On The Passing Of “The Assassin”
We can construct an interesting bricolage of all the memorable plays and players we’ve had in our program’s rich history. What made Tatum unique was that he, moreso than any other player in the program’s entire lore, was the embodiment of total mayhem on the field. Our more astute readers may argue that Tatum, a former running back from Passaic, New Jersey, honed his craft at Ohio State as a linebacker/safety type hybrid and truly became “The Assassin” with the Oakland Raiders. Regardless, he was our Assassin. He was the physical embodiment of the agony and hopelessness we hope to inflict on those that stand between the Buckeyes and greater glory. Unfortunately, that herculean image we have of him withered with age. He struggled with the severe side effects of diabetes for years following his retirement before dying of a heart attack on Tuesday.
A national champion and consensus All-American, Tatum was everything we as fans want from our former greats. We want them to live fulfilling lives and remember the university that served as an important springboard to success. That was Jack Tatum. The Ohio State football program frequently reached out to him and Tatum was happy, it seemed, to reach back and be involved. The diabetes that afflicted him served as cause for the Ohio-based Jack Tatum Fund for Youthful Diabetes and his involvement as co-chair of the Central Ohio Diabetes Association. There may be only one Archie Griffin, but we always ask for more Jack Tatums.
61 is just too young an age to shuffle off the mortal coil, but Tatum’s legacy does not end here. Tressel, who inaugurated the Jack Tatum Hit of the Week Award when he arrived at Ohio State, noted that Tatum, one of our greatest Buckeyes, is the first name you conjure when you think of Ohio State defense. My good friend Ben, still living in Columbus, told me that Chris Spielman said on his radio show that Tatum was his all-time favorite Buckeye. Recent graduate Malcolm Jenkins shared this tweet on how Tatum, who graduated from Ohio State almost 20 years before Jenkins was born, was an inspiration for the fellow New Jersey resident. All told, Jack Tatum will live forever in the hearts and minds of people born enthralled with Ohio State football. He leaves behind a wife and three children, but will never leave our consciousness. The longer his legacy passes on from generation to generation, the more he becomes a Paul Bunyan type figure. The tall tales of his gridiron success will become the source of inspiration for future Buckeye players and fans. He will always be “The Assassin”.
Written by: Vico |
Good stuff as always.
Thanks. Great write-up. Loved the ’69 Rosebowl.
I’m old enough to have seen Jack play at tOSU. He was my favorite Buckeye of all time. To this day, I have never seen anyone hit as hard as he did. Remember the famous hit by Marlon Kerner vs Auburn? BAH! that was an every game occurance at the end of the 60s. Jack just exploded through tackles. It always looked like he was trying to tackle the person BEHIND the ball carrier. in 1969, Mike Phipps and LeRoy Keyes quit (kind of like LeBron) because they were hit so hard and so often. At one point, after a hit, Phipps asked to come out. He had ahd enough.
Rest in peace Jack.
That was Zach Dumas against Auburn. You can see the hit on youtube!
DOH! You’re right. As I was typing that, I was hurriedly trying to remember who it was. Thanks for the correction.