To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Archie Griffin’s first Heisman Trophy season, Ohio State will unveil a statue of the running back on Aug. 30, the day before the Buckeyes’ season-opener against Akron. Griffin will dot the “i” when the Ohio State Marching Band performs at halftime of the game.
Ohio Stadium has stood for 102 years, and no Buckeye – not Chic Harley, not Woody Hayes, nor any other OSU legend – has been honored with a statue. But the Ohio Stadium statue won’t be the first Archie Griffin monument in the country.
Who is Archie Griffin? Here’s what to know about the Ohio State legend.
The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, unveils Archie Griffin statue
The Buckeyes played in four consecutive Rose Bowl games during Griffin’s time on campus, including after both his Heisman Trophy seasons.
So it’s not surprising the stadium in Pasadena, California, added a Griffin statue to the grounds on Aug. 17.
According to the Pasadena Star-News, the statue, depicts Griffin in his iconic “Big Ten” pose with one leg in the air in a running motion with its left arm outstretched.
The statue resides within the Rose Bowl Stadium’s Court of Champions and is adjacent to the Archie Griffin Legacy Walk, which honors the 19 Heisman Trophy winners who have played in the Rose Bowl Game.
Jackie Robinson (2017), the 1999 Team USA FIFA Women’s World Cup Champions (2019), sports broadcaster Keith Jackson (2019) and UCLA head coach Terry Donahue (2023) are the only other sports figures with statues at the Rose Bowl.
The statue was made possible by donations to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, including some from the Columbus, Ohio, area, the Star-News reports.
What will the Archie Griffin statue at Ohio Stadium look like?
Griffin will be the first football marvel to have a statue of himself. His statue will be near the Rotunda at the Ohio Stadium.
What are Archie Griffin’s college and NFL stats?
Archie Mason Griffin was a prominent running back for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Griffin ran for 5,589 yards and 26 touchdowns for Ohio State between 1972 and 1975, leading Ohio State to a 40-5-1 record and achieving four Big Ten titles, according to the Heisman website. He was later selected in the 1976 NFL draft with the Cincinnati Bengals, having a seven-year NFL career.
He rushed for 2,808 yards and seven touchdowns with the Bengals. Griffin added 1,607 yards receiving and six more touchdowns through the air in the NFL. He also threw for a pair of touchdowns (one each in 1977 and 1978).
He later served as an assistant athletic director at OSU and president of the OSU Alumni Association.
Where is Archie Griffin from?
Griffin was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He attended Eastmoor High School (Now Eastmoor Academy).
How old is Archie Griffin?
Griffin was born on August 21, 1954. He will be 70 years old in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Rose Bowl unveils Archie Griffin statue before Ohio State ceremony
