There are 34 days that separate us from Ohio State's march to Blacksburg. To help pass the time until the Buckeyes put the Sandman to bed I will countdown Ohio State's top 100 players according to the rubric* listed at the bottom of this article.

Tom Tupa has the two highest season punt averages in Ohio State history. 47.1 in 1984 and 47.0 in 1987.

NO. 34 TOM TUPA QB, P (1984-1987)
Born: 1966 (Cleveland)
High School: Brecksville-Broadview Heights

OHIO STATE CAREER

• The Buckeyes were 34-13-1 with Tupa on the team.
• 1984 Big Ten Title.
• 1986 Big Ten Title.
• 1985 Defeated BYU 10-7 to win the Citrus Bowl.
• 1987 Defeated Texas A&M 28-12 to win the Cotton Bowl.

HONORS

• 1987 Captain.
• 1987 All-American.
• 1987 All-Big Ten.
• 1986 All-Big Ten.
• 1985 All-Big Ten.
• 1984 All-Big Ten.

NFL DRAFT
Round 3 to the Cardinals with the 68th pick of the 1988 draft.

Tom Tupa won a Super Bowl as a member of Tampa Bay in 2002.

Tupa in the NFL per Wikipedia:

...After spending the entire 1990 season as strictly a holder on kicks, he was the primary quarterback for the Cardinals the following year, playing in 11 games and throwing six touchdowns to 13 interceptions. He then joined the Indianapolis Colts in 1992, playing as a backup quarterback to Jack Trudeau and Jeff George.

That season also marked the last time Tupa was used regularly as a quarterback; since then he almost exclusively punted, with only emergency occasions or trick plays making use of his throwing skills. Tupa sat out the 1993 NFL season, having been cut by the Cleveland Browns right before the season. However, he was re-signed by the Browns the following year and stayed with them for two seasons as their starting punter.

He joined the New England Patriots in 1996 and played for them for three years. In 1999, Tupa signed with the New York Jets. It was during this season that Tupa received his first invitation to the Pro Bowl. He also made his first pass attempt since 1996, and went 6-of-11 for 165 yards and two touchdowns.

2002 saw Tupa sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he was their punter on their road to Super Bowl XXXVII, where they defeated the Oakland Raiders. Before the start of the 2004 NFL season, Tupa signed with the Washington Redskins. In 2004, he was named as a Pro Bowl second alternate. He spent 2005 on the injured reserve list, and did not appear in a game.

Tupa announced his retirement from pro-football in the spring of 2006. In February 2006, he was appointed as the recreation director of Brecksville, Ohio.

What Tupa is doing today per Brad Bournival of espn.go.com (8-8-12):

Tupa is the recreation director for the city of Brecksville, Ohio, where he led the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Bees football team to a state title in 1983. He is also the offensive coordinator for the Bees' varsity squad, where his sons Tommy and Tim play. His youngest son, Tyler, will be a freshman this year, and his daughter Emma will be a seventh-grader.

His son, Tommy Tupa, committed to Miami (Ohio) in May. The RedHawks expect him to be their future quarterback.

Video of Tupa connecting with Carlos Snow on the first play of the second half against That Team in 1987:

For more information on other players who wore No. 19 go here.

Sources- The Ohio State Team Guide, espn.go.com and Wikipedia.

ALL PLAYERS COVERED TO DATE