Happy Memorial Day, citizens.
Today we honor the brave men and women who died while serving our country and while it wouldn't be accurate to simplify things by saying they all died "for our freedom," every single one of them -- more than 1.3 million -- made the ultimate sacrifice so we could enjoy an exceptionally high standard of living.
Those with the stones to face this, knowing the odds but doing it anyway, helped create a society that has things so good that we now save our outrage for times when we have to watch our favorite team play in standard definition.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
URBAN'S ON THE LINE. Though no formal announcements have been made, we should be less than two months away from the inaugural Friday Night Lights in Ohio Stadium (assuming the same end of July timeline we saw from this staff in Gainesville).
One player this staff would really like to see in Columbus that night is Trotwood-Madison linebacker Mike McCray. One of the nation's top 10 linebackers according to both Rivals and ESPN, McCray has been pledged to Brady Hoke and the Wolverines since early March, but that didn't stop Meyer and staff from extending an offer late in the week.
Future Buckeye Cam Burrows, a teammate of McCray's at Trotwood-Madison, has been putting in work enlightening McCray trolling his teammate for his decision, but McCray was quick to silence any rumors by tweeting that he wasn't going anywhere shortly after news of the offer became public.
Whether or not Meyer and Burrows are able to flip McCray remains to be seen, but I like the fact that they're giving it a go. Signing Day is over eight months away and a lot can -- and will -- happen between now and then. Landing McCray takes a lot of the Anzalone and Neal sting away.
Vietnam, 1962 (Enlarge)THE CURTIS GRANT ERA. Considering the lack of playmakers at linebacker for the Buckeyes last season, it was surprising that Curtis Grant, the top-rated player in the class of 2011, was unable to get onto the field for the defense.
Grant did have a huge fumble recovery off a blocked Wisconsin punt, but other than that, there weren't a lot of highlights in a season in which he watched fellow freshman Ryan Shazier gobble up the minutes that Grant may have thought were his when he arrived in Columbus.
On more than one occasion, I heard that Grant was seriously considering transferring, but thankfully, he stuck in there and is now the starter at middle linebacker heading into fall camp. It wasn't easy:
"I got to a low point where it was like I didn’t want to play anymore," Grant said on Thursday.
Among Grant's struggles were checking into freshman camp 20 pounds heavier than he probably should have and difficulties processing the defensive scheme. Leaning on his family and his faith, he's now in a position -- both with his size and understanding of the scheme -- to contribute in a big way this season.
With Grant, Shazier and Sabino penciled in as the starters at linebacker, I don't know if I've been this excited to see this group perform since Hawk and Carpenter were patrolling the middle.
Mourning his master, 1945 (Enlarge)SUBMITTED WITHOUT COMMENT (EXCEPT FOR EMPHASIS, OURS). From an Ask the Experts feature in Sunday's Dispatch:
Q: What is the status of the assistant coaches who were released when Urban Meyer formed his staff? — Dennis Short, Vancouver, Wash.
A: Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Jim Bollman is now the offensive line coach at Boston College. Running backs coach Dick Tressel was hired as offensive coordinator for Division III Carleton College (Minn.). Defensive coordinator Jim Heacock has retired from coaching. Tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator John Peterson is offensive line coach at Alabama-Birmingham. Cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson was offered a job on Meyer’s staff but opted to become assistant head coach/linebackers coach at Arkansas. Also with the Razorbacks is Paul Haynes, Arkansas’ defensive coordinator. Former quarterbacks coach Nick Siciliano has not been hired as a coach elsewhere. — Bill Rabinowitz
DO YOU LIKE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS? The top-seeded men's doubles team of Chase Buchanan and Blaz Rola will face Texas Tech's Raony Carvalho and Gonzalo Escobar this afternoon following a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Oklahoma's Costin Paval and Dane Webb in the semifinals Sunday.
Buchanan, a senior from New Albany and Rola, a sophomore from Slovenia, improved to 35-4 on the season. The pair will attempt to win the doubles title shortly after the conclusion of the men's and women's singles finals, which begin at noon at Georgia's Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The NCAA will stream live coverage of all finals.
While the tennis duo will try to secure a national championship, the First Varsity Four1 captured the women's rowing team's first national title as it beat Virginia by 2.09 seconds Sunday. Congratulations, ladies.
ETC: Dontre Wilson chooses Oregon over Ohio State, Texas... Did you get your offer from Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze yet? A tribute to Anthony Davis -- made of Kix and Reese's Puffs... Kevin Sumlin responds to Will Muschamp's College Station crack... Former Seminole Warrick Dunn is doing great things... How long until we see a Scout 250 for fishing?
- 1Rowing.
