We start this Wednesday with a St. Wayne Woodrow Hayes anecdote:
Only three Columbus newspapermen were allowed to attend, and they had to wear red shirts and stand together at practice.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JeffSvoboda) November 17, 2015
I'm sure Woody, if he were still with us today, would hold nothing but love in his heart for the mendacious message board rumor mongers of our times. (He also would've no doubt loved to Tweet.)
ICYMI:
- Ohio State retained its No. 3 ranking in the Playoff Committee's latest rankings.
- The men's basketball team wrecked Grambling State, 82-55.
DANG, THIS IS IT FOR OL' BRAXTON. It seems like last month we were pinning the fast-fading 2011 season on a talented but raw quarterback from Huber Heights.
Does this play really seem like it happened five seasons ago?
I am now 103 years old.
Moving on... this will be the Ohio State's legend last game in the Horseshoe. Miller is certain to get the loudest Senior Day salute from the crowd, and according to the forecasted numbers, we could be in for an electric performance.
From cleveland.com:
Miller has 42 touches in six home games, and just 15 touches in four road games. Put another way, Miller averages 7 touches per game at home, and 3.8 touches per game on the road.
You've probably noticed the buzz that goes through the crowd in Ohio Stadium when Miller lines up in the backfield. Even after all of these negative plays, people still expect something special. Don't expect that feeling, or these numbers to change.
Miller has one game left in Ohio Stadium. Meyer will get him touches, maybe even more than he's had in a game all season (10 is the most by the way).
Is this the game Braxton throws? I'm not sure, but if it isn't then it'll be interesting to see if they still run him between the tackles.
Braxton has a keen sense for the big moment too, so I'll be shocked if we don't see one memorable play from him. After his career arc and bodily sacrifices to the university, to say he's earned that would be an understatement.
FERENTZ ON MINING OHIO TALENT. Ohio is one of the most contested recruiting grounds in country. How did Iowa pull three-star Warren, Ohio RB LeShun Daniels out of Ohio State's "living room"?
Kirk Ferentz broke down the elaborate heist yesterday:
Question to Kirk: How did you get LeShun Daniels out of OSU living room?.. Ferentz answers "Easy. They didn't offer him. That helps."
— Derek Young (@DYoungScout) November 17, 2015
I'm partial to any player out hailing from Warren G. Harding High, but it's hard to pick bones with Urban Meyer's ultimate 2013 selection (four-star Ezekiel Elliott, an RB we now all love to know).
Fun fact: The only Warren G. Harding alumnus currently on Ohio State's roster: walk-on running back/Navy veteran Patrick Wise.
NUMBERS: OHIO STATE DEFENSE VERY GOOD. Ohio State rolled over its postseason competition, and we spent all summer wringing our hands about QBgeddon. Then we fretted about offensive fluidity. Then we fretted about the QBs again. Now, we're onto pass protection.
What if our shackling of the 2015 team to the 2014 team led to us looking at this team through the wrong scope? What if we're underrating a defense that could be historically great?
Updated coverage stats from Ohio State's Eli Apple/Gareon Conley: 28 receptions allowed on 78 targets (35.9%)
— CFB Film Room (@CFBFilmRoom) November 17, 2015
Ohio State defenders stuffing the stat sheet #SilverBullets https://t.co/JQ6RRFJ5ZG pic.twitter.com/F5CqFHdS15
— CFB Film Room (@CFBFilmRoom) November 17, 2015
Ohio State's defense currently sits No. 7 in S&P+ rankings (No. 16 on offense). People are gassing up Alabama's defensive line, and Ohio State's might not be as deep as Bama's, but right now I'll take Ohio State's defense against any offense in the country. (The Tide is the No. 1 S&P+ defense.)
Y'ALL RICH. Michigan State–Ohio State is the hottest Buckeye ticket since The Game in 2010. Tickets are going anywhere from $180 to $650+.
The forecast, though frigid compared to the November we've had thus far in Columbus, will do little to deter Buckeye fans:
The weather currently being called for Saturday in Columbus seems like it’ll be a really good time. pic.twitter.com/ZBsFFnMAkq
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) November 17, 2015
Jack Frost: How about no, pal? I enjoy taking November morning walks to the corner store in sandals.
Y'ALL NASTY. Yes, Ohio State is "requiring" wristbands for the Mirror Lake Jump for a third year in a row. We can get mad online about it, but can anyone fault a multibillion dollar university trying to distance itself from a liability lawsuit waiting to happen?
There's the whole "18-22 year-olds getting blind drunk and running around half-naked in frigid temperatures" (my friend, tilted on Lady Bligh, almost died up against a dumpster one year) but there's also health risks to consider:
In science class we figured out how much the urine content increases in mirror lake after mirror lake jump #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/o8vAeWAN7W
— Grant Burks (@GrantBurks) November 17, 2015
"Yikes," I say now. But I once drove 29 hours straight from Missoula, Montana, to Columbus (blew my water pump on 315) to get liquored up and jump into, apparently, a man-made puddle of piss.
The crazy thing? One, I didn't urinate in Mirror Lake (piss yourself on the run home to keep warm, idiots). Two, I'd do it again tomorrow (as a 20-year-old).
Truth be told, this is the most magical time of year in central Ohio.
THOSE WMDs. Report: Les Miles is coaching for his job... TruSox: At the center of innovation, star players and family rivalry... Why I deleted your band's promo email... Hail Satan... Skier miraculously survives 1,600-foot fall... Will artificial intelligence bring us doomsday or utopia?
