Ohio State President Who Fired Woody Hayes Dies

[goasu984Life]

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Former Ohio State president Harold Enarson, who fired Woody Hayes after the football coach slugged an opposing player in a 1978 bowl game, has died. He was 87.
Enarson had been in good health until the past few months, said his wife of 64 years, Audrey. He died Friday in Port Townsend, Wash.
Enarson was Ohio State's president from September 1972 until September 1981. During his tenure, the university grew in enrollment and increased its hiring of women and minorities.
He presided over two universities during tumultuous times on American campuses and wrestled with anti-war demonstrations in addition to labor and fundraising problems. Still, he was forever linked to the downfall of Hayes, Ohio State's volatile and successful coach for 28 years.
With 1:59 left in the Buckeyes' Gator Bowl loss against Clemson on Dec. 29, 1978, middle guard Charlie Bauman intercepted a pass thrown by Ohio State quarterback Art Schlichter. Bauman ran out of bounds at the Ohio State bench. When Bauman got up after being tackled, Hayes hit him and had to be pulled away by Buckeyes players.
Enarson and then-Ohio State athletic director Hugh Hindman met late into the night and decided that Hayes would be relieved of his duties. Hindman went to Hayes' hotel room the next morning to tell him he was fired.
"I will forever be associated with the firing of Woody," Enarson told The Columbus Dispatch in 2001.
Speaking of his tenure for an oral history by the university in 2002, Enarson said he and Hindman agreed that Hayes had to be dismissed. Hayes refused to apologize for his behavior, and so he was given no opportunity to resign in lieu of being fired, Enarson said.
Enarson served two terms and more than 20 years as a director of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, before and after his years in Ohio.
Growing up poor in New Mexico during the Depression, Enarson enlisted in the Army right after Pearl Harbor, graduated from and worked for the University of New Mexico and also helped expand and revive Cleveland State University in seven years as the fledgling school's president.
In addition to his wife, Enarson is survived by three daughters.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2535251

[Go...gate]

Revisiting a sad episode. I remember watching that game and you knew that Woody had bought it. Years later, it was claimed that he had a diabetic "blackout" of some kind, which caused the act.

[griz37]

Woody Hayes was out of coaching before I was born, but he was Bo Schembechlers coach & mentor. After reading Bo's autobiography & hearing some great stories about Woody, I will always think of him in a positive manner. It really was an unfortunate incident that many people will remember a great coach for.

[WUTNDITWAA]

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Former Ohio State president Harold Enarson, who fired Woody Hayes after the football coach slugged an opposing player in a 1978 bowl game, has died. He was 87.
Enarson had been in good health until the past few months, said his wife of 64 years, Audrey. He died Friday in Port Townsend, Wash.
Enarson was Ohio State's president from September 1972 until September 1981. During his tenure, the university grew in enrollment and increased its hiring of women and minorities.
He presided over two universities during tumultuous times on American campuses and wrestled with anti-war demonstrations in addition to labor and fundraising problems. Still, he was forever linked to the downfall of Hayes, Ohio State's volatile and successful coach for 28 years.
With 1:59 left in the Buckeyes' Gator Bowl loss against Clemson on Dec. 29, 1978, middle guard Charlie Bauman intercepted a pass thrown by Ohio State quarterback Art Schlichter. Bauman ran out of bounds at the Ohio State bench. When Bauman got up after being tackled, Hayes hit him and had to be pulled away by Buckeyes players.
Enarson and then-Ohio State athletic director Hugh Hindman met late into the night and decided that Hayes would be relieved of his duties. Hindman went to Hayes' hotel room the next morning to tell him he was fired.
"I will forever be associated with the firing of Woody," Enarson told The Columbus Dispatch in 2001.
Speaking of his tenure for an oral history by the university in 2002, Enarson said he and Hindman agreed that Hayes had to be dismissed. Hayes refused to apologize for his behavior, and so he was given no opportunity to resign in lieu of being fired, Enarson said.
Enarson served two terms and more than 20 years as a director of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, before and after his years in Ohio.
Growing up poor in New Mexico during the Depression, Enarson enlisted in the Army right after Pearl Harbor, graduated from and worked for the University of New Mexico and also helped expand and revive Cleveland State University in seven years as the fledgling school's president.
In addition to his wife, Enarson is survived by three daughters.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2535251

Yeah, but on the bright side. Hayes got to knock down a Clemson player. :D

[bluehenbillk]

Great coach, just did some stupid things. However, as evidenced by the John Chaney episode, in today's world I doubt he gets fired.

[Go...gate]

The thing that I admired about Hayes was his concern for his players - that they graduate and make a positive impact in the world. He felt the kids had been given a great opportunity and they should make the most of it. He also fought segregation both within and without his university.