Welcome to the Skull Session.
James Laurinaitis and THE Ohio State football X account... they're up to something.
BUCKEYES
— James Laurinaitis (@JLaurinaitis55) January 17, 2024
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 17, 2024
I don't know what it is.
But they're up to something.
Have a good Thursday.
ROSS BJORK, EVERYONE. There's a belief, especially in the football world, that a coach or player can win or lose a press conference based on how said coach or player answers questions and carries themself in said press conference.
The same is true for athletic directors.
Good news, Buckeye Nation: Future Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork won his press conference on Wednesday.
He did for me, at least.
Here's where Bjork won:
On being a “product of Ohio”
“I wasn't born and raised in Ohio, but I am a product of Ohio. My mom, Linda, and her family grew up on the Bame Family Farm – just outside of Williamstown, to be specific. ... Her side of the family moved to Ohio in 1851. My great grandpa Bame built the family farm in 1908. ... All of these folks over here [pointing to his mom's side of the family] are Buckeye raised. ... There's this great Buckeye connection. My mom worked for Marathon Oil Company and was transferred to Denver, Colorado. That's where she met my dad after he served in the Vietnam War. They got married in the home church, Eagle Creek Church, in Hancock County, and they moved to Dodge City [Kansas] to work and raise a family.”
On how he will handle being Ohio State's athletic director
“Our attitude and our effort – how hard we think and how hard we work – will carry the day. It's very simple. Nothing will work unless we do. Athletics is not the most important thing on campus. It's not even close. But at Ohio State, we're the most visible. This is a public trust. This program belongs to the people of Ohio and with that comes great responsibility to do the right way. No shortcuts. Period.”
On learning from past mistakes at Ole Miss and Texas A&M
“You take facts, you take data, you take some emotion, you take some personalities, and then you make the right decision. As we went through whatever it was at Ole Miss [Hugh Freeze] or what it's been at Texas A&M [Jimbo Fisher], you own those decisions. ... Maybe you were responsible. Maybe you weren't. But at the end of the day, it's the Harry Truman quote, 'The buck stops here.' I'm the AD. The buck stops here. If anybody wants to blame anybody, blame me.”
On the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry
"I get it. I know what we say: 'That School Up North.' I totally will get it. And every single day we will be ready and prepared."
On head football coach Ryan Day
“Brilliant mind in the game of football. High-level leader. Knows what championship football looks like. Knows how to put all of those pieces together. We get it. The Game matters. He and I talked about that. The best thing I can do is lock arms with him and figure out barriers and key decisions. He's the coach. He's the strategist. He has to build the roster. It's my job to say, 'What are the infrastructure pieces? What are the culture pieces that I can help you with?' And then let him go to work. By all accounts, those things are all coming together. I know he and Gene [Smith] have locked arms on key changes, and I am here to help. ... I'm a football guy. I'm gonna help, and I'm gonna make sure we compete on the highest level because the pedigree is here. ... Coach Day, he's gonna get it done, and it's gonna be a lot of fun when we win those championships.”
I like him.
An Ohio product who will learn to understand The Game and the Buckeyes' championship pedigree. And I know. It's all words. We'll see how Bjork performs when starts as Ohio State's athletic director in July. He could be all bark and no bite for all I know.
But, for now, I like his words.
And let me be excited about his words!
COUNT THE COST. On Dec. 5, 2023, NCAA president Charlie Baker proposed the creation of a new subdivision within Division I that would allow the highest-resource schools the ability to compensate athletes from trust funds and NIL.
The proposal, which Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger and The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach obtained, featured several recommendations for NCAA Division I members to consider:
- The formation of a new subdivision made up of institutions with the highest resources that can directly compensate athletes through an “enhanced educational trust fund,” which requires the schools that opt into it an investment of at least $30,000 per year per athlete for at least half of the school’s eligible athletes. Schools would have to adhere to Title IX, providing equal monetary opportunities for female and male athletes.
- Schools in the new subdivision could create their own rules separate from the rest of Division I. Those rules would allow them the ability to address policies such as scholarship limits and roster size, as well as transfers and NIL.
- Any Division I school would be able to enter into an NIL deal with its athletes directly. This is not currently permissible under NCAA rules.
- Any Division I school would be able to distribute to any athlete funding related to educational benefits without any caps on such compensation.
Ross Bjork commented on Baker's proposal in his introductory press conference on Wednesday. He was pleased to see Baker and the NCAA acknowledge that higher-resource schools are “different.” However, he called Baker's plan more of a conversation starter than a finished product.
“The highest resource institutions are different. Finally, the NCAA acknowledged that. We have a leader in Charlie Baker who has at least acknowledged that as a starting point. All the programs with over $100 million budgets are different. ... To me, the highest resource institutions can house a lot of these key elements – financial, player relationships and player negotiations. That's the model we have to get to. What that looks like and how that works will be determined.”
While Baker's proposal could use a few tweaks, what would happen if the plan came into effect before the 2024 college football season? How much would Ohio State spend to enter the “elite subdivision”?
The Washington Post added up the cost for the Buckeyes: $14.3 million – the most among all colleges and universities.
| SCHOOL | ATHLETES | MINIMUM COST | 2022 REVENUE | % OF REVENUE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OHIO STATE | 950 | $14.3 M | $251.6 M | 5.7% |
| MICHIGAN | 853 | $12.8 M | $210.7 M | 6.1% |
| PENN STATE | 792 | $11.9 M | $181.2 M | 6.6% |
| NORTH CAROLINA | 771 | $11.6 M | $122.6 M | 9.4% |
| CALIFORNIA | 745 | $11.2 M | $109.6 M | 9.5% |
How did The Washington Post generate the estimated costs?
From Jesse Dougherty and Emily Giambalvo:
The Washington Post counted the total number of athletes at each school that will play football in the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 or ACC next fall (plus Notre Dame, a football independent, and Oregon State and Washington State, who were recently abandoned by the rest of the Pac-12). From there, the formula for the baseline annual payment is pretty simple: total number of athletes divided by two, then multiplied by $30,000 to estimate the minimum each school would have to spend to join the subdivision as Baker proposed it.
Athletic department sizes vary widely across the major conferences. Ohio State had 950 athletes, the most of all of the schools, while Mississippi State had the fewest at 363. That also means there’s a sizable gap between the highest and lowest estimated costs of entry for the hypothetical subdivision.
More athletes. Higher costs.
That makes sense.
With a $14.3 million fee, Dougherty and Giambalvo said Ohio State could “afford to pay the highest minimum” here and now. Ohio State would feel even more comfortable about the fee once the athletic department receives consistent revenue from the Big Ten's media contract with FOX, CBS, NBC and Peacock.
So, rest assured, dear reader. In a made-up scenario where Baker's proposal came to fruition, Ohio State would be fineeeeeeeee – just like always.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR? This week, the NFL announced six finalists for the 2023 Pepsi Rookie of the Year award. Here's a THANKS, CAPTAIN OBVIOUS: Former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud is one of them.
The nominees for the @pepsi Rookie of the Year are here!
— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2024
Vote now at https://t.co/aSx1vIAlIh pic.twitter.com/0s2zP1Roun
Indeed, the six nominees are Stroud, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson and Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane.
While countless people believe Stroud will win the Offensive Rookie of the Year, some people believe Nacua should receive the honor. The Rams drafted the former Washington and BYU pass-catcher with the No. 177 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. In 17 regular-season appearances, Nacua collected an impressive 105 receptions for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns.
To be clear, I am not some people.
Give me Coleridge Bernard Stroud IV... seven days a week... twice on Sundays (or Saturdays for the playoffs).
In 15 regular-season appearances (and counting), Stroud completed 319 of 499 passes (63.9%) for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions. He led the Houston Texans – who were expected to win six games in 2023 – and an AFC South title. In the NFL Wild Card Round, he worked the Cleveland Browns, collecting 274 yards and three scores in a dominant win.
So, yes. Nacua deserves praise. But Stroud deserves Offensive Rookie of the Year.
A BUCKEYE NATION. Ohio State men's basketball forward Evan Mahaffey's dad, Jamie, is a revered father and coach in Cincinnati. Last week, community member Butch Carter revealed Jamie needs a heart transplant to combat advanced heart failure. Carter recently started a GoFundMe to raise money for the operation.
On his GoFundMe page, Carter asked those who know and love Jamie to donate to the campaign. Here, I'll extend Carter's request to Buckeye Nation:
Dear Community Member,
Today, I write to you not just as an organizer, but as a member of a community deeply touched by the Mahaffey family. Jamie Mahaffey, a revered father and coach, is in a crucial fight against advanced heart failure, and we are reaching out for your support through our GoFundMe campaign.
Jamie's life story is one of dedication and impact. A former basketball player at Miami University, he has been a pillar in the sports community, notably leading North College Hill to three state titles. His influence extends beyond his own achievements, with his children embodying the same spirit of excellence and determination. Danielle, his daughter, shone as an honorable mention All-American volleyball player at Tennessee, while his sons Evan and Eric continue to make waves in Ohio's basketball scene.
This campaign is more than a fundraiser; it's a testament to a family that has given so much to teaching, education and sports to our community. The financial strain due to Jamie's medical needs are serious, including the costs associated with his LVAD and ongoing heart transplant, is immense. By contributing, you are not only helping to ease this burden but also honoring a family's legacy in education, sports and community service.
We ask you to consider donating to our GoFundMe or Facebook page. Every dollar raised will directly support Jamie's medical expenses and assist the Mahaffey family during this challenging time. Your generosity can truly make a difference in their lives.
Please visit the GoFundMe link provided, contribute what you can, and share this appeal with others. For more information or to offer further assistance, feel free to reach out to me directly.
Thank you for your kindness and support. Together, we can be a formidable team in aiding Jamie and Robyn Mahaffey and their family through this journey.
As it stands, Carter's campaign has raised over $10,000 for the Mahaffey family. The goal is for the campaign to surpass $100,000 in total donations.
With the help of Ohio State fans – a borderless Buckeye Nation that is 11 million strong – I believe we can help Carter and the Mahaffey family reach their goal. Please consider making a donation to the campaign today. All contributions are appreciated.
SONG OF THE DAY. “Belief” - John Mayer.
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