After 120 years, the University of Akron and Ohio State University have a score to settle.

 

Saturday’s meeting in the season opener for both schools marks their seventh meeting on the gridiron, dating to 1891. The Zips have posted only one win in the series, a 12 to 6 victory in 1894, with John Heisman of trophy fame as their coach and star quarterback.

 

From a scoring perspective, it would be understandable if Akron objected to the score in 1892, when the Zips were saddled with a 62 to 0 loss. But it was the first clash in 1891 that has prompted a quest for information about the outcome.

 

Stats distributed by the Akron Sports Information office shows the Buckeyes winning 4-0, while their information counterpart at Ohio State shows a final score of 6

to 0.

 

Since touchdowns were worth four points then, what seems to be at issue is whether the conversion -- worth two points -- was good..

 

A trip to OSU archives on Kenny Road prompted this response from one of the staff experts, “Did you check Pollard?:”

 

I responded that I had indeed checked Ohio State Athletics: 1879-1959 by noted historian James E. Pollard. His account of the Dec. 5, 1891 game in Akron says his: “Ohio State won, 4 to 0.“ He cited the Dec. 10 Lantern, the OSU school newspaper, as source.

 

A host of other references show SIX to 0 as the final tally, including the 1892 Makio, the yearbook at OSU; The Buckeyes: A History of Ohio State Football by Wilbur Snypp; and The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia by Jack Park.

 

A search of the Lantern collection at the Thompson Library at Ohio State shows editions from Dec.3 and 17, but not Dec. 10. Maybe the absence of the Dec. 10 paper, ergo the game account, is explained by a Lantern article from February 1892:

“It is unnecessary for the Lantern to explain its non-appearance last week. The great fire at the Metropolitan Opera House Block touched the college in two points, The Lantern lost its files and advertising plates in the Gazette Printing House, and the university lost some 60 volumes in Siebert & Lilley’s bindery.”

 

In 1891, only the second season for football at Ohio State, the sport was little known to much of the community. No year-long, round-the-clock flood of media coverage existed.

 

Back then, the University of Akron didn’t exist by that name; it was Buchtel College. The college was named for Universalist, industrialist, philanthropist John Buchtel, whose name lives on today via Buchtel High School. Last year, their team made it to the state Division III championship game, where they lost to Columbus Bishop Watterson.

 

Chances are the skill level of last year’s prep clash surpassed the 1891 collegiate encounter of which Pollard said, again citing the Lantern, “Both teams played like high school boys.’ “

 

The mystery surrounding the 1891 score pales in comparison to the uncertainty about this year’s Buckeye football squad.

 

The opener at Ohio Stadium will mark the debut of Luke Fickell as head coach at his alma mater. He replaces Jim Tressel, who was allowed to retire after a series of improprieties related to NCAA violations by former starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor and other players . Pryor was allowed to enter the supplemental draft of the National Football Association and was picked in the third round by the Oakland Raiders.

 

The returning offenders are suspended for the early part of the season. Their absence raises questions about who will fill those spots in the opening games and how the suspended players will fit in when they’re eligible again.

 

Even without new personnel, the Buckeyes have been planning for a year of change with the addition of Nebraska to the Big Ten and with the alignment of teams in Legends and Leaders divisions. The Bucks are in the latter.

 

Saturday’s game is scheduled for a noon start. Don’t expect this one to end up 4-0, not even 6 to 0.