Ohio State legend, 1955 Heisman winner Howard "Hopalong" Cassady dies at age 85

The legendary coaching career of Woody Hayes is well known among Ohio State fans, but it likely never would have taken place without Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, who died Friday morning in Tampa, Fla., at age 85.

Cassady rescued Hayes from considerable criticism in his fourth season, 1954, by leading the Buckeyes to a 10-0 record and Rose Bowl victory over USC, which secured Hayes' first national championship.

To that point, Hayes had gone 4-3-2, 6-3 and 6-3 in his first three seasons and OSU fans were ready to move on.

Cassady, a gifted running back and outstanding defensive back in the era of two-way players, helped change all that and set Hayes up for a 28-year career in Columbus.

Cassady's 88-yard interception return for a touchdown against Wisconsin and eventual Heisman winner Alan Ameche helped OSU to an unbeaten regualr season in 1954.

Cassady won the award the next year by what was then the largest margin in history. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979 and is also a member of the Ohio State Athletics and Columbus (Ohio) Baseball halls of fame.

While a student at OSU, Cassady met and befriended a graduate student and low-level football staff member named, George Steinbrenner.

Cassady introduced Steinbrenner to the woman who would become his wife.

When Steinbrenner later purchased the New York Yankees, he hired Cassady as the team's strength and conditioning coach in 1976, just before the Yankees won back-to-back World Series championships.

Cassady's 30-year career in the Yankees' organization included jobs as a scout, special instructor and as a coach for New York's Triple-A affiliate in Columbus, Cassady's home town.

After his career at Ohio State, Cassady played for seven seasons with the Detroit Lions and was a mainstay on their 1957 NFL championship team.

Ohio State retired Cassady's No. 40 jersey in 2000, displaying it at Ohio Stadium alongside fellow Heisman winners Vic Janowicz, Les Horvath, Archie Griffin, Eddie George and Troy Smith.

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