It appears we have almost done it, folks. We have almost warriored through the sports wasteland of late summer.
Personally, I'm still skeptical because I don't trust reality or the time-space continuum, so I don't want to seem like I am counting my chickens before they hatch. But since I'm not a Little League Player, a parent or immediate family member to one, I am looking forward to not being subjugated to the Little League World Series when I'm eating at fine dining establishments like Subway or Penn Station (which is really the only time it's acceptable to watch ESPN outside of sporting events that aren't the Little League World Series).
SUPERMAN ROLLS BUCKEYE. Last night, Ohio State's 2015 recruiting class received its first verbal commitment from Eric Glover-Williams, an absolute dynamo from Canton McKinley who balled outrageous at Friday Night Lights. The coaching staff had pitched Glover-Williams on being the face of Ohio State's 2015 class, and apparently the top junior in Ohio bought into the pitch.
Canton McKinley is my favorite program in Ohio not named "Marion Harding," so I was excited about this pick-up before I even watched his highlight tape:
HELP 11W HELP YOU. The other day, Eleven Warriors user Yrro had a stroke of genius that helps with keeping Eleven Warriors as an unique destination of Buckeye fandom on the Intranatz: charting each Ohio State game. Well, his idea is coming to fruition.
All pertinent information can be found in the above links, but he's still looking for charters for the Buffalo game. There is a need for people to charter the defense during the second, third and fourth quarters; charters of the offense are still needed for the fourth quarter. ***Insert the "Uncle 11Dub needs YOU!" poster complete with a stern looking Brutus pointing his bony digit in your face***
THE ONLY CURRENCY ACCEPTED IS BLOODSHAZIER LOVE. Daniel Jeremiah, a former scout for the Ravens and the Almighty Cleveland Browns and a quality Twitter follow, released his top five explosive college football players in a column for NFL.com. It shouldn't surprise anyone Jadeveon Clowney, a product of some sort of alien genetic experimentation, is at the top of the list.
Ryan Damn Shazier checks in at #3:
Shazier has a lean build for a linebacker, but he is extremely explosive as a tackler. He accelerates right before contact and creates some "wow" shots on tape. He has the range to make plays from sideline to sideline because of his outstanding speed and burst. He is also a very explosive blitzer for the Buckeyes. He racked up five sacks last fall.
I've read some NFL scouts aren't high on Ryan Shazier, and as the man with Flaming Hot Cheetoh stains on his fingertips, I'd have to respectfully disagree with that. I've had infinite respect for Shazier ever since he played against Michigan on one leg in the fall of 2011. As a linebacker, he's a guy I'll take on my sideline every day of the week. I think 2013 is going to be a big year for Ohio State Linebacker #10.
ESPN IS THE KINGPIN OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL. The sports broadcasting behemoth, which recently pulled out of its investigation with PBS' Frontline into football concussions at the behest of NFL autocrat Roger Goodell, still has its tentacles all over college football. This comes in many forms, such as throwing billions of dollars at conferences to broadcast their games, but also arranging neutral site games like Alabama and Virginia Tech.
The New York Times had a great piece over the weekend on college football's puppet-master:
[Alabama and Virginia Tech] were not even on each other’s schedules until ESPN, looking to orchestrate early-season excitement and ratings, went to work. The 2013 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic came together more than two years ago when one of the network’s programming czars noticed that Alabama was not scheduled to play this Labor Day weekend, brought the Tide on board and found a worthy opponent.
Far beyond televising games, ESPN has become the chief impresario of college football. By infusing the sport with billions of dollars it pays for television rights — more than $10 billion on college football in the last five years alone — ESPN has become both puppet-master and kingmaker, arranging games, setting schedules and bestowing the gift of nationwide exposure on its chosen universities, players and coaches.
The money and programming focused on college football by ESPN, as well as its competitors, have transformed the game, creating professionalized sports empires in the midst of academic institutions.
KENNY G IS A BRIDGE FROM PAST TO PRESENT. I'm somewhat of a Kenny Guiton hipster. If you were to go back on my awful Twitter timeline (something I don't recommend unless you're drowning in self-loathing), you'd see I was boasting "Kenny G has got this on lock" even as Braxton Miller was writhing on the ground in pain against Purdue. The comeback Kenny G went on to orchestrate belongs to the ages; yet the Smooth Sensation is still waiting in the depths for another chance to shine, and for this, we love him.
Doug Lesmeries, another man whose work I have deep respect for, wrote about Guiton, who was a last-minute recruit by Jim Tressel when Tajh Boyd spurned the Buckeyes on National Signing Day:
You know you might be needed for this team to win a national title?
“Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I always stay ready. I work hard to try to prepare like I'm the starter, so when the time comes, there's no dropoff.”
You expect to be in there at some point this season, Kenny?
“Yes, sir, I expect to get some time, yes, sir.”
In crucial moments?
“I hope so. Let's see.”
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why Tom Herman considers Kenny Guiton the best back-up in college football.
THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. You might think this headline is about President Obama, and is thus in violation of 11W's sacred NO POLITICS rule. Alas, you would simply be a pawn of Texas A&M's athletic department:
Do you think Nick Saban spends several hours a night completely naked and lathered in baby oil in his S&M torture dungeon watching film of last year's loss to A&M while patiently grinding his battle-axe against the skulls of his conquered enemies? I'm not sure if I would take A&M (+42) at this point.
STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW WE'RE HERE. Here's the classic Nike promo video to get you prepared for the season.
*checks watch* I think Eleven Warriors might be able to raise this bar in an hour or two. (IN SHOW BUSINESS WE CALL THIS FORESHADOWING, CHILDREN.) Stay frosty until then.
THOSE WMDs. Info on how to delete over 100 online accounts... The best college football schedule on the internet... "Ratchitt" draws students, police... One million cockroaches escape Chinese farm... What in the hell is that, Nebraska Fan?.... Terrelle Pryor is getting more first-team reps this week... Will Smith's family's reaction to Miley Cyrus last night at the VMAs... Alan Sepinwall's review of last night's jaw-dropping Breaking Bad... The Dangerous Mind of Michael Hastings... Newtown Youth Sports: A New Normal... Urban Meyer pwned some NFL scouts and they're salty... How the FBI thought writer William Vollman was the Unabomber... Now that's B1G... How to remove watermarks... DON'T ASK ME IF I'M ALRIGHT... Mexican community watch groups are pretty bad-ass... Ben Franklin's lightning rod... Drake's new album's cover art is pretty post-modern...
