EDITOR’S NOTE: The Knox County Sports Hall of Fame inducted its inaugural class on Nov. 2, 2019 at the Knox County Historical Society. Seven local athletic legends made up the first class of inductees. Knox Pages reporter Grant Pepper helped research each inductee in preparation for the ceremony. This week, we will run stories based on that research. Pepper used resources like Newspapers.com, the world’s largest online newspaper archive, to collect statistics, quotes and anecdotes pertaining to each athlete.
One of the greatest Buckeyes ever to strap on a helmet and shoulder pads began his playing career right here in Mount Vernon.
Jim Stillwagon was a three-year starter under Woody Hayes in the late 1960s. The 6-foot, 220-pound defensive lineman was a two-time All-American, a two-time national champion, and the first recipient of the Lombardi Award, given annually to the best college football player in America, regardless of position.
The award is based on performance, as well as leadership, character, and resiliency. Those who knew Stillwagon said he possessed all of those qualities. Woody Hayes himself once said the following of his all-American lineman:
“If you ever saw Jim Stillwagon play football, you know he never had any second thoughts about whether he was doing the right thing or not. Football is a great sport because it’s played by great people like Jim Stillwagon.”
But before Stillwagon earned the praise of Hayes, the five-time national champion head coach, he was just a kid from Mount Vernon, looking to make a name for himself. As reported by the Coshocton Tribune in 1971, Stillwagon’s formal playing career began in elementary school, when he starred for Frank Mazza’s East Side Rams.
The team went 26-0, and Mazza nicknamed Stillwagon “The Horse” for his running and tackling abilities. Mazza told the Tribune that by the time Stillwagon reached sixth grade, he knew he was going to be an all-American one day.
Mazza was right. Stillwagon went on to have a marvelous high school career in Mount Vernon. He played football, basketball and baseball – before heading to Augusta Military Academy in Virginia to continue his football career.
He later signed with Ohio State, where he would lead the Buckeyes to three Big Ten championships in three seasons and a 27-2 record.
Stillwagon, albeit undersized as a defensive lineman, was described as physically unstoppable by opponents and coaches. He was frequently triple-teamed his senior year, and he still managed to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.
Buckeye defensive coordinator Lou McCullough called Stillwagon “the finest lineman I’ve ever coached.” Line coach Dave McClain said it was his work ethic, strength, and intelligence that allowed him to succeed, despite his size.
Stillwagon’s three seasons in Columbus were nothing short of historic. The Buckeyes gave up just 9 points per game in 1969 and 12 points per game in 1970.
His defense forced USC’s O.J. Simpson to fumble twice in the second half of the 1968 Rose Bowl, allowing Ohio State to emerge with a 27-16 victory in a 1 vs. 2 matchup that determined the national title.
Stillwagon made college football history in 1970 by becoming the first player to win the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award in the same year. He was also named “Lineman of the Year” by United Press International in his senior season.
Stillwagon took the accolades in stride, and often tried to downplay his excellence.
“My feeling is that if you do something, do it the best you can. I just tried my best and it paid off, I guess. I try not to think about what honors I might get. Coach (Woody Hayes) says that anything you work hard to get, you appreciate more. I owe all my honors to the coaches and the guys I played with.”
Despite his college dominance, Stillwagon was picked 124th by the Green Bay Packers in the 1971 NFL Draft. Many believed it was his size that deterred NFL scouts.
But Stillwagon pressed on, and instead chose to sign with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, where he would play for five seasons. Stillwagon was named a CFL all-star three times before his career was cut short due to injuries.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991. He is also a member of Ohio State’s Hall of Fame, and was named to the OSU Alumni Association’s all-time team, where he is part of a defensive line that includes Mike Vrabel, Bill Willis and Will Smith.
Stillwagon was a successful businessman and philanthropist in his professional life, and he maintained close relationships with those he met on and off the field. He passed away in 2018, at the age of 68, but his legacy will live on forever, as one of the finest football players – and people – to ever come out of Mount Vernon.
