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LGHL You’re Nuts: Best ingredients to make a hero sandwich.. wait, that’s not what you meant by Buckeye Heroes Week?
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You’re Nuts: Best ingredients to make a hero sandwich.. wait, that’s not what you meant by Buckeye Heroes Week?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Sammy Dallal/Digital First Media/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images
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 heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” 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.
There are few sandwiches I would say no to. Even a bad sandwich is still a sandwich (assuming it is fresh. No one is asking for food poisoning). The cold, hard truth, though, is that some sandwiches are superior. For example, Buckeye Donuts makes the ultimate supreme king of breakfast sandwiches. New York City bodegas make the reigning champ of deli rolls.
And the ultimate hero is always going to be an Italian-style one from Wawa. We can’t all get to a Wawa, however, so let’s break it down for those of us who have to replicate at home.
As with most things in life, the foundation is key. So it is true of a sandwich.
For the perfect hero, you have to have the perfect bread — the kind served by heroes themselves. I’m talking about New York City bodega-style Italian bread, served by the ultimate hero - the NYC bodega person.
There are many different kinds of bread that would suffice in a pinch, but we’re talking the best, and for the best, you need that perfectly crisp crust and the density of this bread in order to absorb all the goodies we’re about to top it with.
Once we’ve got the bread, we’ve got to add our meats and cheeses. On an Italian sub, it’s always going to be provolone cheese. It’s the perfect balance with all the meat we’re going to throw on there.
Now let’s talk meat. On the perfect hero? I want all the meat. Ham (specifically Boar’s Head-brand), prosciutto, capicola, mortadella, genoa salami for the salt, soppressata salami for a little heat. If you’re feeling really crazy, toss some speck on there — it’s similar to the prosciutto but deserves its own recognition with its deeper taste. Some people will only choose one or two of these for their hero, but my take is that you need most if not all of them. They balance each other out in taste and textures, and each add something.
Next up, we’ve got to add our toppings.
The key, in my mind, is to make sure the toppings are thinly sliced. There is nothing worse than taking a bite out of a sandwich only to have heaps of it fall out of the bread, and I always find thinly sliced veggie toppings stay in place a little more securely.
On the perfect sub, I want the toppings to be balanced and have just a little bit of heat. For me, that means shredded lettuce, thinly sliced tomato and onion, thinly sliced pickle, and under NO circumstances are we adding olives. Full offense to people who like olives, but they ruin everything they touch. They are just too overpowering. In this case, the star of the meal is the meats and we don’t need to dull their shine with these nasty creatures.
To add that little bit of heat, we’re going to top it with a cherry pepper relish. This is usually on the milder side of spicy options (if you really want to up the heat, which I sometimes do, you could also add pickled jalapenos or banana peppers, but I do think a sandwich is technically more balanced without them). Unless your spice tolerance is absolutely zero (in which case, I cannot advise this), it adds a nice heat without being overpowering or too spicy for people who prefer something more mild. And in my opinion, it helps to bring out the flavors in the other toppings.
Finally, we have to add our sauces and seasonings. Add a little bit of mayo to the open side of your bread, then top the veggies and meats with salt, pepper, and oregano before finishing the sandwich with olive oil and red wine vinegar.
Et voila! The perfect hero.
I appreciate Jami’s efforts above, I really do, but did she really just try to say that a gas station hero sandwich is the best hero sandwich? Look, there are Wawas all over Central Florida where I live, but, my friends, let’s be serious. Even as someone who has loved gas station food for my entire life, you cannot... nay, you will not convince me that any gas station, convenience store, or roadside rest stop has the best non-prepackaged food offerings of any kind.
Can they be good? Of course. Even excellent? Absolutely. But “The” best? No. Think about how important we take the word “The” in our beloved university’s proper name. Now tell me if you really think that Wawa has “THE” best hero sandwich in the world.
Your honor, I rest my case.
Now, moving on to the matter at hand, the best hero sandwich. While not the same type of sandwich, a hero is something in the same sandwich taxonomy level as what gets served at The Beef, not what gets served at The Bear. A hero is a classic, traditional, populist sandwich. It is a hero, because it is long enough to feed the masses. Therefore, by definition, it should contain only ingredients that everyone (or nearly everyone) would like. As the axiom for our time goes, “Keep it simple, stupid.”
Jami went extravagant with her recipe, which is fine, I’m not questioning her taste, I’m just saying us working class folks don’t need a Michelin star sandwich, that’s not heroic, that’s elitist. Yeah, I said it! My version of a hero is much more basic, with affordable ingredients, and you don’t need to know the difference between batonnet and brunoise to prepare them.
Now, let’s get to a real person’s hero sandwich. Of course, it starts with the bread, as anyone who drove through downtown Columbus with their windows open in the ‘80s or ‘90s can tell you, there is something special and unique when it comes to the smell of fresh bread, so we have to start there. Soft on the inside, but a subtle, yet substantive crunch on the outside.
From there, you start with the meat, and like Jami, I want multiple types of meat, but she went with fancy, bougie meats; ham, prosciutto, capicola, mortadella, genoa salami, and soppressata salami... in this economy? Call me basic, but here’s what I want on my hero sandwich: a sturdy base layer of turkey, roast beef, and ham. Personally, I can do without the ham, but I know that’s not the most popular of opinions. Then, I would take the large, sandwich slices of pepperoni and put them on top of the veggies (more on that momentarily), but here’s the trick, you’ve got to crisp up that pep.
I’m also going to throw crunchy bacon on there, but the pepperoni works in a similar way, so if you think it’s redundant, I’m totally cool with you leaving the pepperoni in its natural cold-cut state. But, if you put a teeny bit of olive oil into a pan on medium-high heat and throw those pepperoni slices in for 45-60 seconds on each side, it’s going to crisp the edges and bring the juices (and grease) to the forefront. Absolutely perfect.
But, hold the pep and bacon until the end. When it comes to veggies, I’m a pretty basic guy, so your mileage may vary and you’re welcome to deviate as you see fit, but I would go lettuce, tomato, and pickle (not dissimilar from Jami), but I would not include onion. That would just battle with the two crispy meats, and no one needs that much going on in their mouth.
Then I would put add some solid, white cheese slices, probably white American, though I personally would prefer mozzarella. From there, I’d add the bacon and pepperoni on top, with a liberal helping of salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese. I don’t use them, but I would provide a variety of dressings for folks to add to taste; ranch, Thousand Island, Italian, multiple vinegarettes, olive oil, lemon juice, etc.
And that, my friends, is a solid, respectable, equally accessible hero sandwich for the common man. No white cloth napkins or extended pinkies required.
On an only vaguely related note, sometime back in the late 1970s or early ‘80s, Ohio State’s Homecoming theme was “Heroes.” As the Buckeyes prepared to host the Michigan State Spartans, the enterprising campus leaders of the Sigma Pi fraternity decided to decorate their house — which was on 15th, directly in the middle of the parade route — with a pseudo float of their own.
Reports from sources close to the incident (a.k.a. my father), there were substantial penalties, including various and sundry suspensions handed out to multiple Sigma Pi brothers.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24771349/MSU_EATME.jpg)
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
Photo by Sammy Dallal/Digital First Media/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images
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 heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” 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: What is your favorite road Big Ten stadium?
Jami’s Take:
There are few sandwiches I would say no to. Even a bad sandwich is still a sandwich (assuming it is fresh. No one is asking for food poisoning). The cold, hard truth, though, is that some sandwiches are superior. For example, Buckeye Donuts makes the ultimate supreme king of breakfast sandwiches. New York City bodegas make the reigning champ of deli rolls.
And the ultimate hero is always going to be an Italian-style one from Wawa. We can’t all get to a Wawa, however, so let’s break it down for those of us who have to replicate at home.
As with most things in life, the foundation is key. So it is true of a sandwich.
For the perfect hero, you have to have the perfect bread — the kind served by heroes themselves. I’m talking about New York City bodega-style Italian bread, served by the ultimate hero - the NYC bodega person.
There are many different kinds of bread that would suffice in a pinch, but we’re talking the best, and for the best, you need that perfectly crisp crust and the density of this bread in order to absorb all the goodies we’re about to top it with.
Once we’ve got the bread, we’ve got to add our meats and cheeses. On an Italian sub, it’s always going to be provolone cheese. It’s the perfect balance with all the meat we’re going to throw on there.
Now let’s talk meat. On the perfect hero? I want all the meat. Ham (specifically Boar’s Head-brand), prosciutto, capicola, mortadella, genoa salami for the salt, soppressata salami for a little heat. If you’re feeling really crazy, toss some speck on there — it’s similar to the prosciutto but deserves its own recognition with its deeper taste. Some people will only choose one or two of these for their hero, but my take is that you need most if not all of them. They balance each other out in taste and textures, and each add something.
Next up, we’ve got to add our toppings.
The key, in my mind, is to make sure the toppings are thinly sliced. There is nothing worse than taking a bite out of a sandwich only to have heaps of it fall out of the bread, and I always find thinly sliced veggie toppings stay in place a little more securely.
On the perfect sub, I want the toppings to be balanced and have just a little bit of heat. For me, that means shredded lettuce, thinly sliced tomato and onion, thinly sliced pickle, and under NO circumstances are we adding olives. Full offense to people who like olives, but they ruin everything they touch. They are just too overpowering. In this case, the star of the meal is the meats and we don’t need to dull their shine with these nasty creatures.
To add that little bit of heat, we’re going to top it with a cherry pepper relish. This is usually on the milder side of spicy options (if you really want to up the heat, which I sometimes do, you could also add pickled jalapenos or banana peppers, but I do think a sandwich is technically more balanced without them). Unless your spice tolerance is absolutely zero (in which case, I cannot advise this), it adds a nice heat without being overpowering or too spicy for people who prefer something more mild. And in my opinion, it helps to bring out the flavors in the other toppings.
Finally, we have to add our sauces and seasonings. Add a little bit of mayo to the open side of your bread, then top the veggies and meats with salt, pepper, and oregano before finishing the sandwich with olive oil and red wine vinegar.
Et voila! The perfect hero.
Matt’s Take:
I appreciate Jami’s efforts above, I really do, but did she really just try to say that a gas station hero sandwich is the best hero sandwich? Look, there are Wawas all over Central Florida where I live, but, my friends, let’s be serious. Even as someone who has loved gas station food for my entire life, you cannot... nay, you will not convince me that any gas station, convenience store, or roadside rest stop has the best non-prepackaged food offerings of any kind.
Can they be good? Of course. Even excellent? Absolutely. But “The” best? No. Think about how important we take the word “The” in our beloved university’s proper name. Now tell me if you really think that Wawa has “THE” best hero sandwich in the world.
Your honor, I rest my case.
Now, moving on to the matter at hand, the best hero sandwich. While not the same type of sandwich, a hero is something in the same sandwich taxonomy level as what gets served at The Beef, not what gets served at The Bear. A hero is a classic, traditional, populist sandwich. It is a hero, because it is long enough to feed the masses. Therefore, by definition, it should contain only ingredients that everyone (or nearly everyone) would like. As the axiom for our time goes, “Keep it simple, stupid.”
Jami went extravagant with her recipe, which is fine, I’m not questioning her taste, I’m just saying us working class folks don’t need a Michelin star sandwich, that’s not heroic, that’s elitist. Yeah, I said it! My version of a hero is much more basic, with affordable ingredients, and you don’t need to know the difference between batonnet and brunoise to prepare them.
Now, let’s get to a real person’s hero sandwich. Of course, it starts with the bread, as anyone who drove through downtown Columbus with their windows open in the ‘80s or ‘90s can tell you, there is something special and unique when it comes to the smell of fresh bread, so we have to start there. Soft on the inside, but a subtle, yet substantive crunch on the outside.
From there, you start with the meat, and like Jami, I want multiple types of meat, but she went with fancy, bougie meats; ham, prosciutto, capicola, mortadella, genoa salami, and soppressata salami... in this economy? Call me basic, but here’s what I want on my hero sandwich: a sturdy base layer of turkey, roast beef, and ham. Personally, I can do without the ham, but I know that’s not the most popular of opinions. Then, I would take the large, sandwich slices of pepperoni and put them on top of the veggies (more on that momentarily), but here’s the trick, you’ve got to crisp up that pep.
I’m also going to throw crunchy bacon on there, but the pepperoni works in a similar way, so if you think it’s redundant, I’m totally cool with you leaving the pepperoni in its natural cold-cut state. But, if you put a teeny bit of olive oil into a pan on medium-high heat and throw those pepperoni slices in for 45-60 seconds on each side, it’s going to crisp the edges and bring the juices (and grease) to the forefront. Absolutely perfect.
But, hold the pep and bacon until the end. When it comes to veggies, I’m a pretty basic guy, so your mileage may vary and you’re welcome to deviate as you see fit, but I would go lettuce, tomato, and pickle (not dissimilar from Jami), but I would not include onion. That would just battle with the two crispy meats, and no one needs that much going on in their mouth.
Then I would put add some solid, white cheese slices, probably white American, though I personally would prefer mozzarella. From there, I’d add the bacon and pepperoni on top, with a liberal helping of salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese. I don’t use them, but I would provide a variety of dressings for folks to add to taste; ranch, Thousand Island, Italian, multiple vinegarettes, olive oil, lemon juice, etc.
And that, my friends, is a solid, respectable, equally accessible hero sandwich for the common man. No white cloth napkins or extended pinkies required.
On an only vaguely related note, sometime back in the late 1970s or early ‘80s, Ohio State’s Homecoming theme was “Heroes.” As the Buckeyes prepared to host the Michigan State Spartans, the enterprising campus leaders of the Sigma Pi fraternity decided to decorate their house — which was on 15th, directly in the middle of the parade route — with a pseudo float of their own.
Reports from sources close to the incident (a.k.a. my father), there were substantial penalties, including various and sundry suspensions handed out to multiple Sigma Pi brothers.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State Football Countdown: 56
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Ohio State Football Countdown: 56
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 Chris Graythen/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 56 days remaining.
Who better than Chris Olave to score the dagger against Clemson in the 2021 Sugar Bowl? The Buckeyes finally got revenge on the Tigers in a 49-28 blowout, as Olave finished the game with six catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Justin Fields was spectacular in this one, throwing for 385 yards and six TDs, while Trey Sermon was fantastic on the ground as well with 193 yards rushing and a score. It took a full-team effort to knock off Dabo Swinney’s team, as Ohio State defeated Clemson for the first time in program history (five total meetings).
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 Chris Graythen/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 56 days remaining.
Play of the Day: Chris Olave’s 56-yard TD vs. Clemson (2021)
Who better than Chris Olave to score the dagger against Clemson in the 2021 Sugar Bowl? The Buckeyes finally got revenge on the Tigers in a 49-28 blowout, as Olave finished the game with six catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Justin Fields was spectacular in this one, throwing for 385 yards and six TDs, while Trey Sermon was fantastic on the ground as well with 193 yards rushing and a score. It took a full-team effort to knock off Dabo Swinney’s team, as Ohio State defeated Clemson for the first time in program history (five total meetings).
Players to Wear the #56 (since 2010):
- Dalton Britt (2009-12)
- George Makridis (2010-13)
- Matthew Burrell (2015)
- Aaron Cox (2017-21)
- Zack Cicero (2022)
- Kayden McDonald (present)
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State Football Countdown: 57
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Ohio State Football Countdown: 57
Gene Ross 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
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 57 days remaining.
There is something special about a big man touchdown, especially when that score is pivotal in a close game between two ranked teams. Jerron Cage’s 57-yard fumble return TD turned out to be massive in what ended up a 33-24 win for the Buckeyes in yet another hotly contested matchup against Penn State in 2022. Ohio State forced three total turnovers in the game on a pair of fumbles and a pick, while C.J. Stroud threw for 305 yards and a TD. TreVeyon Henderson paced the ground game with 152 yards rushing and a TD.
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
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 57 days remaining.
Play of the Day: Jerron Cage’s 57-yard fumble return TD vs. Penn State (2021)
There is something special about a big man touchdown, especially when that score is pivotal in a close game between two ranked teams. Jerron Cage’s 57-yard fumble return TD turned out to be massive in what ended up a 33-24 win for the Buckeyes in yet another hotly contested matchup against Penn State in 2022. Ohio State forced three total turnovers in the game on a pair of fumbles and a pick, while C.J. Stroud threw for 305 yards and a TD. TreVeyon Henderson paced the ground game with 152 yards rushing and a TD.
Players to Wear the #57 (since 2010):
- Chris Malone (2006-10)
- Chase Farris (2011-15)
- Robert Landers (2015)
- Zaid Hamdan (2017-20)
- Jack Cappabianca (2018)
- Jalen Pace (2021-present)
Continue reading...
LGHL Bucketheads Podcast: Holtmann’s future, what happened with TTUN and Caleb Love, more with SI’s Kevin Sweeney
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Bucketheads Podcast: Holtmann’s future, what happened with TTUN and Caleb Love, more with SI’s Kevin Sweeney
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Plus, conference alignment, one-and-dones, and more.
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
The guys welcome a return guest to the podcast this week — Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Sweeney. Connor, Justin, and Kevin begin by breaking down the two favorites to win the Big Ten this season, Michigan State and Purdue. Could the Boilermakers be even better next season if there’s even a little bit of improvement from Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer? Or could the Spartans overtake them if one particular junior guard — who Justin thinks the world of — takes the massive step forward some people think he will?
They also discuss the addition of UCLA and USC to the Big Ten, and the logistical nightmares it could bring. No, Northwestern won’t be playing in Los Angeles on a Thursday night and then have a home noon game on Saturday. But still, the travel impacts on the student-athletes could be a bit harsh initially.
Kevin also talks about the Buckeyes for a bit, including the bare minimum he thinks needs to be done this season for Chris Holtmann to return as head coach for the 2024-2025 season.
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Connect with Kevin:
Twitter: @CBB_Central
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Plus, conference alignment, one-and-dones, and more.
“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
The guys welcome a return guest to the podcast this week — Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Sweeney. Connor, Justin, and Kevin begin by breaking down the two favorites to win the Big Ten this season, Michigan State and Purdue. Could the Boilermakers be even better next season if there’s even a little bit of improvement from Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer? Or could the Spartans overtake them if one particular junior guard — who Justin thinks the world of — takes the massive step forward some people think he will?
They also discuss the addition of UCLA and USC to the Big Ten, and the logistical nightmares it could bring. No, Northwestern won’t be playing in Los Angeles on a Thursday night and then have a home noon game on Saturday. But still, the travel impacts on the student-athletes could be a bit harsh initially.
Kevin also talks about the Buckeyes for a bit, including the bare minimum he thinks needs to be done this season for Chris Holtmann to return as head coach for the 2024-2025 season.
Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN
Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor
Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Connect with Kevin:
Twitter: @CBB_Central
Continue reading...
LGHL BOOM!!!! Ohio State adds four-star cornerback Miles Lockhart to 2024 class
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BOOM!!!! Ohio State adds four-star cornerback Miles Lockhart to 2024 class
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Miles Lockhart
It’s official now, Arizona native Miles Lockhart is a Buckeye.
If you keep up with Ohio State football recruiting, you knew that a commitment from Miles Lockhart was practically a given going into his announcement yesterday. Lockhart surprised nobody on Thursday when he committed to Ohio State, but the coaching staff was thrilled that he was finally a member of the 2024 class nonetheless.
The Buckeyes are getting a 5-foot-10, 185-pound track star that will add elite running abilities to the cornerback room. A defensive back that can play both man and zone coverage, Lockhart is a fit at all aspects of Ohio State’s CB room. Maybe his most important quality though is his loyalty and desire to be a Buckeye. While some may look at his relatively lower ranking and think the Buckeyes are settling, rest assured that his addition was a priority for the coaches.
Now at two cornerbacks for this current cycle — with Bryce West also committed — position coach Tim Walton and the rest of Ohio State’s staff can focus on landing the next elite target, in-state product Aaron Scott from Springfield. Having Lockhart officially in the fold along with West, gives the Buckeyes two dynamic playmakers who will continue to peer-recruit Scott. If he does make it three cornerbacks in the class, there’s a solid chance that Ohio State will try to land a fourth.
The No. 365 player nationally and the 33rd best cornerback in the country according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Lockhart is the 18th member of the Ohio State class which sits at No. 2 in the national rankings. Inching them closer to Georgia for the top overall spot, the Buckeyes have six fewer commitments and are heavily in the mix for some of the top players still available. At any rate, this BOOM was welcomed with open arms and is one the fanbase should be thrilled about. Good things are happening in Columbus and more looks to be on the way.
The No. 416 player nationally, Jakob is also ranked as the 39th best safety in the country per the 247Sports Composite grades for the 2024 class. The Buckeyes are still in a solid spot with their safety recruiting efforts. With multiple top targets still on their board and highly interested in Ohio State, the staff isn’t worried about this one coming off the board.
Yesterday, multiple commits took to Twitter to share their support of the Miles Lockhart commitment and it goes to show how connected this class already is, but also players who will be great fits in Columbus for what this program is trying to be about with their culture.
Certainly, in the coming days and even weeks, more of the good news will be hinted at with this 2024 class in a primo spot to really take off.
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
Miles Lockhart
It’s official now, Arizona native Miles Lockhart is a Buckeye.
BOOM! Buckeyes add four-star defensive back to 2024 class
If you keep up with Ohio State football recruiting, you knew that a commitment from Miles Lockhart was practically a given going into his announcement yesterday. Lockhart surprised nobody on Thursday when he committed to Ohio State, but the coaching staff was thrilled that he was finally a member of the 2024 class nonetheless.
The Buckeyes are getting a 5-foot-10, 185-pound track star that will add elite running abilities to the cornerback room. A defensive back that can play both man and zone coverage, Lockhart is a fit at all aspects of Ohio State’s CB room. Maybe his most important quality though is his loyalty and desire to be a Buckeye. While some may look at his relatively lower ranking and think the Buckeyes are settling, rest assured that his addition was a priority for the coaches.
Now at two cornerbacks for this current cycle — with Bryce West also committed — position coach Tim Walton and the rest of Ohio State’s staff can focus on landing the next elite target, in-state product Aaron Scott from Springfield. Having Lockhart officially in the fold along with West, gives the Buckeyes two dynamic playmakers who will continue to peer-recruit Scott. If he does make it three cornerbacks in the class, there’s a solid chance that Ohio State will try to land a fourth.
The No. 365 player nationally and the 33rd best cornerback in the country according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Lockhart is the 18th member of the Ohio State class which sits at No. 2 in the national rankings. Inching them closer to Georgia for the top overall spot, the Buckeyes have six fewer commitments and are heavily in the mix for some of the top players still available. At any rate, this BOOM was welcomed with open arms and is one the fanbase should be thrilled about. Good things are happening in Columbus and more looks to be on the way.
Quick Hits:
- Also a talking point yesterday, the commitment status of Jakob Gude is now official. A prospect with an Ohio State offer, Gude kept the Buckeyes in the mix down the stretch with his final schools, but as predicted by many, Gude committed elsewhere and is now a member of UCF’s 2024 class.
The No. 416 player nationally, Jakob is also ranked as the 39th best safety in the country per the 247Sports Composite grades for the 2024 class. The Buckeyes are still in a solid spot with their safety recruiting efforts. With multiple top targets still on their board and highly interested in Ohio State, the staff isn’t worried about this one coming off the board.
- It happens every year and this cycle is no exception, but Ohio State commits are always easy to point out on Twitter and other social media outlets. Proud of their respective commitments, many of these future Buckeyes are out recruiting players via social media on the regular and go as far as to hint when positive aspects are coming for the current class.
Yesterday, multiple commits took to Twitter to share their support of the Miles Lockhart commitment and it goes to show how connected this class already is, but also players who will be great fits in Columbus for what this program is trying to be about with their culture.
Certainly, in the coming days and even weeks, more of the good news will be hinted at with this 2024 class in a primo spot to really take off.
Told ya sooooo Number one class soon… be on the lookout
— Deontae Armstrong (@DeonArmstrong30) July 6, 2023
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Which TBT team (other than Carmen’s Crew) should you watch?
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You’re Nuts: Which TBT team (other than Carmen’s Crew) should you watch?
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
The Basketball Tournament tips off July 19 on ESPN+
It is July, which means it is time for The Basketball Tournament, AKA TBT. This is one of the most entertaining basketball tournaments of the year, and Carmen’s Crew, the Ohio State Alumni team, is back in action this season after sitting out last year to revamp their roster and bring in some new blood.
This week, we are talking TBT. Specifically not Carmen’s Crew, but everyone else. Which TBT team we think you should watch that isn’t Carmen’s Crew, since we know you already will watch them.
Last week, we debated which Ohio State men’s basketball record would be broken next. Check that story out below. Connor chose single-game defensive rebounds for Felix Okpara, and Justin chose total games started by Bruce Thornton. Connor won with 81 percent of the votes to tie up the all-time standings.
Justin- 46
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24774449/usa_today_9994499.jpg "NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-First Round-Maryland vs Xavier")
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Shell Shock — the Maryland alumni team — tips off July 25 at 4:00 p.m. It’s the first Maryland team to participate in The Basketball Tournament in its 10-year history, and they’ve got some high-powered guards on the roster that could take them pretty far.
Ohio State fans will recognize several names on Shell Shock, as the roster is littered with former Terrapins who gave the Buckeyes fits. First and foremost is Melo Trimble, the former first team All- Big Ten guard who led the Turtles from 2014-2017 before entering the NBA Draft. Trimble averaged 15.9 points on 43% shooting during his three years at Maryland.
Also on the roster is Darryl Morsell, a four-year starter at Maryland from 2017-2021 and the 2021 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He transferred to Marquette for his final year of college ball, and is now playing in the G League in the Toronto Raptors organization. He will bring a stout defensive presence to Shell Shock in their opening round game against Gataverse, the Florida alumni team.
But that’s only half of the fearsome four-pack this team has! Chris Lykes, the former Miami and Arkansas guard, has also joined up with the Turtles for TBT. Lykes came off the bench at Arkansas during his last year of college, but from 2017-2021 he averaged 13.7 points per game on 41% shooting for Miami. At 5-foot-7, he’ll threaten Marcus Keene this year for the title of most exciting little guy.
Rounding out the Maryland squad’s talented lineup is Maurice “Mo” Creek. Creek had very good seasons at both Indiana and George Washington between 2009 and 2014, and has played for Sideline Cancer each of the past five summers in TBT. His game-winning shot in the 2020 semifinals to upset longtime juggernaut Overseas Elite is considered one of the biggest moments in TBT history. He’s a veteran who always seems to knock down big shots when they matter.
Ohio State fans should root for Carmen’s Crew, but if they want to keep an eye on the other Big Ten alumni teams, Shell Shock will be a fun one to watch. With a first-round matchup against an underwhelming Florida alumni team, I think Shell Shock could potentially win two or more games in their first ever TBT.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24774593/usa_today_17937663.jpg "NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament Second Round-Ohio State vs Villanova")
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
I went with another first-time team and another Big Ten alumni team. The Happy Valley Hoopers, or the Penn State Alumni team. The Penn State team is appealing to me because if how young they are. Most have played on the Nittany Lions since COVID, and some even played as early as last year.
This team also hits all the beats. They have the defense with Jamari Wheeler (also a former Buckeye) and Josh Reaves. They have the size with Mike Watkins and John Harrar. They have the shooting with Myles Dread, Sam Sessoms and Dwayne Cohill. They also have the depth needed to compete in an intense tournament when you play a lot of games in a short amount of time.
This is also one of the newest and youngest teams in the tournament, so they are still in their best shape. All of these teams have pro hoopers that can still get up and down the court fine, but this team is used to playing high minutes in college and lots of games, so they shouldn’t have any issue with the physical demand of this tournament.
Guys like Dread and Sessoms will be key for this team, because it is important to have a couple of guys who can fill it up on offense. For the Happy Valley Hoopers, Dread and Sessoms are those guys.
I am not sure how good they will be, but they should be fun to watch.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
The Basketball Tournament tips off July 19 on ESPN+
It is July, which means it is time for The Basketball Tournament, AKA TBT. This is one of the most entertaining basketball tournaments of the year, and Carmen’s Crew, the Ohio State Alumni team, is back in action this season after sitting out last year to revamp their roster and bring in some new blood.
This week, we are talking TBT. Specifically not Carmen’s Crew, but everyone else. Which TBT team we think you should watch that isn’t Carmen’s Crew, since we know you already will watch them.
Last week, we debated which Ohio State men’s basketball record would be broken next. Check that story out below. Connor chose single-game defensive rebounds for Felix Okpara, and Justin chose total games started by Bruce Thornton. Connor won with 81 percent of the votes to tie up the all-time standings.
Here are the updated standings after 107 (!) weeks:
Justin- 46
Connor- 46
Other- 11
(There have been four ties)
Today’s Question: Which TBT team (other than Carmen’s Crew) should you watch?
Connor: Shell Shock
Shell Shock — the Maryland alumni team — tips off July 25 at 4:00 p.m. It’s the first Maryland team to participate in The Basketball Tournament in its 10-year history, and they’ve got some high-powered guards on the roster that could take them pretty far.
Ohio State fans will recognize several names on Shell Shock, as the roster is littered with former Terrapins who gave the Buckeyes fits. First and foremost is Melo Trimble, the former first team All- Big Ten guard who led the Turtles from 2014-2017 before entering the NBA Draft. Trimble averaged 15.9 points on 43% shooting during his three years at Maryland.
Also on the roster is Darryl Morsell, a four-year starter at Maryland from 2017-2021 and the 2021 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He transferred to Marquette for his final year of college ball, and is now playing in the G League in the Toronto Raptors organization. He will bring a stout defensive presence to Shell Shock in their opening round game against Gataverse, the Florida alumni team.
But that’s only half of the fearsome four-pack this team has! Chris Lykes, the former Miami and Arkansas guard, has also joined up with the Turtles for TBT. Lykes came off the bench at Arkansas during his last year of college, but from 2017-2021 he averaged 13.7 points per game on 41% shooting for Miami. At 5-foot-7, he’ll threaten Marcus Keene this year for the title of most exciting little guy.
Rounding out the Maryland squad’s talented lineup is Maurice “Mo” Creek. Creek had very good seasons at both Indiana and George Washington between 2009 and 2014, and has played for Sideline Cancer each of the past five summers in TBT. His game-winning shot in the 2020 semifinals to upset longtime juggernaut Overseas Elite is considered one of the biggest moments in TBT history. He’s a veteran who always seems to knock down big shots when they matter.
Ohio State fans should root for Carmen’s Crew, but if they want to keep an eye on the other Big Ten alumni teams, Shell Shock will be a fun one to watch. With a first-round matchup against an underwhelming Florida alumni team, I think Shell Shock could potentially win two or more games in their first ever TBT.
Justin: Happy Valley Hoopers
I went with another first-time team and another Big Ten alumni team. The Happy Valley Hoopers, or the Penn State Alumni team. The Penn State team is appealing to me because if how young they are. Most have played on the Nittany Lions since COVID, and some even played as early as last year.
This team also hits all the beats. They have the defense with Jamari Wheeler (also a former Buckeye) and Josh Reaves. They have the size with Mike Watkins and John Harrar. They have the shooting with Myles Dread, Sam Sessoms and Dwayne Cohill. They also have the depth needed to compete in an intense tournament when you play a lot of games in a short amount of time.
This is also one of the newest and youngest teams in the tournament, so they are still in their best shape. All of these teams have pro hoopers that can still get up and down the court fine, but this team is used to playing high minutes in college and lots of games, so they shouldn’t have any issue with the physical demand of this tournament.
Guys like Dread and Sessoms will be key for this team, because it is important to have a couple of guys who can fill it up on offense. For the Happy Valley Hoopers, Dread and Sessoms are those guys.
I am not sure how good they will be, but they should be fun to watch.
Continue reading...
LGHL Buck Off Podcast: Defensive line recruiting, Ryan Day is not getting fired any time soon, and more
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Buck Off Podcast: Defensive line recruiting, Ryan Day is not getting fired any time soon, and more
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State is going for the best class in the country and it starts on the defensive line.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
On today’s episode of “Buck Off with Christopher Renne,” I’m joined by Jordan Williams to discuss all the news surrounding Ohio State’s recent hot streak in recruiting on the defensive side of the ball.
To get the show started, we discuss the realistic possibilities of the defensive line recruiting class after the huge recruiting win with Justin Scott and missing out on Marquise Lightfoot. This conversation turns to predictions on the defensive line, and then we turn the conversation to how this coaching staff is rolling as a cohesive unit in year two. We also talk about Miles Lockhart and K.J. Bolden.
After that, we turn our attention to a conversation and statement one host is growing exhausted of hearing. “If Michigan beats Ohio State again, Ryan Day should be fired,” they shout. Our impassioned host gives his list of reasons on why that will never happen, and for the impatient Ohio State fans, it won’t happen for a while.
We turn our attention to our Buckeye heroes and why the list is so long. This takes down a trip on memory lane thinking about when we were both becoming Ohio State fans in our youth, and how each generation has their heroes. We also try to define who the best embodiment of being a Buckeye is.
After that, we close out the show with the Mountain West’s high school relationship with San Diego State.
Connect with the Show:
Twitter: @BuckOffPod
Connect with Chris Renne:
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB
Connect with Jordan Williams
Twitter: @JordanW330
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
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State is going for the best class in the country and it starts on the defensive line.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On today’s episode of “Buck Off with Christopher Renne,” I’m joined by Jordan Williams to discuss all the news surrounding Ohio State’s recent hot streak in recruiting on the defensive side of the ball.
To get the show started, we discuss the realistic possibilities of the defensive line recruiting class after the huge recruiting win with Justin Scott and missing out on Marquise Lightfoot. This conversation turns to predictions on the defensive line, and then we turn the conversation to how this coaching staff is rolling as a cohesive unit in year two. We also talk about Miles Lockhart and K.J. Bolden.
After that, we turn our attention to a conversation and statement one host is growing exhausted of hearing. “If Michigan beats Ohio State again, Ryan Day should be fired,” they shout. Our impassioned host gives his list of reasons on why that will never happen, and for the impatient Ohio State fans, it won’t happen for a while.
We turn our attention to our Buckeye heroes and why the list is so long. This takes down a trip on memory lane thinking about when we were both becoming Ohio State fans in our youth, and how each generation has their heroes. We also try to define who the best embodiment of being a Buckeye is.
After that, we close out the show with the Mountain West’s high school relationship with San Diego State.
Connect with the Show:
Twitter: @BuckOffPod
Connect with Chris Renne:
Twitter: @ChrisRenneCFB
Connect with Jordan Williams
Twitter: @JordanW330
Continue reading...
LGHL Buckeye Heroes: When his number was called, Kenny Guiton was ready
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Buckeye Heroes: When his number was called, Kenny Guiton was ready
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Low-key Kenny G’s heroics will be remembered by a whole generation of Buckeye fans.
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 heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
After four years covering men’s basketball at Land-Grant Holy Land, I’ve finally worked up the courage to write a brief piece about something non-hardwood related. All it took was a theme week to jog my memory and motivate me to write about one of the more under-the-radar Buckeye heroes of the past 20 years — Kenny Guiton.
Oddly enough, I began following Ohio State basketball — Thad Matta’s teams — well before I ever began paying attention to college football. I watched every week, but I didn’t completely understand the nitty gritty x’s and o’s, and I wasn’t too overly concerned with any particular game other than the week we played TTUN in late November. I was a Buckeye through and through, raised in Toledo and wanted to go to Ohio State for as long as I could remember. But the football bug didn’t bite me until 2012.
And I have none other than Kenny Guiton to thank for that.
For years, the Purdue Boilermakers have been a heel to the Ohio State Buckeyes on the gridiron. Not a rival, per se, but a gnat that Ohio State has to continually swat at year after year. More often than not, that damn gnat hangs around until the fourth quarter, leaving the scarlet and gray-clad fans on the edge of their seat until time expires. Occasionally the gnats from West Lafayette win. Purdue has spoiled opportunities for Big Ten championshps and national championships over the last few decades, and generally have been a huge trap game for Ohio State.
On Oct. 20, 2012, the Buckeyes found themselves in one of those sticky, muck-it-up trap games against a 3-3 Purdue team that had yet to win a Big Ten game that season. Ohio State, on the other hand, was an undefeated 7-0, during Urban Meyer’s first season at the helm of the program. A sophomore Braxton Miller was under center, but as is the case with dual-threat quarterbacks, there’s a higher risk for injury when he’s scrambling and leaving himself vulnerable. More on that later.
On this chilly, damp Saturday afternoon, Purdue played their way to a 13-7 halftime lead. Akeem Hunt returned a kickoff 100 yards all the way to the house to put Purdue up 13-7 with 5:17 remaining in the half, and that’s how this game would stay until the break. I would give more details about the other 25 minutes of the first half, but it has nothing to do with our Buckeye Hero, Kenny Guiton.
After a frustrating first half that saw the Buckeyes put together just one drive of more than 20 yards — their lone touchdown drive — Ohio State was still within one score when the second half began. All things, considered, not too bad, right?
Ohio State retook a 14-13 lead following an eight-play, 80-yard drive at the 7:41 mark of the third quarter that was capped off by a Carlos Hyde two-yard plunge into the endzone. But the Boilermakers swung back a few minutes later with a scoring drive of their own, with Caleb TerBush marching Purdue 82 yards down the field and finding Gary Bush for a 31-yard touchdown to put the Boilers back up 20-14 with 3:49 left in the game.
After an Ohio State fumble and a Purdue field goal was blocked, the Buckeyes found themsleves in a world of hurt at the tail end of the third quarter. Braxton Miller began Ohio State’s drive from their own 24, and ran 37 yards up the near sideline, where he was taken down by Josh Johnson at the Purdue 39 for a first down.
But as Johnson got up, it became clear Miller wasn’t going to. Ohio State’s sophomore signal-caller slammed his head and shoulder hard on the turf, and was eventually carted off the field and taken to the hospital.
Enter Kenny Guiton. To that point, Ohio State’s 6-foot-3, 210-pound backup had thrown exactly 10 passes that season — nine of which were in a blowout over Miami (OH). Suddenly, he was tasked with authoring a comeback to keep the Buckeyes’ perfect season alive against a team that loved (and still does, to this day) spoiling Ohio State’s fun.
Guiton’s first drive against the Boilermakers was not successful, and his second drive resulted in a safety when an illegal block was called in the endzone. 22-14 Purdue, with 10 minutes remaining.
The Boilermakers were on track to hand Urban Meyer his first loss as the head coach at Ohio State. With 47 seconds remaining in the game, Purdue still held that same eight-point lead, and they just needed to stop Ohio State’s backup quarterback from driving 61 yards down the field and going for two right after. Easy enough.
Guiton started the drive by uncorking a 39-yard pass and run to Devin Smith, down to the Purdue 22 for a first down. An eight-yard completion to future national champion WR/QB Evan Spencer followed, putting Ohio State at Purdue’s 14 with 28 seconds remaining.
With time ticking down, Guiton’s next three passes all fell incomplete, and 105,000 fans excitiment and exuberance suddently shifted to devastation — the fairytale ending was about to crash. But Guiton’s third down pass to Spencer drew a flag with eight seconds remaining, giving the Buckeyes new life.
The ball was placed at the 2-yard line. Guiton took the snap, drifted to his left, and found a diving Chris Fields for a touchdown. Exuberance resumed, but only for a moment — the Buckeyes stil needed two more.
With three seconds on the clock still, Guiton lined up in the shotgun formation and scampered to his right, pulling the Purdue defense his way. He then looked back over his shoulder and threw to the same spot he found Fields, this time fiding Jeff Heuerman for the conversion. Overtime at the horseshoe.
In overtime, Guiton made the plays that had to be made to keep the pressure on the now-reeling Boilers. A big 17-yard completion to Jake Stoneburner set up Carlos Hyde for the go-ahead score in OT, and Purdue sputtered out on their first overtime drive on 4th-and-5 at the OSU 20.
Celebration. Relief. Chaos. Ohio State’s rarely used backup quarterback had just authored one of the most memorable fourth-quarter comeback drives in recent memory. Kenny Guiton may never pay for another drink in Columbus.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24774599/usa_today_6557906.jpg "NCAA Football: Central Florida at Ohio State")
Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Meanwhile, a 16-year old me jumped in the air in front of our living room TV in Toledo. What a story! What a comeback! My interest in football had always lagged behind basketball, but — even if it took me a bit longer than my friends — I was hooked. The pride I felt for my team, my state, and my future school had never been higher.
I’ll always remember that final drive by Kenny Guiton. That’s why he’s a Buckeye Hero, in my eyes.
Continue reading...
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Low-key Kenny G’s heroics will be remembered by a whole generation of Buckeye fans.
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 heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
After four years covering men’s basketball at Land-Grant Holy Land, I’ve finally worked up the courage to write a brief piece about something non-hardwood related. All it took was a theme week to jog my memory and motivate me to write about one of the more under-the-radar Buckeye heroes of the past 20 years — Kenny Guiton.
Oddly enough, I began following Ohio State basketball — Thad Matta’s teams — well before I ever began paying attention to college football. I watched every week, but I didn’t completely understand the nitty gritty x’s and o’s, and I wasn’t too overly concerned with any particular game other than the week we played TTUN in late November. I was a Buckeye through and through, raised in Toledo and wanted to go to Ohio State for as long as I could remember. But the football bug didn’t bite me until 2012.
And I have none other than Kenny Guiton to thank for that.
For years, the Purdue Boilermakers have been a heel to the Ohio State Buckeyes on the gridiron. Not a rival, per se, but a gnat that Ohio State has to continually swat at year after year. More often than not, that damn gnat hangs around until the fourth quarter, leaving the scarlet and gray-clad fans on the edge of their seat until time expires. Occasionally the gnats from West Lafayette win. Purdue has spoiled opportunities for Big Ten championshps and national championships over the last few decades, and generally have been a huge trap game for Ohio State.
On Oct. 20, 2012, the Buckeyes found themselves in one of those sticky, muck-it-up trap games against a 3-3 Purdue team that had yet to win a Big Ten game that season. Ohio State, on the other hand, was an undefeated 7-0, during Urban Meyer’s first season at the helm of the program. A sophomore Braxton Miller was under center, but as is the case with dual-threat quarterbacks, there’s a higher risk for injury when he’s scrambling and leaving himself vulnerable. More on that later.
On this chilly, damp Saturday afternoon, Purdue played their way to a 13-7 halftime lead. Akeem Hunt returned a kickoff 100 yards all the way to the house to put Purdue up 13-7 with 5:17 remaining in the half, and that’s how this game would stay until the break. I would give more details about the other 25 minutes of the first half, but it has nothing to do with our Buckeye Hero, Kenny Guiton.
After a frustrating first half that saw the Buckeyes put together just one drive of more than 20 yards — their lone touchdown drive — Ohio State was still within one score when the second half began. All things, considered, not too bad, right?
Ohio State retook a 14-13 lead following an eight-play, 80-yard drive at the 7:41 mark of the third quarter that was capped off by a Carlos Hyde two-yard plunge into the endzone. But the Boilermakers swung back a few minutes later with a scoring drive of their own, with Caleb TerBush marching Purdue 82 yards down the field and finding Gary Bush for a 31-yard touchdown to put the Boilers back up 20-14 with 3:49 left in the game.
After an Ohio State fumble and a Purdue field goal was blocked, the Buckeyes found themsleves in a world of hurt at the tail end of the third quarter. Braxton Miller began Ohio State’s drive from their own 24, and ran 37 yards up the near sideline, where he was taken down by Josh Johnson at the Purdue 39 for a first down.
But as Johnson got up, it became clear Miller wasn’t going to. Ohio State’s sophomore signal-caller slammed his head and shoulder hard on the turf, and was eventually carted off the field and taken to the hospital.
Enter Kenny Guiton. To that point, Ohio State’s 6-foot-3, 210-pound backup had thrown exactly 10 passes that season — nine of which were in a blowout over Miami (OH). Suddenly, he was tasked with authoring a comeback to keep the Buckeyes’ perfect season alive against a team that loved (and still does, to this day) spoiling Ohio State’s fun.
Guiton’s first drive against the Boilermakers was not successful, and his second drive resulted in a safety when an illegal block was called in the endzone. 22-14 Purdue, with 10 minutes remaining.
The Boilermakers were on track to hand Urban Meyer his first loss as the head coach at Ohio State. With 47 seconds remaining in the game, Purdue still held that same eight-point lead, and they just needed to stop Ohio State’s backup quarterback from driving 61 yards down the field and going for two right after. Easy enough.
Guiton started the drive by uncorking a 39-yard pass and run to Devin Smith, down to the Purdue 22 for a first down. An eight-yard completion to future national champion WR/QB Evan Spencer followed, putting Ohio State at Purdue’s 14 with 28 seconds remaining.
With time ticking down, Guiton’s next three passes all fell incomplete, and 105,000 fans excitiment and exuberance suddently shifted to devastation — the fairytale ending was about to crash. But Guiton’s third down pass to Spencer drew a flag with eight seconds remaining, giving the Buckeyes new life.
The ball was placed at the 2-yard line. Guiton took the snap, drifted to his left, and found a diving Chris Fields for a touchdown. Exuberance resumed, but only for a moment — the Buckeyes stil needed two more.
With three seconds on the clock still, Guiton lined up in the shotgun formation and scampered to his right, pulling the Purdue defense his way. He then looked back over his shoulder and threw to the same spot he found Fields, this time fiding Jeff Heuerman for the conversion. Overtime at the horseshoe.
In overtime, Guiton made the plays that had to be made to keep the pressure on the now-reeling Boilers. A big 17-yard completion to Jake Stoneburner set up Carlos Hyde for the go-ahead score in OT, and Purdue sputtered out on their first overtime drive on 4th-and-5 at the OSU 20.
Celebration. Relief. Chaos. Ohio State’s rarely used backup quarterback had just authored one of the most memorable fourth-quarter comeback drives in recent memory. Kenny Guiton may never pay for another drink in Columbus.
Meanwhile, a 16-year old me jumped in the air in front of our living room TV in Toledo. What a story! What a comeback! My interest in football had always lagged behind basketball, but — even if it took me a bit longer than my friends — I was hooked. The pride I felt for my team, my state, and my future school had never been higher.
I’ll always remember that final drive by Kenny Guiton. That’s why he’s a Buckeye Hero, in my eyes.
Continue reading...
LGHL Buckeye Heroes: Chris Spielman set the standard for Buckeyes on and off the field
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Buckeye Heroes: Chris Spielman set the standard for Buckeyes on and off the field
CMinnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The linebacker should be considered one of the best players in OSU history, as well as a role model husband and father.
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 heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
There are certain jersey numbers in Ohio State’s rich football tradition that are forever associated with a specific position. For example, the jersey No. 36 was worn by Ohio State linebacker Tom Cousineau, from 1975 through 1978. Another linebacker, Marcus Marek, represented the No. 36 well from 1979 through 1982.
For me, the No. 36 will forever be associated with a linebacker from Massillon, Ohio, who wore it from 1984 through 1987 — Chris Spielman. A two-time All-American, the 1987 Lombardi Award winner, and an inductee into The College Football Hall Of Fame, Spielman set the standard for Ohio State linebackers.
It would not be said that Chris Spielman was the most physically gifted linebacker to ever play for Ohio State. Spielman was listed at around 6-feet tall, and had to work out relentlessly in the weight room to try to keep pace with his competitors. It was, and probably forever will be, a source of consternation to Spielman that he was not a first-round draft choice in 1988. As a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan, it remains galling to me that the Browns bypassed Spielman to take another linebacker, Clifford Charlton from Florida when Spielman was on the board.
What helped to set Spielman apart from other Ohio State linebackers was his intensity and determination. That is not to imply that other Ohio State linebackers do not play hard, either presently, or in the past, but when you watch video clips of Spielman playing at Ohio State, one could almost get the sense that Spielman was bound and determined to make every tackle. In a last-second, bitter home loss against the Michigan Wolverines in 1986, Spielman registered 29 tackles. Spielman would not be outworked, either on or off the field. There was no “off” switch for Chris Spielman.
An underrated aspect of Chris Spielman that I did not know about when he was a player, but something I have come to enjoy after his playing days, is his sense of humor. Watch the video clip below for an example of what I am talking about. Many thanks to Spielman’s late father for “persuading” Chris to play for Ohio State, instead of going up to “That Team Up North”.
Most of all, and I cannot emphasize this enough, why Spielman is a person I truly look up to and respect — Chris Spielman willingly and wholeheartedly took a year off from his professional career to take care of his wife Stefanie. High school sweethearts from their hometown of Massillon, Ohio, the Spielmans were married and with young children when Stefanie Spielman was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 1998.
Do yourselves a favor, and watch the video on YouTube of “Chris Spielman - A Football Life”. It is well worth the nearly 45 minutes. It is not a lengthy segment, but I completely agree with Oprah Winfrey, at around the 27-minute mark of the video, who proudly told Spielman,
Chris and Stefanie Spielman’s long-lasting legacy was the development of The Stefanie Spielman Fund For Breast Cancer Research. Initially, the Spielmans had hoped to raise $250,000. The Stefanie Spielman Fund For Breast Cancer Research has raised over $26 million. The Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center in Columbus, Ohio, is a direct result of the Spielmans’ efforts to eliminate cancer. Stefanie Spielman is sadly no longer with us, but Chris Spielman continues to be a tireless advocate for cancer research.
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort and convenience, but how he stands at times of controversy and challenges...”. As an Ohio State fan, I will always treasure the phenomenal football memories Chris Spielman provided, but I will always applaud him for showing Ohio State fans such as myself what it truly means to live up to your wedding vows, and by putting his wife and children first.
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The linebacker should be considered one of the best players in OSU history, as well as a role model husband and father.
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 heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
There are certain jersey numbers in Ohio State’s rich football tradition that are forever associated with a specific position. For example, the jersey No. 36 was worn by Ohio State linebacker Tom Cousineau, from 1975 through 1978. Another linebacker, Marcus Marek, represented the No. 36 well from 1979 through 1982.
For me, the No. 36 will forever be associated with a linebacker from Massillon, Ohio, who wore it from 1984 through 1987 — Chris Spielman. A two-time All-American, the 1987 Lombardi Award winner, and an inductee into The College Football Hall Of Fame, Spielman set the standard for Ohio State linebackers.
It would not be said that Chris Spielman was the most physically gifted linebacker to ever play for Ohio State. Spielman was listed at around 6-feet tall, and had to work out relentlessly in the weight room to try to keep pace with his competitors. It was, and probably forever will be, a source of consternation to Spielman that he was not a first-round draft choice in 1988. As a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan, it remains galling to me that the Browns bypassed Spielman to take another linebacker, Clifford Charlton from Florida when Spielman was on the board.
What helped to set Spielman apart from other Ohio State linebackers was his intensity and determination. That is not to imply that other Ohio State linebackers do not play hard, either presently, or in the past, but when you watch video clips of Spielman playing at Ohio State, one could almost get the sense that Spielman was bound and determined to make every tackle. In a last-second, bitter home loss against the Michigan Wolverines in 1986, Spielman registered 29 tackles. Spielman would not be outworked, either on or off the field. There was no “off” switch for Chris Spielman.
An underrated aspect of Chris Spielman that I did not know about when he was a player, but something I have come to enjoy after his playing days, is his sense of humor. Watch the video clip below for an example of what I am talking about. Many thanks to Spielman’s late father for “persuading” Chris to play for Ohio State, instead of going up to “That Team Up North”.
Most of all, and I cannot emphasize this enough, why Spielman is a person I truly look up to and respect — Chris Spielman willingly and wholeheartedly took a year off from his professional career to take care of his wife Stefanie. High school sweethearts from their hometown of Massillon, Ohio, the Spielmans were married and with young children when Stefanie Spielman was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 1998.
Do yourselves a favor, and watch the video on YouTube of “Chris Spielman - A Football Life”. It is well worth the nearly 45 minutes. It is not a lengthy segment, but I completely agree with Oprah Winfrey, at around the 27-minute mark of the video, who proudly told Spielman,
Chris and Stefanie Spielman’s long-lasting legacy was the development of The Stefanie Spielman Fund For Breast Cancer Research. Initially, the Spielmans had hoped to raise $250,000. The Stefanie Spielman Fund For Breast Cancer Research has raised over $26 million. The Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center in Columbus, Ohio, is a direct result of the Spielmans’ efforts to eliminate cancer. Stefanie Spielman is sadly no longer with us, but Chris Spielman continues to be a tireless advocate for cancer research.
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort and convenience, but how he stands at times of controversy and challenges...”. As an Ohio State fan, I will always treasure the phenomenal football memories Chris Spielman provided, but I will always applaud him for showing Ohio State fans such as myself what it truly means to live up to your wedding vows, and by putting his wife and children first.
Continue reading...
