Category: 1

Dave Thurman (3:57 pm)

There are sports rivalries and then there is Ohio State and Michigan. It may not quite rank up there with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that is almost as old as time, but it's not too far behind. Ever since the inaugural meeting back in 1897, won handily by "That School Up North" 34-0, there has been some bad blood between these two border rivals, and lots of great memories.

Historical Highlights from the Early Years:

Many of the legendary stories from "The Game" came long before my time:

- In 1902, "Carmen, Ohio" was penned on the train ride back to Columbus after OSU was pasted 86-0 in Ann Arbor.
- In 1922 Ohio Stadium was dedicated the day the Wolverines came to town. Of course many referred to the new 71,000-seat stadium as "The House that Chic built." In truth halfback Chic Harley did put the Buckeys on the map, leading Ohio State to three straight wins over Michigan (the first three OSU victories in the series).
- Beginning in 1934 every Ohio State player on a team defeating Michigan has received a gold pants pendant. All of this due to Coach Francis Schmidt commenting that "Michigan puts their pants on one leg at a time!"
- The 1950 game has gone down in history as the "Snow Bowl" as it was played in howling winds and snow at Columbus, and featured 45 punts!
- The 1967 game won by the Buckeyes at Michigan was the first in the series to be played before a crowd of over 100,000 fans...something that has become commonplace in our day and age.
- In 1968 Woody's boys defeated UM 50-14, and tried unsuccessfully to go for two after the last touchdown. When asked why he would go for two with an insurmountable lead Woody replied, "Because I couldn't go for three."

Dave's IMO: Is It Time To Get Worried? 03/29/2011

Dave Thurman (3:35 pm)

Normally I am like Alfred E. Neuman of Mad magazine fame. When I hear negative rumors circulating about Ohio State sports I usually brush them aside, because somebody is always talking and trying to stir things up. Most of the time, the threats of impending doom don't materialize, and life goes on as usual. But I have to confess that I am starting to get a little antsy regarding the future of Jim Tressel.

Obviously every day there is a new article coming out that either predicts the imminent firing of Coach Tressel or compares his situation to that of Bruce Pearl, who was recently canned as basketball coach at Tennessee. I am almost immune to the email alerts I get from ESPN, Bleacher Report, and other websites that mention something about Tress being in serious hot water. I expect the sensationalistic media to react in this fashion, because they know that people love to read negative journalism and revel in the misery of a big-time rival. Mentioning Tressel in the headline is guaranteed to hook readers.

Now please don't get me started on the comparions to Bruce Pearl. Over the years I have seen all kinds of pictures of Pearl cuddling up to bikini-clad coeds, often appearing to be drunk, and usually with that awful fake tan. Those of us who have followed Ohio State football the past decade know that Jim Tressel is a family man, dedicated to his job, and not a public embarrassment like so many college coaches. I am convinced that he is also a man of ideals. While I am not saying that JT is above reproach (and who is), I am confident that he is not a low life like Bruce Pearl and his ilk.

That being said, I am beginning to get nervous. Not because of the headlines from over zealous journalists, or the rants from opponent bloggers. No, I am worried about the full scale witch hunt that is underway. Usually when inquisitions begin they wind up finding something. Part of that is because there is such an expenditure of time and money that they feel compelled to dig up some dirt. And, let's face it, if you dig deep enough you are bound to find something. The fact that the NCAA is sending in it's big dogs is scary. Add to that the fact that the ESPN investigative news show “Outside the Lines” is snooping around Columbus and you get downright frightened. They don't intend to leave town empty handed.

This may not be Watergate just yet, but it is beginning to look like the biggest investigation of Ohio State sports in history. And some people won't be satisified until they have the scalp of the headman himself. Let's hope he is as squeeky clean as he has been portrayed.

Dave's IMO: Judgment Day is Coming! 11/15/2010

0 Comments

Dave Thurman (4:57 pm)

The Buckeyes travel this Saturday to Iowa City and the 2010 season rests in the balance. It may not seem fair to say that one game will make or break an entire year, but that is pretty much the reality for this week's contest. Win, and Ohio State can keep their hopes alive for at least a share of the Big Ten title (their sixth in a row), as well as a BCS Bowl game. Lose and those aspirations go down the drain, relegating the Buckeyes to a less than desired destination for the holidays.

Remember, this season began with high expectations, as coaches, players and fans alike hoped (maybe expected) it would wind up in Arizona and another shot at a national title. That pretty much went out the window with the loss at Wisconsin, but we were consoled by the fact that there was still a great deal at stake. After all, nobody ever has to apologize for a Big Ten title or securing a BCS bowl bid.

However, if Ohio State takes it on the chin this weekend, even the most optimistic among us would have to consider 2010 a grave disappointment. A team that seemed to have all the pieces in place - senior leadership, confidence, hunger, a favorable schedule, a superstar quarterback - would wind up missing out on all of its goals. That would be an awfully tough pill to swallow, although it wouldn't quite rank up there with the disasters this year in Austin, Texas and Gainesville, Florida (sorry I couldn't resist).

Anyway, choose your favorite cliche. Its all on the line this Saturday...it's judgment day 2010... the defining moment of the season. Indeed, the pressure is on, and the question is, are the Buckeyes up to the task? Let me go on recrod as saying that I am more than a little bit nervous. Consider the following:

Add Comment

Dave's IMO: A Pryor Development 09/15/2009

Dave Thurman (8:41 pm)

The USC showdown is history and after the dust has settled there are some good things to take from the game as well as some painful/disturbing truths. All things being equal, coaching decisions and execution aside, the game came down mostly to the play of Terrelle Pryor. Had he performed as the Buckeye faithful hoped/desired Ohio State would have won. That's the simple and somewhat painful truth. Obiously he is not as far along as we anticipated and that is taking nothing away from the Trojan defense.

So the question now is what can be done to help TP develop into the superstar he has been billed as since his days in high school? Is all hope lost? Will Pryor simply be a great athlete attempting to play quaterback, or can he still become a Heisman candidate and carry OSU to big-time success?

Maybe the best way to answer those questions is to look back at the development of Troy Smith, who also came to Columbus with a less than polished game. Unlike Pryor he had a couple of years of getting acclimated to college and the quarterback position as he was redshirted in 2002 and then used only on special teams in '03. When he did burst on the scene as a third-year sophomore Smith was mostly an athlete who could burn teams with his feet and showed a strong, if sometimes erratic arm. He almost always took off under pressure, running for 339 yards and throwing for 896 while splitting time with Justin Zwick.

Dave's IMO: (Not so) Big Ten 08/10/2009

0 Comments

Big game losses have left a nasty impression // Photo via LATimes.com

Dave Thurman (1:03 pm)

Mark Schlabach at ESPN recently ranked college football's conferences and the news wasn't good for us Big Ten fans. In case you haven't seen the piece, Schalbach's top two were predictable (and can't really be debated), as he placed the SEC on top, followed by the Big 12. But at number three, he shockingly picked the ACC, followed by the PAC 10, at fourth, with the Big Ten next, just slightly ahead of the Mountain West.

Now my purpose in writing is not to debate the rankings, although there is certainly room for that. I did notice that the other ESPN bloggers all had the Big 10 ranked fourth, ahead of the ACC. That seems to make more sense to me. With the recent demise of Florida State and Miami, there hasn't been an elite team in the ACC in quite some time, although there have been a plethora of good teams who have offered some interesting parity.

Still my aim is not to debate the rankings, but rather, to discuss what the Big Ten needs to do to become an upper echelon conference once again. Nobody can debate the fact that the SEC and Big 12 are miles ahead right now. Meanwhile the PAC 10 reminds me of a long distance race, where nine runners are closely bunched, but all a full lap behind the leader. However, that leader is USC, who annually places more talent on the field than anyone else in the country, and there's always somebody else (California, Oregon, Oregon State) who mounts a pretty good charge. No doubt about it - the Big 10 is no better than fourth right now - so what needs to happen in order for midwest football to rise again?

Add Comment

Dave's IMO: Are you ready for some SAF? 07/14/2009

'The Mt. Olympus of athletic contests...' // Photo via Scout.com

Dave Thurman (2:23 pm)

I picked up the newspaper this morning and flipped to the sports section (doesn't every self-respecting man begin there?) and read with great apathy the carte du jour for the day. Now it strikes me that I should be fairly excited since there is plenty of sports news to choose from as we move into the middle of July. For instance:

1. The Major League Baseball All-Star Game...As a kid I remember waiting with tremendous anticipation for the night when all the stars came out - guys like Johnny Bench, Willie Stargell, Hank Aaron, Tom Seaver and Willie Mays (can you tell that I rooted for the National League?) Now I find the Homerun Derby more compelling that the game itself. Maybe it's because so many of the players have tainted baseball and themselves by consuming massive amounts of illegal substances. Or possibly it's due to the fact that they make a gazillion dollars and play like primma donnas who are afraid of getting hurt. Heck, Pete Rose took a few years off of Ray Fosse's career because the Cleveland catcher dared to stand between him and home plate (and victory for the NL). I realize that I sound old but those were the days! Now I just can't get fired up about this annual rite of summer.

2. The British Open...I love golf, and like most Americans I especially enjoy watching Tiger Woods but I'm having a hard time getting up for this event. I suppose it would be more fun if Phil Mickelson was involved, although there are still plenty of great players to follow. Then there's that whole time change thing which keeps me for enjoying this tournament as much as the Masters or the U.S. Open. I'm sure I'll watch some of it but it's not like I am filled with eagerness and expectation.

3. Big offseason trades and acquisitions in the NBA...I can't remember a summer with more blockbuster deals than this one, highlighted by Shaq joining our boy LeBron in Cleveland. Yawn! I lost interest in the NBA years ago. My son Drew disagrees with me here, but the last few times I have attended a game (and I'll only go if somone gives me seats down near the floor), I was amazed by the fact that: a) the teams don't really play until the fourth quarter; and, b) they bring out every "dog and pony show" iminagable in an effort to engage and entertain fans - dunking mascots, insanely crazy contests, loud music, barely-clad-dancers and acrobats from the Far East to name a few. Sure the players are awesome athletes and LeBron is captivating, but I can't stay tuned in for more than a few minutes. So excuse me if I don't get super excited by all the offseason moves.

4. Athletes being murdered (by their lovers no less) - Wow! When can you remember two big name athletes being killed so closely togetehr and under eerily similar circumstances? First it was Steve McNair, killed by his young girlfriend, and then Arturo Gatti, supposedly by his young wife. This is the stuff the paparazzi lives for, but it doesn't fill the vacuum I am feeling right now that can only be satiated by big-time sports actually being played on the field or court!

So what does all this mean? Very simply that it's time to bring on the college football season - unequivocally the greatest sport played at the most exciting level in the entire world. You heard it right. College football is the Mt. Olympus of athletic contests. Nothing else compares. And Ohio State? They are perched on top of Olympus as Zeus. Give me a Saturday afternoon in Ohio Stadium and it will warm my heart for months. I confess that during the fall I count down the days like a kid at Christmas. Saturday morning it's hard to concentrate on anything, as butterflies churn in my stomach, and I look down at my watch every fifteen minutes wondering if game time will ever arrive. After kickoff, pity the poor fool who dares call my cell phone. For three hours I am in the zone, transfixed, an armchair quarterback, so into the game that it's downright scary. I have told my wife that I am not responsible for my actions, although she has yet to make this concession. There is nothing in the world of sports that comes close in my book - not March Madness, the Olympics, or the Superbowl. I enjoy them all, but none fills that sports vacuum like college football and my beloved Buckyes. So with apologies to old Hank, I simply ask, "Are you ready for some Saturday afternoon football?"

Things I THINK I Know - '09 Edition 07/07/2009

Dave Thurman (11:50 pm)

As the '09 season draws closer I want to take a moment to share a few of my "gut feelings." If I were more confident I might title them "Things I know I know," but since the world of college sports is so unpredictable I'll leave it as is. Here goes:

1. Florida is going to be awfully tough to beat - With Tim Tebow back for one more go around, and all 11 starters (you read that right) back on defense, the only thing the Gators have to fear is overconfidence. They don't have to play Alabama or Mississippi, which is a big break, but do face LSU on the road. I am not a fan of Urban "legend in my own mind" Meyer, but he has this team poised to play for all the marbles again.

2. Lane Kiffin better buy an asbestos suit - This guy has done everything possible to antagonize the rest of the SEC, as the only thing bigger than his ego is his mouth. He has brought in a great staff, and a fine recruiting class headed by Bryce Brown, the #1 running back in the country last year. He also inherits some major defensive talent (including Ben Martin, Rico McCoy and Eric Berry who OSU coveted). However, he also takes over a team that went 5-7 last year, and has to play at Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, besides hosting Auburn and Georgia. It might get hot in Knoxville real quick for Mr. Kiffin!

3. You'll hear more than once that this is the year of the quarterback - With good reason, I might add. Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow, and Colt McCoy (the top three for the Heisman in '08) headline a class that also includes Jevan Snead, Zac Robinson, Jimmy Clausen, Juice Williams, Daryll Clark, and Terelle Pryor. And in smaller markets there are some terrific QB's like Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan), Max Hall (BYU) and unheralded Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) who threw for nearly 3000 yards and rushed for over 1000 last year!

4. Notre Dame will sneak back into the Top 20 - It pains me to write this but even Charlie Chuckwagon can't screw up Jimmy Clausen throwing to Golden Tate and Michael Floyd. They will be explosive and if the defense continues to improve, Notre Dame will be looking at a double figure win total, fueled by a light schedule.

5. Mississippi will find success hard to handle - Everyone is jumping on the Rebel bandwagon following a surprising nine win season highlighted by a victory over Florida. With 16 starters returning they should be good again, but may find it tough to get through the SEC with a bullseye painted on their chest.

6. Minnesota will put up big-time passing yardage - Adam Weber returns at the helm and has the most underrated receiver in the country in Eric Decker. But the big news is that the Gophers signed the most sought after JC receiver in the country in speedy wideout Hayo Carpenter, who caught 111 passes as a senior in high school, and then caught 173 passes for over 3000 yards in two years of junior college. Minnesota will unseat Purdue as the new Big Ten version of "basketball on grass."

7. Joe Paterno will run off the field more than once during a game as his aged bladder and bowels find TV timeout inspired games too much to handle. I kid! PSU fans don't hate on me, I love Joe and I am only teasing. However, one wonders if either Joe or Bobby Bowden will collapse on the sideline some year in the near future if they keep coaching. Nah - it will probably happen to Charlie Weis instead, as his heart will give out from overwork!

8. A non BCS conference team will make some noise again - Last year it was Utah who had a chip on their shoulder as their 12-0 regular season was disregarded by voters, and promptly dismantled 9-point favorite Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. This year watch out for Boise State, BYU and TCU.

9. Texas Tech will start a no-name quarterback and watch him throw for over 4000 yards. Yawn! Haven't we seen this story before. This year's candidate is Taylor Potts as Mike Leach proves he can make a star out of almost anyone with a decent arm.

And, finally, drum roll please...

10. There will be great controversy over who should play in the BCS Championship Game! How's that for a bold final prediction!

Dave's IMO: Is Penn State Overrated This Year? 06/18/2009

Dave Thurman (1:55 PM)

Many of the experts are touting Penn State as a national title contender in 2009 which kind of surprises me. Phil Steele, who I respect as much as anybody in the business of forecasting college football, has PSU picked first in the Big Ten and fifth in the nation. Meanwhile, a couple of the writers for Scout's "College Football News" list the Nittany Lions as a sleeper BCS title team, and just about everyone has them in their top ten.

Maybe I'm missing something but here is why I'm not so sure the Nits will be as good as predicted:

1. Joe is losing it. I love Joe Paterno, and he is an icon of the game, but he needs to be taking his grandkids fishing at this point in his life. While he has abdicated most of the power to his assistants, I still think he plays a major role in coaching and, last year aside, I think his best days are behind him.

2. The lines are much weaker this year. Games are usually won in the trenches, and that's why PSU was so tough last year. However, the offensive line lost three starters inculding their anchor, A.Q. Shipley. And, the defensive line lost their pass rush specialists from the past couple of years, and will be hard pressed to get as much pressure on opposing quarterbacks. I'm not saying their lines will be weak, but I don't see them dominating like they did in '08.

3. Who is going to catch the ball? The incredibly talented and experienced trio of Deon Butler, Derrick Willams and Jordan Norwood is gone, and they made life pretty easy for Daryll Clark last fall. Again, I'm sure they have some talented players in the wings, but you can't convince me that PSU won't miss the reliable and explosive talents of that terrific trio.

4. The secondary. Last year PSU was fantastic at defending the pass - at least until they got manhandled by USC in the Rose Bowl. However all four starting db's are gone, and while the guys filling the holes have some experience, they will be hard pressed to match last year's production.

Now, on a positive note, Penn State returns a very solid and battle-tested quarterback in Clark, two fine, if not spectacular, running backs in Evan Royster and Stephfon Green, and some excellent linebackers who are buoyed by the return of Sean Lee. Don't get me wrong, there's pelnty to like about PSU, and they have a soft schedule, with four sacrifical lambs in non-conference play, and Ohio State on their home turf, at always intimidating Beaver Stadium. However, the Nits do take to the road against Illinois and Michigan State, which are both losable, and I have a sneaking suspicion that Pennsylvania native Terrelle Pryor will be cooking up some revenge for his miscue last year. So count me as skeptical when it comes to the title talk coming out of State College. The Lions will be good in '09, but not elite.