Buckeye hall of famer to call game his son is playing in on Saturday
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It is nothing new for a football player from central Ohio to go elsewhere to college and then return home to play against Ohio State.
But for the Lachey family, what's about to happen Saturday is a family reunion of sorts -- on the field, in the stands, and even in the broadcast booth.
Five years ago, Luke Lachey was a member of the NBC4 Football Friday Nite Preseason Team. He was a highly-rated tight end recruit from Grandview Heights.
He was also a huge Buckeye fan.
"In 2016, I went to Ohio State vs. Michigan, and it was the double overtime game where they scored, Curtis Samuel scored going up to the left sideline," Luke Lachey said. "So my brother and I stormed the field and that was cool. Obviously, going to a lot of the games was a lot of fun and, you know, going to their practices growing up was cool too with my dad.”
His dad, Jim Lachey, happens to be one of the greatest offensive linemen in Ohio State history. Jim earned all-American honors at OSU before an 11-year NFL career. He won a Super Bowl with Washington and was named to the Pro Bowl three times. He's a member of the OSU Athletic Hall of Fame, and he now serves as the radio color analyst for Buckeye broadcasts.
When Luke accepted a scholarship offer to Iowa, they knew it could create some tough scenarios.
"That is the tough part about this gig and we knew that when he signed the Iowa, you know... it's going to be tough," Jim Lachey said.
With OSU's schedule, it's been tough for Jim to get to Iowa City to see his son play in person. He said he's likely seen about 10 of Luke's games in person. But this Saturday, Jim will have a perfect view; he'll be in his usual perch in the Ohio Stadium press box.
"This is a great opportunity where you travel three and a half miles from Marble Cliff over here to the 'Shoe and get a chance to watch him in the backyard," Jim Lachey said.
"I'll probably take a moment and look up at the press box where my dad is sitting," Luke Lachey said. "He's got a job to do and I know he'll do great and I'm sure he's excited to be able to watch me play.”
Jim said he happens to know a little more about the Hawkeyes than he does about most opponents.
“When your kid's on the team, it makes the preparation just a little bit easier because I have studied them so much,” he said.
Luke said he expects dozens of friends and family members in the Horseshoe Saturday, and he's certainly earned their support. He's a two-time team captain at Iowa with four career touchdown catches.
This is the second time the Lachey family has gone through this. In 2022, OSU hammered Iowa 54-10 and Lachey was on the field for the Hawkeyes. This time around, he's eager to leave his mark.
"Last time, I was really stressed,” Luke Lachey said. “I felt, felt a lot of pressure and now I have the experience. I feel great going into it.”