Snubbed by Canton: These Buckeyes Are in Our Hall of Fame as Well as Our Hearts

Great players have come and gone at the Ohio State University—many have gone on to have celebrated careers in the National Football League.

I am surprised that so many have had stellar careers in pro football but for some reason most have not yet been recognized as Hall of Famers.

The numbers don't lie.  Many have had stats and awards that merit consideration for induction into Canton's Pro Football Hall of Fame.

There is a wonderful site that many are familiar with: www.pro-football-reference.com . 

Please visit the site and compare the stats of some of your favorite Buckeyes with those of their contemporaries that have been inducted into Canton's Hall of Fame.  You might be surprised. 

Cris Carter: 8-Time Pro Bowler and 2-Time First-Team All-Pro

Cris Carter certainly made his mark on pro football.  His not going in on the first ballot is absurd.  How can any voter possibly justify that?

I won't say too much but his body of work is like no other.  Cris belongs in Canton now!

Chris Spielman: 4-Time Pro Bowler and 1-Time First-Team All-Pro

Chris Spielman was not the biggest linebacker; Chris Spielman was not the fastest linebacker.  However, no one can question the size of his heart.  It's as big as the Horseshoe?  Chris left it all on the field.

I don't want to take anything away from current members in the Hall of Fame but Andre Tippett and Mike Singletary are in the Hall and deservedly so.  Their contemporary, Chris Spielman, also belongs in Canton. 

Let's make some noise Buckeye Nation!

Jack Tatum: 3-Time Pro Bowler

Jack Tatum is the hardest-hitting safety to ever play professional football.  Argue if you'd like, but don't tell me anything about Ronnie Lott or anybody else!  Jack was it!  He was one bad hombre.

I can show you video of Ronnie Lott being run over by Eric Dickerson.  No one—and I mean no one—ran over Jack Tatum.

Jack came to the Buckeyes a prized running back out of Passaic, NJ, but assistant coach Lou Hotz was discerning enough to know he was too mean to waste on offense. 

The rest is history! 

Randy Gradishar: 7-Time Pro Bowler and 2-Time First-Team All-Pro

Randy Gradishar is another Buckeye overlooked in Canton. It's strange that Gradishar and Chris Spielman both grew up in the metro Canton/Youngstown area but have not found their ways into the Hall of Fame quite yet.

Hopefully, it will happen soon.  Buckeye Nation, let someone know how you feel about that. 

Eddie George: 4-Time Pro Bowler and 1-Time First-Team All-Pro

Eddie George made his mark on the NFL, just ask Ray Lewis.  He was a bruising 6'3", 240-pound running back with speed, agility and determination. 

He enjoyed superstar status playing alongside Steve McNair.  George was a real credit to the league and to this day is a classy ambassador for the NFL.

Eddie belongs in Canton and he'll get there one day—Hopefully.

Jim Houston: 4-time Pro Bowler

Jim Houston was one of the great linebackers of his era.  Sam Huff didn't have much on Jim.  He is forever loved by the Buckeye faithful.

Why is his bust not in Canton?

Joey Galloway: Ok, Maybe a Little Bit of a Stretch

Joey Galloway possesses stellar statistics for his time in the NFL.  I know, he hasn't been away from the league for five years but one could argue in his behalf.

He has almost 11,000 receiving yards over a lengthy NFL career.  He was speed personified and demanded a double-team through much of his career. 

He was a wide receiver that didn't mind going over the middle.

Get this.  His NFL stats are better than Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.  Both are in the Hall of Fame.  Maybe he'll go in when he becomes eligible for entry.

Buckeye fans can only hope.

Dick Schafrath: 6-time Pro Bowler & 4-time First-Team All-Pro

This is probably the greatest snub of all.  How in the world is Dick Schafrath not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  He was a beast of a tackle, "pulling" in front of Brown and Kelly along with Hickerson and Wooten.

The guy is from Canton, Ohio and he has been excluded—a travesty.  That other tackle from Canton, Ohio, Dan Dierdorf from "the scum school up North" is in the Hall.  What are the voters thinking?  Let this man in. 

He belongs.  I demand it!  

Jim Lachey: 3-Time Pro Bowler and 3-Time First-Team All-Pro

I know.  You didn't know Jim Lachey wasn't in the Hall of Fame.  Ridiculous, right?

The former "hog" has yet to be voted in.  Crazy!  Just ask the defensive lineman that prepared to face him how good he was.

Better yet, ask his former teammate and ESPN analyst Mark May.  I'm sure he'll provide a fair analysis.

Robert Smith: 2-time Pro Bowler

Robert Smith was for a short period one of the most electrifying running backs in the NFL.  As talented as he was, he proved to even more intelligent.

Professional football wreaks havoc on the body.  Robert Smith walked away from the game in his prime.  He had just finished his best rushing season in 2000; he is the all-time leading rusher of the Minnesota Vikings to date.

I will always admire and respect him for making the decision he made.  He left the game relatively healthy.

Compare his stats to Gale Sayers, who is in the Hall.  Robert hasn't been considered.