New Phila grad to speak on book about 2014 OSU title journey
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER ) (Jan. 23, 2025) – The New Philadelphia graduate who was part of Ohio State’s last national championship football team before this week is recalling his own unconventional title experience in writing.
Ethan Zucal by chance as a fifth-year senior became a scout team member for that 2014 squad and was in uniform on the sideline when the team won the title in Arlington, Texas, against Oregon under coach Urban Meyer. Zucal was responsible for practicing against the starters on Ohio State’s defensive line.
“The moment in time was just so special for me that a lot of the stories I can remember as if they were happening to me today,” Zucal said.
Zucal and his mother Wendy recently authored a book together about that journey called ‘Last Minute Buckeye: Road to the 2014 National Championship.’ Ethan gives all the credit to his mother.
“It was really her idea and so we just thought with a 10-year timeline, with the 10-year anniversary coming up, it was the perfect time to do that,” he said. “She did a lot of the writing; she did a lot of the brainstorming.”
Ethan and Wendy Zucal will be at the Tuscarawas County Public Library tonight (Thursday) for a presentation on the book starting at 6 pm. They will be signing copies of the book, which will be for sale.
“We’re going to take questions from those in the audience, we’ll have some things with us. I’ll bring some of my keepsakes…national championship ring from 2014, maybe a jersey or two, and some other things for folks to take a look at,” Ethan Zucal said.
Meanwhile, Zucal says this most recent championship run reminded him of his season at Ohio State.
“A lot of similarities. You know we were the first ones to win a national championship under the playoff system back in 2014. So, to see it expanded; to see the adversity the team endured this season – overcoming that – we had a very similar situation,” he said.
Zucal was part of the reunion when the 2014 players were honored during the Nebraska game earlier this season.
“Seeing some of them for the first time in 10 years or seeing some of them that I’ve seen two games prior, talking on a regular basis, it was great to see them. But, yeah, I still stay in contact with many of my friends,” said Zucal.