Van Ness DeCree, from

Warren, Ohio Warren is a city in Trumbull County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. The population was 39,201 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located along the Mahoning River, Warren lies approximately northwest of Youngstown, Ohio, Y ...

, is a former

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

defensive end who was a two-time All-American (

1973 Events January * January 1 – The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 14 - The 16-0 19 ...

1974 Major events in 1974 include the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis and the resignation of United States President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal. In the Middle East, the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War determined politics; ...

) at

Ohio State University The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one ...

. DeCree is a member of the Ohio State Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1990) He was also a three-year starter and a three-time All-Big 10 selection at defensive end, having been voted all-conference as a sophomore, junior, and senior. He was also voted to the

Ohio State Football All-Century Team The Ohio State Football All-Century Team was chosen in early 2000 by the Touchdown Club of Columbus. It was selected to honor the greatest Ohio State Buckeyes football players of the 20th century. No effort was made to distinguish a first team or ...

in 1999. DeCree was part of a 1973 Buckeyes team that was considered among the best in school history. The defense had solid players from the line— tackle Pete Cusick, to the linebackers—

Rick Middleton Richard David "Nifty" Middleton (born December 4, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player for the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League. Playing career As a youth, Middleton played in the 1966 Quebec ...

and

Randy Gradishar Randolph Charles Gradishar (born March 3, 1952) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 10 seasons with the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) during the 1970s and 1980s. A native of Ohio, Gr ...

, to the secondary— Neal Colzie,

Steve Luke Steve Luke (born September 4, 1953) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a safety (American football position), safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State ...

, and Tim Fox. This unit led by All-Big 10 selection DeCree, shut out four opponents in 1973, including three in a row. Four of DeCree's teammates (Middleton, Gradishar, Colzie, and Fox) all became first-round draft picks in the NFL, as did Archie Griffin, John Hicks, and Kurt Schumacher on offense. Punter

Tom Skladany Thomas Edward Skladany (born June 29, 1955) is an American former professional football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Detroit Lions. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. A ...

was also a high NFL draft picks. The offensive skill players included Cornelius Greene at quarterback wingback Brian Baschnagel and fullback Pete Johnson and halfback Griffin, who led the Big Ten in rushing, running behind the tackle duo of Schumacher (an All-American) and Hicks (also an All-American) and winner of the 1973

Outland Trophy The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that g ...

and the 1973

Lombardi Trophy The Vince Lombardi Trophy, also known simply as the Lombardi Trophy or just the Lombardi, is the trophy awarded each year to the winning team of the National Football League's championship game, the Super Bowl. The trophy is named in honor of N ...

. The 1973 season finished with both the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines tied with perfect records and their season-ending game resulted in a tie score. DeCree's late-game tackle of Michigan Quarterback

Dennis Franklin Dennis E. Franklin (born August 24, 1953) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Lions in the 1975 NFL draft. Prior to play ...

resulted in Franklin breaking his collarbone. The Big Ten Conference Athletic Directors voted on the tiebreaker situation and sent the Buckeyes to the 1974 Rose Bowl, many citing the loss of Franklin to injury as a key reason. The 9-0-1 Buckeyes, in the 1973 season

Rose Bowl Game The Rose Bowl Game is an annual American college football bowl game, traditionally played on January 1 (New Year's Day) at the Rose Bowl (stadium), Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on ...

, beat Johnny McKay's 9-1-1 USC Trojans 42-21. The following year in the 1974 season Rose Bowl, USC edged the Buckeyes 18-17, which ended DeCree's college career. DeCree played professional football for the

World Football League The World Football League (WFL) was an American football league that played one full season in 1974 in sports, 1974 and most of its second in 1975 in sports, 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a w ...

in 1975 for the

Chicago Winds The Chicago Winds was the World Football League's ill-fated 1975 successor to the Chicago Fire. The team was so named because Chicago was nicknamed "The Windy City." The Winds played at Soldier Field and the team was assigned to the WFL's West ...

. The Chicago Winds signed Van DeCree. Winds coach Gibron planned to use DeCree at linebacker. Due to the Chicago franchise folding due to league-wide financial troubles, DeCree ended playing the rest of the season (which was ultimately suspended) with Birmingham. DeCree still resides in Columbus, Ohio, and remains a Buckeyes follower.Collegian-Penn State
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Decree, Van Living people American football defensive ends Ohio State Buckeyes football players All-American college football players Birmingham Vulcans players Players of American football from Warren, Ohio Year of birth missing (living people)