The "Consistent" Engine of the 1957 Buckeyes

"Woody Hayes was a man of high standards and even higher volume. He didn't hand out compliments like candy, so when he called a player the 'most consistent' he’d ever seen, you knew that player was something special. Today, on his birthday, let's look at the man who became the backbone of Woody’s second National Title: Aurealius Thomas."

The Fact:

"During the legendary 1957 season, Aurealius Thomas was the definition of an 'Ironman.' In an era where players were moving toward specialization, Thomas was immovable. He averaged a staggering 57 minutes of playing time per game. Whether Ohio State had the ball or was digging in on defense, #63 was on the field. Woody Hayes famously remarked of his star guard: 'For consistent play on both offense and defense, there is no better guard in college football today.'"

The Twist:

"What makes that consistency even more impressive? Thomas was doing it while giving up 40 to 50 pounds to the men across from him. At just 202 pounds, he was often the smallest man in the trenches. He didn't rely on bulk; he relied on a 'wrestling-style' leverage and lateral quickness that left bigger opponents grasping at air. After an opening-loss to TCU, Thomas anchored a line that didn't lose another game all year, culminating in a Rose Bowl victory over Oregon."

The Legacy:

"Woody Hayes respected Thomas so much that he immediately hired him as an assistant coach after graduation. Thomas took those lessons of 'technique over size' to Columbus East High School, where he famously coached a perfect 9-0 team in 1964. He proved to a generation of Ohio athletes that being 'undersized' is just a mindset—if your technique is consistent, you're unbeatable."

Closing:

"Aurealius Thomas remains one of the greatest 'pound-for-pound' legends in Ohio State history. For more stories on the heroes of the Woody Hayes era, head over to https://www.google.com/search?q=PigskinDispatch.com."

The 1957 "Ironman" Stats