A former linebacking great is set to be recognized during Ohio State's game against Indiana on Saturday.
The school announced Thursday it is set to team up with the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame to honor 2016 inductee Tom Cousineau as the Buckeyes host the Hoosiers. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. The release did not specify at what point in the game Cousineau will be recognized.
The decision to honor Cousineau in front of the Ohio Stadium crowd is part of the NFF's Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, which recognizes each inductee at their alma mater and present them with a plaque on the field. The plaque is then set to remain at the institution.
The NFF announced in January its intentions to induct Cousineau into the Hall of Fame, at which time the two-time All-American said he was "stunned."
”I am humbled. And I am truly honored to be a part of this Hall of Fame class,” Cousineau said then. “I know there are so many great, great players who will never see the College Football Hall of Fame. It is my understanding that it is really tough to get consensus with so many great players on the ballot, so the fact I have been elected into the Hall of Fame is a testament to the incredible teammates I was fortunate to play alongside and just wonderful news to receive. I am very appreciative and thankful for this honor.”
Cousineau finished his Buckeye career with 572 tackles in 47 games, which still sits second all-time in program history. He holds five Ohio State records: single season total tackles with 211 in 1978, solo stops with 142 in 1978, assisted tackles with 102 in 1978, single game solo tackles with 16 against SMU in 1978 (tied with Ryan Shazier's 2013 Indiana performance) and assisted tackles in a game with 20 against Penn State in 1978.
Cousineau helped Woody Hayes gather a 36-10-2 record (28-4 in the Big Ten) during his time at Ohio State from 1975-78. He then played 10 years professionally, including three in the Canadian Football League.
