In this Friday Skull Session, we're talkin' ball.
We're talkin' a lot of ball. Of the Ohio State variety, of course. But before we dig into the good stuff, please look at how good Marvin Harrison Jr. is one-on-one against a cornerback:
Marvin Harrison Jr. vs. single coverage:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 1, 2022
94.0 PFF Grade (1st)
540 Receiving Yards (1st)
10 TDs (1st)
IT ISN'T WORKING pic.twitter.com/PRs5pmHN4s
Let's have a good Friday, shall we?
MAKING MOVES. For our first blurb, I'm keeping the attention on Harrison for a little longer. He has been absolutely dynamite for the Buckeyes this season, producing at a level that has led some to claim he is the best receiver in college football.
While there are many reasons Harrison shines on the football field – a 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame, next-level athleticism and soft hands, to name a few – Urban Meyer believes one of the most significant factors for Harrison's high level of play is his release when running routes.
But what exactly does “release” mean? Meyer broke it down on the most recent episode of “Urban Analysis” on the Big Ten Network.
Release is important for any WR.
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 3, 2022
You have to get the CB's hands off you and his hips going in the opposite direction. @CoachUrbanMeyer breaks down some @MarvHarrisonJr film to show how it's done.
Full : https://t.co/bsfTv5AMQo pic.twitter.com/ps4VemaGPJ
If Meyer wanted to, I'm sure he could pick clips from each of Ohio State's games this season and show how polished a route runner Harrison is on the outside. He's been that good and that consistent.
Book him for a few catches, lots of yards and maybe a couple of touchdowns against the Purple Kittens on Saturday.
BUTT’S BREAKDOWN. I've recently learned that former Michigan tight end Jake Butt analyzes film on the Big Ten Network each week in a segment called “Butt’s Breakdown,” which is an absolutely phenomenal name.
This week, Butt broke down Ohio State's 28-point fourth quarter to comeback and beat Penn State last weekend. You're probably thinking, “A Michigan alum talking about Ohio State? He must be biased!” But, no, he's not. And he's actually quite good at talkin’ ball. He's no Kyle Jones, but he's quite good.
Of the plays Butt featured, the first play may be the most impressive to me. Stroud put the 20-yard pass to Harrison on a rope. The ball was right where it needed to be. I mean, seriously, he couldn’t have thrown a more perfect ball. It was a throw that reminded me how lucky we are to watch Stroud in an Ohio State uniform.
Here's to watching (hopefully) seven more games this season with Stroud under center as he leads the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2023.
BACK IN HAPPY VALLEY. For the first time in a long time – 17 years to be exact – The Best Damn Band in the Land traveled to State College to support the Ohio State football team as it battled Penn State.
It was a historic day for The Pride of the Buckeyes, whose last experience in Happy Valley was far from perfect. That last trip was in 2005 when multiple band members claimed they were struck with flying objects thrown by Penn State fans in Beaver Stadium.
The Ohio State marching band didn't return until Saturday, and they made the most of their experience. The TBDBITL account on Twitter sent out an amazing video with Avery Voress’ first-person view of dotting the ‘i’ in the band's “Script Ohio.”
For the first time in 17 years, we dotted the i at Penn State. Here's Avery Voress' view. His review right before he struts: "This is kinda cool." #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/yrECDRmdUd
— The Ohio State University Marching Band (@TBDBITL) November 3, 2022
Good on TBDBITL for going back to State College after that debacle so long ago. It could have been easy to pack it up for good and never return, but the Ohio State Marching Band showed resilience by entering into enemy territory once more.
Cheers to all the students in the band who played a part in supporting the Buckeyes’ 44-31 win over the Nittany Lions on Saturday.
WHAT IS A RIVALRY? A documentary on Ohio State vs. Michigan will debut on television for the first time on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET – perfectly sandwiched between the Buckeyes‘ matchup with Northwestern at noon and the Wolverines’ matchup with Rutgers at 7:30 p.m.
“RIVALS” tells the legendary history of The Game and looks at how Ohio State and Michigan formed the greatest rivalry in all of sport. The film also examines the psychology of a rivalry and the different attributes that make rivalries unique. The research and data presented in the documentary are based on findings from KnowRivalry.com, which set out to discover why humans are so enthralled with rivalries and what makes each rivalry unique.
Sinclair, the company behind the documentary, describes the two-hour feature like this:
RIVALS takes a comprehensive look back at the storied history between two of the top Division I football programs in NCAA history. Narrated by Academy Award-winning actor J.K. Simmons (who was born in Michigan but remains a rabid Ohio State fan), the show gleans the perspective of more than 30 others whose lives have been similarly impacted by the never-ending fight between the two schools. Among them are Archie Griffin, the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner; legendary players Dan Dierdorf and Keith Byars; broadcasters Rich Eisen and Joel Klatt; historians Jack Park and John Bacon; and veteran journalists from the Columbus, Ohio, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, markets, the homes of Ohio State and Michigan, respectively. The two-hour documentary reveals the science behind what makes a sports rivalry so compelling, how the matchup repeatedly delivers nail biting performances and why it has been historically revered as The Game.
And here's the trailer:
We received an advanced screening of the documentary at Eleven Warriors, and – while I can't speak for everyone here – I was locked in from about the five-minute mark until the credits rolled and the screen turned black. It was entertaining and insightful, and I believe it is a must-watch for even the most committed and passionate Ohio State fans.
The film premieres Saturday at 4 p.m. on Bally Sports Great Lakes and Bally Sports Ohio and 5 p.m. on Bally Sports Detroit. There will be many more opportunities to see it later in November as the documentary will reair on Bally Sports and the Tennis Channel. Eventually, the film will also land on the Big Ten Network, where it will premiere after The Game on Nov. 26. So if you would rather watch No. 1 Tennessee at No. 3 Georgia on Saturday – and I wouldn't blame you if you did – make sure to tune in later or record it for later viewing.
SONG OF THE DAY. “Radio Ga Ga” by Queen.
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