Welcome to the Skull Session.
Lucas Oil Stadium is cool. I really like it.
Lucas Oil @OhioStateFB | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/EUwLPA9o4R
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) July 26, 2023
Ohio State will be back there in December.
Let's have a good Thursday, shall we?
HAVIN' A GRAND OL' TIME. The first session of Big Ten Media Days was a blast. From the introductory press conference of Tony Petitti to the final availability with The World's Sexiest Man Bret Bielema, there was a lot to take in from Indianapolis. However, seeing as Eleven Warriors is an Ohio State website, we will stick to chattin' about the Buckeyes.
Lights, Camera, Buckeyes
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) July 26, 2023
Big Ten Media Day pic.twitter.com/zMcy00tVQU
The rundown from Wednesday is as follows: Marvin Harrison Jr. earned preseason Big Ten honors, Tyvis Powell accepted a role on B1G Tailgate, Petitti and Big Ten coaches had press conferences, Ohio State-Wisconsin was reported to be a primetime kickoff, Ryan Day didn't rule out an extended quarterback competition, Kirk Ferentz said Harrison is "impossible" to defend, Avery Henry and Grant Toutant medically retired from football and Day said Ohio State and Michigan may need to explore moving The Game.
That doesn't include all of it, either.
Because the news out of Lucas Oil Stadium was endless, there was some stuff that you may have missed from the events. Some good stuff, too – some absolute gems.
One of them was this tweet from Eleven Warriors' own Griffin Strom, who recorded the most on-brand quote from Cade Stover that the world has ever seen:
Reporter: How much would you estimate youve made in NIL?
— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) July 26, 2023
Cade Stover: Money-wise? I dont know. Id rather get paid in tractors, to be honest with you. pic.twitter.com/wKE3h8zjL5
Remember those old commercials where people asked if they could be paid in Trident Layers? Someone needs to make a commercial with Stover where he asks if he can be paid in tractors. I want to see that.
Another item of business is Harrison's media day attire. The star wide receiver caused my mother to text me, "Why is Marvin wearing blue? Buckeyes do not wear blue."
Marvin Harrison Jr. fit check at #B1GMediaDays
— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) July 26, 2023
- Louis Vuitton Bag
- Rolex
- Louis Vuitton Bracelet
- Grey Suit
- Louis Vuitton Shoes@B1Gfootball pic.twitter.com/QZ6bqIQopz
First, she's the best, an Ohio State alum and coach to her core. Second, Harrison earns a pass for blue apparel on Wednesday. Why? Because media days are in the stadium where his father became a Pro Football Hall of Famer for the Indianapolis Colts. He had to show out. However, the next time he is in Indianapolis – on Dec. 2 for the Big Ten Championship Game, of course – he will be decked out in Ohio State colors. I am certain.
Speaking of the Big Ten Championship Game, Harrison talked about it on Wednesday when he declared what would make the 2023 season successful for the Buckeyes. The conference title is essential to the team's success but not the most essential aspect. That would be a win over the Michigan Wolverines.
What does Marvin Harrison Jr. think a successful season would look like for Ohio State in 2023?
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) July 26, 2023
"It starts with beating 'That Team Up North.'"
"An undefeated season that's a successful season." pic.twitter.com/gXdfbVYBHK
Just beat Michigan. Just beat Michigan. Just beat Michigan.
FINEBAUM (HANDSHAKE) BUCKEYES. I can write "Just beat Michigan" all day, but will Ohio State beat Michigan? A media personality from the worldwide leader in sports – the No. 1 news source for Eleven Warriors readers – thinks so. That's correct. Paul Finebaum, perhaps the most SEC man at ESPN, believes the Buckeyes are "the team to beat" in the Big Ten this season.
Finebaum made the (not so?) controversial claim on Wednesday's broadcast of "Get Up," which occurred almost 24 hours after Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reported that Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh would be suspended four games in 2023.
.@PeteThamel has the latest on Jim Harbaugh facing a four-game suspension this season: pic.twitter.com/xnkz3DZpAW
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 26, 2023
“I say no,” Finebaum answered, asked by Mike Greenberg if Michigan is a playoff team in 2023. “They’re capable of it, and they have everything you need to get there, but I think Lady Luck is going to go against them this time. ... I think the team to beat in the Big Ten is Ohio State, and I think ultimately that’s where Michigan moves from inside the cutline to outside [of the College Football Playoff].”
That’s going to sting for Michigan fans to hear. Even though Finebaum doesn’t control what happens in college football, he’s a prominent voice, and it’s never fun to hear how much they believe in your biggest rival over you. Nevertheless, it’ll all be settled on the field. Even with Jim Harbaugh potentially missing the first month of the season, many will still believe in the Wolverines, for better or worse.
Lady Luck, please be good to the Buckeyes.
I can think of many instances recently in which she has not been – 2019 Clemson, 2020 Michigan (was that Lady Luck or cowardice?), 2022 Georgia – so, like Finebaum, I believe it's time her favor shifts toward the Men in the Scarlet and Gray.
COACH DAY IS FIRED UP. Ryan Day's televised press conference occurred on Wednesday from 12:30 to 12:45 p.m. He did not return to meet with the Big Ten media until a 50-minute session from 3:30 to 4:20 p.m., a considerable amount of time after his initial presser. Where did he run off to in between those sessions? Well, I found out. He was speaking with CBS Sports' Josh Pate on The Late Kick.
In a nearly 10-minute interview with Pate, Day reflected on his experiences at past Big Ten Media Days, shared how he deals with criticism from Ohio State and college football fans and provided an outlook for the Buckeyes' season, among other topics.
Below is a transcription of the third topic Day addressed in the conversation, in which Day explained that he is "excited" about the "leadership, edge and experience" his players have ahead of 2023:
"I'm excited. You can probably feel it in my voice. You sleep knowing that you have some experience. On defense, the best we've been since 2019. Year two with Coach (Jim) Knowles, some experience at linebacker and up front, probably the most depth we've had at corner in a long time. All of that said, I am excited to see how this team is. On offense, it's probably the most skill we've had on offense in a long time. We need to fill some holes on the offensive line and figure out who our quarterback is gonna be. We have unbelievable depth at running back. All the pieces are in place.
"But that's not what fires me up the most. To me, this is the most experienced team we've had. We've been through it. We've had some really good talent the last couple of years, but they've been young. But these guys have been playing – JT (Tuimoloau), Jack (Sawyer), Tyleik (Williams), Tommy (Eichenberg) – they all played from a young age. Steele (Chambers) made that move from running back to linebacker, and he stepped up. Emeka (Egbuka) and Marvin (Harrison), the Rose Bowl they had. ... But I think the leadership, edge and experience (fires me up the most)."
Leadership, edge and experience should fire all of Buckeye Nation up for Ohio State's potential for success in 2023.
When you think about it, there are only two questions about Ohio State's roster this season, and they revolve around the quarterback and offensive line.
The Buckeyes will fill their quarterback void with either a former top-50 overall prospect Kyle McCord or – oh, that's hilarious – another top-50 overall prospect in Devin Brown. On the offensive line, the five starters (that we've predicted, not reported) will be at least four stars across the board: Josh Fryar and Joshua "Jimmy" Simmons at tackle, Donovan Jackson and Matt Jones at guard and Carson Hinzman at center.
As for the rest of the positions, Ohio State returns TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams, Cade Stover, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Julian Fleming, JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, Mike Hall Jr., Tyleik Williams, Tommy Eichenberg, Steele Chambers, Denzel Burke, Jordan Hancock, Josh Proctor, Cam Martinez and Lathan Ransom.
Yeah, that's experienced.
Get fired up, Buckeye Nation.
MORE THAN FOOTBALL. Ryan Day confirmed Wednesday that offensive linemen Avery Henry and Grant Toutant medically retired from football in the offseason, marking the fourth such instance for Ohio State in the past two years, along with offensive lineman Harry Miller and running back Marcus Crowley in 2022.
Football is violent. Life is, too, sometimes. No matter the reason a player medically retires, it always is a moment to reflect that we cheer for men – young men who have a whole life ahead of them that extends beyond football. And I hope Miller, Crowley, Henry and Toutant know that even though they no longer represent Ohio State on the football field, they will always be Buckeyes, which means they will forever be members of Buckeye Nation.
Cheers to the Ohio State football media team for recognizing that on Wednesday, as Henry officially announced his decision to medically retire on Twitter.
we are with you @AveryHenry731 https://t.co/QJ0iY7p3HB
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) July 26, 2023
Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye.
SONG OF THE DAY. "I Can't Go On Without You" by Kaleo.
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