Howard "Hopalong" Cassady: The First Star of a Dynasty
Howard "Hopalong" Cassady was the dynamic running back whose electrifying play powered the start of the Woody Hayes dynasty at Ohio State. A true "iron man" in an era of increasing specialization, Cassady was a durable, two-way star who became an icon of Buckeyes football in the mid-1950s.
Cassady earned his famous nickname as a freshman, when sportswriters said he "hopped all over the field" like a movie cowboy. His defining season came in 1954, when he led the Buckeyes to a perfect 10-0 record and the consensus national championship, the first of Woody Hayes's career.
The following year, Cassady's dominance was rewarded with the Heisman Trophy. A star on both offense and defense who never missed a single game, his success set the tough, winning tone for the next quarter-century of Ohio State football, securing his place in college football history. 🏈
