OSU’s Griffin talks players, titles at United Way benefit

By Joe Scalzo

He says OSU has the talent to win another national championship.

BOARDMAN — Archie Griffin has seen the arched eyebrows and the rolled eyes. He knows people think he must have a few Buckeyes rolling around his head to compare anyone to Cleveland Browns great running back Jim Brown, much less a guy who hasn’t played a down of his junior season yet.

But he can’t help it.

“Beanie is the closest thing to Jim Brown I’ve seen,” said Griffin, referring to Ohio State University running back Chris Wells of Akron. “I really mean that.

“Sometimes I see him and it’s comical when he throws people off him that are trying to tackle him. I just enjoy watching him play. He’s a fabulous running back,” Griffin added.

Griffin, who spoke at Tuesday’s “Champions Among Us” dinner for the United Way at Mr. Anthony’s, is the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner. Last year’s award winner, Florida junior quarterback Tim Tebow, could join him this winter.

But it’s clear who Griffin is rooting for.

“Certainly, Tebow has a chance, but he has stiff competition,” said Griffin. “There’s a man at Ohio State [Wells] who is very good and can certainly have that type of season.”

And if Tebow wins it?

“I’ve been saying for a long time that there’s going to be someone that wins it twice,” said Griffin, who met Tebow at last year’s Heisman ceremony. “Tebow is a classy guy. I haven’t seen a chink in his armor. He does tremendous work in the community, and he’s just an outstanding person. He has represented Florida extremely well.”

Maybe too well, in fact.

Tebow was a key part of Florida’s national championship team two years ago that handed OSU the first of two straight title game losses. With almost every starter returning and a hotshot freshman recruit in quarterback Terrelle Pryor of Pennsylvania, the Buckeyes have the talent to make it three straight — and, hopefully, win the crown.

“I always tell people, ‘Hey, you can’t feel too bad coming off two championship games,’” said Griffin, who is Ohio State’s associate director of athletics. “How many schools would love to be in the position we’re in?

“I know deep down inside, they would like to win a national championship. The talent is there. It’s just a matter of going through the entire season [unbeaten], and that’s not easy to do. I don’t think they [Bowl Championship Series] will put them back in [the title game] unless they win every game.”

Regardless of this year’s outcome, Griffin has been impressed by Coach Jim Tressel’s success over the last eight years and the way he runs the program.

“He’s meant a tremendous amount to The Ohio State University,” Griffin said. “His class, the way he runs his team. He’s just an outstanding person. I’m sure glad we’ve got him at Ohio State. I’d hate to be playing against him.”

Tuesday’s dinner featured a speech by Griffin, a silent auction and a live auction with items from area companies, all three Cleveland professional sports teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and, of course, Ohio State.

“The United Way has always been something very special to me,” Griffin said. “[Former OSU coach] Woody [Hayes] would always talk about paying forward, and when you get involved with the United Way, you’re paying forward.

“You’re helping young people, you’re helping the elderly, you’re helping people with disabilities. You’re helping all kinds of people,” he said.

scalzo@vindy.com