In late April, we caught word that center Brian Bobek was looking to transfer out of the program. Bobek was having trouble putting on weight and was in a fight for playing time behind redshirt junior Corey Linsley and freshman Jacoby Boren.
We're told the staff had a frank discussion with Bobek at the beginning of spring camp about his options for seeing the field and Bobek decided that he may have more success suiting up for someone else.
The decision was mutual and it's important to point out that Bobek was not forced out -- he was a model student athlete and took care of his business on and off the field, even making the Champion's Dinner -- the staff simply made it clear to him where he stood.
Yesterday, Ohio State confirmed the transfer:
Ohio State spokesman confirms Brian Bobek is transferring from the program.
— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) June 10, 2012
Bobek has been in touch with several schools and took a visit to West Virginia over the weekend. He'll come recommended by the staff and should end up on his feet somewhere. Best of luck to Brian.
WILL U SIGN WIT US? YOLO! Kelvin Sampson was a just a little bit ahead of his time at Indiana. On Friday, a new NCAA rule takes effect allowing college coaches to send unlimited text messages to players who have completed their sophomore year of high school.
Text messages were outlawed by the NCAA five years ago amid concerns of excessive use and athletes accruing astronomical charges. Advancement in technology and the rise of unlimited text plans create an atmosphere to revisit the issue, with men's basketball set to be the guinea pig. No other sports have adopted the reform, although women's coaches could follow by next year.
Coaches also will be able to make unlimited calls to those recruits under the new legislation.
Obviously, this benefits younger, more energetic staffs and Matta's team is certainly that.
THE MATURATION OF DESHAUN THOMAS. It's been a fun ride watching Deshaun Thomas go from the freshman that hated to pass almost as much as he loved to shoot to a sophomore that had become Ohio State's best scoring option at the NCAA Tournament in March.
He surprised some by returning for his junior season in Columbus and in order to take his game to the next level, he knows he has work to do. And if he didn't, former Buckeyes have a few pointers.
Jared Sullinger:
"He needs to keep doing what he's been doing this whole time, keep working hard."
William Buford:
"(Deshaun's) biggest thing is getting his teammates involved. This year coming up (he needs to) get his teammates involved to help him win. Everybody knows that he can score, but if he can add some more to his game I think that he'll be fine."
Jim Jackson:
"One of the biggest adjustments that Deshaun has made is shot discernment."
Got it, Tank?
TAPPIN' THAT ST. PARIS GRAHAM PIPELINE. Tom Ryan and the Ohio State wrestling team picked up a huge commitment over the weekend when he secured the services of St. Paris Graham's Bo Jordan.
Bo currently wrestles at 152 and is considered the top pound-for-pound grappler in the nation in the 2013 class. More importantly, he's the first Graham wrestler to pick Ohio State as a long string of state champions (many of them multiple state champions with the last name of "Jordan") have opted to wrestle elsewhere, primarily for Wisconsin.
Ryan has a lot of momentum on the recruiting trail and if he can continue to lock down the state of Ohio, a national championship in the near future is not out of the question.
THE RED HOT TROLLY PEPPERS. So the Red Hot Chilli Peppers played the Schottenstein Center last week and drummer Chad Smith did his customary bit of throwing his drum sticks into the crowd after the performance...
And just like that, I'm reconsidering whether Blood Sugar Sex Magik is in fact one of the best albums of the 90s.
ETC: Stoneburner and Mewhort plead not guilty... Football players that graduated Sunday: Jake Ballard, Andrew Sweat, Nate Ebner, Ben Buchanan, Bo Delande, Zach Domicone and James Georgiades... Ben Hartsock returns home to run a football camp... Gannett to take over business operations for The Lantern... Brilliant... Meanwhile, in Virginia... Wii is getting real.
