Hello fans. It`s time for this week’s edition of “Inside the Huddle.”What a weekend in college football. I don’t think many people thought that Nebraska would lose to Texas A&M or that Tennessee would crush Georgia 22-3, but fortunately we took care of business and beat Illinois 41-0. Once again I was impressed with the play of our defense.It seems like every week a different player steps up and makes big plays for us. And what about Joe Germaine?! It seems like every pass that he throws is right on the money. That might explain why he has about 300 Buckeye Leaves on his helmet. Some of you are saying “What’s on his helmet?” You heard me right: Buckeye Leaves.Buckeye Leaves are the stickers that we get on our helmets if we play well or make outstanding plays. Legendary coach Woody Hayes came up with the concept of the Buckeye Leaves in 1968. Coach Hayes wanted them to symbolize big plays and consistency, and according to Bill Myles, director of football operations for Ohio State, if you had 13 leaves on your helmet back in those days they would call you a tree. That’s because back then it was harder to earn these precious rewards from the coaching staff. I think Germaine had 13 after the first half in the West Virginia game. I’m not saying that they are easier to get these days (just take a look at my helmet on Saturday), but I do have a feeling over the years the criteria has changed for earning them. There is a complicated formula for earning leaves, but the only sure way to fill up your helmet with them is to make plays and win games (by the way, when an OSU team loses, no one gets any leaves for the week).When asked about Buckeye Leaves, Na`il Diggs puts it best: “I NEED SOME MORE!” That pretty much characterized everyone’s feelings when I asked them the same question. That’s where the little trick from players comes in. Yes, I know that in the locker room before a game everyone should be concentrating and focusing on the team we are about to play, but there have been incidents of Buckeye Leaf theft. I guess some guys look at it like this: “Will Andy really miss this one little leaf? He has about 4,000, so I’ll take just this one so I don’t have to run out on the field for the 5th game of the season with zero leaves.” Or guys will go to the equipment staff, the people who actually place the stickers on the game helmets on Friday nights, and beg them for more. I have even seen players ask teammates to give them some of their leaves.So I guess Buckeye Leaves mean a lot. They show that you’re out on the field playing well and making big plays. Buckeye Leaves are as much a tradition at OSU as Senior Tackle, Gold Pants, the Captains’ Breakfast, Buckeye Grove and TBDBITL.Really though, Buckeye Leaves are fun and they create friendly team competition. They give us all something to work for … and of course they make us proud.See ya’ at the gameKevin Griffin #42
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