By Evan Debo
Within the realms of college football the term ‘12th man’ is an honor typically bestowed upon a passionate fan base.
The 12th man is the ultimate home field advantage as opposing teams are overwhelmed with deafening cheers and sounds. In fact, Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, home to the Texas A&M Aggies, has a larger than life sign above their student section that reads “Home of the 12th man – symbolizing their “readiness, desire, and enthusiasm.”
Outside of this beloved College Station tradition, Ohio State back-up quarterback Kenny Guiton is rewriting how we view the role of the 12th man.
With another impressive performance off the bench in yesterday’s 42-7 win over San Diego State, the fifth-year senior from Houston, Texas took over for starter Braxton Miller who went down with a knee injury and led his team to victory yet again.
While Miller was held out of the rest of the game as a precautionary measure, Guiton dazzled as he went 19-28 for 152 yards through the air, ran for another 82 yards on the ground, and found the end-zone three times in all.
We have seen this story before.
The one they call ‘Coach Guiton’ last year, in a similar situation, took over for Miller who was carted off the field after a borderline illegal horse collar tackle and led the Buckeyes from behind to tie the game on a touchdown drive and two-point conversion with only 47 seconds left.
The Buckeyes would go on to defeat the Purdue Boilermakers 29-22 in overtime to preserve their undefeated season.
Guiton’s poise in the pocket as well as his ‘next man up’ approach is something incredibly rare in college football at the quarterback position.
Whereas defensive linemen and wide receivers cycle in and out between plays, quarterbacks often times must come into a situation unexpectedly without much preparation or warm-up time.
Probably the most recognizable alias for the 2nd string quarterback is ‘Kenny G.’ No, he doesn’t soothe the soul with incredible saxophone ballads, but he does finish touchdown drives.
In Guiton’s Buckeye career there have been 17 occasions where Guiton has come in in a relief effort for Miller at quarterback. Of those 17 appearances, he has capped off the drive with a touchdown 10 times – that is efficiency.
Kenny G offers a lot in his 12th man role that cannot be found across the college football landscape. Only in the NBA is there an award for the 6th Man of the Year – given to the top, impact performer off the bench for a basketball franchise.
Guiton is an interchangeable cog in the Buckeye offensive attack that can be plugged into the quarterback slot and the machine still hums magnificently.
The guy could easily be a starter on just about any other team in the Big Ten and Ohio State is lucky to have him.
Most likely Heisman candidate Braxton Miller will return to the field next Saturday as the Buckeyes travel to Berkeley to take on the California Golden Bears, but rest assured should the unthinkable happen and Miller has to leave with an injury – even for a few drives – the 12th man is waiting to take the reins.
edebo@capital.edu
