Relive the greatest moments in Ohio State Buckeyes history! For decades, the Ohio State University has been synonymous with football and basketball success. As the radio voice of the Buckeyes, author Paul Keels has had a front-row seat for it all. Now, he's sharing his unique perspective with you. If These Walls Could Talk: Ohio State Buckeyes delivers an insider's look at the program's unforgettable moments, the personalities that made them happen, and the traditions that bind them all together. Through Keels's personal anecdotes and conversations with legendary players and coaches, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for: The rivalries that define the Buckeyes' spirit - The championships that cemented their legacy - The coaching strategies that shaped their success For Ohio State fans, this is a must-read celebration of the scarlet and gray. Get ready to relive the glory days and discover untold stories from the heart of Buckeye Nation! Paul Keels is the radio play-by-play announcer for Ohio State University's football and men's basketball teams. He is a four-time NSSA Ohio Broadcaster of the Year and a member of the Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He is also the author of Tales from the Buckeye Championship Season . Zack Meisel is an award-winning journalist and Ohio State graduate who currently writes for The Athletic Cleveland. He is the author of The Ohio State Buckeyes Fans' Bucket List and 100 Things Indians Fans Should Know and Do Before they Die. If These Walls Could Talk: Ohio State Buckeyes Stories from the Ohio State Buckeyes Sideline, Locker Room, and Press Box By Paul Keels, Zack Meisel Triumph Books LLC Copyright © 2018 Paul Keels and Zack Meisel All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-62937-624-0 Contents Foreword by Thad Matta, Foreword by Jim Lachey, Introduction: 20 Years in the Making, 1. 1998 — An Eventful Rookie Year, 2. A Final Four Appearance No One Saw Coming, 3. A National Championship No One Saw Coming, 4. The Thad Five, 5. A Time for Transition, 6. Woody, Bo, and That Team Up North, 7. The Height of the Matta Era, 8. Cardale's Coming of Age and Slaying the SEC Dragon, 9. Thad Matta, 10. Keels' Favorite Players, 11. 20 Years in the Books, Acknowledgments, CHAPTER 1 1998 — An Eventful Rookie Year John Cooper had presided over the Ohio State football program for a decade when Paul Keels started his gig in Columbus in 1998. With Cooper at the helm, Keels (and broadcast partner Jim Lachey) had access to the team's closed practices, where he met coaches and former players, including two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 1 in the country to start the season. Cooper had recruited all-world talent at virtually every position on the field. They returned senior quarterback Joe Germaine. Linebacker Jerry Rudzinski and cornerback Antoine Winfield anchored the Silver Bullets on defense. Ohio State had been ranked in the top four at some point in each of the three previous seasons, but that maize-and-blue thorn in their side kept derailing things in late November. This was the year to put it all together, the first year of the BCS system. The Buckeyes were oozing talent on both sides of the ball. Cooper ran the program like a CEO. Keels can remember attending practices and hearing assistant coaches doing the yelling and the instructing. They were the loud ones, the intense ones. He can still hear Jon Tenuta, Tim Spencer, and Fred Pagac shouting today. Spencer, the running backs coach, looked like he could still carry the ball and evade some tackles. Meanwhile, Cooper wandered the field, hopping from position group to position group and making the occasional pit stop to talk to some visitors on the sideline. The Buckeyes began the season with a road game at West Virginia, a marquee matchup in Morgantown on a Saturday night in the first week of September. The Mountaineers, behind quarterback Marc Bulger — an eventual two-time Pro Bowler with the St. Louis Rams — and running back Amos Zereoue — who played for seven years in the NFL — owned the No. 11 ranking in the nation. Keels had traveled to Morgantown in the past, since Cincinnati played West Virginia on occasion. He drove to the campus for West Virginia's media day so he could familiarize himself with members of the Mountaineers' staff and roster. There, he interviewed a few players and head coach Don Nehlen. Keels and the rest of the broadcast crew drove to West Virginia early that Saturday afternoon for the opener. While Ohio State's players and coaches were focused on the pivotal game, Keels was wondering what it would be like to work with a different group of people on a grander stage. How would everything flow? Where would everyone be positioned? Would they be accommodating to him? Would it be a seamless transition? Producers were giving him hand signals and other directions that were a bit confusing, a bit different from what he was accustomed