Usually when I wake up in the morning, my routine involves checking my e-mail, my text messages and obviously a read-through of the morning Eleven Warriors Skull Session.
However, in the last few weeks, the first thing I do is check the date and take one day off the countdown to Ohio State football season.
12 more days.
Oh yeah, welcome to your Sunday Skull Session. It has been quite a week and weekend.
IN THE POLLS. It is very strange to take a quick glance at the USA Today Coaches Poll and not see the Buckeyes. Yeah, we got a taste of that last year but it's nothing OSU fans can ever get used to. As most people know, OSU is ineligible from being in the USA Today Coaches Poll, but not the AP Poll.
Yesterday, the AP Poll came out and here are the teams touched by the very grace and benediction of bored college sports writers who deigned to give them their top vote:
- 1 USC (25) 0-0 1445
- 2 Alabama (17) 0-0 1411
- 3 LSU (16) 0-0 1402
- 4 Oklahoma (1) 1286
- 8 Michigan (1) 0-0 1000
Yes, Michigan got a number one vote. As mentioned in the Buckshots, Bob Asmussen from the Champaign News-Gazette has been huffin' those sweet, sweet Wolverine fumes, but as Sarah pointed out on Twitter, this isn't exactly unprecedented. Other B1G teams in the top 25:
- 12 Wisconsin 0-0 838
- 13 Michigan State 0-0 742
- 17 Nebraska 0-0 485
- 18 Ohio State 0-0 474
We'll see how it all plays out, but I personally believe this is a good spot for the Buckeyes to start.
Check out the whole AP Poll here.
POTENTIAL "TRANSFER". Ron Patterson, a member of Indiana's Top 10 incoming 2012 basketball class, is "transferring" and has received interest from Ohio State, among other schools.
Patterson, a 6'3" shooting guard from Indy suburb Broad Ripple, has sufficient scores and grades to play Division I basketball, but didn't fare well enough in summer classes for full admission into IU. The shooting guard committed to IU in August 2010. Schools showing interest include a number of high- and mid-majors, including OSU, Illinois and Purdue.
Missouri, Louisville, Purdue, Illinois, Ohio State, Memphis, Villanova, Providence among schools expressing interest in Ron Patterson.
— Jeff Rabjohns (@JeffRabjohns) August 17, 2012
While each university has its own standards, it makes you wonder if Patterson -- who will be deciding between attending a prep school and another four-year university -- would be admitted at OSU.
Certainly the Buckeyes have room for another strong guard, and Patterson's reputation for defensive tenacity and additional ability to score could fit Thad Matta's system.
IT'S ALL GOOD. Freshman running back Bri'onte Dunn was found not guilty of the disorderly conduct charge filed against him a few weeks ago in Alliance, Ohio.
Here's a snippet from the World Wide Leader's report from yesterday:
Dunn was stopped by police on July 28 just before training camp was set to open for the Buckeyes, and a small amount of marijuana was found in his vehicle along with a pipe. He was initially cited for possession of both marijuana and paraphernalia, but those charges weren't supported by additional examination of the evidence -- including testimony from his mother, Donna Hatcher, who indicated those things were in the car before she loaned it to Dunn.
Dunn has faced no public discipline from Meyer relating to the incident, and he's drawn early praise for his work on offense this month as he competes for the No. 2 job in the Ohio State backfield.
Buckeye assistant Stan Drayton had a nice quote about Dunn following the final verdict:
"Bri'onte Dunn has really had a good, physical camp. With the ball in his hands, he's really good."
It's great to know that legal issues shouldn't keep Dunn off the field this season. He is really needed with Jordan Hall injured.
TWO QBS? There has been much discussion about Urban Meyer using both Braxton Miller and Kenny Guiton this season, perhaps on the field at the same time.
Meyer mentioned that Guiton has done a 180 since he took over the team back in November and if he's one of the best 11 players, he will see the field.
Guiton told the Dispatch:
“I have to always be ready and I know Coach Meyer has used two quarterbacks in his system,” most famously with senior Chris Leak and freshman Tim Tebow on the 2006 Florida national championship team. “We’ve actually talked about that. That’s one thing I am trying to work hard on and try to let him recognize that maybe I can do that.”
When Meyer began the job at Ohio State, he would only gush about Braxton Miller and how excited he was to coach him. Now, he talks about Guiton in the same light as Miller.
Check out the whole Dispatch article here. It really is beginning to seem like Guiton will be one of the top billed Buckeyes on the squad this coming season.
Will Buckeye fans see multi-QB packages? How will it work?
LINKS FOR DAYS. Let's poke fun at Ohio State (and the other sanctioned programs)... And, let's forget about Ohio State in the poll... The 51st consecutive year with no Duke in the polls... The littlest Gasol is walking on at UCLA... Congrats to Minnesota, your 1904 National Champions... FIBA says Olympic basketball shouldn't change... The funny viral video of the week, if you're craving a snack... Look at all the countries that could fit their entire populations into Ohio Stadium (scroll down)... Ohio State basketball fluff here and here... Wayne Selden has OSU on his short-list.
