Woody makes appearance in Marion -- sort of

As a part of Catholic Schools Week, Hayes (impersonator Steve Biro of Columbus) was invited as a motivational speaker for 100 students and nearly 25 grandparents who were observing Grandparents Day.

Biro enrolled at Ohio State in 1981. In 1988, he began doing impersonations at the Varsity Club, a bar on campus. He impressed ABC-TV so much that he was asked to do his Woody impression during the OSU-Michigan game.

He went out and rented a pair of glasses for $100 from Tuckerman Optical. He borrowed a red blazer to add to the look. Now, he does impressions to groups 35 to 40 times a year.

"You're never nothing without your family," Biro told the students in his best Hayes inflection.

Biro was a class clown at Lakewood St. Edward and did impressions of his priest. From there, he expanded the voice of actor Ted Knight, who played Ted Baxter on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." As a kid, he idolized Hayes.

People ask him if he can do other Buckeye coaches.

"I can do John Cooper," Biro said in a southern drawl, "but there's no money in it."

In doing Hayes, he said Cooper is a good guy, but he lost some big games. He did not like seeing a Tennessee guy running his football program.

As Hayes, he talked about Jim Tressel's national title and what it took to accomplish it.

Biro spoke about several key events that happened to Hayes, including punching a Clemson player at the end of a Gator Bowl loss, which led to Hayes being fired as the coach. Near the end of the life, Hayes spoke to an OSU graduating class about "paying forward."

Biro met Hayes only once. He has performed his act for the Hayes family.

Originally published Tuesday, January 28, 2003