2012 senior class photos
2012 West Carrollton graduation
Home of the Week
Home > Blogs > Springfield, Ohio High School Sports > Archives > 2008 > December > 17 > Entry
On this date in area sports history …
Fifteen years ago on this date, Dec. 17, 1993, South High School’s Dee Miller announced his decision to play football at Ohio State. Complete story and YouTube video of Miller after jump:
Story published Dec. 18, 1993
DEE MILLER CHOOSES: IT’S OSU
`I WANTED TO GIVE MY FAMILY THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ME PLAY’
By Cindy Horner, News-Sun Sports Writer
Dee Miller stood before a crowd of coaches, friends and media Friday morning and calmly unfolded a piece of paper containing the news that had been anticipated for weeks.
“I’ve weighed the disadvantages and advantages of my college choices and I’ve chosen to attend Ohio State,” the 6-foot-2, 205-pound wide receiver-safety said during a press conference the South High School library.
Miller will officially sign with Ohio State Feb. 2, when the scholarship arrives by Federal Express.
“I just thank God for giving me the ability to compete every Friday night,” Miller said, thanking his family, people in the community, the reverend at his church and his counselor, Ricky Gates.
The thought of attending Ohio State has been with him for a while, but he considered other Division I schools like Tennessee and Michigan.
He made up his mind this week after Ohio State Coach John Cooper visited his home Monday.
“I felt they’d utilize my talents and give me a better future,” said Miller, who caught 56 passes for 1,139 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Wildcats, who finished 7-3 this season.
“I wanted to give my family the opportunity to see me play,” Miller added. “I want to stay in Ohio, and I sat down with my family and my coach and thought it was better for me and my future. I’ve been to a lot of (Ohio State) games this season. Their success had a lot to do with my decision.”
Miller and South Coach Tom Adams visited the Ohio State campus again Wednesday to watch the Buckeyes practice for their game against Brigham Young University in the Dec. 30 Holiday Bowl at San Diego.
“I looked at Ohio State’s stats and saw that 60 percent of their offense was through the air,” said Miller, who completed his career with 126 catches for 2,726 yards and 36 touchdowns.
“If they weren’t throwing the ball, I wouldn’t go to Ohio State. I talked to Coach Cooper and he seemed like a nice guy and so did (receivers coach) Mike Stock. I saw something in (Stock’s) eyes that said, `I could get you to be a great wide receiver.”’
Miller and South quarterback Chris Wallace, who is still undecided about what college to attend, shared Division I offensive player of the year honors on the Associated Press All-Ohio team.
They also were co-winners of the Springfield News-Sun All-Area and AP Southwest District offensive player of the year awards.
“I felt he wanted to stay home,” said Adams, who was convinced Miller would choose Ohio State. “He’s very close to his mom and dad. They all tell me that he will fit in well there. Everybody is ecstatic with his decision because he’s only 40 miles away.”
The last area players to receive Ohio State scholarships were brothers Patrick and Greg Rogan, both graduates of Urbana.
“I’m still shocked,” Miller said. “It certainly will be different in college. Instead of playing in front of maybe 1,000 it will be more like 90,000. I have a dream of playing big time football and right now I can’t believe this is happening to me.
“Last summer, I went to Michigan and said Yeah this is the place for me', then I went to Ohio State and saidMan this is all very nice.’ “
Miller’s parents, Patty and Doug Miller, who are divorced, have supported him throughout the decision-making process.
“It’s been real exciting for us,” Patty Miller said. “Dee is a special kind of child. None of this has changed him as a person. We’re big Buckeye fans and we’re glad that he’ll be close by, but we didn’t want to influence his decision in any way.”
“We met Cooper before and liked him, but Monday’s visit was more personal,” Doug Miller said. “We’ve really enjoyed him and the coaching staff. Dee really likes their players, too.”
Miller said he appreciated the support of his parents.
“My parents may be divorced, but they’ve always been there for me,” said Miller, who’s an only child. “People think I’m very lucky because they get along real well, still. They both are a very big part of my life.”
