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LGHL Bold Prediction: Ohio State will block six or more kicks in 2023
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Bold Prediction: Ohio State will block six or more kicks in 2023
Michael Citro 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
I think the Buckeyes will get after it on special teams this season.
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 making predictions that may or may not be reasonable, in fact, some might say they are bold. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Bold Predictions” articles here.
It’s hard to believe, but here we are in our final “theme week” of the 2023 offseason. We’ve been tasked with making a bold prediction. Sometimes you can make a bold prediction based on what has come before and projecting what might happen based on those past performances. I tried to do that last season by suggesting Jaxon Smith-Njigba would win the Heisman Trophy, but that didn’t work out too well as JSN suffered through a season plagued with injuries.
This year, I’m not going with numbers or trying to project some kind of forecast. I’m just going with my gut, because it can’t be any dumber than my brain. So here goes...
Ohio State will block at least six kicks in 2023. I think at least three of those will be punts, so look for the Buckeyes to block a minimum of six combined punts, field goals, and PATs this upcoming season.
Parker Fleming’s special teams unit blocked two punts in 2022, which tied the Buckeyes for 14th place in the country in that category. Ohio State also blocked two kicks last season. That was tied for 36th in the nation. The Buckeyes got close a number of other times, both on field goals and punts, which makes me think that they’re going to start paying off some more of those opportunities in 2023. (Yes, I know I said I was going with my gut rather than stats, but that doesn’t mean I can’t throw some in.)
Based on blocking four a year ago, perhaps six doesn’t seem like that bold of a prediction. That’s especially true when you consider that four teams — Notre Dame, Central Michigan, Middle Tennessee, and South Carolina — blocked six or more kicks (sans punts) alone. The Irish also blocked seven punts a year ago. South Carolina blocked five punts, and Middle Tennessee and Central Michigan each blocked four punts. That means those particular four teams were dialed in on special teams.
But that’s not normal. Most teams get one or two of each per season or are better at blocking one type of kick than they are at the other.
Ohio State has fast, athletic, hungry players on special teams. It should be expected that they get to a few every season. But to block at least three punts and six total kicks will require an improvement on special teams under Fleming. It’s certainly possible to improve by that much when you’re talking about the talent Ohio State has available. It’s a place were players can make their mark and earn more snaps at their preferred positions.
Sevyn Banks is a player who made his mark previously as a special teams player. Lathan Ransom managed to block a pair of kicks last year, so he might be the guy to watch, or at least to lead that category. Young defensive backs and receivers are the most likely candidates to get to the ball before it’s kicked past the line of scrimmage, and Ohio State has no shortage of those.
If six blocks is not that bold of a prediction, how about Ransom getting four of them? I think that’ll make this take sufficiently spicy, and we’ll check back at the end of the season to see how I did.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro 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
I think the Buckeyes will get after it on special teams this season.
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 making predictions that may or may not be reasonable, in fact, some might say they are bold. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Bold Predictions” articles here.
It’s hard to believe, but here we are in our final “theme week” of the 2023 offseason. We’ve been tasked with making a bold prediction. Sometimes you can make a bold prediction based on what has come before and projecting what might happen based on those past performances. I tried to do that last season by suggesting Jaxon Smith-Njigba would win the Heisman Trophy, but that didn’t work out too well as JSN suffered through a season plagued with injuries.
This year, I’m not going with numbers or trying to project some kind of forecast. I’m just going with my gut, because it can’t be any dumber than my brain. So here goes...
Ohio State will block at least six kicks in 2023. I think at least three of those will be punts, so look for the Buckeyes to block a minimum of six combined punts, field goals, and PATs this upcoming season.
Parker Fleming’s special teams unit blocked two punts in 2022, which tied the Buckeyes for 14th place in the country in that category. Ohio State also blocked two kicks last season. That was tied for 36th in the nation. The Buckeyes got close a number of other times, both on field goals and punts, which makes me think that they’re going to start paying off some more of those opportunities in 2023. (Yes, I know I said I was going with my gut rather than stats, but that doesn’t mean I can’t throw some in.)
Based on blocking four a year ago, perhaps six doesn’t seem like that bold of a prediction. That’s especially true when you consider that four teams — Notre Dame, Central Michigan, Middle Tennessee, and South Carolina — blocked six or more kicks (sans punts) alone. The Irish also blocked seven punts a year ago. South Carolina blocked five punts, and Middle Tennessee and Central Michigan each blocked four punts. That means those particular four teams were dialed in on special teams.
But that’s not normal. Most teams get one or two of each per season or are better at blocking one type of kick than they are at the other.
Ohio State has fast, athletic, hungry players on special teams. It should be expected that they get to a few every season. But to block at least three punts and six total kicks will require an improvement on special teams under Fleming. It’s certainly possible to improve by that much when you’re talking about the talent Ohio State has available. It’s a place were players can make their mark and earn more snaps at their preferred positions.
Sevyn Banks is a player who made his mark previously as a special teams player. Lathan Ransom managed to block a pair of kicks last year, so he might be the guy to watch, or at least to lead that category. Young defensive backs and receivers are the most likely candidates to get to the ball before it’s kicked past the line of scrimmage, and Ohio State has no shortage of those.
If six blocks is not that bold of a prediction, how about Ransom getting four of them? I think that’ll make this take sufficiently spicy, and we’ll check back at the end of the season to see how I did.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State Football Countdown: 40
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Ohio State Football Countdown: 40
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 Jamie Sabau/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 40 days remaining.
Leading by just three before halftime, Ohio State decided to go for it on 4th-and-7 at the 40-yard line. Braxton Miller stepped up in the pocket and found an open Philly Brown for a touchdown to extend the lead to 10 points heading into the break. That score would be crucial in a game that the Buckeyes won 31-24. Miller threw for just under 200 yards and four TDs, rushing for another 83 yards. Brown led in the receiving department, catching eight balls for 85 yards and two TDs. Devin Smith and Evan Spencer hauled in the other two scores through the air.
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 Jamie Sabau/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 40 days remaining.
Play of the Day: Philly Brown’s 40-yard TD vs. Wisconsin (2013)
Leading by just three before halftime, Ohio State decided to go for it on 4th-and-7 at the 40-yard line. Braxton Miller stepped up in the pocket and found an open Philly Brown for a touchdown to extend the lead to 10 points heading into the break. That score would be crucial in a game that the Buckeyes won 31-24. Miller threw for just under 200 yards and four TDs, rushing for another 83 yards. Brown led in the receiving department, catching eight balls for 85 yards and two TDs. Devin Smith and Evan Spencer hauled in the other two scores through the air.
Players to Wear the #40 (since 2010):
- NONE - Retired in 2004
- Howard “Hopalong” Cassady (1952-55)
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LGHL I-80 Football Show: Five predictions for the 2023 season
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I-80 Football Show: Five predictions for the 2023 season
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 Ben Jackson/Getty Images
To begin their 2023 season preview, Dante and Jordan give five predictions that are guaranteed to be accurate.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we talk about all things Big Ten football and basketball from New Jersey to California. With USC and UCLA joining the conference in 2024, we’ll integrate them in the show, getting a head start on the 16-team conference.
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
In this episode of the new and improved I-80 Football Show, the guys open with updates on the situation at Northwestern. Since we last talked, more former players have spoken out about the hazing and racism they’ve faced within the football program and the athletic department. Northwestern now faces a lawsuit from former head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who is trying to get the remainder of his salary, and three different lawsuits from various players across multiple sports looking for damages due to the trauma they faced in Evanston.
Big Ten media days start this Wednesday, July 26, signifying the semi-official end of the offseason. Starting next week, we’ll begin our four-week season preview breaking down the 16 teams into four tiers. Before that, we wanted to give five predictions for the season and predict the end-of-year award winners. Dante and Jordan agree that Ohio State sweeps the Player of the Year awards, with wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. winning Offensive Player of the Year and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg winning Defensive Player of the Year.
Despite all the hype surrounding Penn State, Jordan does not believe this is the year they beat Ohio State and Michigan to win the Big Ten. Dante on the other hand thinks that despite losing twins Chase and Sydney Brown as well as top-10 pick Devon Witherspoon, Illinois will once again be one of the best programs in the West during the final season of divisions.
Listen to the podcast to hear the rest of our predictions and feel free to send us yours!
Follow the show on YouTube:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Land Grant Podcast Network: @LandGrantPods
Connect with us on Twitter:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Dante: @DanteM10216
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 Ben Jackson/Getty Images
To begin their 2023 season preview, Dante and Jordan give five predictions that are guaranteed to be accurate.
Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s I-80 Football Show. On this show, we talk about all things Big Ten football and basketball from New Jersey to California. With USC and UCLA joining the conference in 2024, we’ll integrate them in the show, getting a head start on the 16-team conference.
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
In this episode of the new and improved I-80 Football Show, the guys open with updates on the situation at Northwestern. Since we last talked, more former players have spoken out about the hazing and racism they’ve faced within the football program and the athletic department. Northwestern now faces a lawsuit from former head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who is trying to get the remainder of his salary, and three different lawsuits from various players across multiple sports looking for damages due to the trauma they faced in Evanston.
Big Ten media days start this Wednesday, July 26, signifying the semi-official end of the offseason. Starting next week, we’ll begin our four-week season preview breaking down the 16 teams into four tiers. Before that, we wanted to give five predictions for the season and predict the end-of-year award winners. Dante and Jordan agree that Ohio State sweeps the Player of the Year awards, with wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. winning Offensive Player of the Year and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg winning Defensive Player of the Year.
Despite all the hype surrounding Penn State, Jordan does not believe this is the year they beat Ohio State and Michigan to win the Big Ten. Dante on the other hand thinks that despite losing twins Chase and Sydney Brown as well as top-10 pick Devon Witherspoon, Illinois will once again be one of the best programs in the West during the final season of divisions.
Listen to the podcast to hear the rest of our predictions and feel free to send us yours!
Follow the show on YouTube:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Land Grant Podcast Network: @LandGrantPods
Connect with us on Twitter:
Jordan: @JordanW330
Dante: @DanteM10216
Continue reading...
LGHL Jim Knowles comes up short on recruiting trail yet again after whiffing on Viliamu-Asa
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Jim Knowles comes up short on recruiting trail yet again after whiffing on Viliamu-Asa
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 Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes lost their top remaining linebacker target to Notre Dame.
Ohio State had a ton of momentum on the recruiting trail as the calendar flipped to July, but things have cooled off significantly since the commitments of Justin Scott and Miles Lockhart back in the month’s opening week. It has been especially tough at linebacker, where after missing out on both Sammy Brown and Edwin Spillman earlier, the Buckeyes have now whiffed on their top remaining target at the position.
On Sunday, 2024 four-star LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa announced his committed to Notre Dame over Ohio State. The nation’s No. 8 linebacker and No. 102 player overall in the cycle became the latest LB to spurn the Buckeyes — and the most disappointing, as it seemed as though OSU had a great chance to land the St. John Bosco product. The news comes after Spillman committed to Tennessee on Friday and Brown committed to Clemson in June.
The miss on Viliamu-Asa becomes the latest recruiting loss for Jim Knowles, and yet another instance where it felt like Ohio State was in the lead until the very end. A similar thing happened last year with Tackett Curtis, where it seemed like he was destined to be a Buckeye until he eventually wound up at USC. It is becoming a troubling trend for Knowles, and it’s a legit concern that his recruiting chops are not up to par. OSU bringing in James Laurinaitis as a GA to try and help in that department echoes that concern.
In a way its hard to blame Knowles here, as it sounds like a recent church retreat was the deciding factor for Viliamu-Asa.
“Honestly man I couldn’t see myself [at Notre Dame], but I could at the two other schools.” Viliamu-Asa told Hayes Fawcett of On3. “But I read Hebrews 11:1 which talks about faith as assurance in the things we can’t see. And going to the mountains really solidified my answer because I felt God wanted me to have faith, which required trusting in what I could not see.”
Still, it is a concerning trend in a string of misses for the Ohio State DC, especially since Viliamu-Asa was the first player the Buckeyes offered in the 2024 class. Since Knowles arrived in Columbus, OSU has yet to land even a top-15 linebacker target. They have brought in just two LBs in total thus far between the 2023 and 2024 classes in four-star Arvell Reese (No. 18 LB in 2023) and four-star Payton Pierce (No. 20 LB in 2024), with Reese being from in-state.
What’s equally concerning is the lack of other options left at the position in this current cycle. Of the 11 other linebackers holding Ohio State offers (not including Pierce), eight are already committed elsewhere. Five-star linebacker Justin Williams is almost certainly ending up at Georgia, while four-star Kristopher Jones is also a lean for the Bulldogs. That leaves just Devin Smith, who is the No. 57 LB in the country and doesn’t seem to have much interest in Ohio State.
It will be curious to see what happens the rest of the way, but with both Buckeye starting linebackers set to leave after this season, bringing in only two linebackers over these last two recruiting classes seems less than ideal.
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 Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes lost their top remaining linebacker target to Notre Dame.
Ohio State had a ton of momentum on the recruiting trail as the calendar flipped to July, but things have cooled off significantly since the commitments of Justin Scott and Miles Lockhart back in the month’s opening week. It has been especially tough at linebacker, where after missing out on both Sammy Brown and Edwin Spillman earlier, the Buckeyes have now whiffed on their top remaining target at the position.
On Sunday, 2024 four-star LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa announced his committed to Notre Dame over Ohio State. The nation’s No. 8 linebacker and No. 102 player overall in the cycle became the latest LB to spurn the Buckeyes — and the most disappointing, as it seemed as though OSU had a great chance to land the St. John Bosco product. The news comes after Spillman committed to Tennessee on Friday and Brown committed to Clemson in June.
The miss on Viliamu-Asa becomes the latest recruiting loss for Jim Knowles, and yet another instance where it felt like Ohio State was in the lead until the very end. A similar thing happened last year with Tackett Curtis, where it seemed like he was destined to be a Buckeye until he eventually wound up at USC. It is becoming a troubling trend for Knowles, and it’s a legit concern that his recruiting chops are not up to par. OSU bringing in James Laurinaitis as a GA to try and help in that department echoes that concern.
In a way its hard to blame Knowles here, as it sounds like a recent church retreat was the deciding factor for Viliamu-Asa.
“Honestly man I couldn’t see myself [at Notre Dame], but I could at the two other schools.” Viliamu-Asa told Hayes Fawcett of On3. “But I read Hebrews 11:1 which talks about faith as assurance in the things we can’t see. And going to the mountains really solidified my answer because I felt God wanted me to have faith, which required trusting in what I could not see.”
Still, it is a concerning trend in a string of misses for the Ohio State DC, especially since Viliamu-Asa was the first player the Buckeyes offered in the 2024 class. Since Knowles arrived in Columbus, OSU has yet to land even a top-15 linebacker target. They have brought in just two LBs in total thus far between the 2023 and 2024 classes in four-star Arvell Reese (No. 18 LB in 2023) and four-star Payton Pierce (No. 20 LB in 2024), with Reese being from in-state.
What’s equally concerning is the lack of other options left at the position in this current cycle. Of the 11 other linebackers holding Ohio State offers (not including Pierce), eight are already committed elsewhere. Five-star linebacker Justin Williams is almost certainly ending up at Georgia, while four-star Kristopher Jones is also a lean for the Bulldogs. That leaves just Devin Smith, who is the No. 57 LB in the country and doesn’t seem to have much interest in Ohio State.
It will be curious to see what happens the rest of the way, but with both Buckeye starting linebackers set to leave after this season, bringing in only two linebackers over these last two recruiting classes seems less than ideal.
Quick Hits
- On a more positive note, the Buckeyes got some potentially good news on the recruiting trail when it comes to the hardwood, as Chris Holtmann’s group remains in the running for a five-star center. Aiden Sherrell, a 6-foot-10 California native, is set to announce his decision on Aug. 13, and among his top five schools are Ohio State alongside Alabama, Michigan State, Oklahoma and Texas.
NEWS: 5️ Aiden Sherrell, On3’s No. 10 overall prospect in the 2024 class, will announce his college decision on August 13th, he tells me.
The 6-11 big man will choose between Alabama, Ohio State, Texas, Oklahoma, and Michigan State. https://t.co/KvLtP2FTax pic.twitter.com/41RxQP4b7e
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) July 22, 2023
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LGHL You’re Nuts: Who is your favorite Michigan Musical Theatre graduate?
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You’re Nuts: Who is your favorite Michigan Musical Theatre graduate?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
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 Ohio State’s rival. We are talking all things TTUN. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”That Team Up North” articles here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
She might not be a household name outside of musical theatre circles (yet), but there’s only one Michigan graduate I would commit light vandalism for (and, in fact, have), and that’s Tony Award Winner Celia Keenan-Bolger.
If you’ve had the great fortune of seeing four-time Tony Award nominee CKB perform live, you know she is both a person with immense star power AND tremendous range.
She has the emotional maturity and groundedness of someone wise beyond her years. She moves with the playful innocence of a small child who hasn’t yet figured out what to do with their limbs. She can make you laugh. She can break your heart. She can sing. She can blow you away with a monologue. The list goes on…
The beloved Broadway and television actress received a Tony Award nomination for her Broadway debut as Olive Ostrovsky in the 2005 William Finn musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
From there, CKB has showcased her consistent excellence in a number of Broadway shows, performing in both plays and musicals and receiving Tony nominations for her roles in “Peter and the Starcatcher” and “The Glass Menagerie.”
In 2019, Keenan-Bolger won her first Tony Award for her performance as Scout in Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of “To Kill A Mockingbird.” In a year that was stacked with star turns, Keenan-Bolger was the talk of the town. She blew audiences and critics away with her ability to convincingly play a child. She nailed not only the emotional innocence, empathy, and curiosity of Scout but also the physical mannerisms of children that are often so hard for adults to replicate (once you learn limb control, it’s hard to go back).
The thing about Keenan-Bolger that sets her apart in her work is that she is excellent in everything she does, regardless of the quality of the material. She can elevate even the most mediocre material, and she takes good material and makes it unforgettable.
And if you’ve missed her theatrical performances, not to worry — you can catch her on HBO’s “The Gilded Age,” as Mrs. Bruce, a role she will return to in Season 2 as a series regular.
But more than her superpowers onstage, it is who she is offstage that really sets Keenan-Bolger apart.
Keenan-Bolger is a tireless advocate for kindness, for leaving the world better than you found it, and for starting open and honest conversation about challenges both in the industry and in existing as humans on this planet.
Her podcast “Sunday Pancakes” is ripe with wisdom, insight, and honesty on topics such as perfectionism, social disruption, resilience, and how to have hard conversations with the people we love. Her warmth is palpable. She feels like an old friend. And she is a prime example of what it means to truly be present and listen to the people around you. She is a generous host and one you feel you can relate to in spite of her impressive resume and stack of accolades.
“Our honor defend” might be an Ohio State catchphrase, but for both who she is onstage and off, there’s no one whose honor I’m more readily prepared to defend than that of former Wolverine Celia Keenan-Bolger.
I’m going to be honest with you, had I gotten to pick first on this one, I would have gone with Celia Keenan-Bolger as well. She is not only my favorite Michigan musical theatre grad, but also one of my favorite performers. In fact, for the past seven-ish years, every time I get a text message, Celia says “Hi, Matt Tamanini,” thanks to a mutual friend who knew how much I loved her.
But, since Jami claimed my pick, I am going to broaden my scope to musical theatre folks who graduated from Michigan, regardless of program. While there are some great non-musical theatre stars I could have gone with, like James Earl Jones, Gilda Radner, Arthur Miller, Margo Martindale, and more, I wanted to stay as close to the original prompt as possible.
So, I went with four-time Tony nominee — including a win in 2021 for “A Soldier’s Play” — David Alan Grier. While most people know Grier as an incredible comedic actor in film and television, he actually got his first big break playing Jackie Robinson in a musical of the baseball barrier breaker in 1981 called ”The First.” The show was a flop, running only a total of 64 performances, but it did net three Tony nominations, including one for Grier.
He went on to replace in the original Broadway production of “Dreamgirls,” and continued to do theatre (musical, modern, and classic) before really breaking through in 1990 as a member of the iconic sketch comedy show “In Living Color.”
While Grier has starred in countless sitcoms and movies since then, he has also kept a foot in the theatre, including the musical variety. He replaced Whoopi Goldberg (who replaced Nathan Lane) in the mid-1990s revival of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” was nominated for a Tony for his work in David Mamet’s play “Race,” and was nominated again two years later in 2012 for playing Sportin’ Life in the revival of “Porgy and Bess.”
Grier will be merging his musical and film talents in the upcoming big-screen adaptation of the musical adaptation of “The Color Purple.” It is currently scheduled to be released on Christmas Day, but various strikes could push it back.
If all you know Grier from is “In Living Color,” “Martin,” Life with Bonnie,” “The Carmichael Show,” or any of his movies, you know that he is incredibly funny, but you might not know what a sensational, classically trained actor he is. After graduating from that school up north, he got a Masters of Fine Arts from Yale and did numerous Shakespearean productions early in his career. Those skills were again on display in the Broadway production of “A Soldier’s Play,” a show that he appeared in during the original Off-Broadway run in 1982 and then in the film version in 1984.
David Alan Grier has been one of the most consistent performers on both stage and screen for over four decades. He has proven is talent in comedies, dramas, and musicals, and hopefully will continue to do so for many more years to come.
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
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
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 Ohio State’s rival. We are talking all things TTUN. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”That Team Up North” articles here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
Today’s Question: Who is your favorite Michigan Musical Theatre graduate?
Jami’s Take: Celia Keenan-Bolger
She might not be a household name outside of musical theatre circles (yet), but there’s only one Michigan graduate I would commit light vandalism for (and, in fact, have), and that’s Tony Award Winner Celia Keenan-Bolger.
If you’ve had the great fortune of seeing four-time Tony Award nominee CKB perform live, you know she is both a person with immense star power AND tremendous range.
She has the emotional maturity and groundedness of someone wise beyond her years. She moves with the playful innocence of a small child who hasn’t yet figured out what to do with their limbs. She can make you laugh. She can break your heart. She can sing. She can blow you away with a monologue. The list goes on…
The beloved Broadway and television actress received a Tony Award nomination for her Broadway debut as Olive Ostrovsky in the 2005 William Finn musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
From there, CKB has showcased her consistent excellence in a number of Broadway shows, performing in both plays and musicals and receiving Tony nominations for her roles in “Peter and the Starcatcher” and “The Glass Menagerie.”
In 2019, Keenan-Bolger won her first Tony Award for her performance as Scout in Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of “To Kill A Mockingbird.” In a year that was stacked with star turns, Keenan-Bolger was the talk of the town. She blew audiences and critics away with her ability to convincingly play a child. She nailed not only the emotional innocence, empathy, and curiosity of Scout but also the physical mannerisms of children that are often so hard for adults to replicate (once you learn limb control, it’s hard to go back).
The thing about Keenan-Bolger that sets her apart in her work is that she is excellent in everything she does, regardless of the quality of the material. She can elevate even the most mediocre material, and she takes good material and makes it unforgettable.
And if you’ve missed her theatrical performances, not to worry — you can catch her on HBO’s “The Gilded Age,” as Mrs. Bruce, a role she will return to in Season 2 as a series regular.
But more than her superpowers onstage, it is who she is offstage that really sets Keenan-Bolger apart.
Keenan-Bolger is a tireless advocate for kindness, for leaving the world better than you found it, and for starting open and honest conversation about challenges both in the industry and in existing as humans on this planet.
Her podcast “Sunday Pancakes” is ripe with wisdom, insight, and honesty on topics such as perfectionism, social disruption, resilience, and how to have hard conversations with the people we love. Her warmth is palpable. She feels like an old friend. And she is a prime example of what it means to truly be present and listen to the people around you. She is a generous host and one you feel you can relate to in spite of her impressive resume and stack of accolades.
“Our honor defend” might be an Ohio State catchphrase, but for both who she is onstage and off, there’s no one whose honor I’m more readily prepared to defend than that of former Wolverine Celia Keenan-Bolger.
Matt Take: David Alan Grier
I’m going to be honest with you, had I gotten to pick first on this one, I would have gone with Celia Keenan-Bolger as well. She is not only my favorite Michigan musical theatre grad, but also one of my favorite performers. In fact, for the past seven-ish years, every time I get a text message, Celia says “Hi, Matt Tamanini,” thanks to a mutual friend who knew how much I loved her.
But, since Jami claimed my pick, I am going to broaden my scope to musical theatre folks who graduated from Michigan, regardless of program. While there are some great non-musical theatre stars I could have gone with, like James Earl Jones, Gilda Radner, Arthur Miller, Margo Martindale, and more, I wanted to stay as close to the original prompt as possible.
So, I went with four-time Tony nominee — including a win in 2021 for “A Soldier’s Play” — David Alan Grier. While most people know Grier as an incredible comedic actor in film and television, he actually got his first big break playing Jackie Robinson in a musical of the baseball barrier breaker in 1981 called ”The First.” The show was a flop, running only a total of 64 performances, but it did net three Tony nominations, including one for Grier.
He went on to replace in the original Broadway production of “Dreamgirls,” and continued to do theatre (musical, modern, and classic) before really breaking through in 1990 as a member of the iconic sketch comedy show “In Living Color.”
While Grier has starred in countless sitcoms and movies since then, he has also kept a foot in the theatre, including the musical variety. He replaced Whoopi Goldberg (who replaced Nathan Lane) in the mid-1990s revival of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” was nominated for a Tony for his work in David Mamet’s play “Race,” and was nominated again two years later in 2012 for playing Sportin’ Life in the revival of “Porgy and Bess.”
Grier will be merging his musical and film talents in the upcoming big-screen adaptation of the musical adaptation of “The Color Purple.” It is currently scheduled to be released on Christmas Day, but various strikes could push it back.
If all you know Grier from is “In Living Color,” “Martin,” Life with Bonnie,” “The Carmichael Show,” or any of his movies, you know that he is incredibly funny, but you might not know what a sensational, classically trained actor he is. After graduating from that school up north, he got a Masters of Fine Arts from Yale and did numerous Shakespearean productions early in his career. Those skills were again on display in the Broadway production of “A Soldier’s Play,” a show that he appeared in during the original Off-Broadway run in 1982 and then in the film version in 1984.
David Alan Grier has been one of the most consistent performers on both stage and screen for over four decades. He has proven is talent in comedies, dramas, and musicals, and hopefully will continue to do so for many more years to come.
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