The Ohio State Varsity “O” Association announced that it will induct 12 new members into the OSU Athletics Hall of Fame at a press conference yesterday.
The class includes four women and eight men who are former athletes and coaches, highlighted by former football coach Earle Bruce. They will be officially presented to the public in Ohio Stadium on Sept. 11 during halftime of the Marshall game.
Vlade Janakievski, a kicker for the football team from 1977 to 1980, is thrilled to be inducted with this year’s group of new members.
“This is the greatest honor Ohio State has ever given me,” Janakievski said. “Being inducted the same year as coach Bruce is such a great honor, and it makes this so special.”
Janakievski was selected All-Big Ten twice, the first OSU kicker to be awarded such a distinction. He kicked 172 career extra points, second in the OSU record books. During his career, Janakievski kicked field goals in some of the biggest games in OSU history, such as the 1979 Rose Bowl which Ohio State lost to USC for the national championship.
“I think it will be more nerve-wrecking giving a speech in front of 100,000 people in Ohio Stadium,” Janakievski said.
Janakievski played for both Woody Hayes and Earle Bruce, and he reflected on the lessons learned from coach Hayes at the press conference.
“Woody was such a great guy, and he taught me a lot,” Janakievski said. “Now as I get older I start to appreciate what he did for us.”
Steve Myers, another former player under Hayes, was also excited and stunned to be ordained into the exclusive group of Hall of Famers.
“In my case, I was a little shocked,” Myers said.
Myers was a three-year starter at center from 1972 to 1974 until he broke his hand during his senior season. Because of the injury, Myers moved over one spot in the trench to finish the season at the guard position.
Myers excelled at both center and guard, and he was named All-American at both positions during his senior season in 1974.
Like Janakievski, Myers noted he also will be nervous when he stands in front of 100,000 Buckeye fans to be honored for his induction into the hall of fame.
“I’ll have butterflies,” Myers said. “I’ll be up there thinking about Woody with all of my former teammates.”
Voted Buckeye wrestler of the 20th century, Kevin Randleman certainly had the credentials to be named to the OSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
“I rank it as third on my list,” Randleman said. “It will be a rush to be in front of all those fans. I haven’t been to a football game for a while.”
Randleman wrestled for OSU from 1991 to 1993, and he dominated the 177-pound weight class winning two national championships in 1992 and 1993. With a record of 42-0-3 during the 1992 season, Randleman is only the second wrestler in OSU history to accomplish an undefeated season.
Along with Janakievski, Myers and Randleman, the OSU Varsity “O” Association also revealed that former OSU football coach Earle Bruce will also be inducted into the OSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Maria Giusti-Lugo (synchronized swimming), Jocelyn Jay (swimming), Averrill Roberts (women’s basketball), Vanessa Wouters (volleyball), Arnie Risen (men’s basketball), Paul Sarringhaus (football), Ty Tucker (tennis) and Blaine Wilson (gymnastics) are the remaining members of the 2004 hall of fame class.
