Skull Session: Tony Alford Heads Up North, Ohio State Eager For “Payback Game” Against Iowa and Orlando Pace Will Join Anthony Muñoz in a Panel Before a CBJ Game

By Chase Brown on March 14, 2024 at 5:00 am
Tony Alford
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Welcome to the Skull Session.

ICYMI: Mark Coleman is a hero and a warrior.

Have a good Wednesday.

 IT’S TREASON, THEN. Ay, Tone.

What are we doing here?

If Alford wanted to move on from Ohio State, that’s fine.

If Ohio State wanted to move on from Alford, that’s also fine.

But where Alford landed after nine years as a Buckeye is… treacherous.

As Tiki Barber said to Saquon Barkley after he left the New York Giants for the Philadelphia Eagles, You’re dead to me, Tony. Good luck, but you’re dead to me.

 PAYBACK SZN. Ohio State had practiced the play hundreds of times. But on Feb. 2 in Iowa City, the Buckeyes fumbled the bag. You may remember it.

Ohio State had possession in the final 30 seconds of the game. Felix Okpara was supposed to deliver a simple handoff to Roddy Gayle Jr. From there, Gayle would dribble with his left hand toward the basket, looking to score. He would have had other options elsewhere, including Jamison Battle and Bruce Thornton in the corners and Okpara crashing the basket. 

Instead, Okpara double-dribbled before the handoff occurred.

Ohio State’s chance to win had passed.

On Monday, interim coach Jake Diebler said the Buckeyes remember that play down to the minor details. As Ohio State prepares to face Iowa in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament, Diebler said his team has not — and will not — back down from the opportunities that await them in Minneapolis.

“The idea that we had the ball in our hands with a chance to win it all in their gym is something we’ll absolutely reflect on,” Diebler said on Monday. “There’s a confidence factor knowing we were in their gym with a chance to win the game. We’ve talked openly about this. They beat us in game one. An element of this game is (that) this is a payback game. … There’s other big things at stake and all of that, but we haven’t shied away from talking about the different storylines.”

A win over Iowa would strengthen Ohio State’s case for an NCAA Tournament bid. The Buckeyes would improve to 6-1 under Diebler and extend their winning streak to five consecutive games.

A loss would end all hopes for the Buckeyes to reach the Big Dance.

Since Ohio State and Iowa last met, the Hawkeyes had a 5-4 record. They ended the regular season with the Big Ten’s third-best offense but also its worst defense. According to KenPom, Iowa ranks No. 52 in college basketball in adjusted efficiency margin (+14.53), No. 15 in adjusted offensive efficiency (119.8) and No. 147 in adjusted defensive efficiency (105.2). Ohio State ranks No.  49 (+14.92), No. 40 (115.9) and No. 60 (101) in the same categories.

“We’re at a different place (in our journey),” Diebler said. “They’re in a little bit of a different place. We’ll lean on the last game to pick some things up and evaluate things, but I think both these teams right now have a little bit of momentum, so it should make for a fun one on Thursday.”

 THE PANCAKE MAN! The Columbus Blue Jackets will welcome two Ohio football legends to Nationwide Arena when the team hosts the San Jose Sharks at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Those two legends are Pro Football Hall of Famers Anthony Muñoz and Orlando Pace.

From a Blue Jackets press release:

Join the Columbus Blue Jackets for a special presentation from the Pro Football Hall of Fame at Nationwide Arena! Each ticket purchased includes an exclusive pre-game panel with Hall of Famers Anthony Muñoz and Orlando Pace, as well as a custom CBJ x Pro Football Hall of Fame mini helmet [featured below]. Fans can upgrade to a VIP package (50 VIP packages available) that includes an autographed mini helmet and a meet and greet/photo op with Muñoz and Pace.

Be sure to check out the Pro Football Hall of Fame display on the main concourse, which will highlight the careers of Anthony Muñoz, Orlando Pace and pro football history in Ohio.

In addition, the first 5,000 fans will receive a Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Inductee poster [which will include former Ohio State linebacker Randy Gradishar]. Fans can also enter to win an exclusive enshrinement weekend package and Pro Football Hall of Fame merchandise will be available for purchase in the Blue Line Store.

Doors will open for the event at 4:30 p.m. The panel will begin at 5 p.m. Puck drop for the Columbus Blue Jackets vs. San Jose Sharks will occur at 7 p.m.

Football Helmets

In college, Muñoz was an All-American and national champion at USC in 1978. He then became the Cincinnati Bengals’ No. 3 overall pick in the 1980 NFL draft. Muñoz spent 13 years with the franchise and was a nine-time first-team All-Pro and two-time second-team All-Pro. He also made 11 Pro Bowls and was named NFL Man of the Year in 1991.

Meanwhile, Pace is one of the greatest players in Ohio State football history. He was a two-time unanimous All-American for the Buckeyes — but that’s not all. Pace also won the Lombardi Award (twice) and the Outland Trophy, finished in fourth place for the 1996 Heisman Trophy and popularized the term “pancake block.”

After his dominant college career, Pace continued as one of the most dominant forces in the sport. The St. Louis Rams selected him No. 1 overall in the 1997 NFL Draft, and he later became a seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro for the franchise. Pace also contributed to the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf,” which won Super Bowl XXXIV with quarterback Kurt Warner and running back Marshall Faulk.

With Muñoz and Pace involved, this event will be a home run — wait, wrong sports — a touchdown? … a goal?

In addition to a wonderful experience at the 10-out-of-10 event, those who purchase tickets will see a game the Blue Jackets can win! This season, Columbus is 22-33-10 and ranks dead last in the Metro, but San Jose is 16-41-7 and ranks dead last in the Pacific. Dare I say the Blue Jackets should win the Battle of Mid? I dare! They should!

 MARVELOUS MARV. This week, former Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. ranked the top 10 catches of his college career for Big Ten Network. Those catches spanned from his three-touchdown performance in Ohio State’s Rose Bowl win over Utah to his three-score effort in the Buckeyes’ blowout win over Michigan State in 2023.

To think that Harrison ranked this catch…

Marvelous Marv

… as his seventh-favorite reminds me of how many unbelievable catches the 6-foot-4, 205-pound receiver made during his three years with the Buckeyes.

He will be missed at Ohio State in 2024.

 SONG OF THE DAY. “Traitor” - Daughtry.

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