Broken Records You’re Nuts: Which Ohio State records should never be broken?

All this week, LGHL writers will be bring you articles with inspired by their favorite Ohio State records. Check out all of our “Broken Records” thoughts throughout the week HERE. Whether you disagree, let us know what you think in the comments below and on Twitter @Landgrant33.

It is always fun to watch records get broken. It could be single-game records, such as Trey Sermon running wild in the 2020 Big Ten Championship Game to top the 314 yards Eddie George rushed for in 1995. Or it could be the accumulation of a career’s worth of work, like Aaron Craft setting high marks in school history for assists and steals.

As exciting it is to see records broken, there are some records that we don’t want to see topped. There are a couple reasons for this. Sometimes the records are more dubious and prevent a team from winning. Then there are records that are set by an athlete who is a fan favorite.

Today’s question: Which Ohio State record do you never want to see broken?

We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.

Brett’s pick: Art Schlichter’s 46 career interceptions thrown

For me, this was a really easy selection. Obviously throwing interceptions greatly hurts a team’s chance to win a football game. As a Buffalo Bills fan, I lived through Nathan Peterman throwing five interceptions of then first half of a football game, so I know just how tough they are to handle.

Thankfully I wasn’t alive when Schlichter was playing quarterback for Ohio State. As a freshman, Schlichter threw 21 interceptions in 1978. Schlichter did get better not throwing the football to his opponents his final three years in Columbus, throwing just 25 interceptions during that span, finishing with 46 career interceptions.

If there is someone who deserves to hold the school record for most interceptions throw, it is Schlichter, who is one of the most embarrassing figures in Ohio State history. After being drafted with the fourth overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, Schlicther went on to play in just 13 games over three seasons with the Colts. Not only was Schlichter suspended for the 1983 season because of his gambling, he tossed just three touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his NFL career.

As if Schlichter’s washout in the NFL wasn’t enough, he was eventually forced to retire from the Arena Football League because league officials found out that he was betting on AFL games. After his football career ended, Schlichter has been arrested numerous time under a litany of charges. Schlichter is currently in prison in Youngstown, where his earliest possible release date is September of this year. Since 1995, Schlichter has spent nearly 20 years of that time in prisons around the country.

At least it is fitting that one of the most embarrassing Ohio State records is held by the biggest scumbag to ever play for the Buckeyes. At least I don’t have to feel sad for Schlichter holding a record like this, since he deserves how to hold such a lowly school record.

Meredith’s pick: Kelsey Mitchell’s all-time scoring record

This one was tough, because all records are meant to be broken, right? I’m also naturally drawn to records like JK Dobbins’ single-season rushing record, but it feels like it’s possible to surpass that with a given running back and given offensive line and favorable schedule.

But Kelsey Mitchell’s career scoring record feels pretty darn solid. In four years as a starter for the Ohio State women’s basketball team, The four-time All-American totalled 3,402 points in 139 career games — 584 more points than Jantel Lavender, the next Buckeye on the list. Mitchell is also second all-time in the NCAA in career points, behind Kelsey Plum of Washington.

Also, just for fun, that’s a heckuva lot more points than the men’s scoring leader, Dennis Hopson, who had 2,096 points in his time in Columbus.

In general, choosing this record feels like something of a trap. Scoring records are so easy to bust, especially in a sport that can have such prolific shooters as women’s basketball and in particular in one which is erring so much toward the three-point shot and the requisite scoring bonus.

At the professional level, the WNBA has seen a shift toward more three-pointers. It makes sense, as a result, that we’ve seen such a transition in the college game, with outstanding three-point shooters at elite programs. In fact, the top-eight all-time three-point scoring leaders all finished their college careers in 2018 or later.

So someone could, in theory, break Mitchell’s record — but they would have to be an even better three-point shot than Mitchell. Which is unlikely, because Mitchell got 1,491 of her points (44%) from beyond the arc. Mitchell holds the NCAA record for most made three-pointers with 497 — 25 more than the next person on the list (Idaho’s Taylor Pierce).

As an aside, Mitchell’s three-point total also feels like a record that won’t be broken. No one else from Ohio State even comes within 100 of Mitchell’s total. However, once again, the game is shifting beyond the arc, and it might be plausible for someone to catch up. But probably not.

Mitchell’s scoring paid off with her becoming the second-overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever.

It’s rare to be a four-year starter, which makes her record seem even more insurmountable.

In total, Mitchell’s career places her at the pinnacle of Ohio State hoops, joining the likes of Lavender and Katie Smith. And that’s no small feat — Ohio State has had far and above more conference players of the year than any other school (Lavender accounts for four of those honors while Mitchell holds three).