Ohio State Buckeyes

Item Description

JUST ADDED! This Nike football was hand-signed by Luke Fickell on December 12, 2011 in Columbus, Ohio. 

On May 30, 2011, Luke Fickell was promoted to the position of head coach of the Ohio State football team. The team's former assistant head coach, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach became the 23rd head coach in 121 years of Buckeye football.  Fickell is only the fifth Ohio State head coach in the last 60 years, after Woody Hayes (28 seasons; 1951-78), Earle Bruce (nine seasons; 1979-87), John Cooper (13 seasons; 1988-2000) and Jim Tressel (10 seasons; 2001-10).

The 2011 season was Fickell's 10th on the Ohio State football staff.  Prior to Fickell's appointment to head coach he was named the 2010 National Assistant Coach of the Year by the AFCA and was promoted to assistant head coach in March 2011.

Fickell is a Columbus native (DeSales High School, where he was a state wrestling champion) and a 1997 graduate of Ohio State where he earned his degree in exercise science.  Fickell was a standout member of the defensive unit during his collegiate years at Ohio State where he was a four-year starter and made a school-record 50 consecutive starts at the nose guard position from 1993-1996, including two Big Ten championship teams and four bowl games.

Fickell concluded his Ohio State career with 212 total tackles, including 26 tackles-for-loss and six sacks. During his four years in the starting lineup, the Buckeyes posted a combined record of 41-8-1 overall and were 26-5-1 in Big Ten play with a pair of Big Ten co-championships to their credit. With the win over Arizona State in the Rose Bowl, the Buckeyes finished the 1996 season with a sparkling 11-1 record and were second in both major polls in the final rankings.

Post-graduation, Fickell spent a year on the injured reserve list with the New Orleans Saints before beginning his coaching career.  

Item Special Note

Winning bidder may choose to pick up the item or have it shipped.  Winner will be contacted after the auction closes to make arrangements.

PICK-UP:  Item can be picked up at the Jerome Schottenstein Center administrative offices (555 Borror Drive, Columbus, OH 43210) during regular business hours.

SHIPPING:  Bidder is responsible for shipping and handling fees, which will be added to the winning bid amount. Items will be shipped via UPS and billed at standard industry rates.