One More, Then Forever | By Jack Sawyer
As the lights dim on the football field, the sounds of the crowd fade into the background, and the weight of every moment that has led to this moment presses down on me. This is it. My final season. The last chapter of a journey that started as a young boy dreaming of playing for the Ohio State Buckeyes, watching the legendary players, and imagining what it would feel like to one day wear the scarlet and gray. Now, here I am, just one game away from bringing everything full circle.
As I stand in the locker room, gearing up for the final game of my Ohio State career, I can’t help but reflect on everything that has gotten me to this point. It feels like a lifetime ago that I was just a kid growing up in Ohio, watching my heroes and dreaming of being on the field with them. Now, I am the one who has worn the uniform, played in the biggest games, and been a part of a program that has meant so much to so many.
But before I get ahead of myself, I need to take a deep breath, soak in the moment, and realize that this is the culmination of everything I have worked for. This is my final opportunity to leave my mark on a program that has given me so much—Ohio State football.
A Dream Realized
It feels like just yesterday I was a kid, sitting on my couch, watching Ohio State football games with my family. I remember the excitement I felt every time I saw the Buckeyes take the field, imagining myself one day being out there with them. The thought of wearing that iconic scarlet and gray, running out of the tunnel, and hearing the roar of the crowd—it was always a distant dream. But that dream slowly turned into a goal, and that goal became my reality.
As a high school athlete, I had worked tirelessly to improve my craft. I wasn’t born with the natural talent that some players possess, but I had an unrelenting drive to be the best version of myself. I poured countless hours into the gym, honed my skills on the field, and studied the greats who came before me. I was determined to get a scholarship to play at the highest level, and when Ohio State came knocking, it felt like a dream come true.
I remember the moment when I committed to Ohio State like it was yesterday. The recruiting process was nerve-wracking, full of uncertainty and the pressure to make the right decision. But when I chose Ohio State, I knew I had made the right choice. I knew that the tradition, the winning culture, and the expectations would push me to be the best version of myself. I wasn’t just joining a football program—I was becoming part of something bigger, a legacy that would forever be ingrained in the history of college football.
The Road to Ohio State
Once I arrived in Columbus, I was immediately struck by the magnitude of what I had gotten myself into. Ohio State football is a machine—a powerhouse that is expected to compete for championships year in and year out. The pressure to perform is real, but it’s also what makes this program so special. Every day, I was surrounded by some of the best athletes in the country, and the competition was fierce. But rather than feeling intimidated, I was inspired. I knew that in order to succeed, I would need to give everything I had, every single day.
I had to earn my place on this team. No one was going to hand me anything, and that was exactly how I wanted it. From the very beginning, I knew I would have to work harder, push myself further, and fight every day to prove I belonged. The coaches pushed me to be the best version of myself, and my teammates held me to a standard that was second to none. The sacrifices we made, the long hours in the weight room, the endless hours of film study—it all paid off in the end.
I remember my first game as a freshman—standing in the tunnel, ready to run out onto the field for the first time as a Buckeye. The noise from the crowd was deafening, and the excitement was palpable. I was nervous, sure, but there was no greater feeling than hearing my name called as I ran out of that tunnel. The emotions of that moment will forever be etched in my mind.
The Journey to Glory
As the seasons went on, I found myself growing both as a player and as a person. College football has a way of teaching you life lessons that extend far beyond the field. It taught me about resilience, about overcoming adversity, and about the power of hard work and dedication. Each practice, each game, each challenge I faced was an opportunity to grow, and with each passing year, I felt myself becoming more and more confident in my abilities.
But with the growth came the pressure. At Ohio State, the expectations are always high. The fanbase expects nothing less than excellence, and the program demands championships. That pressure, while daunting at times, fueled me to be my best. I knew that I wasn’t just playing for myself—I was playing for every Buckeye who had come before me and for every fan who wore that scarlet and gray with pride.
The rivalry games were always the most intense. There’s nothing quite like the energy of an Ohio State-Michigan game, or the rush of playing in front of the home crowd at Ohio Stadium. The stakes were always high, and the games were always emotional. But there was something special about the sense of brotherhood that formed with my teammates. We all had one goal—to win—and we pushed each other to be the best version of ourselves every single day.
Through the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the goal was always the same: to win a national championship. It’s a goal that every Ohio State player shares when they commit to the program, and it’s a dream that every fan hopes for. But as much as I wanted that title, I knew that the journey itself was just as important as the destination.
The End is Near
As my final season approached, I found myself reflecting more and more on what this program has meant to me. The friendships I’ve built, the memories I’ve created, and the lessons I’ve learned will stay with me forever. This program has shaped me in ways I could never have imagined, and as much as I wanted to go out on top, I also wanted to savor every last moment.
The final season was both exhilarating and emotional. Each game felt like it could be the last, and I couldn’t help but appreciate the opportunity to step onto the field one more time. I knew that the time was coming to an end—my time as a player at Ohio State was coming to a close, and I had one final shot to leave my mark.
There were moments when I questioned whether I was ready to say goodbye to the game I had given so much of my life to. The sacrifices, the pain, the injuries—it all added up. But then I’d look around at my teammates, at the fans, at the stadium, and I’d realize that I wasn’t just playing for myself anymore. I was playing for the legacy of this program, for the countless players who had come before me, and for every Ohio State fan who had supported me along the way.
One Last Game
As we approach the final game of my Ohio State career, I feel a sense of gratitude for everything this program has given me. The cheers of the crowd, the adrenaline of the game, and the camaraderie with my teammates—these are the things that I will miss most. But I also know that this game is the culmination of everything I’ve worked for.
The final whistle will blow, and the journey will be over. It will be a bittersweet moment—one filled with pride for everything we’ve accomplished, but also with a sense of loss. It’s hard to imagine a world where I’m not putting on that scarlet jersey, running out onto the field with my teammates, and playing the game that I love. But no matter what happens, I know that my time at Ohio State will remain with me forever.
When the game is over, I will look back with pride. I will remember the wins, the losses, the challenges, and the triumphs. But most of all, I will remember the brotherhood that formed over the years and the incredible journey that led me to where I am today.
This is the end of a chapter, but it’s not the end of the story. The legacy of Ohio State football will live on, and while my playing days are coming to a close, I will always carry the lessons and memories with me.
One more game, then forever.
