Good morning Buckeye faithful and welcome to your Tuesday Skull Session.
All this Urban Meyer contract talk yesterday makes me think the guy is harder to get to sign a contract than Donald Draper. Sorry, I am long overdue to drop a Mad Men reference.
While Meyer's contract is the talk of the town in Buckeye nation, Ohio State had a small victory in the world of social media. Wait, social media? Yes, OSU's rugby team beat Michigan's rugby team to 2,000 followers on Twitter in a friendly competition.
The price of defeat for the rugby squad from up north? If you go to Michigan rugby's Twitter account (@umrfc), you will notice it is not looking so maize and blue. The profile photo for the account features Ohio State's logo.
This is start of the Buckeyes' eventual rise to dominance again over Michigan. We will see you you northerners again in The Shoe next season, and I can guarantee one thing in 140 characters or less: We will have more retweets than you. #Hashtag
Also, give OSU rugby (@OSUrugby) a follow and support a great team.
SCARLET FLAGGED. Jared Sullinger has been consistently projected as a top ten pick for the upcoming NBA draft but some recent news could set him back.
Sullinger has been red flagged by a number of NBA doctors who have advised their teams to avoid taking the Ohio State product with their first round selections. The doctors appear to be alarmed by Sully's back, which they believe will ultimately shorten his career.
Satch Sullinger, Jared's father, addressed the situation after hearing the initial report. "He had a bulging area that was due to his hamstring and quads being so tight," Satch Sullinger told ESPN.com senior college basketball writer Andy Katz in a phone call Monday afternoon. "It pulled on his hip flexor and he's been taking care of it to loosen it. You can call it a red flag if you want. But it's tight hamstring and tight quads. He's been to doctors, he's doing yoga and deep tissue massage. The flexibility is helping take the pressure off the area."
Additionally Ohio State head coach Thad Matta claimed that Sullinger is moving better than he has ever seen, according to ESPN's Andy Katz.
Sullinger did have injury issues last season but they were for short stints and did not hurt OSU in the long term. However, as the article points out, Dejuan Blair of Pittsburgh and currently with the San Antonio Spurs was red flagged and ended up falling completely out of the first round.
Only time will tell where Sullinger will land. He worked out with the New Orleans Hornets yesterday and has also had work outs with Golden State and Portland.
POP THE HOOD. Mississippi State transfer Rodney Hood could make his decision on where he will be playing basketball after sitting out next season.
The final decision will reportedly be between Ohio State, Duke, and Memphis. After a recent trip to Duke, a source has revealed that Duke appears to be the favorite for the talented sophomores' services. How legitimate is this source? Who knows, but hearing that Hood enjoyed his time at Duke is certainly not a positive note.
The Buckeyes are going to need one of Hood's close friends, Laquinton Ross, to make a pitch. Ross and Hood played AAU basketball together and remain close friends to this day.
The consideration of Memphis shouldn't be taken lightly either. The fact that a third school is now involved in the equation is not helping Thad Matta or Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski sleep any easier at night.
#DealwithitMichigan MEYER MAKES A PIT STOP. Urban Meyer traveled a little farther up I-71 last night to throw out the first pitch of the Cleveland Indians' game.
It is always great to see OSU head coaches trying to reach out to Ohio as a whole. Additionally, it is great to see him in a tribe uniform. Sorry Reds' fans, but last night was just not your night.
Nonetheless, though, go Ohio.
MANNING WINS SUZY FAVOR AWARD. The Jesse Owens and Suzy Favor Big Ten Athletes of Year were announced yesterday. Michigan State's Draymond Green was honored as the male athlete of the year and Ohio State's Christina Manning won the award as the female representative.
Green had a phenomenal year on the hardwood and is the first Michigan State player to win the award since 2001. Green averaged 16.2 points and 10.6 boards which helped lead the Spartans to a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Spartans shared a 3-way tie with the Buckeyes and Wolverines of the Big Ten title.
Manning, a track athlete, is the third Buckeye lady to win the award and the first since 2007. Manning won both the indoor and outdoor Big Ten Track Athlete of the Year awards as well. Manning leaves OSU as one of the program's most dominant track athletes.
LOS LINKS. Kent read, Kent write, can play baseball... MSU's Mark Hollis gets a new deal... Roger Clemens found not guilty... Would you like to own Les Miles' private jet?... BCS playoff, anyone?
