Saint Woody: The History and Fanaticism of Ohio State Football

by Bob Hunter

The Ohio State Buckeyes have been a powerhouse in college football for decades, with numerous national championships and NFL draftees to their credit. With such a successful history, it’s no wonder that the passion for Ohio State football has reached a level of devotion that has religious overtones. Saint Woody is a Bill Bryson–style look at Ohio State football and the spiritual fanaticism that surrounds it. Bob Hunter tracks the development of this powerhouse program from its earliest days to its heights under Woody Hayes, the de facto king of Ohio State football, and beyond.

Hayes led the team to three national championships and a record of 205–61–10 over a twenty-eight-year period and was at the heart of the Ten-Year War, a particularly intense period in the infamous Ohio State–Michigan rivalry. Hunter also looks at the present state of Buckeye football and the team’s scarlet-and-gray-clad followers, as well as its legion of detractors, who voted Ohio State as the “most hated” college team in a nationwide survey. America loves—and hates—a winner. Irreverent, honest, insightful, and always entertaining, Saint Woody will appeal to anyone whose spirit has ever lifted when hearing that famous cry “Go Bucks!”

Genres: Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

Reviews

[Roger Smitter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Books written to write great works about sports teams and especially for coaches give we readers many things. Saint Woody tells us the power of sports and especially. Offten we get to read about the work of the greatn coaches, especially in football.

As a grad of OSU in the 70’s, I took the book to provide some information about football in the long time of coaching of “Saint Woody.” The first half of the book gives the usual delivery of stories in sports. There’s some interesting pieces. But “Woody” is made to be a Saint Woody.

The depth is small in this book. The book misses the part of his career when Ohio State fired him in the middle of the football season after he attacked a play of the other team. Nothing.

[Troy Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do not be misled by the title. This is NOT a book about Woody Hayes. This is a book about Ohio State Football, of which Woody is maybe the most famous (if not important) figure.

A great read with lots of stories and facts that I (a 53yr old Ohio born and bred Buckeye fan) had never heard. Much more contemporary than I expected, written just as the Urban Era began.

[Kayla Tornello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a glimpse of what makes Ohio State football such a fan favorite. I liked that it gave background information from the very start of Ohio State football. There are so many fascinating stories from so many different coaches, players, and others. I grew up an hour away from Columbus, so I completely understand all the hype. I think this book will mostly appeal to Ohioans, or fans of college football in general.

[Andrew Welsh-Huggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having trouble figuring out what all the fuss is when it comes to Ohio State football? Read this book for the answers.