As I've always said: Old Man Winter is a contemptible scumbag.
BRAXTON THAT MUCH CLOSER. Braxton Miller — as he's wont to do from time to time — took to Twitter yesterday for a Q&A session with the unwashed masses.
In it, he revealed a massive step in his recovery:
@BWollenslegel: @BraxtonMiller5 have you been able to start throwing yet? Yessir ..
— BRAXTON MILLER (@BraxtonMiller5) February 15, 2015
Granted, I doubt he's at the Woody launching 60 yard bombs, but it's still great to see Miller tossin' the ol' pigskin around in February. (Gotta assume Miller, who just graduated, is full-throttle on his rehab right now.)
Braxton revealing why he wears No. 5 was another illuminating moment as well:
@JorshP: @BraxtonMiller5 why #5? Dad 1 , mom 2 , brother 3 , sister 4 , (me 5)
— BRAXTON MILLER (@BraxtonMiller5) February 15, 2015
I have no idea what is going to happen with Braxton. Any scenario is in play. He could come back and light it up and lead OSU to repeat. He could be the next "third-stringer" to win a title game. He could never be the same/never play another snap. He could transfer and ball outrageous or (Warren G. Harding forbid) suffer another major injury in a place like Tallahassee. Nothing would surprise me.
His position is not his fault, and it's totally unfair. Obviously, I squire for King Dolodale in my spare time, but I wouldn't complain about watching Miller unleash a four-month, multi-state rampage in conquest of his old corners.
Because some how the guy that did this is now underrated:
“@PGerberry: @BraxtonMiller5 You did them so dirty https://t.co/wh9IisnYux” I forgot all about that one ,
— BRAXTON MILLER (@BraxtonMiller5) February 15, 2015
Makes you think (about the psychics of the universe), man. Makes you think (about the physics of the universe), man; that's for sure.
It's also hard for me to ignore captain Jeff Heuerman's post-championship proclamation (via @JeffSvoboda):
"One thing everyone needs to truly appreciate is Braxton Miller's part in this. We're not anywhere near this point without Braxton Miller in this program I can tell you that much. He didn't get to share as much of the spotlight on the field with us this year, but he's the biggest reason we're here. What he's done for this program these last three, four years is truly special and there's absolutely zero chance we're here without him, so he goes a little underappreciated in this national championship but he knows deep down the guys in this locker room and these coaches know we're not anywhere near this without him."
This is not an original thought, but HBO needs to give Ohio State, the NCAA, Jim Delany's third uncle — whoever! — anywhere between $1 billion and $10 billion dollars to produce a Hard Knocks style show about OSU's fall camp.
I'm not sure what genre that show would fall under, but it would smash records, especially if the school and producers were smart enough to let Cardale Jones and Tyvis Powell command about 20-30 minutes of the hour. (What I'm saying is I'm not busy to the point I'd decline a chance to produce/direct this franchise.)
INSIDE THE SILVER BULLET RESURRECTION. Say, y'all, how about those Silver Bullets? They were a dang mess in 2013 — might as well call a Maine Coon a Maine Coon at this point — but by early 2015 the Bullets were mauling opponents.
For how that revolution transpired, we turn to Tim May of Dispatch.com:
It wasn’t fancy, Ash said, not even the zone-blitz call in the Sugar Bowl win over Alabama that put defensive end Steve Miller in position for an interception return for a touchdown. Or the goal-line stand in the first half against Oregon when safety Tyvis Powell and others rose up to stop the most-prolific offense in college football.
“I ask our guys this all the time: How do Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks line up in a (basic) 4-3, cover-three defensive scheme and lead the NFL in total defense?” Ash said. “It’s because they’ve got good players who are motivated to play hard, they are very well-coached, they believe in what they’re doing, and they’re consistent in what they do.”
That’s what he saw from the Buckeyes as the season progressed, and it paid off in the postseason.
The sign of a good teacher is making the complex simple, right? If so, Chris Ash might be the odds-on-favorite for the next Meyer assistant out the door.
The defense will miss Doran Grant, Michael Bennett, and yes, Curtis Grant, but man, it's fun to project the Bullets into next season.
IS THIS SOMETHING YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN? Aprops of nothing other than it being a dreadful, wintery Monday morning (stuff it, westerners/southerners); here's a quick Sugar Bowl highlight reel:
Love that cameo from my No. 1 fan, hoss4107.
Sugar Bowl, I think, will be my most memorable game from the 2014 season.
OHIO STATE MUST SIGN LUIJI VILAIN AT ALL COST. Folks, I'm about to pass some coffers now — this slush fund is of the highest priority — there's a #teen in Canada that is destined for footballing greatness, and my heart wouldn't be able to stand seeing him in another school's colors.
From Bill Keurlic of OhioState.247sports.com (via @rdubbs07):
2017 defensive end Luiji Vilain who attends Pearson High in Ontario, Canada, visited Ohio State today. It was the second time Vilain has been to Ohio State, but the first time specifically for a football visit.
“I really liked it a lot,” Vilain said. “I really like the facilities and all the stuff Ohio State can offer. I think the thing I liked best was the new addition to the locker room. But I really liked all the facilities.”
Kerry Coombs is recruiting Vilain for the Buckeyes, but his potential position coach if he ended up at Ohio State, defensive line coach Larry Johnson, played host [yesterday]."
LUIJI VILAIN!!!! That's basically an Italian to English translation of WALUIGI, who was one of the greatest sexual conquistadors to ever roam this realm.
I consider this a sign! If 2015 is the year of Wario, then 2017 is the year of Waluigi:
That Waluigi crotch-chop and finger wag would make for a helluva sack-dance.
YOUNG GUAPO COMETH. Remember when Carlos Hyde said when Urban Meyer got hired, he flipped on old Florida tapes and got nervous because he didn't see any burly running backs toting the magic diamond?
Well, El Guapo paved the way for future big backs under Urban Meyer, and Ohio State has a big one in the pipeline for 2016 in the form of Kareem Walker:
..... BuckeyeNation pic.twitter.com/5lABAbz18S
— AlightyReem (@_KareemWalker) February 16, 2015
Size. Power. Nimble feet. Improving receiving skills. Tell me that couldn't have been a report on a young Carlos Hyde!
(Now all we need is that "Sim to Season" button...)
THOSE WMDs. The Cheater's Guide to Love... 20/20 explains Nintendo in 1988... OSU's Ronnie Dawson and Jalen Washington have a silky handshake... 10 Waluigi facts... OSU group pushes to make League of Legends a club sport.
