Good morning, and Happy Cinco de Mayo! Make a cup of coffee, pour in a little Corona with lime. I’ll wait…
Welcome back!
Here’s the thing. When I have an important decision to make I talk to people I know: my mom, my dad my friends, you know people I trust. My inkling is this is the way most people go about their business. Think back to the last time you had to make a big decision. Did you go outside, find the most populated section of your respective community and scream, “WHAT DOES EVERYONE THINK? SHOULD I ACCEPT THIS JOB OFFER?!?!” No, no you didn’t because you didn’t care what strangers thought about your personal choice.
Well believe it or not highly rated high school athletes are just like you and I in that regard. Their deliberation over the higher institution they will attend is a huge choice, probably the largest they've had to make in their young lives. They will consult family, friends, and other trusted sources, but guess whose opinion they wont take into account…yours on Twitter.
Yes, it’s true random grown-up with an egg for a Twitter avi, no recruit is going to commit to a school based on your 140 character relationship. In fact you could be doing more harm than good.
Yesterday, Buckeye Nation may have seen how harmful said communications can be with the decommitment of 2013 All-State LB Alex Anzalone. It’s hard to say if we’ll ever get the true story behind his decision, but some strange coincidences are definitely being noted. Do me a favor, and put the word out to superfans: Tweeting recruits is dumb.
BIG MO IS GONE? Mark Schlabach wrote an article yesterday discussing OSU’s focus on the UM game this upcoming season. Nothing in the article seemed particularly earth-shattering. It’s everything you’ve heard before; the UM game will be this team’s national championship, Urban understands the rivalry, etc. etc. The only thing that truly stood out was this quote from Schalabach:
“Momentum seemed to shift in the rivalry last season, when first-year Michigan coach Brady Hoke guided the Wolverines to an 11-2 record, including a 40-34 victory over Ohio State.”
Interesting. Has momentum really shifted? I was under the impression the last Michigan "W" of any significance against Ohio State was in 2003. For those counting at home, that was almost nine years ago. Call me crazy, but methinks its going to take a little more than a win that was two overthrown Braxton passes away from a loss to shift big MO in Hoke’s direction.
No offense (no pun intended) to last-year’s coaching staff, they did a great job of keeping the team together, but the level of coaching talent on this year’s squad is eons ahead of where it was last year. Couple that with 18 returning Buckeye starters who get to play UM in the Shoe, and I’d say that any “momentum” gained from last year’s win is negated. But what do I know, Hoke’s a bigger fella and momentum with larger folks is an unpredictable thing.
SHUGARTS JUMPS TO THE NFL? See what I did there? Brandon Castel of the O-Zone wrote a piece about undrafted former Buckeyes, J.B. Shugarts and Andrew Sweat recently signing free agent contracts with the Cleveland Browns.
Essentially Shugarts was signed as an insurance plan for the insurance plan behind OT Mitchell Schwartz who the Browns took in the second round. Sweat was the third linebacker picked up by Cleveland this offseason along with James-Michael Johnson out of Nevada in the fourth round and Emmanuel Acho from Texas in round six.
It’s questionable whether either will make the team coming out of camp, but I feel much better about Sweat’s chances than Shugarts’. Linebacker is a need for the Browns this upcoming season (honestly what isn’t a need for Cleveland at this point?) and when healthy, Sweat was serviceable at the position during his time at OSU. He could make a solid NFL backup.
I’d be lying if I said it was a joy for me to watch Jump Back Shugarts play on Saturdays. His constant inability to understand the snap count was infuriating and he seemed to give up more sacks than these people. Castel makes the point that some of Shugarts’ shortcomings have to be placed on the coaching staff. I completely agree, its tough for a coach without arms to teach proper blocking technique, but Shugarts was making the same mistakes throughout his entire collegiate career. The opposition is only going to get more talented and for J.B. that’s probably bad news.
But, good luck to both of them. It’s always great to see Buckeyes compete at the next level.
Shugarts' MusePSU OFFICIALS WANT CHARGES THROWN OUT. Yesterday Penn State AD Tim Curley and retired vice president for business, Gary Schultz, filed documents arguing the perjury charges against them should be dismissed. Both were charged with lying to the grand jury investigating Jerry Sandusky back in November. The two stated prosecutors have not found enough evidence to support the charges and that allegations against them have not been specific enough.
Who knows what to say about this case anymore. It’s a complete mess and has been a “he said he said” affair for months. Ultimately it is going to come down to what the legal system determines Mike McQueary told Curly and Shultz about what he did or didn’t see in a shower.
At the end of the day, if a grown man is seen doing anything with a child in a shower, “horsing around” or otherwise, it should be reported to authorities. End of story. This duo splitting hairs about the severity of what they were told reeks of two men who are now in survival mode after the far too tardy realization that they should have acted.
CATCHING PASSES AND POLICE ATTENTION. The ACC’s 2011 Rookie of the Year, Sammy Watkins, was arrested Friday and charged with possession of marijuana and a controlled substance after campus police stopped the Clemson wide receiver’s car for scraping a curb. He was released on a $1,620 bond.
Shortly after Watkins released this statement:
"I made a mistake last night and I am truly sorry for my actions. I let the team down, the coaches down and this university down. I will learn from this. I will accept any discipline Coach Swinney and the university issues."
In his freshman season Watkins caught 82 balls for over 1200 yards and 12 touchdowns. Additionally, he rushed for 231 yards on 32 carries.
This was an unfortunate mistake made by a young college student. Hopefully Watkins learns from this transgression and bounces back as he was one of the most electrifying players to watch last season. There has been no word yet from Head Coach Dabo Swinney or AD Terry Don Phillips on disciplinary action.
THESE LINKS CRAY. Rest in peace MCA. Quite possibly the most terrifying job of all time... We're here to look at a lamp... Some guy named Obama is visiting Ohio State today. Memes in an art museum... I'm game. Google street views of famous album covers. Were yours?
