Ted Provost
Encyclopedia
Ted R. Provost is a former star high school, university and professional football
player.
As a high school athlete at Fairless High School
he lettered three seasons as a quarterback
and defensive back
. He was also outstanding in basketball
and track. He was inducted into the Stark County High School Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Provost attended the Ohio State University
and was a Buckeye from 1967 to 1969. He was key member of the 1968 national championship team as a safety. He was nicknamed "Tree" by legendary coach Woody Hayes
after he collected so many of the "leaf" awards that were put on players helmets. The name did not come from his 6 foot 3 inch and 185 pound size. He was twice an All Big Ten all star (1968 and 1969) and was an All-America
n in 1969. He was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame
in 2006.
He was drafted by the National Football League
's Los Angeles Rams
in the 7th round (162nd overall) of the 1970 NFL Draft
but was later traded to the Minnesota Vikings
. He played 7 games with Minnesota in 1970 and 2 games with the St. Louis Cardinals
in 1971.
Provost continued as a professional with the Saskatchewan Roughriders
of the Canadian Football League
, playing five seasons from 1972 to 1977. He was twice named an All-West Division
all-star.
Provost, however, is best remembered for a play in the 64th Grey Cup
in 1976. He was the victim of one of the most memorable plays in Grey Cup
history. The Ottawa Rough Riders
were losing with 20 seconds left on the clock when Ottawa quarterback Tom Clements threw to Tony Gabriel
in the end zone
. Gabriel faked a post pattern
and Provost fell for it, cutting in when the receiver went out. Gabriel hauled in the last seconds pass for a thrilling come from behind victory, at Provost's expense. CFL fans recall this finish as one of the greatest.
Provost, remembered as being quiet, reserved and conservative, will not do interviews on this play.
Ted Provost was successful after his football career, owner of Ted Provost Builders, a construction company in Hilliard, Ohio
. He and his wife Ruth have three children.
On September 24, 2010 Mr. Provost was inducted into the Fairless High School Hall of Honor.
Gridiron football
Gridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
player.
As a high school athlete at Fairless High School
Fairless High School
Fairless High School is a public high school in Brewster, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Fairless Local School District. The high school combines students from the villages of Brewster, Beach City, Navarre, Wilmot and some surrounding townships. It serves grades 9 through 12 and its...
he lettered three seasons as a quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
and defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
. He was also outstanding in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and track. He was inducted into the Stark County High School Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Provost attended the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
and was a Buckeye from 1967 to 1969. He was key member of the 1968 national championship team as a safety. He was nicknamed "Tree" by legendary coach Woody Hayes
Woody Hayes
Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio...
after he collected so many of the "leaf" awards that were put on players helmets. The name did not come from his 6 foot 3 inch and 185 pound size. He was twice an All Big Ten all star (1968 and 1969) and was an All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n in 1969. He was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame
Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame
The Ohio State Varsity "O" Hall of Fame is the athletic hall of fame for The Ohio State University. Its purpose is to recognize individuals who have contributed to the honor and fame of the University in the field of athletics....
in 2006.
He was drafted by the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Los Angeles Rams
History of the St. Louis Rams
The following is a detailed history of the St. Louis Rams a professional American football team and member of the National Football League .-AFL Cleveland Rams :...
in the 7th round (162nd overall) of the 1970 NFL Draft
1970 NFL Draft
The 1970 National Football League Draft was held on January 27–28, 1970.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
but was later traded to the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. He played 7 games with Minnesota in 1970 and 2 games with the St. Louis Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1971.
Provost continued as a professional with the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
, playing five seasons from 1972 to 1977. He was twice named an All-West Division
Canadian Football League West Division
The West Division is one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League. Although the CFL was not founded until 1958, the West Division and its clubs are descended from earlier leagues.-Pre-1936:...
all-star.
Provost, however, is best remembered for a play in the 64th Grey Cup
64th Grey Cup
The 64th Grey Cup was played on November 28, 1976, before 53,467 fans at the Exhibition Stadium at Toronto. The Ottawa Rough Riders defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders by the score 23 to 20 in what is considered one of the most thrilling Grey Cup games and with perhaps the most exciting plays in...
in 1976. He was the victim of one of the most memorable plays in Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
history. The Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
were losing with 20 seconds left on the clock when Ottawa quarterback Tom Clements threw to Tony Gabriel
Tony Gabriel
Tony Gabriel is a former professional Canadian football pass receiver who played in the Canadian Football League from 1971 to 1981. He played for both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Rough Riders...
in the end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
. Gabriel faked a post pattern
Post (route)
A post is a moderate to deep passing route in American football in which a receiver runs 10-20 yards from the line of scrimmage straight down the field, then cuts toward the middle of the field at a 45-degree angle.It is designed to stretch the opposing secondary deep down the field, opening holes...
and Provost fell for it, cutting in when the receiver went out. Gabriel hauled in the last seconds pass for a thrilling come from behind victory, at Provost's expense. CFL fans recall this finish as one of the greatest.
Provost, remembered as being quiet, reserved and conservative, will not do interviews on this play.
Ted Provost was successful after his football career, owner of Ted Provost Builders, a construction company in Hilliard, Ohio
Hilliard, Ohio
Hilliard is a city in Franklin County, Ohio, United States. The population was 28,435 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hilliard is located at . It is bordered on the east by Upper Arlington, on the north by Dublin, on the south by Galloway and Columbus, and to the west lies open farmland...
. He and his wife Ruth have three children.
On September 24, 2010 Mr. Provost was inducted into the Fairless High School Hall of Honor.