Posts from March 1, 2007

You would be hard-pressed to find basketball programs that have enjoyed more success than Ohio State’s men and women have over the past two
seasons.

Each team has earned back-to-back outright Big Ten championships. That is a remarkable accomplishment and not one that you’d expect to see
teams accomplish two years in a row.

In general, our football and basketball teams have dominated Big Ten play this year. Heading in to the men’s regular-season finale against Michigan, the Buckeyes were a combined 38-2 in Big Ten play in football and basketball. That type of dominance is uncommon in a league that
year-in, year-out is among the nation’s best.

What impresses me about both teams, too, is that each has overcome some adversity. Our men started the season without star center Greg Oden, and have not missed a beat once he returned. Our women’s team is without the services of injured standout Brandie Hoskins, but again, that group has persevered.

I am pretty certain that the next month is going to be an exciting one for Ohio State basketball fans. The NCAA basketball tournaments offer
tons of thrills and we will have an opportunity to experience a lot of them.

First, though, we’ll have some big challenges in the Big Ten tournaments. Our women start tournament play later this week and the
men start next week. This tournament is a good warm-up for the Big Dance because it gets our teams better acclimated to tournament play. During the regular season we don’t often play games on one or two day’s rest, but that’s a common theme once the NCAA tournament begins.

I am not too sure how the season is going to finish up for either our men or women. Each will face big challenges in both the conference and
national tournaments. As we all know, a lot of crazy things happen come tournament time.

What I do know is that our men’s and women’s basketball teams have made Ohio State proud both on and off the court. That is something I truly
appreciate.

—
Also published at www.ohiostatealumni.org

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For more than 30 years, Archie Griffin has held the distinction as college football’s only two-time Heisman Trophy winner. That is an honor no one else can claim, but it falls far short of describing the man he is today.

Archie became president and CEO of the Ohio State Alumni Association on Jan. 1, 2004. On that day, he became the leader of one of the biggest dues-supported alumni associations in the world. At 130,000 members strong, the association works to help all graduates and former students to stay connected and make Ohio State stronger.

Archie has followed his record-setting and extensively honored football career with work in human resources, athletics administration, and now, nonprofit corporation leadership.

His football and professional success are more than matched by his community service. He and his wife, Bonita, started foundations to support Olympic sports at Ohio State and youth development in Central Ohio. He is a member of at least six charitable organizations and often heads campaigns to raise funds and awareness for important causes.

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