’25 MS, Emily Zumwinkle and Riley Brengman ’23, ’24 MS, ’25 MSpC (Ohio State photo)
“Women’s hockey in the Frozen Four five years in a row!”
“Jack Sawyer sacking his former roommate and then scooping the ball to run it down the field for a touchdown in the 2025 Cotton Bowl. I have never screamed louder in my entire life.”
— Annika Mintzlaff ’22, ’23
“My first round on The Scarlet. A set of clubs from Sears, a handful of mismatched balls and usable tees others had left behind. So long ago I don’t remember my score, only the excitement of playing on a course that Jack called home 10 years before.”
— John Eagles ’74
“The winning of the Rose Bowl game in 1969 when the super sophs beat O.J. and USC, and we won the national championship. I was there at that game and it was wonderful!”
— Rebecca Gompf ’71, ’75 DVM, ’75 MS
“The 1960 basketball national champion game! Also going to classes with Barb Nicklaus and seeing Jack when he met her to carry her books!”
— Charlene Frantz ’61
“My best memories came from going to games with my dad. He’d joke every time as we were walking into the game that we should sell our tickets and buy a big screen TV and watch at home. We’d each look at each other and shout ‘Naw!’”
— Karren Fink ’92 MBA
“It was March 2010 and the Big Ten Tournament. It looked like the men’s basketball team was going to lose, but Evan Turner hit a buzzer beater from just inside half court to stun TTUN.”
— Joey D’Amico ’10
“The 1968 Big Ten Indoor Track Championships, when the great Jesse Owens presented me with the gold medal after I won the Big Ten mile and set a new French Field House and varsity record.”
“One summer night in 1987, I was riding my bike past the stadium to my night-shift security job and the gates were open. What did I do? I went in! I went tearing across the field, did a few laps, and hightailed it out before anyone saw me.”
— John Barlow ’88
“The wrestlers’ 2015 national championship”
— Tarbuck Chrystal ’74
“The 2014 national championship—after losing two quarterbacks to injury and the death of a teammate, they rallied and shocked everyone.”
— Leyla Hawkins ’86, ’92 MA
“On Sept. 27, 1969, I saw my first play as a new freshman. It was a touchdown pass from Rex Kern to Bruce Jankowski, but it was called back due to a penalty. The very next play was the same one. Touchdown! We won 62-0. That moment has stayed with me for almost 56 years. Go Bucks!”
— Steve Swearengin ’73
“Being in the ’Shoe and watching Archie Griffin break and make records running 239 yards against North Carolina.”
— Bruce Beyer ’74
“Being a member of TBDBITL 1950–52 and marching in every home game. I vividly remember the Snow Bowl of November 1950 with Michigan.”
— Dennis Atkeson ’59
“I remember being in the stands when Keith Byars lost his shoe running for a touchdown. I can still picture it!”
— Lynda Clouse Waugh ’87
