When the Columbus Destroyers play at Nationwide Arena tonight, it will be the first home game for the expansion franchise. But it will not be the first game in Ohio’s capital for their head coach, Earle Bruce.
Bruce, who also serves as general manager of the Destroyers, led his new team to a victory in its inaugural game, defeating the Indiana Firebirds 54-48 Saturday. But tonight’s game will represent the Hall of Fame coach’s return to the city in which he began his career.
Though the stadium is smaller and the field is shorter, Bruce, who was head coach at Ohio State for eight years, said coaching football in Columbus still has the same pressure to win.
“It was great playing on the road,” Bruce said. “But we’re looking forward to playing (in front of) a full house at Nationwide Arena – at our home.”
Despite the pressure, he has confidence in his players.
“It’s good to coach because you’re always surprised about how well a guy plays – how well a guy rises to the occasion. That’s what I’m looking forward to. That’s the fun of coaching – to see a kid play above himself,” Bruce said.
Football brought Bruce to Columbus for the first time in more than 50 years ago. The Cumberland, Md., native was a running back at OSU until 1951, when a torn meniscus in his knee ended his playing career. Though he never played football again, Bruce’s life in football was far from over.
Then first-year head coach Woody Hayes asked Bruce to be an assistant for him, and Bruce accepted, remaining on the staff until graduating in 1953.
While Hayes went on to lead his Buckeyes to the national championship the following year, Bruce went on to become a successful head coach at the high school and collegiate levels.
When Hayes was fired after the 1978 season, Bruce was brought in to succeed his mentor at his alma mater.
In his nine years at OSU, Bruce led his teams to four Big Ten Championships and was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1980.
Bruce’s career ended unceremoniously with a mid-Michigan-week firing in 1987. But his final game as head coach was an upset victory over the Wolverines in Ann Arbor after which his players carried him off the field on their shoulders.
Bruce is not the only member of the Destroyers coaching staff returning to Columbus after making his name as a Buckeye.
Jim Lachey, a former Buckeye offensive lineman who played for Bruce from 1981-84 and earned All-American honors during his senior season, is coach of the offensive and defensive lines for the Destroyers.
Lachey described his former coach as a great motivator and praised his adaptability. He expects his old coach’s style of football to translate well from college football to the Arena Football League.
“He’ll have a tough defense that will really step up and hit you in the mouth,” Lachey said. “He’ll put a big emphasis on special teams. He’ll probably have a great kicker, and then on offense, he will find a way to beat you – whether it’s eleven-man line-up and run it at you, or here in Arena where you mix it up trying to get your playmakers the ball as much as possible.”
Now in his sixth decade of coaching, Bruce’s influence continues to spread. Destroyers offensive specialist Jarrail Jackson, in his second AFL season, spends his off-seasons coaching eighth-grade football in Norman, Okla.
Jackson said Bruce reminds him of his high school coach and credits Bruce with teaching him the importance of practice.
“You’ve got to show (your ability and effort) on the practice field,” Jackson said. “I need to take that with me because when I coach I know what players can do in a game, but I need to see it in practice.”
For his part, Bruce is looking forward to getting the home slate started.
“We’re going to enjoy this job because arena football is fun,” Bruce said. “I would expect every player is going to play really hard and give great effort in front of that crowd because this is our home.”
