1983 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

The 1983 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team that represented the Ohio State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1983 Big Ten season. In their fifth year under head coach Earle Bruce, the Buckeyes compiled a 9–3 record (6–3 in conference games), finished in fourth place the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 382 to 183. They opened the season with victories over Oregon and No. 2 Oklahoma, lost to No. 7 Iowa, No. 19 Illinois, and No. 8 Michigan, and concluded the season with a victory over Pittsburgh in the 1984 Fiesta Bowl. They were ranked No. 9 in the final AP poll.

1983 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Fiesta Bowl champion
Fiesta Bowl, W 28–23 vs. Pittsburgh
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 8
AP	No. 9
Record	9–3 (6–3 Big Ten)
Head coach	Earle Bruce (5th season)
Offensive coordinator	Glen Mason (4th season)
Defensive coordinator	Bob Tucker (2nd season)
MVP	John Frank
Captains	John Frank Bill Roberts
Home stadium	Ohio Stadium
Seasons ← 1982 1984 →

1983 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 10 Illinois $	9	–	0	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
No. 8 Michigan	8	–	1	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
No. 14 Iowa	7	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
No. 9 Ohio State	6	–	3	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Wisconsin	5	–	4	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Purdue	3	–	5	–	1			3	–	7	–	1
Michigan State	2	–	6	–	1			4	–	6	–	1
Indiana	2	–	7	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Northwestern	2	–	7	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
Minnesota	0	–	9	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The Buckeyes gained an average of 210.2 rushing yards and 176.8 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 101.9 rushing yards and 209.3 passing yards per game. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Mike Tomczak (1,716 passing yards, 56.6% completion percentage), running back Keith Byars (1,126 rushing yards, 5.4 yards per carry, 20 touchdowns), and tight end John Frank (41 receptions for 584 yards). Four Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 1983 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Byars (AP/UPI); Frank (AP/UPI); linebacker Rowland Tatum (AP/UPI); and defensive back Garcia Lane (AP).

The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 10	1:30 p.m.	Oregon*	No. 7	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 31–6	88,524
September 17	3:30 p.m.	at No. 2 Oklahoma*	No. 6	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK	ABC	W 24–14	75,008
September 24	3:30 p.m.	at No. 7 Iowa	No. 3	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	CBS	L 14–20	66,175
October 1	1:30 p.m.	Minnesota	No. 8	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 69–18	89,192
October 8	1:30 p.m.	Purdue	No. 6	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 33–22	89,384
October 15	2:00 p.m.	at No. 19 Illinois	No. 6	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (Illibuck)		L 13–17	73,414
October 22	1:30 p.m.	Michigan State	No. 17	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 21–11	89,104
October 29	1:30 p.m.	Wisconsin	No. 16	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 45–27	89,203
November 5	1:30 p.m.	at Indiana	No. 14	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN		W 56–17	51,176
November 12	1:30 p.m.	Northwestern	No. 10	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 55–7	88,703
November 19	1:00 p.m.	at No. 8 Michigan	No. 10	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)	WXYZ-TV	L 21–24	106,115
January 2, 1984	1:30 p.m.	vs. No. 15 Pittsburgh*	No. 14	Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ (Fiesta Bowl)	NBC	W 28–23	66,484
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Oregon

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Oregon	0	6	0	0	6
• Ohio St	7	3	21	0	31

• Date: September 10
• Location: Ohio Stadium

At Oklahoma

#6 Ohio State Buckeyes (1–0) at #2 Oklahoma Sooners (1–0)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio St	7	7	7	3	24
Oklahoma	0	7	7	0	14

at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, Oklahoma

• Date: September 17
• Game time: 2:50 p.m. CDT
• Game weather: Sunny • 93 °F (34 °C) • Wind S 17 miles per hour (27 km/h; 15 kn)
• Game attendance: 75,008
• Referee: Tom Quinn (Big Ten)
• TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson and Frank Broyles
• Ohio State Football Archive

Game information
Ohio State Tomczak 15/25, 234 Yds, 2 TD, INT Lindsey 16 Rush, 75 Yds Frank 7 Rec, 108 Yds, 2 TD Oklahoma Bradley 9/21, 170 Yds, TD Tillman 13 Rush, 83 Yds, TD Shepard 3 Rec, 85 Yds, TD

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP OSU OU 1 8:44 13 80 6:16 Ohio St Frank 16-yard touchdown reception from Tomczak, Spangler kick good 7 0 2 10:57 1 15 0:06 Ohio St Frank 15-yard touchdown reception from Tomczak, Spangler kick good 14 0 2 9:14 4 85 1:43 Oklahoma Tillman 37-yard touchdown run, Culver kick good 14 7 3 8:30 10 57 Ohio St Bates 2-yard touchdown run, Spangler kick good 21 7 3 1:01 8 62 Oklahoma Shepard 22-yard touchdown reception from Bradley, Culver kick good 21 14 4 9:15 16 59 Ohio St 22-yard field goal by Spangler 24 14 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 24 14

At Iowa

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio State	7	0	0	7	14
• Iowa	3	0	10	7	20

• Date: September 24
• Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa

Minnesota

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Minnesota	3	9	0	6	18
• Ohio State	7	31	24	7	69

• Date: October 1
• Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Game start: 1:30 EDT

Purdue

Purdue Boilermakers (1–2–1) at #6 Ohio State Buckeyes (3–1)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Purdue	7	0	0	15	22
Ohio St	6	6	14	7	33

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Date: October 8, 1983
• Game time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny, 76 °F (24 °C)
• Game attendance: 89,384
• Referee: Tom Quinn
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter OSU – Paul Allen 21-yard field goal, 9:41. Ohio St 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 61 yards, 5:11. OSU – Paul Allen 41-yard field goal, 4:30. Ohio St 6–0. Drive: 10 plays, 45 yards, 3:34. PUR – Eric Jordan 40-yard run (Tim Clark kick), 2:27. Purdue 7–6. Drive: 6 plays, 71 yards, 2:00. Second quarter OSU – Keith Byars 4-yard run (pass failed), 5:23. Ohio St 12–7. Drive: 3 plays, 20 yards, 0:59. Third quarter OSU – Garcia Lane 63-yard punt return (Rich Spangler kick), 13:43. Ohio St 19–7. OSU – Garcia Lane 71-yard punt return (Rich Spangler kick), 2:51. Ohio St 26–7. Fourth quarter PUR – Tim Clark 39-yard field goal, 14:20. Ohio St 26–10. Drive: 10 plays, 58 yards, 3:31. OSU – Keith Byars 2-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 10:56. Ohio St 33–10. Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 3:19. PUR – Cliff Benson 5-yard pass from Scott Campbell (pass failed), 3:50. Ohio St 33–16. Drive: 11 plays, 56 yards, 3:59. PUR – Mel Gray 20-yard run (pass failed), 2:58. Ohio St 33–22. Drive: 4 plays, 48 yards, 0:46. Top passers PUR – Scott Campbell – 23/36, 228 yards, TD OSU – Mike Tomczak – 8/17, 145 yards, 2 INT Top rushers PUR – Eric Jordan – 9 rushes, 89 yards, TD OSU – Keith Byars – 23 rushes, 135 yards, 2 TD Top receivers PUR – Steve Griffin – 5 receptions, 62 yards OSU – Keith Byars – 4 receptions, 120 yards

At Illinois

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio St	0	3	10	0	13
• Illinois	7	3	0	7	17

• Date: October 15
• Location: Memorial Stadium

Michigan State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan St	3	0	0	8	11
• Ohio St	7	7	0	7	21

• Date: October 22
• Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Game start: 1:30 p.m. EST
• Elapsed time: 2:28
• Game attendance: 89,104
• Game weather: Rainy; 56 °F (13 °C); wind 15–25 mph (24–40 km/h) SE
• Referee: Jerry Hendrickson

Scoring summary

Q1	10:08	OHST	Byars 1 yard run (Spangler kick)	OHST 7–0
Q1	4:30	MSU	Mojsiejenko 33 yard field goal	OHST 7–3
Q2	2:17	OHST	Frank 39 yard pass from Karsatos (Spangler kick)	OHST 14–3
Q4	11:47	OHST	Byars 5 yard run (Spangler kick)	OHST 21–3
Q4	:57	MSU	Tyree recovered blocked punt in end zone (Belk pass from Brown)	OHST 21–11

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Badgers (5–2) at #16 Ohio State Buckeyes (5–2)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wisconsin	14	7	6	0	27
Ohio St	7	21	10	7	45

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Date: October 29, 1983
• Game time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Clear, 55 °F (13 °C)
• Game attendance: 89,203
• Referee: Jim Kemerling
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter WIS – Gary Ellerson 2-yard run (Kevin Rohde kick), 11:34. Wisconsin 7–0. OSU – Thad Jemison 19-yard pass from Mike Tomczak (Rich Spangler kick), 5:25. Tie 7–7. WIS – Thad McFadden 20-yard pass from Randy Wright (Kevin Rohde kick), 2:50. Wisconsin 14–7. Second quarter OSU – Mike Tomczak 28-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 13:19. Tie 14–14. OSU – Keith Byars 13-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 7:16. Ohio St 21–14. OSU – Vaughn Broadnax 1-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 2:07. Ohio St 28–14. WIS – Nick Toon 22-yard pass from Randy Wright (Kevin Rohde kick), 0:57. Ohio St 28–21. Third quarter WIS – Brett Pearson 7-yard pass from Randy Wright (kick failed), 11:36. Ohio St 28–27. OSU – Rich Spangler 36-yard field goal, 4:41. Ohio St 31–27. OSU – Keith Byars 3-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 1:36. Ohio St 38–27. Fourth quarter OSU – Roman Bates 14-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 12:48. Ohio St 45–27. Top passers WIS – Randy Wright – 23/39, 319 yards, 3 TD, 4 INT OSU – Mike Tomczak – 12/14, 162 yards, TD Top rushers WIS – Joe Armentrout – 10 rushes, 40 yards OSU – Keith Byars – 29 rushes, 174 yards, 2 TD Top receivers WIS – Thad McFadden – 3 receptions, 108 yards, TD OSU – Cedric Anderson – 4 receptions, 70 yards

Woody Hayes dotted the "i" in the pregame Script Ohio.

External videos
Script Ohio/Woody Hayes dots the "i"
Game highlights

At Indiana

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio St	14	14	14	14	56
Indiana	3	0	6	8	17

• Date: November 5
• Location: Memorial Stadium

Northwestern

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Northwestern	0	0	0	7	7
• Ohio State	20	21	7	7	55

• Date: November 12
• Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Game attendance: 88,703

At Michigan

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio State	0	7	7	7	21
• Michigan	10	0	0	14	24

• Date: November 19
• Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Vs. Pittsburgh (Fiesta Bowl)

1984 Fiesta Bowl

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio State	7	7	0	14	28
Pittsburgh	0	7	0	16	23

• Date: January 2, 1984
• Location: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
• Game attendance: 66,484
• TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones, Bob Griese

Personnel

Roster

1983 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 22 Cedric Anderson Sr OT 76 Dan Bachorski Fr RB 28 Roman Bates Fr FB 46 Ken Blair So FB 38 Vaughn Broadnax Sr RB 41 Keith Byars So FB 48 Jeff Cargile Fr OT 77 Jim Carson Sr G 79 Larry Chesbrough So RB 44 George Cooper Fr RB 42 Tony Cooper Fr SE 84 Kevin Delaney So C 78 Joe Dooley Sr TE 89 John Frank (C) Sr C 56 Jimn Gilmore So G 65 Tom Glancey Fr OT 75 Rory Graves So TE 85 Judd Groza Jr WR 26 Nate Harris Fr FL 34 Jay Holland Jr G 67 Gene Hulshult Fr TE 81 John Hutchinson Fr WR 88 Thad Jemison Sr RB 24 Ron Jordan So QB 16 Jim Karsatos Fr RB 27 Emmett Keith-Jones So OL 73 Mark Krerowicz Jr QB 14 Eric Kumerow Fr G 64 Jim Lachey Jr WR 1 Mike Lanese So RB 20 Kelvin Lindsey Sr OL 63 Kirk Lowdermilk Jr C 51 John Lucente So G 71 Bob Maggs Fr OT 62 Tom McCormick Fr C 53 Rich Morrise Fr C 50 Tim Odom Fr QB 7 Brent Offenbecher Sr OT 70 Bill Roberts (C) Sr FL 18 Johnny Ross Fr TE 86 Rob Selvaggio Jr OT 69 Jay Shaffer Fr SE 49 Doug Smith So QB 6 Tim Stephens Sr TE 80 Ed Taggart Fr QB 15 Mike Tomczak Jr FL 83 Dave Wagner So RB 43 Barry Walker Fr C 52 Doug Whitmer Jr RB 25 John Woolridge Fr OL 74 Scott Zalenski Jr	Defense Pos. # Name Class OLB 9 Gary Alders Jr LB 17 Clark Backus Sr S 4 Kelvin Bell Jr OLB 96 Tom Bose Fr DT 84 Henry Brown Fr OLB 94 Chris Cicero Sr CB 24 Jeff Cisco Sr DT 42 Ray Conlin Jr DT 97 Dave Crecelius Jr OLB 11 Curt Curtis Sr OLB 66 Rich Czyzynski Sr CB 2 Shaun Gayle Sr MG 59 Tony Giuliani Jr CB 39 Sonny Gordon Fr CB 23 Rod Gorley Sr LB 92 Reggie Graves Fr LB 60 Bill Harvey Jr DB 27 Doug Hill Sr DB 19 Steve Hill Fr DT 68 Mark Hocevar Jr DT 55 Ray Holliman Fr OLB 58 Dennis Hueston So CB 47 Ray Jackson Fr LB 35 Joe Jenkins Fr LB 98 Pepper Johnson So LB 30 Mike Kee Fr DT 91 Jim Klohn Fr LB 33 Larry Kolic Jr DT 93 Larry Kotterman Fr CB 12 Garcia Lane (C) Sr CB 8 Scott Leach Fr OLB 82 Byron Lee So MG 95 Darryl Lee Fr OLB 37 Orlando Lowry Sr DT 72 Mike Machinsky Fr DT 57 Dave Morrill Jr MG 54 Spencer Nelms Jr CB 3 Jim Palmer Jr LB 99 Mark Pfister Fr CB 83 Murphy Ray Fr S 21 Kevin Richardson Jr LB 90 Fred Ridder Fr DT 61 John Sullivan So LB 32 Rowland Tatum (C) Sr S 29 Terry White Fr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 88 Paul Allen Jr P 5 Karl Edwards Sr P 87 Ken Grimmer So K 36 Tim Marsh Jr K 13 Scott Neff So K 10 Rich Spangler So	Head coach Earle Bruce Coordinators/assistant coaches Dom Capers (DB) Steve Devine (Recruiting) Randy Hart (DL) Glen Mason (OC) Bill Myles (OL) Fred Pagac (LB) Wayne Stanley (RB) Jim Tressel (QB) Bob Tucker (DC) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Depth chart

Defense FS 4 Kelvin Bell ⋅ ⋅ ROLB ILB ILB LOLB 37 Orlando Lowry 32 Rowland Tatum 17 Clark Backus 11 Curt Curtis 82 Byron Lee 33 Larry Kolic 98 Pepper Johnson 66 Rich Czyzynski ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ 58 Dennis Hueston ROV 27 Doug Hill 19 Steve Hill ⋅ CB 2 Shaun Gayle 21 Kevin Richardson ⋅ DE NT DE 97 Dave Crecelius 54 Spencer Nelms 57 Dave Morrill 42 Ray Conlin 59 Tony Giuliani 84 Henry Brown ⋅ 95 Darryl Lee ⋅ CB 12 Garcia Lane 7 Sonny Gordon ⋅ Offense SE 88 Thad Jemison 49 Doug Smith ⋅ LT LG C RG RT 70 William Roberts 64 Jim Lachey 78 Joe Dooley 74 Scott Zalenski 77 Jim Carson 73 Mark Krerowicz 63 Kirk Lowdermilk 50 Tim Odom 71 Bob Maggs 75 Rory Graves ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ 62 Tom McCormick TE 89 John Frank 80 Judd Groza 81 John Hutchinson FL 22 Cedric Anderson 34 Jay Holland 83 Dave Wagner QB 15 Mike Tomczak 16 Jim Karsatos 7 Brent Offenbecher Key reserves 28 Roman Bates (TB/FB) 25 John Wooldridge (TB) FB 38 Vaughn Broadnax 43 Barry Walker 48 Jeff Cargile Special teams PK 10 Rich Spangler P 5 Karl Edwards RB 41 Keith Byars 20 Kelvin Lindsey 25 John Wooldridge

1984 NFL draftees

Player	Round	Pick	Position	NFL club
William Roberts	1	27	Guard	New York Giants
John Frank	2	56	Tight end	San Francisco 49ers
Garcia Lane	3	61	Defensive back	Kansas City Chiefs
Rowland Tatum	6	165	Linebacker	Miami Dolphins
Shaun Gayle	10	271	Defensive back	Chicago Bears
Joe Dooley	10	274	Center	Los Angeles Rams
Thad Jemison	12	310	Wide receiver	Tampa Bay Buccaneers