Cassady with Woody Hayes (1986)Howard "Hopalong" Cassady played as a halfback for Ohio State from 1952-1955. Cassady earned the name Hopalong during his first game as a freshman, when he came off the bench to score three touchdowns in the victory over Indiana. The sportswriters described him as hopping all over the field like a performing cowboy, a reference to Hopalong Cassidy, a fictional cowboy character. He was a member of Woody Hayes' first National Championship team in 1954. In that same year he finished #3 in the Heisman voting as a junior. Cassady also played as a defensive back, intercepting 10 passes for 230 yards. Hopalong also played baseball for the Buckeyes, leading the team in home runs and stolen bases. He finished his career with 2,466 career yards, a school record for 14 years. Cassady won the Heisman with 958 yards on the ground and 15 touchdowns in 1955. In that same year he was voted Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year. That award was a big deal considering that in 1954 it went to Willie Mays and in 1956 it went to Mickey Mantle.
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