Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. At the very least, somewhat ironic. A former Ohio State star has been nominated for the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
Buckeye great and Detroit native, Pepper Johnson, is one of 10 nominees in the professional category for the honor. Of course, the committee wouldn’t nominate Johnson for his amateur career after spurning his home state for the Scarlet and Gray. It seemed to want to put that four-year span out of sight as Johnson was named to the Michigan High School All-Decade team for the 80’s.
After earning All-American honors as a senior in 1985 at Ohio State, Johnson was drafted in the second round of the 1986 NFL draft by the New York Giants. He would go on to win two Super Bowls with New York and would spend 13 seasons total in the league. He recorded over 1,000 tackles in his NFL career, five times going over 100 tackles in a season. His stats are certainly deserving of the recognition, but will fans from the Wolverine State forgive him for spending four years in Columbus?
That’s where Buckeye Nation can come in and give credit where credit is due. Voting is open to the general public and is based on ranking candidates on a 1-10 point scale through Friday, June 12. Time to make your voice be heard and elect a former Ohio State star to this prestigious Michigan honor. Votes can be cast here.
In a rivalry that runs deep, the irony of seeing a former Buckeye in a Michigan Hall of Fame would be sweet.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Former Ohio State star nominated for Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
Reporting by Mark Russell, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
