Here are some things you may have missed yesterday:
- Ross continues his delve into the principles of Tom Herman's offense; this time looking at the quarterback run game.
- Birm has a look at 2017's Danny Clark and 2015's Joe Burrow and their performances at this week's Elite 11 camp in Columbus.
- Alex Malzone, a 2015 Michigan QB commit, became the latest in Michigan's long line of recruits to pop off at Ohio State.
- Kenny Guiton's talents now belong to Gene Simmons.
- OSU is still in the hunt for Christian Kirk, an electric wide receiver prospect from Arizona.
THE 2009 FLORIDA GATORS WERE A FOOTBALL TEAM. That should be the headline for Eric Edholm's Yahoo! article, which is actually titled, "2009 Florida Gators Had Talent, but They Also Had Some Busts, Shaky Characters." At this point, it'd be more informative.
Here's a snippet, and feel free to stop me if you've read this before:
What a motley crew that group must have been. It's amazing to think, too, that Percy Harvin and Cam Newton, two players whose character was closely scrutinized by NFL people, both should have been on that Gators team before leaving school for different reasons — Harvin for the NFL, and Newton for junior college after an incident with a laptop.
Haden, Dunlap, Jenkins and the Pouncey brothers have been good players on the field in the NFL, Cooper broke out in 2013 and Tebow is likely to continue being a success at whatever he ends up doing, even as the chances of his playing career continuing continue to shrink.
But the Hernandez murder has cloaked the NFL, the Patriots, the Gators program and, to a degree, Meyer, whose list of former lawbreakers at the program is extensive. Some of his former players have stayed straight and done well, but some — most definitely Hernandez — have actually gotten worse since entering the league.
Blistering investigative thesis here. As it turns out, some of Urban Meyer's players were good; some of his players were bad. Some (read: a sizable majority) players kept on the straight-and-narrow. One, however, turned into an alleged serial killer.
So yeah, with the outlier of Hernandez — who Urban did everything possible to help — it appears Urban Meyer's 2009 team was comprised of human beings.
Because if anybody thinks there's any elite football team comprised of do-gooders, I've got some majestic oceanfront real estate over on Cleveland Avenue I've been dying to sell.
If Urban Meyer had a knack for recruiting criminals, where are these stories from his tenures at Bowling Green and Utah? Why haven't any of his Ohio State recruits been arrested for a gangland style execution or murdering two people over a spilled drink in the club?
Really makes ya think, huh?
E. GORDON GEE: THE 'E' STANDS FOR BALLER. Here's former Ohio State president, but current West Virginia president and Ohio State president emeritus, in an interview with Doug Lesmeries on the ultimate lessons of Tatgate:
"I think everyone won," Gee said. "The university is doing very well. I believe we have the best football coach in the country in Urban Meyer. I had the privilege of hiring him, as you know, and I think he is doing fabulous work.
"I think Jim went through the refiner's fire and came out the other end not only intact but I think gracefully and he managed a very difficult situation. And I think he is going to be doing what he really wants to do, which is to lead and lead in a different way from leading a football team.
"As for me, I obviously had 14 great years at Ohio State. I left, as you well know, right ahead of the sheriff as I always say, because I'm the well-known one-liner, and for that I have always been known and often apologetic. But I had a great time here, and now I am doing something that I genuinely appreciate, which is an opportunity to pay back the people who gave me a great chance at an early age.
Well, the 2012 football team won all their games, but ultimately they lost a chance to play for a national title because some higher-ups at The University (who shall remain nameless) refused to sacrifice an opportunity to play in the prestigious 2012 TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl. Did those guys win? Other than 12 games and a Leaders division title, no.
But I understand Gee's point at large, and I fully agree. I believe Ohio State had reached their ceiling under Jim Tressel, and as much as I love the Vest, I wouldn't trade Urban Meyer for him.
Then there's the fact E. Gordon Gee, current president of West Virginia, is still referring to Ohio State as "we."
CURTIS SAMUEL ALREADY ONE OF THE FASTEST IN CFB? Curtis Samuel has a chance to be the best player from Ohio State's 2014 recruiting class. CBS' Bryan Fischer released his list of the 14 fastest players in college football, and Samuel made the cut, which is odd since he has yet to play a down of college football.
11. [Curtis Samuel] was just a hair slower than Alabama's Tony Brown last summer at The Opening at Nike headquarters in the 40-yard dash and has some equally fast times in the 55- and 60-meter dashes on the track. Urban Meyer knows how to identify speedy slot receivers and has himself another one in the freshman.
(For the record, Curtis Samuel will start his career running back.)
I was a little surprised to see Dontre Wilson get no love on this list. Samuel vs. Wilson is a race I'd love to watch (and the subject of today's poll).
NICK SABAN IS CASHING OUT. Heavy is the head that carries the crown, but so is the bank account:
If Nick Saban completes all eight years of his newly amended contract, he will make at least $55.2 million: http://t.co/WoZrcITCEv
— Steve Berkowitz (@ByBerkowitz) June 3, 2014
Even MORE Saban-metrics: 'Bama coach's new salary earns him $38,356 every two days. Latest average ANNUAL Alabama household is $41,574.
— Mike Pearson (@B1GLLL) June 3, 2014
Here's my reaction to Saban's contract numbers (best with audio):
Saban's contract runs until 2022, so it appears we're going to have to wait for that glorious day when Saban hangs up his baby boots. (The day will go down in history as Alabama Armageddon. The Juggalos will run wild.)
Either way, the price just went up on Urban Meyer's contract extension.
(I assume this isn't going to help the NCAA arguments in next week's O'Bannon trial either.)
THOSE WMDs. Dan Marino "sued the NFL by accident" and is withdrawing his concussion lawsuit... How Joe Burrow went from "not that good" to being compared to Alex Smith by Urban... They do things differently in Florida... Poetic (soccer) team goal... Will Leitch drops the mic on the Landon Donovan affair... Didn't realize Diabetes was whacking so many Ohioans... SB Nation's Ohio State preview... A great Vin Scully profile... Murder and Revenge in Papua New Guinea...
