Own the group chat with The Weekender, highlighting the biggest stories in college sports, standout writing from Eleven Warriors, and a glance at what's next.
Coach Prime's Hype Reaches Critical Mass
In 2022, Colorado went 1–11 and topped 20 points exactly once in an agonizing season that may have marked a modern low point for the Buffaloes on the football field. Yesterday, they held a party.
Deion Sanders' sideline debut was welcomed by a sellout for Saturday's spring game that was more of event than a scrimmage. There was the 98-year-old superfan, students throwing snowballs in the stands, and the live broadcast on ESPN with alum Chris Fowler calling the game.
Most importantly, it was a sellout, the first for a spring game in Colorado football history. Season tickets? They're sold out as well for the first time since 1996, disappearing five months before the first kickoff.
For the first time in over two decades, there's hope in Boulder thanks to Sanders, his penchant for showmanship, and the force of his personality. Whether his team will top the 4.5 wins that oddsmakers have pegged the Buffs to this season remains to be seen, but he's given this moribund program a massive jolt, which should put a smile in the heart of fans of the sport.
We Should All Aspire to Give as Few Damns as Brian Ferentz
You don't have to venture out too far into the college football universe to find a joke with Iowa's offense as the punch line. The Hawkeyes averaged 17.7 points per game last season and failed to top seven points on three different occasions.
Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, who conveniently happens to be the son of head coach Kirk Ferentz, took a beating from fans and reporters, both local and nationally, all season. He recently signed an amended contract that calls for the team to win at least seven games and average 25 or more points per game, or that contract will be terminated on June 30, 2024.
Maybe this experience has humbled him. Maybe he'll hit the drawing board.
Brian Ferentz asked if he has a message for the Iowa fans who are running out of patience with the offense.
— Chris Hassel (@Hassel_Chris) April 20, 2023
I dont have a message to them pic.twitter.com/pIEGhSys2n
Brian Ferentz says that they are approaching this off-season with the same focuses as past years: We are doing the same things, but we are going to do them better.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) April 20, 2023
Says there wont be notable changes to the offense.
Guess not. Could you imagine this situation going down in Columbus?
Nebraska Finally Does Right
Frank Solich, fired 20 years ago by a Nebraska athletic department that thought it had something it didn't, made a triumphant return to Memorial Stadium Friday.
The Mid-American Conference all-time wins leader in football said it was "great to be back" as he spent the weekend with his former boss, Tom Osborne, and took part in a celebratory weekend. He was even handed the game ball following the first play of Nebraska's spring game.
We may sometimes do the wrong thing. But it's never too late to do the right thing.
ICYMI
Ohio State Boxer Eddie Son Defies Odds, Claims Program's First-Ever National Championship
“I'm kind of screwed.”
That's what Son said to himself after studying film of Army's Jonathan Parham before the match.
Griffin Strom tells the story Son, a biology major on the pre-med track at Ohio State, who put his club on the map by becoming its first-ever national champion.
A Post-Spring Three-Deep Projection for Ohio State Football
The face you make when you realize Carnell Tate and Jayden Ballard are second-teamers on a three-wideout two-deep. It's a fun face, right? Part amazement and part hubris.
But what about the line? The secondary? Dan Hope has you covered with his three-deep projection following the end of spring football.
2023 NFL Mock Draft Roundup: Projections for 10 Buckeyes Who Might Hear Their Names Called
With 10 Buckeyes projected to be selected in published mock drafts, here's a look at where those players are projected to go, from C.J. Stroud to Tanner McCalister.
What's Next?
- Baseball: at Kent State 6 p.m. Tuesday, at Illinois (4/28, 4/29, and 4/30)
- Men's and Women's Track and Field: at Penn Relays, all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Women's Tennis: Big Ten Tournament in West Lafayette, Indiana, Friday
- Men's Golf: Big Ten Championship at Galloway National GC (N.J.), Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Men's Tennis: Big Ten Tournament in Bloomington, Indiana, vs. the winner of No. 8 Penn State and No. 9 Indiana, Friday at 9 a.m.
- Softball: vs. Minnesota in Columbus, Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at Noon
- Men's Lacrosse: Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals at No. 4 Michigan, Saturday
- Women's Lacrosse: Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals at No. 2 Maryland, Saturday
- 132 Days: Until Ohio State football kicks off the 2023 season against Indiana in Bloomington
- 153 Days: Until Ohio State football invades Notre Dame Stadium to play the Fighting Irish
- 216 Days: Until Ohio State football gets revenge against Michigan in Michigan Stadium
