Um, you guys? We are exactly one month away from watching real, live Ohio State football.
With that introduction, let me welcome you to the first day of August, a month that will bring us the start of college football season. I think Tsonga speaks for us all, though hopefully the wait doesn't feel as long as his 25-23 match.
Today is also the last day for you to fill out our reader survey and potentially win a free t-shirt or three. I know you commenters are an opinionated bunch, and while we can't please everyone, we still want your input. But I'm warning you, if you suggest fewer pop culture-related items, that's not going to happen. Sometimes a girl just has to drop a Flying Blind reference.
In case you missed it, the 2012 Football Information Guide was released yesterday, and I had fun skipping right over the 2011 statistics and checking out the pronunciation guide to see which players I had been giving the Montee Ball treatment.
Despite his recent appearance in the news, it was only last night that I discovered the "Bri" in Bri'onte Dunn rhymes with "eye." Also, it seems the apostrophe is silent. And while I had been calling him "Dor-un", Doran Grant's parents must be Simon Le Bon fans because his first name is pronounced like Duran Duran.
Plus, I learned there's a walk-on named "Claudius Mbemba"1 and just as you might expect, he looks like a boss.
MR. SMITH GOES TO MASSILLON. This Friday, fall camp begins with two separate practices. The morning session is for returning players and the evening practice is reserved for the freshmen.
Before his own two-a-days commence, Devin Smith headed back to Massillon on Monday to watch his old high school team start theirs. Smith believes that his time on Ohio State's track and field team boosted his athleticism, and he also thinks the receiving corps as a whole has improved from the disaster of last season. As he told The Independent's Chris Easterling, "We're really focused on getting better and making sure that we let the world know that Ohio State has receivers."
At this point, the team isn't lacking any motivation thanks to their new head coach:
"Coach Meyer, his message to us and every one on the football team was to play as hard as we can each and every single day, no matter what it is," Smith said. "The one message that he tells us every single day is that we're going to go out there this season and win as many games as we can for the seniors, because for the seniors, this is it."
Let's hope everyone still has that same attitude when October and November roll around.
THE GEE TO VICTORY. Although you might not think Urban needs much help on the recruiting front, he will still use every weapon in his arsenal, including Gordon Gee. David Briggs of the Toledo Blade outlined what Gee brings to the table, which is that for all his verbal gaffes2, he is able to charm recruits and their parents with his amiable and unassuming personality.
Commits like Joey Bosa and Ezekiel Elliot have been won over by the president's spirit, and predictably, Urban appreciates anyone who is gung ho about the Buckeyes, saying, "The enthusiasm, passion, love for Ohio State … it's off the charts."
While some may find it objectionable for Gee to interact with potential student-athletes, he's not breaking any rules and doesn't focus exclusively on football players. Michigan's Mary Sue Coleman, who seems like a drag anyway, is one president who doesn't get involved in such matters. However, Urban understands that meeting the university's president can be an advantage in the recruiting game and for the future.
As he wrote to Gee in an April email, "you taking time to personally meet with our key recruits will go a long way in establishing and building relationships with the recruits and their parents."
LIST OF MANIA. Athlon Sports put together a list of the 30 best coaches in college basketball. Leading the way was Tom Izzo, followed by Mike Krzyzewski and John "2012 hasn't been vacated...yet" Calipari.
Subjective as these rankings may be, it's curious that Thad Matta only came in at #14, especially with this description:
A national title is the only achievement missing from Matta's resume. Perhaps it's just a matter of time. Under Matta, Ohio State has won at least a share of the Big Ten regular-season title in five of the last seven seasons. He’s won 76.5 percent of his games in the Big Ten Tournament (16-5, three titles), the highest in conference history.
Behind Izzo, I can understand, but Athlon put Bo Ryan at #8, a ridiculous six spots ahead of Matta, who actually has led teams to the Final Four.
Doran's reflex is to tackle Smith but try not bruise himESPN's Myron Medcalf responded to the article with his own Top 10, and righted that wrong by ranking Matta at a more fitting #9, which was one above Ryan. He also placed Coach K at the top, ahead of Calipari and Izzo, respectively.
LIFE'S B1G QUESTIONS. Because I'm feeling generous, I'll give Athlon Sports a second chance with a piece that lays out some of the Big Ten's most important questions during fall practice. Examples:
Who's leaving, who's staying at Penn State?
So far, we know running back Silas Redd is off to USC, like many assumed he would. Even though some Penn State fans are probably really indignant about that, his (former) teammates have shown their support. In addition, safety Tim Buckley is headed to NC State, tight end Kevin Haplea is going to Florida State, and quarterback3 Rob Bolden is transferring to the land of Les Miles.
Can Ohio State Execute Urban Meyer’s Spread Offense?
Can they? Yes. "How well?" is the real question, and Athlon thinks that ultimately, it will depend on how the offensive line has developed.
Will Iowa find answers at running back, offensive line and on the defensive line?
I don't know about the last two, but I would never bet against AIRBHG.
Is Purdue healthy ... finally?
Immediately when people start believing, "maybe this year", a Boilermaker will tear his ACL.
Can Northwestern field a competitive defense?
Probably not, but at least WR Kyle Prater was granted an NCAA waiver and can play this season.
THE DARK KNIGHTS. Yesterday, Central Florida was handed a one-year postseason ban in both football and basketball. UCF is Ohio State's opponent in week two, so that should give people plenty of time to perfect their ban jokes between then and the Ohio State-Penn State game on October 27.
Due to the third-party involvement of Ken Caldwell, a poor man's World Wide Wes, UCF will also face recruiting restrictions, scholarship reductions, a $50,000 fine, and five years probation. In their last year with Conference USA before moving on to the Big East, the Knights were expected to win their division. I can't keep track of who's in the Big East now and who will be in 2013, but I'm going to guess that UCF will have a good shot at the conference title next season.
Still, it's a blow to a group that had been considered a "surprise team" by Phil Steele.
CLICK THE LANDING. U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!... The growing rivalry between Michigan State and Wisconsin... Penn State fans hold a rally for the team... Bowl eligibility will probably stay at six wins... Badminton teams being bad... Come at me, Bane... I'm honestly looking forward to National Trail Mix Day... A more realistic version of Inception.
- 1 Good thing there's no one on the team named "Hamlet."
- 2 Oh please, let's bring up "I'm just hoping the coach doesn't dismiss me" one more time.
- 3 Well, "quarterback", so that's a perfect match with LSU.
