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Trotwood-Madison assistant principal honorary captain for OSU

Michael McCray was hurt last time he was on field at IU.

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By Marc Katz, Staff Writer 8:55 PM Friday, October 2, 2009

The last time Michael McCray walked onto the turf at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind., he was a big-time Ohio State linebacker, headed to the pros.

An injury that never completely healed ended his NFL dream, but McCray remained a valued part of OSU history and today, Oct. 3, will be the team’s honorary captain as the Buckeyes play at Indiana.

“Basically, my career somewhat ended over there,” said McCray, now an assistant principal at Trotwood-Madison High School, where his son, Michael McCray II is a freshman tight end/linebacker. “That’s where I got injured my senior year.”

McCray was star-crossed that way. As a freshman in 1984 out of Dunbar High School (he also played at Roth), McCray took on All-America (and former Roth All-Ohio running back) Keith Byars in a one-on-one drill. A shoulder separation from that collision cost McCray a year of play.

By his senior year at Ohio State, 1988, McCray was a two-year starter, but first-year coach John Cooper was taking his lumps, including 41-7 at Indiana in the fifth game of the season.

“It was my groin,” McCray said. “I think they call it a sports hernia now. I got rid of one of the blockers and made a tackle from behind on Anthony Thomas. He landed between my legs. I never really came back.”

Thomas scored four touchdowns that day and McCray didn’t get back into the lineup until three games later, a single play at Michigan State. He played a little in his last game, against Michigan. For the second straight year, the Buckeyes didn’t attend a bowl game.

McCray’s football career was over.

“I don’t know what I’m going to say (to this year’s team),” McCray said. “I may talk a little about the Indiana game I was in. I’m excited to do it. I really shouldn’t have to say too much. They should be inspired, anyway. They got the pants on, and the silver bullets (helmets).”

McCray did say he’d have to miss his son’s freshman game today.

“He didn’t want to go (to Indiana),” McCray said. “He wants to play in the freshman game. I like that type of attitude. He plays a little on Friday nights, but he’s not ready to play full time.”

McCray has to be at Indiana for the team meal at 3 p.m., then he’ll be part of the pregame coin toss and watch the rest of the game from the sideline.

“Hopefully, it will be a good day and Ohio State will do what it needs to do,” he said.

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