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LGHL Early thoughts on the 2024, 2025 football schedules for the Big Ten and Ohio State
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Early thoughts on the 2024, 2025 football schedules for the Big Ten and Ohio State
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
On Thursday the Big Ten conference revealed the conference play opponents for football in the 2024 and 2025 seasons
A few days ago the Big Ten released the conference schedules for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. While the dates of the games are yet to be determined, schools figured out who they will be playing in the conference’s first two seasons as a 16-team conference. Not only will the Big Ten be adding USC and UCLA, but the conference will also be moving away from the division format. As if those weren’t enough changes to wrap your head around, the 2024 season will also see the College Football Playoff expand to 12 teams.
Now that divisions are going away in the Big Ten, there’s a possibility Ohio State and Michigan could play in their final game of the regular season, and also in the Big Ten Championship Game the next week. Just imagine two weeks of intense rivalry hate instead of one! I don’t know if I can handle two straight weeks of nerds crossing out the letter M to show how much they hate the Wolverines!
What will be really interesting to see is how the Buckeyes and Wolverines approach the games if it looks like a given that both teams are going to make the 12-team playoff. Obviously, they would care about the Big Ten Championship Game if it guaranteed one team a bye in the playoff. What if both teams head into the regular season battle at 11-0 and say they are the top two teams in the country? I’m not saying either team is going to want to see the other win, but might the teams let up a little sooner than normal if they know they are going to play the next week in the Big Ten Championship Game, and there will also be a number of playoff games ahead of them?
An even crazier scenario than two straight weeks of Ohio State-Michigan games is if they ended up meeting a third time in a season in the College Football Playoff. Luckily there would be a few weeks to prepare for a third Ohio State-Michigan game if it did happen. I hope we do see a trifecta of Ohio State-Michigan games in a season at some point, but I’m not sure if my body and mind are prepared for it to happen on a regular basis since the games between the rivals are so taxing.
Aside from the battle with the Wolverines in Columbus at the end of November, the rest of Ohio State’s home schedule is awful. The Buckeyes play Southern Miss, Western Michigan, Marshall, Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern, and Rutgers in Columbus. Nobody should be excited to see any of those games. I feel bad for the season ticket holders that have to pay for those games. There’s no reason that any of those games should be closer than 3-4 touchdowns.
It’s not all bad, though. The home schedule for Ohio State picks up in 2025, as not only will Texas visit Columbus, USC will make its first trip to Ohio’s capital city as a member of the Big Ten. There could also be a sneaky good game on the schedule if Matt Rhule is able to make strides at Nebraska. If the Cornhuskers can be even somewhat competitive, it could make for a fun matchup at Ohio Stadium.
For a while, the game on Ohio State’s schedule that scared Buckeye fans the most was the annual battle with Penn State. Even more so if that game was played under the lights in State College. During the time when Ohio State was dominating Michigan, it seemed as if the Nittany Lions would always push the Buckeyes to the limit. Even though Penn State has only beaten Ohio State once since 2012, it sure feels like the Nittany Lions have had a few more victories than that against the Buckeyes.
With the Big Ten’s announcement of their protected rivalry matchups, Penn State is the only school that doesn’t have a protected rival. It’s quite shocking that Ohio State and Penn State weren’t protected rivals, especially considering their memorable battles over the years. While the Buckeyes have a protected rival in Michigan, there are a number of schools in the conference that were given more than one protected rival.
If the conference didn’t want Ohio State playing both Penn State and Michigan each year to try and improve the conference’s shot at placing more teams in the expanded playoff, they still could have paired the Nittany Lions with someone as a protected rival. The most natural choice would have been Michigan State since the schools have played annually for the Land-Grant Trophy. Maryland would be a natural rival for Penn State because the schools are about three hours apart. Reportedly, PSU asked the conference to not have any protected rivalries, for whatever reason.
So, the Big Ten obliged and gave Penn State the Jan Brady treatment.
I completely understand why Iowa was named as protected rivals for Nebraska, MInnesota, and Wisconsin. It doesn’t mean that it isn’t a strange look for the Big Ten to give the Hawkeyes three protected rivals, while most of the other schools have one, or none in Penn State’s case. Iowa plays Minnesota for a bronze pig, Nebraska for something called the “Heroes Trophy”, and Wisconsin for whatever the Heartland Trophy is. Honestly, a Heroes Trophy should be given to anyone that makes it through a whole Iowa-Nebraska game.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24716972/1244913647.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 19 Iowa at Minnesota")
What I’m curious about is why Iowa’s rivalries matter more than other rivalries around the Big Ten. Did the Hawkeyes speak up more about preserving their rivalries than someone like Penn State did? Was Iowa given so many rivalry-protected games because they aren’t seen as big of a threat to make the College Football Playoff, so at least with more rivalry games, it will keep their fans interested in the season? Maybe these things work themselves out when the next set of Big Ten schedules is released, but it just looks really odd right now.
The Trojans and Bruins knew they were going to rack up the miles when they agreed to join the Big Ten. With their opponents for next season released, we now know just how much the teams from Los Angeles will be traveling. USC will travel over 16,000 miles for Big Ten games, while UCLA surpasses 15,000 miles. The amount of travel is over double Nebraska’s mileage, which clocks in third in the conference with scheduled travel of just over 7,000 miles.
These totals are just for their travel for Big Ten games and don’t take into account non-conference games, a possible Big Ten Championship Game, and potentially making the College Football Playoff. At least flying is a lot more comfortable these days than it used to be. Plus, USC and UCLA can splash some of that sweet Big Ten cash to upgrade their travel arrangements.
Even more hilarious about the travel mileage totals for the Big Ten teams next year, Purdue won’t even hit 2,500 miles, as their longest trip is to Maryland. The Boilermakers will barely have any time or distance away from the toxic wasteland that is West Lafayette!
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
On Thursday the Big Ten conference revealed the conference play opponents for football in the 2024 and 2025 seasons
A few days ago the Big Ten released the conference schedules for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. While the dates of the games are yet to be determined, schools figured out who they will be playing in the conference’s first two seasons as a 16-team conference. Not only will the Big Ten be adding USC and UCLA, but the conference will also be moving away from the division format. As if those weren’t enough changes to wrap your head around, the 2024 season will also see the College Football Playoff expand to 12 teams.
Ohio State and Michigan could play in back-to-back weeks
Now that divisions are going away in the Big Ten, there’s a possibility Ohio State and Michigan could play in their final game of the regular season, and also in the Big Ten Championship Game the next week. Just imagine two weeks of intense rivalry hate instead of one! I don’t know if I can handle two straight weeks of nerds crossing out the letter M to show how much they hate the Wolverines!
What will be really interesting to see is how the Buckeyes and Wolverines approach the games if it looks like a given that both teams are going to make the 12-team playoff. Obviously, they would care about the Big Ten Championship Game if it guaranteed one team a bye in the playoff. What if both teams head into the regular season battle at 11-0 and say they are the top two teams in the country? I’m not saying either team is going to want to see the other win, but might the teams let up a little sooner than normal if they know they are going to play the next week in the Big Ten Championship Game, and there will also be a number of playoff games ahead of them?
An even crazier scenario than two straight weeks of Ohio State-Michigan games is if they ended up meeting a third time in a season in the College Football Playoff. Luckily there would be a few weeks to prepare for a third Ohio State-Michigan game if it did happen. I hope we do see a trifecta of Ohio State-Michigan games in a season at some point, but I’m not sure if my body and mind are prepared for it to happen on a regular basis since the games between the rivals are so taxing.
Ohio State’s 2024 home schedule is gross, 2025 home schedule is better
Aside from the battle with the Wolverines in Columbus at the end of November, the rest of Ohio State’s home schedule is awful. The Buckeyes play Southern Miss, Western Michigan, Marshall, Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern, and Rutgers in Columbus. Nobody should be excited to see any of those games. I feel bad for the season ticket holders that have to pay for those games. There’s no reason that any of those games should be closer than 3-4 touchdowns.
It’s not all bad, though. The home schedule for Ohio State picks up in 2025, as not only will Texas visit Columbus, USC will make its first trip to Ohio’s capital city as a member of the Big Ten. There could also be a sneaky good game on the schedule if Matt Rhule is able to make strides at Nebraska. If the Cornhuskers can be even somewhat competitive, it could make for a fun matchup at Ohio Stadium.
Nobody cares about Penn State
For a while, the game on Ohio State’s schedule that scared Buckeye fans the most was the annual battle with Penn State. Even more so if that game was played under the lights in State College. During the time when Ohio State was dominating Michigan, it seemed as if the Nittany Lions would always push the Buckeyes to the limit. Even though Penn State has only beaten Ohio State once since 2012, it sure feels like the Nittany Lions have had a few more victories than that against the Buckeyes.
With the Big Ten’s announcement of their protected rivalry matchups, Penn State is the only school that doesn’t have a protected rival. It’s quite shocking that Ohio State and Penn State weren’t protected rivals, especially considering their memorable battles over the years. While the Buckeyes have a protected rival in Michigan, there are a number of schools in the conference that were given more than one protected rival.
If the conference didn’t want Ohio State playing both Penn State and Michigan each year to try and improve the conference’s shot at placing more teams in the expanded playoff, they still could have paired the Nittany Lions with someone as a protected rival. The most natural choice would have been Michigan State since the schools have played annually for the Land-Grant Trophy. Maryland would be a natural rival for Penn State because the schools are about three hours apart. Reportedly, PSU asked the conference to not have any protected rivalries, for whatever reason.
So, the Big Ten obliged and gave Penn State the Jan Brady treatment.
Iowa has three protected rivals!
I completely understand why Iowa was named as protected rivals for Nebraska, MInnesota, and Wisconsin. It doesn’t mean that it isn’t a strange look for the Big Ten to give the Hawkeyes three protected rivals, while most of the other schools have one, or none in Penn State’s case. Iowa plays Minnesota for a bronze pig, Nebraska for something called the “Heroes Trophy”, and Wisconsin for whatever the Heartland Trophy is. Honestly, a Heroes Trophy should be given to anyone that makes it through a whole Iowa-Nebraska game.
What I’m curious about is why Iowa’s rivalries matter more than other rivalries around the Big Ten. Did the Hawkeyes speak up more about preserving their rivalries than someone like Penn State did? Was Iowa given so many rivalry-protected games because they aren’t seen as big of a threat to make the College Football Playoff, so at least with more rivalry games, it will keep their fans interested in the season? Maybe these things work themselves out when the next set of Big Ten schedules is released, but it just looks really odd right now.
Hopefully USC and UCLA like flying
The Trojans and Bruins knew they were going to rack up the miles when they agreed to join the Big Ten. With their opponents for next season released, we now know just how much the teams from Los Angeles will be traveling. USC will travel over 16,000 miles for Big Ten games, while UCLA surpasses 15,000 miles. The amount of travel is over double Nebraska’s mileage, which clocks in third in the conference with scheduled travel of just over 7,000 miles.
These totals are just for their travel for Big Ten games and don’t take into account non-conference games, a possible Big Ten Championship Game, and potentially making the College Football Playoff. At least flying is a lot more comfortable these days than it used to be. Plus, USC and UCLA can splash some of that sweet Big Ten cash to upgrade their travel arrangements.
Even more hilarious about the travel mileage totals for the Big Ten teams next year, Purdue won’t even hit 2,500 miles, as their longest trip is to Maryland. The Boilermakers will barely have any time or distance away from the toxic wasteland that is West Lafayette!
Continue reading...
LGHL ‘What If’ the Best Musical Tony nominees were actually Ohio State football players
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‘What If’ the Best Musical Tony nominees were actually Ohio State football players
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
You’re not going to get this kind of analysis from any of the real reporters on the Ohio State beat.
Please forgive this article of digression, but today is a very big day for me. I have been working in the New York theatre community for nearly a decade now as a reporter, editor, producer, and host covering the inner workings of the Broadway and Off-Broadway communities. So, tonight, when the 76th Annual Tony Awards take place at the United Palace in New York City, that is kind of like my Super Bowl... or at least my Super Bowl outside of the actual Super Bowl and The Game and Ohio State’s bowl game.
See, there aren’t very many people working on the Buckeye beat that are as dedicated to the Buckeyes and to Broadway as I am... in fact — with perhaps the exception of my LGHL colleague Jami Jurich — I would say I might be the only one. However, I do recognize that there is a possibility that there will be a number of Buckeye fans who end up watching the Tonys telecast on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 11 because a friend, partner, roommate, child, or someone else in their general vicinity has it on the TV.
For those specific cases, I wanted to at least give you some semblance of understanding about what is going on in the ceremony’s most important category, Best Musical. So, I have gone through all five nominees and picked a current Ohio State football player that is most exemplified by the show, so that you can get a sense of what it is all about, without traveling to New York or listening to a single second of their individual cast albums. You’re welcome, Buckeye Nation.
If you would like to hear my predictions for every Tonys category, along with those of my BroadwayRadio colleague Ashley Steves and Broadway Records A&R Director and cabaret icon Robbie Rozelle, check out the episode below:
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Matthew Murphy | Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Stark Sands and Betsy Wolfe in ‘& Juliet’ | Chip Trayanum
“& Juliet” is what we in the biz call a “jukebox” musical, because it takes songs that were originally released in more traditional, popular music venues. The show repurposes some of the biggest hits written by 25-time Grammy nominee and five-time winner, 11-time ASCAP Pop Music Awards Songwriter of the Year, and Oscar (and now Tony) nominee Max Martin.
Now, unless you are a major pop music aficionado, you probably don’t know Martin’s name, but the Sweed has written or co-written such songs as “...Baby One More Time,” “It’s Gonna Be Me,” “I Want It That Way,” “It’s My Life,” “Larger Than Life,” “Since U Been Gone,” “I Kissed a Girl,” “So What,” “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “Raise Your Glass,” “Domino,” “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.),” “Whataya Want From Me,” “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “Roar,” “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space,” “Bad Blood,” “Can’t Feel My Face,” “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”, just to name a few.
Many of those songs are featured in “& Juliet,” but what makes this show interesting is that it is not about Max Martin’s life and career, nor is it about any of the artists that he’s worked with. Instead, it imagines a world in which William Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway (yes, that was her real name), convinces him not to have Juliet die at the end of “Romeo and Juliet” and the have very musical disagreements over how the story should end.
Not only does the musical reinvents one of the most famous stories in all of Western literature, but it also reimagines some of the most popular songs of the last 25-30 years.
One Buckeye who is no stranger to reinvention and reimagining what his football career could be is Chip Trayanum. I’m old enough to remember that when he was being recruited to Ohio State, it was under the name DeaMonte Trayanum and the Buckeyes wanted him to play linebacker.
Despite being a lifelong Ohioan, Chip saw himself as a running back, so he went to Arizona State, but after two years, the Akron native returned home and finally found a place in the Ohio State linebacking corps. However, a nearly never-ending rash of injuries at the running back position last season forced Trayanum to move back over to offense. Though he only rushed the ball 15 times in 2022, he did average 6.1 yard per carry, and will be remaining in the running back room for this upcoming season.
So, if there is anyone on the Ohio State roster who can understand what it is like to reconceive a story (and songs) in order to find something new and special, it would be DeaMonte... I mean Chip.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24716242/vicson.jpg)
Joan Marcus | Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Victoria Clark in ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ | Sonny Styles
The presumed frontrunner for the Best Musical Tony Award is “Kimberly Akimbo.” At the center of the story is a 16-year-old girl who is seemingly the only sane person in a family of screwups. However, she has issues of her own, most notably that she has a rare genetic condition that causes her to age four and a half times faster than normal; meaning that at age 16, she appears to be roughly 72 years old.
To me, this screams of a Sonny Styles connection. Yes, the Ohio State legacy is going into his second year of college football, but only because he reclassified and skipped his senior year at Pickerington Central (also my alma mater, go Tigers). Because of that, Styles is still just 18 years old (he won’t turn 19 until the day before the Buckeyes play Michigan in November), and yet, he is expected to be a major part of the Buckeye secondary this season.
His rare blend of size — he’s 6-foot-4, 225 pounds — and athleticism have made him one of the most exciting prospects to come to campus in a long time.
In addition to “Kimberly Akimbo” being the likely (though not guaranteed) winner for the evening’s biggest prize, it is likely to be rewarded with at least one acting trophy. While Victoria Clark, who plays the title character, is the frontrunner for the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical award, the person who is the runaway leader in the Best Featured Actress in a Musical category is Bonnie Milligan, who plays Kimberly’s felonious Aunt Debra.
What makes that especially exciting for us here in Buckeye Nation is that Milligan is an Ohio State alum! So, go Bonnie and go Bucks!
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24716235/nymarv.jpg)
Paul Kolnik | Brooke LaValley / USA TODAY NETWORK
Clyde Alves and Colton Ryan in ‘New York, New York’ | Marvin Harrison Jr.
Look, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. Garrett Wilson is proving that he has what it takes to make it in the Big Apple, come December, I believe that Marvin Harrison Jr. will have a very exciting trip to the City that Never Sleeps on his schedule.
The musical “New York, New York” is based loosely on the Liza Minnelli, Robert DeNiro movie of the same name and follows the love story of two artists looking to carve out a life as artists in post-WWII New York. While their journeys to success had significant ups and downs, for Marv, his assent has been rapid and undeniable. So much so that, despite having an unproven, first-time starting quarterback throwing to him, he will ride the wave of his otherworldly abilities to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York last this year.
I’m not yet going to predict that Marv will win the trophy, because we know how difficult it is for anyone other than QBs to take home that honor; however, we’ve seen it happen recently, and if there has ever been a receiver more ready-made for that opportunity, I don’t know who he could be.
Not only does Harrison have the size and physical abilities needed to absolutely dominate any defensive back, but he literally grew up being trained by a Hall of Famer, so his technique and precision are unmatched. Anyone who follows the Buckeye beat also has heard tell of his relentless preparation and practice, so no one will be outworking Big Marv.
When you factor in the fact that Ohio State will be front and center on many TVs across the country all year, there are a ton of other WR weapons on the team so defensive coordinators can’t completely focus on him, and HIS NAME IS MARVIN HARRISON JR., there will be little doubt that he will absolutely have every opportunity to prove that he is the best player in college football this season.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24716228/shucked_cade.jpg)
Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman | Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Ashley D Kelley and Grey Henson in Shucked | Cade Stover and Ruben Hyppolite II
“Shucked” is a musical about corn. Like, literally, the entire plot of the show (and many of the never-ending jokes in the script) is about corn. So, really, this one picked itself, because Cade Stover grew up on a farm that grows corn. They raise other stuff as well, like cows, alfalfa, and more, but how could I not pick the corn farmer for the musical about corn?
In fairness, there is more to “Shucked” than just corn, there is love, loyalty, family, acceptance, growth, and trips to the big city, but it all revolves around corn, so Cade, you’re about to get “Shucked.”
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24716686/sometommy.jpg)
Marc J. Franklin | Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
J. Harrison Ghee and Christian Borle in ‘Some Like It Hot’ | Tommy Eichenberg
“Some Like It Hot,” based on the classic Tony Curtis, Jack Lemon, Marilyn Monroe movie of the same name, is a throwback to the old style of musical comedy that Broadway doesn’t do much of anymore. Not only are the humor and storytelling reminiscent of the Golden Age of American musical theatre, but the music — by the famed team of Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman — has this big band, brassy sound that harkens back to a bygone era... much like the linebacker play of Tommy Eichenberg.
In all fairness, I did not expect much from Tommy, as I thought he was going to be a poor man’s Tuf Borland — which would have made him pretty destitute if you ask me. However, I was wrong, and when I’m wrong, I say I’m wrong (a line delivered by Broadway icon Jerry Orbach in the movie “Dirty Dancing”). Eichenberg has turned out to be an incredibly consistent and productive presence in the middle of the Buckeye defense.
He is a throwback to a different breed of LB, much like “Some Like It Hot” is a different breed of musical that we don’t see much of these days.
Unlike all of these pretty contrived Ohio State-Best Musical connections, there are actually two shows with nominations that have direct ties to Ohio State. The first is... “The Ohio State Murders.” It is a fictional story written by now-91-year-old Theatre Hall of Famer Adrienne Kennedy who just so happens to be an Ohio State alum. The harrowing story takes place on and around Ohio State’s campus in the 1950s. Six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for her turn in the show.
The other play that features our fair school is “Summer, 1976.” Written by Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn, the show takes place in the summer of America’s Bicentennial in Columbus when two very different women become unlikely friends. One of them, played by four-time Emmy winner Laura Linney is an art professor at Ohio State. Her costar in the two-hander, Jessica Hecht is nominated in the same category as McDonald.
Fortunately for you, you aren’t going to have to worry about which actress from a play set in Columbus to root for in that category, because neither of them is going to win. The person taking home the trophy will either be Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain for “A Doll’s House,” or Emmy-winner Jodie Comer for “Prima Facie.”
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
You’re not going to get this kind of analysis from any of the real reporters on the Ohio State beat.
Please forgive this article of digression, but today is a very big day for me. I have been working in the New York theatre community for nearly a decade now as a reporter, editor, producer, and host covering the inner workings of the Broadway and Off-Broadway communities. So, tonight, when the 76th Annual Tony Awards take place at the United Palace in New York City, that is kind of like my Super Bowl... or at least my Super Bowl outside of the actual Super Bowl and The Game and Ohio State’s bowl game.
See, there aren’t very many people working on the Buckeye beat that are as dedicated to the Buckeyes and to Broadway as I am... in fact — with perhaps the exception of my LGHL colleague Jami Jurich — I would say I might be the only one. However, I do recognize that there is a possibility that there will be a number of Buckeye fans who end up watching the Tonys telecast on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 11 because a friend, partner, roommate, child, or someone else in their general vicinity has it on the TV.
For those specific cases, I wanted to at least give you some semblance of understanding about what is going on in the ceremony’s most important category, Best Musical. So, I have gone through all five nominees and picked a current Ohio State football player that is most exemplified by the show, so that you can get a sense of what it is all about, without traveling to New York or listening to a single second of their individual cast albums. You’re welcome, Buckeye Nation.
If you would like to hear my predictions for every Tonys category, along with those of my BroadwayRadio colleague Ashley Steves and Broadway Records A&R Director and cabaret icon Robbie Rozelle, check out the episode below:
‘& Juliet’ is Chip Trayanum
Stark Sands and Betsy Wolfe in ‘& Juliet’ | Chip Trayanum
“& Juliet” is what we in the biz call a “jukebox” musical, because it takes songs that were originally released in more traditional, popular music venues. The show repurposes some of the biggest hits written by 25-time Grammy nominee and five-time winner, 11-time ASCAP Pop Music Awards Songwriter of the Year, and Oscar (and now Tony) nominee Max Martin.
Now, unless you are a major pop music aficionado, you probably don’t know Martin’s name, but the Sweed has written or co-written such songs as “...Baby One More Time,” “It’s Gonna Be Me,” “I Want It That Way,” “It’s My Life,” “Larger Than Life,” “Since U Been Gone,” “I Kissed a Girl,” “So What,” “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “Raise Your Glass,” “Domino,” “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.),” “Whataya Want From Me,” “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “Roar,” “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space,” “Bad Blood,” “Can’t Feel My Face,” “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”, just to name a few.
Many of those songs are featured in “& Juliet,” but what makes this show interesting is that it is not about Max Martin’s life and career, nor is it about any of the artists that he’s worked with. Instead, it imagines a world in which William Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway (yes, that was her real name), convinces him not to have Juliet die at the end of “Romeo and Juliet” and the have very musical disagreements over how the story should end.
Not only does the musical reinvents one of the most famous stories in all of Western literature, but it also reimagines some of the most popular songs of the last 25-30 years.
One Buckeye who is no stranger to reinvention and reimagining what his football career could be is Chip Trayanum. I’m old enough to remember that when he was being recruited to Ohio State, it was under the name DeaMonte Trayanum and the Buckeyes wanted him to play linebacker.
Despite being a lifelong Ohioan, Chip saw himself as a running back, so he went to Arizona State, but after two years, the Akron native returned home and finally found a place in the Ohio State linebacking corps. However, a nearly never-ending rash of injuries at the running back position last season forced Trayanum to move back over to offense. Though he only rushed the ball 15 times in 2022, he did average 6.1 yard per carry, and will be remaining in the running back room for this upcoming season.
So, if there is anyone on the Ohio State roster who can understand what it is like to reconceive a story (and songs) in order to find something new and special, it would be DeaMonte... I mean Chip.
‘Kimberly Akimbo’ is Sonny Styles
Victoria Clark in ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ | Sonny Styles
The presumed frontrunner for the Best Musical Tony Award is “Kimberly Akimbo.” At the center of the story is a 16-year-old girl who is seemingly the only sane person in a family of screwups. However, she has issues of her own, most notably that she has a rare genetic condition that causes her to age four and a half times faster than normal; meaning that at age 16, she appears to be roughly 72 years old.
To me, this screams of a Sonny Styles connection. Yes, the Ohio State legacy is going into his second year of college football, but only because he reclassified and skipped his senior year at Pickerington Central (also my alma mater, go Tigers). Because of that, Styles is still just 18 years old (he won’t turn 19 until the day before the Buckeyes play Michigan in November), and yet, he is expected to be a major part of the Buckeye secondary this season.
His rare blend of size — he’s 6-foot-4, 225 pounds — and athleticism have made him one of the most exciting prospects to come to campus in a long time.
In addition to “Kimberly Akimbo” being the likely (though not guaranteed) winner for the evening’s biggest prize, it is likely to be rewarded with at least one acting trophy. While Victoria Clark, who plays the title character, is the frontrunner for the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical award, the person who is the runaway leader in the Best Featured Actress in a Musical category is Bonnie Milligan, who plays Kimberly’s felonious Aunt Debra.
What makes that especially exciting for us here in Buckeye Nation is that Milligan is an Ohio State alum! So, go Bonnie and go Bucks!
‘New York, New York’ is Marvin Harrison Jr.
Clyde Alves and Colton Ryan in ‘New York, New York’ | Marvin Harrison Jr.
Look, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. Garrett Wilson is proving that he has what it takes to make it in the Big Apple, come December, I believe that Marvin Harrison Jr. will have a very exciting trip to the City that Never Sleeps on his schedule.
The musical “New York, New York” is based loosely on the Liza Minnelli, Robert DeNiro movie of the same name and follows the love story of two artists looking to carve out a life as artists in post-WWII New York. While their journeys to success had significant ups and downs, for Marv, his assent has been rapid and undeniable. So much so that, despite having an unproven, first-time starting quarterback throwing to him, he will ride the wave of his otherworldly abilities to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York last this year.
I’m not yet going to predict that Marv will win the trophy, because we know how difficult it is for anyone other than QBs to take home that honor; however, we’ve seen it happen recently, and if there has ever been a receiver more ready-made for that opportunity, I don’t know who he could be.
Not only does Harrison have the size and physical abilities needed to absolutely dominate any defensive back, but he literally grew up being trained by a Hall of Famer, so his technique and precision are unmatched. Anyone who follows the Buckeye beat also has heard tell of his relentless preparation and practice, so no one will be outworking Big Marv.
When you factor in the fact that Ohio State will be front and center on many TVs across the country all year, there are a ton of other WR weapons on the team so defensive coordinators can’t completely focus on him, and HIS NAME IS MARVIN HARRISON JR., there will be little doubt that he will absolutely have every opportunity to prove that he is the best player in college football this season.
‘Shucked’ is Cade Stover
Ashley D Kelley and Grey Henson in Shucked | Cade Stover and Ruben Hyppolite II
“Shucked” is a musical about corn. Like, literally, the entire plot of the show (and many of the never-ending jokes in the script) is about corn. So, really, this one picked itself, because Cade Stover grew up on a farm that grows corn. They raise other stuff as well, like cows, alfalfa, and more, but how could I not pick the corn farmer for the musical about corn?
In fairness, there is more to “Shucked” than just corn, there is love, loyalty, family, acceptance, growth, and trips to the big city, but it all revolves around corn, so Cade, you’re about to get “Shucked.”
‘Some Like It Hot’ is Tommy Eichenberg
J. Harrison Ghee and Christian Borle in ‘Some Like It Hot’ | Tommy Eichenberg
“Some Like It Hot,” based on the classic Tony Curtis, Jack Lemon, Marilyn Monroe movie of the same name, is a throwback to the old style of musical comedy that Broadway doesn’t do much of anymore. Not only are the humor and storytelling reminiscent of the Golden Age of American musical theatre, but the music — by the famed team of Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman — has this big band, brassy sound that harkens back to a bygone era... much like the linebacker play of Tommy Eichenberg.
In all fairness, I did not expect much from Tommy, as I thought he was going to be a poor man’s Tuf Borland — which would have made him pretty destitute if you ask me. However, I was wrong, and when I’m wrong, I say I’m wrong (a line delivered by Broadway icon Jerry Orbach in the movie “Dirty Dancing”). Eichenberg has turned out to be an incredibly consistent and productive presence in the middle of the Buckeye defense.
He is a throwback to a different breed of LB, much like “Some Like It Hot” is a different breed of musical that we don’t see much of these days.
Unlike all of these pretty contrived Ohio State-Best Musical connections, there are actually two shows with nominations that have direct ties to Ohio State. The first is... “The Ohio State Murders.” It is a fictional story written by now-91-year-old Theatre Hall of Famer Adrienne Kennedy who just so happens to be an Ohio State alum. The harrowing story takes place on and around Ohio State’s campus in the 1950s. Six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for her turn in the show.
The other play that features our fair school is “Summer, 1976.” Written by Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn, the show takes place in the summer of America’s Bicentennial in Columbus when two very different women become unlikely friends. One of them, played by four-time Emmy winner Laura Linney is an art professor at Ohio State. Her costar in the two-hander, Jessica Hecht is nominated in the same category as McDonald.
Fortunately for you, you aren’t going to have to worry about which actress from a play set in Columbus to root for in that category, because neither of them is going to win. The person taking home the trophy will either be Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain for “A Doll’s House,” or Emmy-winner Jodie Comer for “Prima Facie.”
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LGHL You’re Nuts: Way-too-early picks for Big Ten men’s basketball champion
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You’re Nuts: Way-too-early picks for Big Ten men’s basketball champion
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Certainly, this isn’t the kiss of death for both teams next season!
After taking a week off so Connor could go travel to the Great North (Canada), the Bucketheads are back.
Since it has been two weeks, here is a refresher on the last topic we debated.
In honor of the theme from two weeks ago, unpopular opinions, the guys debated their unpopular opinions of the NCAA tournament. Justin argued that upsets hurt the overall tournament from a viewing perspective and Connor argued that it is not as important as the fans make it out to be.
Justin won with 69% (nice) of the vote. This week, we are dipping our toes into the way-too-early predictions territory.
Here are the updated standings after 100-plus weeks of doing this:
Justin- 46
Here is this week’s topic.
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Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK
After winning the Big Ten by three whole games last year (they went 15-5, the next best team was 12-8) and returning the National Player of the Year, Purdue deserves the benefit of the doubt heading into the 2023-2024 season.
Yes, I know they lost to a 16-seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. But this is not an argument about which Big Ten team is going to go the furthest in the dance, it’s about which Big Ten team is going to be the best in the conference. The minute Edey confirmed that he’d be returning, Purdue became the favorite. In fact, they’re not only the betting favorite to win the conference, they also have the second-best odds to win the national championship at +1200, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. ‘
There’s just no game plan that can be drawn up to stop Edey, especially over the course of a 20-game conference schedule. He’s 7-foot-4 and 290 pounds — nobody has a player who can stand up to him. Even if you are able to throw a defender at him that makes things even a little bit difficult, he also averaged 5.5 (!!) offensive rebounds per game — that was second in the country. So even if you somehow force a miss on one of Edey’s layups, there’s over a 33% chance he’s grabbing his own miss and you have to stop him a second time.
The players around Edey were solid but unspectacular. Braden Smith shot the ball at a high percentage but didn’t take many shots. Fletcher Loyer was the opposite, shooting even when it might be ill-advised at times. He averaged 11 PPG as a freshman, although that was on just 36% shooting. He needs to improve on his efficiency.
Guys like Caleb Furst and Trey Kaufmann-Renn should get a bit better, but to be honest they don’t need to get a whole lot better. The Boilermakers went 15-5 last season in the Big Ten with Edey and a bunch of supplementary players last season — if the younger guys improve even a little bit that only means Purdue’s trajectory would go higher than that 15-5.
I watched Edey gobble up the Buckeyes in person last year — twice. Now, he and his teammates have sat at home all summer long, listening/reading/watching people laugh at them for losing to a 16-seed. I’ll buy into the comeback plotline with this team, for sure.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24713218/usa_today_20792552.jpg "Syndication: Detroit Free Press")
Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK
Michigan State to me is very simple. They are bringing back three guards that can all be First Team All-Conference this upcoming season and they have one of the best recruiting classes in the country.
Let’s start with the guards. A.J. Hoggard, Tyson Walker, and Jaden Akins have all announced they will return to East Lansing for another season. Hoggard and Akins declared for the NBA draft but both decided to return to East Lansing. They were three of the four top scorers for the Spartans last season, with Walker leading the way at 14.8 points per game. Hoggard averaged 12.9 points per game and Akins averaged 9.8 points per game,
Akins will likely take one of the largest steps of anyone in the conference. He is incredibly talented on offense and with the loss of Joey Hauser, Akins will likely be looked at to take the next step.
As for the recruiting class, Xavier Booker is one of the best recruits in the entire class and can be a day-one starter at forward for Tom Izzo. Jeremy Fears will be able to learn behind three incredible guards for his first season and then be ready to take over the reins. Coen Carr is one of the freakiest athletes of the past decade to enter the conference and can also play defense at a high level. Gehrig Normand is a spot-up shooter that can score at all three levels as well.
The biggest question mark for the Spartans is at the center position, but with Mady Sissoko, Jaxon Kohler, and Carson Cooper all returning and Xavier Booker coming in, they should be able to take the next step in their development.
Michigan State will likely be a one or a two-seed in the NCAA tournament and this could be one of Izzo’s most talented teams since the Cassius Winston and Nick Ward era. And I think they are going to win the Big Ten.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Certainly, this isn’t the kiss of death for both teams next season!
After taking a week off so Connor could go travel to the Great North (Canada), the Bucketheads are back.
Since it has been two weeks, here is a refresher on the last topic we debated.
In honor of the theme from two weeks ago, unpopular opinions, the guys debated their unpopular opinions of the NCAA tournament. Justin argued that upsets hurt the overall tournament from a viewing perspective and Connor argued that it is not as important as the fans make it out to be.
Justin won with 69% (nice) of the vote. This week, we are dipping our toes into the way-too-early predictions territory.
Here are the updated standings after 100-plus weeks of doing this:
After 103 weeks:
Justin- 46
Connor- 42
Other- 11
(There have been four ties)
Here is this week’s topic.
Today’s Question: Way-too-early picks for Big Ten men’s basketball champion
Connor: Purdue
After winning the Big Ten by three whole games last year (they went 15-5, the next best team was 12-8) and returning the National Player of the Year, Purdue deserves the benefit of the doubt heading into the 2023-2024 season.
Yes, I know they lost to a 16-seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. But this is not an argument about which Big Ten team is going to go the furthest in the dance, it’s about which Big Ten team is going to be the best in the conference. The minute Edey confirmed that he’d be returning, Purdue became the favorite. In fact, they’re not only the betting favorite to win the conference, they also have the second-best odds to win the national championship at +1200, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. ‘
There’s just no game plan that can be drawn up to stop Edey, especially over the course of a 20-game conference schedule. He’s 7-foot-4 and 290 pounds — nobody has a player who can stand up to him. Even if you are able to throw a defender at him that makes things even a little bit difficult, he also averaged 5.5 (!!) offensive rebounds per game — that was second in the country. So even if you somehow force a miss on one of Edey’s layups, there’s over a 33% chance he’s grabbing his own miss and you have to stop him a second time.
The players around Edey were solid but unspectacular. Braden Smith shot the ball at a high percentage but didn’t take many shots. Fletcher Loyer was the opposite, shooting even when it might be ill-advised at times. He averaged 11 PPG as a freshman, although that was on just 36% shooting. He needs to improve on his efficiency.
Guys like Caleb Furst and Trey Kaufmann-Renn should get a bit better, but to be honest they don’t need to get a whole lot better. The Boilermakers went 15-5 last season in the Big Ten with Edey and a bunch of supplementary players last season — if the younger guys improve even a little bit that only means Purdue’s trajectory would go higher than that 15-5.
I watched Edey gobble up the Buckeyes in person last year — twice. Now, he and his teammates have sat at home all summer long, listening/reading/watching people laugh at them for losing to a 16-seed. I’ll buy into the comeback plotline with this team, for sure.
Justin: Michigan State
Michigan State to me is very simple. They are bringing back three guards that can all be First Team All-Conference this upcoming season and they have one of the best recruiting classes in the country.
Let’s start with the guards. A.J. Hoggard, Tyson Walker, and Jaden Akins have all announced they will return to East Lansing for another season. Hoggard and Akins declared for the NBA draft but both decided to return to East Lansing. They were three of the four top scorers for the Spartans last season, with Walker leading the way at 14.8 points per game. Hoggard averaged 12.9 points per game and Akins averaged 9.8 points per game,
Akins will likely take one of the largest steps of anyone in the conference. He is incredibly talented on offense and with the loss of Joey Hauser, Akins will likely be looked at to take the next step.
As for the recruiting class, Xavier Booker is one of the best recruits in the entire class and can be a day-one starter at forward for Tom Izzo. Jeremy Fears will be able to learn behind three incredible guards for his first season and then be ready to take over the reins. Coen Carr is one of the freakiest athletes of the past decade to enter the conference and can also play defense at a high level. Gehrig Normand is a spot-up shooter that can score at all three levels as well.
The biggest question mark for the Spartans is at the center position, but with Mady Sissoko, Jaxon Kohler, and Carson Cooper all returning and Xavier Booker coming in, they should be able to take the next step in their development.
Michigan State will likely be a one or a two-seed in the NCAA tournament and this could be one of Izzo’s most talented teams since the Cassius Winston and Nick Ward era. And I think they are going to win the Big Ten.
Continue reading...
LGHL ‘What If’ Maurice Clarett had played for Ohio State in 2003 & 2004?
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‘What If’ Maurice Clarett had played for Ohio State in 2003 & 2004?
CMinnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
SetNumber: X67450
Maurice Clarett’s play in 2002 feft Ohio State fans wanting more.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about asking “What If?”. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”What If?” articles here.
I believe that most of us have heard the quote, “A picture is worth a thousand words...” It is with that quote in mind that I ask you to look back at the picture of Maurice Clarett for this article, as it shows Clarett in action in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, versus the Miami Hurricanes, for the national championship.
For those of you who did not have the privilege of seeing Maurice Clarett play for Ohio State in 2002, do yourselves a favor, and watch the video clip I have included below. Trust me when I write that the video will not do Maurice Clarett justice, as he was dominant from his very first game against Texas Tech in 2002. Battling injuries throughout the season, Clarett was the focal point of the Ohio State offense in 2002.
It is not a still photo, but perhaps a better image of Clarett is the video demonstrates how dominant Clarett was in 2002, how everything fell apart for him, and how he is living a fulfilling and positive lifestyle today. I would like to publicly state that I have had an opportunity to hear Clarett speak about his previous troubles, how he has turned his life around, and I am so happy that he is inspiring others. He truly seemed to be at peace when I had the opportunity to meet him and briefly speak with him.
The 2003 Ohio State team (11-2, finished 4th in the final AP Poll) and 2004 Ohio State team (8-4, finished 20th in the final AP Poll) were good teams, but as it was stated in the video “There’s no 2002 Ohio State national champion without Maurice Clarett...” Clarett’s absence from the 2003 and 2004 Ohio State teams was evident and impactful. Ohio State won the Fiesta Bowl versus Kansas State after the 2003 season, and won the Alamo Bowl versus Oklahoma State after the 2004 season, but the running game was just not the same without Maurice Clarett in the backfield.
For example, the leading rushers for Ohio State in 2003 and 2004 were Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall. Ross ran for 1,301 yards over those two seasons (826 yards, 10 touchdowns in 2003; 475 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2004), while Hall ran for 532 yards (316 yards, 1 touchdown in 2003; 216 yards and 1 touchdown in 2004). Antonio Pittman was a true freshman in 2004, and contributed with 381 yards rushing and 1 touchdown. By comparison, Clarett had rushed for 1,237 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2002 as a true freshman.
Without Maurice Clarett in the backfield, Ohio State used the running back by committee approach as best they could in those two seasons. Think about some of the games that Maurice Clarett could have positively impacted if he had been playing for Ohio State...
09/13/2003 - Ohio State 44, North Carolina State 38: Mrs. Minnich and I were in the stands for this triple-overtime winner over the Wolfpack. Maurice Hall and Lydell Ross combined stats for this game - 17 carries for 3 yards, with 1 touchdown by Lydell Ross. Does anyone think Clarett may have been able to get more than three yards in this game?
10/11/2003 - Wisconsin 17, Ohio State 10: The first cut is the deepest, as this was Ohio State’s first loss since the 2002 Outback Bowl loss to South Carolina (31-28). Lydell Ross, Maurice Hall, and Brandon Schnittker combined for 15 carries for 50 yards, and no touchdowns. Does anyone think Clarett may have been able to help Ohio State run the ball better in that hostile, rainy environment of Camp Randall that night?
11/22/2003 - Michigan 35, Ohio State 21: Jim Tressel’s first loss to “That Team Up North”, as Ohio State is denied another opportunity to compete in The BCS Championship Game, and the Wolverines win The Big Ten and go to the Rose Bowl. Ohio State’s rushing stats in this game: Lydell Ross, Brandon Joe, and Maurice Hall combined for 14 carries for 31 yards, one touchdown.
The 2004 season was almost a mirror image of the challenges of the 2003 season, with the lowpoint being the 33-7 thrashing at Iowa on October 16th, 2004. Antonio Pittman carried the ball 7 times for 16 yards, while Lydell Ross carried 10 times for 0 yards. The only bright spot from that game was this was the emergence of quarterback Troy Smith into the Ohio State offense, for the remainder of the season.
Mrs. Minnich and I were at THE GAME on Nov. 20, 2004, and we thoroughly enjoyed the 37-21 victory. Branden Joe carried the ball 14 times for 52 yards; quarterback Troy Smith was electrifying as both a passer and runner for the Buckeyes in this game (completed 13 of 23 passes for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns, while adding 18 carries for 145 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground).
I recall being at my cousin John’s tailgate before the game, and as the name of Maurice Clarett came up, one of John’s friends made the statement, “Today should have been a celebration of Maurice Clarett. A thank you for his contributions...” As I reflect upon those 2003 and 2004 seasons, I cannot help but think of “What If” as it relates to Maurice Clarett.
Continue reading...
CMinnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
SetNumber: X67450
Maurice Clarett’s play in 2002 feft Ohio State fans wanting more.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about asking “What If?”. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”What If?” articles here.
I believe that most of us have heard the quote, “A picture is worth a thousand words...” It is with that quote in mind that I ask you to look back at the picture of Maurice Clarett for this article, as it shows Clarett in action in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, versus the Miami Hurricanes, for the national championship.
For those of you who did not have the privilege of seeing Maurice Clarett play for Ohio State in 2002, do yourselves a favor, and watch the video clip I have included below. Trust me when I write that the video will not do Maurice Clarett justice, as he was dominant from his very first game against Texas Tech in 2002. Battling injuries throughout the season, Clarett was the focal point of the Ohio State offense in 2002.
It is not a still photo, but perhaps a better image of Clarett is the video demonstrates how dominant Clarett was in 2002, how everything fell apart for him, and how he is living a fulfilling and positive lifestyle today. I would like to publicly state that I have had an opportunity to hear Clarett speak about his previous troubles, how he has turned his life around, and I am so happy that he is inspiring others. He truly seemed to be at peace when I had the opportunity to meet him and briefly speak with him.
The 2003 Ohio State team (11-2, finished 4th in the final AP Poll) and 2004 Ohio State team (8-4, finished 20th in the final AP Poll) were good teams, but as it was stated in the video “There’s no 2002 Ohio State national champion without Maurice Clarett...” Clarett’s absence from the 2003 and 2004 Ohio State teams was evident and impactful. Ohio State won the Fiesta Bowl versus Kansas State after the 2003 season, and won the Alamo Bowl versus Oklahoma State after the 2004 season, but the running game was just not the same without Maurice Clarett in the backfield.
For example, the leading rushers for Ohio State in 2003 and 2004 were Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall. Ross ran for 1,301 yards over those two seasons (826 yards, 10 touchdowns in 2003; 475 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2004), while Hall ran for 532 yards (316 yards, 1 touchdown in 2003; 216 yards and 1 touchdown in 2004). Antonio Pittman was a true freshman in 2004, and contributed with 381 yards rushing and 1 touchdown. By comparison, Clarett had rushed for 1,237 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2002 as a true freshman.
Without Maurice Clarett in the backfield, Ohio State used the running back by committee approach as best they could in those two seasons. Think about some of the games that Maurice Clarett could have positively impacted if he had been playing for Ohio State...
09/13/2003 - Ohio State 44, North Carolina State 38: Mrs. Minnich and I were in the stands for this triple-overtime winner over the Wolfpack. Maurice Hall and Lydell Ross combined stats for this game - 17 carries for 3 yards, with 1 touchdown by Lydell Ross. Does anyone think Clarett may have been able to get more than three yards in this game?
10/11/2003 - Wisconsin 17, Ohio State 10: The first cut is the deepest, as this was Ohio State’s first loss since the 2002 Outback Bowl loss to South Carolina (31-28). Lydell Ross, Maurice Hall, and Brandon Schnittker combined for 15 carries for 50 yards, and no touchdowns. Does anyone think Clarett may have been able to help Ohio State run the ball better in that hostile, rainy environment of Camp Randall that night?
11/22/2003 - Michigan 35, Ohio State 21: Jim Tressel’s first loss to “That Team Up North”, as Ohio State is denied another opportunity to compete in The BCS Championship Game, and the Wolverines win The Big Ten and go to the Rose Bowl. Ohio State’s rushing stats in this game: Lydell Ross, Brandon Joe, and Maurice Hall combined for 14 carries for 31 yards, one touchdown.
The 2004 season was almost a mirror image of the challenges of the 2003 season, with the lowpoint being the 33-7 thrashing at Iowa on October 16th, 2004. Antonio Pittman carried the ball 7 times for 16 yards, while Lydell Ross carried 10 times for 0 yards. The only bright spot from that game was this was the emergence of quarterback Troy Smith into the Ohio State offense, for the remainder of the season.
Mrs. Minnich and I were at THE GAME on Nov. 20, 2004, and we thoroughly enjoyed the 37-21 victory. Branden Joe carried the ball 14 times for 52 yards; quarterback Troy Smith was electrifying as both a passer and runner for the Buckeyes in this game (completed 13 of 23 passes for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns, while adding 18 carries for 145 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground).
I recall being at my cousin John’s tailgate before the game, and as the name of Maurice Clarett came up, one of John’s friends made the statement, “Today should have been a celebration of Maurice Clarett. A thank you for his contributions...” As I reflect upon those 2003 and 2004 seasons, I cannot help but think of “What If” as it relates to Maurice Clarett.
Continue reading...
