After the 2011 football season, Ohio State’s football program was in unfamiliar territory coming off their first losing season since 1988 under John Cooper in his initial season. Luke Fickell’s first season as the Buckeyes’ head coach took a similar route to Cooper’s. There was a lot of learning on the job, and some disappointing results along the way.
This led to a tough decision by Gene Smith. Fickell was let go after one season, and this started one of the most successful runs in Ohio State football history. The long sustained success of Jim Tressel with one national title, three national championship appearances, six Big Ten titles, and a long list of players with end of season accolades.