Picture
This afternoon the Buckeyes welcome the No. 22 ranked Wolverines into Value City Arena for a battle to claim top bragging rights in the B1G. Both teams sit tied with Michigan State at 6-2 in the conference, and will be looking for momentum entering the final stretch of regular season play. 

Michigan has lost four of their last six on the road, though they did grab a win this last Tuesday over Purdue in Mackey Arena. Also not in their favor is the fact that they have lost the last seven games playing the Buckeyes in COlum

The game tips at 1 PM ET on CBS, but the LiveBlog will get going at 12:30. Joining us will be Men of the Scarlet and Gray, Our Honor Defend,The Buckeye Battle Cry, Buckeye House Call, the Buckeye Blog, Scarlet and Game, and Fox Sports Ohio.

LiveBlog after the break!
Add Comment
 
 
Picture
Will Roger Lewis end up being in the 2012 class?
Drew Thurman (4:33 pm)

One of the biggest concerns over the last week, as Urban Meyer has been banking in recruits, is the scholarship count. Not only are the Buckeyes limited to 25 commitments per class, but they also only have 82 total scholarships to play with after the sanctions.

A quick look at the current numbers shows the Buckeyes are in danger of being over both of those counts. There are currently 23 commitments in the 2012 class and 62 returning players on the roster. That would mean the Buckeyes are already three over their total limit and two away from the class limit, and yet the staff are still after a handful of prospects to finish out this class. So, what gives? How are Urban and company going to pull off adding more players and still get the numbers to equate. Well, it all comes down to bookkeeping and attrition.

Tim May over at the The Dispatch already did a great job breaking down both of those in detail, especially that 25 number. The staff has very little concern about that number thanks to the six early enrollees. They actually count towards last year's numbers.

"So, 23 minus six equals 17. That means that, at the moment, the Buckeyes still are eight short of the maximum of 25 players who can be signed to any one recruiting class. And there might be a member or two already committed who could be weeded out because of academic concerns or could change his mind before signing day."
2 Comments
 
 
Picture
Ken Kohl (3:59 pm)

I woke up in an opinionated mood this morning, and now this it what you have to deal with.

This is my first and last article on Joe Paterno and the Penn State milieu. Regardless of your thoughts and opinions on his involvement in the Sandusky scandal, in the end JoePa was made up of good and bad decisions, just like everyone else. Once we acknowledge JoePa's humanness, the rest is just detail. The interesting reading this morning were the accounts of his funeral. Particularly Phil Knight's involvement, Jay Paterno's odd comment, and the presence of Billy Baldwin.

Look, Phil Knight's Money Machine has thrown a lot of cash to a lot of universities. I get it. But, do his stipends to PSU garner him a position as a speaker of honor at the funeral service? That was an underhanded bit of marketing there, Phil, but considering the raging masses, very effective; well done. 
4 Comments
 
 
Picture
Stoney set for big year in 2012
Dave Thurman (2:02 pm)

Even in the midst of another stellar season by the Thad 5 in basketball, it is never too early to start thinking about football.  With a new head coach and a lot of new players it is exciting to think of the possibilities.  Here are five bold predictions for the 2012 season to add some warmth to your mid-winter chill:

1. Braxton Miller will double his passing total from 2011.  I know - this one seems obvious, since he only threw for 1159 yards this past year.  However, keep in mind that he will have to post his numbers in twelve games, as OSU is banned from any postseason activity.  Also remember that the Buckeyes will still run the ball a good deal, featuring Braxton, himself, along with a bevy of fine backs.  But with all that in consideration I still think Miller will more than double 2011's passing stats.  As a bonus prediction, I'll throw in that fans in the fifth row will feel safe this next year, with Joe Bausmerman having used up his college eligibility. 

2. A true freshman will lead the team in sacks.  Ohio State brings back some fine veteran defensive linemen, so this sounds like a more risky prognostication.  However, my thought is that offenses will be tailored to stop John Simon, Nathan Williams, and Johnathan Hankins, opening up the opportunity for someone else to get to the opposing quarterback.  There are three nationally ranked ends making their way to Columbus, and any one of them could become a pass rush specialist.  The most acclaimed is Noah Spence, bur for some reason I have a feeling that Adolphus Washington makes the most noise next season.  It would not shock me if one of these guys tallies a bunch of sacks, which would be great news for Luke Fickell and the defensive coaches.
10 Comments
 
 
Picture
A young A.J. Hawk at Centerville HS.
Michael Chung (8:09 am)

We are all enamored with the “star” quality of recruits, especially the four and five star ones.  The science of recruiting has improved and ratings are more and more accurate as each year passes, but Ohio State has taken a number of three star athletes who later became ‘stars.’  We will look at some previous Buckeye players who were not as highly rated out of high school but ended up starring at Ohio State and went on to play in the NFL.  This proves that four and five star athletes, though great for overall recruiting rankings, do not always translate into football greatness.  Then we will try to predict which three star athletes from this class couldl become stars.  

Looking at the current Rivals recruiting rankings, schools that averaged 3 stars per player were ranked between 25-35 in the team recruiting class rankings. Clearly, the 10 players below who have played or are playing in the NFL have superseded expectations.

10. Chimidi Chekwa
This 3-star cornerback came to Ohio State via Florida.  He had an interception during his freshman year at USC that was the beginning of a solid four-year OSU career.  He suffered a wrist injury during the Sugar Bowl but he saw time in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders.  

9. Jay Richardson
Jay Richardson was part of the 2002 recruiting class that had other star-studded 3-star players.  Richardson often went under the radar due to names like A.J. Hawk, Troy Smith and others that were stars on the team.  But anyone who watches OSU football knows that Richardson was a solid D-lineman and was drafted into the NFL.   He saw action with Oakland and Seattle but is currently not on an NFL roster.
2 Comments
 
 
Picture
_Tonight the Buckeyes play host to the Nittany Lions (10-11, 2-6) who have dropped four out of the last five in B1G play. They sit alone in the basement of the conference. The one bright spot for them is guard Tim Frazier (18.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 6.4 apg), who is the only player averaging in double figures on the entire squad.

The Buckeyes are coming off of two very impressive victories against Indiana and Nebraska, and appear to be positioning themselves as the top dog in the conference. We'll see if they can keep the momentum tonight.

The game tips at 6:30 PM ET on Big Ten Network, but the LiveBlog will get going at 6. Joining us will be Men of the Scarlet and Gray, Our Honor Defend, The Buckeye Battle Cry, Buckeye House Call, the Buckeye Blog, Scarlet and Game, and Fox Sports Ohio.

LiveBlog after the break!
Add Comment
 
 
Picture
Ken Kohl (5:33 pm)

[Ed. Note] Believe it or not, there are other sports at The Ohio State University besides football and basketball. In our new feature, Campus Spotlight, we will periodically catch you up with what is happening with those sports. 

Since my last brilliant idea had about as much merit as my first marriage, I think I’ll gravitate to a non-revenue sport where I have some familiarity; golf. In this case, women’s golf. 

Here’s a brief biography of the two coaches for Ohio State’s Women’s Golf Team and a recap of the 2011 Fall Season. Future articles will highlight the roster and upcoming matches in the Spring 2012 Season with their recaps. 

Coaching Profiles:

Therese Hession

Head coach Therese Hession is in her 20th year as HC of the Ohio State women's golf program. Over her tenure, Coach Hession’s Buckeyes have won seven Big Ten championships, including four of the last nine, and 11 NCAA championship appearances. [Ed: That’s pretty good stuff.]  Her squads have also competed in 17 NCAA regionals the past 19 years, including the last 16 in a row. For her efforts and impressive results, Hession has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year six times (1993, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2005). So, bringing home CoY 6 times in 19 years is pretty good; remember, there are other teams in the conference!

Coach Hession competed in more than 250 LPGA tournaments during her 11 year career. This kind of successful experience is important to teach her players how to approach and deal with travel requirements and tournament pressures. This may help explain why her teams have been consistently successful for such a long period. Of course, she can’t do this alone, so I’d like to introduce...

Lisa Strom

Lisa Strom golfed for four years at Ohio State, and accumulated 10 years of professional golf experience on the LPGA tour as well as teaching the sport. While on tour, she competed in more than 50 tour events. Lisa joined the staff in 2011 as assistant coach. 

Note: for full biographies: www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com 
 
2011 Fall Season Results

The format is play five-score four. For each day’s round, the lowest four scores of each team’s five participants are counted towards team total. So, over the course of a 3-day event, a player has the opportunity to “shoot” her way out of a slump. All events consist of three rounds. 
Add Comment
 
 
Picture
Michael Chung (4:38 pm)

Reports are surfacing that the Indianapolis Colts are interested in hiring Jim Tressel as head coach. Owner Jim Irsay has already invested two interviews.

Sources have cited that Tony Dungy believes Jim Tressel will get the head-coaching job while other sources are stating that Tressel will definitely not be the next head coach.  It is clear that the Buckeye’s former headman has his supporters and detractors.

Already, the same criticisms thrown at Tressel when he became Ohio State’s head coach are again resurfacing: the jump is too great and Tressel would be overmatched.  This was the same thinking when Tressel left Youngstown State to replace John Cooper.  What happened next?  Tressel’s ten year run is unarguably one of the best ten year periods in Ohio State football.

Bob Hunter also believes Tressel can succeed.  He writes in the Dispatch: “Although Tressel has no NFL experience, he is sharp and has had a lot of on-the-field success, in part because he is highly organized and good at managing details, coaching coaches and seeing the big picture, which is what head coaches do.”

He goes on to write regarding Tressel’s lack of NFL experience, “That doesn’t automatically mean that he would be successful in the NFL, but it does make you wonder why people would think that a guy who effectively ran the multimillion-dollar corporation we know as Ohio State football couldn’t run an NFL team in Indianapolis.”

But not only should Tressel get a head coaching job, I will argue that the Colts and the NFL need him.  Here is why:
1 Comment
 
 
Picture
Armani Reeves is down to OSU and Michigan.
Drew Thurman (9:35 am)

No more January blues indeed! Earlier this month I talked about how Meyer had proven himself as a closer and an elite recruiter late in the process, and he has definitely not disappointed. Last week alone the Buckeyes reeled in five commitments in OL Taylor Decker, OL Joey O'Connor, LB David Perkins, DB Cameron Burrows ('13), and LB Camren Williams.

With those commitments the Buckeyes have now soared to the top of the national recruiting rankings. Rivals, Scout, and 247Sports all have this class ranked at No. 3 overall. ESPN recruiting, who places a much higher value on southern recruits, lists the Buckeyes at No. 8. ESPN is the only service to rank Michigan's class ahead of Ohio State.

What about the rest of the Big Ten? Well, it isn't very pretty. Outside of the Buckeyes and Wolverines, there isn't another Top 25 class. Scout, for instance, ranks Penn State as the next highest rated class at No. 37. Wisconsin ranks No. 41, Michigan State at No. 43, Iowa No. 46, and Nebraska No. 59. The other services aren't far off from those rankings. Those are supposed to be the perennial powers in the conference, and they aren't getting it done on the recruiting trail. It's especially amazing the the Badgers and Spartans haven't been able to capitalize on what has been two great seasons for both programs. They better be ready to take things to the next level because the hiring of Urban Meyer has drastically changed the recruiting game in the Midwest in the B1G.

Anyway, let's take a look at where things stand for the Buckeyes as signing day quickly approaches. 
7 Comments
 
 
Picture
The Buckeyes find themselves in Lincoln this evening to take on a Nebraska squad (10-8, 2-5) that is fresh off an upset of Indiana 70-69 on Wednesday night. Earlier this month Jared Sullinger had his way with this Husker team in Columbus, putting up 19 points and 12 rebounds in a 71-40 beatdown. While fans will be looking for another rout tonight, the Buckeyes have dropped two of the last three on the road and anything is possible.

The game tips at 8 PM ET on Big Ten Network, but the LiveBlog will get going at 7:30. Joining us will be Men of the Scarlet and Gray, Our Honor Defend, The Buckeye Battle Cry, Buckeye House Call, the Buckeye Blog, Scarlet and Game, and Fox Sports Ohio.

LiveBlog after the break!
Add Comment