Welcome to the Skull Session.
Don’t mind me – I’m just thinkin’ about how this would look if Chip Kelly ran it with TreVeyon Henderson or Quinshon Judkins.
Chip Kelly
— Firstdown_XOs (@FirstdownX__Os) May 1, 2024
Mesh Whips with the Back Cross Releasing pic.twitter.com/WLGSwFmKJi
Have a good Thursday.
“THE PINNACLE OF THE PROFESSION.” This week, Ohio State men’s basketball head coach Jake Diebler appeared on “College Hoops Today” with Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
Note: “This week” means Monday, April 29 — as in, before May when Rothstein sleeps. Rothstein was awake for the interview.
In an almost 20-minute talk with Rothstein, Diebler discussed what it’s like to coach for Ohio State and how he learned about his promotion to full-time head coach of the Buckeyes, among other topics. Here is a link to the Diebler interview, as well as a transcript of the topics mentioned above:
This week's edition of the #CollegeHoopsToday Podcast:
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 29, 2024
- Indiana's PORTAL KOMBAT success
- Kansas
- Kadary Richmond
- Ohio State's Jake Diebler on taking over in the middle of February, Bruce Thornton, the Buckeyes' transfer class, and more.https://t.co/VFuWqw8no3
On coaching at Ohio State, his first few months in the role
“I’m living the dream. Growing up in the state of Ohio, this is the pinnacle of the profession for me. I get to wake up and even though times are crazy in college basketball, I am loving every second of it. … (It’s been) busy, fluid and wild at times. I know there’s a lot of change happening in the landscape, but here in this program, we’re embracing it and leaning into it. It’s an exciting time for us and certainly for the sport as a whole. It’s certainly been busy.”
On how he learned he would be Ohio State’s next head coach
“I was at my house. We had just put the kids to bed. My wife and I were sitting there, and it became clear that, you know, ‘Hey, this is happening.’ We took a moment there and said a prayer together. We were just — let’s put it this way — it wasn’t a real hard decision for me. … We were in shock. We may have had a celebratory beverage. Well, at least I did because my wife is pregnant right now. … We probably DoorDashed or ordered some ice cream. I’ve got a bad habit of that. But, no, we celebrated together. By then, some stuff had broke online, and my best friend and his wife randomly showed up at our door late at night, and we were like, ‘Man, what are they doing here?’ He bursts in there and says, ‘Is it true? Is it true?’ So we got to celebrate with the people we love and appreciate that night, too.”
On building his coaching staff and roster
“I’ve had a lot of fun. It’s been busy. It’s been very fluid. Things are changing every day. We have a great group. I’ve been able to bring in a really, really, really good staff. I am excited about the staff we have here. We have great support here at Ohio State, which has been critical. We’ve been working with Ross (Bjork) and Gene (Smith), and how we’ve been able to navigate the space has been important. I’m excited about the group we have. There’s been challenges and things are moving and shifting and changing, but we’re embracing the landscape right now. I look forward to finalizing things. But I think we’ve got a great group coming in.”
I know Diebler has had some up-and-down weeks as Ohio State’s head coach (we’ll talk about one of the down weeks in the next section), but I still believe that he is the man for the job.
The way Diebler talks about Ohio State as the “pinnacle of the profession” tells me he wants to be here. It also tells me he wants nothing more than for the Buckeyes to return to college basketball prominence. With a couple more transfer additions (a shooter and a rebounder, please), I think Diebler can get the Buckeyes there — sooner rather than later.
OL’ ROCKY TOP. Less than one week after he announced his future transfer to Tennessee, former Ohio State center Felix Okpara discussed his decision with Adam Jardy of The Columbus Dispatch. If there’s one thing to know about Okpara leaving, it’s this: There were several factors that led him to depart from Columbus, but Aaron Bradshaw was not one of them.
“Me and Bradshaw, we’re completely different players,” Okpara said. “It really had nothing to do with him.”
So then, what were the several factors?
The opportunity to return in 2024-25 with classmates Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle Jr. and Evan Mahaffey, among other players, factored heavily into Okpara’s plans. So on April 1, Okpara posted a now-deleted graphic to his Instagram account announcing that he was “100% committed to running it back” in order to “get Ohio State back to our rightful spot at the top of the Big Ten.”
The chance to play for Diebler with those same guys weighed heavily on Okpara’s decision. That same day, Scotty Middleton entered the portal. Then, on April 3, Gayle announced that he was, too. Two days later, Zed Key announced the same. In all, five Buckeyes including Okpara have transferred out of the program.
“I decided to come back then, then guys started leaving,” Okpara said. “At that point, I didn’t feel like I really made the best decision for myself. I was going off what other people were doing. My family, we talked a lot and they’re like, ‘We’ve got to do what’s best for you. You have two more years of college basketball. You have to make the best of it.’ ”
…
Within a week [of Bradshaw’s commitment], Okpara had decided to enter the portal, but the process had started before Bradshaw’s addition.
“Bradshaw didn’t really have anything to do with this,” Okpara said. “When I committed to come back, then when everyone started leaving I started questioning. That had been going on for like a week before Bradshaw even committed.
“The main rundown is I want to do what’s best for me, and I felt Ohio State wasn’t best for me at that point because the last two years wasn’t the best. My family felt I needed a change and I kind of felt I needed a change, too.”
And there you have it – straight from the source.
Those are the reasons Okpara left Ohio State for Tennessee.
Those are the only reasons Okpara left Ohio State of Tennessee.
A YOUNG BUCK GIVES BACK. This week, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith donated $5,000 to his alma mater, Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Hollywood, Florida. The school’s athletic department thanked Smith for the donation with a social media post on Tuesday.
Today, Jeremiah Smith & his Twenty9Eleven Foundation presented a $5,000 donation to Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory. Thank you, Jeremiah, for giving back to your #LionPride! We appreciate your generosity in helping fellow Lions continue to succeed on & off the field. pic.twitter.com/31vc14iUjN
— C-M Lions Athletics (@CMLions_Sports) April 30, 2024
You know, for all the criticism that surrounds name, image and likeness and its adverse impact on college athletics, there exists moments like this where Smith, an 18-year-old freshman, can give back to the community and school that developed him into the fine young man he is. And for that, I am thankful.
Now, do moments like these make criticism of name, image and likeness unwarranted? By no means! College sports (namely college football) need better guidelines, legislation and rules surrounding NIL. It’s been the Wild, Wild, West since it started, and it will continue to descend into chaos as the NCAA gets slammed in court over the next few months (or perhaps even years).
Still, seeing someone like Smith, who has been and will be paid handsomely to attend Ohio State, use his new-found wealth for good – well, that brings a smile to my face.
TOP-SHELF THREADS. On Tuesday, Ohio State football posted a graphic that the Buckeyes have THE BEST UNIFORMS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL…
THE Best Uniforms in CFB
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 30, 2024
#GoBucks x @247Sports pic.twitter.com/m9fGKkr08P
Indeed, according to Brad Crawford, Ohio State has “top-shelf” uniforms that are “a delight” to see on Saturdays during the college football season. Here are Crawford’s top five uniforms in the sport and what he wrote about each of them:
No. 5 - Penn State
Dan Rainville / USA TODAY Sports
Navy and white were made for each other in terms of perfect contrast and the Nittany Lions have refused to interrupt program tradition. The familiar white helmet, blue jersey and white pants combination has been a part of Penn State history for more than a half-century, but the program has allowed for subtle variations and one-offs over the years. The program's vertical numeral on jersey sleeves and its oval primary logo at the crest of the Nittany Lions' current Nike look are dynamic details that set this uniform apart from others. It's hard to place Penn State outside of the top 5 in a uniform ranking. This set is iconic.
No. 4 - Texas
Sara Diggins / USA TODAY Sports
When burnt orange and white are paired together, the Longhorns provide us with one of college football's greatest uniform combinations of all-time. From the steer on the white shells to TEXAS across the home jerseys, the Longhorns' primary logo has stood the test of time. The "stormtrooper" away combination — all-white with orange accents — is another classic. For the first time in 10 years last season, the Longhorns logo will not appear at the crest of the jersey neckline and there will be no visible numbers on the top of the shoulders or sleeves.
No. 3 - LSU
Mickey Welsh / USA TODAY Sports
Royalty. That's the word that always comes to mind when LSU's recognizable purple and gold graces the field. For the most part, we only get to see LSU's preferred look on gamedays (white and gold), but during prime-time games in Death Valley, the Tigers do bring out their purple jerseys, completing the SEC's best look on gamedays. The Tigers' Nike template remains unchanged and the wide vertical shoulder stripes are defining details. LSU's rare helmet alternate option worn a few years ago was incredible — a purple color-change paint with a stylized decal. The rare white helmet is also visually pleasing.
No. 2 - Michigan
Mix classic uniforms with Jumpman flavor and the results are legendary. The Wolverines' recent move to the Nike subsidiary brand was a blockbuster deal that intertwined one of college football's most iconic uniform templates with the leading streetwear supplier in athletics. The results were jaw-dropping to say the least, adding flare to an already majestic appearance. Maize and Blue has never looked better on the field, especially with the inclusion of navy pants to be worn with home or road alternates. Michigan's helmet "winged" tradition started in 1938 when Herbert “Fritz” Crisler left Princeton University to coach in Ann Arbor, where he brought with him the intriguing concept that has now become synonymous with greatness.
No. 1 - Ohio State
Another nod to tradition, Ohio State's silver helmets with the black, white and scarlet stripe and leaf decals are top-shelf. Buckeyes fans have gotten used to Nike's uniform takeover of the Michigan game in recent years with a plethora of alternate uniforms saved for the biggest contest of the season. Ohio State's traditional scarlet and gray is a delight, but the recent infatuation with Nike's envelope-pushing secondary options in Columbus keeps viewers guessing on game days against nationally ranked opponents. That strange all-black getup in 2015 versus Penn State reappeared a couple of seasons ago against Nebraska, but fans are split on the look. One of the Buckeyes' most daring alternates in the past decade was an all-gray getup that featured a wolf-fur pattern on the helmet, numerals and cleats.
For me, it’s no debate.
Ohio State has the best uniforms in college football.
Would I love to see a little more gray involved, particularly on the sleeves? Yes, yes, I would. Even still, that’s a small critique of a uniform that has no flaws otherwise: The silver helmets with a black, white and scarlet stripe, the scarlet jersey, the gray pants…
Shannon Sharpe going crazy after sipping Mountain Dew: "ohhh boy! Yeahh!" pic.twitter.com/zuc6egtzWp
— find a reaction (@findareaction) June 14, 2021
Yeah, what Shannon said.
SONG OF THE DAY. “Tennessee Whiskey” and “Drink You Away” - Chris Stapleton & Justin Timberlake.
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