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Ohio State blows out Indiana, 38-15. Now, it's time to do the same to That Team Up North.
Programming Note: tomorrow is the teen fax machine day (which, I am told, sadly no longer involves fax machines). Please prepare yourself accordingly.
Word of the Day: Doleful.
BRINGING BACK THE BOOM. It's been a minute since Ohio State's had a legitimately intimidating linebacking corps, or even just one standout star at the position.
Five-star C.J. Hicks wants to change that.
“People don’t really talk about Ohio State’s linebackers as much as they used to,” Hicks said. “I’m trying to bring that back.”
At the risk of putting too much on the shoulders of one player who’s not even on campus yet, it does feel as though Hicks checks a lot of boxes at a time when Ohio State’s defense seems to be going through a bit of a sea change.
For one, he’s versatile. The idea is that Hicks will play will linebacker in college. But he’s got an instinct up on the line of scrimmage that could one day make him a great pass rusher. If he stays closer to his listed size of 6-foot-3, 215-pounds, Hicks would then have the size/athleticism combination to be more of a linebacker/safety hybrid. You could have fun trying to pencil him in to a few different roles in new coordinator Jim Knowles’ defense.
...
“I think he’s developed that edge,” Domsitz said. “This year and last year with C.J. you could see that intensity level increase substantially. He can intimidate the opposition with the way he hits, as much as anything, but also his speed, his quickness and his athletic ability. That’s gonna be a positive for Ohio State.”
I feel like "that's going to be a positive for Ohio State" is a massive understatement when you pretty much just said, "he's a natural at everything!"
In any case, I'm beyond stoked to see what Hicks and Gabe Powers do to revitalize this Buckeye linebackers room in the future. Especially since everyone knows Jim Knowles loves him some playmaking linebackers.
DROPPED A BAG. When watching Ohio State's defense this year, there were many, many moments that had me openly pining for the Buckeyes to just whip out a blank check for the best defensive coordinator in the country.
Turns out, I should probably just be an athletic director, because according to Mike Gundy, that's basically what they did!
Gundy on Knowles' exit to Ohio State: "We got outbid, if that's what you're asking me. We tried hard."
— Eli Lederman (@ByEliLederman) December 13, 2021
Heres Mike Gundy with the speech he gave the team about Jim Knowles leaving. #OKState pic.twitter.com/VYySgibzFX
— Nate Feken (@TheGreat_Nate) December 13, 2021
I'm not sure it's completely fair to compare Ohio State to a community college as Gundy did in his example, but his point is totally fair – when someone offers to multiply your current salary by four, it's hard to say no, no matter what the job is.
In this case, though, it also happens to be one of the top jobs in college football located in a city that is... well, let's just say not Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Plus, Gundy really doesn't have much room to talk about folks wanting to leave Oklahoma State.
Here's more of the pitch for Gundy. pic.twitter.com/0BjmKq9d7O
— Andy Wittry (@AndyWittry) December 13, 2021
Also, I'm not just going to ignore the fact that Gundy looks like he just stepped off the set of a 70s workout video, because the combination of the hair and the sweat stains make this
BASICALLY A SENIOR. Chris Holtmann is out here announcing breaking news like six months early – E.J. Liddell will enter the 2022 NBA Draft.
On E.J. Liddell, Chris Holtmann says "you know this is his last year, so you might as well call him a senior."
— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) December 13, 2021
Honestly, I appreciate this type of candidness. It's infinitely more realistic and admirable than a guy like Garrett Wilson still playing the "I'm weighing my options!" game at this point in the season.
We all know what's going to happen, just get it out there so we can talk about it and appreciate the time you have left. Please and thank you!
COMBO LOGO. People forget that the Blue Jackets are The Local Team, too. And this combo logo is pretty damn clean.
It's never going to happen (especially given that they draft players from different colleges all over the world, including Michigan, most recently) but I think it would be sweet for them to rock a combo uniform like this in solidarity with the massive university down the street.
At least give me some apparel.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Blue Christmas" by Elvis Presley.
NOT STICKING TO SPORTS. The ultra-violent cult that became a global mafia... The day the War on Drugs came to Chimayó... Her Instagram handle was "Metaverse" until last month when it vanished... Are we ready for the next big solar storm?... Toyota is going to make you pay to start your car with your key fob...
