Cornelius Greene has plenty of stories about Archie Griffin, but there's nothing negative he can say about the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner the world has to offer.
"We always say we're going to go down in our grave without any crazy stories, but Archie has always been who he is today, even when we were in school," Greene told Eleven Warriors Friday.
Greene roomed with Griffin during their four years at Ohio State, playing for legendary coach Woody Hayes from 1972-75 and winning 40 games against just five losses.
"One thing I did learn from him, my freshman year when we were practicing twice a day, six days a week and Archie would still get up early morning Sunday and go to church," Greene said. "Then I started following him to church on those Sundays and it seems like we both got our blessings continuously."
They weren't the only ones, especially from a 1975 team that went 11-1 and won the Big Ten. The members of the team who were able got together Friday evening at the Doubletree Hotel in Worthington to celebrate their 40th anniversary.
The 2015 season also marks the 40th commemoration of Griffin's second Heisman Trophy, which he earned after tallying 1,620 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns. Griffin racked up 1,772 total yards and 12 touchdowns the year before, averaging 6.6 yards per carry.
He's the only man to own two bronze statues, but doesn't expect that to always be the case.
"It hasn't happened, but I expect it to happen," Griffin told Eleven Warriors Friday. "It will happen, it's just a matter of time."
The best chance for a repeat winner in recent memory is former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who won the award in 2007, finished third the next year and then fifth in 2009.
"I always figured that if I could do it, I know somebody else can," Griffin said.
The current Buckeye squad possesses plenty of worthy Heisman Trophy contenders, like quarterbacks Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett and running back Ezekiel Elliott. Jones is Urban Meyer's starting quarterback, but the head coach has said consistently he expects to play both guys in 2015.
"I think we've got the best quarterbacks in the country. It's been awesome to see them, awesome to see them develop," Greene said. "I believe in Coach Meyer developing quarterbacks."
Ohio State is coming off a national championship season and is a heavy favorite to repeat this year. Griffin and Greene left the program is great condition upon their graduation — the reason for the get together and storytelling Friday — but each say its hard to imagine it in better hands now.
"It's pretty special. It really is. You consider winning the national championship in the first year of the College Football Playoff," Griffin said. "Having the type of folks we have on the team right now, the talent is incredible. It's just matter of keeping it all together."
Added Greene: "Urban can't live with losing, just like Coach Hayes. You gotta earn everything. Just because you started one year doesn't mean you're going to get that job back the next year. He's got the same disciplinary rules. You mess up, you won't play. It's just that simple."
