Remember when: John Cooper finally clinched the win over Michigan after fueling the Buckeyes with a hit on a chalkboard

With zero wins in six tries, including a 13-13 tie at Ohio Stadium in 1992 that then-Ohio State president Gordon Gee called “one of (the Buckeyes’) greatest wins of all time,” Cooper looked to quickly end his losing streak against the Wolverines in 1994.

The Buckeyes captain looked to exorcise his Michigan demons and led his team into the Horseshoe with an 8-3 record and 22nd in the nation, while the Wolverines looked to maintain their dominance of the game.

Before the game, the Buckeyes walked onto the field through a human tunnel of former Ohio State University football players – about 300 former players in total – which gave Cooper and his team additional motivation.

“I think that was the difference today,” Cooper said after the game. “With all those players out there, you couldn’t help but play well.”

Cooper rallied his troops early and helped the Buckeyes take a 12-3 halftime lead, thanks in large part to a 4-yard touchdown run by quarterback Bobby Hoying. Eager to finally beat the Wolverines, Cooper went a step further in his halftime speech.

In a move reminiscent of the legendary Woody Hayes, Cooper, inspired by the heat of the moment, punched his fist through a chalkboard in the Buckeyes’ locker room, inspiring several of his players to continue the fight against their archrivals in the second half.

“I was shocked,” Eddie George, Ohio State’s running back at the time, said after the game. “When he did that, we were ready to get back on the field.”

It’s safe to say Cooper’s uncharacteristic outburst had the intended effect, as the Buckeyes cruised to a commanding 22-6 victory over the Wolverines. With the win, Ohio State ended Michigan’s 111-game winning streak by at least a touchdown.

While Cooper did not mention his brief boxing match at halftime during the post-game press conference, the cut on his right index finger was proof enough that the punch had been thrown.

“It’s a bad day for a board,” said Korey Stringer, then-Ohio State offensive lineman.

It was also a bad day to be a Wolverine.