Today Ohio State University and the University of Michigan football teams play against each other for the 117th time. What makes this game extra special is both teams are undefeated this season (11-0) and Ohio State is ranked #2 in the county and Michigan is ranked #3. I wish I could be in Columbus, Ohio today to watch the classic rivalry game.
Because my mom and dad met at Ohio State I was force feed watching Ohio St. and Michigan football games at an early age back in the Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler era. I remember being bored as a eight year old because neither of those coaches were known to throw the ball very much. “Three yard and a cloud of dust” was Woody Hayes strategy of grinding out wins. I wanted action—long touchdown passes.
And even though Ohio State wasn’t known for its passing game, I dreamed of playing football at Ohio State. Was it even possible for a skinny kid from Central Florida to play at Ohio State? The answer is yes—just not me. My senior year of high school I was a decent enough of a player to be named to the all-conference team. I’m #42 in the bottom right corner photo below. If you look at the top left corner you’ll see #39, Cedric Anderson who received a full scholarship to play at Ohio State. A cruel twist of fate.
And Anderson not only played at Ohio State but he actually held the record for average yard per catch in a single season for over 30 years. Ohio State has had some great wide receivers over the years including Chris Carter and Paul Warfield who are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (Warfield was the reason I wore #42 in high school.) But there are others: Michael Thomas, Joey Galloway, Terry McLaurin, Santino Holmes, Ted Gina, Jr. And starting today for Ohio St at wide receiver is Marvin Harrison Jr. who is regarded by some as the best receiver in the country. Ohio State’s other standout receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 95 catches for 1,606 yards last year.
But with all that talent, and over more than 100 years of football tradition, it’s Cedric Anderson—a kid from Apopka, Florida—who is second only to Devin Smith in the Ohio State record book. In 2014, Smith had a better average catch per season than Anderson did in 1982. (28.2 vs 27.6).
As a nice bookend to this story, I walked-on to the football team at the University of Miami and walked-off after dislocating my shoulder in practice and having it operated on. I then moved to LA to finish film school and called Anderson when he was still with Ohio State and they were playing BYU in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego and he got me tickets to the game. And if I recall correctly, he blocked a punt in that game. Anderson was also that rare athlete who was not only an all-conference football player, but also all-conference in basketball and baseball. He briefly played pro football in the USFL.
Should be a great game today. Go Buckeyes.
P.S. My second connection is my uncle, Jack Wilson, was a captain of the Ohio State football team back in the 1949 and drafted by the Detroit Lions. And a third connection is back in the 1980s I was working for Yary Photography and helped setup the team photo of the Michigan football team when they played in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. It was a little surreal to see Coach Bo Schembechler in the flesh. And lastly, I was once cast to be on camera talent for a Domino’s Pizza commercial that was shot in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I’ll never forget meeting Domino’s founder Tom Monaghan in his office (the only two story office I’ve ever been in) nor driving by the impressive Michigan Stadium—the Big Blue House where the Michigan Wolverines have played their home games since 1927.
Scott W. Smith is the author of Screenwriting with Brass Knuckles
Screenwriting from Iowa 