Worden, Dirk

Dirk Worden – (1991)

 

DIRK WORDEN

During the long and illustrious coaching career of W. Woody Hayes at Ohio State University, there was no greater honor than to be captain or the most valuable player of one of Woody’s teams. Thus, it was that twin distinction that was bestowed upon Clearview High School graduate Dirk Worden, the co-captain of the unbeaten 1968 Buckeye juggernaut with tackle Dave Foley. Although injury-hampered in his senior season, interior linebacker Worden, who lettered three years (1966-68) for Hayes, earned the respect of his peers, and then some, during the Bucks’ 6-3 season during his junior season of 1967.

The team voted him their “MVP.” Dirk wound up as team tackling leader, and, according to Hayes, he was instrumental in firing up the Bucks after they had lost three games and many “downtown quarterbacks” in Columbus had written them off.

The blond 6’0″, 196-pound bomber typified that campaign and morale rally on Nov. 18, 1967 when he was involved in 22 tackles, 15 solo, in the Buckeyes’ victory over Iowa. It helped earn him Associated Press Midwest Lineman of the Week honors, and later second-team All-Big 10 plus All-American accord in several publications, including the New York Daily News. “Dirk’s job of diagnosing and tackling against Iowa was the best individual effort since I’ve been at Ohio State,” said defensive coordinator Lou McCullough at the time. “I don’t even recall Ike Kelley (of OSU and Philadelphia Eagles’ fame) making that many tackles when he was here.” Worden also contributed at timely intervals during that fabulous 1968 season that saw the “Men of Hayes” gain Big 10 and Rose Bowl titles, as well as the coveted National championship. They scored 323 points, including 27 over previously unbeaten and second-ranked Southern California (16) in the Rose Bowl. It was the most points the Bucks scored in a season since 1942. Other springboards to that 1968 national title were the 13-0 victory over No.1-ranked Purdue, the 31-24 triumph over Illinois after trailing 24-0, and the 50-14 rout of traditional rival Michigan.

Speaking to a large throng at the Cleveland OSU Alumni dinner after the 1967 season had concluded, Hayes said: “Dirk is the kind of rugged player who’s really hard to notice — that’s because he’s usually at the bottom of the pile (after making a tackle).” Earlier in his career, Dirk played three years as an offensive end and linebacker under Coach Bob Mosketti at Clearview, graduating in 1964. He also played basketball for the Blue and Gold, but the gridiron was his first love. “We knew at the time that Dirk would become a major college talent,” said Mosketti, who later coached Mansfield Madison’s Rams and Hamilton (O.) High’s Big Blue. “He was a vicious tackler in high school. Dirk was also our co-captain, our Most Valuable Player and All-Lakeland Conference and All-Class A District in football. During the 1964-65 school year, Worden beefed himself up from his modest high school playing weight of 160 by attending Greenbrier Military School. He also gained honors as an all-conference end there.

Worden is the son of the late Lorain Sports Hall of Famer Jim Worden Sr. His brother, Jim Jr., also excelled as an end for Clearview, Wittenberg U. and the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian League.

*WELCOME DIRK WORDEN TO THE LORAIN SPORTS HALL OF FAME*