Ken Fritz of Ironton in Buckeye Sports Bullentin

[RiverRatRay]

Former Ironton Fighting Tiger Ken Fritz is in an article about the 1978 Gator Bowl. Ole #56, the All Big Ten performer and a 1st Team All American had an up close view of what happened between Coach Hayes and the Clemson player at the end of the game.

[ballparent]

Here you go RRR, you can see OSU Buckeye # 56 Fritz right in the middle of it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmoIjMr1BZs

[henrysteele]

Ken Fritz talked for the first time EVER about the Gator Bowl incident in a book titled... "I Remember Woody" or "I Recall Woody". They have that book at the Huntington Mall's bookstore. The book is written in small chapters with stories from many of Woody's former players.

In the book, Fritz described an entirely different image of Woody's final game than what most writers have in the past. Kenny said that Woody took the fall for the Clemson player as the Clemson player was far from innocent that day. It's great reading and I'll save the rest for your eyes to see.

FYI: Ken Fritz was NOT cut by the Steelers. Kenny simply walked out of the Steelers' camp while stating that he had played enough football. The ironic thing is that the Steelers were decimated that football season with injuries along the offensive line.

[henrysteele]

Here is the book:

http://www.amazon.com/I-Remember-Woody- ... 1572436743


If you click on the word "(more)" in the book description, it will take you to the passage with Ken Fritz describing the infamous Gator Bowl incident.

BUY THE BOOK for the rest of that story!

[henrysteele]

Video clip of Gator Bowl incident:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEVJyf0ft3I

Please note that the Clemson player is facing the OSU players (and saying ???) before Coach Hayes grabs at him. Ken Fritz was wearing number 56 and was standing as close as anybody to the entire event.

Interestingly, Charlie Bauman later moved to the Buckeye state.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/s ... es1__.html