Indiana University Athletics Indiana punter Dan Zarlingo (17) takes a photo with his Hoosier teammates in 1977.

Dan Zarlingo had a ticket to Ohio Stadium in Columbus. He wanted to see the Indiana football team play one of the biggest games in program history when they took on Ohio State.

It’s been a magical year for the Hoosiers, who have one 10 games for the first time in program history, but it’s been just as good for Zarlingo.

Zarlingo spent four seasons in the red and white of Indiana as a safety, his final two as the team’s punter.

“I loved playing football,” Zarlingo said. “I loved it in high school and I loved it in college.”

His path to Bloomington wasn’t conventional, or even expected.

Zarlingo graduated from Lowellville in 1974. During his time along the Mahoning River, he became a standout in football, basketball and baseball, but he excelled on the gridiron and hardwood.

During the fall, he’d strap on the helmet and line up at quarterback and safety, and during the winter, he was the Rockets’ go-to scorer. He had his numbers retired for both sports and became a 1,000-point scorer before graduating.

As he planned for the future, he wanted to go somewhere that allowed him to continue his two-sport success, but few programs allowed it. He decided to stick with football, and eventually, he caught the attention of Ohio State legend Woody Hayes and his staff.

Former Hubbard High standout Rudy Hubbard was the one to recruit Zarlingo.

“I was going to go to Ohio State, and Rudy said he was going to hold my scholarship. … I kinda settled on it. Woody Hayes came to my house down in Lowellville, I talked to them and pretty much said, ‘Fine. I’ll go to Ohio State.'”

Hubbard eventually made a name for himself as a head coach, guiding the 1978 Florida A&M squad to a 12-1 record and the Division I-AA national championship. He’s the only head coach of a Historically Black College or University to win a national championship, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Hubbard left for Florida A&M in 1974, but a clerical error altered Zarlingo’s plans.

“I called down to Ohio State, ‘Rudy Hubbard’s not here. He took the coaching job at Florida A&M, and he didn’t tell anybody about your scholarship, so there’s no scholarship left.’ I said, ‘OK, fine,'” Zarlingo said. “I still had Indiana. It was my second choice anyway.”

With his scholarship gone, he notified Indiana that he would become a Hoosier. He had a conversation with basketball coach Bob Knight, but he didn’t want to give up his football scholarship.

For the first two seasons at Indiana, Zarlingo never kicked a ball. It wasn’t until his junior year in 1976 that head coach Lee Corso asked him to punt.

He was second in punting and seventh in the nation with 38.8 yards per punt.

However, during the offseason, he tore cartilage in his kicking leg while working out in Lowellville.

The injury didn’t hinder Zarlingo’s kicking success. He had a better season in 1977, averaging 40.5 yards per punt on 48 kicks. Zarlingo had discussions about getting a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys, but they found out about his surgery, and the opportunity was pulled.

“It was a major surgery back then,” Zarlingo said. “I got an 8-inch scar on my knee where they went and took the cartilage out. Today, poke, like, three little holes. They don’t take the whole thing out anymore.”

The Indiana football team has caught the nation’s attention this fall, jumping up to No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings last week.

Zarlingo got to see the Hoosiers’ progress firsthand earlier in the year when he returned to Bloomington, Indiana. He was among a group of this year’s I-Men, former Indiana players that are celebrated 50 years after receiving their first letter with the program.

“There were actually seven of us freshmen that lettered that year,” Zarlingo said. “So we just go back, they introduce you at halftime on the field. Nothing major, but it was a nice award to get.”

The Buckeyes, the No. 2 team in the country, took care of business on Saturday. They beat the Hoosiers 38-15 in Columbus, but the Indiana faithfull still have hope their beloved Hoosiers will make the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Zarlingo is among that group. But even if the Hoosiers don’t make it to the dance, it’s been a memorable year for Hoosiers past and present.