ESPN REPORT: The apology of Woody Hayes of the woody watch was not accepted and He is suspended from….
Ohio State and Clemson square off in the Orange Bowl on Friday night. Since this is their second encounter together, the subject of their first meeting naturally comes up.
Punch.
In the 1978 Gator Bowl, Woody Hayes took one at Charlie Bauman. The nose guard for Clemson just broke up a pass to seal a 17–15 victory for the Tigers. It really was the shot that was heard around the globe.
Since Keith Jackson and Ara Parseghian were unable to determine what sparked the brawl on Ohio State’s sideline, it was not broadcast on ABC. Millions of people saw it, but because it was so bizarre, many of them were in disbelief.
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When Ohio State wide receiver Doug Donley returned to the bench, he questioned, “What happened?”
They told him that “Woody hit a guy.”
Donley remarked, “Well, what else is new?”
That was Woody’s World life. Slugging an opponent player, however, was too far even by Hayes’s belligerent standards. The following morning, the coach who led his team to three unanimous national titles was dismissed.
Hayes’s last deed cemented his reputation as a crazy coach. Though no one disputes what he did that evening, Hayes’s actions are unfairly perceived, according to many who knew him.
“I have nothing negative to say about Coach Hayes,” stated Bauman. “He committed an error. Everybody makes errors. He didn’t actually harm me in any way.
In 2008, Bauman told the Florida Times-Union that The Punch was celebrating its 30th anniversary. He has since turned down requests for interviews.
“Why can’t individuals just give it a rest?” Bauman enquired.
Because it remains one of the most unexpected, significant, and utterly strange events in the history of collegiate football. Fans of Ohio State who were not even born in 1978 are unable to let it go.
A few of them broke into Clemson University’s campus a few weeks back. They ascended onto Thomas Green Clemson’s monument and held up a sign in its hands:
