Datish parents on cloud nine

PHOENIX — The excitement of taking in the BCS national championship game will be tempered somewhat for Mike and Sue Datish of Howland, who’s son, Doug, will be wrapping up his collegiate career for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Doug Datish is a fifth-year senior, the starting center and a co-captain for Ohio State, which will play Florida at University of Phoenix Stadium.

“It is such and honor and a privilege to be a Buckeye and to be a part of the Buckeye family,” said Sue Datish. “For this to be his last game as a Buckeye, it’s very bittersweet, it’s very emotional. What a way to end it, though. There’s no better place to be for your last game as a Buckeye.”

Mike Datish also played football at Ohio State, earning a letter in 1975. Doug Datish has already earned his undergraduate degree in history and is attending graduate school.

“For [Doug] to make the choice of being a Buckeye was just my dream,” said Mike Datish. “We enjoy Ohio State football so much, and as we watched him grow and develop from when he played [youth] sports, from soccer to basketball to football at Howland and be recruited by quality teams across this country.

“To watch him grow and develop as he did; he faced some adversity early in his career as a sophomore when he was benched, and to come back from that point to be starting center and to be elected a co-captain and see all that accumulate to the national championship is such an outstanding feeling of joy.”

Datish and his fellow fifth-year seniors have a chance to win their second national championship.

Read full story Sunday in The Vindicator and one Vindy.com.