I was really hoping my fingers wouldn't start plucking away with thoughts on Storm Klein but the problem is that it's a relevant story.
No question, Urban is in a tough spot here because no matter what he decides with regard to Klein's future as an Ohio State Buckeye, he can't win.
On one hand, I get taking the kid back. Regardless of what we think we know about the case, and Klein in general, the bottom line is that many kids saddled with a misdemeanor get to keep playing football. On the other, Klein has built sort of a history of being a hothead that apparently resorts to physicality in an effort to resolve disputes.
If Meyer takes him back, the Matt Hayeses and Mike Bianchis of the world will have a field day spewing anti-Meyer hyperbole while probably half of the Buckeye fanbase will take issue. If Meyer holds firm and leaves Klein off the squad, people will question his hardline approach and examine every other kid he's ever coached that got to keep their roster spot despite a misdemeanor blemish.
Personally, I don't have a beef either way. I contend Klein does nothing to make this team better and frankly, I'd rather the 2nd string Mike be a young pup with potential than a senior that we already know isn't good enough to be a factor. At the same time, if Meyer wants to throw him a bone, I can live with that.
What does annoy me, however, is hearing Klein's attorney boo-hoo about the notion that if Klein isn't allowed back on the team, hence on a free ride, he'll have to drop out because he doesn't have the cash. Seriously, what percentage of families DO have the cash to put their kid through college? God forbid Klein have to take out a student loan like 98% of the population. Ridiculous.
Whatever, Urbz should levy his decision on Friday then we can move on. I'm ready. I think you are, too.
DEFENSIVELY SPEAKING. Brent Yarina of the BTN continued his series celebrating the network's fifth birthday by taking a look at the top five defensive players of the BTN era.
The Buckeyes were well represented with James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins holding down the 2nd and 5th spots, respectively. Yarina's overall list looks like this:
1. Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue. Hard to argue the top choice. Dude feasted on some porous Bollman lines and set a B1G record with 14 forced fumbles and was the 2010 Defensive POY.
2. Laurinaitis. Shamefully, I didn't realize James is the ONLY two-time B1G Defensive POY, though I did remember he was a three-time All-American.
3. Brandon Graham, Michigan. I know. I hate it, too, but Graham was a terror in an ugly ass uniform. Like Kerrigan, he blew by some meh versions of OSU offensive lines.
4. Adrian Clayborn, Iowa. In a long line of end rushers to give OSU fits, Clayborn was a game changer.
5. Jenkins. Malcolm won the Thorpe and was a three-time All-B1G selection.
Unlike the RB list that I discussed last week, I think Yarina nailed this group. Suh is tough to factor in based on when Nebraska joined the conference but other than that, I think his list is pretty spot on.
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT. Keeping in the list theme, Athlon Sports took a shot at naming the conference's top impact freshmen for the upcoming season and a handful of young Buckeyes made the cut.
Taylor Decker was one of them as he continues to battle Reid Fragel for the starting job at right tackle. As Meyer noted, this isn't quite a battle of All-B1G performers but in time, it's fair to project Decker as a potential anchor and all-league performer. He's got the talent and while it feels pretty certain that Fragel will be the starter for much of the year, as Corey Linsley told me, it's also fair to expect Decker will earn playing time in virtually every game.
As Decker explained at Media Day, he's well aware he needs to improve his pass blocking considering he never had to do so in high school. But being an effective pass blocker is about when, not if, based on his physical tools and overall understanding of his assignments.
Noah Spence is the next guy on the list and I think there's little question he'll get plenty of opportunities to contribute as a freshman. The kid is a relentless pass rusher on a team that despite crazy depth up front, is short on pass rushing specialists especially if Nathan Williams isn't able to return to form.
Also making the cut is WR Michael Thomas. We're all well aware of his spring game exploits and though he may have lost a tiny bit of momentum in fall camp if for no other reason than the position group inherited another player in Stoneburner, Thomas should get plenty of chances in the first four games to show he deserves routes in conference play.
Out of this group, I think Spence projects to have the biggest impact but that's why they play the games...which start in exactly nine sunrises.
What?! I'm being held accountable?! No fair. SENT TO THE HOLE. Yesterday in Cleveland, Tony Farmer, a senior baller at Garfield Heights and a kid on OSU's radar, was sentenced to three years in the hole for kidnapping, felonious assault and kidnapping of his then-girlfriend.
Expecting a lesser sentence, Farmer collapsed to the ground as the judge read her verdict, though he could potentially be released on probation in six months.
Farmer, a top 100 hoops recruit, earned his time by being captured on video beating the crap out his girl. To be clear, this is no Klein deal where lesser charges were accepted. He flat out got caught doing the unthinkable. As such, Matta and staff need to look elsewhere for the next big thing.
One great trait of Matta's squads is not only how good they are, but how good of people they are. Go down the list; Matta has done a great job of getting solid kids to come to Columbus, from Craft to Sully to Oden to Conley etc. There's no need to compromise the outstanding foundation he's built by gambling on a guy that drags his woman by the hair.
I'd rather lose games than be forced to cheer for this kid.
WHOA, CHARLIE. Former Nebraska women's basketballer Charlie Rogers was charged earlier this week with making a false police report following what she alleged was a hate-crime attack in which the attackers carved anti-gay slurs into her skin. Turns out, Rogers staged the whole thing in hopes that it would spark change.
In short, here's what Rogers initially said went down:
According to police, Rogers said three masked men broke into her home, and that one of them pinned her down while another sliced a cross into her chest, cut the front of her thighs and shins and carved derogatory words in her arms and abdomen. She said they then rolled her onto her stomach and cut her buttocks, the back of her thighs and the back of her right calf. She also said they tried to burn down her house.
Problem is, the cops determined that Rogers deleted a volume of texts she sent the night of the alleged attack and also bought gloves, a box cutter and zip ties from a hardware store in the days leading up to the 'attack'. Oh, and she also sent a picture of the cross-shaped cut on her chest to an acquaintance a few days before the alleged incident.
Wow. Clearly, we're not dealing with a genius here. Sorry, Charlie. [rim shot]
ANYBODY ELSE THINK 'STRANGERS WITH CANDY' WAS AN AWESOME SHOW? Jerri Blank forever... The 8th best win of the Ferentz Era came against...wait for it...Northwestern... Slideshow! Si.com's Pre-season All-B1G Team... Duke's Blair Holliday is walking... Urban is featured three times in this list of the Top 10 CFB Coaching Feuds... CFB on TV... A historical ranking of the top Heisman schools and conferences... 1 WTC construction progress as of yesterday... I remember these days, only the 40's are missing... 25 Incredible Matchstick Sculptures... Realistic Stadium Bathroom Rules.
