Comments on: Austin Spitler’s Moment

By: Preston Dilley

Preston Dilley — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 07:22:33 +0000

Very well written article, and I love Srecko’s comment… They both really touched me. I grew up with Austin, in little old Bellbrook, Ohio. Played pee wee football together, little league baseball, graduated from high school, off to OSU he went to truly start his football career, and now a Miami Dolphin. I could not be more proud of the guy, and the author, as Srecko said, really nailed it. Although Austin, and many others, didn’t play 3 or 4 solid years he was one hell of a player and probably would have and could have started at almost any other program in the country. His experience really opened my eyes to the hard work EVERYONE in the program puts in, and honestly made me what I consider to be a much more understanding Buckeye fan. I appreciate everyone of them because I saw upclose the tremendous amount of work Austin and so many others in a similar situation go through to be a Buckeye football player. That’s what makes me so proud of Austin, he could have transfered or given up, but he bleeds scarlet and grey and believed in himself. Oh, and off the field he’s always been a class act. Well done Austin, Srecko and Hare, and everyone else who wore the scarlet and grey on saturday, you were apart of the greatest football fraternity in the world. From a Buckeye fan who truly understands what it means to be a Buckeye football player, thank you. GO BUCKS!!

By: Srecko Zizakovic

Srecko Zizakovic — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 06:01:25 +0000

I was just checking the internet for any old OSU pictures of myself (they don’t exist from the pre-internet era) and came across your article. Nicely written, I must say. It’s even nicer to actually be remembered. What I can tell you 21 years after is that you’ve nailed it on the head. Each and every guy that wore the Scarlet and Gray has at least one of those “Austin Spitler” moments and I can think of at least a dozen walk-ons whose faces I’ll never forget when I remember their first play as a Buckeye, even if it may have been their only play. There’s NOTHING like it. Whether you were on the 4-6-1 team that I was on in 1988 or on the 14-0 National Championship team, we’re all brothers in the world’s greatest fraternity. We should never forget how the Buckeye experience continues to influence those around us on a daily basis to do the right thing. As Woody used to say, “You can never pay back those who have helped you along the way. You can only pay forward.” My hat’s off to all the guys who never had a story ever written about them but walked on for 4 years, busted their butts and continue to be positive role models in their communities each and every day. Good on you, Austin.

Always……… GO BUCKS!

By: The Buckeye Battle Cry | Way Too Early Look: Linebackers (updated)

The Buckeye Battle Cry | Way Too Early Look: Linebackers (updated) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:50:26 +0000

[...] a solid performer for the Buckeyes last season (38 tackles, 5 tfl, 1 sack), and he did have some great moments, but there are several players waiting in the wings to take his place, and if there is any drop off [...]

By: dan

dan — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:46:55 +0000

Many of us would give a left nut to even have had a single moment like that in our lives.

Be proud Austin!

By: Brian Fantana

Brian Fantana — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:15:11 +0000

I don’t know where you got the notion that a walk-on offensive lineman with a national championship ring wouldn’t get a hero’s welcome.

By: Dave N

Dave N — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:42:59 +0000

Great post. I had completely no idea that it was him on the punt debacle in the LSU game. Glad he worked hard enough to get back up on the depth chart and have a great senior season.

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:12:26 +0000

Very good knitting of a couple threads with this article. I can only imagine the camraderie of teammates after several years of common experiences and goals. Nice expression of college/campus experience, and the often lifelong bonds that it forges. Good storyline of a dedicated teammate, not the most athletic, but certainly driven to be part of something. At the end of a fairly obscure collegiate “career”, finally is called on to take center stage and utter his lines.

By: matt in cleveland

matt in cleveland — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:40:38 +0000

nice well wrote well done.