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LGHL Broken Records: Mark my words, Cade Stover is breaking the tight end single-season catch record
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Broken Records: Mark my words, Cade Stover is breaking the tight end single-season catch record
Chris Renne 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
This is the year. Stover will be the new single season receptions leader in Ohio State’s record book.
Under Ryan Day, Ohio State has run 12-personnel more than almost everybody in the country, and this means that there is and always will be a commitment to the tight end position. That commitment of getting tight ends on the field does not always translate to receiving production. This is to the frustration of the Buckeye faithful who immediately thought about the wasted potential of Jeremy Ruckert.
The year of the tight end at Ohio State is the offseason conversation that keeps on giving. Every single year, we debate if this will be the year in which the tight end goes from a valuable asset to an absolute weapon. If not this year, the talent in the room continues to be highly touted from a recruiting standpoint. With Keenan Bailey now the tight ends coach and Brian Hartline as the offensive coordinator, there could be a shift even further in using the tight end.
Cade Stover returns after an incredibly successful year at the position. There is no question there should be an expected slight jump in performance numbers. He would have even shattered the record last year had he remained healthy in the Georgia playoff matchup, but we’ll get to his season stats later. Year-in and year out, tight ends are often overlooked due to the talent around them. With all the other attention, this opens up opportunities.
For a tight end to finally shatter Rickey Dudley’s record, it is going to take a lot of fortune breaking their way in terms of play-calling and opportunity. However, this year is definitely the year it is going to happen.
Looking at the record set by Dudley in the 1995 season, I was still not alive and Dudley had just finished two years playing basketball at Ohio State under Randy Ayers and played one season under John Cooper. Like many all-time great tight ends before him, he made a choice to focus on the sport that would net him the most long-term success as an athlete.
In 1995, the athleticism returned for the all-time great Buckeye who showed that he could be a true difference maker in the passing game. In an offense that included Heisman Winner Eddie George and all-time great receiver Terry Glenn, there was still some shine that needed to go around. With the agility of a receiver, Dudley was third on the team in receptions behind two of the greatest players in Ohio State history.
The number of receptions setting the record was 37. This is not a gaudy number by any means, but it took a truly special talent to get there. Bobby Hoying was the quarterback at the time. He completed 211 passes, which was a lot for the era in which this record was set. In the more pass-oriented style of the modern game, there is no reason there are not enough completions to go around to get a new name in the record books.
The reason the record should fall this year is because the record should have fallen last year against Georgia. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes’ lead tight end Stover, he was upended and injured to the point of needing to go to the hospital for further evaluations with the diagnosis being a fracture in the back. His health is the most important thing, but there is no player who wanted to be on the field more for that playoff game than Stover.
Before the injury, Stover was at 36 catches on the season. Georgia had also failed to slow down Ohio State’s passing attack for much of the game. There were definitely two more catches in that game if Stover maintained his health. Joe Royer had one in the absence of Stover. The Buckeyes found ways to sneak out Stover, and they had the trust in him to go out to make plays in the passing the game in key situations.
Even without the catches, Stover would have allowed the Buckeyes to stick more closely to the original game plan. But this story is not about overall impact of the tight end position, because the importance is obvious. That is why this is the year the record will finally fall, and the reasons why are straight forward.
Ohio State has so many weapons on offense it might be a challenge for the Buckeyes to spread enough opportunities around for anyone to break a record. That being said, given the early season schedule – and the talent around Stover – overmatched defenses will need to choose to slow down someone, This creates opportunities for under the radar playmakers to find their stats in the flow of the game. Looking at the list of reasons, there is pretty straight forward path for Stover to get more than 37 catches.
The tight end single season catch record will fall this season because the Buckeyes will have defenses committing heavily to defending the star receivers. As the comedic character from Parks and Rec Tom Haverford once said, “I have never taken the high road. But I tell other people to ‘cause then there’s more room for me on the low road.”
This is basically the life of the tight end. They do the dirty work down low while the receivers get the glory and the shine. The receivers also garner significantly more attention over top. If they are in traffic there is plenty of room for Stover on the low road (or underneath the coverage). Stover had a handful of uncontested catches last season because he was standing alone off of a play fake or a blown coverage. That will continue to happen given the talent the Buckeyes have offensively.
The second reason: Stover is now in year two as a full-time tight end, and he has a former offensive assistant who assisted heavily in the development of the receivers as his position coach in Keenan Bailey. As a receiver at the tight end position, Stover went from providing little outside of blocking with five catches to becoming a legitimate weapon with 36 catches.
Last year had all the workings of a year of the tight end, but this year will be the year because of that progress he has made from a technical standpoint in such a short time at the position. With a coach who has a background with receivers, Stover can easily break the ceiling he set for himself last season.
On to the third reason, Ohio State’s success this year will have a major impact. The Buckeyes in the 1995 season played 13 games. That was the total Stover played last year in a season, and I know we already talked about what would have happen if he got to play the entirety of his 13 games. If Ohio State gets back to where they belong winning Big Ten Titles, playing in the CFP, and getting to a championship, there will be absolutely no doubt that Stover breaks this record. With a 14th or 15th game, Stover would have smashed the record and started the next Tight End University.
To close out this (future) broken record
Stover is incredibly talented at what he does as both an in-line blocker and as a reliable pass catcher in what the offense asks from him. He will never be the No. 1 option, but he will also always be a reliable option for a first year quarterback who will likely be targeting him to find some easy completions. A tight end is the best friend of inexperience, and Stover has the talent to be the safety valve when all else fails which is why this record will be broken this year.
Now, some of you may be tired of the year of the tight end talk, but it is my civic duty to continue this movement every offseason until that record falls. The Buckeyes have had their share of talented tight ends, but now they have that with a coach who commits to getting the tight end involved. Stover may not be the most dynamic weapon at Ohio State, but that gives him the rare advantage being a talented option that defenses can’t really plan for give the rest of the arsenal.
For those who remember Rickey Dudley, and to Rickey Dudley himself, this is not personal. This is personal to the passage of time, and the amount of times I have gone on record saying that this year will be the year the record falls. This time I am going to be right, and the year of the tight end will put an end to this existential battle of me versus predicting this record will fall.
This year Cade Stover will be the single-season record holder for receptions at Ohio State, and if not, the battle will continue.
Continue reading...
Chris Renne 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
This is the year. Stover will be the new single season receptions leader in Ohio State’s record book.
Under Ryan Day, Ohio State has run 12-personnel more than almost everybody in the country, and this means that there is and always will be a commitment to the tight end position. That commitment of getting tight ends on the field does not always translate to receiving production. This is to the frustration of the Buckeye faithful who immediately thought about the wasted potential of Jeremy Ruckert.
The year of the tight end at Ohio State is the offseason conversation that keeps on giving. Every single year, we debate if this will be the year in which the tight end goes from a valuable asset to an absolute weapon. If not this year, the talent in the room continues to be highly touted from a recruiting standpoint. With Keenan Bailey now the tight ends coach and Brian Hartline as the offensive coordinator, there could be a shift even further in using the tight end.
Cade Stover returns after an incredibly successful year at the position. There is no question there should be an expected slight jump in performance numbers. He would have even shattered the record last year had he remained healthy in the Georgia playoff matchup, but we’ll get to his season stats later. Year-in and year out, tight ends are often overlooked due to the talent around them. With all the other attention, this opens up opportunities.
For a tight end to finally shatter Rickey Dudley’s record, it is going to take a lot of fortune breaking their way in terms of play-calling and opportunity. However, this year is definitely the year it is going to happen.
The Record
Looking at the record set by Dudley in the 1995 season, I was still not alive and Dudley had just finished two years playing basketball at Ohio State under Randy Ayers and played one season under John Cooper. Like many all-time great tight ends before him, he made a choice to focus on the sport that would net him the most long-term success as an athlete.
In 1995, the athleticism returned for the all-time great Buckeye who showed that he could be a true difference maker in the passing game. In an offense that included Heisman Winner Eddie George and all-time great receiver Terry Glenn, there was still some shine that needed to go around. With the agility of a receiver, Dudley was third on the team in receptions behind two of the greatest players in Ohio State history.
The number of receptions setting the record was 37. This is not a gaudy number by any means, but it took a truly special talent to get there. Bobby Hoying was the quarterback at the time. He completed 211 passes, which was a lot for the era in which this record was set. In the more pass-oriented style of the modern game, there is no reason there are not enough completions to go around to get a new name in the record books.
Stover’s stats last season
The reason the record should fall this year is because the record should have fallen last year against Georgia. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes’ lead tight end Stover, he was upended and injured to the point of needing to go to the hospital for further evaluations with the diagnosis being a fracture in the back. His health is the most important thing, but there is no player who wanted to be on the field more for that playoff game than Stover.
Before the injury, Stover was at 36 catches on the season. Georgia had also failed to slow down Ohio State’s passing attack for much of the game. There were definitely two more catches in that game if Stover maintained his health. Joe Royer had one in the absence of Stover. The Buckeyes found ways to sneak out Stover, and they had the trust in him to go out to make plays in the passing the game in key situations.
Even without the catches, Stover would have allowed the Buckeyes to stick more closely to the original game plan. But this story is not about overall impact of the tight end position, because the importance is obvious. That is why this is the year the record will finally fall, and the reasons why are straight forward.
Why the record is done for this season
Ohio State has so many weapons on offense it might be a challenge for the Buckeyes to spread enough opportunities around for anyone to break a record. That being said, given the early season schedule – and the talent around Stover – overmatched defenses will need to choose to slow down someone, This creates opportunities for under the radar playmakers to find their stats in the flow of the game. Looking at the list of reasons, there is pretty straight forward path for Stover to get more than 37 catches.
The tight end single season catch record will fall this season because the Buckeyes will have defenses committing heavily to defending the star receivers. As the comedic character from Parks and Rec Tom Haverford once said, “I have never taken the high road. But I tell other people to ‘cause then there’s more room for me on the low road.”
This is basically the life of the tight end. They do the dirty work down low while the receivers get the glory and the shine. The receivers also garner significantly more attention over top. If they are in traffic there is plenty of room for Stover on the low road (or underneath the coverage). Stover had a handful of uncontested catches last season because he was standing alone off of a play fake or a blown coverage. That will continue to happen given the talent the Buckeyes have offensively.
The second reason: Stover is now in year two as a full-time tight end, and he has a former offensive assistant who assisted heavily in the development of the receivers as his position coach in Keenan Bailey. As a receiver at the tight end position, Stover went from providing little outside of blocking with five catches to becoming a legitimate weapon with 36 catches.
Last year had all the workings of a year of the tight end, but this year will be the year because of that progress he has made from a technical standpoint in such a short time at the position. With a coach who has a background with receivers, Stover can easily break the ceiling he set for himself last season.
On to the third reason, Ohio State’s success this year will have a major impact. The Buckeyes in the 1995 season played 13 games. That was the total Stover played last year in a season, and I know we already talked about what would have happen if he got to play the entirety of his 13 games. If Ohio State gets back to where they belong winning Big Ten Titles, playing in the CFP, and getting to a championship, there will be absolutely no doubt that Stover breaks this record. With a 14th or 15th game, Stover would have smashed the record and started the next Tight End University.
To close out this (future) broken record
Stover is incredibly talented at what he does as both an in-line blocker and as a reliable pass catcher in what the offense asks from him. He will never be the No. 1 option, but he will also always be a reliable option for a first year quarterback who will likely be targeting him to find some easy completions. A tight end is the best friend of inexperience, and Stover has the talent to be the safety valve when all else fails which is why this record will be broken this year.
Now, some of you may be tired of the year of the tight end talk, but it is my civic duty to continue this movement every offseason until that record falls. The Buckeyes have had their share of talented tight ends, but now they have that with a coach who commits to getting the tight end involved. Stover may not be the most dynamic weapon at Ohio State, but that gives him the rare advantage being a talented option that defenses can’t really plan for give the rest of the arsenal.
For those who remember Rickey Dudley, and to Rickey Dudley himself, this is not personal. This is personal to the passage of time, and the amount of times I have gone on record saying that this year will be the year the record falls. This time I am going to be right, and the year of the tight end will put an end to this existential battle of me versus predicting this record will fall.
This year Cade Stover will be the single-season record holder for receptions at Ohio State, and if not, the battle will continue.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State Football Countdown: 62
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Ohio State Football Countdown: 62
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
One play or big moment per day as we count down to the start of Ohio State’s 2023 football season.
As we count down to the start of the 2023 season, we will be looking back at one play or big moment in Ohio State history over the past decade or so that corresponds to the remaining days left until Buckeyes take the field against Indiana on Sept. 2. There are 62 days remaining.
Rather than one play today, why not take a look back at the 62 points Ohio State put up on Michigan back in 2018. Dwayne Haskins was phenomenal in this one, passing for just under 400 yards with six touchdown passes and zero picks. Parris Campbell led the way in the receiving department with six catches for 192 yards and two scores, including a long 78-yard catch-and-run TD. Defensively, the Buckeyes picked off both Shea Patterson and Joe Milton once apiece, and OSU also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
One play or big moment per day as we count down to the start of Ohio State’s 2023 football season.
As we count down to the start of the 2023 season, we will be looking back at one play or big moment in Ohio State history over the past decade or so that corresponds to the remaining days left until Buckeyes take the field against Indiana on Sept. 2. There are 62 days remaining.
Play of the Day: Ohio State beats Michigan 62-39 (2018)
Rather than one play today, why not take a look back at the 62 points Ohio State put up on Michigan back in 2018. Dwayne Haskins was phenomenal in this one, passing for just under 400 yards with six touchdown passes and zero picks. Parris Campbell led the way in the receiving department with six catches for 192 yards and two scores, including a long 78-yard catch-and-run TD. Defensively, the Buckeyes picked off both Shea Patterson and Joe Milton once apiece, and OSU also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.
Players to Wear the #62 (since 2010):
- Jon Lorenz (2009-11)
- Logan Beougher (2012)
- R.J. Morris (2014)
- Aaron Parry (2015-16)
- Brandon Pahl (2017-19)
- Chris Kuhn (2020)
- Bryce Prater (2021-22)
- Joshua Padilla (present)
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Where would you like to see Ohio State football play a game internationally?
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You’re Nuts: Where would you like to see Ohio State football play a game internationally?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Sebastian Rodeiro/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Over the weekend we saw the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals play a couple baseball games in London. Those contests were just the latest in a long line of sporting events from North American sports leagues that were held internationally. The NFL has games scheduled in London, Germany, and Mexico this coming season. The Columbus Blue Jackets played two games against the Colorado Avalanche in Finland towards the beginning of last season. We have even seen college football get in the mix with a few games being played in Dublin, as well as Australia over the past decade.
You know that feeling when Ohio State announces a game nearly a decade down the road where they’ll be traveling to play a team that they rarely play, which gives Buckeye Nation a chance to explore somewhere new? Now imagine that feeling except Ohio State is heading to play a game in another country. The number of fans clad in scarlet and gray descending on another country might cause an international incident.
Today we want to know where you would want to see Ohio State play if they were to play a game in a different country? Maybe it’s a country you’ve never visited before, or it is somewhere you are a frequent visitor to. There really is no wrong answer to this question, unless you are picking Pyongyang, since Kim-Jong Un undoubtedly wouldn’t let so many Ohio State fans into North Korea.
I feel like Argentina would get Ohio State fans. Just look at how the country went wild as La Albiceleste won the World Cup late in 2022. Argentina was partying harder than when Ohio State won a football national championship, or when the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA title in 2016.
Another reason I think Buenos Aires and the rest of Argentina would identify with Ohio State is because another fierce sports rivalry is contested in the country’s capital city. River Plate and Boca Juniors have met over 250 times in soccer. The rivalry has featured thrilling games and intense hate between the two teams, much like we have seen from Ohio State and Michigan. In 2018, the second leg of the Copa Libertadores had to be moved to Spain after there were safety concerns following an attack on the Boca Juniors team bus. Just imagine if an edition of The Game was moved overseas because Michigan fans attacked the Ohio State team bus in Ann Arbor.
There is already a location that would be perfect for an Ohio State game in Buenos Aires. Estadio Monumental opened in 1938, can hold 86,000 people, and is the home of the Argentinian National Team. The stadium is not only the biggest in Buenos Aires, but also in all of Argentina. The stadium seems like a really cool venue that isn’t too far from Rio de la Plata. In a way look at it as a lot classier, and warmer version of going to a Cleveland Browns game along the banks of Lake Erie.
Honestly, I’d just love to go to Argentina. There doesn’t even have to be an Ohio State game being played there for me to want to go. Really, you could send me to any country in South America and I’d be more than happy to vacation there. An international Ohio State game being played at the same time would just be icing on the cake. Even though it feels like it’s not likely when it comes to college football, hopefully, there are more games played in different countries in the future, which will give fans an excuse to see some new areas.
From a purely selfish answer, if I was going to go to the game, I would vote for the Buckeyes to play somewhere tropical. Maybe the Bahamas like the men’s basketball team? What about Fiji? I’ve heard that place is gorgeous. I had a girlfriend in college that loved Costa Rica, so that might be cool.
But, if I’m sitting at home, watching from my couch like I am for most games, I think I would probably pick Australia. First, it is as close to being on the opposite side of the world from Columbus as you can possibly get. Can you imagine playing Miami, or Oregon, or Texas A&M or someone in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, or Sydney and the entire stadium breaking out in an O-H-I-O? It would be incredible.
Obviously, we know Ohio State fans travel well, but would they travel well enough to take over a stadium in Australia? I have no idea, but I wouldn’t mind finding out.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24766635/main_qimg_50bc6d8161aa644acc42d9e9c6518e25_pjlq.jpeg)
Another reason that I think Australia is an ideal place is that I just get the sense that even if they don’t “understand” American football, they would “get” American football. By the nature of the country’s history, it’s environment, and it’s wildlife, Aussies are stereotypically tough people. I think that they would appreciate the sport far more than the crowds that we see in England for NFL games three or four times per year.
If you watch those matchups, it is clear that there is a contingent of passionate fans (likely American ex-pats), but most of the stadium is sitting on its hands. Now, that could simply be because it’s not soccer, so they aren’t as into it, or perhaps they just don’t understand it as instinctively as we do here.
But down under, I think they would understand the physicality and toughness of the sport in a way that would speak to them. And besides, if you’ve ever watched an Australian Rules Football game, you know that game can be absolutely brutal.
The third and final reason that I would opt to see the Ohio State football team play a game in Australia is the accents and vocabulary. I mean, come on, not only is that just such a fun accent to listen to, but it’s also a fun accent to speak in. I imagine I would spend an entire week walking around saying, “The Buckeyes are going to throw another Duck on the barbie,” if they were playing Oregon.
After every touchdown, I’d let out a massive, “Crickey, what a score!” When Brutus and Miami’s Sebastian the Ibis faced off pregame, I’d say something stupid like, “That’s not a mascot, this is a mascot!”
My friends and family would love me.
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
Photo by Sebastian Rodeiro/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Over the weekend we saw the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals play a couple baseball games in London. Those contests were just the latest in a long line of sporting events from North American sports leagues that were held internationally. The NFL has games scheduled in London, Germany, and Mexico this coming season. The Columbus Blue Jackets played two games against the Colorado Avalanche in Finland towards the beginning of last season. We have even seen college football get in the mix with a few games being played in Dublin, as well as Australia over the past decade.
You know that feeling when Ohio State announces a game nearly a decade down the road where they’ll be traveling to play a team that they rarely play, which gives Buckeye Nation a chance to explore somewhere new? Now imagine that feeling except Ohio State is heading to play a game in another country. The number of fans clad in scarlet and gray descending on another country might cause an international incident.
Today we want to know where you would want to see Ohio State play if they were to play a game in a different country? Maybe it’s a country you’ve never visited before, or it is somewhere you are a frequent visitor to. There really is no wrong answer to this question, unless you are picking Pyongyang, since Kim-Jong Un undoubtedly wouldn’t let so many Ohio State fans into North Korea.
Today’s question: Where would you want to see Ohio State play a football game internationally?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Buenos Aires
I feel like Argentina would get Ohio State fans. Just look at how the country went wild as La Albiceleste won the World Cup late in 2022. Argentina was partying harder than when Ohio State won a football national championship, or when the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA title in 2016.
Another reason I think Buenos Aires and the rest of Argentina would identify with Ohio State is because another fierce sports rivalry is contested in the country’s capital city. River Plate and Boca Juniors have met over 250 times in soccer. The rivalry has featured thrilling games and intense hate between the two teams, much like we have seen from Ohio State and Michigan. In 2018, the second leg of the Copa Libertadores had to be moved to Spain after there were safety concerns following an attack on the Boca Juniors team bus. Just imagine if an edition of The Game was moved overseas because Michigan fans attacked the Ohio State team bus in Ann Arbor.
There is already a location that would be perfect for an Ohio State game in Buenos Aires. Estadio Monumental opened in 1938, can hold 86,000 people, and is the home of the Argentinian National Team. The stadium is not only the biggest in Buenos Aires, but also in all of Argentina. The stadium seems like a really cool venue that isn’t too far from Rio de la Plata. In a way look at it as a lot classier, and warmer version of going to a Cleveland Browns game along the banks of Lake Erie.
Honestly, I’d just love to go to Argentina. There doesn’t even have to be an Ohio State game being played there for me to want to go. Really, you could send me to any country in South America and I’d be more than happy to vacation there. An international Ohio State game being played at the same time would just be icing on the cake. Even though it feels like it’s not likely when it comes to college football, hopefully, there are more games played in different countries in the future, which will give fans an excuse to see some new areas.
Matt’s answer: Australia
From a purely selfish answer, if I was going to go to the game, I would vote for the Buckeyes to play somewhere tropical. Maybe the Bahamas like the men’s basketball team? What about Fiji? I’ve heard that place is gorgeous. I had a girlfriend in college that loved Costa Rica, so that might be cool.
But, if I’m sitting at home, watching from my couch like I am for most games, I think I would probably pick Australia. First, it is as close to being on the opposite side of the world from Columbus as you can possibly get. Can you imagine playing Miami, or Oregon, or Texas A&M or someone in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, or Sydney and the entire stadium breaking out in an O-H-I-O? It would be incredible.
Obviously, we know Ohio State fans travel well, but would they travel well enough to take over a stadium in Australia? I have no idea, but I wouldn’t mind finding out.
Another reason that I think Australia is an ideal place is that I just get the sense that even if they don’t “understand” American football, they would “get” American football. By the nature of the country’s history, it’s environment, and it’s wildlife, Aussies are stereotypically tough people. I think that they would appreciate the sport far more than the crowds that we see in England for NFL games three or four times per year.
If you watch those matchups, it is clear that there is a contingent of passionate fans (likely American ex-pats), but most of the stadium is sitting on its hands. Now, that could simply be because it’s not soccer, so they aren’t as into it, or perhaps they just don’t understand it as instinctively as we do here.
But down under, I think they would understand the physicality and toughness of the sport in a way that would speak to them. And besides, if you’ve ever watched an Australian Rules Football game, you know that game can be absolutely brutal.
The third and final reason that I would opt to see the Ohio State football team play a game in Australia is the accents and vocabulary. I mean, come on, not only is that just such a fun accent to listen to, but it’s also a fun accent to speak in. I imagine I would spend an entire week walking around saying, “The Buckeyes are going to throw another Duck on the barbie,” if they were playing Oregon.
After every touchdown, I’d let out a massive, “Crickey, what a score!” When Brutus and Miami’s Sebastian the Ibis faced off pregame, I’d say something stupid like, “That’s not a mascot, this is a mascot!”
My friends and family would love me.
Continue reading...
LGHL Broken Records: Ohio State’s interception records haven’t seen much change recently
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Broken Records: Ohio State’s interception records haven’t seen much change recently
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Malik Hooker is the only entry in the top-10 of Ohio State’s career, single-game, or season interception lists.
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 records, the ones that have been broken, the ones that could be broken, and the ones that will never be broken. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Broken Records” articles here.
Ohio State has put some tremendous defensive backs in the NFL over the last couple decades. Despite having a great collection of DBs, one part of the school’s record books that hasn’t been touched much recently has been the interception totals. In nearly every other category, there has been at least a handful of new entries within the past few seasons. The same can’t be said when it comes to the Buckeyes picking the football off.
When you look at the school’s career interception leaders, there are no Buckeyes in the top-10 that played after 1999. Mike Sensibaugh’s 22 interceptions are the most in school history, which were five more passes than Fred Bruney picked off. Sensibaugh’s Ohio State career finished in 1970, while Bruney graduated in 1952.
Ahmed Plummer is the most recent entry in the top-10, with his 14 career interceptions tying for sixth-most in school history. Damon Moore, whose last season in the scarlet and gray came in 1998, is the only other Ohio State player in the top-10 to play in the 1990s. Moore intercepted 12 passes in his career, which puts him in a three-way tie for ninth.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24765677/341025.jpg "Missouri V Ohio State")
Sensibaugh and Bruney also dominated the single-season interception school records. The nine interceptions by Sensibaugh in 1969 are tied with Craig Cassidy’s total in 1975 for the most in a season at Ohio State. Sensibaugh nearly reached that mark the following season, picking off eight passes in 1970, which was equaled by Neal Colzie four years later for third-most in a season in school history. Bruney intercepted seven passes in both 1951 and 1952.
Another Buckeye that intercepted seven passes in a season was Malik Hooker, who accomplished the feat during the 2016 season. Hooker is the only Ohio State defender in the 2000s to make the top-10 on the school’s interception record books when it comes to career, single-season, or single-game totals.
When it comes to the most interceptions in a game in school history, there are nine Buckeyes that have a hat trick of picks in a game. The most recent of those achievements came in 1996, when Damon Moore picked off three passes against Iowa. Not only was Fred Bruney the first Ohio State player to accomplish the feat in 1951 against Illinois, he did it again the following year against Michigan, and to this day is the only Ohio State player to intercept three passes in a game twice in a career.
The lack of new entries on the school’s interceptions list is puzzling, not only because of the talent Ohio State has produced over the years, but also because of how football has turned more to the pass and away from the run. If anything, it feels like the interception marks should be dominated by players from this era, and not from the 50-60 years ago. Even though quarterbacks are throwing the football more, they are definitely throwing it with more accurately these days.
One reason why there hasn’t been as much new blood on Ohio State’s interceptions lists is maybe the defensive backs just can’t catch. Interestingly enough, when it comes to pass break-ups, there is only one Buckeye that played before 1996 in the single-season top-10, and everyone in the career pass break-up top-10 started their Ohio State career in 1994 or after. Bradley Roby not only has the most pass break-ups in school history with 36, but he is also tied with Ahmed Plummer for most in a season, as his 17 PBUs in 2012 matched Plummer’s mark from 1998.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24765679/153585420.jpg "Nebraska v Ohio State")
Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
After the play from the secondary over the last few years, it’s hard to imagine the school’s interception records being threatened anytime soon. It’s not that Ohio State doesn’t have some talented players either currently in Columbus or on their way to Ohio’s capital, we just rarely see the Buckeyes rack up big interception totals these days. Even though teams around the Big Ten have moved more towards the pass, there are still teams that love to run the football as much as possible. Wisconsin was that way, but it could change with Luke Fickell now in charge in Madison.
Another factor keeping recent players away from the top of the career interception list is usually any strong players in the secondary don’t stick around long enough to hit the marks needed. Most of Ohio State’s high draft picks from the secondary have declared for the NFL Draft before their senior seasons, which hasn’t given them the time to accumulate the stats to make the top-10. The career totals list when it comes to interception is populated with a lot of players from eras where it was common to stick around through your senior season.
While all that really matters in the grand scheme of things is Ohio State winning games, it would be nice to see players from the Buckeye secondary to put up some big interception numbers in a season, or a career. Then again, it’s hard to blame quarterbacks from looking the other way with some of the cornerbacks and safeties we’ve seen come through Columbus over the last 10-15 years.
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Malik Hooker is the only entry in the top-10 of Ohio State’s career, single-game, or season interception lists.
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 records, the ones that have been broken, the ones that could be broken, and the ones that will never be broken. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Broken Records” articles here.
Ohio State has put some tremendous defensive backs in the NFL over the last couple decades. Despite having a great collection of DBs, one part of the school’s record books that hasn’t been touched much recently has been the interception totals. In nearly every other category, there has been at least a handful of new entries within the past few seasons. The same can’t be said when it comes to the Buckeyes picking the football off.
When you look at the school’s career interception leaders, there are no Buckeyes in the top-10 that played after 1999. Mike Sensibaugh’s 22 interceptions are the most in school history, which were five more passes than Fred Bruney picked off. Sensibaugh’s Ohio State career finished in 1970, while Bruney graduated in 1952.
Ahmed Plummer is the most recent entry in the top-10, with his 14 career interceptions tying for sixth-most in school history. Damon Moore, whose last season in the scarlet and gray came in 1998, is the only other Ohio State player in the top-10 to play in the 1990s. Moore intercepted 12 passes in his career, which puts him in a three-way tie for ninth.
Sensibaugh and Bruney also dominated the single-season interception school records. The nine interceptions by Sensibaugh in 1969 are tied with Craig Cassidy’s total in 1975 for the most in a season at Ohio State. Sensibaugh nearly reached that mark the following season, picking off eight passes in 1970, which was equaled by Neal Colzie four years later for third-most in a season in school history. Bruney intercepted seven passes in both 1951 and 1952.
Another Buckeye that intercepted seven passes in a season was Malik Hooker, who accomplished the feat during the 2016 season. Hooker is the only Ohio State defender in the 2000s to make the top-10 on the school’s interception record books when it comes to career, single-season, or single-game totals.
When it comes to the most interceptions in a game in school history, there are nine Buckeyes that have a hat trick of picks in a game. The most recent of those achievements came in 1996, when Damon Moore picked off three passes against Iowa. Not only was Fred Bruney the first Ohio State player to accomplish the feat in 1951 against Illinois, he did it again the following year against Michigan, and to this day is the only Ohio State player to intercept three passes in a game twice in a career.
The lack of new entries on the school’s interceptions list is puzzling, not only because of the talent Ohio State has produced over the years, but also because of how football has turned more to the pass and away from the run. If anything, it feels like the interception marks should be dominated by players from this era, and not from the 50-60 years ago. Even though quarterbacks are throwing the football more, they are definitely throwing it with more accurately these days.
One reason why there hasn’t been as much new blood on Ohio State’s interceptions lists is maybe the defensive backs just can’t catch. Interestingly enough, when it comes to pass break-ups, there is only one Buckeye that played before 1996 in the single-season top-10, and everyone in the career pass break-up top-10 started their Ohio State career in 1994 or after. Bradley Roby not only has the most pass break-ups in school history with 36, but he is also tied with Ahmed Plummer for most in a season, as his 17 PBUs in 2012 matched Plummer’s mark from 1998.
After the play from the secondary over the last few years, it’s hard to imagine the school’s interception records being threatened anytime soon. It’s not that Ohio State doesn’t have some talented players either currently in Columbus or on their way to Ohio’s capital, we just rarely see the Buckeyes rack up big interception totals these days. Even though teams around the Big Ten have moved more towards the pass, there are still teams that love to run the football as much as possible. Wisconsin was that way, but it could change with Luke Fickell now in charge in Madison.
Another factor keeping recent players away from the top of the career interception list is usually any strong players in the secondary don’t stick around long enough to hit the marks needed. Most of Ohio State’s high draft picks from the secondary have declared for the NFL Draft before their senior seasons, which hasn’t given them the time to accumulate the stats to make the top-10. The career totals list when it comes to interception is populated with a lot of players from eras where it was common to stick around through your senior season.
While all that really matters in the grand scheme of things is Ohio State winning games, it would be nice to see players from the Buckeye secondary to put up some big interception numbers in a season, or a career. Then again, it’s hard to blame quarterbacks from looking the other way with some of the cornerbacks and safeties we’ve seen come through Columbus over the last 10-15 years.
Continue reading...
