ESPN REPORT:  sad news, Woody Hayes is been fired due to….

Naturally, Woody Hayes surpassed Nick Saban as the greatest college football coach, a title that ESPN and the rest of the world conceded to him on Wednesday night when he announced his retirement from the University of Alabama.

Unexpectedly, after winning numerous national titles, Ohio State fired both Hayes (five) and Saban (seven).

Hugh Hindman, the athletic director of OSU, fired Hayes after the 1978 Gator Bowl loss to Clemson because Hayes had assaulted Charlie Bauman of Clemson after a game-winning interception.

After OSU defeated Navy 35–28 in the 1981 Liberty Bowl, Saban was fired.

Following that match, Dennis Fryzel, the defensive coordinator, was one of the three coaches removed from Earle Bruce’s defensive staff. Bruce had replaced Hayes.

Bruce claimed at the time that Saban said to him, “If Denny goes, I go, too.”

Although Bruce claimed he didn’t want to let Saban leave, he did. For two seasons, Saban oversaw the defensive line for the Buckeyes. Saban began his coaching career at Kent State as a graduate assistant. He also spent one season as Toledo’s head coach.

Inductions into the College Football Hall of Fame include Hayes, Bruce, and Saban, who, ironically, replaced Pete Carroll after the latter departed Ohio State to become head coach at North Carolina State. This week, Carroll announced his resignation as the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach.