The 1800s: when men were men, and that meant seriously compensating As the basketball season winds down and we get closer to Madness, every game becomes the one that could guarantee a #1 seed. It's not the stress-filled freakout fest that the regular football season is, but it's still important to get that top seed and play the scrubs in the tournament. It's our final Friday in February and frankly, I'm relieved. It's been 60 degrees or more all week up here in the mountains, and the thought of dredging in the muck of a wintery relapse like the Midwest is not something I want to consider. I love the seasons, but I've had enough of the cold. What I haven't had enough of are absolutely dominating performances like Ohio State threw down on Illinois on Tuesday.
You can find our own Chris' typically eloquent recap here, but suffice it to say that the story of the evening was the re-emergance of Baller-Emeritus David Lighty. Once again, Ohio State showed veterans' poise despite their youth, and Lighty has been a major factor in making that happen all season. Aaron Craft and Jared Sullinger deserve all the credit they're getting for the maturity they show both on and off the court, but I can't help but feel that David Lighty is a major factor, both as a role model and on-court presence. The next game features Indiana coming to Value City on Saturday for what should be a relatively smooth victory, but you never know.
No Regrets. The Dispatch interviewed newly graduated Cam Heyward about his decision to stay in school rather than opt for the draft last season. In typically humble fashion, Cam holds no regrets about his decision, and I can't say I blame him. As rigorous and corporate as College Football has become, it's still not as serious as being a professional in the NFL. You only get to be a 22-year-old in college once in your life and unless you're taking care of family back home, you might as well enjoy football as a game instead of a job for as long as you can.
Animal Jr. offers his own 2 cents, echoing Heyward and adding that the goodwill such a decision leaves with fans will pay dividends far longer than any NFL career. No doubt.
We recruit nationally, but really, no we don't. Buckeyesports.com breaks down Tressel's recruiting classes by geography, and unsurpisingly over 60% come from Ohio itself. The next three most common states of origin are Florida, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, all large population states with solid football cultures. As a former Akron-Canton area high school student, I think the most interesting tidbit may be that CAK put out more Buckeyes than any of the Big Three C's. Not a huge surprise, since Massilon-McKinley can make Perry High from Friday Night Lights look sane by comparison.
'Other' Football is just getting absurd. In a sport known for flopping, this flop may be the most ridiculous one I've ever seen. Good thing the ref caught it, or the "stop hitting yourself" technique might've become Italy's entire offense.
Count it. Lastly, Chris Carter, he of the alleged groping incident, has signed his LOI after the police declined to prosecute due to lack of evidence. Like the legal system, I think it's best to give him the benifit of the doubt in that case. That said, smoke, fire, hopefully a lesson was learned and the next thing we hear about Mr. Carter is about an epic pancake block.
