In many ways, it seems as if first-year head coach Luke
Fickell’s rise to the head of the Ohio State football program
was preordained.
The Columbus native rewrote the defensive record book
at Ohio State, starting 50 straight games from 1993-96 at nose...
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In many ways, it seems as if first-year head coach Luke
Fickell’s rise to the head of the Ohio State football program
was preordained.
The Columbus native rewrote the defensive record book
at Ohio State, starting 50 straight games from 1993-96 at nose
tackle and making 212 tackles.
The toughness he boasted
became the stuff of legend among his teammates when he
played in Ohio State’s 1997 Rose Bowl victory with a torn
pectoral muscle.
“Luke was just as gritty and played just as hard as anyone
on the field,” said Stanley Jackson, who was Ohio State’s
starting quarterback in 1996.
“I’m not surprised (he has
become the head coach).
I think most guys who played nose
guard in the trenches that were a little undersized, had a big
heart – whatever they set their minds out to do in life after
football, they’re usually fairly successful.
”
After a brief NFL career that was cut short by injury,
Fickell returned to the program as a graduate assistant in
1999 before tak
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