Many Ohio State fans will argue that the 1998 Ohio State football team was the greatest the school ever produced.  If not for a 4th quarter stumble against Michigan State, this team may have won the school's seventh national title.  They finished the season 11-1 including a dominant performance of eighth ranked Texas A&M in the 1999 Sugar Bowl.  The Buckeyes defeated five ranked opponents, four in the top 15, by an average margin of 16.5 points.  In a time when wins were rare over Michigan, the 1998 Buckeyes steamrolled the 11th ranked Wolverines, 31-16. Quarterback Joe Germaine threw for three touchdowns, including two to All-American wide out David Boston. It would be the third and final Big Ten Championship won under John Cooper.

These Gold Pants were issued to a future starting Cornerback to celebrate the 1998 win over their archirival and a Big Ten Championship. The recipient's name has been blurred digitally to protect his identity.