Welcome to the Skull Session.
A traditional Skull Session has six sections: four about Ohio State (or college football, college basketball and other miscellaneous news), one for the Song of the Day and one for Cut to the Chase. This will not be one of those Skull Sessions. Instead, this one will have six? eight? 10? sections of rapid-fire action because six 5 a.m. columns cannot cover all the content this week provides.
Sooooooooooooooooooo...
Here we go, ladies and gentlemen.
Here.
We.
Go.
THE GAME TRAILER. Ohio State's Team Up North Game Trailer was excellent. It had Brian Hartline's son, Braydon. It had Jim Tressel's "I can't believe God gave me a chance to be a Buckeye because there's nothing like it." It had it all!
Come on, somebody!
THE (FAN-MADE) GAME TRAILER. Friend of the program Buckeye Productions also released a Team Up North Game Trailer this week. It was also excellent, as I have come to expect from Frank.
Again – come on, somebody!
THREE THINGS. If those Team Up North Game Trailers didn't pump... you up! perhaps this will: If you call Woody Hayes' old phone number, 614-488-1910, you will hear a recording of the late head coach's speech from before an Ohio State-Michigan game.
"This ball game will boil down to three things. Three things. Number one, the team that hits the hardest and the longest, the team that starts the fastest, and the team that's too damn smart to make mistakes. They're too smart to make mistakes and that team will win without any question. If you take it to 'em, if you don't make mistakes and you keep taking it to 'em. Hell, there's no question who will win. There's no question who will win. Now let's go out and do it."
For a third time – come on, somebody!
"GOOD LUCK TO YOU." Remember when Ryan Day had one of the all-time rants after Ohio State's come-from-behind win over Notre Dame last season? You know, the rant that came after Lou Holtz said Ohio State would lose to Notre Dame because the Irish were "a better football team" than the Buckeyes?
TELL EM, COACH! pic.twitter.com/Se7zs18oHO
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 24, 2023
"I'd like to know where Lou Holtz is right now," Day said. "What he said about our team, what he said about our team, I cannot believe. This is a tough team right here. We're proud to be from Ohio. It's always been Ohio against the world, and it will continue to be Ohio against the world. But I'll tell you what. I love those kids. We have a tough team."
Well, even after the rant, it appears Holtz has allowed water to pass under the bridge between him and Day. That, or, the almost 88-year-old was flattering Day because he was paid $75 to send a message to the Ohio State head coach via Cameo. You pick.
"Coach Day, congratulations on a great season thus far. It was a tough loss against Oregon, but you'll beat them in the (conference) championship game. However, we have to get ready for The Team Up North. I happened to coach at Ohio State, and I understand how big this game is. The fact that we lost to them for three straight years has to be rectified this year in (Ohio) Stadium. I think your defense has played great. Offensively, you can run the ball well and you can throw the ball very, very well, and you're just an excellent football team.
"Forget about The Team Up North – just play your game and play the way you always do. You know how to tackle, how to block and how to be fundamentally sound. It's a game of toughness, not finesse. Too many times in a game like this, we want to outsmart somebody. Don't do that. I always felt like I wanted the other team in the locker room to know that they got beat physically and on the scoreboard. I wanted them to sit in the hot tub on Sunday and say, 'Boy, I don't want to do that again.' Too many times when a team isn't beaten up physically, they can go to the media and say, 'Well, we were better than them, but they were just lucky.'
"You have a great football team. Fight the team across the field. When I was at Ohio State, we were undefeated playing Michigan, who was second in the conference, and we beat them 50-14. In the last minute, Coach Hayes went for two. People said, 'Why'd you go for two?' He said, 'They wouldn't let me go for three.' You just have to dislike that team from the north. Make no mistake about it. Good luck to you. I know you're a great football coach. You have a great record. But let's go win the championship, which Ohio State is accustomed to. Good luck to you. God bless you. Go Buckeyes."
All great points, Coach Holtz.
I think Day would be wise to listen to them – if he ever received the message, that is.
Oh, and while I'm still in this section, bleep Mark May.
IT'S TRADITION! Each November, the Ohio State football program sets aside time to ensure all Central Ohioans have full plates on Thanksgiving. On Wednesday, the Buckeyes were at LifeCare Alliance to pack meals for seniors in need.
While at the event, Jeremiah Wilcox of WSYX interviewed two Ohio State freshmen, quarterback Julian Sayin and defensive back Jaylen McClain.
"It's good to give back. We have a big game this weekend like always, but (we still) put time to the side to make this happen," McClain said.
Sayin added: "It's bigger than football. Thanksgiving is coming up (Thursday). It's awesome to give back and be a part of the community."
You love to see the Buckeyes give back.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON. This weekend, Ohio State senior Andrew Moulas will dot the 'i' in Script Ohio like his father, Dean, did 38 years ago.
Earlier this week, Christian Hauser of WKRC helped Moulas share what it means that he will follow in his father's footsteps – figuratively and literally – as he participates in one of the best traditions in college sports.
"Though all the hard work I've had, as well as the tradition of the marching band with my dad doing it and everyone before me, I know that it's something that I'll carry on for years to come. I think it's an important part of who I've been," Moulas said.
As the weekend approaches, Dean Moulas told Hauser he feels immense pride for his son.
"This past spring, (the band) sorted out what the pecking order would be, and for him to be able to say that he had Michigan at home – well, that's obviously a very big game, and we were very happy for him," he said.
Cheers to Andrew and Dean. It's a fantastic achievement that both of them dotted the 'i'!
GET 'EM, OG! Have I mentioned that I love Tim Walton?
Thoughtful Thursday pic.twitter.com/aTgunnmftw
— Tim Walton (@OGWalt_) November 28, 2024
Like leftover Thanksgiving food, their ass gonna be cold turkey...
That's a bar.
"I'M YOUR HUCKLEBERRY." I've had Tombstone on my mind this week – a lot. I've referenced the reckoning a couple of times. But I've had more than that scene stuck in the old brain box. This one has been, too:
Why Johnny Ringo, you look like someone just walked over your grave...
The look Ringo has on his face here – what I wouldn't give to see that look on Sherrone Moore's face this weekend!
SONG OF THE DAY. "Paint it, Black" - Rolling Stones.
CUT TO THE CHASE. In Alaska, a pilot drops turkeys to rural homes for Thanksgiving... From Santa to celebrities, the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in pictures... Ronald McDonald Houses have helped families for 50 years... Vito the pug is the first of his breed to win National Dog Show's top prize... Connections, the most controversial game on the internet... "Demure" is Dictionary.com's word of the year.
