Good morning Buckeye faithful and welcome to your Sunday Skull Session. I hope everyone has been enjoying their holiday weekend and has taken a moment to remember those who have sacrificed their lives for our great nation.
To me, Memorial Day Weekend always signifies the start of summer, BBQing, and usually the point in the baseball season where the Reds and the Indians are no longer competitive in their respective divisions. This year is different.
Both Ohio MLB teams have been playing extremely well, hopefully curbing the depression that usually comes from the long wait in-between the Buckeye basketball season and the immense August hype that comes with the football season.
If they can keep it up, the fall will arrive in no-time and true Ohioans may find themselves with the tough task of balancing a NL-Central or AL-Central divisional race and Ohio State football (blasphemy, right?). Wouldn't that be nice.
We won't get too ahead of ourselves, it's only May 27th.
HATERS GONNA HATE. ESPN's Mark Schlabach posted a top-10 "Most Hated Coaches of All-Time" which was based off winning, breaking the rules, and running up the score. So, as always, you can imagine that at least one Ohio State icon made this list. Oh wait, actually three icons made the list:
2. Woody Hayes: One of the most successful coaches in history, Hayes guided Ohio State to 13 Big Ten titles and three consensus national championships. But he is perhaps best remembered for his chronically boorish behavior, which included physical confrontations with sportswriters, photographers, opposing coaches and athletics directors, referees and even opposing players.
7. Urban Meyer: Meyer seemed like an outsider when he was hired as Florida’s coach in 2005 and it didn’t take him long to become hated by rival schools. Meyer tried to revolutionize the way the SEC played football with his spread offense, winning BCS national championships in 2006 and 2008. But then Meyer upset Florida fans when he retired twice in two years -- before waiting a year to become Ohio State’s new coach.
9. Jim Tressel: Michigan fans hated Tressel for beating the Wolverines so much -- he went 8-1 against OSU’s chief rival during his tenure. Opposing fans hated Tressel’s squeaky-clean image of a sweater vest and bifocals. They celebrated when Tressel resigned in 2011 after admitting he withheld information about NCAA rules violations from OSU officials and NCAA investigators.
I'm actually surprised they weren't listed at 1, 2, and 3.
A LIFE RUINED BY AN ACCUSATION. Brian Banks, a former California high school football star and big time prospect (Ohio State interest), was exonerated from a rape conviction from 10 years ago where he pleaded no-contest, based on advice from his lawyer. Banks was wrongfully accused by a childhood "friend" who said that Banks attacked her at the school when she was 15. She has since recanted her accusations and the trial was thrown out by the judge.
Banks, now 26, was a big-time football recruit who had interest from schools across the nation and was very interested in Ohio State and Michigan before committing to Southern California.
Banks served 5 years and 2 months in prison and had his dream of playing college football and in the NFL dashed. I only wish the best for him and his future.
Rodney Hood could be a nice additionDON'T SHUT THE DOOR. It is very possible that Thad Matta is yet to close the door on the 2012 recruiting class. The summer session does start in just a few weeks but it seems that the class has the potential to shape up rather nicely before it's all said and done.
Texas big man Tony Trocha (6-10/210) could be reclassifying from 2013 to 2012 and could be set to enroll at the school he chooses come this summer. Trocha, a 4-star (Rivals '13) center, is awaiting his test scores to see if he could be eligible for the upcoming season. He has been hearing from schools across the country who have increased interest knowing he could be eligible this season. Kentucky, Oregon, UCLA, Providence, Ohio State, and several schools in Texas have all expressed interest.
The Buckeyes currently have three open spots with Amedeo Della Valle committed for the '12 class and Mississippi State transfer Rodney Hood is rumored to be down to Duke and Ohio State.
It seems like the Buckeye roster could be shaken up a bit before the start of the season.
I'M ON A BOAT. Ohio State could potentially play new Big East power Marquette on a Naval ship for a Veteran's Day tribute this coming fall. The schools are apparently in negotiations to make room for the game on their respective schedules.
Morale Entertainment, the same group who set up the MSU vs. UNC showdown this past season, is looking to set the game up on a Naval ship in Charleston, South Carolina.
Ohio State already has a very nice out-of-conference schedule with a trip to Duke and Kansas at the Schott. A novelty game against a very strong Marquette team could be a nice boost to the strength of schedule and would definitely garner a ton of national hype.
CLICKS OF THE WEEK. Notre Dame is still very confident the potential playoff system would accommodate the conference-less Irish. Michigan AD Dave Brandon of course has different thoughts than the rest of the conference. Kyrie Irving in Pepsi's hilarious viral Youtube dressed up as an old man named Uncle Drew. A look at what the conferences would look like if they were based on academics. Don't get too full of yourselves, Michigan fans. Why does Gene Smith make this much money again?
