tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83890233772626911952024-02-07T21:11:28.011-05:00Jim Tressel's HeadA blog straight from the source.Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-51419912237736248332008-06-07T00:44:00.004-04:002008-06-07T01:27:24.350-04:00Who the Fuck is Tommy Tuberville?<a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://scifipedia.scifi.com/images/thumb/1/1d/Ian-mckellen.jpg/280px-Ian-mckellen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://scifipedia.scifi.com/images/thumb/1/1d/Ian-mckellen.jpg/280px-Ian-mckellen.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I personally thought he had retired after complaining about not making it to the championship game way back in 2003.</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"> I guess he didn't because now he has a new cause: <a href="http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/05/30/tommy-tuberville-doesnt-think-very-highly-of-ohio-state/">Taking shots at Ohio State</a>.<br /><br />So now we don't only have to listen to fans assume they can beat <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> because they are part of the SEC, we have to listen to coaches? Tuberville proclaims:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" > "</span><st1:place style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;" st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" > would have finished fifth in our league and they're ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll," Tuberville said.</span><br /><br />Funny, because I don't remember <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> playing in the SEC. It's a fun statement to make, considering the champion of the SEC has beat <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> in the past 2 championship games and not the second, third or fourth place team.<span style=""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;">The best part is that Tommy doesn’t have to worry about accountability.<span style=""> </span>It’s not like <st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype> will be seeing <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Auburn</st1:place></st1:city> on the gridiron any time soon, unless the Tigers quit dropping random games along the way.<span style=""> </span>My recommendation is the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Auburn</st1:place></st1:city> cedes from the SEC and joins the Big 10 to make up our 12<sup>th</sup> team.<span style=""> </span>My<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/sports.aol.com/fanhouse/media/2008/05/tuberville_180aj.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/sports.aol.com/fanhouse/media/2008/05/tuberville_180aj.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> guess is that <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=270010213">Penn State</a>, Wisconsin, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=280010057"><st1:state st="on">Michigan</st1:state>, </a>and <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Illinois</st1:place></st1:state> would have no trouble with the Tigers.<span style=""> </span>Actually <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> would probably win too, considering as how you’d then be a member of the Big Ten and not the SEC.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;">You may remember <st1:city st="on">Auburn</st1:city> for their <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:state> victories the past 2 years, because besides that there’s not a whole lot to hang your hat on.<span style=""> </span>You would have to assume that <st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype> would drop games to <st1:place st="on">South Florida</st1:place> and The Mississippi State University.<span style=""> </span>Hell, they went toe to toe against <st1:state st="on">Nebraska</st1:state> (yes, Callahan’s <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Nebraska</st1:place></st1:state>).<span style=""> </span><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=260020002"><st1:city st="on">Auburn</st1:city>’s last shot at a Big Ten team didn’t go so well, losing to Wisconsin 24-10 in 2005, so I assume <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Wisconsin</st1:place></st1:state> would finish close to second in the SEC.<span style=""> </span>The John Stocco tossed for over 300 yards and the Badgers held Kenny Irons to 88 yards rushing.<span style=""></span></a><a> </a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;">It’s just sad really that these coaches can shoot off at the mouth without any kind of accountability.<span style=""> </span>If you call out a specific team, you should have to play that team and not hide behind the big boys of your conference (<st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:state> and LSU).<span style=""> </span>He must forget that it’s only <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> that has an issue with beating SEC team, as the rest of the Big Ten seems to do just fine.</p><p face="arial" class="MsoNormal">That being said, it looks like I have a new favorite team to play in a bowl game!<span style=""> </span>But then again, <st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype> will probably be in the National Championship game and <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Auburn</st1:city></st1:place> will probably drop a game to either Louisiana-Monroe or Tennessee Martin.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Don’t worry Tommy, I’ve already petitioned the Big Ten for Auburns admission.</p><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-41513327215981240122008-06-01T16:44:00.002-04:002008-06-01T16:52:23.334-04:00Malcolm Jenkins is Slow...or so says a bunch of 2009 NFL Draft predictions.<br /><br />Comments say that Malcolm Jenkins, the senior cornerback for Ohio State, might not be able to produce in the forty yard dash.<br /><br />Poe is curious to where this rumor started (my guess is a SEC/CBS/Florida message board) because to me, he's always seemed like one of the fastest guys on the field. Just ask Penn State and LSU. In addition, he seems to be the most electric Buckeye when he's got the ball in his hands. The dude is basically Mr. Pick Six. <br /><br />I'm confused. Maybe being one of the fastest Buckeyes only makes you as fast as an LSU linebacker, but I've never watched a game and said "Holy shit, Malcolm Jenkins is slow". Donald Washington got chased down against Texas, so maybe people get Washington and Jenkins confused.<br /><br />You tell me where this vicious rumor started...Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-80376397197563735642008-05-26T12:29:00.003-04:002008-05-26T12:37:28.021-04:00Charmin Soft = 4 Big Ten Teams in CBS Top 25<span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >That’s it.<span style=""> </span>I’ve quit my day job.<span style=""> </span>I’ve been hired by CBSSportsline to come up with articles that provide no insight and inspire a myriad of message board comments.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.sportsline.com/u/photos/football/college/img10814003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 200px;" src="http://images.sportsline.com/u/photos/football/college/img10814003.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dennis Dodd and I on the same team will be quite a force to reckon with.<span style=""> </span>He can piss off the Big Ten and I’ll piss of the SEC.<span style=""> </span>The rest of the conferences will get so sick of the Big Ten and SEC, like they aren’t already, and then CBS will be the first site to reach 1 billion posts.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">I’ve been inspired by Dennis Dodd.<span style=""> </span>He is mentor.<span style=""> </span>Why?<span style=""> </span><a href="http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/10813944">Because he ranks the Buckeyes #1 in this Top 25 poll, one spot above SEC favorite <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Georgia</st1:place></st1:country-region></a>.<span style=""> </span>Why the change of heart from Dodd, who rags on the Buckeyes as choke artists and hammers the Big Ten for being a horrible conference?<span style=""> </span>Dodd says:</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;">“Mix in the roll of baby-soft Charmin known as the Big Ten schedule and this is the team to beat.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">While the whole slate of the Big Ten may be a tad easier than the SEC, Dodd proceeds to include 3 other Big Ten teams in the Top 25 (<st1:state st="on">Illinois</st1:state>, <st1:state st="on">Wisconsin</st1:state>, and <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Michigan</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place>).<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">I could see Dodd’s issue, except for the fact that </span><st1:place style="font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="font-weight: bold;"> plays all 3 teams ON THE ROAD</span>.<span style=""> </span>Dodd also just dropped out <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Penn</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> from the list Post Spring, meaning 5 total Big Ten teams would have been on the list.<span style=""> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> would play all 4.<span style=""> </span>How many SEC teams? <span style="font-weight: bold;">5 of them</span>. In my life, 5=5.<br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">What does this mean? Nothing, because these beat writers write each story with a clean slate, as if they never had a prior opinion or a prior thought (yet all of which can be found in their archive).</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">He also puts 5 Big 12 teams in the top 11.<span style=""> </span>Using previous logic, none of those five play each other during the season?<span style=""> </span>I’d say his top 6 is logical in some order.<span style=""> </span>The sad part is that Dennis Dodd’s opinion counts.<span style=""> </span>His baseless opinions actually lead into the real rankings once the season starts.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.teamline.cc/static/images/logos/SunBelt.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 126px; height: 90px;" src="http://www.teamline.cc/static/images/logos/SunBelt.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">It’s cool to hate on Ohio State’s schedule, and it sucks we have to start out with Youngstown State but we do, but Troy was second in the Sun Belt (ask the SEC about the Sun Belt) and Ohio University at least contends in the MAC.<span style=""> </span>Uh, uh, okay bad arguments…but we play USC in <st1:place st="on">Southern California</st1:place>.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">And that can’t get here soon enough.</span></p>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-88543675518083164292008-05-25T18:31:00.003-04:002008-05-25T18:39:23.951-04:00Why Recruiting Is Creepy<span style="font-family:arial;">ESPN has proven that it is not only the world leader in sports, but the world leader in being downright creepy about high school kids. Talking about <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/football/news/story?id=3390877">Ohio running back Bud Golden</a>:<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/PROSPECT/PHOTO/BUDGOLDEN10_25150.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 147px;" src="http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/PROSPECT/PHOTO/BUDGOLDEN10_25150.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">"He is a tall, well-built kid with the body structure to hold an additional 15-20 pounds of lean bulk to complement his downhill, north-south running style. His frame really impresses you without pads on. While lean, you can see his naturally strong, well-defined upper-body with the broad shoulders to eventually carry more weight and the load as a college running back."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Well, if that ESPN gig doesn't work out, I heard Fabio is looking for a writer for his next romance novel.<br /><br />I have to go shower now...<br /></span>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-21984032701500459502008-05-20T20:08:00.005-04:002008-05-20T20:21:35.748-04:00Head Shots from 5/20/08<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://temple3.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/nick-saban.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://temple3.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/nick-saban.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Big Ten Coaches Want a Break</b>: </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Coaches are proposing <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3396589">a 2</a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3396589"> week quiet period in the summer where recruits would be off limits from the dirty old men stalking them</a>, also known as coaches and recruiters. The story was posted on ESPN and within minutes, comments popped up with suck gems as "This is why the Big Ten sucks" and "Sure, give Carroll, Meyer and Stoops 2 weeks alone with the Midwest’s blue chip recruits".<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mark May busy at work again, I see. His cohorts in comments were ‘McSheezyThaDraftMan’ and ‘MelKiperMustDie’. No idea who THAT could be, Todd.<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></div> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><b> </b></span><div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Perrilloux Finds a Home</b>: <a href="http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/10826480/rss">Ryan Perrilloux has signed his scholarship papers in AL-A-BA-MA! No, not the Crimson Tide, but Jacksonville State</a>. RP can now play next season without riding the pine as he would transferring to a D1A school, which was important since he had already burned his redshirt season (along with the bridges behind him). Was that the season he was in a FBI counterfeiting investigation or and incident with a fake ID and a riverboat casino?<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mcclellan-jpa.com/images/jsu_logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.mcclellan-jpa.com/images/jsu_logo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sports Illustrated has commentary on the situation, with nothing but praise towards Perrilloux, explaining how well he played against Middle Tennessee State and Tennessee. In that case, he’s already shown he can be successful against D1-AA caliber defenses.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">JSU currently has no quarterback on the team, which was also a positive in Perrilloux’s eyes. Was Jacksonville State without a QB because of graduation or injury? No, and we can’t make this up<i>, he was kicked off the team</i>. Funny how the world works.<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></div> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><b> </b></span><div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Julio Jones for President:</b> You know your school loves football when a football player gets third place in the Student Council President race. <a href="http://media.www.cw.ua.edu/media/storage/paper959/news/2008/04/23/News/Julio.Jones.Comes.In.Third.For.Sga.President-3343026.shtml">You know your school REALLY loves football when that player is a write in candidate who has yet to step on campus</a>. Really tall Bama recruit and one member of Nick Saban’s 110 man recruiting class, Julio Jones is already a fan favorite.</span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Look out, we might have Terrelle Pryor elected as Governor of Ohio if this keeps up. </span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />"I’m Terrelle Pryor, and I approve this message."<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></div> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><b> </b></span><div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Jim Tressel Invades Florida</b>: Open spots on the 2009 Ohio State football team are disappearing faster than small children at an elementary school when Charlie Weis got wrong directions to the all-you-can-eat buffet. <i>(Note: Poe is implying Charlie Weis eats small children and house pets. Everyone is dogging on Charlie. 3-9, 3-9)</i>. JT has been quite the jet-setter, keeping tabs on recruits in Florida, Maryland, Tennessee (third time I had to type that word) and California.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/1944_NormandyLST.jpg/300px-1944_NormandyLST.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/1944_NormandyLST.jpg/300px-1944_NormandyLST.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a href="http://www.buckeyeplanet.com/">Ohio State is currently on the short list for so many Florida kids, you’d think we replaced Florida State in the Big Three</a> (we have). Two running backs, several defensive backs, and several wide receivers are getting the JT love, to the point where they might not have enough spots for everyone. </span></div> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Two of the kids are amongst the fastest in the Speed State (hey, it was Microsoft that had me capitalize it). It’s just a shame that they might move north and play in the Big Ten and steal all the speed from the ACC. Yes, the ACC. Not surprisingly, many of the kids are also on Urban Meyer’s radar. No, he really has a radar. Unless you have the speed of a twin engine Cessna, he will not recruit you. Thus the call into Michigan’s tight end (non-existent in any Ohio State-Michigan game), who blew past the entire Florida defense on a screen.</span>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-67787770621423902302008-05-19T17:45:00.004-04:002008-05-19T18:01:37.995-04:00The No Win Argument: College Football Playoffs<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;" > <div>Just so you know, Gordon Gee is looking out for you. He doesn’t want college football to become too professional; he doesn’t want to cross that line "down a slippery slope". Thanks buddy. Luckily for Ohio State, Gordon Gee is normally right. He states we don’t want to get into an "arms race".<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/03ynfkpcwR0Hk/340x.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/03ynfkpcwR0Hk/340x.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div> <i> <div>Poe will be the first to tell you that Gee’s argument is pretty weak.<br /><br /></div> </i><b> </b><div><b>Ohio State is big time college football.</b> Big time college football is professional football without the payroll. Ohio State football has Ohio Stadium (105,000 people), The Woody Hayes Athletic Center ($24 million), ABC primetime games, the Big Ten Network, merchandising deals, sponsorships, and BCS million dollar paydays. This isn’t some two-bit operation that relies on good luck. All that and a playoff pushes us off a slippery slope? Maybe Gee will do away with the athletic department next (ha, Vanderbilt! Seriously though, the real people that run Ohio State would never allow it). Next thing you know, we’ll be talking about paying student-athletes!*<br /><br /></div> <div>*<i>That’s a whole other topic, but lets just say Poe made $23/hr working during a co-op during college. The school sent applications to the employer, employer hired student, student did work, student was paid, and the employer made profit. Sounds like the academics of a university are professional, but we can’t take our sports there?<br /><br /></i></div> <b> </b><div><b><a href="http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=748451">Gee has drawn the ire talk show hosts and sports writers alike</a>.</b> Mike Wilbon of ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption, graduate of Northwestern, crossed his own slippery slope and called Gee "a fraud". Meanwhile, Jim Tressel backs the Ohio State/Big Ten/Pac-10 position on playoffs, probably hoping not to stir the pot and go against the conference and its bowl tie-in (Rose Bowl). Never mind the fact that Tressel won 4 of his 5 national championships in the D-1AA playoff system. It’s a lot like when Wilbon (ESPN) and <a href="http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/10803478/rss">Dennis Dodd</a> (CBS) take shots at Ohio State and the Big Ten, because it’s the culture created by the network. It’s easy to take shots since the collective memory of our society is 2.5 days, and these guys sit in meetings all day discussing how to make controversy. <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=409052">SportingNews </a>says Jim Delaney is the sports most powerful comissioner, but they are the weakest BCS conference. But if there were a playoff, ESPN would likely have to go off air or play more Texas Hold ’em because they won’t get to "debate" as much.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cablecenter.org/images/thumbnailLandscape_140x120/disney-espn.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 102px; height: 90px;" src="http://www.cablecenter.org/images/thumbnailLandscape_140x120/disney-espn.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div> <b> <div>The only reason ESPN/ABC/Disney is likely to be pushing for a playoff system is that ESPN/ABC/Disney is likely to make a bid the next time the TV deals expire.<br /><br /></div> </b><b> </b></span></span><div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;" ><b>The outside view is that the Big Ten doesn’t want a playoff system because then Ohio State wouldn’t get free rides into the championship game. </b>Somehow they figure that Ohio State wouldn’t get an advantage by playing the fourth ranked team (since they have been #1 the past 2 years) and actually playing a game during the 40-day layoff. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it sure doesn’t help Ohio State when they lose the national championship game. And what would become of the team if they win the Rose Bowl, but lose in the championship? Hey congrats, you won the Granddaddy of Them All, but you are still overrated!<br /><br /></span></span></div> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;" ><b> </b></span></span><div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;" ><b>I’m all for the Plus One, if the BCS guys can all sit down at a table and come up with something clever and logical.</b> I’m just not sure they can (oh well, there’s always congress!). The more football the better, for me at least. Maybe the players can all take a vote, after all they are the ones playing. If they are happy, then who cares? Too many times these ruling committees look out for their own interests while forgetting about the players that make of the teams whether it be the NCAA, NFL, NBA, or MLB (sorry NHL).<br /><br /></span></span></div> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;" ><b> </b></span></span><div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;" ><b>Gordon Gee is smarter than we are.</b> In fact, he might even be a bigger Buckeye than we are (any man that wears Buckeye pants is a hero, in my book). We know Gee is all for keeping athletic departments in check and raising academic standards. I’m all for it too. But Ohio State is not Vanderbilt in background, budget, or admissions. I haven’t personally seen a Plus One or playoff system that makes sense logically, but I wouldn’t dare claim college football (and basketball) are separate entities from their professional counterparts. <b><br /><br />Besides, the decision-makers already made their decision.<br /><br /></b></span></span></div>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-42921265045252976692008-05-14T21:03:00.003-04:002008-05-14T21:07:49.556-04:00He Was Who We Thought He Was<span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Can I get a round of applause for whoever came up with the ‘one and done’ rule for college basketball. Bravo. Bra-fucking-vo.</span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.faniq.com/images/blog/mayo1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.faniq.com/images/blog/mayo1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">No, it’s not the fact that the NCAA came up with a completely arbitrary number regarding the duration of term in college (football is 3 years, basketball is only 1 year. I would assume that the team owners and commissioners had something to say about that).</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">‘One and done’, especially at Ohio State, causes issues with a team’s APR rating (basically a formula that accounts for graduation rates of students). Greg Oden, Mike Conley, and Daequan Cook go pro in basketball, your APR score drops since they left in the middle of a semester. It doesn’t matter if you go pro, transfer schools, or just quit the team and drop out of school. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the purpose of</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> college is to work towards gaining the skills you need to be successful in a specific professional. L<span style="font-weight: bold;">et’s say I bailed on the engineering program early because NASA was offering me a $100k signing bonus to be a genius engineer. I doubt the engineering school would be slapped with penalties and have scholarships revoked.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Secondly, OJ Mayo was who we thought he was: any university’s nightmare. Reports show that Mayo had been taking cash and gifts since high school and through his ‘one and done’ season at USC. Uh oh USC. That means since he was directly affiliated with you for 4 months, you now face the wrath of the NCAA. And Mayo? He gets to go pro. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Thankfully, the NCAA has no judicial powers outside "we’ll take back your trophy" and "you can’t play in the postseason", or this could turn into the Spanish Inquisition. The NCAA probably feels it should be above the law, so I wouldn’t be surprised when the NCAA minds rule "off with his head".</span><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://holamun2.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/cash-wad.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://holamun2.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/cash-wad.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I can’t blame Mayo, especially since cash and gifts aren’t technically illegal. All he was trying to do was get paid the entire time. It would have happened on the priest’s watch if he decided he was going to St. Johns or Notre Dame. But the truth was, you could tell from the beginning. OJ Mayo has always had a little bit of flair and attitude, the polar opposite of Greg Oden. Maybe it had something to do with committing to USC in 6<sup>th</sup> grade.<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I can’t blame Mayo. I can blame the NCAA. A two-year rule in college basketball affords at least some accountability from the player to the university. A three-year rule would make college basketball equal to college football. 3+3=3.</span></div>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-38832929589430356012008-05-12T20:18:00.002-04:002008-05-12T20:39:59.886-04:00Terrelle Pryor is Selfish...<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Selfishly in love with Jim Tressel, that is.</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/44/440151.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 214px;" src="http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/44/440151.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">"Why I chose Ohio State is because of Jim Tressel. That's it," Pryor stated emphatically. "I could have went to a lot of great places, but I want to play for coach Tressel. There were a lot of other reasons, like the friends I have here, the distance from home and a few other things, but the main reason is coach Tressel. I want to come here and win a championship for him."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I won't steal BuckeyePlanet's mojo on this, </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.buckeyeplanet.com/forum/buckeye-football/606252-qb-terrelle-pryor-official-thread-237.html#post1161014">so here's the link to the whole post</a><span style="font-family:arial;">. It's the final part of a 3 piece series by scout.com's Bill Greene on the recruitment and signing of Terrelle Pryor.<br /><br />I'm not sure, but I think that kind of comment that makes you an honorary Ohioan. But I thought Pryor was a self-centered, egotistical super recruit that would demand playing time and be a bigger burden than he's worth. Oh well it seems like Pryor is a well rounded, exceptionally thoughtful human being. Is that possible?<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.50states.com/maps/florida.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 126px; height: 164px;" src="http://www.50states.com/maps/florida.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Don't look now, but you just got Tresselized.</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />I'm glad Coach Tressel can lead and inspire. Hell, it's been said many a time that if he were to run for Governor of Ohio, he'd win in a land slide. But you know what happens when you become a politician. You become power hungry.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I can see it now, Tressel mobilizes the Ohio National Guard to initiate</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> takeover attempts on the states of Florida and Louisiana followed by the beheadings of Urban Meyer and Les Miles, thus ending the evil rule</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.50states.com/so/0la.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 112px; height: 103px;" src="http://www.50states.com/so/0la.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> of the SEC and proclaiming the areas as "The Ohio Territories" and</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> southern speed</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> would now be known as "Ohio Speed".</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />And you know what? I think most of us would be okay with that.<br /></span>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-14288551904656630542008-05-10T18:09:00.003-04:002008-05-10T18:18:10.073-04:00Call EA Sports, NCAA Football 2008 Has a Defect<a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://buttonmashing.com/wp-content/uploads/ncaa_2008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://buttonmashing.com/wp-content/uploads/ncaa_2008.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Apparently EA Sports didn't get the memo. I just got done beating the Texas Longhorns for the National Championship for the third straight year. I beat down Texas all 3 years at an average score of 49-14. Guess what? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >They finished the season ranked #2 after those poundings.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And a funny thing happened the next season.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Texas was again ranked #2 to start the season!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Interesting parallels to real life, considering the computer calculates these outcomes using stats and information. You know what a computer doesn't include? Opinion. Go figure.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><br /></div>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-71768897374695971922008-05-05T21:57:00.002-04:002008-05-05T22:09:59.213-04:00LSU Gives In, Ryan Perrilloux Goes Out<b> </b><span style="font-size:85%;"> <div>Ryan Perrilloux rattled the cage in bayou one too many times. It’s the story that I’ve expected to read about every time I’ve read a story about Perrilloux over the past few years. <a href="http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=1165118">Perrilloux </a>= <a href="http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-28/1168501546110410.xml&coll=1">Counterfeiting Ring</a> = FBI = <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2880731">Casino Gambling</a> = <a href="http://100percentinjuryrate.blogspot.com/2007/11/backup-linebackers-are-expendable.html">Bar Fights</a> = <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3265974">Missed Class and Meetings</a> = <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3378148">Failed Drug Test</a> = <a href="http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2008/05/05/perrilloux-se-times-the-60-million-dollar-man-goes-arena/">King of the World </a>= No more D1 football.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.2theadvocate.com/images/102807perrilloux.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://media.2theadvocate.com/images/102807perrilloux.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div> <div>Strangest part of the story to me is about how Les Miles and LSU are getting all the credit for kicking the kid off the team. It’s not everyday that you have to kick the starting QB off the team, but then again its not everyday the starting QB does something and deserves to be kicked off the team. <b>What else could they do?</b> Perrilloux has been suspended on and off for the past year, missing games and practice. At some point you have to realize he might be more trouble than he’s worth and 6 strikes and you’re out, and that’s what happened Friday. <b>That, or one of the other QBs looked good enough in practice to chance the Perrilloux dismissal.<br /><br /></b></div> <div>Ohio State has had its share of issues over the years. Now, LSU. Penn State has, Oklahoma has, WVU, Florida has, South Carolina has, and the list goes on (USC, USC, USC). I mean check out the Fulmer Cup on EDSBS. For the most part, they have been individual exercises and not a result of the nature of the programs. <b>I mean, you’re putting one hundred 18-22,23,24 year old men on a team.</b> I went to college, had fun, did what I had to do, and didn’t get in a whole lot of trouble (Poe hasn’t been arrested, yet). Alas, I wasn’t going to be a QB for a college football power. These guys have different backgrounds and ideas about their futures, and you’ll get a few bad apples that don’t want to follow the rules. For every bad apple, there are 40-50 good apples that you’ll never hear about.<br /><br /></div> <div>Take it from an Ohio State fan: <b>Get Perrilloux on some D-1AA team. Let him play for one or two years and try out for the NFL. </b>You don’t want him calling ESPN, robbing people for cell phones behind bars, carrying guns and Grey Goose in an SUV near a witness’ house, and spending a few in the Toledo Correctional Facility.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> </span><b> <div>In the World of Overly Optimistic Beat Writers…</div> </b><span style="font-size:85%;"> <div>Hide the children, Ron Zook is coming. <a href="http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2008/05/02/columnists/tupper/1032215.txt">With impeccably odd timing, a writer for an Illinois paper talks about how Ron Zook is poaching Ohio football players</a>. It seems like he’s a year late on the Illinois recruiting class, which should be promising but not overwhelming. It just seems like a strange time to release an article just weeks after Melvin Fellows decommitted from Illinois to take the home state Buckeyes. Zooker got Cordale Scott last year from Glenville, but Ohio State got Devier Posey and Jake Stoneburner, both of whom could see action this year. And Ohio State got Garret Goebel last year out of Illinois, who was probably the state’s best prospect (I think he figured he could play day one after watching the DTs play). Anyway, the guy is a year late on his story. <b>If anything, he should have jumped on the "<a href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/18500134.html">Gentlemen’s Agreement</a>" bandwagon.<br /><br /></b></div> <div>Speaking of snake oil salesmen in wizards’ hats, Jim Tressel could have been dogging Walker: Texas Ranger’s favorite old man Joe Tiller with the comments. But Joe Tiller and Purdue aren’t national newsworthy, thus Rich Rodriguez hath been attacked. So now the state of West Virginia, West Virginia University, AND Jim Tressel are out to get him…wait, that IS right<b>. Hopefully for Tiller’s sake, Purdue can go all MAC game on Michigan and put up 50 points</b>. <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=273602117">Wait, then Purdue will somehow give up 52</a>.</div> </span>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-50662392927382693182008-05-01T22:57:00.003-04:002008-05-01T23:05:21.624-04:00All Aboard!<b> </b><span style="font-size:85%;"> <div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Another Monday, another Ohio State recruit commitment</span>. Corey Lindsey, big Ohio offensive lineman, decided to pull the trigger on OSU because that’s who he grew up rooting for and that’s where his mama wanted him to go (good lady). Lindsey was also considering Notre Dame and, gasp, Stanford. It means that Jim Tressel and his staff feel like you can never have enough offensive lineman, and Poe agrees.<br /><br /></div> <u> <div><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">So that makes 13 commitments.</span> </div> </u> <div>Of course, if Ohio State was a member of the SEC or ACC, they would still have 18-20 more recruits to sign (here’s lookin’ at you Miami (Fl) and Alabama). But, alas, they are not and it looks like the 2009 class could top out with 8ish more kids. Me thinks a Glenville kid or two, a running back or two, and a WR or two (especially a 6’5" Randy Moss-Calvin Johnson-freak), and then the staff can call it a recruiting season.</div> <b> <div><br />UPDATE: Make it 14, as Zach Boren did what we all thought he would and picked the Buckeyes. These boys sure are ‘Ohio State Men’.<br /><br /></div> </b><u style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> <div>Which offer is the most prestigious?</div> </u> <div>It’s the age-old question. What school do players consider is the most prestigious offer? It’s the offer that puts a kid on the map and makes people stop and talk about it. No matter where you are in this country, you get the offer from this school and people just assume it’s where you are going…<br /><br /></div> <b> </b><div><b>#1) USC</b>: Hate to say it, fellow Buckeyes, but it’s hard to beat the USC offer. Players from Ohio and Michigan get the USC offer and even the obsessed recruiting followers just assume it will be hard to beat. It’s more than just Pete Carroll and the school. Sure I bet Petey makes it fun and you can all laugh together, but I think the biggest draw is the fact it’s Southern California and the rest are just perks. Columbus, Norman, South Bend, and Gainesville just aren’t LA. There’s no other explanation for the stockpile of running backs than that.<br /><br /></div> <b> </b><div><b>#2) Ohio State</b>: Who Ohio State offers, Ohio State gets (usually). While OSU has predominantly stuck with Ohio boys, more and more athletes from around the country are flocking to Columbus. Example A) Etienne Sabino was a FLA boys and had is USC offer. Sabino, the #1 rated inside linebacker, picks the Buckeyes. Tressel and his staff don’t waste your time or theirs, signing 20 of the 24 kids that officially visited for 2008 (that’s like 80% conversion rate). More and more Florida kids are visiting along with PA kids, Maryland kids, but call me when Tressel starts invading California.<br /><br /></div> <b> </b><div><b>#3) Florida</b>: Urban Meyer must have some positives (though Poe sees none of them, as the Southern boys stay Southern boys and play for Florida. Who else would they play for? Florida State? Miami? Meyer is as lucky as he is good. A lot of kids want to play in Florida, but would rather not play in the ACC. Around 60% of kids in the Rivals100 have Florida listed as a school they are interested in, and I’m sure Urban calls everyone.<br /><br /></div> <u style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> <div>Which offer is the least prestigious?</div> </u> <div>Know what it takes to rebuild? Offers to everybody and their brothers and their brothers’ friends. The next 3 teams are not necessary bad teams, but face an uphill battle in terms of being all that relevant again.<br /><br /></div> <b> </b><div><b>#1) Alabama:</b> Roll Tide. Roll Nick Saban. Roll 50 recruits a season. Saban needs them and he doesn’t want you to worry about the numbers. There’s something I’ve never liked about Saban.<br /><br /></div> <b> </b><div><b>#2) Miami (Fl):</b> Going from having teams stacked with NFL players to QBs who complete 1 of 15 passes, The U might have to change its name to The O for offer after the size of the class they brought in. Bad News is that you now have to put the (Fl) so people know who you are talking about. Good news for Miami is that all those years in the beginning of the millennium help in recruiting.<br /><br /></div> <b> </b><div><b>#3) Illinois:</b> I sent in video of myself sitting at my desk. A week later, I got an in home visit from his staff telling me about how I could get a lot of playing time for the Illini. Oh Zooker. He can sell Rose Bowl appearances, beating Ohio State at home, and playing time, but we still know that 200 kids have been offered for the 25 slots.</div></span>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-91856461838816020662008-04-29T23:01:00.003-04:002008-04-29T23:04:54.802-04:00Head Case: NFL Draft<span style="font-family: arial;font-size:85%;" > <div style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Drafted Buckeyes</div> <b> </b> <div style="font-style: italic;">Vernon Gholston</div> <div>Big man goes #6 and made even the Jets fans happy. The least human and most humble of the draftees on Saturday, Gholston helps Ohio State land instate recruit, Melvin Fellows, by just being Vernon and being a first round draft pick. The Jets seem to love Ohio State players, along with the Colts and Bills.<br /><br /></div> <div style="font-style: italic;">Larry Grant</div> <div>According to Eleven Warriors, the only man on the planet to lose <b>4 straight</b> national championship games (2 at Ohio State, 2 during his JUCO years). CBSSportsline suggests "Larry Grant was some what of a good luck charm for whatever team he’s played on", but neglects to mention the teams lost all 4 Championships. Larry, we loved having you here. But if the 49ers make it to the Super Bowl this season and lose, I recommend taking some time off from football.<br /><br /></div> <div style="font-style: italic;">Kirk Barton</div> <div>In a way, Kirk Barton was close to being the antithesis of Michigan’s Jake Long. Jake Long goes #1, you almost go # last. Wearing my scarlet colored glasses, I never saw a giant difference between Long and Barton to equate to that differential. Stock didn’t jump after the last two bowl games.<br /><br /></div> <b style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> <div>Undrafted Buckeyes</div> </b> <div style="font-style: italic;">Dionte Johnson</div> <div>His biggest problem is that he wasn’t even the best fullback on the team. His biggest strength is that he’s the son of Pepper Johnson, and within a few months and a couple phone calls, the kid will have a job. I hate to say it seemed like he took his starting position for granted, while Tank Whaley was the fan favorite and the more effective FB). UPDATE: Free Agency for Dionte and Tank.<br /></div> <b> <div><br />Other News...........................................................................................<br /><br />Awful bad week for the Illini: </div> </b> <div>First, Melvin Fellows decommits from Illinois to attend Ohio State. (Yay us)<br /><br /></div> <div>Second, Rivals takes shots below the belt at your coach in a recruiting article. (Maybe they are right)<br /><br /></div> <div>And finally, leading tackler J Leman goes undrafted. (Bucknuts feel for you, cause the dude is the definition of football player, even if he’s a little weird)<br /></div> <b> <div><br />Mr Flacco Goes to Baltimore</div> </b> <div>The Baltimore Ravens must take recruiting analysis from Mel Kiper and ESPN. He said they needed a QB, and they went out and got Joe Flacco out of D1AA’s winged helmeted Delaware, new location of OSU’s own Robbie Schoenhoft.<br /><br /></div> <div>The bad news for Troy Smith: Flacco is about a half a foot taller. Hell, that means starting NFL QB right there.<br /><br />The good news for Troy Smith: Steve McNair retired and they didn’t just draft the next Steve McNair. Flacco put up good numbers against D1AA, Troy put up good numbers in D1.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What do you think Troy's future includes?</span><br /></div> </span>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-24758228058475575252008-04-27T22:19:00.004-04:002008-04-27T22:50:52.281-04:00Introducing: Evil Jim Tressel<span style="font-family: arial;">Superman has Bizarro Superman.</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Spiderman has Venom.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">and Jim Tressel? Jim Tressel has </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;">Evil Jim Tressel</span><span style="font-family: arial;">.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zFbuNgjyNBDzshgPsXCHfXKwJgbzR8f6f7syom-7O0p2mseHPr6T62ubFZwVLLqIPKbK8yzZpajwxjxWnl6fNy6arox_Z0bRhj-FCdR21JQ6gSBRgXFV8O5R9MmcUjoBGokkyV7TNhs/s1600-h/jim-tressel-evil+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zFbuNgjyNBDzshgPsXCHfXKwJgbzR8f6f7syom-7O0p2mseHPr6T62ubFZwVLLqIPKbK8yzZpajwxjxWnl6fNy6arox_Z0bRhj-FCdR21JQ6gSBRgXFV8O5R9MmcUjoBGokkyV7TNhs/s320/jim-tressel-evil+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194122444305607698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">You never know when Evil Jim Tressel will appear. It could be for an entire game or maybe just a series.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">-------------------------------------------------------------------</span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/si_online/covers/images/1994/1205_thumb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 187px;" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/si_online/covers/images/1994/1205_thumb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eye Witness Account</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1006045/index.htm">[Sports Illustrated Vault - 12/5/1994]</a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"[Steve McNair] would have one more chance to take his case to the nation, to show that at the very least, he was capable of playing with the big boys of Division I-AA—defending champion Youngstown State...By halftime the game had deteriorated into something you would see at the corner sandlot, and Youngstown State went on to destroy Alcorn 63-20.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Would a healthier McNair have made a difference on Friday? Said Youngstown coach Jim Tressel after the game. </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;">"McNair might have been fortunate he had the hamstring. If he'd been running, he would have been tattooed."</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">-------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Jim Tressel is a calculating, efficient college football coach who plays strategy and field position. Jim Tressel is field goals, punts, and pounding the rock. Jim Tressel will win games with scores of 9-7, 21-14, and respects the opponent. Jim Tressel will keep the playbook closed and keep the score close.</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.thephatphree.com/_photos/WD-Jim-Tressel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.thephatphree.com/_photos/WD-Jim-Tressel.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">But piss off Jim Tressel, and along comes Evil Jim Tressel. Evil Jim Tressel makes grown men cry. </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=272650194">You last saw him in Columbus against Northwestern</a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Evil Jim Tressel shows no mercy to the opponent. If you are an opponent and you are drowning, Evil Jim Tressel </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">will put a hose in your mouth.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I expect to see Evil Jim Tressel a lot more in 2008 than 2007. There's a whole lot of seniors on offense and defense. After losses in the national championship games the past 2 seasons, Evil Jim Tressel needs to show everybody who is boss. </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=194">Evil Jim Tressel needs to take on Pete Carroll, Rich Rodriguez, and whoever is on the other side in a bowl game</a><span style="font-family: arial;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Jim Tressel could do it, but it would be more interesting to watch Evil Jim Tressel do it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I need the </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;">"If he'd been running, he would have been tattooed"</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> quote after every game.</span>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-88623671406511580722008-04-26T15:51:00.003-04:002008-04-26T15:54:46.171-04:00Best Week Ever: Buckeye Edition<span style="font-family: arial;font-size:85%;" > <b> </b><div><b>Let’s run down the list.</b></div> <ol><li>Ohio State Spring Game – Great for the fans and the recruits<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.2theadvocate.com/images/vernon+gholston_121707.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://media.2theadvocate.com/images/vernon+gholston_121707.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></li><li>Darrell Givens Commits – Teammate of Lamaar Thomas and OSU’s first offer.</li><li>Dorian Bell Commits – 5 Star Linebacker from Pennsylvania </li><li>Jordan Hall Commits – 4 Star Running Back and Terrelle Pryor’s right hand man from PA.</li><li>Justin Boren transfer from Michigan to Ohio State is confirmed by Coach Tressel.</li><li>Melvin Fellows Commits – Possibly the top ranked Ohio player decommits from Illinois.</li><li>Vernon Gholston Goes Six to the Jets - Big Vern makes it another Top 10 pick for Jim Tressel<br /></li></ol> <div>That’s a whole lot of good news and good fortune.<br /><br /></div> <div>The Buckeyes have sealed up 12 commits for the 2009 recruiting class. All it needs is 1 or 2 more running backs (Florida boys, that’s you), another receiver, and you’ve got a pretty good recruiting class. For in depth recruiting, I recommend <a href="http://www.buckeyeplanet.com/">BuckeyePlanet </a>or <a href="http://www.dottingthei.com/">DottingtheI</a>. I can spit off names all day, but I’m a reporter, not an investigator.<br /></div> <div><br />Turns out that Jermale Hines, the OSU linebacker that went down during the spring game, doesn’t have a serious injury and should be back before fall camp. Jermale is one of those fast mo-fo’s OSU is stocking up at linebacker and was widely rumored to have been practicing as a running back prior to the championship game against LSU.<br /></div> <b> <div><br />For as good of a week as its been, I still think I would trade it for a certain week in early January.</div> </b></span>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-42491738862746104952008-04-24T19:57:00.004-04:002008-04-24T20:14:00.487-04:00Boren To Be Wild...in 2009<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >Block O is Complete…Sort of.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Mike Adams, Michael Brewster, JB Shugarts. According to the recruiting experts, that’s one haul of a class. But to many Buckeyes’ chagrin on National Signing Day, they didn’t end up with that fourth man to finish up the Brew Crew, and even more so, the fan-appointed Block O. Josh Jenkins turned too mellow yellow and didn’t want to lose national championships (preferred losing to Pitt more) and everyone else was an afterthought.<br /></span> <a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNI94t9gj_-skUfUVdrZbMbSJ2lySmYeOfupyKfuSU6jR1mG4v5_ODgTVyIBWG-2UgOHkyspRh3C2lti7_5saJLm7g3MugLvdULcX6mlkrRqGBEwpY0nKj3BD-YsUCOBrnz69hC_x8aOVW/s1600/rr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNI94t9gj_-skUfUVdrZbMbSJ2lySmYeOfupyKfuSU6jR1mG4v5_ODgTVyIBWG-2UgOHkyspRh3C2lti7_5saJLm7g3MugLvdULcX6mlkrRqGBEwpY0nKj3BD-YsUCOBrnz69hC_x8aOVW/s1600/rr.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">But thanks to Rich Rodriguez (send him a thank you card), that <a href="http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2008/04/24/oller24.ART_ART_04-24-08_C1_S6A10E0.html?sid=101">elusive fourth lineman has landed in their lap in the form of Justin Boren</a>. You may remember Boren as the sophomore starter for the Michigan Wolverines this past year. You know, <a href="http://www.mgoblue.com/football/playerbio.aspx?id=69168">All Big Ten Justin Boren</a>. Well he decided he’d like to stay All Big Ten, but do it in Columbus rather than Ann Arbor. Mighty smart man to me.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />But Poe, Don’t you have a problem with an ex-Michigan player on the Ohio State sideline?</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Normally, yes. But under the circumstances, no. He wasn’t recruited by Rodriguez. He didn’t want to play in the spread offense. If he wanted to, he would have gone to Florida or West Virginia. The kid obviously wants to make it to the NFL, and that’s his #1 priority. Hell, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview07/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=2982521">I would assume that 25% of the team is at any given major power because it will help them get to the NFL and get paid</a>…IF he comes in, tries his heart out, and does the best he can.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Yea but Michigan has a longer line of successful NFL offensive lineman!</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Old Michigan did. New Michigan doesn’t. Old Michigan also made some pretty good NFL QBs. New Michigan probably won’t. A good NFL GM is always going to have that “<a href="http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/21/the-spread-spreading-to-the-nfl/">So you played in a spread offense” idea in the back of his mind, doesn’t matter if you’re a QB, RB, WR, or Lineman</a>. Maybe we can start referring to it as BRR and ARR, Before Rich Rod and After Rich Rod. Wisconsin makes some pretty good lineman too, and guess what style of football they play.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Ohio State (aka Suckeyes, Luckeyes, The University of Ohio State, Only Second University) sucks!</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Totally dude. People were picking a sophomore and junior loaded Ohio State team to beat a senior laden LSU squad. That’s some pretty high praise. Ohio State was the underdog, and rightfully so. Guess who has the senior equipped team this year? Um, the Buckeyes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><br />Ohio State and Notre Dame Flip Schedules…<br /></span></span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2008-04-23-ohiostate-navy-series_N.htm">The Navy Midshipmen vs. The Ohio State Buckeyes. 2009 opener and 2014 opener</a>. Navy? Really, Navy? I would assume that since Army dropped Ohio State (or the other way around), OSU wanted to keep it in the academies. I was unaware we have the same people making our schedules as Notre Dame does. Ohio State now plays Navy, USC, Michigan State, Michigan, and Penn State.</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.hlla.com/reference/pix/navy1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.hlla.com/reference/pix/navy1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Oddly, Ohio State chose to <span style="font-weight: bold;">OPEN </span>the <span style="font-weight: bold;">SEASON </span>at <span style="font-weight: bold;">NAVY </span>in <span style="font-weight: bold;">2014 </span>(seating a whopping 35,000 will make Ohio State fans feel like they are sitting in on a one on one with the team) or a neutral stadium in the greater Annapolis area. You may ask why…why would Ohio State open the season at a mid-major?</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Say it with me. Annapolis is in…Maryland. Annapolis is close to…DC.<br /><br />You know what’s in Maryland and DC, don’t you? Poe will tell you. Recruits are in Maryland and DC; just ask <a href="http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=45645&Sport=1">Lamaar Thomas</a> and <a href="http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=69425">Darrell Givens</a>. You know who gets to go watch the home opener? Prospective recruits that don’t want to play in the ACC, well because, it’s the ACC. Boston College? Virginia? Virginia Tech? <span style="font-weight: bold;">Enough said.</span></span>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-38308218857893700032008-04-23T21:40:00.002-04:002008-04-23T21:42:41.139-04:00Motto for 2008<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dfkWuDTsicg&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dfkWuDTsicg&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Or if that doesn't work...</span><br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gUk7KbaiTPw&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gUk7KbaiTPw&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-82618286980991910522008-04-22T20:15:00.002-04:002008-04-22T20:47:01.105-04:00Win or Die: A Ridiculously Digustingly Early Preview<span style="font-size:78%;">This was going to be a Bash Brothers, Ross Homan and Austin Spitler, post. But Poe would like to do some fact checking...Stay Tuned.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.stanford.edu/group/squash/USC%20Logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 119px;" src="http://www.stanford.edu/group/squash/USC%20Logo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Goliath vs. Goliath.<span style=""> </span>The teams of the decade.<span style=""> </span>Game of the week.<span style=""> </span>Carroll vs. Tressel.<span style=""> </span>Big 10 vs. Pac-10. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve heard that <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/trip-view-1569879-2008_ohio_state_usc"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype> at <st1:place st="on">Southern California</st1:place></a> is going to be a great game.<span style=""> </span>I’ve heard it’s not life or death for the Buckeyes.<span style=""> </span>I’ve heard if <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> loses, they can still make it back to the championship.<span style=""> </span>I heard this game doesn’t make the season.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Right. Wrong.<span style=""> </span>Wrong. Wrong.</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The truth is, September 9<sup>th</sup> in the Coliseum <i style="">is</i> the Buckeyes’ season, in a way. To Buckeye fans, it’s about winning the Big Ten and beating <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Michigan</st1:place></st1:state>.<span style=""> </span><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=230032390">Bowl wins and National Championships are icing on the cake</a>.<span style=""> </span>Unfortunately, the rest of the Nation (and now somehow the rest of the Big Ten) doesn’t feel that way.<span style=""> </span>If you don’t plow through your OOC schedule and win a bowl game (including the National Championship), you mean nothing and you were obviously overrated.<span style=""> </span>It’s all about R-E-S-P-E-C-T.<span style=""> </span>Something of which these Buckeyes have very little.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.adrian.edu/sports/images/helmet_sticker_big.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.adrian.edu/sports/images/helmet_sticker_big.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You know it’s bad when <st1:state st="on">Michigan</st1:state> fans and <st1:state st="on">Iowa</st1:state> fans and <st1:place st="on">Wisconsin</st1:place> fans are calling out the Buckeyes for losing in back to back championship games.<span style=""> </span>Next, we’ll start hearing from those Big Ten fans how the Buckeyes play an easy schedule.<span style=""> </span>Not to mention ESPN (TV and radio), CBS (SEC Sports), SI, Pac-10 fans, Big East fans, and the mighty, mighty SEC.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So what exactly does the USC game mean to The Ohio State Buckeyes?<span style=""> </span>That’s hard to quantify.<span style=""> </span>Bucks win? Oh, well, USC is ‘rebuilding’ and <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> caught them early in the season.<span style=""> </span>Bucks lose? USC is a powerhouse and the Buckeyes can’t beat anyone of significance.<span style=""> </span>If only we could publish opinions and predictions before the game and compare them after the game.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Well, guess what, here at Jim Tressel’s Head, you can!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <h1><span style="font-size:100%;">The Game Itself</span></h1><h1><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.celebrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/matthew.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.celebrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/matthew.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></h1> <p class="MsoNormal">A stacked <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> team against a reloading USC team.<span style=""> </span>Plain and<br />simple.<span style=""> </span>It won’t be the 2006 <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Texas</st1:place></st1:state> game, as Pete Carroll is<br />admittedly a better coach and recruiter than Mack Brown.<span style=""> </span>USC has more <a href="http://rivals100.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?Year=2008&School=71">4 and 5 star recruits</a> than any team in the nation.<span style=""> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> has more <a href="http://rivals100.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?Year=2008&School=56">3 and 4 star recruits </a>that play like 4 and 5 start recruits.<span style=""> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> has all the experience, USC has all the acclaim.<br /><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <h2><span style="font-size:100%;">USC</span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal">Mark Sanchez throws and moves like a USC QB.<span style=""> </span>He’s not quite Matt Leinart, and hopefully not<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080102/capt.f4190d8d294944e298db3e88ff672993.rose_bowl_football_catg113.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080102/capt.f4190d8d294944e298db3e88ff672993.rose_bowl_football_catg113.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> even John David Booty, who was able bomb away on <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls06/bowls?game=rose"><st1:state st="on">Michigan</st1:state></a> AND <a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=280010030"><st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Illinois</st1:place></st1:state>.<span style=""> </span></a>Rumor has it he can operate on the run, and he may have to.<span style=""> </span><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/teams/schedule?teamId=30">With a retooled offensive line that will play <st1:state st="on">Virginia</st1:state> and then a week off before <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place></a>, I expect a motivated OSU defense to pressure Sancheezy.<span style=""> </span>The stable of running backs is still a stable of running backs (who obviously value women and beaches more than playing time). The gaggle will only spell trouble if <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> sells out to stop the run, and lets Sanchez have a field day against a zone defense (Florida Game, Florida Game, Illinois Game, Illinois Game).<span style=""> </span>McKnight did the most damage to <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Illinois</st1:place></st1:state> off a fumbled screen pass.<span style=""> </span>The receivers can all catch the ball and go.<span style=""> </span>They can catch the ball on the go.<span style=""> </span>They have the most experience on this team, mainly since there are 37 running backs on the active roster splitting time.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The USC defense, on the other hand, should give Todd Boeckman fits.<span style=""> </span>Gone are key members of the defensive line and linebacker positions.<span style=""> </span>Bad news: They should still be better than <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Illinois</st1:place></st1:state>, where Todd honestly looked stupid.<span style=""> </span>Corners are what should be expected.<span style=""> </span>USC sports a Sean-Taylor-Reincarnate (Can I say that? Yes, because it is a compliment) at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wL-4aYmMGk">safety who could remove Ray Small’s head (again)</a>.<span style=""> </span>He will be the biggest guy in the secondary unless Jake Stoneburner is out there running routes.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/allthingstrojan/images/2008/01/01/maualuga_williams.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 126px;" src="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/allthingstrojan/images/2008/01/01/maualuga_williams.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <h2><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal">Todd Boeckman is still Todd Boeckman, for better or worse.<span style=""> </span>When he’s on, he’s on.<span style=""> </span>When he’s<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.killernuts.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/tboek1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.killernuts.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/tboek1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> off, he’s off.<span style=""> </span>There is no middle ground.<span style=""> </span>So why make Boeckman work for it?<span style=""> </span>Leak, Juice, and Flynn haven’t worked for it, and they’ve torn up the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> defense.<span style=""> </span>Good news: Todd’s been working on the check down to tight ends and running backs (is that not on the schedule the first 5 years?).<span style=""> </span>If the offensive line tries for the full 60 minutes, there isn’t a better running back than Beanie Wells.<span style=""> </span>Left, right, and over you, Beanie Wells will pick up 5-10 yards if you give him an inch of space.<span style=""> </span>Essential in the game will be the check downs and screens to Brandon Saine and Mo Wells.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> defense replaces a DE and a LB with guys that have all seen significant playing time.<span style=""> </span>But does it matter?<span style=""> </span>For approximately 11 games each of the past 2 seasons, the defense has done its best Silver Bullets impression.<span style=""> </span>Bad news: The other 2 games have been against good, not great, offenses and they’ve looked confused, befuddled, and downright bad.<span style=""> </span>As mentioned above, Leak, Juice, and Flynn have looked like Peyton Manning against <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>Good News: New season.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It’s always been smash mouth football for the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> defense.<span style=""> </span>2002, 2003, and 2005.<span style=""> </span>Those defenses told the opposing offense how they were going to play.<span style=""> </span>They dictated the game.<span style=""> </span><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype> has lost to <st1:state st="on">Florida</st1:state>, <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Illinois</st1:place></st1:state>, and LSU because they didn’t.<span style=""> </span>We’ll blame it on inexperience.<span style=""> </span>Guess what is the reoccurring theme in 2003, 2005, and 2008? <b style="">Senior leadership,</b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bestsportsphotos.com/images/football/gamble-chris-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.bestsportsphotos.com/images/football/gamble-chris-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><b style=""> specifically at linebacker. </b><span style=""> </span>Marcus Freeman, Curtis Terry, and James Laurinaitis are all seniors.<span style=""> </span>You know what happened during AJ Hawk and Bobby Carpenter’s junior seasons? 8-4.<span style=""> </span>2005? 11-2 and Fiesta Bowl BCS winners.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For the 2008 Ohio State Buckeyes to beat USC in LA, it will take all their effort.<span style=""> </span>It will take more than all their effort.<span style=""> </span>Chris Gamble used to sleep for 14 hours after a game because he was all out on every play, almost every play of the game.<span style=""> </span>Craig Krenzel used to get knocked around like a punching bag (or girlfriend) in Mike Tyson’s house.<span style=""> </span>Now I’m not saying the 2008 Buckeyes have to be the 2002 Buckeyes, but I wouldn’t mind the term <i style="">Luckeyes</i> flying around again.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Trust me, it wasn’t just luck.<o:p></o:p></b></p>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-20454642157552510632008-04-19T11:53:00.003-04:002008-04-19T12:06:16.943-04:00Damn you, SECI blame this on you.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I hate Michigan. Always have. I cringe when I see a baby wearing Maize and Blue.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xFIAoIPSKek&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xFIAoIPSKek&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object></span></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />But as I sit here in Toledo (who, thanks to Buckeye Cable, gives me the Big 10 Network), I get an uneasy happiness watching Michigan terrorize Urban Meyer's mind. What's so confusing is that its the SEC's fault (compounded by ESPN bowl victory count) that makes me want to cheer for my fellow Big 10 teams in out of conference games and bowl games.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Damn your smarmy attitude, Mr. Meyer. Damn you.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.armyofmom.com/Urban_Meyer%20reading.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 113px; height: 173px;" src="http://www.armyofmom.com/Urban_Meyer%20reading.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-81346570895038623432008-04-18T18:30:00.003-04:002008-04-18T18:39:52.645-04:00Ohio State Player Goes First in the DraftNo, not Vernon Gholston. No, not that draft.<span><i><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0duZetR0XZ4UV/610x.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0duZetR0XZ4UV/610x.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></i></span></i></span> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" > <i> <div><br />Ain’t Nuthin But a T Thang: Gibson Goes Numero Uno</div> </i> <div><br />As in <b>Thad Gibson</b>, the newly minted rush end for The Ohio State University. How’s he making the switch? Well the Buckeye Seniors (and they do have more than 2 or 3 this year) made him the official first pick of the draft…for the spring game…after all the seniors had already been appointed sides.<br /><br /></div> <div>You may remember Thad most memorably from the 4<sup>th</sup> quarter of the Wisconsin game, we know their QB does. Basically playing the role of a rush end when the official title was linebacker, Thad took the outside with his speed, threw the first team lineman out of the way, and supermanned himself into Stocco and causing a fumble. Now if we could only get some intensity like that from our defensive tackles… </div> <div>Gibson was followed by <b>Lawrence Wilson</b>, who is the fan appointed king-of-the-end-position-now-that-Gholston-is-gone. <b>Malcolm Jenkins</b> responded with, "Yea well we got Lawrence Wilson". Yes you do, and considering the extreme lack of offensive lineman available (even with JB Shugarts being available), I feel sorry for <b>Antonio Henton </b>and<b> Joe Bauserman</b>.<br /></div> <b> </b><div><b><br />Terrelle Pryor</b> looks pretty smart right now. TP won’t be at Ohio State till mid summer, but had he chosen to take part in spring practice, he would have faced the meat of the Ohio State defense all by himself. Basically the offensive line is down out a few starters and 2 blue chip freshman. No biggie!<br /></div> <i> <div><br />Special Teams Need Special Bus</div> </i> <div>In case you didn’t know, Ohio State ended last year ranked 117<sup>th</sup> in kickoff returns. That’s for D-1A. Out of a 119 teams. It goes 117, 118, 119, that’s it. A year removed from Teddy Ginn terrorizing kickoffs (actually 2 or 3, depending when you consider Ginn stopped hitting holes and started trying to juke defenders back and forth), the unit ranks 3<sup>rd</sup> to last in organized football.<br /></div> <div><br />With all fairness to Ray Small, return man on 22 of 34 kicks, the blocking could be better, as it could have been in 2006. But then again, Ray Small has tried to wind sprints during the returns, going sideline to sideline without the hint of turning up field.<br /></div> <div><br />Enter Brandon Saine and Boom Herron (and Maurice Wells). Obviously a change in philosophy occurred, shifting from small, fast returnees to big, powerful RBs. Many wondered why Saine wasn’t back there more last year, packing enough mass and velocity to do damage (physics lesson; momentum=mass x velocity, or p=mv).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/45/459698.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/45/459698.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div> <div><br />Maurice Wells is curious, as he can only be defined as shifty, and the dude who hasn’t broken a long run since he got here. Mo Wells reminds me of PJ Hill. Not that PJ Hill, Ohio State basketball player PJ Hill. Are you sure they aren’t the same person? All the jumping around and hair flying, with not a lot to show for it.<br /></div> <div><br />Maurice, I hate to say it. You need it, I need it, we need it. It’s your senior year. Try something new.</div> </span><b style="font-family: arial;"> <div>Shave the head.</div> </b>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-46689077878750717512008-04-16T18:27:00.003-04:002008-04-16T18:31:44.795-04:00Maurice Jones-Drew Gives Troy Smith a Shout Out<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ravenstd.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/troy-smith-vs-new-york-giants.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 195px;" src="http://ravenstd.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/troy-smith-vs-new-york-giants.jpeg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Well sort of…</span> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><b style="">If you count <i style="">“Well they got that kid from your school, don’t they?”</i> then he got one.<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Ok, a little out of context.<span style=""> </span>The NFL Live guys were all discussing the AFC East and the teams’ strength and which team they think will win it.<span style=""> </span>ESPN heads predict Pittsburgh and Cleveland, while Jones-Drew goes with the wild card and takes the Ravens, enough to raise the ire of the Trey Wingo and the crew (not to mention ESPN execs).<span style=""> </span>Someone chimes in “How about that quarterback position, they got that figured out yet?” and <b style="">Jones-Drew looks over to THE Cris Carter and <i style="">says “Well they got that kid from your school, don’t they?”</i></b> (promptly inciting a commercial break so quick you would have expected it to be CBS).</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Cris Carter -> Ohio State -> Troy Smith -> Ravens -> That Guy from Your School</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><b style="">Sure, he doesn’t know Troy’s name, but it’s the thought that counts.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Then again, it could be retribution for <b style="">Chris Fowler calling Cris Carter “<i style="">a former Gator</i>”</b> during<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.texastwirler.com/corso.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.texastwirler.com/corso.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a> ESPN’s televised broadcast of Florida’s spring game (that’s right, national televised on a major network, spring game).<span style=""> </span>Really Fowler? Ohio State has a couple guys you might have heard of…Glenn, Galloway, (dare I say Boston), or Holmes?<span style=""> </span>Quality reporting does not equal the ESPN.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><b style="">Also, expect Lee Corso to be so over the top this year that he makes Joe Paterno look</b><b style=""> sane.</b><span style=""> </span>Why not start off 2008 predicting the South Carolina Gamecocks (at 6-6 in 2007) would win the SEC East.<span style=""> </span>Let’s put it this way, the far-from-the-real-USC is so bad, even Ohio State could beat them in a bowl game…someday.</p>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-29649086058206484112008-04-14T18:35:00.003-04:002008-04-14T22:16:52.238-04:00Behind Enemy LinesAnn Arbor, MI<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpsj5wH5Hx2C_aXhwZVl3VUwn-MesdDU4RBSfhlchjry9Dy4iALHQIT9COjigMG0fhrIN8KBWWNftpupu1tW0BP3ztG_bU1UuBIrdF19748pUNFhF3N2SMULMwSeXrvoI35Zgoh71W44/s1600-h/RichRodriguez21207.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpsj5wH5Hx2C_aXhwZVl3VUwn-MesdDU4RBSfhlchjry9Dy4iALHQIT9COjigMG0fhrIN8KBWWNftpupu1tW0BP3ztG_bU1UuBIrdF19748pUNFhF3N2SMULMwSeXrvoI35Zgoh71W44/s200/RichRodriguez21207.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189290299951665074" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" > <i> </i> <div>Word out of the Michigan spring scrimmage is that Rich Rodriguez is <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=399029">"encouraged with the play of his defense"</a>. Sounds like the <span style="font-style: italic;">Associated Press</span> way of saying "well there’s nothing positive on the offensive side of things". In what was a glorified practice at a local Ann Arbor high school (<a href="http://blog.psufan.com/2008/03/beaver-stadium-largest-in-country.html">as a result of the Big House being morphed into the Second Biggest House</a>), the defense forced, or were given (depending on who you talk to), 6 turnovers including a fumble recovery and FIVE interceptions.<br /><br /></div> <div><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" >"The defense came along about how I expected," [Rich Rodriguez] said. "The defense should dominate. If they don’t, were going to have some issues."</span><br /><br /></div> <div>Interesting statement coach, please elaborate. To be fair to the, uh, evolution occurring in Michigan, everybody except a select majority of UM fans feels that it will be a few years to incorporate the system and have everything firing all cylinders.<br /><br /></div> <div>It’s sort of like a startup business, you take losses in the beginning to win in the end. The problem with Michigan is that they are not a startup, far from it, having been in business for 100 years. West Virginia? Startup in the beginning. A lot of other small schools adapting a spread type offense? Startups. The only thing similar in business would be if Ford dropped its F-Series pickup trucks (the real breadwinners) to focus on convertible sports cars. Michigan produced dropback passers by the NFL load, and to win 1-2 games more per year, are changing the entire offense. Tom Brady might have fun going to watch Michigan games from now on, but he sure as hell wouldn’t play for them.<br /><br /></div> <div>We all saw what Michigan was capable of in 2006 against Ohio State and in 2007 against the Florida defense. I would be more scared of those Michigan teams than probably many future Michigan teams. But I guess when a team goes 1-6 against a certain school and head coach, its time to change something, but should it really have been the whole image of the school? I’m sure I’ll get MGoBloggers freaking out and telling me how Buckeye Nation is scared and the tables have turned.<br /><br /></div> <div style="font-weight: bold;">A completely able bodied and functional pro style offense is 10x scarier than a spread option offense.</div> <b><i> </i></b><div><b><i><br />And Speaking of that SEC SPEED@#$%^&*()_!…</i></b></div> <i> <div><br />Gainesville, FL<span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj834pV-xaXgW2wA-0Djwo-rjJYUy4p1S00q2mWx952NpiBiCunYJJ_PHy_qI8Es_CZbfGbLbz-Xj4zfunpDY8Zmsv0QTe8wqKE457Skm7x8XwJ6m8MFfiSMQgtYlHf_D2DJO3_xIpic/s1600-h/F325169.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj834pV-xaXgW2wA-0Djwo-rjJYUy4p1S00q2mWx952NpiBiCunYJJ_PHy_qI8Es_CZbfGbLbz-Xj4zfunpDY8Zmsv0QTe8wqKE457Skm7x8XwJ6m8MFfiSMQgtYlHf_D2DJO3_xIpic/s320/F325169.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189289930584477602" border="0" /></a></span></span></div> </i> <div>I’ll get this out of the way. I hate Urban Meyer. I hate Michigan, but I was downright giddy watching the Wolverines drive up and down the field on the Gators. If the Big 10 is slow, UM has to be classified as the slow of the slow. Yet I watched a Wolverine TE outrace the FLA defense on a screen.<br /><br /></div> <div>Anyways, good ol boy <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=399030">Urban Meyer feels that his savior at running back, Emmanuel Moody "will not play football for the Gators if there’s a chance he’ll put the ball on the ground" or along those lines. </a><br /><br />Ouch, and this after Moody was the leading rusher during the ESPN televised Gators’ spring game. But he’s not small and fast like the incumbent back and we all know that <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=398143">Urban will sacrifice actual football talent for SEC speed</a>. And all this after Meyer spent the offseason telling Moody everyday how he "better be really good".<br /><br /></div> <div>Nothing is below Urban Meyer, even if it means taking shots at the kid you lured from So Cal (I hear North Carolina and Oklahoma State are nice this time of year). I understand that they are comments probably meant to inspire and motivate Moody rather than degrade and belittle…<br /><br /></div> <div>But still, you can’t help to think that Moody has to be asking himself if he made the right decision transferring to Florida.</div> </span>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-29628511772848774922008-04-11T19:09:00.006-04:002008-04-13T23:27:39.670-04:00Look What You Did (Revised)...<span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/hindenburg.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/hindenburg.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">According to an unconfirmed report by </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://dottingthei.com/index.php/possible-suspensions/">dottingthei.com</a><span style="font-family:arial;">, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Eugene Clifford, Donald Washington, Jamario O'Neal</span>, and a mysteriously removed from the post <span style="font-weight: bold;">Maurice Wells</span>, are all prime time for smoke time. </span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />As in, <span style="font-style: italic;">herbal remedy, pot, reefer, cheeba, hash, boom, pow, yank, crash, tata, hehaw, meow</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">marijuana</span>.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />And as a result, the secondary will be playing a little light against Youngstown State and Ohio (oh no).<br /><br /></span></span><ul><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I am <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">NOT </span>wary of trusting a blog with less posts than myself (and I suck, seriously). </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm even <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">NOT </span>warier of trusting a site that removes breaking news without so much as an edit. </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm even <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">NOT </span>warierer of trusting a site that goes around freely posting pictures of Maurice Clarett.</span> </span></li></ul><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Alas, rumors are rumors until they are proven not to be rumors and in fact the truth. But it warranted a post, </span><span style="font-family:arial;">so take it with a grain of salt, <span style="font-weight: bold;">it's not like you will be able to watch the Spring Game unless you are at the game anyways.<br /><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://usversusthem.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/ohio-state-loss.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://usversusthem.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/ohio-state-loss.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Edit (4/13/08):<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Added the word <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">NOT </span>to the above post after the rumors turned out to be true. Stupid truth! I was hoping that they were not true, considering the fact that 2 of the 3 culprits were already mentioned in similar rumors before the National Championship Game against LSU.<br /><br />In retribution, I recommend reading <a href="http://www.dottingthei.com/">dottingthei.com</a> religiously. Any blog that has access to Ohio State information before anyone else deserves all the credit in the world.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stupid truth...</span></span><br /></span></div></div>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-62311042056425253122008-04-10T19:45:00.005-04:002008-04-10T20:12:37.415-04:00Break It Down, Poe<span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Poe McKnoe takes a look at the major players on the 2008 Ohio State Buckeyes squad.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b><div><br />Todd Boeckman (QB, 6<sup>th</sup> year Senior):<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=168&size=550x550_mb&ptp_photo_id=2800237"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 149px;" src="http://pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=168&size=550x550_mb&ptp_photo_id=2800237" alt="" border="0" /></a> </div> </b> <div>Ok, Todd. You’re a 2<sup>nd</sup> year starter on a Top 3 team. Last year, you learned on the job, even though technically you had 4 years of training. An interception there, a fumble here, a floater now and then…it was fine. You definitely weren’t Craig Krenzel, but at least you definitely weren’t Justin Zwick. (Editor: Krenzel could basically will a team to victory…<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMbAKvVGmmw">Purdue</a>? <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJaO2woGAGI">Illinois</a>? Piece of cake.) The good news is that Todd could end up with a similar W-L record as Krenzel, achieved in reverse. Todd, you’ve already got Craig’s 2 losses (not counting the 2001 South Carolina loss. Yes, Tressel has also lost to Lou Gamecocks), you know what that means Todd, undefeated including the Championship game.</div> <b> </b><div><b><br />What you’ve got</b>: You look like an Ohio State quarterback at 6’5" 230lbs. Your deep balls CAN be right on target, dropping into the receivers’ hands. You’re a 6<sup>th</sup> year Senior. You can read defenses and you can sell a play action. You’re sort of mobile in a lot of space. You can make a lot of throws (witness Penn State circa 2007). You’ve started a whole season. You get a whole off-season to hone those skills, and not fight for a job. You’ve graduated, you’ve got some extra time on your hands. You are a better QB (passing skill and accuracy) than Craig Krenzel.</div> <b> </b><div><b><br />What you need</b>: The knowledge to scan the field, the knowledge to check down, and the knowledge to throw the ball away. Unfortunately, LSU was able to posterize TB (even though his arm was going forward, <i>referees</i>) because of this. Don’t assume the play is going to be there. Getting on the up elevator after your last 3 games. You don’t really scare opposing defenses. If you’re going to run, RUN…you will not juke a linebacker…you are bigger than a lot of linebackers and especially corners…and you have backup QBs. Putting zip on your passes for short, medium, and long passes. The support of the majority of the fan base, those of whom are quick to dismiss a QB after a single loss or two. To be Craig Krenzel, and to use that thick head to take some hits and get back up and lead your team.</div> <div><br /><br /></div> <b> <div>Beanie Wells (RB, Junior)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blog.mlive.com/wolverines_stories/2007/11/large_071117-chris-wells-breakingtackle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 120px;" src="http://blog.mlive.com/wolverines_stories/2007/11/large_071117-chris-wells-breakingtackle.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div> </b> <div>Ok, Beanie. You said you want to win the Heisman. Good mindset, bad execution. You want to stay at Ohio State for 4 years. Good mindset, bad execution. However, your sophomore season was excellent execution across the board. You got the warrior’s mentality, you manned up, and ran over everybody (especially teams from Michigan, MSU: 221+9 and UM: 222). We were a little scared in the Youngstown State game. We were a little scared in the Akron game, until you tossed a CB and your season was underway. You need to be the leader of the team, so we need attitude from you. Hell, act like you play in the SEC (we’ve seen how they act).</div> <b> </b><div><b><br />What you’ve got</b>: Size, speed, power, The Stiff Arm of Justice (copyright <a href="http://menofthescarletandgray.com/">Men of the S&G</a>), mindset, skills, ability to play through pain, and uh, basically everything you want in a running back. You can cut on a dime, you can spin, you can juke, you can move the pile, and you can knock a defender of his feet.</div> <b> </b><div><b><br />What you need</b>: More attitude. You heard me, and we saw some of it in the Wisconsin game running back to the bench, we saw it in the Michigan game, and we saw your stride into the end zone against LSU. You don’t quite run like Adrian Peterson just yet, but you are more durable. You need 2000 yards, a championship, and a ride into the NFL sunset. Sell out on every play, I saw you in the championship game. It was a Todd Boeckman deep ball and you knew it wasn’t coming so you walked out of the backfield. Maybe a smarter Todd would have checked down to a wide-open Beanie in the middle of the field.<span><b><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/6056/985913yn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/6056/985913yn.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></b></span></b></span></div> <div><br /><br /></div> <b> <div>Malcolm Jenkins (CB, Senior)</div> </b> <div>Ok MJ. You could be the best cover corner in college football, but we wouldn’t know since you don’t play it. You own Anthony Morelli, and I expect it to continue with the next Penn State QB. You came back for a senior season and now you have to show why. I like your attitude in leading the secondary. Three star recruits from New Jersey aren’t supposed to be that good, you are.</div> <b> </b><div><b><br />What you’ve got:</b> Size, speed, and skills. You play cornerback and safety. You hit and you tackle. Your NFL caliber skills are back for one more season. If I was an NFL GM, I would draft you in the first round and tell you to shut down whoever you cover. You’re so good in coverage, I was wondering if you could give some of it to the linebackers who can’t.</div> <b> </b><div><b><br />What you need:</b> You need more opportunities in man to man coverage and blitzing the QB from Heacock. I have memories of a young Jenkins playing man on a Texas WR and tearing the ball out of his hands down in Austin. You need to keep your head up, we saw it against Illinois, Wisconsin, and LSU. As a result of the head down, you got beat on plays you took off. Especially in the Wisconsin game, you got beat by a FB, a FULLBACK. You know who beat you on a similar route? Early Doucet. You need the mindset of getting a pick the play after something bad happens. </div> <div><br /><br /></div> <b> <div>James Laurinaitis (LB, Senior)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.autographedtoyou.com/CelebPics/joe_Laurinaitis1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.autographedtoyou.com/CelebPics/joe_Laurinaitis1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div> </b> <div>Ok Jim. You too forgo the NFL for a senior season at Ohio State, and it was probably for the best. As the media appointed leader of the defense, you make a ton of tackles and intimidate everyone on the field. You’ve won the awards, played in 3 BCS games including 2 National Championships. You helped land Etienne Sabino, a recruit from Miami and #1 rated ILB in the nation, since Ohio State MLBs always rock worlds and get drafted in the Top 10.</div> <b> </b><div><b><br />What you’ve got: </b>You have a ton of tackles and awards to go along with those tackles. You sir, may be the team’s lone playmaker on defense. When we need a play, you make it. Texas? Washington? Good stuff. You played your first almost whole game against Michigan in 2005. You’ve been the leader of a young defense, and now that defense is no longer young. You’re big and most likely mean. You have no neck. </div> <b> </b><div><b><br />What you need: </b><i>You are not AJ Hawk</i>. Though you could have been drafted where he was, you are not AJ Hawk. Hawk was a tank that blew through offensive lines, always took the angle on defenders, and made players pay. You make tackles. Cool. The problem is they aren’t at or behind the line of scrimmage and you still have problems getting off blocks, even from receivers. Hawk and Carpenter made people pay. Please hit hard, please. Go and watch film of AJ Hawk, Matt Wilhelm, and Andy Katzenmoyer. LSU and Florida have made your linebacking crew look silly, with no help from the secondary. It’s in your best interest to make Ray Malilugea look like a second stringer compared to you against USC.</div> </span>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-69610946411957504822008-04-06T16:55:00.003-04:002008-04-06T17:26:36.866-04:00Head Shots - Beanie, Zoom, Boom, and..uh..Mo<span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Congrats to the Buckeyes Men's Basketball</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.timesunion.com/Shared/Graphics/NewsDB/AP/NIT%20Championship%20Basketball%2032026e63-df9c-401b-aa2f-f964b0289f1b_TN.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 176px;" src="http://www.timesunion.com/Shared/Graphics/NewsDB/AP/NIT%20Championship%20Basketball%2032026e63-df9c-401b-aa2f-f964b0289f1b_TN.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />NIT Champions: I'm seriously</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> pumped...seriously. </span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />1% of America heard that Ohio State won the NIT, but 99% would have heard about it if they lost.</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Thus is life.</span></span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Only at Ohio State is 4 RBs a Problem</span><span style="font-family:arial;">: Beanie, Zoom, Boom, and Mo. Not the 4 Stooges, but the Ohio State running backs for the 2008 season. While USC and LSU stockpile 4 and 5 star recruits, </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2008/04/06/osufb06.ART_ART_04-06-08_C9_759RBTM.html?sid=101">the Columbus Dispatch goes silly just wondering</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> how they will all get touches.</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Hey coaches, I'd listen to Beanie Wells: "Get 'em all on the field".</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e327/punahou90/BUCKEYES%202007/PENN%20ST/OSUPSU_217.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e327/punahou90/BUCKEYES%202007/PENN%20ST/OSUPSU_217.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Depth Only Counts if it Makes it Through Spring</span><span style="font-family:arial;">: </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2008/04/06/osu_fb_notes06.ART_ART_04-06-08_C9_759RBTO.html?sid=101">From the sonofabitch department</a><span style="font-family:arial;">, The</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> Columbus Dispatch also would like you to know that super recruit Mike Adams is out for spring. 6'8" 310lbs of O-line muscle is better healthy than hurt. Expect him to be back for the season, but luckily freshman are for depth only.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >You heard me, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alex Boone</span>. No hurdling Brian Hartline</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Blog Shots</span>: Eleven Warriors </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2008/04/headset-mandatory-vest-optional.html">wants to borrow $1600</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> and counting to be the honorary assistant coach for the spring game (so do I). Maybe Lane Kiffin will throw up the booty...Around the Oval has the </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.aroundtheoval.com/story/2008/3/30/213019/702">Boeckman Meter</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> to gauge the point in time that Terrelle Pryor gets his name chanted by 105,000 fans (even the visitors)...Men of the S&G </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://menofthescarletandgray.com/2008/03/27/speaking-of-chafing/">warns that it will suck of Ohio State loses to Michigan</a><span style="font-family:arial;">, even if we have Jason Bourne aka Justin Boren on our side (but tOSU won't so it's cool)...and Our Honor Defend promises the </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.ourhonordefend.com/2008/03/27/better-know-a-buckeye-etienne-sabino/">book will be forthcoming after they get done posting the 20th "Better Know A Buckeye"</a><span style="font-family:arial;">, all at under 300 pages.</span>Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8389023377262691195.post-12214343276686706402008-04-05T14:37:00.002-04:002008-04-05T14:57:13.943-04:00Get Out of Jail Free Cards<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Everybody’s favorite board game that they have never finished, Monopoly, and everybody’s favorite sport that they are never happy with, college football, actually have a lot in common. And no, it’s not the NCAA’s monopoly over college sports for the exploitation of student athletes (ha!).</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2006/04/24/monopoly.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 166px;" src="http://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2006/04/24/monopoly.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><div style="font-family: arial;" id="AOLMsgPart_2_9dd57cd0-34e5-4415-a4f1-ddf8eefe4f2e"><span style="font-size:100%;"> <ol><li>All the teams (games pieces) are racing through a season (around the board) to pick up the most wins (properties), where the easy ones don’t mean anything and the quality Out of Conference does (Boardwalk, baby!)</li><li>You’ve got your games of chance every week when any team can win or lose in a game of inches and seconds, while teams, the NCAA, and the network carrying the game make the money in community chest.</li><div><br />Ok, maybe that’s a stretch. How about this…</div><b> </b><li><b>Get Out of Jail Free Cards</b>. Somehow, there are college football teams that seem to have a stack of these just waiting to use on ESPN, CBS, the print media, the internet, and the fans. Certain games are overlooked, second chances are given, and no matter what they adored by the media and the fans.</li></ol> <div>Just look at 2007…<br /><br /></div> <u> <div>West Virginia<span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span><u><u><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2007/1127/ncf_u_rodriguez_inline_300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2007/1127/ncf_u_rodriguez_inline_300.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></u></u></span></span></span> </div> </u><b> </b><div><b>Get Out of Jail Free</b> - You’re in the title game. All you have to do is beat Pitt, at home, in the last game of the season. You just rushed for 517 yards against Uconn. Then Pitt comes into your house, the refs are on your side, Pat White hurts his non-throwing hand, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=273350277">and you lay a 13-9 egg and look like you couldn’t find a needle in Dave Wannstat’s mustache piling up 109 yards of total offense</a>.</div> <i> </i><div><i><br />But it’s okay:</i> Your coach bails for Ann Arbor, tells a recruit before his own ex-players, and you paste an overrated Oklahoma team in the BCS bowl. It’s like you never even lost to Pitt when the marbles were on the line! You run the spread option and people like saying it, thus you’re free.</div> <u> <div><br />Oklahoma<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=493&size=550x550_mb&ptp_photo_id=3204106"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 216px;" src="http://pictopia.com/perl/get_image?provider_id=493&size=550x550_mb&ptp_photo_id=3204106" alt="" border="0" /></a></div> </u><b> </b><div><b>Get Out of Jail Free</b> – The juggernaut of juggernauts out of the Big 12. North Texas won’t put up a fight as you lay 79 on them, nor will the next 3 teams, what-was-Miami(Fl), Utah State, and Tulsa. <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=272720038">Then the Buffs of Colorado beat you and do it with their defense.</a> No matter, you’re still in the hunt for the title. You kept chugging along until you ran into a Texas Tech team that complements its passing attack with its passing attack. <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=273212641">Another defense struggle against a team without a defense, and the Sooners only put up 27</a>.<br /></div> <i> </i><div><i><br />But it’s okay</i>: Well, you beat the supposed #1 team in the nation in Missouri. For the second time in a season, and thus giving them their only two losses on the season. You are awarded by a BCS game and another BCS loss. <a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=280020201">West Virginia (48-28)</a>, Boise State, USC, and LSU. The 55-19 pasting by USC is worse than any loss Ohio State has incurred in any BCS game. Oklahoma and Stoops are 0-4 in BCS games since the National Championship season. You have no reason to be okay, but you’re in the Big 12 and the only people that really pay attention to the Big 12 is the Big 12.</div> <div><br />And last but definitely most…</div> <u> <div>USC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.collegefastbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/stanford.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 190px;" src="http://www.collegefastbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/stanford.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a></div> </u><b> </b><div><b>Get Out of Jail Free –</b> The USC Trojans are cruising through their season, as one would expect in the Pac-10. Nebraska laid down for you and was considerably worse than the Washington team Ohio State played out of conference, as the Huskers got 70 points scored on them more than once. It’s okay, because <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=272790030">The Cardinal came in a 41 point underdog and left the victors at your own house (the color, not the bird)</a>. Stanford went on to lose to Notre Dame, by the way. Then Oregon shuts down USC with their defense. Defense. Oregon is not known for playing defense. If this was a shootout, understandable, but this was a low scoring affair.</div> <i> </i><div><i><br />But it’s okay:</i> There will be no fall of Troy on ESPN’s nor the NCAA’s watches. By the end of the season, the talking heads are again saying USC and Oklahoma are the best teams in the nation, losses to Stanford and Colorado losses notwithstanding. You get to play the 2<sup>nd</sup> or 3<sup>rd</sup> place Big 10 team for the second year in a row, Illinois, and clean their clocks. "Yea well we beat the team that beat Ohio State"…Congrats, if Ohio State got to play Stanford in a BCS bowl, I’d take Ohio State by 41.<br /><br /></div> <div>But then again, USC continues to disappoint during the season, just 1 year after getting beat by Oregon State in the season and then <a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=263360026">UCLA for all the marbles in the last game of the season</a> (and still won the Pac-10!) If I was USC, I’d be the #1 supporter of the playoff system if all that matters is winning after the season is over.</div> </span><div id="u8CA630C2AEE5C3A-FC-F19" class="aol_ad_footer"><span style="color: black; font-family: ARIAL,SAN-SERIF; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-size:100%;" ><hr style="margin-top: 10px;">Get the <a title="http://www.mapquest.com/toolbar?NCID=mpqmap00030000000003" target="_blank" href="http://www.mapquest.com/toolbar?NCID=mpqmap00030000000003">MapQuest Toolbar</a>, Maps, Traffic, Directions & More!</span> </div> </div> <!-- end of AOLMsgPart_2_9dd57cd0-34e5-4415-a4f1-ddf8eefe4f2e -->Poe McNoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15450226946808058014noreply@blogger.com0