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LGHL Former Buckeye and current NBA Western Conference finalist D’Angelo Russell continues to excite, frustrate, entertain, and perplex at the highest leve
- News
- 0 Replies
Former Buckeye and current NBA Western Conference finalist D’Angelo Russell continues to excite, frustrate, entertain, and perplex at the highest level
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Bouncing back and forth between role player and borderline star, DLo can be a walking contradiction on the basketball court.
First and foremost, I hope that my headline did not come across too harshly. As an Ohio State fan(atic), I have always rooted for and often enjoyed watching D’Angelo Russell play basketball. I have enjoyed watching him play in Columbus, Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Oakland, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles again... And those are just cities in which he has played NCAA and/or NBA home games.
Which is sort of the deal with DLo, right? Often productive and fun to watch, but rarely part of his current team’s long-term plans.
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Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
And that is because as talented as Russell is, as enticing and exciting as his shooting stroke, handles, and slick passes are... He also possesses an innate ability to drive coaches and teammates up a wall with his consistent inconsistency. In other words, DLo giveth and DLo taketh away. The 2023 NBA playoffs have been a perfect example.
Just over a week ago, with his Los Angeles Lakers tied 1-1 (games) in a series with the Golden State Warriors, Russell came out firing in a pivotal Game 3. He torched the twine for 21 points in the first half, going 8-of-12 from the field and also adding four assists. He led all players in first-half scoring and helped the Lakers establish a double-digit lead, which then turned into a second-half blowout.
DLo may have been on his way to earning Player of the Game honors, but then proceeded to go scoreless after halftime while adding just one assist and turning the ball over three times. He also sort of trashed one of his former teams, the Minnesota Timberwolves, after the game and took little responsibility for how things ended there.
Now, it should be noted that LA held a massive lead throughout the second half of that game (3), and Russell’s services were not exactly needed (nine minutes played). But then in Game 4 of the same series, DLo was arguably as bad and inefficient as he has ever been. In 31 minutes played, the former Buckeye scored four points on just 1-of-10 shooting. He “added” four rebounds and three assists but was the only Lakers guard to finish with a negative on/off split. The Lakers narrowly defeated the Warriors, no thanks to their starting point guard.
To be fair, Russell’s poor performance did not negatively impact the outcome of the game or series. And he is now getting ready to suit up in the NBA’s Western Conference Finals. But Games 3 and 4 were indicative of how he can greatly impact a game — for better or worse.
In Round 1 of the Western Conference Playoffs, DLo averaged 16.7 points per game against the Memphis Grizzlies but combined for 16 in the Lakers’ two losses. Conversely, he averaged 25 in the team’s two blowout wins. DLo given and DLo taketh away, sometimes in an every-other-game pattern. And that is why I describe(d) his inconsistency as being consistent, as well as absolutely maddening.
Maddening, because Russell is a rare talent. And when he is “on”, he is an absolute joy to watch. Few true point guards can dribble, pass, shoot, and post up (total package) as well as DLo can — and does, skillfully, when his motor is running hot. His defense is nothing to write home about, but on the offensive end, there is nothing Mr. Ice In My Veins is incapable of. You want 30? He can get you 30+ on occasion... or 40+ (four times)... or 50+ (once). He also has 52 career double-doubles and 33 games of 10+ assists, according to StatMuse.
Despite his natural talent and proven ability to perform at an All-Star level (2018-19 in Brooklyn), Russell has been traded four times in eight seasons. And he will likely be searching for yet another team once this current Lakers run comes to an end, whenever that may be.
But who knows, perhaps DLo goes on to perform well in the NBA Finals, earns the Finals MVP award, signs a big extension with LA, and the narrative around him changes. As much as I might be rooting for such a scenario, Russell’s pre-2023 playoff stats (15.4 PPG on 35% shooting) and performances like the Game 4 debacle give me serious doubt.
So what is the purpose of this piece, then? To piss and moan about a guy who played for the Buckeyes nearly a decade ago now? Well no, and I hope it is not perceived as some personal attack. I love watching “good” DLo play basketball. I hope that he becomes more consistent and eventually reaches his ceiling, which I don’t think he has even approached yet. Sure, he averaged 20+ PPG from 2018-2020, but 25 (and 8 or 9 assists) is not out of the question. Not for a player with his skill(s) and talent.
I also hope that he finds the right situation, as both a person and a basketball player. Russell has been an odd team fit and/or played under some less-than-desirable circumstances during his well-traveled career, but he is still just 27 years old. And we have seen great, HOF-worthy point guards peak much later in their career(s). Chauncey Billups, Steve Nash, and another former Buckeye, Mike Conley come to mind. So there is plenty of time for DLo to make additional All-Star teams, All-NBA teams, represent his country in the Summer Olympics, and so on.
I guess I have no right to be frustrated or bothered by a player’s career. I’m a fan, I’m nobody. However, I did not write this out of frustration — I wrote it as a fan. A fan who has been somewhat underwhelmed by the smooth lefty’s professional career thus far. But hopefully there will be many prosperous years ahead for DLo, and I look forward to the day when he is running the show like he so often did in Columbus.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Bouncing back and forth between role player and borderline star, DLo can be a walking contradiction on the basketball court.
First and foremost, I hope that my headline did not come across too harshly. As an Ohio State fan(atic), I have always rooted for and often enjoyed watching D’Angelo Russell play basketball. I have enjoyed watching him play in Columbus, Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Oakland, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles again... And those are just cities in which he has played NCAA and/or NBA home games.
Which is sort of the deal with DLo, right? Often productive and fun to watch, but rarely part of his current team’s long-term plans.
And that is because as talented as Russell is, as enticing and exciting as his shooting stroke, handles, and slick passes are... He also possesses an innate ability to drive coaches and teammates up a wall with his consistent inconsistency. In other words, DLo giveth and DLo taketh away. The 2023 NBA playoffs have been a perfect example.
Just over a week ago, with his Los Angeles Lakers tied 1-1 (games) in a series with the Golden State Warriors, Russell came out firing in a pivotal Game 3. He torched the twine for 21 points in the first half, going 8-of-12 from the field and also adding four assists. He led all players in first-half scoring and helped the Lakers establish a double-digit lead, which then turned into a second-half blowout.
DLo may have been on his way to earning Player of the Game honors, but then proceeded to go scoreless after halftime while adding just one assist and turning the ball over three times. He also sort of trashed one of his former teams, the Minnesota Timberwolves, after the game and took little responsibility for how things ended there.
Now, it should be noted that LA held a massive lead throughout the second half of that game (3), and Russell’s services were not exactly needed (nine minutes played). But then in Game 4 of the same series, DLo was arguably as bad and inefficient as he has ever been. In 31 minutes played, the former Buckeye scored four points on just 1-of-10 shooting. He “added” four rebounds and three assists but was the only Lakers guard to finish with a negative on/off split. The Lakers narrowly defeated the Warriors, no thanks to their starting point guard.
To be fair, Russell’s poor performance did not negatively impact the outcome of the game or series. And he is now getting ready to suit up in the NBA’s Western Conference Finals. But Games 3 and 4 were indicative of how he can greatly impact a game — for better or worse.
In Round 1 of the Western Conference Playoffs, DLo averaged 16.7 points per game against the Memphis Grizzlies but combined for 16 in the Lakers’ two losses. Conversely, he averaged 25 in the team’s two blowout wins. DLo given and DLo taketh away, sometimes in an every-other-game pattern. And that is why I describe(d) his inconsistency as being consistent, as well as absolutely maddening.
Maddening, because Russell is a rare talent. And when he is “on”, he is an absolute joy to watch. Few true point guards can dribble, pass, shoot, and post up (total package) as well as DLo can — and does, skillfully, when his motor is running hot. His defense is nothing to write home about, but on the offensive end, there is nothing Mr. Ice In My Veins is incapable of. You want 30? He can get you 30+ on occasion... or 40+ (four times)... or 50+ (once). He also has 52 career double-doubles and 33 games of 10+ assists, according to StatMuse.
Despite his natural talent and proven ability to perform at an All-Star level (2018-19 in Brooklyn), Russell has been traded four times in eight seasons. And he will likely be searching for yet another team once this current Lakers run comes to an end, whenever that may be.
But who knows, perhaps DLo goes on to perform well in the NBA Finals, earns the Finals MVP award, signs a big extension with LA, and the narrative around him changes. As much as I might be rooting for such a scenario, Russell’s pre-2023 playoff stats (15.4 PPG on 35% shooting) and performances like the Game 4 debacle give me serious doubt.
So what is the purpose of this piece, then? To piss and moan about a guy who played for the Buckeyes nearly a decade ago now? Well no, and I hope it is not perceived as some personal attack. I love watching “good” DLo play basketball. I hope that he becomes more consistent and eventually reaches his ceiling, which I don’t think he has even approached yet. Sure, he averaged 20+ PPG from 2018-2020, but 25 (and 8 or 9 assists) is not out of the question. Not for a player with his skill(s) and talent.
I also hope that he finds the right situation, as both a person and a basketball player. Russell has been an odd team fit and/or played under some less-than-desirable circumstances during his well-traveled career, but he is still just 27 years old. And we have seen great, HOF-worthy point guards peak much later in their career(s). Chauncey Billups, Steve Nash, and another former Buckeye, Mike Conley come to mind. So there is plenty of time for DLo to make additional All-Star teams, All-NBA teams, represent his country in the Summer Olympics, and so on.
I guess I have no right to be frustrated or bothered by a player’s career. I’m a fan, I’m nobody. However, I did not write this out of frustration — I wrote it as a fan. A fan who has been somewhat underwhelmed by the smooth lefty’s professional career thus far. But hopefully there will be many prosperous years ahead for DLo, and I look forward to the day when he is running the show like he so often did in Columbus.
Continue reading...
TE Nate Roberts (Official Thread)
- By pnuts34
- Buckeye Football
- 71 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2025
School: Washington(OK) Washington
Position: TE
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 230lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2025
School: Washington(OK) Washington
Position: TE
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 230lbs
Login to view embedded media
LGHL If I Was in Charge: My first 90 days as the Big Ten Commissioner
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If I Was in Charge: My first 90 days as the Big Ten Commissioner
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
I have been handed the keys to the Big Ten conference, and I outline my five-step action plan for my first 90 days in charge.
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 about what we would do if we were in charge of our favorite position group, team, conference, or sport. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our “If I Was in Charge” articles here.
Hi, my name is Jordan Williams, and I am the new commissioner for the Big Ten Conference. As the new headman in charge, I hope to uphold the great history of our conference while ushering it into a new era. Now more than ever it’s important to put our conference, coaches, and players in the best position to succeed. I believe that I am the man for this job.
Throughout history, one of the biggest complaints about the Big Ten is its lack of transparency. In response, I am publicly announcing my platform and my goals for my first 90 days on the job. I fully intend to hit the ground running, as there is no time to waste. Some of these goals I believe can be implemented almost immediately, and others will take time.
But with these five goals, the Big Ten will take its place as the best conference in college sports and bring more championships to all of our members.
Starting in 2024, the Big Ten will be adding UCLA and USC to the conference. As a result, we will be implementing a new scheduling model and getting rid of divisions. Everyone knows this including myself, yet the conference has dragged its feet finalizing the scheduling model and announcing it to the fans. My first move as commissioner is to make sure this is finalized as soon as possible so our fans do not have to sit and wonder what the conference will look like in 2024 and beyond.
It’s simple. We will use a 3-6-6 scheduling model, where each team will have three semi-permanent opponents and play the other 12 teams twice every four years. Aside from certain rivalries such as Ohio State and Michigan, these semi-permanent opponents can rotate every four years.
The Big Ten is a historic conference with a lot of rivalries, there is no way to keep every rivalry but allowing the semi-permanent opponents to rotate would allow every major rivalry to play every year and secondary rivalries such as Ohio State and Penn State to play six times in eight years. This is a no-brainer. The work has already been done, and I will make sure it’s final and announced as soon as possible.
One of the biggest issues in college football is the employment status — or lack thereof — of college athletes. Most old-school college fans and administrators are vehemently against paying college athletes, while many of our younger fans and players think we should pay them. With Name, Image and Likeness at the forefront of college football, I believe it should be used at a conference level to support players without making them employees. There are a lot of ways to facilitate this, but I propose tying it to end-of-season awards.
Similar to the Heisman Trust, end-of-season awards would come with a check — let’s say $5,000-$50,000 depending on the award. This would be eligible for all sponsored sports, men’s and women’s, and would be a consistent and fair way to put money in players’ pockets.
For example, a player like Caitlyn Clark, who was First Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Player of the Year, unanimous All-American, and won multiple basketball player of the year awards would be paid a set number for each award she won. National awards and player of the year awards would bring in the most money, but all players would be eligible for these awards and subsequent NIL payment.
This would be the start, but it could be added to. For example, players of the year for each sport could get a year-long NIL appointment with the conference, where they make money for appearing in Big Ten commercials and Big Ten events around the country. These players are at the top of their sport and bring great recognition to the conference and should be awarded for that.
The majority of benefits are for the players, as it should be, but it would be a huge recruiting tool for the conference too. Coaches would be able to tell top players that not only can they make NIL money from their school’s NIL fund, but they also make money from your conference for being elected to conference teams and winning conference or national awards. That would set the Big Ten apart from every other conference and would be a huge benefit to our players.
The Big 12 conference has created a conference combine that all schools will attend instead of hosting individual pro days. This is a great idea for many reasons. NFL scouts are super busy and they have a super tight schedule. While they will always make the time to see Ohio State or Michigan, schools like Northwestern or Minnesota or Rutgers may not get as big of a contingent, causing players to miss a chance to perform in front of NFL teams. This would be huge for all players involved, which is why I think they should borrow this concept.
I plan to take this one step further. While it is the Big Ten combine, I hope in the future to combine it with the Mid-American Conference. The MAC shares the same footprint as us, and we already have informal agreements in place including scheduling. This would be a way to make a formal partnership and allow more exposure for MAC athletes who may not get any NFL teams to their pro days.
This would be a positive for everyone involved, but most importantly our athletes.
With the new 12-team College Football Playoffs, it has been approved for first-round match-ups to be played on campus. That is great for those schools, but it has no benefit to the four schools who worked the hardest to achieve first-round byes. The first week of the playoffs consists of seeds No. 5-12 playing each other with the higher-seeded team hosting. In what way does it make sense for the top four seeds to not have that same privilege?
Having the first two rounds on campus is best for everyone. It creates more money for the schools, it allows fans another chance to watch their teams, which also creates a better atmosphere for the players. Currently, you’d be asking an OSU, Bama, or Georgia fan to travel for three-straight weeks to neutral sight games to watch their teams play. That is unfair to the fans and to the players.
College football is the best because of its stadiums, and its fans. Someone needs to fight for this and I plan to lead the charge.
This is my most ambitious plan, and also the one least likely to be approved. Throughout the history of college conferences, a program has never been kicked out of its respective conference. On top of this, is the fact that the Big Ten wants the New York, New Jersey, and DC markets. This is why they added Maryland and Rutgers, and although television markets no longer matter, the conference will be hard-pressed to give that up.
Lastly, contrary to public belief, conferences are not just about sports. The Big Ten specifically has a lot of academic entities based around the conference, and Rutgers is one of the largest and best academic schools in the nation. For all these reasons, this is probably going to get shut down, but let’s pretend the conference is logical and discuss why I plan to relegate Maryland and Rutgers and replace them with Oregon and Washington.
First, I believe that 16 teams is the perfect size for a football conference. It is the last number that fits easily into a 12-game season with nine conference games. Any other number would require scheduling gymnastics and would be a logistical nightmare. So if you only want 16 teams but want to make the conference better, you need to get rid of the weaker members.
So why Rutgers and Maryland? Well simply they’re on the east coast and we’re moving out west. Also, they have not acclimated to the conference well and bring no inherent value outside of TV markets. In almost 10 years in the conference, they haven’t developed a natural rival outside themselves, and honestly no one would miss them as conference members. Lastly, they’re the most recent additions, and while if we were being fair Northwestern might be on this list, Northwestern has been a member since the conference founding in 1896.
The case for Oregon and Washington is simple. It gives you four teams out west, which in a 3-6-6 scheduling model allows you to have a western/former Pac-12 pod with traditional rivalries, and it helps with the travel and scheduling issues. USC has not made the playoffs since its inception, but Oklahoma under Lincoln Riley has and USC is just new age OU, meaning they’ll make it as soon as the 2023 season but especially in 2024 with a 12-team playoff.
Oregon and Washington have both made the playoffs and are routinely two of the best programs in the Pac-12. UCLA, while not a football giant is already in the conference and was a package deal with USC so no need to relitigate that decision. With the addition of Oregon and Washington that would bring the Big Ten to seven teams. Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, USC, Washington, and Wisconsin who could routinely compete to be in a 12-team playoff. That’s seven yearly bites at the apple to bring back a championship, multiple championships to the conference.
It makes us stronger in every sport, not just football and it eases some travel concerns. There is nothing that Maryland and Rutgers are giving us that we would not get from Oregon and Washington. Plus, it would be one of the few moves that can make the conference more money. This is the best move the conference could make getting rid of some dead weight and bringing in instant contenders.
Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
I have been handed the keys to the Big Ten conference, and I outline my five-step action plan for my first 90 days in charge.
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 about what we would do if we were in charge of our favorite position group, team, conference, or sport. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our “If I Was in Charge” articles here.
Hi, my name is Jordan Williams, and I am the new commissioner for the Big Ten Conference. As the new headman in charge, I hope to uphold the great history of our conference while ushering it into a new era. Now more than ever it’s important to put our conference, coaches, and players in the best position to succeed. I believe that I am the man for this job.
Throughout history, one of the biggest complaints about the Big Ten is its lack of transparency. In response, I am publicly announcing my platform and my goals for my first 90 days on the job. I fully intend to hit the ground running, as there is no time to waste. Some of these goals I believe can be implemented almost immediately, and others will take time.
But with these five goals, the Big Ten will take its place as the best conference in college sports and bring more championships to all of our members.
My five-step action plan for my first 90 days:
- Decide on the scheduling format
- Create a Big Ten NIL Fund
- Create a Big Ten Combine
- Advocate for quarterfinal playoff games to be on campus
- Relegate Maryland & Rutgers, add Oregon and Washington
Decide on the scheduling format and announce it
Starting in 2024, the Big Ten will be adding UCLA and USC to the conference. As a result, we will be implementing a new scheduling model and getting rid of divisions. Everyone knows this including myself, yet the conference has dragged its feet finalizing the scheduling model and announcing it to the fans. My first move as commissioner is to make sure this is finalized as soon as possible so our fans do not have to sit and wonder what the conference will look like in 2024 and beyond.
It’s simple. We will use a 3-6-6 scheduling model, where each team will have three semi-permanent opponents and play the other 12 teams twice every four years. Aside from certain rivalries such as Ohio State and Michigan, these semi-permanent opponents can rotate every four years.
The Big Ten is a historic conference with a lot of rivalries, there is no way to keep every rivalry but allowing the semi-permanent opponents to rotate would allow every major rivalry to play every year and secondary rivalries such as Ohio State and Penn State to play six times in eight years. This is a no-brainer. The work has already been done, and I will make sure it’s final and announced as soon as possible.
Create a Big Ten NIL Fund
One of the biggest issues in college football is the employment status — or lack thereof — of college athletes. Most old-school college fans and administrators are vehemently against paying college athletes, while many of our younger fans and players think we should pay them. With Name, Image and Likeness at the forefront of college football, I believe it should be used at a conference level to support players without making them employees. There are a lot of ways to facilitate this, but I propose tying it to end-of-season awards.
Similar to the Heisman Trust, end-of-season awards would come with a check — let’s say $5,000-$50,000 depending on the award. This would be eligible for all sponsored sports, men’s and women’s, and would be a consistent and fair way to put money in players’ pockets.
For example, a player like Caitlyn Clark, who was First Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Player of the Year, unanimous All-American, and won multiple basketball player of the year awards would be paid a set number for each award she won. National awards and player of the year awards would bring in the most money, but all players would be eligible for these awards and subsequent NIL payment.
This would be the start, but it could be added to. For example, players of the year for each sport could get a year-long NIL appointment with the conference, where they make money for appearing in Big Ten commercials and Big Ten events around the country. These players are at the top of their sport and bring great recognition to the conference and should be awarded for that.
The majority of benefits are for the players, as it should be, but it would be a huge recruiting tool for the conference too. Coaches would be able to tell top players that not only can they make NIL money from their school’s NIL fund, but they also make money from your conference for being elected to conference teams and winning conference or national awards. That would set the Big Ten apart from every other conference and would be a huge benefit to our players.
Create a Big Ten Combine
The Big 12 conference has created a conference combine that all schools will attend instead of hosting individual pro days. This is a great idea for many reasons. NFL scouts are super busy and they have a super tight schedule. While they will always make the time to see Ohio State or Michigan, schools like Northwestern or Minnesota or Rutgers may not get as big of a contingent, causing players to miss a chance to perform in front of NFL teams. This would be huge for all players involved, which is why I think they should borrow this concept.
I plan to take this one step further. While it is the Big Ten combine, I hope in the future to combine it with the Mid-American Conference. The MAC shares the same footprint as us, and we already have informal agreements in place including scheduling. This would be a way to make a formal partnership and allow more exposure for MAC athletes who may not get any NFL teams to their pro days.
This would be a positive for everyone involved, but most importantly our athletes.
Advocate for Quarterfinal playoff games to be on campus
With the new 12-team College Football Playoffs, it has been approved for first-round match-ups to be played on campus. That is great for those schools, but it has no benefit to the four schools who worked the hardest to achieve first-round byes. The first week of the playoffs consists of seeds No. 5-12 playing each other with the higher-seeded team hosting. In what way does it make sense for the top four seeds to not have that same privilege?
Having the first two rounds on campus is best for everyone. It creates more money for the schools, it allows fans another chance to watch their teams, which also creates a better atmosphere for the players. Currently, you’d be asking an OSU, Bama, or Georgia fan to travel for three-straight weeks to neutral sight games to watch their teams play. That is unfair to the fans and to the players.
College football is the best because of its stadiums, and its fans. Someone needs to fight for this and I plan to lead the charge.
Relegate Maryland & Rutgers, Add Oregon and Washington
This is my most ambitious plan, and also the one least likely to be approved. Throughout the history of college conferences, a program has never been kicked out of its respective conference. On top of this, is the fact that the Big Ten wants the New York, New Jersey, and DC markets. This is why they added Maryland and Rutgers, and although television markets no longer matter, the conference will be hard-pressed to give that up.
Lastly, contrary to public belief, conferences are not just about sports. The Big Ten specifically has a lot of academic entities based around the conference, and Rutgers is one of the largest and best academic schools in the nation. For all these reasons, this is probably going to get shut down, but let’s pretend the conference is logical and discuss why I plan to relegate Maryland and Rutgers and replace them with Oregon and Washington.
First, I believe that 16 teams is the perfect size for a football conference. It is the last number that fits easily into a 12-game season with nine conference games. Any other number would require scheduling gymnastics and would be a logistical nightmare. So if you only want 16 teams but want to make the conference better, you need to get rid of the weaker members.
So why Rutgers and Maryland? Well simply they’re on the east coast and we’re moving out west. Also, they have not acclimated to the conference well and bring no inherent value outside of TV markets. In almost 10 years in the conference, they haven’t developed a natural rival outside themselves, and honestly no one would miss them as conference members. Lastly, they’re the most recent additions, and while if we were being fair Northwestern might be on this list, Northwestern has been a member since the conference founding in 1896.
The case for Oregon and Washington is simple. It gives you four teams out west, which in a 3-6-6 scheduling model allows you to have a western/former Pac-12 pod with traditional rivalries, and it helps with the travel and scheduling issues. USC has not made the playoffs since its inception, but Oklahoma under Lincoln Riley has and USC is just new age OU, meaning they’ll make it as soon as the 2023 season but especially in 2024 with a 12-team playoff.
Oregon and Washington have both made the playoffs and are routinely two of the best programs in the Pac-12. UCLA, while not a football giant is already in the conference and was a package deal with USC so no need to relitigate that decision. With the addition of Oregon and Washington that would bring the Big Ten to seven teams. Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, USC, Washington, and Wisconsin who could routinely compete to be in a 12-team playoff. That’s seven yearly bites at the apple to bring back a championship, multiple championships to the conference.
It makes us stronger in every sport, not just football and it eases some travel concerns. There is nothing that Maryland and Rutgers are giving us that we would not get from Oregon and Washington. Plus, it would be one of the few moves that can make the conference more money. This is the best move the conference could make getting rid of some dead weight and bringing in instant contenders.
Continue reading...
LGHL I-70 Football Podcast: What we would do if we were in Charge of the Big Ten
- News
- 0 Replies
I-70 Football Podcast: What we would do if we were in Charge of the Big Ten
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After a long break, the guys are back to discuss the NFL Draft, NBA Playoffs, and what they would do if they were in charge of the Big Ten
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 about what we would do if we were in charge of our favorite position group, team, conference, or sport. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our “If I Was in Charge” articles here.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s I-70 Podcast. On this show, we talk about all things Big Ten football and basketball. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
The 2023 NFL Draft has come and gone, and the Big Ten had a great showing. Led by CJ Stroud at No. 2 to the Houston Texans, they tied the SEC with nine draft picks in the first round. They had 55 total draft picks, which was good for second behind the SEC. Stroud, Devon Witherspoon, and Paris Johnson Jr. all went in the top-10 picks, with Peter Skoronski and Lukas Van Ness rounding out the top half of the draft at 11 and 13.
Jordan and Dante discuss which picks they liked and which picks surprised them before discussing Dane Bruglers 2024 Mock Draft which saw 13 Big Ten players taken in the first round. After discussing the Draft, the guys accept their roles as Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference.
Jordan has come up with a plan for the first 90 days, including officially announcing the scheduling format, and creating an NIL Fund and a conference combine. They also plan to advocate for quarter-final games on campuses. Lastly, they introduce relegation into college football kicking two teams out of the conference in favor of two programs that have made the playoffs before and provide a much better product to sell to fans and the TV networks.
Finally, the guys make NBA Playoff Picks. Jordan has Lakers and Heat in six, while Dante has Nuggets and Heat in six.
Connect with us on Twitter:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After a long break, the guys are back to discuss the NFL Draft, NBA Playoffs, and what they would do if they were in charge of the Big Ten
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 about what we would do if we were in charge of our favorite position group, team, conference, or sport. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our “If I Was in Charge” articles here.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s I-70 Podcast. On this show, we talk about all things Big Ten football and basketball. After every week of action, we will catch you up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players you should be paying attention to next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
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The 2023 NFL Draft has come and gone, and the Big Ten had a great showing. Led by CJ Stroud at No. 2 to the Houston Texans, they tied the SEC with nine draft picks in the first round. They had 55 total draft picks, which was good for second behind the SEC. Stroud, Devon Witherspoon, and Paris Johnson Jr. all went in the top-10 picks, with Peter Skoronski and Lukas Van Ness rounding out the top half of the draft at 11 and 13.
Jordan and Dante discuss which picks they liked and which picks surprised them before discussing Dane Bruglers 2024 Mock Draft which saw 13 Big Ten players taken in the first round. After discussing the Draft, the guys accept their roles as Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference.
Jordan has come up with a plan for the first 90 days, including officially announcing the scheduling format, and creating an NIL Fund and a conference combine. They also plan to advocate for quarter-final games on campuses. Lastly, they introduce relegation into college football kicking two teams out of the conference in favor of two programs that have made the playoffs before and provide a much better product to sell to fans and the TV networks.
Finally, the guys make NBA Playoff Picks. Jordan has Lakers and Heat in six, while Dante has Nuggets and Heat in six.
Connect with us on Twitter:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
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HudL
Class: 2025
Position: DT
School: Philadelphia(PA) St. Joseph’s Prep
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Weight: 265lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2025
Position: DT
School: Philadelphia(PA) St. Joseph’s Prep
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 265lbs
Login to view embedded media
