I've railed against Jeopardy! and called for the imprisonment of Alex Trebek for years. You just can't trust people who live and die by a trivia show.
Yesterday, the latest chapter in our country's sordid love affair with academia came to pass. Do these look like people you would invite to sup at your resplendent midwestern hearth?
Trebek the real MVP pic.twitter.com/5XkDRGrIb0
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 2, 2018
I understand not everybody on Earth is dumb enough to care about sports. But good lord, that was a $1,000 layup and I wasn't even alive when the Purple People Eaters ate people who were using weaker steroids.
ICYMI:
- Report: Greg Schiano expected to interview for New England Patriots' D.C. job after the Super Bowl. (I hope the Pats lose by 60.)
- Chris Holtmann stopped by the Dubcast to talk his path to Columbus and future plans for the program.
- A Feb. 1st projection of Ohio State's 2018 depth chart.
- Ryan Shazier released from the hospital, will undergo outpatient program.
- Community Interview: Three-star DE Alex Williams.
- Reserve your (or your business’) spot next to the life-size statue of Woody Hayes coming to Newcomerstown!
Word of the Day: Chanteuse.
NEXT BUCKEYE UP. You don't earn the nickname "The Predator" as a freshman at a program like Ohio State unless you look and play like Chase Young. Still, there is more to defensive line play than physical gifts.
When Young came to Columbus, he fell into the trap of many young players by not taking practice seriously. That, however, didn't fly with a veteran-studded unit.
From theozone.net:
“I think they’ve done a really good job,” Young said recently. “When I got here, I was a really immature guy practice-wise and stuff. Sam, especially Sam, we call Sam “Superbowl Sam,” and that’s because he does everything right. He hustles to the ball on every single play. There’s things like that, the small things that I try to pick up on from him.
“I study and watch film of what to look for in the tackle and write notes down. I think the thing I learned from Tyquan was mentality-wise, just knowing that you are the best one on the field. And if you see Tyquan, he thinks he’s the best on the field, and that’s how he plays.”
And that is what separates Ohio State from its competitors. Any university can throw millions of dollars at a group of grown men to yell at 18-22 year-olds about "culture." It takes true leaders to actually forge that culture to a point its enforced by other players. The talent takes over from there.
ANOTHER MAN WITH FBS OFFERS WALKS-ON. Ohio State accepted another walk-on with Division 1 offers yesterday when 5'8", 160-pound Bedford three-star receiver Davion Johnson committed to the Buckeyes.
From scout.com:
Although very undersized at 5-foot-8 and 160-pounds, Johnson is tough as can be and has speed to burn. The film above shows him torturing Massillon for 16 catches for 259 yards, with two touchdown catches.
"I made this decision because it's the best thing for me, and I'm basically betting on myself," Johnson stated. "I want to play on the biggest stage, so I decided to go play for Ohio State."
"I had smaller offers to go play at some other smaller schools, but this is close to home and good for my family."
Anybody that tortures Massillon in public is welcome on my favorite team any day of the week. Johnson's size means he won't likely see a lot of time as a receiver due to lack of a blocking frame, but he could definitely contribute in other ways.
BASKETBUCKS STILL TAKING PUNCHES. Chris Holtmann just ripped off Ohio State men's basketball's best January in five years. They have undoubtedly caught the attention of the rest of the Big Ten, and are realizing teams are throwing their heartiest haymakers against the Buckeyes.
From sportingnews.com:
"We have an even bigger target on our back," Williams said. "In addition to being Ohio State and defying expectations now we're going to get every team's best punch. We have to stay ready for that every possession, not just every game."
"You see it all the time where teams take one loss and it becomes another loss and another loss," Tate added. "I think our mindset and approach went really back to what it was before. We have to play with that chip."
Taking somebody's best shot should be the name of the game in every sport at Ohio State, right down to club competitions. And under Gene Smith, that's basically what has happened.
People can hate on him if they want (though accepting an invite to the 2011 Gator Bowl remains bad), but I'm going to miss him when he's gone. The man knew how to hire a coach. It's as simple as that.
MICHIGAN BEGINS WAITING GAME. Hugh Freeze lied to his players about the severity of the NCAA's investigation into his program, and that could allow former players immediate eligibility elsewhere.
One such player is quarterback Shea Patterson, of Michigan. We won't know if he can play next year until the end of March or maybe April.
From cbssports.com:
Six Ole Miss players seeking immediate transfer waivers have assembled what are being portrayed as previously unknown smartphone and electronic interactions showing they were allegedly misled as to the extent of potential NCAA violations and punishments for the Rebels in statements made by former coach Hugh Freeze, CBS Sports has learned.
The documents will go into packages the players will submit seeking an appeal for immediate eligibility at their new schools. Without that waiver, they would have to adhere to NCAA rules that require transferring athletes to sit one year in academic residence.
[...]
The entire waiver process is expected to take until late March or early April, Mars estimated.
I would have wished for Patterson to gain immediate eligibility if he picked literally any other school in the country. Now, I think he should have to sit out two years at least.
The funny thing is, even if he gains eligibility it won't change the trajectory of Michigan's season. That team is losing at least three games this year. Go on and favorite that tweet, too.
SEC: PROFITABLE. Please remember, none of these schools are making any money; they're doing this for charity.
SEC says that approximately $596.9 million of total revenue was divided among the 14 institutions, just over $40.9 million per school
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) February 1, 2018
For perspective, using the most recent USA TODAY athletic department database figures, that's roughly the budget for Colorado State's athletic department. https://t.co/sNjlAjGBbZ
— Matt Brown (@MattSBN) February 1, 2018
Going to be a wild ride for college sports when TV contracts come back to Earth. Some programs will handle the belt-tightening better than others.
THOSE WMDs. Gambling is why FOX paid $3B for despised Thursday Night Football... Unnecessary medical procedures: More common than you'd think... The non-conspiratorial explanation of the Patriots' lack of penalties... "Seeing someone cry at work is normal:" employees say Whole Foods using "scorecards" to punish them... A fake Masonic police department.
