Buckeye football legend and two-time Heisman winner to be honored with Rose Bowl statue

PASADENA, California (WCMH) — Ohio State football legend Archie Griffin, the only person to win the Heisman Trophy twice, will be celebrated with a statue at the Rose Bowl Stadium.

Griffin — who played running back for the Buckeyes in the 1970s — is just one of two players to start in four consecutive Rose Bowls in NCAA history. The two-time Heisman Trophy winner will be honored with a statue in the stadium’s Court of Champions as the 2024 college football season marks the 50th anniversary of Griffin’s first Heisman Trophy award, the Rose Bowl announced on Friday.

Columbus officers accused of stealing and selling ‘kilograms’ of cocaine

A “Legends Walk” will be created adjacent to the Court of Champions where Griffin’s trophy will be located. The new display will highlight and educate visitors on the 19 Heisman Trophy winners who have played in the Rose Bowl.

“I am humbled to have a statue in my honor at the Rose Bowl Stadium, one of the most prestigious stadiums in America. I feel blessed to have played in four Rose Bowl Games,” Griffin said in the announcement.

During his time with the Buckeyes, in addition to winning two Heisman Trophies, Griffin rushed for over 1,000 yards in three straight seasons. His career rushing total of 5,177 yards was an NCAA record at the time. Griffin was drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals after leaving college.

Walmart closing central Ohio store after falling short of ‘financial expectations’

Legendary Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes once gave Griffin the highest praise a player can receive.

“He is the greatest back I’ve ever seen,” the announcement attributes to Hayes. “We value Archie’s attitude more than his football ability.”

The statue, which is the first statue of Griffin to be built in the United States, will be sculpted by artist Brian Hanlon of Hanlon Sculpture Studios in Toms River, New Jersey. The Griffin family will offer key guidance as the statue is sculpted. A full-size replica of the statue will be gifted to the Athletic Department at Ohio State.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.