Merry December, everyone. Here's hoping this month brings us plenty of Buckeye football, beginning with this weekend.
Word of the Day: Umbrage.
HOPE AND A PRAYER. "Jim Harbaugh's best chance at not getting embarrassed against Ohio State is if the game is canceled" sounds like offseason banter. But it's now extremely true and could potentially even save his job.
But in the interest of considering possible scenarios, imagine if the Michigan-Ohio State game can’t be played because of COVID-19.
Having a game canceled because of the virus is not out of the realm of possibility.
In fact, Michigan paused football activities on Monday.
Can you imagine if this lasts? And the Michigan-Ohio State game can’t be played?
As crazy as it sounds, that seems more likely than Michigan beating Ohio State on the field.
Not losing to Ohio State, even because of COVID-19, might make it easier for the administration to announce an extension.
That’s the state of the program now, where canceling the biggest game of the year might be the best-case scenario. I don't think there are many Michigan fans who would be upset if this season were over.
So hear me out – what if we play the long game here? I'm as stoked as anyone else to watch this offense gut Michigan like a fish for a third-straight time, but if a cancelation truly does get Harbaugh an extension...
Either way, we win!
WON'T BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. Garrett Wilson's father hasn't seen his son in months, didn't see him over Thanksgiving, and won't see him for Christmas. And he knows that's just how things have to be.
"He wasn't home for Thanksgiving and no, he won't be home for Christmas and those are all very difficult things. But we understand this is his time, his opportunity, and we don't want to let anything get in the way of that. And he doesn't either, " Wilson said.
So, Garrett, like the other OSU players are staying socially distanced from their family. And as a dad, Wilson says it's hard not to be able to wrap your arms around the person you love.
"He's not been around his family because he really wants to maintain the distance that Coach Day has asked him to maintain," said Wilson. "We're happy with that, but despite the fact, I'd love to give him a hug and a kiss just to say, 'I'm your daddy... I love you.'"
Before you get worked up about positive COVID tests possibly derailing the season, here's a quick reminder that the players haven't seen their families in months. As frustrated as you are that the season is in jeopardy, I promise they're infinitely more pissed.
SETH TOWNS COMING TO TOWN. I'm not going to pretend the last game was pretty, but the good news is looks like the Buckeyes are about to get some much-needed reinforcements on the hardwood.
very soon pic.twitter.com/diDpQUrVYW
— Seth (@seth_towns17) November 30, 2020
As of today, it's been 996 days since Towns has last appeared in a basketball game. Here's hoping he doesn't make it to 1,000.
HOME FOR THE PANDEMIC DAYS. It would seem that the Buckeyes have a new hardwood home – at least for now.
A hoops update: the Covelli Center, the new home of @OhioStAthletics' volleyball, gymnastics and wrestling teams, did such a fine job hosting hoops over the weekend that it will do so again. Games Wednesday for the women (vs. Kent) and men (vs. Morehead St.) will be played there. pic.twitter.com/R56t3Tc65p
— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) November 30, 2020
I, for one, am shocked that Ohio State has decided not to use the empty 19,000-person arena that's cavernous and sterile with people in it.
*whispers* now's your chance to bulldoze it and make a permanent change...
DEFINITELY NOT GETTING FIRED. Tom Herman's job is so safe, he's offering to have his boss tell recruits that his job is safe. Always a great sign!
Tom Herman said believes he still has the support of AD Chris Del Conte. In addition, Del Conte offered to call recruits on Herman's behalf to reassure them of the coach's job security after the Iowa State loss.
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) November 30, 2020
Herman better be on the line for these phone calls as well. Otherwise, this is setting up for an open dialogue about who the teens would like as their next head coach, which would kind of rule.
SONG OF THE DAY. "It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas" by Bing Crosby.
NOT STICKING TO SPORTS. A man is forced to sell his PS5 after his wife learns it's not an air purifier... How America's deadliest serial killer went under the radar for more than 40 years... Your brain doesn't work the way you think it does... A mystery monolith identical to the one which disappeared from a desert in the United States reappears in Europe... The pandemic is forcing some men to realize they need deeper friendships... Meet the gangster-free weed growers who hide in plain sight...
