Good morning, sports fans! If the sun is a little brighter today, it's because college football officially implemented a playoff system yesterday evening. On the other hand, if the sky is a little grayer, it could also be because the playoff era is a-coming. The news isn't making everyone perform the Chapman roll, so it all depends on your viewpoint.
Basically, some people think it's the wrong kind of change and some people think it's not enough, while others are simply happy that the BCS is like a certain Sean Penn movie. This one, not this one.
But, there will be complaints no matter what. I'm just glad that a decision has been reached so we're not stuck discussing quite as many hypotheticals. Still, uncertainty remains. I'm hoping they figure out which sites will be hosting what games soon because I'd like to start saving now for Braxton Miller's final game as a Buckeye on January 12, 20151.
IS THIS THE REAL LIFE? IS THIS JUST FANTASY? Speaking of Ohio State's quarterback, Jesse Siegel of the fantasy sports site RotoWire.com has singled him out as a sleeper pick for the college football fantasy draft.
A few years ago, I encouraged my stepdad to draft Joey Votto in his baseball league and that move paid off handsomely for him, especially since Votto wasn't the name that he is now. Braxton is well-known because he is the starting QB for Ohio State, although he still has a lot to prove. Even if you have no interest in fantasy sports—or didn't realize there was a league for college football—it's reassuring that those outside the fan base are expecting such production from him.
Siegel cited Miller's increasingly better stats last season and the addition of Urban Meyer as reasons he should generate good numbers. He added, "Miller should be the focal point of the OSU offense in what should be a Tim Tebow-like attack." But the Buckeyes already have a terrific fullback in Zach Boren!
One familiar name in the bust category was Illinois QB Nathan Scheelhaase2, who will be without the services of WR AJ Jenkins, now in the NFL with the 49ers.
BACK 2 GOOD. BTN's Tom Dienhart put together a list of the conference's notable players who will be rebounding from injury. Somehow, it didn't consist solely of Purdue players recovering from ACL tears, though running back Ralph Bolden and quarterback Rob Henry3 were both mentioned.
Dienhart also included Nathan Williams, who hurt his knee in the first game against Akron and was subsequently lost for the season:
The fifth-year senior didn’t take part in spring drills but is ready for 2012. Williams is a relentless pass rusher who has 20.5 career tackles for loss. He may be one of the league’s top pass rushers this fall.
It's that last part that should make the difference to an already strong defensive line. A so-called "weakness" of the unit is the lack of a true pass rusher, but Williams' return could change that, particularly if he can pick up where he left off pre-injury. However, we have yet to see him perform on the field since his surgery. For his sake, as well as the team's, hopefully his comeback is a success.
TEACH THEM WELL AND LET THEM LEAD THE WAY. Mitch Stephens of MaxPreps.com wrote a piece about Urban Meyer interning on the St. Xavier coaching staff in 1985. Then 21 years old and attending the University of Cincinnati, Urban's coaching style seemed pretty similar to what it is today.
Greg Frey, who started at QB for St. Xavier and later for Ohio State, described him as "intense and focused", which his high school teammate Steve Specht backed up:
"He was in your face both ways – if you did something right or something wrong. I think true football players gravitate toward that. Kids feed off of it."
Now the head coach of St. Xavier, Specht brought up one amusing incident that symbolized the way Urban handled his defensive back duties, recalling, "I remember him ripping his shirt off and running as an offensive player. He dared them to try to catch him."
Judging by the picture that accompanied the article, it was probably all part of Urban's Magnum, P.I. look
Fantastic FiveThe following year, he moved on to Ohio State as a grad assistant. One of the players at the time was William White, who enlisted Meyer to appear last month at a golf outing that benefited Private Leisure Assistance for Youth (P.L.A.Y.), a program that allows children to participate in recreational activities that they would not be able to afford otherwise.
In May, the new head coach gave 50 kids a chance to attend an OSU football camp for free, and last week, the 49 who were chosen took part in the camp. Some of them were transported by White himself, and both he and Urban stressed the importance of hard work and education.
Additionally, Urban wants to expand on the program by instituting a mentoring component for the disadvantaged kids.
YOU GOT NO FEAR OF THE UNDERDOG. The NBA Draft is being held tomorrow night4, and in the run-up to the event, Jared Sullinger's stock has fallen and his game has been heavily scrutinized. Most mock drafts have him going somewhere between 14th to 21st.
SI's Seth Davis talked to a several members of the NBA world, and the overall feeling about Sullinger was positive:
"He's as good a basketball player as there is in the draft. The bottom line is he can score. Weight will always be an issue with him, and heavy guys historically end up having problems. I know he failed the NBA doctors' physicals, but our doctors did not fail him. You have to take all of that into account, but I still think he's talented."
The sentiment about William Buford was harsher, if unfortunately not surprising:
"He looked a little heavy at the combine, didn't shoot it real well, so he probably hurt himself. I wouldn't draft him. I don't think he likes to play. I don't think he has enough toughness."
Whatever happens, good luck to both of them.
ICH HEISSE SUPER FANTASTISCH! Tom Izzo isn't shy about challenging his team early in the season. Last year, Michigan State and UNC faced off in California on an aircraft carrier, a setup that will be replicated this November by Ohio State-Marquette, Florida-Georgetown, and Syracuse-San Diego State.
Deciding to stay ahead of the curve, the Spartans went bigger and will start the 2012 season against UConn at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Besides showing appreciation for the military, Izzo also agreed to the arrangement because the coolness factor of playing overseas excited his squad.
If nothing else, it could impress recruits, who may be feeling ignored by Calipari:
Oh wait, I see what he did there.
AND LINK OUR HEAVENLY BODIES. The Ohio State men's hockey schedule for 2012-13... A home run that lost a game... Denis Leary's tweet in tribute to Nora Ephron (language warning because duh, Denis Leary)... The cool, cool, cool Community art show... But no touching the Arrested Development art exhibit... The items in a 1992 Nickelodeon time capsule include Reebok Pump sneakers and a Joey Lawrence "Whoa!" hat... A clogged sink... This dog is a boss.
- 1 I'm pretty sure that was predicted in Back to the Future 2. At least, it should have been. It's infinitely more realistic than the Cubs winning the World Series.
- 2 Thanks to writing B1G recaps last season, I can type his name correctly in my sleep.
- 3 He is apparently not the same person as Robert Marve, who is not the same person as Caleb TerBush. I will never know the difference.
- 4 I'm going to recommend that you watch the Louie season premiere instead.
