Drew Thurman (10:17 am)

Vico of Our Honor Defend has the follow up to the Spring Game Edition of the Block O Table now posted. Also the second link is my dad's response to the original Block O Table post. Check it out...

Block O Table Recap - Spring Game Recap...Recap Recap

Block O Table - Spring Game Edition (Answers by TSB)

Drew Thurman (4:35 pm)

With the many questions that surround the Buckeyes this spring and summer, quarterback is not really much of a concern. As long as health prevails, Terrelle Pryor will be the man for the next couple of years. The issue is, what happens if Pryor heads out early for the draft?

Well, the Buckeyes first of all have Joe Bauserman. If Pryor does indeed to head to NFL after his junior season, Bauserman could step in as the starter for his senior year. Also there is addition Kenny Guiton, who committed to the Buckeyes late in the process after Tajh Boyd and Kevin Newsome headed elsewhere. Guiton is very much an unproven commidity, but he definitely has the athleticism to play the position. With that said, the staff obviously wants to bring someone in for 2010 class, especially a high profile quarterback to have a year to progress under Pryor.

Early excitement built around dual-threat quarterback Devin Gardner. A Buckeye offer never came, and Gardner wasted no time committing to Michigan. The Buckeyes seemed to be focused elsewhere, primarily on Nick Montana (pictured). It will be a battle for the Buckeyes to pull him in, so the Buckeyes are now scrambling to show interest in some others. Let's take a look at the possibilities. 

Plan A Option:

Nick Montana- Everyone knows that the Buckeyes want Montana. I was surprised they passed on Gardner and put all the stock in Montana, but that was the decision that was made. Montana likes the Buckeyes, but he holds offers from schools like LSU, Notre Dame, Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, Washington, and Stanford. Many of the schools have proven to "show off" pro-style quarterbacks much better than the Buckeyes, which could hurt them in the long run. The odds don't look great at this point, but who knows how things could play out in the end. Regardless, the Buckeyes want Montana first and foremost.

Plan B Options: 

Andrew Hendrix- The 6'3'' 220 pound Hendrix hails from Moeller High School in Cincinnati. Hendrix does not have a Buckeye offer at this point, but holds some from Illinois, Kansas, Boston College, Cincinnati, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Virginia. The Buckeyes have stayed in contact with Hendrix, and an offer could come quickly if Montana decides to head elsewhere. Hendrix likes the Buckeyes too, but no one knows how long he would wait around. His film is pretty impressive, and Hendrix shows a strong arm and some nice wheels. With all the Montana hype, many Buckeye fans have overlooked how good he truly is.

Kofi Hughes- Hughes' name has just popped on the radar screen. Bill Kurelic said that Dick Tressel was in Indiana on Wednesday to check in on Hughes. Hughes is 6'2'' 195 pounds, and plays at Cathedral in Indianapolis. He is very much an unproven commodity, but threw for 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns along with 1,500 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns. He has incredible speed and athleticism, so he could play wide receiver  as well. The Buckeyes have the eye on him as a possible Plan B at quarterback as well though, so keep watching for his name.

Drew Thurman (10:42 pm)

Today we have launched The Silver Bullet Shop. I am sure this news has changed all your lives, and will have the Columbus area public running for their computers. Seriously though, we hope you enjoy the designs and might want to support us in some way. Thanks guys!

Dave Thurman (2:57 pm)

There are few places in the country, if any, where fans are as interested and involved, to say nothing of being filled with high expectations, as at Ohio State.

I have watched with fascination the past month as Kentucky has hired Jim Calipari to lead their roundball program.  Fans in Lexington have been ecstatic, and are already talking of a National Championship in 2010.  This is a team that missed the NCAA tourney this year, by the way.  My hat is off to them for their love of the "Big Blue" and they have every reason to celebrate the hiring of a true Cadillac coach, but isn't it a little unrealistic to talk of a championship in his first season?  Not if you're devoted to the Wildcats!

At Ohio State the fan expectations for the football team are as high, if not higher.  There is a sense that the Scarlet and Gray should win it all every year.  Now don't get me wrong.  Rabid fans with high expectations are a wonderful thing.  They generate excitement that only helps the players and coaches on the field.

Think about it.  Who else in the country can touch the Buckeye fan base?  I remember a time when Notre Dame could.  But a series of weak coaching hires has left the Irish disgruntled.  They still back their team with plenty of zeal, but it's not the same.  They don't expect to contend for the title, and they are now settling for mere winning seasons that end with bowl bids.

Down south at places like Gainesville and Tuscaloosa the fans are pretty crazy, and expect to see a winning product on the field.  Oklahoma, Texas, and Penn State are a few other teams that come to mind.  I don't list USC even though they may have been the winningest team of the 21st century, because they don't have the same kind of fans.  The Hollywood "Wine and Cheese" crowd will hop off the bandwagon as soon as they go through a slump.  But as John Cooper found out, at OSU the fans still come out in tough times they just get angry and turn up the heat!

Honestly I would put Ohio State in class by themselves when it comes to fan support and expectations.  The crowd at this year's Spring Game, in excess of 95,700, is just one indication.  The number of blogs and websites devoted to OSU football is another.   When it comes to all things pigskin, nobody touches the love, insanity and high hopes of Buckeye Nation!

So are the expectations too high?  Honestly, sometimes the answer is yes! Now, back in 2006, with fifth-year senior Troy Smith at the controls, there was every reason to expect a national championship. Anything less was a failure, in my opinion, and that's why the loss to Florida hurt so badly. But it is unrealistic to think that a team can win the title every year.  There is too much parity in college football.  Players depart and leave gaping holes. Injuries occur, and change the whole outlook.  A great program can compete for the title every year.  In other words, they can be in the hunt.  That's a fair expectation for Buckeye fans.  Anything more goes from sensible to impractical or downright naive.

So what about the 2009 edition of the Scarlet and Gray?  Should we expect them to play in the championship game January 7, 2010, in Pasadena?  My short answer is "No."  Sure it could happen if everything falls into place, but this is an awfully young team.  It's more realistic to expect a Big Ten title (which won't be easy) and a seventh straight victory over the guys with the ugly helmets come November.  However, the following year, with a mature Terrelle Pryor and plenty of experienced depth, it will be realistic to expect a title. 

Being part of the tradition of Ohio State football is exciting.  Where else can you travel to places like Champaign, Evanston, and Bloomington, and feel like you are cheering for the home team, even though they are wearing white?  Where else can you spot someone in Seattle or Boston wearing Scarlet and Gray and yell out "O-H" confident you will hear "I-O" in return? And where else can you surf the internet to find dozens of websites devoted to your favorite school, each with lots of insight and information?

It is not a stretch to say that Buckeye fans cheer for the best supported team in the land.  That's awesome!  Let's embrace our tradition, cheering and even complaining with unapologetic fervor, but let's not be so unrealistic as to miss the fun of watching a young team grow up and have great successes on the field.  Success isn't measured the same way each year.  Some teams should be expected to win it all.  Others may not hold the crystal football at the end, but can still be embraced as successful.  And at Ohio State, we'll be there to watch it all unfold, and cheer like crazy, even when we're disappointed! 

Drew Thurman (2:01 pm)

1) Paterno's plea for a 12th Big Ten team got shot down. In fact Jim Delany, Big Ten Commissioner, says it's a "back-burner issue." This is the same Delany that expressed he wasn't disappointed with the Big Ten's bowl performances this last season. Obviously he is in a dream world in regards to how much improvement the conference needs! I have strong feelings on this subject, but I will leave that for another day.

2) SI has a great article on the progression of Terrelle Pryor this spring. Andy Staples makes it clear that not only does Ohio State's performance rest on Pryor's shoulders, but so does its leadership. Strong words for a player who will not even be a captain, but I agree.

3) Adam Rittenberg of ESPN has a new blog post on Anderson Russell moving past his play at the end of the Fiesta Bowl. There has been a lot made of this in the off-season, and I hope Russell can indeed overcome it. He has had a solid career, and ending on a high note would be encouraging to say the least.

4) Tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz originally made it known that his list had been narrowed to Iowa and Ohio State. In his latest Q & A on Bucknuts, Notre Dame is now a very real player for his services. I like Fiedorowicz, but wonder if we can pull in a high ranked tight end with how little we throw their way. The Spring Game was a perfect indicator that the staff will probably never get over the hump in regards to involving the TE's.  

5) Alex of Eleven Warriors has his Top Ten for '09. Pretty interesting predictions including Ole Miss fifth, Ohio State sixth, and Georgia Tech sneaking in the top ten.

Drew Thurman (11:23 pm)

One of the things that sucks up a lot of my internet time is watching film on the recruits that the Buckeyes have interest in. It is not enough to trust a rating thrown out there by Scout, Rivals, or ESPN, I want to be able to watch the guys for myself (I'm not trying to show these services up in any way). So below are several videos of some guys that are on the Buckeye big board including Latwan Anderson, Matt James, Jordan Hicks, and Spencer Ware. All four are Ohio kids, and everyone holds a Buckeye offer except the new Glenville transfer, Latwan Anderson (from St. Edward). Check them out, and judge for yourself....

DB Latwan Anderson - 5'11'' 185, Cleveland Glenville

OL Matt James - 6'8'' 290, Cincinnati St. Xavier

LB Jordan Hicks - 6'2'' 200, Lakota West

ATH Spencer Ware - 5'11'' 210, Princeton High School