Jack Park, a leading Ohio State football historian, checks in each week during the college football season with a retrospective about the Buckeyes.
Ohio State’s outright Big Ten champions of 1955 celebrated their 60th anniversary last weekend while the black-uniformed Buckeyes were defeating Penn State 38-10. OSU had captured the 1954 national title with one of its all-time finest teams. Expectations were high for 1955, even with the loss of seven seniors from '54.
Howard “Hopalong” Cassady, an electrifying runner with a quick change of pace, was returning for his fourth season. Junior Frank Ellwood, who was adept at running and handling the ball, moved from end to starting quarterback.