'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?"

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 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.

Dave Thurman (11:15 pm)

We all have our favorite players, and I have seen many different all-time OSU teams selected.  But what about an all-time best squad for each of the past four coaching regimes?  In this "down time" for football news, I will give you my personal picks for the following eras: Woody (W); Earle (E), Coop (C) and Tress (T).  As a bonus I will place an asterisk by the player I would choose as the best of the best - taking into consideration their college career only.  Feel free to share your thoughts below.  Here goes:

Quarterback:

W: Jim Kern; E: Art Schlichter*; C: Joe Germaine; T: Troy Smith

Tailback:

W: Archie Griffin; E: Keith Byers; C: Eddie George*; T: Beanie Wells

Fullback:

W: Pete Johnson*; E: Vaughn Broadnax; C: Jamar Martin; T: Brandon Joe

Wide Receiver:

W: Paul Warfield; E: Cris Carter; C: David Boston*; T: Michael Jenkins

Tight End:

W: Fred Pagac; E: John Frank*; C: Ricky Dudley; T: Ben Hartsock

Guard/Center:

W: Jim Parker*; E: Jim Lachey; C: LeCharles Bentley; T: Nick Mangold

Offensive Tackle:

W: John Hicks*; E: Joe Staysniak; C: Orlando Pace; T: Shane Olivia

Kick/Punt Returner:

W: Neal Colzie; E: Garcia Lane; C: Joey Galloway; T: Ted Ginn Jr.*

Kicker:

W: Valde Janakeivski; E: Matt Frantz; C: Dan Stultz; T: Mike Nugent*

Defensive Tackle:

W: Jim Stillwagon*; E: Jerome Foster; C: Dan Wilkinson; T: Tim Anderson

Defensive End:

W: Jim Houston; E: Eric Kumerow; C: Mike Vrabel*; T: Will Smith

Middle Linebacker:

W: Randy Gradishar; E: Chris Spielman*; C: Andy Katzenmoyer; T: A.J. Hawk

Outside Linebacker:

W: Stan White*; E: Pepper Johnson; C: Nail Diggs; T: Bobby Carpenter

Safety:

W: Mike Sensibaugh; E: Sonny Gordon; C: Roger Harper; T: Mike Doss*

Cornerback:

W: Jack Tatum*; E: William White; C: Antoine Winfield; T: Malcolm Jenkins

Punter:

W: Tom Skladany; E: Tom Tupa*; C: Brent Bartholomew; T: Andy Groom

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! 

Dave Thurman (6:57 pm)

Like every other Buckeye fan I have been pouring over spring practice reports, excitedly reading about the progress young players are making, and enjoying the battles being waged for open spots. There seems to be lots of good news filtering out of these practice sessions, and I see some encouraging signs. However, one thing worries me a great deal, and that is the linebacker position.

This probably surprises you, because the linebacker position has been well stocked in recent years, and we all know that Ohio State, not State Penn is the real "linebacker U." But I am a little concerned by the potential of seeing Austin Spitler and Ross Homan on the field together. Don't get me wrong, I think both of them are good, hard-nosed Big Ten linebackers, who can fill the hole and stuff the run. But they aren't the fastest players in recent memory, and I think having both on the field together could spell disaster against speedy teams. 

Now in the opener, when Navy comes to town, it should be no problem. Against the Midshipmen you need tough, disciplined linebackers committed to stopping the run. But the following week, the Trojans of USC make their way to Columbus, and we all know they bring speed, speed, and more speed. It is my opinion that faster linebackers such as Etienne Sabino (pictured) and Brian Rolle, along with guys who can play a hybrid position (safety/linebacker) like Jermale Hines and Tyler Moeller, are the keys to playing with top level teams that spread the ball around. There is always a place for a physical, old-fashioned linebacker when you play the traditional Big Ten teams, but the truth is Ohio State won't beat the big boys unless they can cover from sideline to sideline. That is why I don't see Spitler and Homan on the field together when the Bucks face a spread or a team with an arsenal of speedy skill-position players.

Times are changing in college football, even in the normally conservative Big 10, and like it or not, Woody-ball won't work anymore. That's not to say that Coach Hayes wouldn't have evolved with the times, it just means that what worked in 1970 isn't necessarily successful in 2009. Discipline and physical play are still essential, but speed has changed the game. That's why linebackers like Vernon Gholston and Thaddeus Gibson who can bulk up a little are being converted and are turning into beasts coming off the edge. And that's why so many teams are taking physical safeties and turning them into linebackers.

They say that speed kills, but in reality lack of speed will quickly bring the demise of a football team. So here's hoping the Bucks are ready to put on their track shoes this year, even at linebacker!  

Dave Thurman (5:12 pm)

I confess that I am not a natural optimist.  I have a good friend (who was a very successful basketball coach) and his motto has always been, "There's no such thing as a disappointed pessimist."  I tend to live by that philosophy myself, a fact I'm not proud of.

However, I am trying to be optimistic about the 2009 edition of the Buckeye football team.   There is a lot of fresh talent and it's always fun to watch young guys develop.  If a few defensive players rise to the challenge, it could be an excellent season, with the chance to be a truly special team in 2010.  If Pryor continues to move forward the sky is the limit for him and his teammates. 

But there is one thing that keeps me from being completely positive and confident about the future.  More precisely it is one person...and his name is Jim Bollman. 

Now, I'm sure he is a really nice guy and it seems the players like him, but the truth is, our line has been "offensive" in recent years, and I'm being kind.  We know that Bollman isn't a great motivational guy, as evidenced last season by Tressel having to spend time with the o-line trying to light a fire under their tails.  I would also suggest that Bollman isn't a great teacher or tactician, based simply on results.  So count me as one who isn't impressed.

And, now, we get reports that he is tinkering with the line, having guys play multiple positions this spring.  That might sound like a good thing, realizing that injuries are a reality.  However, my take is that when guys aren't playing one position well, you shouldn't move them around like a yo-yo and try to teach them 3 positions.  Until they can get an "A" at one spot, why confuse them with more information? 

Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of moving Cordle to tackle and Browning to guard.  Anyone with an elementary knowledge of football could see that Browning was out of position last year.  I'm not opposed to some changing of positions, but I'm not a fan of moving guys around all spring in hopes that they can master every spot on the line.  Hearing that Brewster is repping some at guard, for instance, bothers me.  Center is a bear of a position and he has the potential to be a great one, but not if he's spending time moving all around playing guard and tackle, too.

One of the interesting quotes from JT's pre-spring press conference was, "If it ain't broke, break it," based off of a book by Robert Kreigal.  I love that premise.  Don't wait until something isn't working to make a change.  Be ahead of the curve, and make a change before it's needed.  I like that kind of visionary thinking.  My problem with the statement is that the past couple of years the o-line has been broken, and it still hasn't been fixed, in my opinion.  Until it is, Tressel can talk all day about throwing to the tight-end or using the pistol formation, but it won't matter.  What is damaged must be repaired, and when it is, then the coaches can be imaginative and innovative.   

As for me, I would have kindly sent Bollman packing last year, which I think was overdue.  However, Tressel is nothing if not loyal and maybe his patience will be rewarded.  Maybe Bollman will surprise us all this year and have a strong o-line, but I'm not holding my breathe.  Either way, I can't lose, because there's no such thing as a disappointed pessimist!

Dave Thurman (10:12 am)

Everyone knows that the state of Ohio produces amazing football talent, and the Buckeyes usually get the lion's share of the great ones.  From Archie to Beanie, its like a conveyor belt that keeps spitting out amazing players: Art Schlichter, Troy Smith, Cris Carter, Orlando Pace, Dan Wilkinson, A.J. Hawk, Andy Katzenmoyer, Mike Doss and Antoine Winfield to name just a few.

But what about the topnotch talent the Bucks have harvested from out of state?  Who are the best players to come from beyond the sacred borderlines of Ohio?  And (dare we ask) what about the great Ohio high school talent that headed to other schools? Which players got branded as traitors for spurning the Bucks?  Let's examine those questions in two parts, beginning with the out of staters who were wise enough to leave home and don the Scarlet and Gray.

Rather than try and come up with an exhaustive list I'll give you my choice for best player to come to OSU by state (limited to the past three decades):

FL: Chris Gamble (No state has been kinder to the Bucks, especially in regard to speed. Honorable mention to Santonio Holmes and Michael Jenkins)

PA: Eddie George (Lots of good ones from our neighbors to the east, but none as great as the sweet strider from Phily.  Here's hoping Pryor gives him a run for his money)

MI: Pepper Johnson (Nothing sweeter than stealing one from up north, and I'll take Pepper by a nose over Vern Gholston, though Krenzel will always have a special place in my heart)

IL: Mike Tomczak, just slightly over Eric Kumerow

NY: Will Smith

TX: David Boston (How'd Coop ever talk him into coming?)

CA: Michael Wiley (Speaking of Cooper, he used to get a bunch of guys from the left coast.  Honorable mention: Nail Diggs)

AZ: Joe Germaine

NJ: Malcom Jenkins (For years it was Alonzo Spellman, but Jenkins passed him in my book, not to mention that MJ's actually sane!)

GA: Rory Graves (Got to go back a ways fort this one, but Cam Heyward has two years to catch or surpass him)

LA: Jonathan Wells

MD: Shawn Springs

WV: Darrion Scott

KY: Jeff Ellis, barely over "The Strangler" Robert Reynolds 

MN: James Laurinaitis

MO: Reggie "Did I Skip Class" Germany

MD: Stan White Jr.

IN: Donald Washington

CO: Chris Sanders

KS: Jamie Summer

SC: Derek Ross

Hope you enjoy the list.  Who'd I miss?  Send me a note and let me know.

Next up, "Installment two - The good guys who crossed the border into enemy territory."