Ohio State Football - Central Ohio News

World War II, the most compelling event of the 20th century, certainly qualified as extraordinary circumstances. That conflict led college football to relax its war-time eligibility rules -- the NCAA allowed freshmen to be eligible as well as players who had previously been ineligible as freshmen.

This meant Horvath could return for one more campaign. But he wasn't alone. All-American guard Bill Hackett and tackle Warren Amling took advantage as well.

Horvath began his career in Columbus under coach Francis Schmidt in 1940, and was a standout on Paul Brown's 1942 national championship team. He didn't play in 1943, but the new ruling fostered an idea in rookie coach Carroll Widdoes, who asked Horvath to return for a final season.

Widdoes, Horvath's third OSU coach, agreed to work around his star's demanding, dental-school schedule. Obviously, the Buckeyes benefited immensely from that deal.

"At first I wasn't sure I wanted to play," Horvath said, just before his death in November 1995. "Dental school was quite taxing. But coach Widdoes said I wouldn't have to practice all the time and agreed to fly me to the games, both of which gave me more time to study."

Weighing only 167 pounds, the pride of Parma unleashed a fascinating blend of experience, savvy and sheer athletic ability to pace OSU to a perfect season in 1944. Widdoes was chosen coach of the year as OSU finished No. 2 behind Army and won the national civilian championship.

How did a team featuring five seniors, three juniors, five sophomores and 31 freshmen claim its second Big Nine crown in three years?

They simply followed their 24-year-old captain, who was a quarterback in the single-wing, a halfback and wingback in the T-formation and a sure tackler from his safety spot on defense. Mostly, however, he was a coach on the field.

He had some talent to work with, too. Tackle Bill Willis would be an All-American, as would Jack Dugger, Hackett and Horvath.

Fittingly, Horvath played the lead role in the Big Nine title-clincher against archrival Michigan. It was the first of many times the two teams would met in a season finale with the conference crown on the line. The Wolverines came in 5-1 in the Big Nine, while OSU was 5-0.

In a fascinating, seesaw affair played before 71,958, the Buckeyes survived a contest that included lead changes on all five scoring plays.

Michigan took a 7-6 edge on a score just before the half, but Horvath dominated the second half. His one-yard run in the third quarter gave the Buckeyes a 12-7 edge.

Yet with just over eight minutes to play, Ohio State trailed 14-12. A short kickoff gave the Buckeyes the ball at their own 48. Horvath drew his teammates in close for an impromptu pep talk.

"We are not going to pass. We are not going to fumble, We are not going to give up the ball," Horvath told his teammates. "We are going right in with a series of downs. Now, everyone block as he has never blocked before."

They did. The drive went 14 plays, all on the ground, for 52 yards. Once inside the five, the ever-modest Horvath called plays for his teammates to plow in for the clinching score, but OSU was thwarted each time.

"C'mon, Les, you take it in," they implored him.

He did just that. Horvath's 1-yard plunge with 3:18 remaining sealed the historic win. Horvath collected 104 yards on 33 carries and scored twice to complete the school's first perfect season (9-0 overall, 6-0 in the Big Nine) in 28 years.

Due to war-time travel restrictions, the conference denied the Bucks a Rose Bowl berth, but it didn't diminish Horvath's spectacular achievements.

He established a Big Nine record with 669 yards rushing (5.7 yards per carry) and 12 TDs. As a quarterback Horvath completed 14-of-32 passes for 344 yards passing and six touchdowns. He had 953 yards of total offense and racked up 1,248 all-purpose yards, scored 72 points, and played a total of 402 out of 540 possible minutes. Horvath wound up with 2,055 yards of total offense in his career.

He was selected the Big Nine's Most Valuable Player, and accepted Ohio State's first Heisman Trophy on Dec. 5, 1944. He was the first player to win that honor who hadn't competed the previous season.

Ohio State finished runner-up to Army in the national polls. Ironically, Horvath beat two Cadets for the Heisman. Fullback Felix "Doc" Blanchard, a Texas native, and halfback Glenn Davis, of California, were the vaunted Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside of Army's attack. The duo split their vote and Horvath won the award despite claiming just one region, the Midwest, in the voting.

After receiving his degree in dentistry in June 1945, Horvath entered the Navy and assisted his former Buckeye boss, Brown, with the Great Lakes Naval Training Station team. Horvath was a dental officer in the morning and assistant football coach in the afternoon.

Horvath continued coaching when he transferred to Hawaii in 1946. He led the U.S. Marines to the service championship in 1946.

Horvath played in the NFL with Los Angeles Rams in 1947 and 1948, when he finished third in the NFL in returning punts with 203 yards on 13 runbacks, an average of 15.6 yards. He finished his football playing career in 1949 with the Cleveland Browns.

After that, Horvath established his dental practice in Los Angeles. His hobby was golf and he coached Bantam Football 1970-72, winning the League Title for Glendale.

Horvath's life and career came full circle thanks to his college football exploits. He was born on Sept. 12, 1921, in South Bend, Ind. Horvath was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969, which is now located in the city of his berth.

Contact Phillips by e-mail at lbphillips@nncogannett.com or call (419) 521-7238.