The 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes: A Team of Destiny

There’s an old saying in sports…. “better sometimes to be lucky than good”. Can’t remember who said it, but I kind of get the feeling it was someone who’d been around some. Whoever it was, you figure they might just have known a thing or two about the 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes. Not that they weren’t good. Quite the contrary; Head Coach Jim Tressel’s first juggernaut was loaded with guys who ended up playing on Sundays. And the defense was as fearsome as any college football had seen in some time. But, as any Buckeye fan will tell you, that team… as much a team of destiny as any in history… had a rabbit’s foot in their pocket that entire year.

Not a great deal was expected as the year began in Columbus. The Buckeyes carried a #13 ranking (AP poll) into 2002, following a rather mediocre 7-5 season the previous year. The defense was expected to be among the nation’s best, led by the likes of returning all american safety Mike Doss, defensive end Will Smith, and a linebacking corps considered the best in the land. The offence was suspect… unproven Craig Krenzel behind center, a true freshman (albeit a phenom) at running back in Maurice Clarett behind him.

This was the year we all truly learned about Tressel ball. Ball control, stout defense, and a solid kicking game. It was often as boring as it was productive… Woody Hayes and Coach Tressel would have gotten along famously.

The season opened with what was expected to be a test for the strength of the Buckeyes team, against Heisman hopeful Kliff Kingsbury and the high powered offense of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The defense more than passed, trouncing tech 45-21. Kingsbury was held in check for the majority of the game, suffering 7 sacks and padding his stats during garbage time at game’s end. The game also served as a coming out party for freshman phenom Maurice Clarett who scored 3 touchdowns as the first true freshman to open the season at running back in school history.

Week two brought a 51-17 dismantling of an out-manned Kent State team in what amounted to a warmup game. The game was over before halftime, as the Bucks built a 38-0 first half lead. Clarett scored two more touchdowns, while Safety Mike Doss and linebacker A.J. Hawk returned interceptions for touchdowns.

Week three brought the first major test of the year, as the 10th ranked Washinton State Cougars came to Columbus with another Heisman candidate at the helm, quarterback Jason Gesser. And for the second time in three games, the Buckeyes defense shut down said candidate, continuing a season long trend that would see the scarlet and gray become a virtual heisman graveyard.
The Cougars actually led the game 7-6 at halftime, shutting Clarett down (36 rushing yards). The second half was a different story; the defense took over, and Clarett went off, posting 230 second half yards as the Buckeyes pulled away for an impressive 25-7 victory.

After 3 weeks of play, the Buckeyes had begun turning heads. The defense was every bit as dominant as advertised, Clarett was on a torrid pace, and even the kicking game, an achilles heel the previous year. Even with The freshman out with a minor injury, the Buckeye nation figured to be on cruise control with upcoming games against Cincinatti, Indiana, Northwestern, and San Diego State.

Cincinatti would be no walkthrough, however. Having nearly upset West Virginia the previous week and playing at home, the Bearcats gave the 6th ranked Bucks all they could handle; The game was in doubt right up to the very end. Craig Krenzel scored the go ahead touchdown with just under 4 minutes to play, and safety Will Allen put the game away with an endzone interception in the game’s final minute. In what would become a major storyline on the season, Tressel, having issues with depth in the defensive backfield, would start wide reciever Chris Gamble at DB, and he responded with an interception of his own.

The Big 10 season opened with a 45-17 drubbing of the Indiana Hoosiers. The game was relatively close up until halftime, with the Buckeyes holding a 21-10 lead at the break on the strength of three touchdowns from the returning Clarett, who broke the 100 yard barrier once again. The game was blown open in the second half, as the Bucks outgained the Hoosiers 461-244. Chris gamble started on both offense and defense, scoring on a reverse in the third quarter.

Next came another too close for comfort game at Northwestern, a 27-16 victory that in all reality could have been lost. The Buckeyes were sloppy from the beginning, and the Wildcats were up 6-0 after a quarter. Two missed field goals and two Wildcat drives thwarted inside the 10 yard line kept the Bucks ahead in the end, but it wasn’t an impressive game by any means. The main highlight was actually a sideline argument between Clarett, who fumbled three times, and former Buckeye great (and running backs coach) Tim Spencer.

San Diego State came to Columbus the following week, and the Buckeyes blew through them as expected, winning 50-7. They outgained the Spartans 567-265, including 0 net rushing yards. Clarett paced the team with 3 touchdowns and 132 yards, and Krenzel threw three touchdown passes.

Now 6-0 at the halfway point and ranked #4, the Buckeyes were a team still searching for an identity. Dominant in their first three games, far less impressive in their last three, the only constant was that they kept winning. Little did we all realize that that would wind up being the only identity that mattered… some teams just find ways to win.

A trip to Madison and a date with the Wisconsin Badgers was up next. The Bucks had struggled with the Badgers in recent years, and this year would be no different. The Badgers led 14-13 at the half. Michael Jenkins, who put on something of a clinic that day, set up the go ahead score with a leaping 45 yard reception midway through the fourth quarter; Krenzel capped the drive with a touchdown to tight end Ben Hartsock, providing the margin of victory. Gamble was instrumental in the victory on defense once again, picking off an endzone pass to end a Badgers drive. Clarett once again went down in the fourth quarter, and would miss the majority of the next four games.

Then it was back to Columbus, where Joe Paterno and his Penn State Nittany Lions awaited. They brought another Heisman candidate in running back Larry Johnson, and the Buckeyes once again stole a bit of Heisman thunder, holding him to his lowest output of the year- just 66 yards on 16 carries. The game was a defensive masterpiece. The Buckeyes offense was held in check all day, but the defense dominated in return, holding the Lions to just 179 yards in offense and 8 first downs.
One of the seasons many defining moments won the game for the Bucks. Chris Gamble picked off a pass, and ran it down the sideline 40 yards for a touchdown.

A brief respite was offered from the string of heartpounding finishes, as the Buckeyes shut down 19th ranked 7-1 Minnesota, 34-3. The defense was stifling, holding the Gophers to just 112 yards in offense. Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall filled in admirably for Clarett, combining for 182 rushing yards.

And then came Purdue, and what will forever be known simply as “Holy Buckeye” in the annals of OSU’s storied history. The game was another defensive battle, and the Buckeyes offense had been hapless. The Bucks still found them within striking range at the end, however.
Trailing 6-3 with just a minute and a half remaining, the Buckeyes had managed to move the ball to the Boilermakers’ 37, where they faced a fourth and one. Rather that attempt a tying 50+ yard field goal, Tressel opted to go for it, and what followed was history. Krenzel, under pressure, stepped up and unleashed a bomb that Michael Jenkins pulled in as announcer Brent Musberger exclaimed “Holy Buckeye!”

The win pushed the Buckeyes to 11-0, and raised them to #2 in the polls. The team had started to take on the feel of a team with destiny in their pocket. There was a quiet confidence in them, a direct reflection of their coach that has in the years since become a trademark of the program. In control of their own fate at this point, the Buckeyes needed only a victory over 4-6 Illinois and a win against that team up north to seal a trip to the National Championship game.

Perhaps they were looking ahead, perhaps it was simply the way the season was going to stay, but the Buckeyes needed overtime to pull another thrilling victory, 23-16 in the first overtime game in school history.

And now there was Michigan. At 9-2 and ranked #12, the wolverines had 3 times in the past decade dashed National Championship aspirations, and came to Columbus looking to do so again. As seemed to be their status quo, they took things to the very limit. An option toss from Krenzel to Maurice Hall put the Bucks up 14-9 with just under 5 minutes remaining. John Navarre led the Wolverines on one final drive in the waning moments, but Will allen clinched the unbeaten regular season with an end zone interception with 1 second remaining on the clock, and the 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes were Big 10 champs and headed for the title game.

And so the stage was set. The Bucks were headed out west for a date with the Miami Hurricanes in a game that absolutely no one outside of Columbus expected them to even be competitive in, much less win. This was, after all, a Miami team aiming for a second consecutive national title. A team that may very well have made the playoffs in the NFL. Loaded with players who would eventually end up playing on Sundays, The Hurricanes hadn’t lost a game in 2 1/2 years. Led by Heisman finalist Ken Dorsey and Running Back Willis McGahee, The ‘Canes were nearly a two touchdown favorite.

Miami looked poised to do just as they were predicted to, taking a 7-0 first quarter lead. But while the rest of the country seemed to overlook, this was as battle tested as any team in history. After an entire season of close calls, clutch plays, and miracle endings, the Buckeyes were unflinching as they absorbed the initial push of the Hurricanes, and in the second quarter, they pushed back, at times even looking dominant themselves, leading 14-7 at the half.
The rabbit’s foot was intact as the third quarter got under way. The Bucks had driven to the Miami 10 yard line when Krenzel thre a rare interception, but Clarett alertly stripped Shawn Taylor, and the Buckeyes ended up with a field goal and a 10 point third quarter lead. Even at the half, there was a feeling of inevitability, waiting for the Miami explosion that was no doubt upcoming. But now, this deep into the game, the world suddenly seemed to realize that Ohio State hadn’t just come to Arizona to make an appearance; they were here to win a title.
Miami was there for the same purpose, however, and the push came. A Willis McGahee touchdown brought Miami to within a field goal as the fourth quarter began. A controversial ruling of incomplete on an apparent third down reception by Gamble forced the Buckeyes to punt the ball, and Dorsey led the Hurricanes down the field for a game tying field goal as time expired, setting up the first overtime game in Championship history. And how could it be any different for the 2002 Buckeyes?
Momentum appeared to belong to the Hurricanes, and they opened the first overtime with a Ken Dorsey touchdown pass to Kellen Winslow, Jr. Ohio State appeared to be all but dead in the water with a fourth and 10, but Krenzel pulled still another miracle with a 14 yard completion to Jenkins to keep the season alive. Three plays later, on fourth and three, controversy struck again. Krenzel’s pass to Gamble appeared to fall incomplete, and Miami celebrated. Lost in the bedlam, an official’s flag rested in the end zone… a pass interference call- heavily contested but eventually proven accurate by replays, gave the Buckeyes still one more life, and Krenzel’s one yard touchdown tied the game and sent it to a second overtime.
The Buckeyes quickly drove for a touchdown to take the lead in the second overtime, as Maurice Clarett’s 5 yard run gave Ohio State a 31-24 lead. The Buckeyes gifted the Hurricanes a first and goal at the two with a pair of defensive penalties. Three unsuccessful attempts brought up a fourth and goal. Tressel sent the house on the fourth down play, and Dorsey’s desperation pass fell harmlessly to the turf, leaving the improbable Buckeyes as the last team standing… the 2002 NCAA National Champions.

It’s hard to believe this was 7 years ago. Tressel has since reinstated the program as one of the premier in the country. The Buckeye Nation has again tasted life at the top; back are the days when Ohio State is a perennial contender. But 2002 is a year that will remain a piece of Buckeye culture and folklore; from “Holy Buckeye” to “The Call”, these are stories we will tell our grandkids. Some of the players went on to play in the NFL, and we all know the sad road that Clarett took. But we can look back forever at that one magical season, and David toppling Goliath, and know that we witnessed history… a team built on hard work and miracles.