It looks like a parallel universe spilled into our reality, and I like it better.
Dont imagine people are going to be lining up to buy these shirts. pic.twitter.com/s807HYmp5F
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 30, 2019
Word of the Day: Subsist.
SEASON-ENDING SADNESS. I was pretty adamant yesterday that Saturday's loss was the most painful Ohio State defeat I'd ever experienced, and with another 24 hours to let it simmer, that hasn't changed.
But my pal Tom Orr of The Ozone thinks that I'm wrong. He put together a list of Ohio State's 12 most painful season-ending losses, and he has two games from my lifetime ranked ahead of the dejection I felt on Saturday night.
7) 2008 Sugar Bowl
What Happened: The Buckeyes exploded out of the gate with a 65-yard touchdown run by Chris “Beanie” Wells to take an early 7-0 lead. On their next possession, they quickly reached the red zone again, and had a 2nd-and-5 at the LSU 10 before a false start penalty derailed the drive and they had to settle for a field goal.
After that, it was all LSU. The Tigers went field goal, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown on their next five drives (excluding a kneel-down before the half) to take a 31-10 lead. The last drive was extended by a roughing the center penalty that negated an LSU punt and gave the ball back to the Tigers.
OSU never got within striking distance after that, losing 38-24.
...
6) 2007 Fiesta Bowl
What Happened: OSU’s Ted Ginn ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown, but injured his foot during the ensuing celebration. It was all downhill from there.
The Gators exploded for 21 straight points before OSU answered with an Antonio Pittman touchdown to make it 21-14 early in the second quarter. Florida tacked on a couple field goals, and then scored a dagger of a touchdown just 23 seconds before the half to make it 34-14.
The Gators’ pass rush simply overwhelmed the OSU offensive line and limited Heisman winner Troy Smith to just 4-for-14 passing for 35 yards. Florida won, 41-14.
His logic is that "the closer they got to that title, the worse the sting," and I certainly don't disagree, but I do disagree that the Buckeyes were closer to the national title in 2006 and 2007 than they were this year, even if this year's squad had one more game to play.
Both of those teams got fairly dominated and there's not much that convinces me it would have been any different if they got a do-over. This year, though, Ohio State was any single one of *opens list like a scroll* several unfortunate and unlikely events from playing LSU for the national title, and there's nothing that convinces me they couldn't have won.
If we did it all again, I'd be extremely confident in the 2019 team's chances of winning both of those games. I can't say the same about 2006 and 2007, even if it's just one game. That's why it stung so damn much.
DECISION TIME. There's not much drama about Ohio State's NFL Draft declarations this year, because we basically knew who would be leaving before the season even started (looking at you, Chase Young, J.K. Dobbins and Jeff Okudah).
The lone fence-rider is Shaun Wade, and the way he's announcing his decision is... Telling.
Shaun Wade will announce his decision regarding the NFL in a ceremony in Jacksonville on Saturday.
— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) December 31, 2019
It would seem extremely odd for a player to hold a ceremony in his hometown to announce he's returning to school, but on the other hand, the only other time I've ever heard of anything like this, that's exactly what happened.
So, who the hell knows?
I do firmly believe that Cardale Jones planned that press conference fully intending to declare for the NFL Draft only to change his mind afterward. But there's also nothing stopping Wade from doing the same thing.
DOBBINS OUT, LINGARD IN? J.K. Dobbins shocked exactly nobody on Monday evening when he announced his decision to enter the NFL Draft, but it still leaves the Buckeyes having to replace the best running back in the country heading into next season.
Ryan Day's shown no qualms with going to the transfer portal to solve roster problems before, and it's looking like he's going to have a chance to do it again, with former five-star running back Lorenzo Lingard looking to transfer from Miami.
Lingard, who was a five-star recruit according to the 247Sports Composite in the 2018 recruiting class, played in just two games during the 2019 season.
According to Pro Football Focus, Lingard played six snaps on special teams in week six against Virginia Tech. He played two snaps at running back in the regular season finale against Duke.
Lingard did not receive any carries in 2019.
His true freshman season was cut short in 2018 to a knee injury that was sustained in practice after the seventh game of the season. According to Miami coach Manny Diaz, Lingard was planning to take a redshirt this season because he was still working his way back from that knee injury.
And it seems as though there might be some mutual interest.
2/2
— Chris Boyle (@ChrisBoyleDBNJ) December 30, 2019
Lingard plans to pursue a hardship waiver and gain immediate eligibility
He reiterated the appeal of playing close to my dad but added that his recruitment is wide open.
Hey, I'm in. I mean, the last time Ohio State replaced a Heisman Trophy candidate with a former five-star player who was underutilized at his previous southern school, it worked out fine. I'm cool with going to that well again.
STILL COACHING. J.K. Dobbins is a few months from being a millionaire as the best running back in the 2020 draft class, but he's still coachable.
@Jkdobbins22 Chin-Chin please!! Lol pic.twitter.com/Wro94ML175
— Coach Tony Alford (@CoachTonyAlford) December 31, 2019
i was trying to go all out for the team man!
— Jk dobbins (@Jkdobbins22) December 31, 2019
Not trying to hear that foolishness, put the ball away
— Coach Tony Alford (@CoachTonyAlford) December 31, 2019
Don't worry, Tony. The last time he fumbled, it bounced right back into his chest and he ran 25 more yards. It's all part of the plan.
RIP PATRIOTS. Sorry Patriots fans, Kyle Van Noy just sunk your team's Super Bowl chances.
Kyle Van Noy: We have a chance to go on a Revenge Tour, and what better way than to play Tennessee, who we lost to last year. pic.twitter.com/FqItLeUlNH
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) December 30, 2019
He should ask his teammate, Truck Stop Fabio, about his experience with Revenge Tours.
NOT STICKING TO SPORTS. Inside the secret battle to save America's undercover spies in the digital age... How the 1% are preparing for the apocalypse... A cancer patient was set on fire during eye surgery... A boy set his front yard on fire with a magnifying glass he got for Christmas... When Russia and America cooperated to avert a Y2K apocalypse.
