| 29 January 2012
We've looked at Dennis Hopson's famed 1986-87 senior season, one in which he ended third in voting for National Player of the Year - an honor required by The Ohio State University before being given consideration to having your number retired. We've looked at the 1986-87 season of David Robinson, the man who won the award that year. We've compared and contrasted Hop's senior season to the college basketball greats of his era and seen him come out near the top in every angle you can view it from. We've also taken a look at how Ohio State and other institutions chose to honor special athletes that come through their programs over the years.
You've now heard plenty on the topic from us here at Buckeye House Call, but we also wanted to present to you the angle from within. The opportunity to see the situation from the inside rather than simple opinions from the outside looking in, so we went straight to the man himself:
Dennis Hopson
This is the fifth of a five-part series documenting the Ohio State career of Mr. Dennis Hopson - and why we should never again see a #32 in Scarlet and Gray.
BHC: I've heard you mention before that you're now far removed from Ohio State and the basketball program. Do you ever get a chance to catch games, and what are your thoughts on the state of the program?
Dennis Hopson: I watch Ohio State on TV every chance I get. I'm proud of the school and it may always be a "football school" but I'm proud that the basketball program is putting themselves on the map nationally.
BHC: As you look back on your own OSU career, what are your fondest memories of your 4 years in Columbus?
Dennis Hopson: Just getting to know and play with so many great people. When you're young and in high school you just know the people in your own neighborhood and it's always the same people. But in college you meet people from different cities and different states and it was just a great experience. I remember Jay Burson was from New Concord, Ohio and before I met him when I was a junior I had know idea a New Concord, Ohio even existed.
I picked Ohio State and they were great to me and for me. My first three years I got to play for coach Eldon Miller and he brought me along slowly before I broke out a little bit my junior year. Then coach (Gary) Williams took over my senior year and he just let me be who I was and it was a blessing.
BHC: What's your favorite memory or memories of your own 1986-87 season?
Dennis Hopson: Beating Kentucky down in Atlanta in the NCAA tournament. I still talk to Rex Chapman and and to this day he tells me he still hasn't gotten over it. The other would have to be scoring 36 points in Iowa City when we knocked off the number-one Hawkeyes. They were undefeated at the time. Those have to be my two favorite memories of my senior year.
BHC: What do remember about your thoughts on David Robinson during your senior season, if any?
Dennis Hopson: He was so skilled for a big man. He was a 7-footer and there just weren't that many back then. He could move, he was a lefty, and he was smart, quick, a quick jumper, and could block shots, score and get his own shot on the offensive end. I actually got to know him after spending a few days with him at the Player of the Year banquet and he was a great, great person.
BHC: What did it mean to you to win the Big Ten Player of the Year?
Dennis Hopson: I was honored. I don't think you went to college back then thinking about going pro like they do today. You went to college to get an education and play sports if you were lucky. To be honest my freshman and sophomore years at OSU I had no idea what I was doing. I was going to class and going to practice but I didn't know what I was doing. Going pro was the furthest thing from my mind. But my junior year I saw Brad Sellers get drafted and all of a sudden I knew it was a possibility. The scariest part for me was not knowing who my coach was going to be my senior year after coach (Eldon) Miller was fired after we won the NIT my junior year. But to be honest I never dreamed I could put points on the board like I did at a high profile Division-1 school like Ohio State so for people to recognize my talent and award me with Big Ten Player of the Year was a real honor for me.
BHC: I know you have a lot of respect for coach Gary Williams, who took over at OSU your senior season. What's your fondest memory of playing for Coach Williams?
Dennis Hopson: He was just so intense. I remember playing Boston College and them kicking our butts my junior year and he was so intense on their sideline. I never would have imagined that night that I would be playing for that man the next year. But my accomplishments my senior year have to be credited to Coach Williams and my teammates. He had me doing so much and in some cases that situation might make teammates jealous but my teammates not only supported me, they helped me be who I was on the court my senior year. They allowed me to be me and Coach Williams pushed me to be that and I have respect for all of them for that.
BHC: It looks as though William Buford won't reach your 2,096 career points plateau. What does it mean to you to still be the all time scoring leader at OSU a quarter of a century later?
Dennis Hopson: You have to remember that guys are leaving school early now. Jim Jackson and Michael Redd came in averaging 18 points as freshmen. Had they stayed four years I'm sure they would have the record but they didn't. It's truly an honor to still hold that record though. It meant a lot to me at the time and it means a lot to me today.
BHC: What was the relationship like between the Buckeye "stars" of 1985-86, you and Brad Sellers, during your junior season?
Dennis Hopson: Brad and I were actually roommates when I was a junior and he was a senior. Remember he originally played at Wisconsin so when he transferred to Ohio State he had to sit out a year so he was actual an older senior. He was like a big brother to me. Even when he left school and got an agent and was drafted he would call me every other day to make sure I was doing the things I was supposed to be doing. I'll never forget that. He was like a big brother to me. Did you know he's actually the Mayor of Warrensville Heights now? Yeah, that's just him. He's always been a leader that way and he was like a big brother for me when my brothers were back in Toledo and not around while I was in Columbus.
BHC: I've heard you fondly mention Jay Burson before. What are your memories of playing with him, and have you guys kept in contact over the years?
Dennis Hopson: Jay and I still talk every couple of weeks. I just remember (laughing) when he was on his official visit to Ohio State and all I could think was, "why is Ohio State recruiting a kid like this?" Eventually I saw just how tough and competitive he was though. He understood how to play the game and make up for his lack of size. He had a toughness and skill about him that far outweighed his size.
BHC: In the 25 years since leaving Ohio State, how much have you thought about your number being retired? Does it weigh on you still, or not something you think about very often?
Dennis Hopson: I think the older I get the less I think about it but Ohio State fans ask me about it al the time, and that's when I think about it. They still honor me on campus. I'm part of Ohio State's athletic Hall of Fame and there's a big picture of me in the Value City Arena hallway, so they do honor me. But having my number retired, and this effort you guys are putting behind that cause, isn't all about "Dennis." There are many, many former Buckeyes who deserve the honor of having their number retired. But if mine never is it's not going to change me. I'm going to continue living my life the same way I do now as a blessed, humble guy.
BHC: What would it mean to you to have your #32 hanging from the rafters at Value City Arena?
Dennis Hopson: It would be such a special moment for me. To walk into the arena and see your own number in the rafters would mean everything. I gave four years to Ohio State and even went back in 2005-06 to get my degree from Ohio State. I could have taken online classes from anywhere to finish my degree but I chose to go back to Columbus to get it. You'll laugh, but there I was sitting in class with Ted Ginn, Jr. and had these athletes calling me "Sir." I was an old man amongst those athletes. I even tore my Achilles that year so there I was walking into classes with crutches, but I'm proud of being a graduate from Ohio State. So what would it mean for them to retire my number? It would be a very special moment for me.
BHC: Former Buckeye Chris Jent has recently joined the OSU coaching staff. You're currently an assistant at Bowling Green just up the road. Would moving back to Ohio State be something you hope to do with your coaching career?
Dennis Hopson: That would be a great experience for me, to go back to my Alma Mater as an assistant coach. It would be a blessing but might be one of those things that would be a long shot. But if the opportunity ever presented itself, I'd absolutely go. But today I'm right where I'm supposed to be at Bowling Green.
BHC: When I think, see or hear your name I think "Buckeye." How would you describe Dennis Hopson?
Dennis Hopson: Blessed. Humble. High character. I love people, and I love my family.
I would like to personally thank Dennis for taking the time to work with me on Part V of our Case for a Buckeye Legend. As I've told him before he was the Buckeye athlete that spurned my love for Ohio State back before I ever turned 11 years old. After getting to converse back and forth with him over the last few months it's been easy to see how much more than just an "Athlete" the man is. He's humble, dedicated, sincere and genuine with every word he speaks.
The opportunity I had to speak with him on the phone for 40 minutes today was one of the coolest things I've gotten to do in my 35 years. There were a couple of specific things I took away from the conversation that I'll likely never forget. One, when we first got to talking I mentioned in passing that my mother actually got me watching him at Ohio State when I was just a young boy. Near the end of our phone conversation he somehow remembered that and said, "give my best to your mother." That came right before he told me that he saved my phone number, asked me to do the same with his, and then said, "Forget this project you're working on. If there's anything I can help you with in life just give me a call and I'll make it happen. Remember that."
There aren't a whole lot of people we run into in life who will say that to us, much less one of our childhood heroes.
Thank you, Coach.
If you wish to sign a petition on behalf of retiring Dennis Hopson's #32, please do so HERE
Read More > Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV
Follow me on Twitter > @OSUHouseCall
Follow Dennis on Twitter > @DennisHopson
