Mount Rushmore National Memorial is an iconic place that attracts more than three million people annually. It features four 60-foot tall granite carvings of the faces of former presidents of the United States — George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. The historic significance of the four presidents cannot be disputed. Although there have been many important figures in American history, these four have unique legacies that make them worthy of having their faces chiseled into a mountainside. Often people talk about creating a hypothetical “Mount Rushmore” for other disciplines outside of American history. This is especially common in the world of sports. For example, last year LeBron James was asked who he would include on a NBA version of Mount Rushmore. With so many great players and coaches in the league’s history, the task of choosing just four can be tough. But it is fun to find out which four individuals people consider to be the cream of the crop. I will take on that task and narrow down my top four legends to be included on a Mount Rushmore of Ohio State football. OSU is regarded as one of the marquee programs in college football, with eight national championships, seven Heisman Trophy winners and 79 consensus All-Americans. The task to sort through all of the legends from the program’s history and then dwindle them down to select four was at times difficult. But I believe I have found the four most worthy Buckeyes to be carved into the hypothetical granite. I will break down each of my four choices with reasons why I nominate them to the imaginary monument. With a program that has such rich history, there will be deserving individuals who who have been left off, but I only could choose four. Here they are: Woody Hayes- Head Coach, 1951-1978 This one wasn’t all that difficult. I would go as far as saying it was a no-brainer to include Woody Hayes. He was the head coach of OSU for 28 seasons, and under his leadership, the program soared into the category of elite. Hayes guided the Buckeyes to five national championships and 13 Big Ten titles…
Continue Reading: Opinion: Selecting Ohio State football’s Mount Rushmore
