Skull Session: Harry Miller Shares a Heartfelt Message, Ohio Stadium Had a Cool Scoreboard in 1995 and Chris Holtmann Teaches “The Buckeye Way” to His Players

By Chase Brown on August 26, 2022 at 5:00 am
Not all heroes wear capes.
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Ladies and gentlemen. The next Skull Session after this will kick off a game week for Ohio State.

But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. There's still a Friday Skull Session to read, and I think you'll like some of the content that will send you into the weekend.

Let's have a good Friday, shall we?

 “WHILE I BREATHE, I HOPE.” Ohio State offensive lineman Harry Miller announced his retirement from football on March 10 because of an ongoing battle with mental health. 

On Thursday, Miller shared on Twitter that Aug. 25 was the one-year anniversary of when he told Ryan Day that he wished to commit suicide. One year ago, Day promptly responded by connecting Miller with mental health professionals, an act that Miller says helped save his life.

Since Miller’s retirement, Day has created new opportunities for him to impact the team without contributing on the field. Miller has been seen around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center this fall, helping out with the offensive linemen and being the charismatic and compassionate person he always has been in the program.

“On a day I did not think I would see, I am still here,” Miller wrote. “It was a year of hurt but gratitude, suffering yet appreciation. Love is the lesson. Pain is the teacher. Sometimes (most of the times), hope is as small as holding on for 5 minutes when you think you only have strength for 4, and you really only have strength for 3. And a year is just 5 minutes several times over.”

Miller ended his Tweet with a hashtag of a Latin phrase, “Dum Spiro Spero,” which he has used frequently on social media platforms since his retirement. Its translation: While I breathe, I hope.

Thank you, Harry Miller. You are an inspiration to many, and Buckeye Nation is behind you.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or is in emotional distress, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 – formerly 1-800-273-TALK(8255) – or at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

 REMEMBER THIS? The last time Ohio State and Notre Dame played in Columbus, the scoreboard in the Horseshoe looked much different.

 THE BUCKEYE WAY.  Ohio State men’s basketball will have a lot of turnover from last season. There will be new players, new coaches and – given the first two changes – a new offensive and defensive scheme.

However, one thing will always remain constant about the program so long as Chris Holtmann continues to be the program's head coach. That would be doing everything “The Buckeye Way,” a principle Holtmann said he would implement during his introductory press conference in June 2017.

“Aggressive, attacking,” Holtmann said of what he expects from Ohio State’s style of play. “We want to be physical and tough and tough-minded. We want our guys to play with freedom. We want them to cut loose and play. I think that’s what people will see.”

Buckeye fans saw just how physical, tough and tough-minded the men’s basketball team could be when the program’s Twitter account posted highlights of a team conditioning workout inside Ohio Stadium.

Friendly reminder that this workout was one that occurred before sunrise. At 6 a.m. in August. That, my friends, is The Buckeye Way.

 OLYMPIC VILLAGE. Ohio State will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX legislation in the United States this academic year with several events involving the school’s 36 varsity programs. 

The first event will be a Title IX Kickoff event Friday on Irving Schottenstein Drive between Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium and the Covelli Center. Buckeye fans are invited to attend a block party featuring inflatables, food trucks, balloon twisters, face painters and music before watching two of the premier women’s teams on campus.

Part one of the doubleheader will occur when Ohio State women’s soccer hosts BYU – the 2021 national runner-up – at 6 p.m. inside Jesse Owens Stadium. The No. 20 Buckeyes already have two Power Five wins this season over Kansas and Missouri and will look to add a third against the No. 9 Cougars. Brigham Young leads the all-time series 2-0-1 and added a 3-0 victory in Provo, Utah, last season.

Part two will take place across the street at the Covelli Center, where Ohio State women’s volleyball will battle No. 2 Texas at 8 p.m. The Buckeyes are ranked seventh in the AVCA poll after collecting a 27-6 record and reaching the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament last season. 

Ohio State head coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg expects a highly-contested battle between the teams, which have not played each other in 20 years.

“What is a success this weekend? I think it’s competing against a perennial power in women’s volleyball in Texas,” Oldenburg said. “They come with a lot of experience. It’s a storied program. They have a lot of transfers, so they’re a little bit unknown. They’re going to be super competitive and super physical.”

Ohio State vs. Texas will be televised on FS1 on Friday. The teams will play again Saturday at 8 p.m. with Big Ten Network broadcasting the rematch.

 SONG OF THE DAY. “Don't Stop Me Now” by Queen.

 CUT TO THE CHASE. Nasa tests new moon rocket 50 years after Apollo... The dugong is now functionally extinct in China... Scanning students' rooms during remote tests was ruled unconstitutional by a judge (I'm really happy about this development)... Firefighters save baby deer trapped in a basement window well... Jack Russell terrier saves woman from bear using ninja-like moves.

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