Next Saturday will be the second time in the rich history of Ohio State and Tennessee that the two schools have met. The first came under familiar circumstances.
One of the most disappointing Michigan losses in Buckeye history capped the regular season for coach John Cooper's squad in 1995. An 11-0 group charged by Heisman Trophy-winning running back Eddie George, Biletnikoff Award-winning wide receiver Terry Glenn and Lombardi Award-winning left tackle Orlando Pace rolled into Michigan and were crushed 31-23 under Tim Biakabutuka's 313 rushing yards.
The loss denied Ohio State a Rose Bowl berth and a shot at a national championship. The consolation prize was a date in the Florida Citrus Bowl with Tennessee, and the loss is as famous for the potentially illegal cleats the Volunteers were wearing as it is the result.
Rain turned the sod in Orlando into a slick, sloppy playing grounds. Before kickoff, Cooper said Buckeye staffers spotted Volunteers with cleats longer than the NCAA maximum of half an inch. When Cooper raised this issue to officials, he was told nothing could be done and they "didn't have a ruler."
Ohio State led most of the first half but missed an opportunity to build on its 7-0 advantage when George was stuffed on 4th-and-inches at Tennessee's 2-yard line. When it appeared the Buckeyes' edge would hold into halftime, Volunteer running back Jay Graham took a handoff and knifed 69 yards through the Buckeyes' defense to score with 23 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
After an exchange of second-half touchdowns, Tennessee kicker Jeff Hall gave the Volunteers a 17-14 lead with 9:24 to play on a 29-yard field goal. Ohio State's final four possessions ended as follows: Fumble, fumble, desperation 4th-and-3 pass caught by an offensive lineman for an ineligible receiver penalty and turnover on downs, fumble. Tennessee won 20-14.
Cooper, after the loss, produced a pair of soccer cleats worn by Volunteer wide receiver Joey Kent, soccer cleats that were above the NCAA's half-inch provision. Ohio State athletic director Andy Geiger said someone went into Tennessee's locker room and took the cleats, but that he didn't know who that person was. It was later found that 19 Vols wore such illegal soccer cleats, which they said they didn't realize were illegal going into the game.
Whether those cleats impacted the final outcome is unclear. George said this week that the Volunteers beat the Buckeyes "fair and square."
“I would never use that as an excuse. They beat us fair and square,” George told Mike Organ of the Nashville Tennessean. “It was what it was. We’ve talked about it and laughed about it a few times over the years. (Former Vols receiver) Joey Kent was on our (Oilers/Titans) team, and I got a chance to talk with him about it. It’s an ongoing joke.”
No punishments were administered by the NCAA, and it was little consolation to an Ohio State fanbase that ended its season witnessing back-to-back gut-wrenching losses.
Ohio State and Tennessee meet for the second time ever next Saturday in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. in the Shoe, with ABC and ESPN set to televise the clash.
