Welcome to the Skull Session.
This Skull Session – this is a feel-good Skull Session.
I like a feel-good Skull Session. I like them a lot.
I think I used “Skull Session” too much in the intro.
Oh, well!
“I LOVE THE TRADITION.” On Tuesday, Ohio State named Will Howard as its Buck of the Week after he completed 17 of 28 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound quarterback sat down with former Ohio State defensive back and current staffer C.J. Barnett to discuss his Buck of the Week award, as well as some of his hopes for the team’s 2024 season.
Buck of The Week: @whoward_ pic.twitter.com/ix4xFgymKt
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 3, 2024
On what it means to be a Buckeye
"It means a lot. It's a privilege. I've said that since the moment I got here. Every time I've put on the scarlet and gray, man, it's a privilege. I don't take it lightly. To get the Buck of the Week the first week — it means a lot. But we have so much more work to do. I was glad to get my first one in the Shoe. I look forward to seven more of them."
On running out of the tunnel during pregame
"That was pretty awesome, man. Just coming down that tunnel and feeling almost the mouth of the tunnel opening up and seeing the sea of red. I talked to my dad after the game, and he was like, 'I've never seen that much red in one place ever — that much scarlet.' It was cool, man. It was awesome. Just walking out, blowing the smoke, running out there. It was a pretty surreal feeling."
On his performance in the season opener
"I thought I did OK. It's never gonna be perfect. I think I made some good plays throughout the game, but it definitely was not where I wanted my performance to be and where we wanted our performance to be. I don't think we started the game as well as we could have. We didn't play as clean as we necessarily wanted to. But at the end of the day, we figured it out in the second half and made some things happen. We made some good plays here and there. But it was a good first stepping stone. We learned some lessons — some things that worked, that didn't work. It was a good first step moving forward."
On Ohio State’s offensive weapons
"For me, it's a wealth of riches. It makes my job easy when I can facilitate and be the point guard. I don't have to make any crazy plays. I can just get the ball — a checkdown to (TreVeyon Henderson) or (Quinshon Judkins) is sometimes good for 15 to 20 yards. Being able to do things like that for me as a quarterback just makes my job easy. I think the O-line is doing a really good job, too, right now. Those guys get forgotten about. I think the receivers are unbelievable. We got a lot of depth. The same could be said for running back and tight end. It makes my job easy."
On his 19-yard run in the second quarter
"I think that was just one little spurt of what I can do in the run game. I was almost a little mad at myself. There were a couple of more times I wish I would have tucked the ball down and ran like I did on that one play. But no, I love that. I love being able to affect the game with my feet. Obviously, being a quarterback, you want to distribute the ball and facilitate it, but a lot of times, the defense is gonna drop under some stuff and get some depth. If they want to play man coverage or match coverage and turn their backs, that opens up a lot for me in the run game. By being able to do that, it keeps the defense honest. It opens up a lot of things when I'm able to do that. That's a big part of my game. I hope we can get some more opportunities to do that."
On receiving Buckeye Leaves after his first game
"I think it's really cool. It's a tradition I've seen growing up watching the Big Ten. I've looked at it and seen it for years. To get a couple of Buckeye Leaves in Week 1 and hopefully fill up the helmet as the year goes on — I love the tradition part of it. I love the tradition of everything that goes along with Ohio State, not just the Buckeye Leaves. I think that's something that's really cool. Being able to fill up the helmet as the year goes on kind of shows all the work you put in — all the reps and everything is not going unnoticed. It's cool to appreciate the work you do. But you have to remember that every week you start back new. You have to upgrade to the newest version of yourself."
What an awesome interview!
Have I mentioned that I like Will Howard?
Oh, I have?
That makes sense.
He's a dude.
A LOVE STORY FOR THE AGES. Last weekend, Nicole Shearin of 10TV interviewed Ryan Day’s wife, Nina, to learn what life looks like being married to an Ohio State head coach. While Nina said, “It’s a lot,” she wouldn’t trade it for the world. That’s because from T-ball to elementary school, middle school, high school and college, Nina knew she and Ryan were meant to be.
What an awesome interview!!
Family and football.
What more could you need?
I could need donuts – yeah, I could need donuts. More on that in the next section.
“I LOVE THIS PLACE MORE THAN ANYTHING.” This week, a TikToker named Rob Martinez pulled off his best Guy Fieri impression and toured diners, drive-ins and dives (and more) in Columbus. After stops at Ding Ho, Tommy's Diner and Ezzo Sausage, Martinez made it over to a place we all know and love: Buckeye Donuts.
While there, Martinez interviewed its owner, Jimmy Barouxis, to learn more about the shop and its importance to the Ohio State community.
@eatingwithrobert Jimmys the 3rd generation of a donut family thats been serving Columbus since 1969. Buckeye Donuts 1998 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201 Follow me for more stories about generational American restaurants.
original sound - Rob Martinez
What an awesome interview!!!
I loved the part when Martinez asked Barouxis about his "infectious energy" for Buckeye Donuts.
"This is my life. I love this place more than anything," Barouxis said. "Well, not more than my wife."
He makes great donuts and he's smart.
You can't beat that. And you can't beat Buckeye Donuts.
What I wouldn't give for another late-night stroll down High Street with some friends to get a blueberry, devil's food, or red velvet donut with a bottle of cold chocolate milk. That would hit the spot!
THANK THE MAKER. I could have addressed the #content of this last section earlier in the week, but I forgor and will do it now. While attending or watching the Ohio State game last weekend, did you notice something lacking from the Buckeyes' warmup routine?
There was no pregame dancing routine!
Let's Dance #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/qvf4wqO6yn
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) November 25, 2023
If that doesn't make you feel good, I don't know what will.
I love to see Ohio State's players have fun, but as kickoff approaches, I also love to see the Buckeyes get serious. They did that on Saturday, and I hope that trend continues for the rest of the season. They can dance when they have a national championship trophy in their hands!
SONG OF THE DAY. "Simple Man" - Lynyrd Skynyrd.
CUT TO THE CHASE. Half a house for half a million dollars: Home crushed by tree hits market near Los Angeles... Small, harmless asteroid burns up in Earth’s atmosphere over the Philippines... Stonehenge’s "altar stone" originally came from Scotland and not Wales, new research shows... Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin to make first start since cardiac arrest in 2023... This English soccer team Is sponsored by…Ed Sheeran’s tour?
