Today’s YouTube Upload takes us back to a short video from late September 1996 on local Columbus CBS affiliate WBNS. And, hey I know that guy! It’s Sandusky’s own Jay Crawford at a young 31 years old, out on the streets getting the hard sports stories. Within a year and a half he’d be the sports director for WFTS in Tampa before signing with ESPN in 2003 where he had the pleasure of working with Skip Bayless on Cold Pizza/First Take/1st and 10 until 2011. He’s since been working the 11 AM Sportscenter broadcast for Bristol.

Wait, he mentions “Rudy” in the beginning and isn’t the painting of the helmets in the movie? Someone didn’t watch carefully enough.

I know it’s a local Columbus station but you have to love the Buckeye fan declaration from Crawford here. Turns out he’s a legit Ohio State fan, too. He’s not just playing to the crowd. Come to think of it I seem to remember some of his Buckeye-leanings, particularly when the Irish were in the spotlight back in 2005-06.

I can’t say definitively but is manager John wearing gloves while handling that gold dust? I don’t think he is, does that wash off easily? Did Mike Myers watch this spot and get the inspiration for Goldmember?

Painting the helmets was historic and mythical, Crawford says. We definitely had some hot take outrage when the new helmets came along during the 2011 off-season. The 2012 campaign seemed to wash all of that way proper quick. Revisiting it 5 years later is anyone still upset?

Like dnno1 said in the YouTube comment section: “They have a better process now and they are 12-0 and number 1 in the country.” Someone forgot to tell Alabama about our new helmets, dammit.

Back to the video, this was aired the night before Ohio State’s 1996 trip to Notre Dame. As many know, the Buckeyes came in confident after beating the Irish by 19 points at the Shoe the year prior. Check out Crawford’s dig at playing Vanderbilt towards the end. Or, you know the Irish had just returned from a road trip at Texas! A top 10 matchup and everything. Ohio State opened with Rice and one of Johnny Majors’ worst Pitt teams.

“Those things are going to be scuffed up, man. Really scuffed up.” In comes the studio anchor with the flying elbow off the ropes at the end of the video. This YouTube clip is SO Ohio State.

Yeah, the Buckeyes beat the Irish the following day 29-16 in Lou’s final season. The joke is on Ohio State though as they let a legit National Championship slip through their fingers by losing to Michigan later in the year. It was their only loss before a No. 2 finish.