Bob Atha, 65, a former Ohio State quarterback, punter and placekicker, has died at his Ohio home on Tuesday, March 31 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Atha was remembered by fans and former teammates for his versatility and scoring prowess for the Buckeyes.

Career at Ohio State

Atha walked on at Ohio State in 1978 and became one of the program’s most versatile players. From 1978 to 1980 he served as a backup to quarterback Art Schlichter and placekicker Vlade Janakievski. As a senior in 1981 he took over as the Buckeyes’ starting placekicker while also serving as the backup to Mike Tomczak at quarterback.

In 1981 Atha led Ohio State in scoring with 88 points, converting 13 field goals and 43 extra points, and he also recorded a touchdown. His standout performance came on Oct. 24, 1981, at Ohio Stadium against Indiana, when he set a school record with five field goals in a 29-10 win. He remains a joint-record holder alongside Mike Nugent, Josh Huston and Devin Barclay.

Professional career and later life

After his Buckeyes career, Atha played in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and the St. Louis (now Arizona) Cardinals. He later returned to his native Worthington, Ohio, where he spent decades working in the family oil and gas business.

Tributes and reaction

News of Atha’s death drew messages of condolence from Ohio State fans on social media. The article records several posts, including:

“My first OSU game was his 15-point game against Indiana in 1981. Wishing his family peace and comfort,”

“RIP, met him at a party in 82, very nice guy,”

“Sorry to hear that, sincere condolences played against him in HS, great athlete,”

Those messages reflected the regard in which Atha was held by fans and opponents who remembered his contributions on the field.

Death

According to the report, Atha died at his Ohio home on Tuesday, March 31, following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 65.

Further comments from family, former coaches or the university were not included in the original report.

Image Referance: https://www.the-sun.com/sport/16173371/tributes-former-ohio-state-star-bob-atha-death-cancer/