Turns out, I lied about yesterday being Big Ten schedule release day. But today's looking promising. Stay frosty.
Word of the Day: Cogent.
COMPLETE BULLSHIT. Look, I'm essentially the professional homer around these parts, so I know it probably doesn't carry much weight when I complain about perceived injustices against The Local Team, but this needs to be said.
The NCAA's handling of C.J. Saunders' eligibility waiver was objectively bullshit.
Not only is it absolutely absurd that he was denied in the first place, given that he's only appeared in mostly garbage time of *checks notes* 16 games in five years as a walk-on and he missed an entire season where he might actually have finally gotten to play, but it's ridiculous that he *JUST* found out his waiver is denied eight months later.
The NCAA really let him graduate and put his life on hold for eight months, forcing him to act as if he was getting an extra year of eligibility while it pussyfooted around to make an extremely obvious decision that somehow went against him.
I shouldn't be shocked, because shit like this happens all the time, and yet here I am.
From Ohio State's perspective, this doesn't really hurt all that much. The receiver's room is absurdly stacked, and Saunders' biggest contribution was going to come as a locker room presence anyway, which he can provide as an assistant coach.
But that doesn't change the fact that the actual human being in this situation got absolutely boned by the NCAA, because the NCAA demonstrates time and time again that it does not care about human beings.
TOGETHER AS BUCKEYES. For those wondering what it's like to go to college amid a global pandemic, here's a look at the "starter kit" Ohio State will be giving each on-campus resident this year.
Contents of the Together as Buckeyes starter kit from r/OSU
This is quite a bit different than the collection of corporate marketing debris that you'd typically collect at Buckeye Frenzy (with quite a few fewer cheese coneys), but given the circumstances, it'll do.
Also, I am nearly certain that one of these packs is going to end up in a museum in 70 years – if humanity can survive that long.
BRING ON THE GAME. I don't recall Ohio State ever being as overtly hateful towards the rivals up north with players openly saying things like they'd like to "beat the brakes" off of Michigan and then those quotes getting slapped on graphics and promoted by the official account.
Interesting to see the program steering right into this.
— Tom Orr (@TomOrr4) August 4, 2020
Normally, you dont hear OSU players talking like this. You definitely dont see it getting pushed out by the official channels. https://t.co/sZjPEZzgSD
It's definitely a change of pace, but I'm obviously here for it. It seems to me that the Buckeyes very, very much want to play The Game this year. You probably can't say the same about Michigan.
QB1. Justin Fields made it crystal clear yesterday that intends to let the world know he's the best quarterback in the nation and win a Heisman Trophy (though he did concede that he would settle for just a national title, because the team comes first).
He could not possibly have set higher goals, but the thing is, he's already proven he's the best.
The highest-graded QB returning to college football hails from Ohio State:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 4, 2020
Justin Fields https://t.co/XRrGawK06o pic.twitter.com/Xs85yeHj6X
Also, his "run grade" sitting at 60.9 percent is hilarious, because. Well...
So, that's just a bitttt misleading.
But it's funny that his stats pretty much paint him as the best pocket passer in the country heading into the season, because at this time last year a solid sect of football fans were convinced he was more athlete than quarterback.
Oops.
WHITE'S FIGHT. William White may have to battle ALS, but he ain't going at it alone. He's got all of Buckeye Nation at his back, led by a trio of notorious winners who are looking to do their part to raise awareness.
All were there, not because they coached at Ohio State, but because Jim Tressel, Urban Meyer, and John Cooper have a strong feeling for former Buckeye and NFL defensive back William White.
"I recruited William White out of Lima senior high school," said Tressel recalling his days as an Ohio St. assistant coach under Earle Bruce. "Michigan said the great tailback was going to be a running back, and we had to talk him into that he was going to be a corner. He's just a special kid."
...
"You're not going to beat something that people aren't donating to or aware of. When the doctor told me I had ALS I was like what is that. With the coaches coming together and things of that nature, that will help."
Meyer said White has been a soldier for charitable causes in Central Ohio. "I love William. He's got a heart of gold," added Meyer. "I don't remember a lot of charity opportunities in this city that I've been at that he wasn't there."
You can watch Meyer, Tressel and Cooper participate in the ice bucket challenge live at noon on YouTube.
SONG OF THE DAY. "In Case You Don't Live Forever" by Ben Platt.
NOT STICKING TO SPORTS. A surveillance video shows inmates escaping from jail using bedsheets to scale 12 stories... A Texas lawyer is accused of smuggling meth into a county jail... The Department of Agriculture is warning people to watch out for unsolicited packages of seeds shipped from China.... A family secret uncovers a new suspect in a 1944 beheading... The American scientists who saved London from Nazi drones... Missing sailors stranded on a Pacific island are saved by a giant "SOS" in the sand...
