Ever wonder why a 1950s football star shared a name with a silver-screen cowboy? Honestly, if you grew up in Columbus or bleed scarlet and gray, the name "Hopalong" basically carries the same weight as Woody Hayes or Archie Griffin. But for everyone else, the Hopalong Cassidy Ohio State connection is this weird, wonderful collision of mid-century pop culture and gridiron greatness.
It’s not just about a nickname. It’s about a guy named Howard Cassady who didn't just play football—he electrified it.
The Freshman Who Hopped
Picture this: it’s 1952. Ohio State is playing Indiana. This skinny freshman from Columbus Central High walks onto the field. His name is Howard Cassady. Most people expected him to ride the bench. Instead, he comes off the sidelines and scores three touchdowns. Three. As a freshman.
The local sportswriters were losing their minds. One of them looked at the way Cassady bounced off tackles and zigzagged across the grass and said he "hopped all over the field like the performing cowboy."
At the time, William Boyd—better known as Hopalong Cassidy—was the biggest thing on TV. He wore black, rode a white horse named Topper, and was the moral compass for millions of kids. The name stuck instantly. From that afternoon on, Howard Cassady was "Hopalong." Or just "Hop" if you were lucky enough to know him.
Why the Nickname Mattered
You’ve gotta realize how huge the real Hopalong Cassidy was in the early '50s. William Boyd was actually born in Hendrysburg, Ohio, which makes the whole thing even more "Buckeye" than you’d think. Boyd had taken a fictional character from Clarence E. Mulford's books—who was originally a crude, swearing, drinking brawler—and turned him into a clean-cut hero who only drank sarsaparilla.
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When Howard Cassady inherited the name at Ohio State, it wasn't just about the "hop." It was about the image. Cassady was the ultimate "good guy" of the Woody Hayes era.
He wasn't big. Seriously. He was maybe 5'10" and weighed about 150 pounds when he started. But he was fast. And he was tough. He played both ways—offense and defense—back when men were basically expected to never leave the field. In 1955 alone, he played four full 60-minute games. No breaks. No oxygen tanks. Just pure grit.
The 1955 Heisman Run
If you’re looking for the peak of Hopalong Cassidy Ohio State history, you’re looking at 1955. That year, Hop didn't just win the Heisman Trophy; he absolutely crushed the voting. He won by the largest margin in the history of the award at that time.
- He rushed for 958 yards.
- He scored 15 touchdowns.
- He led the Buckeyes to a 7-2 record (following a 10-0 national championship season in '54).
- He was named the AP Athlete of the Year.
He was the guy everyone wanted to be. He even graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. It’s kind of funny looking back at those old photos—his helmet didn't even have a face mask half the time. He just had that determined look and those churning legs.
The Hollywood Connection
People often ask if the "real" Hoppy ever met the "football" Hoppy.
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The answer is a resounding yes. William Boyd, the actor, was actually quite proud of his Buckeye namesake. There are these great old black-and-white photos of the two of them together. Boyd usually had his signature silver hair and cowboy hat, while Cassady looked like a polite kid from the Midwest who happened to be able to outrun a Greyhound bus.
It’s one of those rare moments where a commercial brand and a sports legacy merged without it feeling like a marketing gimmick. It felt... well, it felt like Ohio.
Beyond the Horseshoe
After his time in Columbus, Cassady went on to the NFL. He was a first-round pick for the Detroit Lions and actually won an NFL Championship with them in 1957. He bounced around to the Browns and the Eagles, too.
But honestly? He was always a Buckeye first.
Later in life, he became a scout and a coach for the New York Yankees (he was close with George Steinbrenner, another guy with deep Ohio ties). Even when he was living in Florida, he’d talk about Columbus like he’d never left. When he passed away in 2019 at age 85, the outpouring of love from the Ohio State community was massive.
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What We Get Wrong About the Name
Sometimes people think he was named Cassidy and that’s why they called him Hopalong. Nope. His last name was Cassady with an "a." The cowboy was Cassidy with an "i."
It’s a tiny detail, but Buckeye purists will call you out on it every single time.
Also, don't make the mistake of thinking he was just a "speed guy." Woody Hayes didn't keep people on the field for 60 minutes just because they were fast. You had to hit. Cassady was one of the best defensive backs in the country. He’d knock your teeth out on one play and then sprint 60 yards for a touchdown on the next.
How to Experience the Legend Today
If you want to dive deeper into the Hopalong Cassidy Ohio State lore, you don't have to look far.
- Visit Ohio Stadium: Go to the North End. Look up. You’ll see number 40 retired. That’s him. It was retired in 2000, making him only the third Buckeye to ever get that honor.
- The Heritage Museum: The Belmont County Heritage Museum in St. Clairsville has a whole section on William Boyd (the actor). It’s a great way to see the "other" half of the name's history.
- Cambridge, Ohio: This was Boyd’s hometown. They have a "Hopalong Cassidy Trail" with a statue and a mural. It’s a bit of a drive from Columbus, but for a history buff, it’s a goldmine.
- The OSU Archives: If you’re really nerdy about it, the Ohio State University Libraries have some incredible collections regarding the 1954 and 1955 seasons. You can see the original playbooks and photos that aren't on the internet.
Basically, the next time you're at a tailgate and someone mentions "Hopalong," you've got the full story. He wasn't just a nickname. He was the engine of the early Woody Hayes dynasty and a bridge to an era of TV heroes.
Go check out those old highlight reels on YouTube. Even in grainy black and white, you can see the "hop." It’s unmistakable.