Legendary Ohio State Running Back Archie Griffin to Receive Statue at Rose Bowl Stadium
The Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation announced they will honor former Ohio State Buckeyes running back Archie Griffin with a commemorative statue.
Griffin is the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in college football history and played in four Rose Bowl games over his time with the Buckeyes.
Steve Hatchell, president and CEO of the National Football Foundation (NFF) praised Griffin on his contributions to the game in a statement on Friday.
"Archie Griffin is one of the greatest players in college football history, and we applaud the Rose Bowl Stadium for erecting his statue as part of the new Heisman Walk at the stadium," Hatchell said. "As a College Football Hall of Fame inductee and a long-standing member of the (NFF) board of directors, he has dedicated his life to promoting and protecting the game. Archie’s statue will serve as a fitting tribute to a man whose legacy is something we can all celebrate."
Griffin said he was honored to have his legacy commemorated at such a hallowed venue, but was quick to share the honor with those whom he played against.
"I am humbled to have a statue in my honor at the Rose Bowl Stadium, one of the most prestigious stadiums in America," Griffin said. "I feel blessed to have played in four Rose Bowl Games, but please know that when you honor me with this recognition, you also honor the teams that I played on during my four years at The Ohio State University. I was simply in the right place, at the right time, with the right people."
The Columbus, Ohio native received the Heisman Trophy in both 1974 and 1975. Griffin also had three straight seasons with 1,000 or more rushing yards, amassing 4,405 yards between his sophomore and senior years.
Ohio State senior vice president and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith also commended Griffin on the tribute.
"On behalf of The Ohio State University and the Department of Athletics, I wish to extend our most sincere thanks and gratitude to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation for this wonderful honor of memorializing our all-time great, Archie Griffin, with a statue at the Rose Bowl Stadium," Smith said. "His accomplishments on and off the playing field are truly legendary and still one-of-a-kind 50 years later, and we are so proud and grateful that he is a Buckeye."
