George learned from his mistakes and his career is proof. The fans booed Eddie for his mistakes, but he blocked it out and continued to work hard and improve.” “He fumbled twice and that led to us losing the game. “We gave him the chance to play against Illinois as a true freshman and he had a tough game,” Cooper said. He scored a touchdown but the Buckeyes fell to the visiting Illini, 18-16. On the day, George carried the ball six times for -7 yards rushing. George fumbled twice inside the 5-yard line and the first miscue resulted in a 96-yard return for a touchdown to give Illinois a 7-0 lead. His first game against the Illini did not go according to plan. George was afforded the opportunity to lead the ground attack against Illinois as a true freshman. George’s focus was brought to its limits as a freshman when many of the Buckeye faithful questioned why he came to Columbus. He came here focused and with the goal of becoming a Heisman winner and he did just that.” “They all figured he would make a great linebacker. “Not many colleges recruited him as a running back,” Cooper said. John Cooper, former Buckeye head coach, was the man that offered George the chance to lead the Buckeyes with the ball in his hands. I didn’t want to change and that is why I chose Ohio State. “Growing up, I knew I wanted the ball in my hands and be in a position to carry the ball as much as possible,” George said. Numerous colleges recruited him, but with the intention of turning George into a linebacker, not a running back. George, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., played prep ball at Fork Union Military Academy (Va.) and came to Ohio State with the desire to always have the ball in his hands and control the game. I have received many honors both in college and professionally and this ranks very high on the list.”

“To be in the same class as Archie Griffin and the other Heisman winners like Les Horvath (1944), Vic (Janowicz in 1950) and (Howard) Cassady (1955) is a tremendous honor. “I am elated (about having my number retired),” George said. He accumulated numerous honors during his Heisman year. George used his size and speed to run his way into the Ohio State record books, eventually leading up winning the Heisman Trophy, the sixth for the storied football program, after his senior campaign in 1995. Eddie George has become a household name in the National Football League following four successful years at Ohio State.

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