Urban Meyer, who saw his assistants depart Florida for head-coaching gigs on the regular, finally has an opening to fill on his Ohio State staff.
James Madison University made the rumor official Friday afternoon when they introduced Everett Withers as the new head coach of a program with its sights set on a move from FCS to FBS.
Withers had served as the co-defensive coordinator for Meyer, with a focus on the safeties, a unit that's taken heavy criticism in recent weeks after getting abused in the regular season finale in Ann Arbor and then a week later in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship.
As such, most fans seem to be greeting the move with some variation of: Best of luck, Coach Withers. Now, won't you please find someone to fix the safeties, Uncle Urban?
Withers will stay at Ohio State through the Orange Bowl, which is important from a practice management and tying up loose ends perspective. As for his influence in the game, he'll be somewhat of a lame duck coordinator, so if there was a duality of sorts with the scheme and play calls between Luke Fickell and Withers, it may all shift to Fickell for the bowl game.
It's still a loss, particularly when you consider Withers' recruiting connections in the Carolinas, but it's not quite losing Ed Warrinner, the architect of some of the finest Ohio State lines in recent memory, which, what the hell—
#OhioState co-OC Ed Warinner interviewed for the Army job yesterday, per source. Was Army assistant and coordinator from 1987-99
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerCBS) December 21, 2013
As a coach, Urban Meyer will always want to see his assistants get head gigs, but some losses are easier to replace than others. Losing Warriner, Football Scoop's Offensive Line Coach of the Year in 2012, would be tough.
TAYLOR DECKER, NO LONGER SCARING SMALL CHILDREN. Ohio State right tackle Taylor Decker cut his glorious mane last night, opting to donate the foot or so of hair to charity. Strong move and admirable, but we're going to miss the Undertaker look.
GORDON BACK. Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon has announced he will return for his junior season. Since he redshirted as a freshman, Gordon was eligible to enter the draft but will return where he'll be featured in the Badgers' rushing attack and could make a run at the Heisman Trophy depending on how his junior year goes.
Gordon joins Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun, the Big Ten's Defensive Lineman of the Year, as league stars that will return next season.
Michigan coach Brady Hoke has said quarterback Devin Gardner will return to Ann Arbor, though he admitted to not having spoken with Gardner about the NFL. Nebraska junior running back Ameer Abdullah has said he hasn't given the NFL much thought, noting it would be a "really big jump."
Meanwhile, Ohio State is waiting on early departure decisions from quarterback Braxton Miller and linebacker Ryan Shazier.
URBAN MEYER SUPER ACTION PAPER SUPER DOLL. If you're still looking for the perfect Christmas gift for that special Buckeye fan in your life, look no more:
PURPLE RAIDED. Wisconsin-Whitewater crushed Mount Union, 52-14, in the Stag Bowl to win the Division III national championship last night. The game marked the first loss for Purple Raider quarterback and Lakewood St. Edward product Kevin Burke in 30 starts. Insult added: Burke was just a day removed from winning the Gagliardi Trophy, which is the Heisman of D3.
Wisconsin-Whitewater has now won the championship in four of the previous six seasons, with Mount Union winning it all in the two Whitewater did not. The Purple Raiders have five losses in that span with all of them coming at the hands of – you guessed it – Wisconsin-Whitewater. If Division III dynasties are your thing, we're living in the golden age.
Three weeks ago, Mount Union, along with fellow Ohio schools Ohio Dominican and Ohio State, had amassed 67 consecutive wins between them. Much was made about the three schools owning the longest winning streaks in Division I, Division II and Division III at the time. Now, all three schools own a one-game losing streak.
VEGAS IS TEMPORARILY DIRTIER, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. Las Vegas, meet classy USC fan. Classy USC fan, meet Las Vegas. You two will have a lot in common.
How hot is this? Talk about being a Trojan fan. pic.twitter.com/ol3lQ3enSb
— Josh Webb (Twist) (@FightOnTwist) December 21, 2013
ETC. Joey Bosa is good on the field, good off the field... Mascot smack is some of the best kind of smack... Oregon unveils 2014 uniforms. Insist these don't help with recruiting at your own peril... The Sun Belt will always be Pepsi to MAC's Coke... Team USA and Team Canada get their brawl on... Scientists are getting closer to ensuring Urban Meyer never ages... How's your sex life lately, Buckeye fan? Truck Tetris at UPS... This movie is still criminally underrated... NOPE.
