If you're in Columbus and needing a sports fix tonight, the Columbus Crew opens its 2015 campaign as it hosts archrival Toronto FC at 7:30.
BUCKS BOUNCED FROM B1G TOURNAMENT. Well, it happened. Ohio State was beat by a solid team "on the road" last night, 76-67. The Bucks are still looking for trust in their system.
I'm rationalizing it by telling myself a national title is cooler than a Big Ten Tournament title, and Ohio State needs the rest.
The next event on the team's calendar is tomorrow's Selection Sunday, which goes down at 6 p.m.
At this point, my only hope for this team is it doesn't get butchered in ritualistic fashion on national TV by the likes of Xavier. (Please, anything but a first-round loss to Xavier.)
PRO DAY NUMBERS. All 32 NFL teams sent envoys to Columbus yesterday for Ohio State's pro day, which speaks to the pedigree of talent Urban Meyer is producing these days. Ohio State's best pro prospects, Devin Smith, Jeff Heuerman, and Michael Bennett all performed helped (or at least didn't hurt) their draft stock.
From Gil Brandt of NFL.com:
Wide receiver Devin Smith (6-foot-0 1/2, 201 pounds) did the three-cone drill in 6.83 and then stood on the rest of his numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine. Smith had a good workout, but needs to work on how he catches the football. He doesn't catch the ball real well with his hands and has a tendency to trap the ball against his body. Former Ohio State quarterback, and 2006 Heisman Trophy winner, Troy Smith was throwing the ball during the pro day workout.
Tight end Jeff Heuerman (6-5 /4, 253) ran the 40-yard dash in 4.80 and 4.83 seconds. He had a 34 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot broad jump. He was only able to do the bench press at the combine, but he was a top performer among tight ends in the event. Heuerman's had a recurring Lisfranc problem. He had an operation in the spring and then another one in August. His production on the field dipped in 2014. He had 17 receptions for 207 yards and two touchdowns in 2014, but had 26 catches for 466 yards and four touchdowns in 2013. Prior to the foot injury, Heuerman was well-thought of as an NFL prospect.
Defensive tackle Michael Bennett (6-2 1/4, 297) ran the 40 in 4.98 and 5.03 seconds. He had a 35 1/2-inch vertical jump. He strained his right hamstring running the second 40, so he did not do the 20-yard short shuttle or three-cone drill. Bennett was outstanding in the Buckeyes' run toward the national championship, playing outstanding in the final three games. If he were to play all the time at that level, he'd be a first-round draft pick.
Please keep Devin Smith in your thoughts and prayers. I've seen a lot of chatter about Cleveland taking him with the No. 19 pick in the draft. That would be a disaster akin to ten Lusitanias.
TOUR THE WHAC. Ohio State is rich, and as such, it's a school that can afford the finer things when it comes to player accommodations. Here's a quick look around the locker room from Athletic Strength and Power:
A quirky thing about college football is a donor can give $2 million to renovate locker rooms but can't slip a player a $50 bill.
LOOK AT HOW STUPID FAT THIS DOG WAS. Would stuff your son or daughter's face with food until their internal organs ruptured? Nobody would, but yet, people do it to their pets all the time. Makes you think.
Meet Dennis the Dachshund. He lost 44 lbs with help of @OSUVetCollege. http://t.co/AkGiyOb69Y #OSUnews #BuckeyeLove pic.twitter.com/q8dD5Gb2A5
— OhioState (@OhioState) March 13, 2015
From Hannah Yang of Dispatch.com:
Obesity increases the risk of spinal conditions, joint wear and metabolic issues such as diabetes and high blood pressure — which Dennis might escape, Ham said, because of his weight loss.
“It was really remarkable that he was otherwise healthy,” she said. “We were surprised that he didn’t have any detrimental effects from the excessive weight.”
These days, the fit and trim Dennis weighs 12 pounds.
The dog lost a total of 44, including 2 pounds of excess skin.
A diet of strictly burgers, pizza, and ramen noodles is an awful diet for a human being. It makes me feel cool and good inside to know there's somebody out there stupid enough to think that's an acceptable diet for a dog. Props to the OSU Vet school and the people who GoFundMe'd the financing for Dennis' operations.
HARBAUGH HEARD THE VEST LOUD AND CLEAR. Jim Tressel made waves last week when he said Michigan "was a ways away" from the Ten Year War teams. The Vest also said the key to The Rivalry going forward was Michigan's success in recruiting Ohio's top high school talent.
One area the Wolverines struggled in recent years is Northeast Ohio, and Jim Harbaugh made a big move yesterday in rectifying that.
From Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com:
ANN ARBOR -- Jim Harbaugh's reach into the state of Ohio is getting a bit longer.
On Friday, speaking in front of nearly 800 high school coaches at Michigan's 2015 spring coaching clinic, Harbaugh introduced Rick Finotti as his program's new director of football operations.
Finotti has been the head football coach at St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio since 2009. The school also confirmed the move Friday.
Urban Meyer is on record as saying he "doesn't know how he'd do his job" if he didn't employ Mark Pantoni, OSU's Director of Personnel. These kind of positions are revolutionizing the sport.
Harbaugh took his time with this hire, and from my hovel, it's hard to hate on the maneuver. It makes sense on all levels.
Alex Boone, now with the San Francisco 49ers and former Harbaugh player, threw the assist on Finotti too.
From Bill Landis of cleveland.com (via John Cooper's Lucky Pig):
"Last week Jim called me to ask what I thought about him," Boone told Northeast Ohio Media Group in a phone interview on Friday. "The one thing about Jim and I, we're cut from the same cloth: This is how stuff is, it's black and white, right or wrong.
"So when he asked me what I thought about (Finotti), I said, 'You're gonna love hanging out with him. He sees things just like we do.' After he heard that I think he realized he's a guy he'd love to have on his staff."
[...]
"I hope Jim coaches a great game," Boone said. "I hope Ohio State wins. And I don't want Jim Harbaugh or Rick Finotti to get hurt."
I have bad news for Alex Boone: Jim Harbaugh is about to catch the fade.
THOSE WMDs. Bill Walton is a classical human being... How to cook bacon with an automatic rifle... This is hilarious, but I'm still baffled... Witnesses: Dave Chappelle Lookalike Robbed a Columbus Bank... This Cat Can't Stop Hugging His Dog Friend Who Just Returned After Ten Days.
