We Remember Woody: Champ Henson

In this week's installment of "We Remember Woody" we have the opportunity to visit with one of the true icons of the Woody Hayes-era at Ohio State with none other than Harold "Champ" Henson. Champ epitomized "three yards and a cloud of dust", the "Robust T" and the "Power I" which were all trademarks of Woody Hayes and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Henson played fullback for the Buckeyes from 1972-74 and led the nation in scoring as a sophomore in 1972. Knee injuries hampered his ability to play his junior and senior seasons but Henson was still drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 1975 and then played one season for the Cincinnati Bengals before returning to his roots in farming and managing Henson's Farms in Ashville (Ohio).

As Champ and I reminisced, he jumped right in with his thoughts and perspectives on Woody.

The Old Man's personality represented such a broad spectrum from the most worthless tyrant to the most benevolent grandfather and you might get them both the same day.

When I started at OSU, being the Ohio State Fullback was like being the fullback of America. The Ohio State offense revolved around the fullback position until Archie came in and then there was a transition to the tailback. You know, being the fullback and being next to Woody on every play in practice was really intense.

So I go through my freshman year, which was the last year when freshman were ineligible to play, and Woody is on me like a wet pair of shorts. I progress into my sophomore year and I am the low man on the totem pole. I am the whipping boy. I'm the one getting kicked in the butt and I'm the one getting the left hooks to the solar plexus when I made a mistake. But I keep working and working and I finally move up to number two on the depth chart.

Henson went on to recall a conversation he had with Woody Hayes just days before a big game against the Hawkeyes.

Now it's the Thursday night before the first game against Iowa and Woody comes in to my room and tells me he wants to talk for a minute. He tells me, 'Champ, you've worked really hard and I've been really tough on you, but now it is all coming together. (On) Saturday, you're going to play a lot and I expect you to be at your very best. Now, why don't you call and tell your mom and dad, I think they'll get a big kick out of it.'

The next day on the very first play of the game I fumble the ball on our own 20-yard line on my very first carry in Ohio Stadium. The very next play either Randy Gradishar or Rick Middleton forces a fumble and we are going back the other way. So before Woody can rip my ass, I'm back on the field in the huddle and do you know Woody came back with the very same play. I run for 14 yards and a first down and the rest is history. I ran for two touchdowns and we beat Iowa 21 - 0.

You know, there was a method to his madness, although I'm still figuring some of it out today after all these years.

Henson went on to recall another story from the more personal side of Woody during two-a-days sometime between training table and meetings.

Woody pulled me aside and said, 'Champ, I just talked to your dad and your mom has been admitted to Grant hospital. You don't need to be in these meetings or practice, you know this stuff as good as anybody. You need to go and see your mom.'

Then he said, 'Here, take my car' (handing over the keys to his Ranchero pickup truck). Then Woody said, 'My truck needs gas' and he gave me a twenty-dollar bill. He said, 'put gas in my truck and oh, by the way, there's a nice little gift shop in the hospital, make sure you get something nice for your mom.'

So I go to put gas in Woody's truck and the tank is totally full. That was just his way of slipping me twenty dollars so I could get something for my mom. So I go see my mom and it's nothing life threatening, but she is going to need to be in the hospital for four to five days.

I then go back to and explain the situation to Woody and I hand him the twenty-dollar bill and tell him his truck didn't need any gas. 'Yes it did!', Woody said curtly. I told coach the tank was full! Woody said, 'You're wrong,' and turned and walked away.

Now, as Champ is telling me this, he is trying to choke back the tears again.

The next morning at 7:00 a.m., Anne Hayes (Woody's wife) showed up at our family farm and my dad says, 'Anne, what are you doing here?' To which she replied, 'You can't run a farm without a woman and I'm here to help.' My dad politely says, 'Anne, we don't really need any help, we'll get by', when Anne interrupts him and says, 'You damned fool, get out of the way and what do you want for breakfast?'

That was typical Anne Hayes. So, she stayed for three days ad made sure they were fed and that my brothers got off to school on time.

You know, we lived 30 miles away from Columbus and that was a story I'll never forget.

These were the types of things that Woody did all the time for people that the public never saw. And quite frankly, he didn't want people to see them. It was always about paying forward, never about paying any attention to him, what so ever.

When Champ and I finished our discussion he thanked me and told me how honored he was to be included in these articles with other players such as Archie Griffin, Paul Warfield, Randy Gradishar and Doug Donley. The honor is all ours Champ.

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