Thursday Skull Session

With all the hype and positive vibes swirling as Ohio State prepares for a run at the crystal football, I'm not quite sure we've taken enough time to smirk at our friends to the north. 

Thankfully, our friends at MLive.com are a giving bunch as they remind us of the following:

• It's been 3,194 days and counting since Michigan last won at least a share of the B1G title. 
• Since Brady Hoke arrived on the scene, his Wolverines are 5-7 on the road. 
• The once proud Michigan defense mustered exactly 12 sacks a season ago. 

Though I'm not quite sure I buy that the program has fully turned the corner no matter how many top notch recruiting classes they've brought to Ann Arbor, they are emerging as a sexy pick to make some noise this fall. Herbie is bullish on the sun and blue and yesterday Jerry Palm tabbed Michigan as the B1G's representative in the Rose Bowl after falling to Ohio State in the B1G championship. 

Palm has the Buckeyes hooking up with 'Bama in the title tilt while Sports Illustrated slots Urban Meyer's squad as their preseason #4 squad. 

Sixteen days and counting, boys and girls. 

KNOW YOUR FOE. The BTN continued its tour around the B1G footprint, taking in upstart Northwestern's practice. 

Up front, the 'Cats are replacing three starters across the offensive line including All-B1G selections Patrick Ward and Brian Mulroe. It sounds as if the purple team could be shuffling guys around well into the non-conference slate as they search for just the right mix. 

As long as that group is serviceable, it's expected that WR-turned-RB Venric Mark will pick up where he left off last season when he became Northwestern's first 1,000 yard rusher since Tyrell Sutton in 2006. Mark forms a solid backfield with athletic QB Kain Colter. 

Tom Dienhart projects the secondary to be among the league's best and cites DL Deonte Gibson as the type of athlete Ohio State or Michigan would have and tabs WLB Chi Chi Ariguzo as a kid that can play at any school in the nation. 

No question Pat Fitzgerald is doing work but I still just can't get into the hype. I'm firmly in the Phil Steele camp that has the Wildcats as the 4th best team in the Legends behind Nebrasky, Sparty and Michigan. 

UPPER(CLASSMEN) CRUST. NFL.com's Gil Brandt ranked the nation's top 100 seniors and two elder statemen leading this year's Buckeyes made the cut. 

The highest ranked Buckeye is Jack Mewhort at #23:

The 6-6, 305-pound Mewhort runs the 40-yard dash in 5.25 seconds and is a solid player. He's a good run blocker with high character and intelligence. Mewhort plays left tackle and started at guard for the Buckeyes as a true freshman.

Carlos Hyde checks in at #59 behind running backs Charles Sims (WVU), Marion Grice (ASU) and Silas Redd (USC).

I have to believe Hyde has a chance to move up if he can build upon last season's yards per game statistics while showing that he's capable of hauling in passes out of the backfield.  

Silky Johnson also ranks Urban outside the top 25 coaches

SOUTHERN HYPERBOLE. First, raise your hand if you knew Danny Sheridan was still alive.

Second, if you're willing to admit you listen to Finebaum's radio show, take that raised hand and punch yourself in the twig and berries. 

Though listening to Finebaum is the equivalent of jamming out to Whitesnake, it appears many were tuned in yesterday as Danny (and) the Dinosaur joined the show to drop some college football knowledge. 

If you're not familiar with Danny, his bio says he's a proud Alabama alum and "on November 1, 2012, Danny Sheridan was given the title of Lord Sheridan of Wansley Manor, which is governed by the laws of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland." Kooky. 

In one of the #HOTSPROTSTAKES sessions of the year thus far, Sheridan apparently came strong:

Sheridan on Urban Meyer, 'He's not one of the top 25 coaches in the country. Florida was left in ruins. No way in hell he's in the top 25.'

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) August 14, 2013

More @DannySheridan1: ``Ohio St. playing Alabama in NC game would be like fighting an army without having any weapons."

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) August 14, 2013

Sheridan went on to say Ohio State would finish 6th in the SEC. Haters gonna hate. 

No word on if Sheridan will join the show tomorrow and finally reveal the Bag Man connected to the Cam Newton saga. 

MON-TROY-AL. The CFL's Montreal Allouettes announced last Wednesday night that they've signed Troy Smith to a two-year contract. GM Jim Popp broke it down saying:

"We welcome Troy to the Alouettes. We've been in discussions together for well over three months and have been patiently waiting for Troy to finish his commitments at Ohio State. We'll have to fast track Troy in order to get him over the learning curve of the CFL and caught up to speed over the next several weeks. He's here to learn and grasp the game for future competition."

Troy still holds a handful of school records in Columbus including the single-season mark for completion percentage (65.3%), touchdown passes in a season (30) and career passing efficiency (157.1). 

We wish Troy nothing but the best as he heads north of the border. 

LINKIN LOGS. THE FRIDGE LIVES!... A bus that gives nay damns... Internet users across the world... Kevin Hart and Shaq... Maryland's athletic department is still broke as a joke... Photos of celebs as teenagers... PSA: Don't drink Bud Light... Uncle Hugh is NLE... I could use one of these...in my living room... First Look: 16-Bit Bar+Arcade... Yuckmouth X infinity... The most popular actor from each state... Looks like my man Larry Legend still wraps his ankles in ACE bandages... Don't be scurred, Dantonio... Math major...My creedo is go for it.