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LGHL Most impactful transfers for Ohio State football in the Transfer Portal era
- News
- 0 Replies
Most impactful transfers for Ohio State football in the Transfer Portal era
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images
The transfer portal is a mainstay in college football at this point and you can’t tell Ohio State’s story under Ryan Day without it.
College football has changed immensely since the transfer portal was instituted back in 2018. New legislation in 2021 created the opportunity for players to transfer one time without sitting out a year creating a new element in both recruiting and the offseason to follow.
Ohio State has not been reliant on the transfer portal, and many fans believe the Buckeyes should be doing more to fill in perceived weak links on the roster. The Buckeyes have stayed strong in the mindset of only bringing in a transfer that is a culture fit and a significantly better option than what is already on the roster.
Looking back at the past few seasons since the transfer portal opened there were some significant transfers in – and out– of the program. This year the crop of talent coming in from the portal includes Freshman All-SEC corner Davison Igbinosun; All-ACC safety Ja’Had Carter; and versatile offensive lineman in Victor Cutler. On paper, they fit the profile of what Ohio State looks for in transfers, and the importance comes because Ohio State is losing a significant amount of players to the portal as well.
The plan has netted success for the Buckeyes, and for Ohio State keeping up starts with strengthening the roster by any means necessary. Sticking to the plan has worked out and the list of impactful transfers is long. Time will tell with the group that came in, but looking back the portal has been a focal point of Ohio State’s story over recent years.
Tanner McCalister
When Jim Knowles was brought in, the immediate question for fans was, who is Knowles bringing over from Oklahoma State? That answer came in the form of Tanner McCalister who brought experience in Knowles’ system. Coming in, there wasn’t a lot of expectations on what he was bringing outside of knowledge, but McCalister did end up becoming a reliable starter in the Big Ten.
His impact was felt early in the season, with his comfortability in the scheme he brought a steady hand to the secondary. In this past season, McCalister had three interceptions and 24 tackles. The steadiness kept him in the rotation, but the impact he provided early was not there at the end of the year as the secondary as a whole collapsed down the stretch. This was not the most impactful transfer, but the Buckeyes would have been in a significantly worse place to start the season without McCalister in the fold.
Jameson Williams
One of the two most significant transfers to leave the program, James Williams went on to star at Alabama winning the Biletnikoff. At Ohio State, Williams was a third receiver in the shortened six-game season making his impact for the Buckeyes feel small. His touchdown against Clemson was a sign that there was more to come, but that wasn’t at Ohio State.
Williams transferring ended up not hurting the Buckeyes too much when Chris Olave announced he was returning for his senior season at Ohio State, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba breaking out the next season. But the Williams transfer ended with a story the Buckeyes are all too familiar with. A player has significant success after leaving the program, Williams was a first-round selection getting selected right behind Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Williams' impact adds to Hartline as an ultra-developer at the position, but it also gives opposing fans a place to take credit where Ohio State couldn’t – which to me is the worst type of impact.
Jonah Jackson
An underrated transfer was Jonah Jackson leaving Rutgers for Ohio State. Entering the graduate transfer portal, Jackson was one of the earliest additions the Buckeyes made from the portal. Jackson came to Ohio State with 36 starts under his belt and accolades including making an All-Big Ten team. He provided stability to a unit that has multiple first-time starters including Wyatt Davis, Josh Myers, and Branden Bowen.
Having success at Rutgers did not get people excited, but the level of play that Jackson brought to Ohio State was exactly what the Buckeyes needed. Jackson was part of the playoff team that lost to Clemson but was a key figure in the first year under head coach Ryan Day. Jackson was a first All-Big Ten performer and provided a bridge that was needed on the offensive line for the Buckeyes.
Joe Burrow
The most significant transfer out of the program is obvious, Joe Burrow leaving for LSU. Burrow narrowly lost the starting job to Dwayne Haskins Jr. after breaking his hand in Spring Practice. That history is well known because as we all know Burrow went on to dominate college football, win the Heisman Trophy, and win a national championship.
Ohio State ended up with Dwayne Haskins who owns most of the single-season passing records for the Buckeyes and Justin Fields who led Ohio State to back-to-back playoff appearances. Without knowing what Joe Burrow would become, the Buckeyes ended up with an incredible three-year stretch. The impact was culturally the most significant, Joe Burrow is a Buckeye, and many fans across the country will never accept it. Now every Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals play, there is always a pocket on the internet arguing about who can claim Burrow.
Trey Sermon
Now on the field, Trey Sermon had the greatest two-game stretch in Ohio State history from the running back position. In eight games, Sermon had 870 yards and four touchdowns for the Buckeyes. To start the year Sermon was sold, but just wasn’t having the explosive that was billed when he arrived. Out of nowhere, the former Oklahoma Sooner entered his name into the Ohio State record books.
Sermon ran for 331 yards in the Big Ten Championship game breaking Eddie George’s record in the process. He followed that up with 193 yards and a touchdown against Clemson leading the Buckeyes to revenge in the 2020 playoffs. Despite coming in during the shortened COVID season, Sermon’s impact led the Buckeyes to the highest the program had been since winning the national title, and even though the time was short, Sermon’s place in Buckeye lore stands tall making him one of the most significant transfers Ohio State has brought in.
Justin Fields
The transfer of Justin Fields was by far the most significant in the portal era. Ohio State was going through the tumultuous end to the Urban Meyer era and was in an odd place at the quarterback position when Ryan Day took over. When stories in the South began to arise that Fields was looking to enter the portal and seek immediate eligibility, the math was perfect with Ohio State needing a quarterback.
When Fields arrived the expectations were high, the former No. 2 overall recruit in the 247sports composite – behind only Trevor Lawrence who won a national title with Clemson – was now at Ohio State. Fields had an incredible first season leading the Buckeyes to the playoff, a Big Ten title, and a win over Michigan. In his second season, he saved the Big Ten football season and was triumphant in leading the Buckeyes in a revenge win over Clemson. Fields was a legend for the Buckeyes and the most vital player brought into the program in the Ryan Day era. Without Fields, the program might be in a different place, and that is why the significance of his transfer raises the expectation of every player Ohio State brings in.
The transfer portal has become an entire segment of college football, and the Buckeyes have had to get involved with it. Since the transfer portal was created in 2018, Ohio State has brought in its share of players. Some players have been role players, but the Buckeyes have found and lost stars to the portal.
In hindsight, the Buckeyes have done a great job of bringing in impact transfers. This is why the expectations are high whenever the portal opens because the Buckeyes have found a ton of success in evaluating players to fit the program. Roster management has completely changed over the last four seasons and the Buckeyes have done their best to navigate this area of the sport.
With the addition of NIL to the landscape, there is another variable in the importance of the transfer portal. Making every player brought in and lost that much more significant.
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
Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images
The transfer portal is a mainstay in college football at this point and you can’t tell Ohio State’s story under Ryan Day without it.
College football has changed immensely since the transfer portal was instituted back in 2018. New legislation in 2021 created the opportunity for players to transfer one time without sitting out a year creating a new element in both recruiting and the offseason to follow.
Ohio State has not been reliant on the transfer portal, and many fans believe the Buckeyes should be doing more to fill in perceived weak links on the roster. The Buckeyes have stayed strong in the mindset of only bringing in a transfer that is a culture fit and a significantly better option than what is already on the roster.
Looking back at the past few seasons since the transfer portal opened there were some significant transfers in – and out– of the program. This year the crop of talent coming in from the portal includes Freshman All-SEC corner Davison Igbinosun; All-ACC safety Ja’Had Carter; and versatile offensive lineman in Victor Cutler. On paper, they fit the profile of what Ohio State looks for in transfers, and the importance comes because Ohio State is losing a significant amount of players to the portal as well.
The plan has netted success for the Buckeyes, and for Ohio State keeping up starts with strengthening the roster by any means necessary. Sticking to the plan has worked out and the list of impactful transfers is long. Time will tell with the group that came in, but looking back the portal has been a focal point of Ohio State’s story over recent years.
Tanner McCalister
When Jim Knowles was brought in, the immediate question for fans was, who is Knowles bringing over from Oklahoma State? That answer came in the form of Tanner McCalister who brought experience in Knowles’ system. Coming in, there wasn’t a lot of expectations on what he was bringing outside of knowledge, but McCalister did end up becoming a reliable starter in the Big Ten.
His impact was felt early in the season, with his comfortability in the scheme he brought a steady hand to the secondary. In this past season, McCalister had three interceptions and 24 tackles. The steadiness kept him in the rotation, but the impact he provided early was not there at the end of the year as the secondary as a whole collapsed down the stretch. This was not the most impactful transfer, but the Buckeyes would have been in a significantly worse place to start the season without McCalister in the fold.
Jameson Williams
One of the two most significant transfers to leave the program, James Williams went on to star at Alabama winning the Biletnikoff. At Ohio State, Williams was a third receiver in the shortened six-game season making his impact for the Buckeyes feel small. His touchdown against Clemson was a sign that there was more to come, but that wasn’t at Ohio State.
Williams transferring ended up not hurting the Buckeyes too much when Chris Olave announced he was returning for his senior season at Ohio State, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba breaking out the next season. But the Williams transfer ended with a story the Buckeyes are all too familiar with. A player has significant success after leaving the program, Williams was a first-round selection getting selected right behind Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Williams' impact adds to Hartline as an ultra-developer at the position, but it also gives opposing fans a place to take credit where Ohio State couldn’t – which to me is the worst type of impact.
Jonah Jackson
An underrated transfer was Jonah Jackson leaving Rutgers for Ohio State. Entering the graduate transfer portal, Jackson was one of the earliest additions the Buckeyes made from the portal. Jackson came to Ohio State with 36 starts under his belt and accolades including making an All-Big Ten team. He provided stability to a unit that has multiple first-time starters including Wyatt Davis, Josh Myers, and Branden Bowen.
Having success at Rutgers did not get people excited, but the level of play that Jackson brought to Ohio State was exactly what the Buckeyes needed. Jackson was part of the playoff team that lost to Clemson but was a key figure in the first year under head coach Ryan Day. Jackson was a first All-Big Ten performer and provided a bridge that was needed on the offensive line for the Buckeyes.
Joe Burrow
The most significant transfer out of the program is obvious, Joe Burrow leaving for LSU. Burrow narrowly lost the starting job to Dwayne Haskins Jr. after breaking his hand in Spring Practice. That history is well known because as we all know Burrow went on to dominate college football, win the Heisman Trophy, and win a national championship.
Ohio State ended up with Dwayne Haskins who owns most of the single-season passing records for the Buckeyes and Justin Fields who led Ohio State to back-to-back playoff appearances. Without knowing what Joe Burrow would become, the Buckeyes ended up with an incredible three-year stretch. The impact was culturally the most significant, Joe Burrow is a Buckeye, and many fans across the country will never accept it. Now every Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals play, there is always a pocket on the internet arguing about who can claim Burrow.
Trey Sermon
Now on the field, Trey Sermon had the greatest two-game stretch in Ohio State history from the running back position. In eight games, Sermon had 870 yards and four touchdowns for the Buckeyes. To start the year Sermon was sold, but just wasn’t having the explosive that was billed when he arrived. Out of nowhere, the former Oklahoma Sooner entered his name into the Ohio State record books.
Sermon ran for 331 yards in the Big Ten Championship game breaking Eddie George’s record in the process. He followed that up with 193 yards and a touchdown against Clemson leading the Buckeyes to revenge in the 2020 playoffs. Despite coming in during the shortened COVID season, Sermon’s impact led the Buckeyes to the highest the program had been since winning the national title, and even though the time was short, Sermon’s place in Buckeye lore stands tall making him one of the most significant transfers Ohio State has brought in.
Justin Fields
The transfer of Justin Fields was by far the most significant in the portal era. Ohio State was going through the tumultuous end to the Urban Meyer era and was in an odd place at the quarterback position when Ryan Day took over. When stories in the South began to arise that Fields was looking to enter the portal and seek immediate eligibility, the math was perfect with Ohio State needing a quarterback.
When Fields arrived the expectations were high, the former No. 2 overall recruit in the 247sports composite – behind only Trevor Lawrence who won a national title with Clemson – was now at Ohio State. Fields had an incredible first season leading the Buckeyes to the playoff, a Big Ten title, and a win over Michigan. In his second season, he saved the Big Ten football season and was triumphant in leading the Buckeyes in a revenge win over Clemson. Fields was a legend for the Buckeyes and the most vital player brought into the program in the Ryan Day era. Without Fields, the program might be in a different place, and that is why the significance of his transfer raises the expectation of every player Ohio State brings in.
The transfer portal has become an entire segment of college football, and the Buckeyes have had to get involved with it. Since the transfer portal was created in 2018, Ohio State has brought in its share of players. Some players have been role players, but the Buckeyes have found and lost stars to the portal.
In hindsight, the Buckeyes have done a great job of bringing in impact transfers. This is why the expectations are high whenever the portal opens because the Buckeyes have found a ton of success in evaluating players to fit the program. Roster management has completely changed over the last four seasons and the Buckeyes have done their best to navigate this area of the sport.
With the addition of NIL to the landscape, there is another variable in the importance of the transfer portal. Making every player brought in and lost that much more significant.
Continue reading...
LGHL Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for February 21, 2023
- News
- 0 Replies
Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for February 21, 2023
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
OSU’s Ryan Day on NIL, transfer portal and desire for new facility (paywall)
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Assessing Year 1 of Jim Knowles’ defense and the focus for Year 2 (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
Ohio State’s Second-Year Defensive Linemen Could Play Significant Roles in 2023 Rotation
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Most impactful transfers for Ohio State football in the Transfer Portal era
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land
You’re Nuts: What are you most looking forward to from spring practice?
Josh Dooley and Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
The Ohio State Spring Game got weird a decade ago
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land
No. 16 Ohio State women beat No. 12 Michigan 74-61, secure double-bye in Big Ten Tournament
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Women’s Basketball: McMahon Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week
Ohio State Athletics
Ohio State’s Chris Holtmann talks Purdue, Zed Key and more on radio
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Zed Key, family have decision ‘in terms of what’s the next direction to go in’ with shoulder injury
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
We’ll talk about this later: Celebrity games and ‘Space Jam’
Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land
Women’s Ice Hockey: Bizal, Maltais Garner Final WCHA Player of the Week Awards
Ohio State Athletics
This was the best thing to happen to me in weeks:
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
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
OSU’s Ryan Day on NIL, transfer portal and desire for new facility (paywall)
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Assessing Year 1 of Jim Knowles’ defense and the focus for Year 2 (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
Ohio State’s Second-Year Defensive Linemen Could Play Significant Roles in 2023 Rotation
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Most impactful transfers for Ohio State football in the Transfer Portal era
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land
You’re Nuts: What are you most looking forward to from spring practice?
Josh Dooley and Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
The Ohio State Spring Game got weird a decade ago
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land
On the Hardwood
No. 16 Ohio State women beat No. 12 Michigan 74-61, secure double-bye in Big Ten Tournament
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land
Women’s Basketball: McMahon Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week
Ohio State Athletics
Ohio State’s Chris Holtmann talks Purdue, Zed Key and more on radio
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch
Zed Key, family have decision ‘in terms of what’s the next direction to go in’ with shoulder injury
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
We’ll talk about this later: Celebrity games and ‘Space Jam’
Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Women’s Ice Hockey: Bizal, Maltais Garner Final WCHA Player of the Week Awards
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
This was the best thing to happen to me in weeks:
Continue reading...
LGHL Softball Bucks had rough weekend at Clemson
- News
- 0 Replies
Softball Bucks had rough weekend at Clemson
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
@OhioStateSB Twitter
Ohio State went 1-3, with a couple of ugly losses.
It’s looking like it is taking a bit of time for the softball Buckeyes to find their groove, as they are now 3-5 on the season. After splitting a two-game series with Notre Dame this past weekend and losing to Clemson twice, it’ll be interesting to see what changes are made next weekend.
Notre Dame series
During the first game against the Fighting Irish, Ohio State really struggled to string together any offense. The team totaled just four hits, and Destinee Noury had both RBIs. She’s actually going to be an interesting player to watch, as she played in just four games last season, but has already started about half of the games this season. First baseman Niki Carver graduated last year, so the Bucks need a replacement and Noury has been filling in just fine.
On the other side of the ball, lefty Allison Smith got the start. She had a great first three innings, but then things fell apart in the 4th. A three-run home run gave ND the one-run lead. Then, freshman Lexi Paulsen took over in the 5th before giving up her own three-run home run in the 6th. Ohio State simply had no answer.
So, with a lack of offense and pitching struggles, the Buckeyes took the L, 7-2. However, they came back Saturday ready to rebound, and that they did in exciting fashion. It took nine innings, but Ohio State won 6-5 thanks to some key players on offense and a solid bullpen job by redshirt freshman Kennedy Kay.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24447232/Screen_Shot_2023_02_20_at_3.28.10_PM.png)
Zachary Rilley, The Lantern Photo Editor
Junior Emily Ruck got the start and went three innings, giving up five hits and three runs, Kay came in the 4th and gave up a run, putting the Buckeyes into a 4-0 deficit. However, super-senior centerfielder Meggie Otte came through with a 2-RBIs triple to cut the Irish’s lead in half. Kay gave up a solo shot in the 5th, but that would be the last run ND would get in the game, as Kay shut the offense down.
Freshman catcher Hannah Church was the hero in this one. First, she knocked in a run with her RBI double, then she scored on a bases-loaded walk, narrowing the margin to one. Otte continued her big day with a RBI double in the 6th to tie the game at five. Fast forward to the bottom of the 9th, Church’s walk-off RBI double gave the Bucks the win. What a big day for the fifth-year and the first-year!
Clemson series
The second game of the day on Saturday was not as exciting, as once again, the Buckeyes produced very minimal offense. Facing Clemson, the scarlet and gray only had three hits in 24 at-bats. Smith got the start once again, and while she had double-digit strikeouts, she also gave up five runs in the 5-1 loss.
An error resulting in a run and a fielder’s choice leading to a run put the Tigers up 2-1 in the 3rd inning. However, the crushing blow came the next inning by way of a three-run home run off Smith. She pitched a complete game, giving up five runs off six hits, seven walks and 11 strikeouts. It was really just those two innings she struggled, as she was otherwise pretty dominant, but that’s all a team needs to take a lead.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24447236/Screen_Shot_2023_02_20_at_3.30.20_PM.png)
Ohio State Athletic Department
Saving the worst for last, the Bucks ended the weekend by way of a 10-0 run-rule loss to the Tigers. The team went 2-for-17 at the plate, and use three pitchers during the five innings played.
Ruck started and didn’t record a single out. She really struggled and gave up two home runs right off the bat. Kay came in to pitch and immediately gave up a home run. She settled in for a few innings, as it was 5-0 at the start of the 5th before things got ugly.
The freshman gave up a three-run home run before freshman Julia Miller made her collegiate pitching debut. She gave up a two-RBI single to give the Tigers their ninth and 10th runs, and the Buckeyes couldn’t respond.
I think the main takeaway is that this team just needs time. They’ve only been playing for two weeks and there has been some positives. All around softball, the women are getting used to playing again, as there have been upsets GALORE! Even No. 1 Oklahoma was taken down by Baylor on Sunday.
The freshmen pitchers are getting some innings in, the team is facing some solid pitching and they are getting the reps in. Next weekend, they head to the Mary Nutter Classic in California for a four-game slate. Let’s see if the Bucks can have a bounce-back series.
Continue reading...
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
@OhioStateSB Twitter
Ohio State went 1-3, with a couple of ugly losses.
It’s looking like it is taking a bit of time for the softball Buckeyes to find their groove, as they are now 3-5 on the season. After splitting a two-game series with Notre Dame this past weekend and losing to Clemson twice, it’ll be interesting to see what changes are made next weekend.
Notre Dame series
During the first game against the Fighting Irish, Ohio State really struggled to string together any offense. The team totaled just four hits, and Destinee Noury had both RBIs. She’s actually going to be an interesting player to watch, as she played in just four games last season, but has already started about half of the games this season. First baseman Niki Carver graduated last year, so the Bucks need a replacement and Noury has been filling in just fine.
On the other side of the ball, lefty Allison Smith got the start. She had a great first three innings, but then things fell apart in the 4th. A three-run home run gave ND the one-run lead. Then, freshman Lexi Paulsen took over in the 5th before giving up her own three-run home run in the 6th. Ohio State simply had no answer.
So, with a lack of offense and pitching struggles, the Buckeyes took the L, 7-2. However, they came back Saturday ready to rebound, and that they did in exciting fashion. It took nine innings, but Ohio State won 6-5 thanks to some key players on offense and a solid bullpen job by redshirt freshman Kennedy Kay.
Junior Emily Ruck got the start and went three innings, giving up five hits and three runs, Kay came in the 4th and gave up a run, putting the Buckeyes into a 4-0 deficit. However, super-senior centerfielder Meggie Otte came through with a 2-RBIs triple to cut the Irish’s lead in half. Kay gave up a solo shot in the 5th, but that would be the last run ND would get in the game, as Kay shut the offense down.
Freshman catcher Hannah Church was the hero in this one. First, she knocked in a run with her RBI double, then she scored on a bases-loaded walk, narrowing the margin to one. Otte continued her big day with a RBI double in the 6th to tie the game at five. Fast forward to the bottom of the 9th, Church’s walk-off RBI double gave the Bucks the win. What a big day for the fifth-year and the first-year!
Clemson series
The second game of the day on Saturday was not as exciting, as once again, the Buckeyes produced very minimal offense. Facing Clemson, the scarlet and gray only had three hits in 24 at-bats. Smith got the start once again, and while she had double-digit strikeouts, she also gave up five runs in the 5-1 loss.
An error resulting in a run and a fielder’s choice leading to a run put the Tigers up 2-1 in the 3rd inning. However, the crushing blow came the next inning by way of a three-run home run off Smith. She pitched a complete game, giving up five runs off six hits, seven walks and 11 strikeouts. It was really just those two innings she struggled, as she was otherwise pretty dominant, but that’s all a team needs to take a lead.
Saving the worst for last, the Bucks ended the weekend by way of a 10-0 run-rule loss to the Tigers. The team went 2-for-17 at the plate, and use three pitchers during the five innings played.
Ruck started and didn’t record a single out. She really struggled and gave up two home runs right off the bat. Kay came in to pitch and immediately gave up a home run. She settled in for a few innings, as it was 5-0 at the start of the 5th before things got ugly.
The freshman gave up a three-run home run before freshman Julia Miller made her collegiate pitching debut. She gave up a two-RBI single to give the Tigers their ninth and 10th runs, and the Buckeyes couldn’t respond.
I think the main takeaway is that this team just needs time. They’ve only been playing for two weeks and there has been some positives. All around softball, the women are getting used to playing again, as there have been upsets GALORE! Even No. 1 Oklahoma was taken down by Baylor on Sunday.
The freshmen pitchers are getting some innings in, the team is facing some solid pitching and they are getting the reps in. Next weekend, they head to the Mary Nutter Classic in California for a four-game slate. Let’s see if the Bucks can have a bounce-back series.
Continue reading...
2025 GA OT Dontrell Glover (Georgia Signee)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 4 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2025
School: Fairburn (GA) Langston Hughes
Postion: OT
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 293lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2025
School: Fairburn (GA) Langston Hughes
Postion: OT
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 293lbs
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2024 MA OL Guerby Lambert (Notre Dame Verbal)
- By MD Buckeye
- Football Recruiting
- 19 Replies
247 Profile
Rivals Profile
On3 Profile
HUDL Highlights
Catholic Memorial (West Roxbury, MA)
Ht: 6'7"
Wt: 280 lbs
Class: 2024 (High School)
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Rivals Profile
On3 Profile
HUDL Highlights
Catholic Memorial (West Roxbury, MA)
Ht: 6'7"
Wt: 280 lbs
Class: 2024 (High School)
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2024 GA S Jakob Gude (UCF Verbal)
- By pnuts34
- Football Recruiting
- 1 Replies
247
Rivals
Twitter
HudL
Class: 2024
School: Fairburn(GA) Langston Hughes
Position: S
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 183lbs
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Rivals
HudL
Class: 2024
School: Fairburn(GA) Langston Hughes
Position: S
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 183lbs
Login to view embedded media
LGHL You’re Nuts: Which Ohio State athlete, past or present, would you like to see in a dunk contest?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Which Ohio State athlete, past or present, would you like to see in a dunk contest?
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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
The NBA’s All-Star Weekend was held over the weekend in Salt Lake City. Unlike last year when Jae’Sean Tate was a participant in the Rising Stars Challenge, no former Ohio State Buckeyes were involved in any of this year’s festivities in Utah. We still have no idea how Malaki Branham was playing in the Rising Stars Challenge, especially with how he has been playing over the last month for San Antonio. If Branham continues his upward trajectory, it will be impossible for the NBA to keep him out of the game next season.
Even though it doesn’t have quite as much notoriety as it used to, the Slam Dunk Contest is always a highlight of NBA All-Star Weekend. Gone are the days when we saw some of the best players in the NBA take part in the dunk contest, and instead we get some role players and end-of-the-bench guys trying to make a name for themselves by winning the crown. Honestly, how many people had heard of Mac McClung before Saturday?
While Ohio State has been a part of pretty much every part of All-Star Weekend over the years, there has never been a former Buckeye in the dunk contest. Even though he never played in the league, the NBA missed the boat by not letting Sam Thompson participate. There have been a number of other Buckeyes over the years who should have been in the contest, but hopefully in the future an Ohio State hooper will be tabbed to be a part of the annual event.
Today we aren’t going to ask what former Ohio State basketball player should have been a dunk contest participant. If you remember back in 2017, there was a dunk contest held by the football team that ended up being more riveting than the actual NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Since there are plenty of phenomenal Buckeye athletes, we want to know what present or former Ohio State athlete you’d most like to see in a dunk contest.
My initial thought when we came up with this question was Dawand Jones. Even though the future NFL offensive lineman is a mountain of a man, the dunk contest isn’t usually kind to big guys. Aside from Dwight Howard, it’s pretty rare to see notable big men do well in this type of contest because their smaller opponents can wow crowds more. Now if Dawand can start hitting three-pointers on a regular basis, I’d be all for seeing him participate in a three-point contest.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24447457/1209733562.jpg "NFL Combine - Day 6")
Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
While creativity is important in a dunk contest, it also helps to have a crazy vertical. Former Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah posted a 41-inch vertical jump at the NFL Combine in 2020. Okudah’s dunks would pop almost as much as McClung’s did, since even though McClung’s vertical is a couple inches higher, Okudah is an inch shorter than McClung. Any current or former cornerbacks or wide receivers are going to have a huge advantage in a dunk contest over their teammates since they are asked to go up for the football more than anyone else on the field.
I know there are a ton of other great athletes playing other sports at Ohio State, but it just feels like the skills of football players translate the easiest onto the basketball court. It’s hard to see a hockey player, baseball player, or swimmer creating as much buzz in a dunk contest as a football player. Not that I’m trying to slight those that can’t, especially since I would be a complete failure in a dunk contest, there just seems to be more football players that are successful on the basketball court than any other sports.
Wide receivers probably have a natural advantage when it comes to dunking contests. They’ve got the hops and the ball skills. They also have practice dunking over goal posts after touchdowns. We saw this skill in action with some elite wide outs on the hardcourt at the NBA’s All-Star weekend when Calvin Johnson and DK Metcalf played in the celebrity game.
When it comes to Ohio State players who would be thrilling to watch in a dunk contest, we have to go no further than Marvin Harrison Jr. Standing at 6-foot-4, 205-pounds, Harrison has a size advantage over current NBA dunk champion, Mac McLung. That size, combined with his athleticism in going vertical, would be a natural advantage to being able to dunk.
But the dunk contest isn’t about getting to the rim — it’s about getting there with style. Even beyond Harrison’s Louis Vuitton cleats, his ball skills are just extra. How can we forget that catch against Indiana?
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24193539/usa_today_19422574.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Brooke LaValley / USA TODAY NETWORK
That style, grace and flexibility get called into action when Harrison is matched up against defensive backs because he is a wizard who can manage to catch the ball even in the most pressing of coverages. In other words, when he has to go high, low or to the side so he can complete the catch, Harrison makes it fancy. Just imagine what he could do with an open court and no defender.
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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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
The NBA’s All-Star Weekend was held over the weekend in Salt Lake City. Unlike last year when Jae’Sean Tate was a participant in the Rising Stars Challenge, no former Ohio State Buckeyes were involved in any of this year’s festivities in Utah. We still have no idea how Malaki Branham was playing in the Rising Stars Challenge, especially with how he has been playing over the last month for San Antonio. If Branham continues his upward trajectory, it will be impossible for the NBA to keep him out of the game next season.
Even though it doesn’t have quite as much notoriety as it used to, the Slam Dunk Contest is always a highlight of NBA All-Star Weekend. Gone are the days when we saw some of the best players in the NBA take part in the dunk contest, and instead we get some role players and end-of-the-bench guys trying to make a name for themselves by winning the crown. Honestly, how many people had heard of Mac McClung before Saturday?
While Ohio State has been a part of pretty much every part of All-Star Weekend over the years, there has never been a former Buckeye in the dunk contest. Even though he never played in the league, the NBA missed the boat by not letting Sam Thompson participate. There have been a number of other Buckeyes over the years who should have been in the contest, but hopefully in the future an Ohio State hooper will be tabbed to be a part of the annual event.
Today we aren’t going to ask what former Ohio State basketball player should have been a dunk contest participant. If you remember back in 2017, there was a dunk contest held by the football team that ended up being more riveting than the actual NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Since there are plenty of phenomenal Buckeye athletes, we want to know what present or former Ohio State athlete you’d most like to see in a dunk contest.
Today’s question: Which Ohio State athlete, past or present, would you like to see in a dunk contest?
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: Jeff Okudah
My initial thought when we came up with this question was Dawand Jones. Even though the future NFL offensive lineman is a mountain of a man, the dunk contest isn’t usually kind to big guys. Aside from Dwight Howard, it’s pretty rare to see notable big men do well in this type of contest because their smaller opponents can wow crowds more. Now if Dawand can start hitting three-pointers on a regular basis, I’d be all for seeing him participate in a three-point contest.
While creativity is important in a dunk contest, it also helps to have a crazy vertical. Former Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah posted a 41-inch vertical jump at the NFL Combine in 2020. Okudah’s dunks would pop almost as much as McClung’s did, since even though McClung’s vertical is a couple inches higher, Okudah is an inch shorter than McClung. Any current or former cornerbacks or wide receivers are going to have a huge advantage in a dunk contest over their teammates since they are asked to go up for the football more than anyone else on the field.
I know there are a ton of other great athletes playing other sports at Ohio State, but it just feels like the skills of football players translate the easiest onto the basketball court. It’s hard to see a hockey player, baseball player, or swimmer creating as much buzz in a dunk contest as a football player. Not that I’m trying to slight those that can’t, especially since I would be a complete failure in a dunk contest, there just seems to be more football players that are successful on the basketball court than any other sports.
Meredith’s answer: Marvin Harrison Jr.
Wide receivers probably have a natural advantage when it comes to dunking contests. They’ve got the hops and the ball skills. They also have practice dunking over goal posts after touchdowns. We saw this skill in action with some elite wide outs on the hardcourt at the NBA’s All-Star weekend when Calvin Johnson and DK Metcalf played in the celebrity game.
When it comes to Ohio State players who would be thrilling to watch in a dunk contest, we have to go no further than Marvin Harrison Jr. Standing at 6-foot-4, 205-pounds, Harrison has a size advantage over current NBA dunk champion, Mac McLung. That size, combined with his athleticism in going vertical, would be a natural advantage to being able to dunk.
But the dunk contest isn’t about getting to the rim — it’s about getting there with style. Even beyond Harrison’s Louis Vuitton cleats, his ball skills are just extra. How can we forget that catch against Indiana?
That style, grace and flexibility get called into action when Harrison is matched up against defensive backs because he is a wizard who can manage to catch the ball even in the most pressing of coverages. In other words, when he has to go high, low or to the side so he can complete the catch, Harrison makes it fancy. Just imagine what he could do with an open court and no defender.
Continue reading...
LGHL An in-state pipeline that deserves more recognition for it’s recruiting success
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An in-state pipeline that deserves more recognition for it’s recruiting success
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Why Huber Heights Wayne is a key program for Ohio State
Recruiting pipelines don’t happen often, but when they do it can be a real game changer for any football program. With how many big time prospects there are each year, having one or two P5 athletes at a specific high school is a real accomplishment for most prep programs.
There are some outliers, and more national powers such as IMG Academy, St. John Bosco, and St. Thomas Aquinas have several DI recruits every year, but for most high schools across the country, one a year is typically an over the top kind of measure.
Speaking from some personal experience here as a high school coach, this past season we had one DI football player — and that was on a team that won a state championship this year. That said, this specific player was only one of just a few DI signees in our program in the last several years. It’s hard to get to that level of college football, and while several programs make it look easy every recruiting cycle, the fact of the matter is a recruiting pipeline is rare, and when they’re available, it’s a big advantage.
In Ohio State’s case, a couple of high schools stick out when thinking about the term “pipeline”. Surely Cleveland Glenville is atop of the list with players like Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr., Cardale Jones, Marshon Lattimore, and more over the years, but more national programs like the aforementioned St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida fit that mold too. The Bosa brothers most notably, but with how often the Buckeyes are active at STA, that pipeline idea still applies.
In this case though, the focus is on one specific Ohio high school program that may not get the recognition it deserves when talking about a pipeline and how many players have attended this school only to play at the next level for the Buckeyes. I’ll admit, there is some bias here as someone whose grandfather and father taught at the school and graduated from there, but there’s also a lot of truth to making it an Ohio State pipeline.
Just north of Dayton, Ohio, Huber Heights Wayne High School has been a major help to the Buckeyes and their recruiting efforts. Sending some highly touted and very notable players to Columbus over the years, and in general to the college ranks, the Warriors just don’t get the recognition they deserve.
Not a school that’s slighted by any means however, the attention Wayne should get could be at the same level of the Glenville’s of the world, or even other Ohio programs such as the Pickerington schools or the Catholic powers like Cincinnati Moeller, Cleveland St. Ignatius, Lakewood St. Edward and on down the list. Again, Wayne isn’t scoffed at, but in this light they should receive more praise.
Right off the bat, Braxton Miller jumps out as one of the most popular players to play for Ohio State in the last two decades or more. Whether it was at quarterback at the start of the Urban Meyer era or even at receiver, Miller will always be amongst the Buckeye favorites, and his career at Wayne cannot be overlooked. Taking the Warriors in his senior year to the state finals, Braxton was one of the most electric high school players in the country, and committing to Jim Tressel in 2010 as the top player in Ohio in his class was just the beginning.
Once in Columbus, he was thrown into the fire a bit during the 2011 season having to start under center as a true freshman, but in 2012 the Miller show really began to take off. It’s true that Miller didn’t get to finish his time at Ohio State how he’d have liked to, but leaving as a national champion and one of the more decorated quarterbacks Ohio State has seen, his career at Ohio State made a huge impact on the program, and that’s once again a big credit to Huber Heights Wayne.
Next on the list, Marcus Freeman is an easy one just like Miller. The former Ohio State linebacker was a two-time second team All-Big Ten selection and finished in the top 20 for tackles all time for the Buckeyes. Now at Notre Dame as the head coach of the Irish, Freeman is arguably one of the more impressive Ohio State alums when it comes to their career path outside just their playing days.
The Buckeyes will see Freeman again this fall just as they did this past season, and while there’s some tension between the two parties now having to compete against each other on the field directly and off the field in recruiting, Marcus is still one of the more well-known Warriors to have a great career for the Buckeyes and a major piece to the pipeline Wayne has build to Columbus.
Moving right along, you can’t leave out Will Allen when discussing Wayne graduates to play major roles for Ohio State. A 2002 national champion for the Buckeyes, Allen was a consensus All-American and first team All-Big Ten selection at defensive back. A fourth round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft as well, Allen shows why he makes this list as an easy addition.
The former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Pittsburgh Steeler, and Dallas Cowboy, Will was just before Freeman at Wayne, and that gave Ohio State two major defensive talents from the same prep program that not only played in starting roles, but were legitimate game changers for Tressel’s teams.
The three names mentioned above will steal most of the attention, there’s also been some more recent Warriors to head to Columbus. Guys such as Robert “BB” Landers still should receive some major dues for their Ohio State careers. An under-rated player in high school, Landers dominated during his senior season, earning an offer from the Buckeyes. Even with his shorter stature, Landers played a big time role for Larry Johnson’s defensive line down the stretch and cements himself on this list.
Additionally, players like L’Christian “Blue” Smith, though he transferred, was one of the top receivers in his class to commit to Ohio State. Just this past recruiting cycle, Wayne once again helped the Buckeyes out when offensive lineman Joshua Padilla was the first member of the 2023 class for Ohio State.
Simply put, Huber Heights Wayne is a powerhouse when it comes to churning out P5 caliber talent as an in-state Ohio high school program. Though it may not be directly to Ohio State every year, the amount of players coming out of Wayne and signing to DI schools is nothing short of impressive.
Over the years, the Buckeyes have really struck a goldmine with multiple players at Wayne, and though it may not repeat itself in 2024 or 2025, the Warriors and their track record point to it being just a matter of time before they give Ohio State another elite player.
Wayne is very much a pipeline for Ohio State, and that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Why Huber Heights Wayne is a key program for Ohio State
Recruiting pipelines don’t happen often, but when they do it can be a real game changer for any football program. With how many big time prospects there are each year, having one or two P5 athletes at a specific high school is a real accomplishment for most prep programs.
There are some outliers, and more national powers such as IMG Academy, St. John Bosco, and St. Thomas Aquinas have several DI recruits every year, but for most high schools across the country, one a year is typically an over the top kind of measure.
Speaking from some personal experience here as a high school coach, this past season we had one DI football player — and that was on a team that won a state championship this year. That said, this specific player was only one of just a few DI signees in our program in the last several years. It’s hard to get to that level of college football, and while several programs make it look easy every recruiting cycle, the fact of the matter is a recruiting pipeline is rare, and when they’re available, it’s a big advantage.
In Ohio State’s case, a couple of high schools stick out when thinking about the term “pipeline”. Surely Cleveland Glenville is atop of the list with players like Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr., Cardale Jones, Marshon Lattimore, and more over the years, but more national programs like the aforementioned St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida fit that mold too. The Bosa brothers most notably, but with how often the Buckeyes are active at STA, that pipeline idea still applies.
In this case though, the focus is on one specific Ohio high school program that may not get the recognition it deserves when talking about a pipeline and how many players have attended this school only to play at the next level for the Buckeyes. I’ll admit, there is some bias here as someone whose grandfather and father taught at the school and graduated from there, but there’s also a lot of truth to making it an Ohio State pipeline.
Huber Heights Wayne - Home of the Warriors
Just north of Dayton, Ohio, Huber Heights Wayne High School has been a major help to the Buckeyes and their recruiting efforts. Sending some highly touted and very notable players to Columbus over the years, and in general to the college ranks, the Warriors just don’t get the recognition they deserve.
Not a school that’s slighted by any means however, the attention Wayne should get could be at the same level of the Glenville’s of the world, or even other Ohio programs such as the Pickerington schools or the Catholic powers like Cincinnati Moeller, Cleveland St. Ignatius, Lakewood St. Edward and on down the list. Again, Wayne isn’t scoffed at, but in this light they should receive more praise.
Notable alumni
Right off the bat, Braxton Miller jumps out as one of the most popular players to play for Ohio State in the last two decades or more. Whether it was at quarterback at the start of the Urban Meyer era or even at receiver, Miller will always be amongst the Buckeye favorites, and his career at Wayne cannot be overlooked. Taking the Warriors in his senior year to the state finals, Braxton was one of the most electric high school players in the country, and committing to Jim Tressel in 2010 as the top player in Ohio in his class was just the beginning.
Once in Columbus, he was thrown into the fire a bit during the 2011 season having to start under center as a true freshman, but in 2012 the Miller show really began to take off. It’s true that Miller didn’t get to finish his time at Ohio State how he’d have liked to, but leaving as a national champion and one of the more decorated quarterbacks Ohio State has seen, his career at Ohio State made a huge impact on the program, and that’s once again a big credit to Huber Heights Wayne.
Next on the list, Marcus Freeman is an easy one just like Miller. The former Ohio State linebacker was a two-time second team All-Big Ten selection and finished in the top 20 for tackles all time for the Buckeyes. Now at Notre Dame as the head coach of the Irish, Freeman is arguably one of the more impressive Ohio State alums when it comes to their career path outside just their playing days.
The Buckeyes will see Freeman again this fall just as they did this past season, and while there’s some tension between the two parties now having to compete against each other on the field directly and off the field in recruiting, Marcus is still one of the more well-known Warriors to have a great career for the Buckeyes and a major piece to the pipeline Wayne has build to Columbus.
Moving right along, you can’t leave out Will Allen when discussing Wayne graduates to play major roles for Ohio State. A 2002 national champion for the Buckeyes, Allen was a consensus All-American and first team All-Big Ten selection at defensive back. A fourth round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft as well, Allen shows why he makes this list as an easy addition.
The former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Pittsburgh Steeler, and Dallas Cowboy, Will was just before Freeman at Wayne, and that gave Ohio State two major defensive talents from the same prep program that not only played in starting roles, but were legitimate game changers for Tressel’s teams.
Additional successes
The three names mentioned above will steal most of the attention, there’s also been some more recent Warriors to head to Columbus. Guys such as Robert “BB” Landers still should receive some major dues for their Ohio State careers. An under-rated player in high school, Landers dominated during his senior season, earning an offer from the Buckeyes. Even with his shorter stature, Landers played a big time role for Larry Johnson’s defensive line down the stretch and cements himself on this list.
Additionally, players like L’Christian “Blue” Smith, though he transferred, was one of the top receivers in his class to commit to Ohio State. Just this past recruiting cycle, Wayne once again helped the Buckeyes out when offensive lineman Joshua Padilla was the first member of the 2023 class for Ohio State.
Simply put, Huber Heights Wayne is a powerhouse when it comes to churning out P5 caliber talent as an in-state Ohio high school program. Though it may not be directly to Ohio State every year, the amount of players coming out of Wayne and signing to DI schools is nothing short of impressive.
Over the years, the Buckeyes have really struck a goldmine with multiple players at Wayne, and though it may not repeat itself in 2024 or 2025, the Warriors and their track record point to it being just a matter of time before they give Ohio State another elite player.
Wayne is very much a pipeline for Ohio State, and that shouldn’t be overlooked.
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LGHL Ohio State set to host trio of Ohio prospects
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Ohio State set to host trio of Ohio prospects
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State will soon be playing host to a trio of Ohio recruits, and a four-star WR includes the Buckeyes in his top 10.
Ohio State and the college football recruiting world are nearing the end of the dead period. The Ohio State coaching staff has been unable to visit or host recruits this month, but the Buckeyes have still found a way to dominate the recruiting headlines.
This held true on Monday, as we learned the Buckeyes will soon be playing host to a trio of Ohio prospects, and a blue-chip 2026 wide receiver has an Ohio State sticker on his helmet.
Ryan Day and the Ohio State coaching staff have placed an importance on securing commitments from the best prospects in Ohio since Day began his tenure in Columbus. This ideal has grown even stronger as of late with the introduction of NIL and the evolution of the transfer portal.
On multiple occasions, Day and other members of the Ohio State football coaching staff have stated that they want to recruit kids who want to play at Ohio State. They have also confirmed this ideal directly correlates to increasing efforts on recruiting prospects from their own backyard.
With this in mind, Ohio State is gearing up for spring practices, once recruits are again allowed to visit with interested schools. We recently learned that a spring camp the week of March 9 will focus multiple in-state talents, with three more recently adding their names to the list in Jai’mier Scott, Javier Etheridge and Javon Hammonds.
Scott and Etheridge are teammates at Mt Healthy with Scott, and both are currently listed as an athlete. Neither have received scholarship offers from the Buckeyes, but Scott is a member of the 2025 class and will likely need to wait until later in the year before he will receive one. Etheridge on the other hand, will look to soon receive an offer, especially if one is not offered following the camp.
Hammonds will be making the trip on his own as he attends Wayne High School in Dayton, Ohio. Hammonds is listed as a three-star defensive end and holds double-digit offers. Ohio State has not yet offered the blue-chip prospect, but he is the most-likely to land an offer of the trio following the spring practice next month.
It is no secret that Ohio State, led by Brian Hartline, has dominated at wide receiver recruiting. The Buckeyes have easily had the best hauls at the position for the past few years, including commitments from the top-rated WR in the class on multiple occasions.
The Buckeyes once again have a commitment from the No. 1 WR in the 2024 class in Jeremiah Smith. However, the Buckeyes will also look to bring in more prospects at the position than just Smith. The team learned late Monday evening that another commitment at the position could soon be on its way.
2024 four-star WR Demello Jones announced his top 10 schools last night and Ohio State made the cut.
Alongside Ohio State, Jones also included North Carolina, Georgia, Miami, Vanderbilt, Alabam, Tennessee, Kentucky, Notre Dame and South Carolina in his top schools.
Jones received an official scholarship offer from the Buckeyes on January 19th of this year and while this was just over a month ago, the offer meant a lot to him. Enough to have the Buckeyes in his top schools moving forward.
Jones has not yet made a visit to Ohio State but he is planning for one soon. With the dead period soon being lifted, expect him to start scheduling visits and expect Ohio State to be one of them.
Jones is the No. 23 ATH in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 194 overall prospect. He is also the No. 28 recruit out of Georgia.
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Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State will soon be playing host to a trio of Ohio recruits, and a four-star WR includes the Buckeyes in his top 10.
Ohio State and the college football recruiting world are nearing the end of the dead period. The Ohio State coaching staff has been unable to visit or host recruits this month, but the Buckeyes have still found a way to dominate the recruiting headlines.
This held true on Monday, as we learned the Buckeyes will soon be playing host to a trio of Ohio prospects, and a blue-chip 2026 wide receiver has an Ohio State sticker on his helmet.
Trio of Ohio prospects to visit this spring
Ryan Day and the Ohio State coaching staff have placed an importance on securing commitments from the best prospects in Ohio since Day began his tenure in Columbus. This ideal has grown even stronger as of late with the introduction of NIL and the evolution of the transfer portal.
On multiple occasions, Day and other members of the Ohio State football coaching staff have stated that they want to recruit kids who want to play at Ohio State. They have also confirmed this ideal directly correlates to increasing efforts on recruiting prospects from their own backyard.
With this in mind, Ohio State is gearing up for spring practices, once recruits are again allowed to visit with interested schools. We recently learned that a spring camp the week of March 9 will focus multiple in-state talents, with three more recently adding their names to the list in Jai’mier Scott, Javier Etheridge and Javon Hammonds.
I will be at THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY march 9th@CoachTimWalton @OSUCoachHinton @bzdebski @OhioStateFB @alexgleitman @Bill_Kurelic @CoachJMStevens pic.twitter.com/wEetFL9muw
— Javier “JayJay” Etheridge️ (@thatzJayjay_) February 20, 2023
Scott and Etheridge are teammates at Mt Healthy with Scott, and both are currently listed as an athlete. Neither have received scholarship offers from the Buckeyes, but Scott is a member of the 2025 class and will likely need to wait until later in the year before he will receive one. Etheridge on the other hand, will look to soon receive an offer, especially if one is not offered following the camp.
Hammonds will be making the trip on his own as he attends Wayne High School in Dayton, Ohio. Hammonds is listed as a three-star defensive end and holds double-digit offers. Ohio State has not yet offered the blue-chip prospect, but he is the most-likely to land an offer of the trio following the spring practice next month.
Ohio State makes top 10 for four-star WR
It is no secret that Ohio State, led by Brian Hartline, has dominated at wide receiver recruiting. The Buckeyes have easily had the best hauls at the position for the past few years, including commitments from the top-rated WR in the class on multiple occasions.
The Buckeyes once again have a commitment from the No. 1 WR in the 2024 class in Jeremiah Smith. However, the Buckeyes will also look to bring in more prospects at the position than just Smith. The team learned late Monday evening that another commitment at the position could soon be on its way.
2024 four-star WR Demello Jones announced his top 10 schools last night and Ohio State made the cut.
Alongside Ohio State, Jones also included North Carolina, Georgia, Miami, Vanderbilt, Alabam, Tennessee, Kentucky, Notre Dame and South Carolina in his top schools.
Jones received an official scholarship offer from the Buckeyes on January 19th of this year and while this was just over a month ago, the offer meant a lot to him. Enough to have the Buckeyes in his top schools moving forward.
Jones has not yet made a visit to Ohio State but he is planning for one soon. With the dead period soon being lifted, expect him to start scheduling visits and expect Ohio State to be one of them.
Jones is the No. 23 ATH in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 194 overall prospect. He is also the No. 28 recruit out of Georgia.
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LGHL Ohio State Baseball: Buckeyes open 2023 season in Snowbird Classic vs. UConn
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Ohio State Baseball: Buckeyes open 2023 season in Snowbird Classic vs. UConn
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, FL | Courtesy of @OhioStateBASE on Twitter
The Buckeyes kicked off the new campaign with a four-game series against the UConn Huskies.
Ohio State began its 2023 season on Friday as part of the Snowbird Classic, finding themselves pit against Big East foe UConn.
It was no easy debut for Bill Mosiello in his first year as the Buckeyes’ head coach, as the Huskies come off a 2022 campaign wherein they finished with a 50-16 record and made it to the NCAA Super Regionals. Last year’s Big East champs, they enter this season as the favorites in the conference once again.
Ohio State, meanwhile, is coming off a year where they finished with a 20-30 record, going 8-14 in Big Ten play. The Buckeyes return 20 players from last year’s squad, in addition to 18 newcomers.
On the mound, Ohio State returns left-hander Isaiah Coupet, who struck out 98 batters in 64.2 innings a year ago and was named the No. 12 2023 Big Ten prospect by D1Baseball. The Buckeyes also add Justin Eckhardt, a Texas transfer, who made five starts for the Longhorns in 2022. Out of the bullpen, Landon Beidelschies is a name to keep an eye on. The first-year southpaw was named one of the Big Ten’s impact freshmen by D1Baseball, and is anticipated to be one of Ohio State’s top relief pitchers.
Offensively, the Buckeyes are led by Marcus Ernst and Kade Kern. Ernst, a third baseman, led the team a year ago with a .337 average, and was named Third Team All-Big Ten. Kern, a center fielder, was one of the best hitters in the B1G last season, batting .298 with nine homeruns and 49 RBIs, and is the projected No. 10 2023 Big Ten prospect by D1Baseball.
So, how did Ohio State fare in their first series of the 2023 season against a real tough opponent?
Ohio State opened the 2023 season with a bang, collecting their first win under new head coach Bill Mosiello with a 3-0 shutout win over the Huskies. UConn never really threatened in this one, as the Buckeyes carried a no-hitter into the 6th inning and allowed just four hits in the game overall.
OSU opened up the scoring right from the jump, plating a run in the 1st inning on a single by catcher Cole Andrews in his first at-bat as a Buckeye. The score would remain 1-0 in favor of Ohio State until the bottom of the 6th, when freshman Henry Kaczmar smacked a two-run double to make it 3-0. Nick Erwin led the team in the hits department, going 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base.
On the pitching side of things, Isaiah Coupet was brilliant, striking out nine and allowing just one hit over six innings of work. Landon Beidelschies put up two scoreless frames in the 8th and 9th inning to earn the save as Ohio State opened up the year at 1-0 in the shutout victory.
Saturday’s game featured a lot more offense, and while the Buckeyes scored first and battled back late, it would not be enough to overcome the deficit in their first loss of the year.
Ohio State got things started quickly, as Marcus Ernst launched a solo home run in the 1st inning to make it 1-0 good guys. UConn got the bats going in the 3rd and 5th inning, scoring three runs in each frame to sandwich a Kaczmar RBI groundout, as the Huskies jumped out to a 6-1 lead. A two-run homer for UConn in the 7th put the Buckeyes in an 8-1 hole, but Ohio State battled back.
In the bottom of the 7th, the Buckeyes worked the count and drew a pair of bases loaded walks to cut the deficit to 8-4. They added two more runs on an error and a sac fly, and just like that the deficit was cut to two skinny runs in an 8-6 game. However, UConn added another run in the 9th, and Ohio State did not have another rally in them as they fell 9-6.
The Buckeyes only put together six hits in the game, but they did manage to draw 10 walks. Kade Kern got on base four times with three walks and a hit, and also stole a pair of bases. Erwin picked up the team’s only extra-base hit on the afternoon, hitting a double and also walking twice. Justin Eckhardt let up six runs in his 2023 debut, but only three of those runs were earned. Nolan Clegg pitched 1.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, fanning a pair.
In another relatively high-scoring contest, Ohio State came up just short in what turned out to be an exciting back-and-forth affair. Unlike Saturday’s game, it was the Huskies taking an early lead and the Buckeyes rallying back from behind.
With UConn holding a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th inning, Ohio State got two runs back on an RBI single by Kern and a solo home run by Erwin. Then, in the bottom of the 6th inning, it was Kern and Erwin yet again, with the center fielder picking up another RBI single and the third baseman coming through with a two-run single to put OSU in front, 5-4.
Unfortunately, the lead would not hold, as UConn, aided by an error, tallied three runs of their own in the top of the 7th to go back on top, 7-5. Erwin picked up his fourth RBI of the game in the bottom of the frame to get things back within a run, but the Huskies would add one more and Ohio State could not rally in the 9th in an 8-6 loss.
Erwin and Kern drove in all six runs for the Buckeyes, with eight of the team’s nine hits coming from the top four batters in the order. It was a rough outing on the mound for Josh Timmerman, who allowed four runs in his start that lasted just 3.1 innings. His four strikeouts were a team-high on the day, however, as Ohio State racked up 15 Ks on the mound.
Ohio State’s bats really came alive on Monday, as the Buckeyes defeated UConn to earn a split in their opening series of the season.
The scarlet and gray fell behind early, allowing a pair of solo home runs in the 1st inning, but regained the lead in the 3rd inning on a trio of RBI singles by Josh McAlister, Ernst and Kern. The Huskies tied it back up in the 4th with a sac fly, but Ohio State pushed four runs across in the 5th, highlighted by a two-run double by catcher Matthew Graveline . The Buckeyes tacked two more runs on in the 8th on a two-run single by Ernst to make it 10-3. UConn added a pair of runs in the 9th, but their comeback was short-lived as the Buckeyes held on for the 10-5 dub.
It was a really strong outing out of the pen for Jonah Jenkins, who tossed 4.2 scoreless innings in relief while allowing just one hit and one walk while punching out four. Gavin Bruni started the game and struck out six over 3.1 innings.
It was a great start to the new campaign for Mosiello’s team, splitting the series against a really strong opponent.
Ohio State’s infielders really showed out at the plate in the opening series, with Nick Erwin and Marcus Ernst leading the offense. Erwin went 7-for-13 (.538) at the dish with two doubles, a home run and six RBIs. Ernst went 6-for-16 (.375) with a homer and four RBIs. Joining the offensive output was center fielder Kade Kern, who hit 6-for-13 (.462) with three RBIs and also drew a team-high six walks while striking out only once. Kern also leads the Buckeyes with three stolen bases.
Isaiah Coupet and Landon Beidelschies were the stars on the mound. Coupet started the opening game of the series, allowing just one hit and one walk over his six innings of work while striking out nine. Beidelschies, the owner of the team’s only save thus far, pitched 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing three hits with four punch outs. Jonah Jenkins (4.2 IP) and Nolan Clegg (2.0 IP) are the only other Buckeyes to pitch multiple innings thus far without allowing a run.
As a team, Ohio State hit .273 compared to .209 for UConn, and the Buckeyes struck out 37 times with 23 walks compared to the Huskies’ 42 strikeouts and 15 walks. As a result, OSU put together a much higher on-base percentage (.380) than UConn (.304) and had the better pitching between the two teams in this series. To the Huskies’ credit, they brought the power to the Snowbird Classic, launching six home runs in contrast to just two for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes will now head to Phoenix, where they are scheduled to take on Grand Canyon and Gonzaga in a pair of two-game series beginning this Thursday, Feb. 23.
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Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, FL | Courtesy of @OhioStateBASE on Twitter
The Buckeyes kicked off the new campaign with a four-game series against the UConn Huskies.
Ohio State began its 2023 season on Friday as part of the Snowbird Classic, finding themselves pit against Big East foe UConn.
It was no easy debut for Bill Mosiello in his first year as the Buckeyes’ head coach, as the Huskies come off a 2022 campaign wherein they finished with a 50-16 record and made it to the NCAA Super Regionals. Last year’s Big East champs, they enter this season as the favorites in the conference once again.
Ohio State, meanwhile, is coming off a year where they finished with a 20-30 record, going 8-14 in Big Ten play. The Buckeyes return 20 players from last year’s squad, in addition to 18 newcomers.
On the mound, Ohio State returns left-hander Isaiah Coupet, who struck out 98 batters in 64.2 innings a year ago and was named the No. 12 2023 Big Ten prospect by D1Baseball. The Buckeyes also add Justin Eckhardt, a Texas transfer, who made five starts for the Longhorns in 2022. Out of the bullpen, Landon Beidelschies is a name to keep an eye on. The first-year southpaw was named one of the Big Ten’s impact freshmen by D1Baseball, and is anticipated to be one of Ohio State’s top relief pitchers.
Offensively, the Buckeyes are led by Marcus Ernst and Kade Kern. Ernst, a third baseman, led the team a year ago with a .337 average, and was named Third Team All-Big Ten. Kern, a center fielder, was one of the best hitters in the B1G last season, batting .298 with nine homeruns and 49 RBIs, and is the projected No. 10 2023 Big Ten prospect by D1Baseball.
So, how did Ohio State fare in their first series of the 2023 season against a real tough opponent?
Friday, Feb. 17: 3-0 Ohio State
Ohio State opened the 2023 season with a bang, collecting their first win under new head coach Bill Mosiello with a 3-0 shutout win over the Huskies. UConn never really threatened in this one, as the Buckeyes carried a no-hitter into the 6th inning and allowed just four hits in the game overall.
OSU opened up the scoring right from the jump, plating a run in the 1st inning on a single by catcher Cole Andrews in his first at-bat as a Buckeye. The score would remain 1-0 in favor of Ohio State until the bottom of the 6th, when freshman Henry Kaczmar smacked a two-run double to make it 3-0. Nick Erwin led the team in the hits department, going 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base.
On the pitching side of things, Isaiah Coupet was brilliant, striking out nine and allowing just one hit over six innings of work. Landon Beidelschies put up two scoreless frames in the 8th and 9th inning to earn the save as Ohio State opened up the year at 1-0 in the shutout victory.
Saturday, Feb 18: 9-6 UConn
Saturday’s game featured a lot more offense, and while the Buckeyes scored first and battled back late, it would not be enough to overcome the deficit in their first loss of the year.
Ohio State got things started quickly, as Marcus Ernst launched a solo home run in the 1st inning to make it 1-0 good guys. UConn got the bats going in the 3rd and 5th inning, scoring three runs in each frame to sandwich a Kaczmar RBI groundout, as the Huskies jumped out to a 6-1 lead. A two-run homer for UConn in the 7th put the Buckeyes in an 8-1 hole, but Ohio State battled back.
In the bottom of the 7th, the Buckeyes worked the count and drew a pair of bases loaded walks to cut the deficit to 8-4. They added two more runs on an error and a sac fly, and just like that the deficit was cut to two skinny runs in an 8-6 game. However, UConn added another run in the 9th, and Ohio State did not have another rally in them as they fell 9-6.
The Buckeyes only put together six hits in the game, but they did manage to draw 10 walks. Kade Kern got on base four times with three walks and a hit, and also stole a pair of bases. Erwin picked up the team’s only extra-base hit on the afternoon, hitting a double and also walking twice. Justin Eckhardt let up six runs in his 2023 debut, but only three of those runs were earned. Nolan Clegg pitched 1.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, fanning a pair.
Sunday, Feb 19: 8-6 UConn
In another relatively high-scoring contest, Ohio State came up just short in what turned out to be an exciting back-and-forth affair. Unlike Saturday’s game, it was the Huskies taking an early lead and the Buckeyes rallying back from behind.
With UConn holding a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th inning, Ohio State got two runs back on an RBI single by Kern and a solo home run by Erwin. Then, in the bottom of the 6th inning, it was Kern and Erwin yet again, with the center fielder picking up another RBI single and the third baseman coming through with a two-run single to put OSU in front, 5-4.
Unfortunately, the lead would not hold, as UConn, aided by an error, tallied three runs of their own in the top of the 7th to go back on top, 7-5. Erwin picked up his fourth RBI of the game in the bottom of the frame to get things back within a run, but the Huskies would add one more and Ohio State could not rally in the 9th in an 8-6 loss.
Erwin and Kern drove in all six runs for the Buckeyes, with eight of the team’s nine hits coming from the top four batters in the order. It was a rough outing on the mound for Josh Timmerman, who allowed four runs in his start that lasted just 3.1 innings. His four strikeouts were a team-high on the day, however, as Ohio State racked up 15 Ks on the mound.
Monday, Feb 20: 10-5 Ohio State
Ohio State’s bats really came alive on Monday, as the Buckeyes defeated UConn to earn a split in their opening series of the season.
The scarlet and gray fell behind early, allowing a pair of solo home runs in the 1st inning, but regained the lead in the 3rd inning on a trio of RBI singles by Josh McAlister, Ernst and Kern. The Huskies tied it back up in the 4th with a sac fly, but Ohio State pushed four runs across in the 5th, highlighted by a two-run double by catcher Matthew Graveline . The Buckeyes tacked two more runs on in the 8th on a two-run single by Ernst to make it 10-3. UConn added a pair of runs in the 9th, but their comeback was short-lived as the Buckeyes held on for the 10-5 dub.
It was a really strong outing out of the pen for Jonah Jenkins, who tossed 4.2 scoreless innings in relief while allowing just one hit and one walk while punching out four. Gavin Bruni started the game and struck out six over 3.1 innings.
It was a great start to the new campaign for Mosiello’s team, splitting the series against a really strong opponent.
Ohio State’s infielders really showed out at the plate in the opening series, with Nick Erwin and Marcus Ernst leading the offense. Erwin went 7-for-13 (.538) at the dish with two doubles, a home run and six RBIs. Ernst went 6-for-16 (.375) with a homer and four RBIs. Joining the offensive output was center fielder Kade Kern, who hit 6-for-13 (.462) with three RBIs and also drew a team-high six walks while striking out only once. Kern also leads the Buckeyes with three stolen bases.
Isaiah Coupet and Landon Beidelschies were the stars on the mound. Coupet started the opening game of the series, allowing just one hit and one walk over his six innings of work while striking out nine. Beidelschies, the owner of the team’s only save thus far, pitched 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing three hits with four punch outs. Jonah Jenkins (4.2 IP) and Nolan Clegg (2.0 IP) are the only other Buckeyes to pitch multiple innings thus far without allowing a run.
As a team, Ohio State hit .273 compared to .209 for UConn, and the Buckeyes struck out 37 times with 23 walks compared to the Huskies’ 42 strikeouts and 15 walks. As a result, OSU put together a much higher on-base percentage (.380) than UConn (.304) and had the better pitching between the two teams in this series. To the Huskies’ credit, they brought the power to the Snowbird Classic, launching six home runs in contrast to just two for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes will now head to Phoenix, where they are scheduled to take on Grand Canyon and Gonzaga in a pair of two-game series beginning this Thursday, Feb. 23.
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LGHL We’ll talk about this later: Celebrity games and ‘Space Jam’
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We’ll talk about this later: Celebrity games and ‘Space Jam’
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Your dose of lighthearted takes from this week’s happenings.
Each week, we’ll break down something that happened during the Ohio State game (and occasionally other games and events) that we’ll be talking about for a while—you know, the silly sideline interactions, the awful announcing and the weird storylines that stick with us for years to come. We’ll also compare each of these happenings to memorable moments in pop culture, because who doesn’t love a good Office reference?
Alas, we’re through football season. College basketball is meh (if you’re an Ohio State fan) and the NBA is on its All-Star break. We’re approaching the spring sports desert, when hoops and hockey aren’t quite approaching the playoff hype and we’re far enough from football’s kickoff that it feels like an eternity. So, we have to find our wins where we can.
Which leads us to NBA All-Star weekend. As is the case with many aspects of the NBA’s operations, the All-Star break is a well-rounded series of events that give the people what they want (see: dunk contest) while creating a spectacle (see: celebrity game).
Who doesn’t love a good celebrity game. In some ways, it’s cool to see professional athletes from other sports on the hardcourt. This year, DK Metcalf and Calvin Johnson graced the roster of celebrities. Plus, we get to see celebs from outside the sports arena which can be concurrently impressive and humbling.
Somehow, the 5-foot-2 Kevin Hart is better at hoops than we might have expected. This year, Janelle Monae, fresh off of Glass Onion, showed she can be a singer, actress and athlete.
But as great as the celebrity game can be, there’s one celebrity game that will top them all that is, of course, Space Jam — when the Toon Squad (headlined by Michael Jordan) defeated the Monstars in the battle royale to save Looney Toon Land. Jordan was, of course, a baseball player in the minors and his appearance (plus Bill Murray’s) made a really good celebrity game proxy — joined, of course, by Bugs Bunny and the rest of the toons.
We also got to see a set of the greatest players in the NBA at the time (plus Larry Bird). Seeing Charles Barkley getting shown up by, as he describes it, a five-foot-nothing girl never gets old.
Jordan is top of mind right now for many with Ben Affleck’s upcoming film, Air, about Nike’s pursuit of MJ for sneaker rights in the 1980s, but apparently the story might not have as much staying power with the younger generations: Just this weekend, a friend’s child asked me who Michael Jordan was while her dad and I debated who, between Jordan and LeBron James, is the GOAT.
Time to join AARP and get my Golden Buckeye card, I guess.
Continue reading...
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Your dose of lighthearted takes from this week’s happenings.
Each week, we’ll break down something that happened during the Ohio State game (and occasionally other games and events) that we’ll be talking about for a while—you know, the silly sideline interactions, the awful announcing and the weird storylines that stick with us for years to come. We’ll also compare each of these happenings to memorable moments in pop culture, because who doesn’t love a good Office reference?
Alas, we’re through football season. College basketball is meh (if you’re an Ohio State fan) and the NBA is on its All-Star break. We’re approaching the spring sports desert, when hoops and hockey aren’t quite approaching the playoff hype and we’re far enough from football’s kickoff that it feels like an eternity. So, we have to find our wins where we can.
Which leads us to NBA All-Star weekend. As is the case with many aspects of the NBA’s operations, the All-Star break is a well-rounded series of events that give the people what they want (see: dunk contest) while creating a spectacle (see: celebrity game).
Who doesn’t love a good celebrity game. In some ways, it’s cool to see professional athletes from other sports on the hardcourt. This year, DK Metcalf and Calvin Johnson graced the roster of celebrities. Plus, we get to see celebs from outside the sports arena which can be concurrently impressive and humbling.
Somehow, the 5-foot-2 Kevin Hart is better at hoops than we might have expected. This year, Janelle Monae, fresh off of Glass Onion, showed she can be a singer, actress and athlete.
But as great as the celebrity game can be, there’s one celebrity game that will top them all that is, of course, Space Jam — when the Toon Squad (headlined by Michael Jordan) defeated the Monstars in the battle royale to save Looney Toon Land. Jordan was, of course, a baseball player in the minors and his appearance (plus Bill Murray’s) made a really good celebrity game proxy — joined, of course, by Bugs Bunny and the rest of the toons.
We also got to see a set of the greatest players in the NBA at the time (plus Larry Bird). Seeing Charles Barkley getting shown up by, as he describes it, a five-foot-nothing girl never gets old.
Jordan is top of mind right now for many with Ben Affleck’s upcoming film, Air, about Nike’s pursuit of MJ for sneaker rights in the 1980s, but apparently the story might not have as much staying power with the younger generations: Just this weekend, a friend’s child asked me who Michael Jordan was while her dad and I debated who, between Jordan and LeBron James, is the GOAT.
Time to join AARP and get my Golden Buckeye card, I guess.
Continue reading...