Skull Session: Eleven Warriors Remembers Kris Robert Hughes on 9/11, Kyle McCord and Marvin Harrison Jr. Shined on Saturday and Jim Tressel is Always a Class Act

By Chase Brown on September 11, 2023 at 5:00 am
Marvin Harrison Jr.
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Welcome to the Skull Session.

Ohio State won on Saturday, which means Ohio State is 2-0.

Let's have a good Monday, shall we?

 NEVER FORGET. On Sept. 11, 2001, almost 3,000 lives were lost in terrorist attacks on United States soil. We have honored those lives lost ever since. Sept. 11, 2023, will be no different. Today, we remember the civilians, first responders and military who died in New York City, Arlington County (Virginia) and Stonycreek Township (Pennsylvania) 22 years ago.

As part of that remembrance, please consider reading Ramzy Nasrallah's 2011 article "One Day In September," which honors Kris Robert Hughes, a determined Ohio State fan who died on 9/11. It is a beautifully written piece that is well worth the read.

Here are some additional resources to read and watch:

 THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY. Ohio State defeated Youngstown State, 35-7, on Saturday. The Buckeyes' performance in the 28-point victory was fine. That's probably the best word to describe efforts that varied from good to bad to – actually, let's make the grades Ohio State-themed... efforts that varied from Buckeye Leaves (good), no Buckeye Leaves (bad) and snatching away Buckeye Leaves like T.I. in that GIF from "ATL" (ugly).

Buckeye Leaves

Kyle McCord

Congratulations, Kyle McCord, YOU are Ohio State's QB1. After completing 14 of 20 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns in Week 2, I feel confident that McCord is the Buckeyes' quarterback for the 2023 season. He had touchdown passes of 71 yards and 39 yards to Marvin Harrison Jr. and another 28 yards to Emeka Egbuka. He looked much more comfortable in the pocket after he visited Checkdown City in Week 1. Devin Brown "flashed," as Ryan Day would put it, but he didn't produce at a level that Day should consider him over McCord. This is McCord's team, now until proven otherwise.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

Well, Marvin Harrison Jr. is still good at football. Who knew? After a two-catch, 18-yard performance in Ohio State's win over Indiana – a stat line that does not include a called-back 24-yard touchdown, which should have counted – Harrison secured seven receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns that most certainly counted on Saturday. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound pass-catcher was phenomenal in the home opener and reminded the college football world of his status as the best receiver in the sport.

Tommy Eichenberg

It is an excellent day for the Ohio State defense when Tommy Eichenberg is the team's leading tackler. On Saturday, the veteran Buckeye collected a team-best six tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack and one forced fumble. For that performance, he deserves a Buckeye Leaf.

Denzel Burke

Become the first Ohio State cornerback to intercept a pass since 2021, receive a Buckeye Leaf – it's a simple calculus. Denzel Burke has been hot, hot, hot to start the season. Hopefully, he maintains that temperature when he defends Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley at the Shoe this weekend.

Also receiving Buckeye Leaves

TreVeyon Henderson, Emeka Egbuka, Mike Hall and Davison Igbinosun.

No Buckeye Leaves

JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer

Folks, I am concerned. Before the fall, I had immense hope that JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer would shine in 2023 after some not-so-dominant sophomore seasons for defensive ends. However, after the first two weeks, I fear we are headed for more of the same out of the blue-chip recruits. Against Indiana and Youngstown State, Tuimoloau and Sawyer have a combined 13 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and zero (0) sacks. When one of them secures a sack, they will receive a Buckeye Leaf. Until then, consider me concerned about Ohio State's pass rush off the edge.

Offensive Line

Ohio State's offensive line committed three penalties on Saturday – all of consequence. A Carson Hinzman hold called back a 9-yard Henderson first-down run. A Josh Simmons hold on 3rd-and-1 erased another Henderson first down. And last but certainly not least, a Simmons hands to the face wiped out a 17-yard Henderson touchdown run. Poor Henderson. Moreover, the offensive line didn't look great outside of the penalties, as Ohio State had 123 yards on 27 carries (4.6 YPC) on an FCS defense. Not great, Bob!

Ohio State's Third-Down Efficiency

This isn't a person and, therefore, cannot receive Buckeye Leaves; however, it deserves attention. Ohio State ranks 114th in the FBS in third down conversion percentage (30.43%) after two games and three weeks of college football. That's no bueno.

Snatching Away Buckeye Leaves

OK. It was the second week, and Ohio State is currently 2-0. T.I. won't snatch any Buckeye Leaves... yet. Or maybe ever. I haven't decided what T.I. can and can't do as of now.

 PLAYERS OF THE GAME. After each Ohio State win in 2023, Eleven Warriors will award an offensive and defensive Buckeye with player of the game recognition. This week, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Tommy Eichenberg received our top honors.

On Sunday, Ohio State also shared its offensive, defensive and special teams players of the game. The coaches offered some different selections, choosing Emeka Egbuka as the best offensive player and both Eichenberg and Denzel Burke as the best defensive players. Cody Simon received the accolade for special teams.

I didn't keep track, but I have to believe Simon received the most special teams player of the game awards for Ohio State last season. As Ryan Day would say, the 6-foot-2, 239-pound linebacker has “cut his teeth” on special teams his entire career. Yet, Simon seems pleased to have done so and pleased to continue doing so – even as a veteran in his fourth season with the Buckeyes. And I love that. Here's to more special teams awards for Simon in the future.

 A CLASS ACT. Jim Tressel went Laura Quinn mode on Saturday.

The former Ohio State and Youngstown State head coach appeared at the Skull Session and Ohio Stadium in one of his trademark sweater vests that featured an Ohio State logo on one side and a Youngstown State logo on the other.

Tressel's attire made sense, as he was a legendary leader for both schools. Tressel led Youngstown State to four NCAA Division I-AA national championships in 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1997 (later serving as the school's president from 2014-23) and Ohio State to one national championship in 2002. The Senator talked with BTN's Brooke Fletcher about those experiences before kickoff.

Beyond the vest, Tressel's influence over the in-state matchup was evident.

Before the game, Brian Hartline and James Laurinaitis, two of Tressel's former players now on Ryan Day's staff, tweeted out a mantra that Tressel would speak aloud to his team before it left the locker room.

Even more, Youngstown State head coach Doug Phillips and his staff wore sweater vests with the initials "JT" stitched on the back.

Jim Tressel. The Senator. The Vest. The Legend... who wants to be like Kamryn Babb when he grows up?

 SONG OF THE DAY. "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood.

 CUT TO THE CHASE. Benedict Arnold burned a Connecticut city. Centuries later, residents get payback in a fiery festival... Novak Djokovic wins the US Open for his 24th Grand Slam title by beating Daniil Medvedev... Deion Sanders brings Prime Time to Colorado and makes Folsom Field the epicenter of college football... Coast Guard arrests a man trying to run a giant hamster wheel across the Atlantic... Not in the Yucatan anymore: Hurricane Idalia flung flamingos across the eastern U.S.

Oh, and for the Cincinnati Bengals fans that read the Skull Session:

Go Browns.

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