For those of you holding out for a Time Warner/Big Ten Network deal before the opener, you may want to look into changing your cable provider. At least that's the advice of Buckeye AD Gene Smith, who published a letter to fans today:
The letter opens:
Dear Buckeye Fans:
I am writing to update you on the status of negotiations between the Big Ten Network and Time Warner Cable. Today -- just 10 days from our kickoff against Youngstown State on the network -- there is no deal in place with Time Warner. This is especially disheartening because in addition to the Youngstown State game, the network also will televise our game with Troy University on Sept. 20 and very possibly the conference opener against Minnesota. That means three of the Buckeyes' first five games will be on the network, with the possibility of an additional conference tilt later in the year.While negotiations are ongoing with Time Warner, it appears very unlikely that an agreement will be reached before the first game of the year, and anything beyond that is problematic.
Therefore, we feel compelled to let Buckeye fans know that there is only one way you would be guaranteed to get the Big Ten Network in time to see us take the field against Youngstown State. And that is to call one of the providers now carrying the network in the state: DirectTV, DISH Network, AT&T, Insight, WOW, Buckeye Cablevision and Massillon Cable TV, to name some of the largest
To stress his fierce urgency of now, he even invoked the rivalry:
It is a shame that due to Time Warner's decision, nearly all Michigan fans have the network, but Buckeye fans do not.
Are you still holding out or have you moved on to another carrier? I know Time Warner owns central Ohio, so to speak, but I'd love to see their market share numbers over the past two years.
The team held their annual kick scrimmage earlier and if the season goes how the scrimmage did, we could be in for some more heartburn when the team lines up for field goals. Pretorius was 5/8, including a miss from 35, Pettrey missed his first three before finishing just 4 of 8, while Buchanon was 1 for 4. He's young, but the numbers out of the other two are a bit disconcerting.
Backup punter Jon Thoma seemed to get the best of A.J. Soprano Trapasso. Oh, and the defense had three blocks -- two out of Coleman.
If USC has to look to Mitch Mustain to fill-in for Mark Sanchez, they may be vulnerable. A former beat reporter for the Trojans is saying that Mustain has lost his groove and may be supplanted by redshirt frosh Aaron Corp in the 2 spot.
