1983 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

American college football season

1983 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Fiesta Bowl champion
Fiesta Bowl, W 28–23 vs. Pittsburgh
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 8
APNo. 9
Record9–3 (6–3 Big Ten)
Head coach
  • Earle Bruce (5th season)
Offensive coordinatorGlen Mason (4th season)
Defensive coordinatorBob Tucker (2nd season)
MVPJohn Frank
Home stadiumOhio Stadium
(Capacity: 85,290)
Seasons
← 1982
1984 →
1983 Big Ten Conference football standings
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 10 Illinois $ 9 – 0 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 8 Michigan 8 – 1 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
No. 14 Iowa 7 – 2 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
No. 9 Ohio State 6 – 3 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
Wisconsin 5 – 4 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Purdue 3 – 5 – 1 3 – 7 – 1
Michigan State 2 – 6 – 1 4 – 6 – 1
Indiana 2 – 7 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Northwestern 2 – 7 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
Minnesota 0 – 9 – 0 1 – 10 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1983 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–3 record, including the 1984 Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Arizona, where they won, 28–23, against the Pittsburgh Panthers.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 101:30 p.m.Oregon*No. 7W 31–688,524
September 173:30 p.m.at No. 2 Oklahoma*No. 6ABCW 24–1475,008
September 243:30 p.m.at No. 7 IowaNo. 3CBSL 14–2066,175
October 11:30 p.m.MinnesotaNo. 8
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 69–1889,192
October 81:30 p.m.PurdueNo. 6
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 33–2289,384
October 152:00 p.m.at No. 19 IllinoisNo. 6
L 13–1773,414
October 221:30 p.m.Michigan StateNo. 17
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 21–1189,104
October 291:30 p.m.WisconsinNo. 16
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 45–2789,203
November 51:30 p.m.at IndianaNo. 14
W 56–1751,176
November 121:30 p.m.NorthwesternNo. 10
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 55–788,703
November 191:00 p.m.at No. 8 MichiganNo. 10WXYZ-TVL 21–24106,115
January 2, 19841:30 p.m.vs. No. 15 Pittsburgh*No. 14NBCW 28–2366,484
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Depth chart

Defense


FS
4 Kelvin Bell
⋅


ROLB ILB ILB LOLB
11 Curt Curtis 32 Rowland Tatum 17 Clark Backus 37 Orlando Lowry
82 Byron Lee 98 Pepper Johnson ⋅ 58 Dennis Hueston
ROV
27 Doug Hill
19 Steve Hill
CB
2 Shaun Gayle
21 Kevin Richardson


DE NT DE
57 Dave Morrill 54 Spencer Nelms 97 Dave Crecelius
84 Henry Brown 59 Tony Giuliani ⋅
CB
12 Garcia Lane
7 Sonny Gordon
Offense
SE
88 Thad Jemison
⋅
LT LG C RG RT
70 William Roberts 63 Kirk Lowdermilk 78 Joe Dooley 74 Scott Zalenski 73 Mark Krerowicz
75 Rory Graves ⋅ ⋅ 64 Jim Lachey 77 Jim Carson
TE
89 John Frank
80 Judd Groza
FL
22 Cedric Anderson
1 Mike Lanese
QB
15 Mike Tomczak
16 Jim Karsatos
Key reserves
28 Roman Bates (TB/FB)
25 John Wooldridge (TB)




FB
38 Vaughn Broadnax
43 Barry Walker
Special teams
PK 10 Rich Spangler
P 5 Karl Edwards



RB
41 Keith Byars
20 Kelvin Lindsey

[1]

Personnel

1983 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR Cedric Anderson
RB Roman Bates
RB Ken Blair
RB Vaughn Broadnax
RB Keith Byars
OL Jim Carson
OL Joe Dooley
TE John Frank (C)
WR Jay Holland
WR Thad Jemison
QB Jim Karsatos Fr
OL Mark Krerowicz
OL Jim Lachey
WR Mike Lanese
RB Kelvin Lindsey
OL Kirk Lowdermilk
QB Brent Offenbacher
OT Bill Roberts (C)
TE Doug Smith
QB Tim Stephens
QB 15 Mike Tomczak Jr
RB Barry Walker
RB John Woolridge
OL Scott Zalenski
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB Clark Backus
DB Kelvin Bell
DL Dave Crecelius
LB Curt Curtis
DB Shaun Gayle
DB Doug Hill
DB Steve Hill
LB Pepper Johnson
CB Garcia Lane (C)
LB Byron Lee
DL Darryl Lee
LB Orlando Lowry
DL Dave Morrill
DL Spencer Nelms
LB Rowland Tatum (C)
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K Paul Allen
P Karl Edwards
K Rich Spangler
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Game summaries

Oregon

1 234Total
Oregon 0 600 6
• Ohio St 7 3210 31
  • Date: September 10
  • Location: Ohio Stadium

At Oklahoma

#6 Ohio State Buckeyes (1–0) at #2 Oklahoma Sooners (1–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Ohio St 7 7 7324
Oklahoma 0 7 7014

at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, Oklahoma

  • Date: September 17
  • Game time: 2:50 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • 93 °F (34 °C) • Wind S 17 miles per hour (27 km/h; 15 kn)
  • Game attendance: 75,008
  • Referee: Tom Quinn (Big Ten)
  • TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson and Frank Broyles
  • Ohio State Football Archive
Game information
Ohio State
  • Tomczak
    15/25, 234 Yds, 2 TD, INT
  • Lindsey
    16 Rush, 75 Yds
  • Frank
    7 Rec, 108 Yds, 2 TD
Oklahoma
  • Bradley
    9/21, 170 Yds, TD
  • Tillman
    13 Rush, 83 Yds, TD
  • Shepard
    3 Rec, 85 Yds, TD

[2]

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP OSU OU
1 8:44 13 80 6:16 Ohio St Frank 16-yard touchdown reception from Tomczak, Spangler kick good 7 0
2 10:57 1 15 0:06 Ohio St Frank 15-yard touchdown reception from Tomczak, Spangler kick good 14 0
2 9:14 4 85 1:43 Oklahoma Tillman 37-yard touchdown run, Culver kick good 14 7
3 8:30 10 57 Ohio St Bates 2-yard touchdown run, Spangler kick good 21 7
3 1:01 8 62 Oklahoma Shepard 22-yard touchdown reception from Bradley, Culver kick good 21 14
4 9:15 16 59 Ohio St 22-yard field goal by Spangler 24 14
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 24 14

At Iowa

1 234Total
Ohio State 7 007 14
• Iowa 3 0107 20
  • Date: September 24
  • Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa


Minnesota

1 234Total
Minnesota 3 906 18
• Ohio State 7 31247 69
  • Date: October 1
  • Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
  • Game start: 1:30 EDT


Purdue

Purdue Boilermakers (1–2–1) at #6 Ohio State Buckeyes (3–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Purdue 7 0 01522
Ohio St 6 6 14733

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Date: October 8, 1983
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 76 °F (24 °C)
  • Game attendance: 89,384
  • Referee: Tom Quinn
  • Box Score
Game information

First quarter

  • OSU – Paul Allen 21-yard field goal, 9:41. Ohio St 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 61 yards, 5:11.
  • OSU – Paul Allen 41-yard field goal, 4:30. Ohio St 6–0. Drive: 10 plays, 45 yards, 3:34.
  • PUR – Eric Jordan 40-yard run (Tim Clark kick), 2:27. Purdue 7–6. Drive: 6 plays, 71 yards, 2:00.

Second quarter

  • OSU – Keith Byars 4-yard run (pass failed), 5:23. Ohio St 12–7. Drive: 3 plays, 20 yards, 0:59.

Third quarter

  • OSU – Garcia Lane 63-yard punt return (Rich Spangler kick), 13:43. Ohio St 19–7.
  • OSU – Garcia Lane 71-yard punt return (Rich Spangler kick), 2:51. Ohio St 26–7.

Fourth quarter

  • PUR – Tim Clark 39-yard field goal, 14:20. Ohio St 26–10. Drive: 10 plays, 58 yards, 3:31.
  • OSU – Keith Byars 2-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 10:56. Ohio St 33–10. Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 3:19.
  • PUR – Cliff Benson 5-yard pass from Scott Campbell (pass failed), 3:50. Ohio St 33–16. Drive: 11 plays, 56 yards, 3:59.
  • PUR – Mel Gray 20-yard run (pass failed), 2:58. Ohio St 33–22. Drive: 4 plays, 48 yards, 0:46.
Top passers
  • PUR – Scott Campbell – 23/36, 228 yards, TD
  • OSU – Mike Tomczak – 8/17, 145 yards, 2 INT
Top rushers
  • PUR – Eric Jordan – 9 rushes, 89 yards, TD
  • OSU – Keith Byars – 23 rushes, 135 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
  • PUR – Steve Griffin – 5 receptions, 62 yards
  • OSU – Keith Byars – 4 receptions, 120 yards

At Illinois

1 234Total
Ohio St 0 3100 13
• Illinois 7 307 17
  • Date: October 15
  • Location: Memorial Stadium

Michigan State

1 234Total
Michigan St 3 008 11
• Ohio St 7 707 21
  • Date: October 22
  • Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:28
  • Game attendance: 89,104
  • Game weather: Rainy; 56 °F (13 °C); wind 15–25 mph (24–40 km/h) SE
  • Referee: Jerry Hendrickson
Scoring summary
Q110:08OHSTByars 1 yard run (Spangler kick)OHST 7–0
Q14:30MSUMojsiejenko 33 yard field goalOHST 7–3
Q22:17OHSTFrank 39 yard pass from Karsatos (Spangler kick)OHST 14–3
Q411:47OHSTByars 5 yard run (Spangler kick)OHST 21–3
Q4:57MSUTyree recovered blocked punt in end zone (Belk pass from Brown)OHST 21–11

[3]


Wisconsin

Wisconsin Badgers (5–2) at #16 Ohio State Buckeyes (5–2)
Period 1 2 34Total
Wisconsin 14 7 6027
Ohio St 7 21 10745

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Date: October 29, 1983
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Clear, 55 °F (13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 89,203
  • Referee: Jim Kemerling
  • Box Score
Game information

First quarter

  • WIS – Gary Ellerson 2-yard run (Kevin Rohde kick), 11:34. Wisconsin 7–0.
  • OSU – Thad Jemison 19-yard pass from Mike Tomczak (Rich Spangler kick), 5:25. Tie 7–7.
  • WIS – Thad McFadden 20-yard pass from Randy Wright (Kevin Rohde kick), 2:50. Wisconsin 14–7.

Second quarter

  • OSU – Mike Tomczak 28-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 13:19. Tie 14–14.
  • OSU – Keith Byars 13-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 7:16. Ohio St 21–14.
  • OSU – Vaughn Broadnax 1-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 2:07. Ohio St 28–14.
  • WIS – Nick Toon 22-yard pass from Randy Wright (Kevin Rohde kick), 0:57. Ohio St 28–21.

Third quarter

  • WIS – Brett Pearson 7-yard pass from Randy Wright (kick failed), 11:36. Ohio St 28–27.
  • OSU – Rich Spangler 36-yard field goal, 4:41. Ohio St 31–27.
  • OSU – Keith Byars 3-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 1:36. Ohio St 38–27.

Fourth quarter

  • OSU – Roman Bates 14-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 12:48. Ohio St 45–27.
Top passers
Top rushers
  • WIS – Joe Armentrout – 10 rushes, 40 yards
  • OSU – Keith Byars – 29 rushes, 174 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
  • WIS – Thad McFadden – 3 receptions, 108 yards, TD
  • OSU – Cedric Anderson – 4 receptions, 70 yards

Woody Hayes dotted the "i" in the pregame Script Ohio.

[4]

External videos
video icon Script Ohio/Woody Hayes dots the "i"
video icon Game highlights

At Indiana

1 234Total
• Ohio St 14 141414 56
Indiana 3 068 17
  • Date: November 5
  • Location: Memorial Stadium

Northwestern

1 234Total
Northwestern 0 007 7
• Ohio State 20 2177 55
  • Date: November 12
  • Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
  • Game attendance: 88,703


At Michigan

1 234Total
Ohio State 0 777 21
• Michigan 10 0014 24
  • Date: November 19
  • Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan


Vs. Pittsburgh (Fiesta Bowl)

1984 Fiesta Bowl
1 234Total
• Ohio State 7 7014 28
Pittsburgh 0 7016 23
  • Date: January 2, 1984
  • Location: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
  • Game attendance: 66,484
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones, Bob Griese


[5]

1984 NFL draftees

Player Round Pick Position NFL club
William Roberts 1 27 Guard New York Giants
John Frank 2 56 Tight end San Francisco 49ers
Garcia Lane 3 61 Defensive back Kansas City Chiefs
Rowland Tatum 6 165 Linebacker Miami Dolphins
Shaun Gayle 10 271 Defensive back Chicago Bears
Joe Dooley 10 274 Center Los Angeles Rams
Thad Jemison 12 310 Wide receiver Tampa Bay Buccaneers

References

  1. ^ 1984 Ohio State Football Media Guide
  2. ^ "Ohio St. Is Superb In Beating Sooners." Gainesville Sun. 1983 Sept 18.
  3. ^ Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives Archived 2014-12-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-Dec-20.
  4. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1983 Oct 30.
  5. ^ "Ohio State Spring Football Media Guide" (PDF). 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 28, 2020.
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