It's Friday; it's Friday, gotta get down on Friday.
This week's NSFW ANTI-WORK #BANGERS:
- Boosie! Nooooooo juice.
- From Raw '98: DX vs. The Nation of Domination: street fight.
- "And in any place you can think of calling home, it'll be my word that find you."
LET'S TALK MOLLY WATER. Noah Spence, one of Ohio State's top two players according to Urban Meyer, had an interesting tweet the other day during an exchange with old friend of the program/cornerback Travis Howard.
@Travishoward_7 I feel you that ain't nothing to play wit I'm good though working out and shit getting ready for this appeal.
— Noah Spence (@nspence94) November 13, 2014
Getting Noah Spence back for the stretch run of the season would be a delightful surprise. This tweet, however, went largely unspoken about.
Yesterday though, #OSUTwitter and the forums lit up when Craig Henman, an innocuous Ohio State alumnus, tweeted:
I was just told that Noah Spence expects to play in the "last 3 games." Source is the same person that has been 100% on story since day 1
— Craig Henman (@henman11) November 20, 2014
As others noted, Henman's source around Spence is indeed impeccable.
Since this is spreading like fire. The words "last 3 games" came from Spence himself. He is either right, hopeful, or misinformed.
— Craig Henman (@henman11) November 20, 2014
... And while an Ohio State spokesperson issued OSU's typical non-denial denial:
Sounds like OSU and Spence aren't on the same page....yet he's been around the facility all week....take it how you will.
— Craig Henman (@henman11) November 20, 2014
David Biddle then reported Noah Spence will have an appeal hearing scheduled for Tuesday (November 25th) and ambiguously added Henman was "on the right track."
Assuming Spence was reinstated with reasonable haste, he would become eligible for Ohio State's (at maximum) three remaining games. Which, again, would be like finding $100,000 on an empty street corner.
Here's a fun thought (if Spence returns): opposing offensive lines won't be able to slide their protection to either of Ohio State's defensive ends.
THE REDSHIRT PAYOFF. Yesterday, I deep fried some folks because I don't like turkey (it's dry and disgusting), but another controversial take I keep in the chamber is that I like the redshirt.
Unless it's a specimen like Raekwon McMillan or Curtis Samuel, then put a shirt on that #teen. I think, outside of true blue chips, there's no reason to waste a year of eligibility for negligible contribution.
Everyone says Urban Meyer hates the redshirt, but he's utilized it, and the early returns indicate the redshirt is, in fact, good.
From Bill Rabinowitz of The Columbus Dispatch:
In Urban Meyer’s ideal world, no Ohio State player would redshirt. If the Buckeyes consider a player good enough to recruit, the hope is that he’s good enough to play as a freshman.
But redshirting has been very, very good to the Buckeyes this season. Many of the players who have been instrumental to the team’s success in 2014 spent last season watching and learning, and the Buckeyes are now receiving ample payoff.
Quarterback J.T. Barrett, receiver Michael Thomas, hybrid back Jalin Marshall, left guard Billy Price, linebacker Darron Lee and cornerback Eli Apple redshirted last year and have blossomed this year as starters.
I think the redshirt year especially helped Michael Thomas. He's always had the talent, but I think that chip on his shoulder created by the redshirt helped focus him.
Same with Jalin Marshall, although Marshall was an actual true freshman during his redshirt year. Fixable fumbles aside, I think Marshall is the player fans expected Dontre Wilson to be. (Dontre hasn't been slouchy, but it certainly makes you think.)
URBAN MEYER: COACH OF THE YEAR. Ohio State's offense lost four out of five OL starters (three are in the NFL), Urban Meyer's first 1,000 yard rushing back, its leading receiver, and its Heisman-contending quarterback.
And yet, Ohio State is on the cusp of shattering all offensive records and on the verge of its first Big Ten title in four(!) years. So, I, like BTN's Tom Dienhart, think Urban is worthy of Ohio State's first Coach of the Year Award since the the 1700's.
... Unless Jerry Kill leads Minnesota to the Big Ten title. If that happens, then just go ahead and make Jerry Kill the damned King of America.
GET DUMPED THEN, AKRON. Akron is a quality city; I've had a lot of fun there, but the Zips tried to cross the Buckeyes' men's soccer team in the first round of the NCAA tournament, and it didn't turn out too well for them:
BUCKEYES WIN!!!! 13-12 over Akron in 15 rounds of PKs. NUTS! On to the 2nd Round! #GoBucks #NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/RfXP4myiia
— Brutus Buckeye (@Brutus_Buckeye) November 21, 2014
Fifteen PKs! That's ridiculous. I would've mangled my controller in a fit of petulance if I had lost a FIFA game like that, let alone an NCAA tournament game. (#GoldenGoalForever.)
HORRIFYING. J.T. Barrett is nineteen years old. A real life #teen is leading Ohio State. A #TEEN. That's the most startling statistic from J.T. Barrett's break-out season.
Here's another one for Barrett. #19yearsold pic.twitter.com/BZfNlt4vGb
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 21, 2014
(Shoutout to the empty husks of humanity that masquerade as a #teen quarterback on Twitter. There are crack dealers with more integrity.)
Oh, and Joey Bosa is good at football too:
And here's more good stuff on Ohio State's Lombardi Award finalist, sophomore defensive end Joey Bosa. pic.twitter.com/zLv6Bl6qxr
— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) November 20, 2014
At first I thought Bosa was burning a fat stogie, which would've instantly made this the greatest Lombardi Award finalist poster on earth.
THOSE WMDs. On the 150th anniversary of Sherman's March to the Sea: he was right to burn Atlanta... Film: What's wrong with the Browns' run defense?... Quiz: Which one of my garbage sons are you?... These photos of winter-hell are not from Buffalo... Look at this Indiana propaganda, smdh.
