In today’s era of college football, nobody would be surprised to see the sport’s top athletes appearing in TV advertisements or endorsing products.
But before recent legislature allowed college athletes to collect revenue from their name, image and likeness, college football stardom was largely confined to the field rather than behind the camera or in magazines and commercials.
However, one Ohio State star bucked this trend — and did it before even becoming a Buckeye.
In 1984, Chris Spielman, then a star linebacker for his hometown Massillon Washington Tigers, became the first high school athlete to appear on a box of the popular cereal Wheaties.
Wheaties — the unofficial “Breakfast of Champions” — hosted a nationwide “Search For Champions,” in which people would use a ballot posted on the back of the Wheaties box to mail in nominations of local star athletes who otherwise would not receive national attention.
Those in Massillon, Ohio, came out in full support of the high school football star, and Spielman ultimately won the competition — paving the way for him to make history.
Donning his white Massillon jersey — complete with orange and black lettering — and his helmet tucked under his left arm, Spielman made his national debut on the iconic orange box. Spielman’s photoshoot look was complete with the classic 1980s look of long hair and a mustache, making the then-teenager look like a fully grown adult.
Happy #NationalCerealDay! Here's some of the cereal boxes we have in our archives featuring Gold Jacket & @steelers great @JeromeBettis36 & @Lions great @chris_spielman. pic.twitter.com/Kb9w7iFVjh
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) March 7, 2018
Spielman’s Wheaties box appearance was just the nation’s introduction to the future college football Hall of Famer. Just months later, Spielman enrolled at Ohio State and his legendary career truly began.
Across his four seasons with the Buckeyes, Spielman collected an eye-popping 546 total tackles and earned All-American honors twice while playing under then-head coach Earle Bruce. Spielman's 29 tackles against Michigan in 1986 remains an Ohio State record for most tackles in a single game. Spielman parlayed his success at Ohio State into a 10-year NFL career, playing eight seasons with the Detroit Lions and a pair of campaigns with the Buffalo Bills.
While Spielman’s legacy grew far beyond his face appearing on a Wheaties box, that lasting image serves as the point where it all started for the kid from Massillon.
