Good Wednesday, dear readers. Today is the second and final football-free day of the week. To pass the time, I'm sure everyone went out and bought the latest DVDs of Community and Parks & Rec, either to catch up or to catch your friends up before the new seasons start in two weeks. I know I don't want to be acquainted with anyone who doesn't know the proper response to "Pop POP".
Unlike in my last Skully, I'll refrain from detailing my plans for the weekend. As luck would have it on Saturday, the only part that ended up happening was the outfit I wore1. I'm also nervous about making any predictions for the Toledo game. In last week's 11W Roundtable, I foresaw a big game from Jordan Hall, Travis Howard, and Corey Brown, albeit Philly, not Pittsburgh. The next day, the first two were suspended and now, the latter's status is up in the air for Saturday due to an injury. I'm checking out the roster at the moment to find a seldom-used walk-on to sacrifice to my jinxability. Chris Roark, step on up! My crystal ball tells me that you're going to have a monster game against the Rockets.
One last confession: I almost didn't write today's Skully. As someone who cheers passionately for the Buckeyes, I thought it was my duty to suspend myself for six weeks. After all, I root for a team that has a few players who sold their own stuff for money and discounted tattoos, which is way worse than anything done by any players or coaches in the NFL. That deserves a little self-flagellation. I was ready to don a cilice like an albino monk until I realized, "this may be a little over the top. Also, shut up, Roger Goodell2."
RETURN TO HOWARD ISLAND. Yesterday, Fickell, who our own DJ describes as "a phoenix rising from Tressel's broken corpse"3 announced that that Hall, Howard, Brown, and Jordan Whiting have been reinstated after serving a one-game suspension. While he did not clarify what kind of playing time they will get, how Fickell integrates them into the game plan might foreshadow what happens when Adams, Herron, Posey, Thomas, and Corey Linsley return. He maintains that no one's getting their spot handed to them, especially when the backups have played well in their place. They have to earn it in practice by, I'm assuming, showing leadership, intensity, and competitiveness.
My guess, and I have such a stellar record in this area, is that Hall and Howard will definitely play against Toledo, though neither will start. It'll be interesting to see if there are any chemistry issues when they take the field, but these guys have played all of fall camp, so I'm not too concerned.
WELCOME TO THE STONEY AGE. Fresh off his three-touchdown performance against Akron, Jake Stoneburner was named National Tight End of the Week. None of this surprises his teammates. A wide receiver in high school, Stoneburner has a natural ability to catch the ball, and his size and athleticism make him, as Mike Brewster points out, a tough matchup for defenses.
Worth noting is that when they were on the scout team together a few years ago, Stoney and Bauserman developed a rapport, perhaps explaining that all three TDs thrown by the Baus were to the tight end:
"I think he likes throwing to the tight end," Stoneburner said. "And I think he has confidence in me, and I think he's starting to get confidence in himself. I think he showed it out there."
Ohio State fans have been waiting a long time for the TE to get more involved in the passing game, and with four talented guys at the position, it's likely that last Saturday wasn't a fluke.
All he does is catch touchdowns
MAC ATTACK. Toledo, many people's pick to win the MAC, is looking to add Ohio State to the schools they have upset in recent years. One of those wins is against Michigan, giving UT something in common with half the teams in college football, including one from the FCS. They've also beaten Colorado, Purdue, and Pitt. With all due respect, or none in Michigan's case, those teams are not Ohio State, and they didn't have the Prince of All Swagger, Joe Bauserman, as starting quarterback.
Toledo's QB situation, though, is somewhat similar to OSU's in that they will also play two QBs with different styles. The Rockets will be hoping to replicate the ability to force turnovers that they displayed in their game last week. Against New Hampshire, the Toledo D, known for their blitzing, was +5 in turnover margin.
AULD LANG SYNE, HOOSIER-STYLE. The men's basketball schedule is almost complete. Twelve of the 18 conference games will air on CBS, ESPN, or ESPN2, including the B1G opener against Indiana on New Year's Eve (again) and the finale at Michigan State. The rest of the schedule should be announced later today by the BTN, who will televise those games.
In other BB "news", Sully made Sporting News' preseason All-American list and DraftExpress, going out on a limb, states that he and Buford are two of top NBA prospects in the B1G. Seeing that profile of Sully reminds me that he was born in 1992, the same year that Home Alone 2 came out. Now excuse me while I go yell at some kids to get off Bauserman's lawn.
DAN BEEBE BREAKS OUT THE CHUNKY MONKEY. Apparently, for real this time, Texas A&M is headed to the SEC, and then the B12 will fade into obscurity with the likes of that girl who played Janice4 on Head of the Class. Look, just announce it already. Everyone knows it's going to happen. At this point, it's like a politician refusing to declare his/her candidacy when it's obvious he/she will run.
Pac-12 presidents would prefer not to expand, but in this scenario where superconferences are looking more likely, they probably will. According to the article, the B1G won't do so until their deals with CBS and ESPN expire in 2016. Worst case for the Big Ten? Hello, Cyclones. Which, no.
LINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY. Famous TV roles originated by someone else... A 9/11 ecard... Frightened Rabbit and Meursault cover The Boss... Matt Weiner and Jon Hamm discuss what the money is for... Little Studs... This just reminds me of that kid in The Wizard who only said "California"... For Johnny.
- 1 Not an invitation to start discussing yoga pants again. I just thought it was ironic, though I think that's one of those situations we say is ironic but doesn't really fit the definition of the word.
- 2 I feel a little icky linking to Deadspin, but the article was right on.
- 3 Like Louis CK, he refuses to reuse his own material and won't include this line in one of his own pieces. He didn't want me to credit him, but I'm no Dane Cook.
- 4 Although, it looks like she was in an episode of Arrested Development. Her?
