Friday Skull Session

The Gold Pants Social is tonight. The most ominous word in that sentence is "pants," something I've had quite the tumultuous relationship with in my life.

If you're one of those suave folks who will be in attendance tonight, I'll be the guy standing in the corner stuffing my maw with food and working up the courage to interrogate Mike Doss about the Marion Harding-Canton McKinley high school playoff game from 1998.

And don't forget Eat Too, Brutus is tomorrow. That fiesta kicks-off at high noon, with The Best Damn Band in the Land slated to hit the scene at 12:30 sharp. (I'll be the guy wearing shoes [ugh] with phone books and atlases taped around my torso at that event.) 

This weekend is going to be a swell time, and none of it would be possible without the fabulous readers such as yourself, so thanks for helping make Eleven Warriors what it is today, which is the best Buckeyes community on the intrawabz.

EA SPORTS' NCAA FOOTBALL, WE HARDLY KNEW YE. We begin today's transmission with the obituary of EA Sports' franchise NCAA Football. From EA's official blog:

Today I am sad to announce that we will not be publishing a new college football game next year, and we are evaluating our plan for the future of the franchise. This is as profoundly disappointing to the people who make this game as I expect it will be for the millions who enjoy playing it each year.

On top of that, thousands of former collegiate footballers are eligible for settlement payments.

I'm not a big gamer outside of FIFA, but I have always preferred the Madden franchise over NCAA. Of course the good news is NCAA 2014 now becomes a collectors' item, and Ohio State fans will be able to give people the business with Braxton Miller and the read option from now until the sun explodes. Seriously, it's unstoppable. (By the way, mark me down for "excited" about Braxton's return this weekend and reminding people how awesome he is.)

BUCKEYES NOT BUYING INTO WISCONSIN'S EMPIRE. Earlier this week, Urban Meyer called Wisconsin "the kingpin" of the Big Ten, and Ramzy laid waste to that theory as if he was Genghis Khan. Ohio State players aren't buying that Bucky empire talk either:

Boss Hogg Bradley Roby:

We know we're the king, so we're not worried about anybody else. Simple as that.

Corey Brown didn't feel the need to mince words:

From the above article, apparently the meme of "kids sure do love those alternate jerseys" is true. TE Nick Vannett: 

I wish we could have those for every game. They're really sweet.

I'm 26 years-old, and I think this is my first "GET THE HELL OFF MY LAWN, YOU DAMNED KIDS!!!!" moment; I'M REALLY TO YOUNG TO BE FEELING THIS OLD.

SABAN IS SHOOK ABOUT A RETURN TO BEAST LANSING

ALABAMA DUCKS SPARTY. SEC teams are truly terrified of traveling north. It's becoming comical. I understand why Vanderbilt didn't want to start their season getting racked by the Buckeyes, but this news is almost too rich:

Michigan State's two-game football series against Alabama has been canceled, at Alabama's request, MSU athletic director Mark Hollis told to the Free Press.

“Alabama requested to cancel the series due to uncertainty with the SEC schedule,” Hollis wrote in a text message today. “While disappointed, in the spirit of collegiality, we agreed to the request.”

MSU was scheduled to play at Alabama on Sept. 3, 2016, with Alabama due to play at Spartan Stadium on Sept. 2, 2017.

Ah yes. Heaven forbid Alabama would have to make a trip to East Lansing with a murderous 9-game SEC schedule on tap. Wait, what's that you say?

Seriously, f--- Alabama. Regionalism is one of the best things about college football fandom, but it's all for naught when the best team in the self-described best conference won't play a true away game outside of the Southeast. If Ohio State pulled something like this, they would (rightfully) be lampooned. Wake me up when Cl@y Tr@vis rides in on his diseased, gimpy high horse on this issue. I have a feeling you won't be able to rouse me, however, because I'll be dead.

And of course Alabama leaks news of negotiations with a "big name" opponent for a neutral site game. Neutral site games not named "the Red River Shootout Rivalry" are a pox on college football. College campuses provide some of the most electric atmospheres in American sports, but yeah, LET'S PIMP THE GAME OUT TO SOULLESS NFL STADIUMS LIKE JERRY JONES' ABOMINATION BECAUSE HE NEEDS MORE MONEY.

This is why I won't rest until the FBS playoffs are carbon copies of the FCS playoffs. It's 16 teams, with home field to the higher seed all the way until the championship game. If Alabama doesn't want to bang with Michigan State in early September, I can only imagine their terror at the prospect of knocking on Columbus' door on a 15 degree night in December. 

USC PETITIONS THE WARDEN ON GOOD BEHAVIOR. Earlier this week, the NCAA reduced sanctions against Penn State based on their "continued commitment to athletics integrity." Well, now every crook in the workhouse is seeking a reduction on their sentence based on their own "continued commitment to athletics integrity."

Enter USC Athletic Director Pat Haden, who recently met with NCAA officials in regards to sanctions on his university:

After learning of the NCAA's actions on Tuesday (Sept. 24) regarding Penn State and the lessening of the sanctions that were imposed on that institution, when viewed in the context of the events that have shaken intercollegiate athletics over the past year, we felt compelled to discuss USC's sanctions in a new light.  As I have stated on numerous occasions, I believe the penalties imposed on our football program in 2010 were unprecedented and inconsistent with NCAA precedent in prior cases.  I also believe the sanctions have resulted in unintended consequences both for our football program and our student-athletes.  Although the sanctions reduced our total football scholarship limit to 75 (down from 85), attrition resulting from injuries and transfers has resulted in less than 60 recruited scholarship student-athletes suiting up for our games.  The current situation is certainly not what was envisioned, nor is it in the best interests of our student-athletes' welfare.

The NCAA is unfair and inconsistent? Well, that's quite the radical opinion you have there, Pat Haden. While the NCAA easing their punishment on Penn State was good for the Big Ten as a whole, it opened up a Pandora's box with every other program under sanction.

If this tactic works for USC, I imagine Gene Smith will be making a call to Indianapolis, if he hasn't already. (Although, Ohio State skated on its haterz in comparison to USC's and Penn State's punishment. We also ended up with Urban Frank Meyer.)

CRAIG KRENZEL DOES A REDDIT AMA. Last night, Craig Krenzel descended from the clouds of Buckeye immortality to interact with the unwashed masses of Reddit's college football subreddit for an "Ask Me Anything." (All quotes Sic'd.)

On former teammate Maurice Clarett: 

Maurice was a great teammate on the field. wise beyond his years from a football standpoint. Unfortunately it was the opposite off the field and he had much to learn about what is really important in life. He had to learn the hard way but seems to be doing well these days after hopefully learning his lessons.

On which program reminds him of the 2002 Buckeyes:

I look at Stanford and see a lot of our 2002 team. A team that is frequently looked as inferior to the other big boys because of the style that they play. I am not sure it is possible to have a group of guys like the 02 team. It was a selfless team that would do anything we had to in order to win a game. It was a very tough team physically and mentally.

On growing up in Michigan and playing for Ohio State:

It was funny at first. I had a lot of family and friends that gave me ahard time but in good fun. I still maintain it was one of the best decisions i have ever made! I was recruited by UM but they had just signed Drew Henson the year before and I also wanted to get away and meet new people. It was a special day to get my first win as a starter in Ann Arbor in 2001.

On Holy Buckeye!:

The play call was actually the same play the we completed a pass to Ben Hartsock the play before for a 10 yard game. During the play it was simply going through my progressions. All we needed was 1.5 yds but Purdue didnt give us that kid of look. In bringing pressure they left Michael Jenkins one and one and he won 99% of those battles! I was and still am a pragmatic man and if I had Mike one on one in any situation he was getting the ball!

Craig Krenzel is a beast! (And I'm not saying that cause he'll also be at the Gold Pants Social tonight.)

THOSE WMDs. YEAH, THAT'S A MARIONAIRE HURDLING/TRUCKING FOES FOR THE #1 TOP TEN PLAY... YEAH, THAT'S A CLASSIC WHOOPI PIC... The "open plan" bathroom movement grows... The real Rick Ross isn't a rapper... Execution on 3rd down: kinda important... Brian Phillips on Paolo Di Canio... Terrelle Pryor won't play this weekend... Joe Haden on facing AJ Green: "It's not like we're scared"...  Huge soccer brawl escalates rather quickly... Who will fill in for the injured Christian Beneteke?... Columbus teacher under investigation for giving students chainsaws... Columbus woman's dream man ends up being a female... Robbery suspects strike twice in north, east Columbus... Ohio turnpike stop yields $2 million in cocaine, heroin... On GTAV: Poison Tree... Urban Meyer wants to write a book on Kenny Guiton... Ray Allen didn't travel on his NBA Finals Game 6 shot... Dodgers-Giants turns ugly again as a Dodgers fan is killed... Walter Payton being Walter Payton... Campaign decries Qatar World Cup "slavery"...  Tulsa/Iowa State drew fives of fans... Gateway's Huntington bank was robbed yesterday...