It's no secret that Denison and Ohio State share a well-known common thread in Big Red alum and Buckeye coaching legend Woody Hayes '35. What if we told you that a lesser-known common thread exists with Alabama's Nick Saban?
 
As you sit down to watch tonight's College Football Playoff National Championship game between Ohio State and Alabama, we thought we'd shine a little light on how Denison has impacted both of these college football giants.
 
Let's start with the Crimson Tide.
 
Saban's roots go back to Northeast Ohio as a player at Kent State and later as an assistant coach with Ohio State and the Cleveland Browns. A fascinating 2017 article by Martin Fennelly in the Tampa Bay Times tells the story of one of Saban's most trusted mentors in coaching, 1963 Denison grad Dennis Fryzel.
 
Fryzel, known by his friends as "Denny," played football at Denison from 1960 to 1963 under legendary head coach Keith Piper. As a junior and senior, Fryzel's Big Red teams went 15-2-1. His experiences at Denison sparked a 17-year coaching career that included stints at Syracuse, Air Force, Ohio State, and two seasons as the head coach at the University of Tampa.
 
Saban was quoted heavily in the Times article about Fryzel. Here's one of the big ones.
 
"He was a mentor I always trusted. He gave me advice that was in my best interest and no one else's. Most of us don't have a lot of friends like that in our lives."
 
Of course, no Denison football story can be complete without recognizing Woody. Denison's football team members still touch the rock bearing Hayes' likeness that sits outside of Piper Stadium as they walk by it before every practice and home game. Woody's history has been intentionally woven into the fabric of Head Coach Jack Hatem's program.
 
And just as Hayes' legacy still impacts Denison football history, it looms large over everything at Ohio State.
 
Woody played at Denison from 1932 to 1934 and lettered in both football and baseball. After serving in World War II, he returned to his alma mater as head coach. After a rebuilding season in 1946, Hayes posted back-to-back undefeated seasons in 1947 and 1948 at Denison that resulted in him being named the head coach at Miami University. Two years later, he was hired as the head coach at Ohio State, where his teams went on to win five national championships and 13 Big Ten championships.
 
Mentorship matters. People matter. So, show some Denison pride as you enjoy this year's CFP National Championship.