I have had the opportunity to speak with many former Buckeye greats in each of my installments of Time and Change and in this most current edition, we have the chance to visit with one of the greatest offensive linemen in Buckeye history, Jim Lachey.
Lachey was a 1984 All-Big Ten and first-team All-American offensive guard for the Buckeyes. He was the first round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers and was voted to three Pro Bowls in the NFL.
One of the greatest tributes I can remember involving Jim was the 1991 season, in which Jim played left tackle for the Washington Redskins in the National Football League. He had gone the entire year without allowing a sack. Reminding readers of offensive line play, the left offensive tackle needs to be the most agile and athletic, while being a terrific pass blocker as he will always be blocking the opposing teams best pass rusher 1-on-1.
Jim went the entire season without allowing a sack and that included playing two games against the New York Giants with All-Pro Lawrence Taylor and the Buffalo Bills with All-Pro Bruce Smith. Despite also being a terrific drive blocker, Jim was described by Redskins Offensive Line Coach Joe Bugel as being a 300-pound ballerina in football cleats. He was one of the very best ever in my opinion.
Jim now resides back in the Columbus area; father of five children and current broadcaster of Buckeye Football for 97.1 WBNS-AM/FM "The Fan", where he has been broadcasting for 16 years. Jim's terrific football playing experience paired with his extensive college football broadcasting experience make him an ideal feature personality for Time and Change. He certainly knows the landscape, past and present.
I had the opportunity to speak with Jim recently and like many of our Time and Change columns, we began discussing changes that have occurred in college football since his playing days in the 80s.
"Certainly, the size of the players has changed and the speed of game is faster," Lachey said. When I played, I weighed 265lbs and today, they probably wouldn't even recruit an offensive lineman at 265. Today kids are more developed, they have a year-round program. I think we were ridden a little bit harder and the new NCAA rules, like the 20-hour rule, are probably there because of what they did to us.
"One other change I see in college football is the growth in TV dollars, the internet and social media. When I played, you knew that once you entered the WHAC (Woody Hayes Athletic Center), you had to be at 120-percent for three to four hours. Once you left the WHAC you could be a kid again. Today, it's 24/7 for these kids. We were student athletes. Today it seems like they're athlete students."
Lachey was a 1984 All-Big Ten and 1st team All-American offensive guard for the Buckeyes. He was the first round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers, he was voted to three Pro Bowls, played in the 1991 Superbowl with the Washington Redskins. He was named as one of the 70 greatest Redskins ever and may one day be voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Recognizing all these accomplishments and experiences, I asked Jim what was the greatest experience of them all and he didn't hesitate with his response.
"I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to play in those Ohio State-Michigan games," Lachey said. "The fans and the intensity of the game were incredible. I later found out, that if I could apply that same level of intensity from the Ohio State/Michigan game to the rest of my life; I would be great in life.
"When I played in the NFL, there were a lot of guys who had great experiences and who thought had played in big games, but they had played in NOTHING like the Ohio State-Michigan Game."
Jim and I had some laughs shared some great stories about past times and mutual coaches we had like Bill Myles, Glenn Mason, and Alex Gibbs. We laughed about the saying, 'The older you get, the better you were.'
One thought we shared was the fact that as the older we get, we seem to become prouder and prouder of The Ohio State University. I told Jim how proud I was hearing of the new brain surgery innovations being developed at the Wexner Medical Center and how I get a lump in my throat watching The Best Damn Band in the Land or watching Aaron Craft make tough plays, time after time, in yet another Buckeye Basketball victory.
Jim provided some good commentary on that pride that we share for Ohio State, just as a great Buckeye Sports broadcaster could do.
"You know, when we played, we didn't have time to experience all the great elements and people at Ohio State, " Lachey said. "We had practice, meetings and our studies and not much time for anything else. As I have gotten older, I have had the chance to experience much more of what the University has to offer; all the great people, great buildings, a world class hospital, the great business school, the unions and departments like automotive research.
"Like, Woody Hayes said in his book 'You Win with People'. Ohio State has greater people, better people, genuine people, "
Some things will never change.
Originally published April 8th, 2013
