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LGHL You’re Nuts: Way-too-early picks for Big Ten men’s basketball champion
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You’re Nuts: Way-too-early picks for Big Ten men’s basketball champion
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Certainly, this isn’t the kiss of death for both teams next season!
After taking a week off so Connor could go travel to the Great North (Canada), the Bucketheads are back.
Since it has been two weeks, here is a refresher on the last topic we debated.
In honor of the theme from two weeks ago, unpopular opinions, the guys debated their unpopular opinions of the NCAA tournament. Justin argued that upsets hurt the overall tournament from a viewing perspective and Connor argued that it is not as important as the fans make it out to be.
Justin won with 69% (nice) of the vote. This week, we are dipping our toes into the way-too-early predictions territory.
Here are the updated standings after 100-plus weeks of doing this:
Justin- 46
Here is this week’s topic.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24713479/usa_today_19884862.jpg "Syndication: Journal-Courier")
Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK
After winning the Big Ten by three whole games last year (they went 15-5, the next best team was 12-8) and returning the National Player of the Year, Purdue deserves the benefit of the doubt heading into the 2023-2024 season.
Yes, I know they lost to a 16-seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. But this is not an argument about which Big Ten team is going to go the furthest in the dance, it’s about which Big Ten team is going to be the best in the conference. The minute Edey confirmed that he’d be returning, Purdue became the favorite. In fact, they’re not only the betting favorite to win the conference, they also have the second-best odds to win the national championship at +1200, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. ‘
There’s just no game plan that can be drawn up to stop Edey, especially over the course of a 20-game conference schedule. He’s 7-foot-4 and 290 pounds — nobody has a player who can stand up to him. Even if you are able to throw a defender at him that makes things even a little bit difficult, he also averaged 5.5 (!!) offensive rebounds per game — that was second in the country. So even if you somehow force a miss on one of Edey’s layups, there’s over a 33% chance he’s grabbing his own miss and you have to stop him a second time.
The players around Edey were solid but unspectacular. Braden Smith shot the ball at a high percentage but didn’t take many shots. Fletcher Loyer was the opposite, shooting even when it might be ill-advised at times. He averaged 11 PPG as a freshman, although that was on just 36% shooting. He needs to improve on his efficiency.
Guys like Caleb Furst and Trey Kaufmann-Renn should get a bit better, but to be honest they don’t need to get a whole lot better. The Boilermakers went 15-5 last season in the Big Ten with Edey and a bunch of supplementary players last season — if the younger guys improve even a little bit that only means Purdue’s trajectory would go higher than that 15-5.
I watched Edey gobble up the Buckeyes in person last year — twice. Now, he and his teammates have sat at home all summer long, listening/reading/watching people laugh at them for losing to a 16-seed. I’ll buy into the comeback plotline with this team, for sure.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24713218/usa_today_20792552.jpg "Syndication: Detroit Free Press")
Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK
Michigan State to me is very simple. They are bringing back three guards that can all be First Team All-Conference this upcoming season and they have one of the best recruiting classes in the country.
Let’s start with the guards. A.J. Hoggard, Tyson Walker, and Jaden Akins have all announced they will return to East Lansing for another season. Hoggard and Akins declared for the NBA draft but both decided to return to East Lansing. They were three of the four top scorers for the Spartans last season, with Walker leading the way at 14.8 points per game. Hoggard averaged 12.9 points per game and Akins averaged 9.8 points per game,
Akins will likely take one of the largest steps of anyone in the conference. He is incredibly talented on offense and with the loss of Joey Hauser, Akins will likely be looked at to take the next step.
As for the recruiting class, Xavier Booker is one of the best recruits in the entire class and can be a day-one starter at forward for Tom Izzo. Jeremy Fears will be able to learn behind three incredible guards for his first season and then be ready to take over the reins. Coen Carr is one of the freakiest athletes of the past decade to enter the conference and can also play defense at a high level. Gehrig Normand is a spot-up shooter that can score at all three levels as well.
The biggest question mark for the Spartans is at the center position, but with Mady Sissoko, Jaxon Kohler, and Carson Cooper all returning and Xavier Booker coming in, they should be able to take the next step in their development.
Michigan State will likely be a one or a two-seed in the NCAA tournament and this could be one of Izzo’s most talented teams since the Cassius Winston and Nick Ward era. And I think they are going to win the Big Ten.
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
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Certainly, this isn’t the kiss of death for both teams next season!
After taking a week off so Connor could go travel to the Great North (Canada), the Bucketheads are back.
Since it has been two weeks, here is a refresher on the last topic we debated.
In honor of the theme from two weeks ago, unpopular opinions, the guys debated their unpopular opinions of the NCAA tournament. Justin argued that upsets hurt the overall tournament from a viewing perspective and Connor argued that it is not as important as the fans make it out to be.
Justin won with 69% (nice) of the vote. This week, we are dipping our toes into the way-too-early predictions territory.
Here are the updated standings after 100-plus weeks of doing this:
After 103 weeks:
Justin- 46
Connor- 42
Other- 11
(There have been four ties)
Here is this week’s topic.
Today’s Question: Way-too-early picks for Big Ten men’s basketball champion
Connor: Purdue
After winning the Big Ten by three whole games last year (they went 15-5, the next best team was 12-8) and returning the National Player of the Year, Purdue deserves the benefit of the doubt heading into the 2023-2024 season.
Yes, I know they lost to a 16-seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. But this is not an argument about which Big Ten team is going to go the furthest in the dance, it’s about which Big Ten team is going to be the best in the conference. The minute Edey confirmed that he’d be returning, Purdue became the favorite. In fact, they’re not only the betting favorite to win the conference, they also have the second-best odds to win the national championship at +1200, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. ‘
There’s just no game plan that can be drawn up to stop Edey, especially over the course of a 20-game conference schedule. He’s 7-foot-4 and 290 pounds — nobody has a player who can stand up to him. Even if you are able to throw a defender at him that makes things even a little bit difficult, he also averaged 5.5 (!!) offensive rebounds per game — that was second in the country. So even if you somehow force a miss on one of Edey’s layups, there’s over a 33% chance he’s grabbing his own miss and you have to stop him a second time.
The players around Edey were solid but unspectacular. Braden Smith shot the ball at a high percentage but didn’t take many shots. Fletcher Loyer was the opposite, shooting even when it might be ill-advised at times. He averaged 11 PPG as a freshman, although that was on just 36% shooting. He needs to improve on his efficiency.
Guys like Caleb Furst and Trey Kaufmann-Renn should get a bit better, but to be honest they don’t need to get a whole lot better. The Boilermakers went 15-5 last season in the Big Ten with Edey and a bunch of supplementary players last season — if the younger guys improve even a little bit that only means Purdue’s trajectory would go higher than that 15-5.
I watched Edey gobble up the Buckeyes in person last year — twice. Now, he and his teammates have sat at home all summer long, listening/reading/watching people laugh at them for losing to a 16-seed. I’ll buy into the comeback plotline with this team, for sure.
Justin: Michigan State
Michigan State to me is very simple. They are bringing back three guards that can all be First Team All-Conference this upcoming season and they have one of the best recruiting classes in the country.
Let’s start with the guards. A.J. Hoggard, Tyson Walker, and Jaden Akins have all announced they will return to East Lansing for another season. Hoggard and Akins declared for the NBA draft but both decided to return to East Lansing. They were three of the four top scorers for the Spartans last season, with Walker leading the way at 14.8 points per game. Hoggard averaged 12.9 points per game and Akins averaged 9.8 points per game,
Akins will likely take one of the largest steps of anyone in the conference. He is incredibly talented on offense and with the loss of Joey Hauser, Akins will likely be looked at to take the next step.
As for the recruiting class, Xavier Booker is one of the best recruits in the entire class and can be a day-one starter at forward for Tom Izzo. Jeremy Fears will be able to learn behind three incredible guards for his first season and then be ready to take over the reins. Coen Carr is one of the freakiest athletes of the past decade to enter the conference and can also play defense at a high level. Gehrig Normand is a spot-up shooter that can score at all three levels as well.
The biggest question mark for the Spartans is at the center position, but with Mady Sissoko, Jaxon Kohler, and Carson Cooper all returning and Xavier Booker coming in, they should be able to take the next step in their development.
Michigan State will likely be a one or a two-seed in the NCAA tournament and this could be one of Izzo’s most talented teams since the Cassius Winston and Nick Ward era. And I think they are going to win the Big Ten.
Continue reading...
LGHL ‘What If’ Maurice Clarett had played for Ohio State in 2003 & 2004?
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‘What If’ Maurice Clarett had played for Ohio State in 2003 & 2004?
CMinnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
SetNumber: X67450
Maurice Clarett’s play in 2002 feft Ohio State fans wanting more.
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 asking “What If?”. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”What If?” articles here.
I believe that most of us have heard the quote, “A picture is worth a thousand words...” It is with that quote in mind that I ask you to look back at the picture of Maurice Clarett for this article, as it shows Clarett in action in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, versus the Miami Hurricanes, for the national championship.
For those of you who did not have the privilege of seeing Maurice Clarett play for Ohio State in 2002, do yourselves a favor, and watch the video clip I have included below. Trust me when I write that the video will not do Maurice Clarett justice, as he was dominant from his very first game against Texas Tech in 2002. Battling injuries throughout the season, Clarett was the focal point of the Ohio State offense in 2002.
It is not a still photo, but perhaps a better image of Clarett is the video demonstrates how dominant Clarett was in 2002, how everything fell apart for him, and how he is living a fulfilling and positive lifestyle today. I would like to publicly state that I have had an opportunity to hear Clarett speak about his previous troubles, how he has turned his life around, and I am so happy that he is inspiring others. He truly seemed to be at peace when I had the opportunity to meet him and briefly speak with him.
The 2003 Ohio State team (11-2, finished 4th in the final AP Poll) and 2004 Ohio State team (8-4, finished 20th in the final AP Poll) were good teams, but as it was stated in the video “There’s no 2002 Ohio State national champion without Maurice Clarett...” Clarett’s absence from the 2003 and 2004 Ohio State teams was evident and impactful. Ohio State won the Fiesta Bowl versus Kansas State after the 2003 season, and won the Alamo Bowl versus Oklahoma State after the 2004 season, but the running game was just not the same without Maurice Clarett in the backfield.
For example, the leading rushers for Ohio State in 2003 and 2004 were Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall. Ross ran for 1,301 yards over those two seasons (826 yards, 10 touchdowns in 2003; 475 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2004), while Hall ran for 532 yards (316 yards, 1 touchdown in 2003; 216 yards and 1 touchdown in 2004). Antonio Pittman was a true freshman in 2004, and contributed with 381 yards rushing and 1 touchdown. By comparison, Clarett had rushed for 1,237 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2002 as a true freshman.
Without Maurice Clarett in the backfield, Ohio State used the running back by committee approach as best they could in those two seasons. Think about some of the games that Maurice Clarett could have positively impacted if he had been playing for Ohio State...
09/13/2003 - Ohio State 44, North Carolina State 38: Mrs. Minnich and I were in the stands for this triple-overtime winner over the Wolfpack. Maurice Hall and Lydell Ross combined stats for this game - 17 carries for 3 yards, with 1 touchdown by Lydell Ross. Does anyone think Clarett may have been able to get more than three yards in this game?
10/11/2003 - Wisconsin 17, Ohio State 10: The first cut is the deepest, as this was Ohio State’s first loss since the 2002 Outback Bowl loss to South Carolina (31-28). Lydell Ross, Maurice Hall, and Brandon Schnittker combined for 15 carries for 50 yards, and no touchdowns. Does anyone think Clarett may have been able to help Ohio State run the ball better in that hostile, rainy environment of Camp Randall that night?
11/22/2003 - Michigan 35, Ohio State 21: Jim Tressel’s first loss to “That Team Up North”, as Ohio State is denied another opportunity to compete in The BCS Championship Game, and the Wolverines win The Big Ten and go to the Rose Bowl. Ohio State’s rushing stats in this game: Lydell Ross, Brandon Joe, and Maurice Hall combined for 14 carries for 31 yards, one touchdown.
The 2004 season was almost a mirror image of the challenges of the 2003 season, with the lowpoint being the 33-7 thrashing at Iowa on October 16th, 2004. Antonio Pittman carried the ball 7 times for 16 yards, while Lydell Ross carried 10 times for 0 yards. The only bright spot from that game was this was the emergence of quarterback Troy Smith into the Ohio State offense, for the remainder of the season.
Mrs. Minnich and I were at THE GAME on Nov. 20, 2004, and we thoroughly enjoyed the 37-21 victory. Branden Joe carried the ball 14 times for 52 yards; quarterback Troy Smith was electrifying as both a passer and runner for the Buckeyes in this game (completed 13 of 23 passes for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns, while adding 18 carries for 145 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground).
I recall being at my cousin John’s tailgate before the game, and as the name of Maurice Clarett came up, one of John’s friends made the statement, “Today should have been a celebration of Maurice Clarett. A thank you for his contributions...” As I reflect upon those 2003 and 2004 seasons, I cannot help but think of “What If” as it relates to Maurice Clarett.
Continue reading...
CMinnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
SetNumber: X67450
Maurice Clarett’s play in 2002 feft Ohio State fans wanting more.
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 asking “What If?”. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”What If?” articles here.
I believe that most of us have heard the quote, “A picture is worth a thousand words...” It is with that quote in mind that I ask you to look back at the picture of Maurice Clarett for this article, as it shows Clarett in action in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, versus the Miami Hurricanes, for the national championship.
For those of you who did not have the privilege of seeing Maurice Clarett play for Ohio State in 2002, do yourselves a favor, and watch the video clip I have included below. Trust me when I write that the video will not do Maurice Clarett justice, as he was dominant from his very first game against Texas Tech in 2002. Battling injuries throughout the season, Clarett was the focal point of the Ohio State offense in 2002.
It is not a still photo, but perhaps a better image of Clarett is the video demonstrates how dominant Clarett was in 2002, how everything fell apart for him, and how he is living a fulfilling and positive lifestyle today. I would like to publicly state that I have had an opportunity to hear Clarett speak about his previous troubles, how he has turned his life around, and I am so happy that he is inspiring others. He truly seemed to be at peace when I had the opportunity to meet him and briefly speak with him.
The 2003 Ohio State team (11-2, finished 4th in the final AP Poll) and 2004 Ohio State team (8-4, finished 20th in the final AP Poll) were good teams, but as it was stated in the video “There’s no 2002 Ohio State national champion without Maurice Clarett...” Clarett’s absence from the 2003 and 2004 Ohio State teams was evident and impactful. Ohio State won the Fiesta Bowl versus Kansas State after the 2003 season, and won the Alamo Bowl versus Oklahoma State after the 2004 season, but the running game was just not the same without Maurice Clarett in the backfield.
For example, the leading rushers for Ohio State in 2003 and 2004 were Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall. Ross ran for 1,301 yards over those two seasons (826 yards, 10 touchdowns in 2003; 475 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2004), while Hall ran for 532 yards (316 yards, 1 touchdown in 2003; 216 yards and 1 touchdown in 2004). Antonio Pittman was a true freshman in 2004, and contributed with 381 yards rushing and 1 touchdown. By comparison, Clarett had rushed for 1,237 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2002 as a true freshman.
Without Maurice Clarett in the backfield, Ohio State used the running back by committee approach as best they could in those two seasons. Think about some of the games that Maurice Clarett could have positively impacted if he had been playing for Ohio State...
09/13/2003 - Ohio State 44, North Carolina State 38: Mrs. Minnich and I were in the stands for this triple-overtime winner over the Wolfpack. Maurice Hall and Lydell Ross combined stats for this game - 17 carries for 3 yards, with 1 touchdown by Lydell Ross. Does anyone think Clarett may have been able to get more than three yards in this game?
10/11/2003 - Wisconsin 17, Ohio State 10: The first cut is the deepest, as this was Ohio State’s first loss since the 2002 Outback Bowl loss to South Carolina (31-28). Lydell Ross, Maurice Hall, and Brandon Schnittker combined for 15 carries for 50 yards, and no touchdowns. Does anyone think Clarett may have been able to help Ohio State run the ball better in that hostile, rainy environment of Camp Randall that night?
11/22/2003 - Michigan 35, Ohio State 21: Jim Tressel’s first loss to “That Team Up North”, as Ohio State is denied another opportunity to compete in The BCS Championship Game, and the Wolverines win The Big Ten and go to the Rose Bowl. Ohio State’s rushing stats in this game: Lydell Ross, Brandon Joe, and Maurice Hall combined for 14 carries for 31 yards, one touchdown.
The 2004 season was almost a mirror image of the challenges of the 2003 season, with the lowpoint being the 33-7 thrashing at Iowa on October 16th, 2004. Antonio Pittman carried the ball 7 times for 16 yards, while Lydell Ross carried 10 times for 0 yards. The only bright spot from that game was this was the emergence of quarterback Troy Smith into the Ohio State offense, for the remainder of the season.
Mrs. Minnich and I were at THE GAME on Nov. 20, 2004, and we thoroughly enjoyed the 37-21 victory. Branden Joe carried the ball 14 times for 52 yards; quarterback Troy Smith was electrifying as both a passer and runner for the Buckeyes in this game (completed 13 of 23 passes for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns, while adding 18 carries for 145 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground).
I recall being at my cousin John’s tailgate before the game, and as the name of Maurice Clarett came up, one of John’s friends made the statement, “Today should have been a celebration of Maurice Clarett. A thank you for his contributions...” As I reflect upon those 2003 and 2004 seasons, I cannot help but think of “What If” as it relates to Maurice Clarett.
Continue reading...
LGHL LGHL Asks: Ohio State fans want to change the outcome of one specific game
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LGHL Asks: Ohio State fans want to change the outcome of one specific game
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 Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
They also pick which 2022 football player they wish was back on the Buckeyes’ roster this fall.
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 players to watch this upcoming season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”What If?” articles here.
No matter how happy you are in your life, no matter how “alpha” you claim to be, part of being human is having regrets, disappointments, and things that you would go back and change if the universe afforded you the opportunity to do so. While we here at Land-Grant Holy Land do not have the ability to reverse time, as part of our “What If?” Week, we asked you want you would do if you could change a bit of Ohio State football history.
Earlier this week, we asked you to remove the NFL Draft eligibility from a 2022 Buckeye (other than C.J. Stroud) and bring him back to the 2023 team and erase one of OSU’s most painful losses of the 21st Century. So, let’s dive into the results. If you would have gone in a different direction, let us know in the comments below.
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I think that this is absolutely the correct answer to this question. With all due respect to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who should have been the best wide receiver in the country last season, should he not have been injured, adding Paris Johnson Jr. back in at left tackle would have gone a tremendously long way to solidifying what is a shaky offensive line.
Granted, I believe that the addition of Josh Simmons helps sure things up a bit, I would far prefer to have Johnson protecting Kyle McCord (or potentially Devin Brown)’s blind side with Josh Fryar on the right and Matt Jones and Donovan Jackson on the inside (and, I’m guessing Jakob James at center.
To be honest, even if Paris goes — as he should have as the No. 6 overall pick — if Dawand Jones and Luke Wypler had stayed (Jones went in the fourth round and Wypler in the sixth) would have been tremendous bonuses for the 2023 squad.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24714345/OhioState_2_060823.png)
Now don’t get me wrong, the pain of the loss to Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinals last season is real and valid, but I think this question is being impacted by a bit of recency bias. While I have said many times that I think Ohio State was effectively one play away from winning the national title in January (whether that play was Marvin Harrison Jr.’s injury or the missed last-second field goal attempt), in reality, they had a whole other game they would have needed to win to take home the title.
And while. I do believe that they would have done so, that’s a pretty big risk if I am going to be using my one shot at rewriting history on the game. Therefore, I would have gone with one of the national title game losses, so I could have guaranteed another Buckeye national title.
It’s no secret that I have never been the biggest Urban Meyer fan in the world, but I don’t think that I would erase the 2007 Championship Game loss, because the ripple effects of changing that game could lead to Urbz never coming to Columbus, thus erasing the Buckeyes’ 2014 national title.
So, I am left to pick between the 2008 BCS Championship Game and the 2021 College Football Playoff Championship Game. While losing to Alabama in the weird COVID year still sucks, to me, the answer from here is easy, and it’s the loss to LSU. Having lived in the southeast since 2006, I remember the pain and anger of having to deal with back-to-back losses in BCS title games to SEC teams, and if I could, I would change that.
Not only for my own personal mental health but also because of the image and reputation that it begat for the program moving forward; something that I think it still deals with today. Also, bonus points, because it means that Michigan Man Les Miles never would have won a national title.
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 Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
They also pick which 2022 football player they wish was back on the Buckeyes’ roster this fall.
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 players to watch this upcoming season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”What If?” articles here.
No matter how happy you are in your life, no matter how “alpha” you claim to be, part of being human is having regrets, disappointments, and things that you would go back and change if the universe afforded you the opportunity to do so. While we here at Land-Grant Holy Land do not have the ability to reverse time, as part of our “What If?” Week, we asked you want you would do if you could change a bit of Ohio State football history.
Earlier this week, we asked you to remove the NFL Draft eligibility from a 2022 Buckeye (other than C.J. Stroud) and bring him back to the 2023 team and erase one of OSU’s most painful losses of the 21st Century. So, let’s dive into the results. If you would have gone in a different direction, let us know in the comments below.
Question 1: If you could have brought back one player from last year’s football team other than C.J. Stroud, who would it be?
I think that this is absolutely the correct answer to this question. With all due respect to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who should have been the best wide receiver in the country last season, should he not have been injured, adding Paris Johnson Jr. back in at left tackle would have gone a tremendously long way to solidifying what is a shaky offensive line.
Granted, I believe that the addition of Josh Simmons helps sure things up a bit, I would far prefer to have Johnson protecting Kyle McCord (or potentially Devin Brown)’s blind side with Josh Fryar on the right and Matt Jones and Donovan Jackson on the inside (and, I’m guessing Jakob James at center.
To be honest, even if Paris goes — as he should have as the No. 6 overall pick — if Dawand Jones and Luke Wypler had stayed (Jones went in the fourth round and Wypler in the sixth) would have been tremendous bonuses for the 2023 squad.
Question 2: If you could change the outcome of one Ohio State football game from this century, what would it be?
Now don’t get me wrong, the pain of the loss to Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinals last season is real and valid, but I think this question is being impacted by a bit of recency bias. While I have said many times that I think Ohio State was effectively one play away from winning the national title in January (whether that play was Marvin Harrison Jr.’s injury or the missed last-second field goal attempt), in reality, they had a whole other game they would have needed to win to take home the title.
And while. I do believe that they would have done so, that’s a pretty big risk if I am going to be using my one shot at rewriting history on the game. Therefore, I would have gone with one of the national title game losses, so I could have guaranteed another Buckeye national title.
It’s no secret that I have never been the biggest Urban Meyer fan in the world, but I don’t think that I would erase the 2007 Championship Game loss, because the ripple effects of changing that game could lead to Urbz never coming to Columbus, thus erasing the Buckeyes’ 2014 national title.
So, I am left to pick between the 2008 BCS Championship Game and the 2021 College Football Playoff Championship Game. While losing to Alabama in the weird COVID year still sucks, to me, the answer from here is easy, and it’s the loss to LSU. Having lived in the southeast since 2006, I remember the pain and anger of having to deal with back-to-back losses in BCS title games to SEC teams, and if I could, I would change that.
Not only for my own personal mental health but also because of the image and reputation that it begat for the program moving forward; something that I think it still deals with today. Also, bonus points, because it means that Michigan Man Les Miles never would have won a national title.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: What if Ohio State could bring back any alum for this year’s Michigan game?
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You’re Nuts: What if Ohio State could bring back any alum for this year’s Michigan game?
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 Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire 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 players to watch this upcoming season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”What If?” 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.
By all measures, Ohio State football is stacked at defensive end this season, with juniors J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer projected to start, supported by a treasure trove of backups including sophomores Caden Curry, Kenyatta Jackson, and Omari Abor.
So why on earth would I worry about this position when there are so many other brilliant positions I could fill with alums?
Because the biggest issue we have on defense is consistency. The talent is there, but the execution changes day to day.
Tuimoloau, for example, shone bright in the Penn State game, logging six tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble and fumble recovery (pauses to take a deep breath), and a touchdown. In one game. I mean, these are absolutely lights-out numbers in every column. It was one of the greatest defensive performances ever by a defensive lineman.
Now, I’m not worried about Tuimoloau, even in the Michigan game. I trust the consistency is something that’s been worked on in the off-season, and he’s someone I want on the field as a leader in the Michigan game.
But for the Michigan game — and the Michigan game ONLY — I’d bring in Nick Bosa to start alongside Tuimoloau.
Sawyer, for his part, spent much of last season adjusting. When Mitchell Melton suffered a season-ending injury, Sawyer stepped in to fill the “Jack” position, a hybrid role between defensive end and linebacker, more than any other player on the team. While it wasn’t used all the time, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has said this shift prevented Sawyer from really improving last season.
Now Sawyer — and the backups — are all players I trust to get the job done this Fall, and I do think Sawyer will make up for lost time on the improvement front in the games leading up to Michigan. Certainly, the gap is not due to lack of talent.
But as Tuimoloau himself said after OSU’s loss to Michigan last season, “In big games like this, it’s the little things.”
And since I cannot physically stomach another loss to Michigan, I’m calling in Nick Bosa to make sure he and Tuimoloau can take care of the big things.
During Bosa’s time as a Buckeye, he secured his spot as one of the all-time great defensive linemen. Accolades and honors rolled in — and so much of it was due to Bosa’s execution. By the 2018 season, he was considered by some to be the best player in all of college football before a core muscle injury in the TCU game (just the third game of the year) ended his season.
Now about to enter his fifth season with the San Francisco 49ers, Bosa is still in playing shape — so much so that he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year at the end of last season.
Keep in mind, if we were adding one alumnus back in for the entire season, this is not the choice I would make. But because it is only for this one very high-stakes game — a game the Buckeyes have to travel to Ann Arbor for — I want the reassurance that we’ve got an extra playmaker on defense.
It wasn’t that the defensive ends were the big defensive gap in last year’s Game. Michigan’s usually exceptional rush game limped into the Shoe, with standout rusher Blake Corum (who I still maintain should have been a Heisman finalist) playing only a few snaps and Donovan Edwards donning a cast on his arm. Still, the Wolverines rattled our defense, particularly in the second half.
Bosa would bring an added dose of leadership to help keep the defense focused on the details and the execution, and he’d likely toss in a few key plays while he was at it.
His presence could be that not-so-small detail that bridges the gap the Buckeyes have failed to fill for the last two years and FINALLY brings a victory back to Columbus.
Would I like Justin Fields or C.J. Stroud back for another full season at quarterback for Ohio State? You’re damn right, I would. Would I like Maurice Clarett or Ezekiel Elliott lined up in the backfield for 12 to 15 games? Of course. Would I want either Bosa or Chase Young coming off of the edge for an entire fall? Duh.
But that’s not the question that we are wrestling with today. Instead, we are talking about who we would want to add to the team in order to beat Michigan. And for that, there is truly only one answer: Joe Thomas Barrett IV.
Is J.T. Barrett the best quarterback in Ohio State history? Of course not; although you could argue that he had the greatest career. Would he stack up well against Fields, Stroud, Dwayne Haskins, Terrelle Pryor, Troy Smith, et al. in terms of talent? No.
But you know one category that no OSU QB can match him in? His record against TTUN. J.T. Barrett holds a career record against the Maize and Blue of 117-0; that’s true, look it up. Ok, all kidding aside, Barrett started four games against the Wolverines and won all four of them. Granted, he went a combined 40 for 76 (52.6%) in those games for 443 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception thanks in part to a handful of injuries in 2014 and 2017.
While those stats aren’t exactly mind-blowingly impressive, the fact that he has four pairs of gold pants from games he started is. You know who doesn’t have that? LITERALLY ANY OTHER QUARTERBACK IN OHIO STATE HISTORY!
So, would J.T. Barrett being added to the 2023 Ohio State football team dramatically increase the talent level on the roster? No. Would he be the best person to throw the ball to Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Ebguka, Julian Fleming, and the rest of the wide receivers? Probably not. But if you want to break the two-year drought of rivalry wins, I’m going with the man who’s never lost to the Mitten Men.
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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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 players to watch this upcoming season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”What If?” 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 if Ohio State could bring back any alum for this year’s Michigan game?
Jami’s Take: Nick Bosa
By all measures, Ohio State football is stacked at defensive end this season, with juniors J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer projected to start, supported by a treasure trove of backups including sophomores Caden Curry, Kenyatta Jackson, and Omari Abor.
So why on earth would I worry about this position when there are so many other brilliant positions I could fill with alums?
Because the biggest issue we have on defense is consistency. The talent is there, but the execution changes day to day.
Tuimoloau, for example, shone bright in the Penn State game, logging six tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble and fumble recovery (pauses to take a deep breath), and a touchdown. In one game. I mean, these are absolutely lights-out numbers in every column. It was one of the greatest defensive performances ever by a defensive lineman.
Now, I’m not worried about Tuimoloau, even in the Michigan game. I trust the consistency is something that’s been worked on in the off-season, and he’s someone I want on the field as a leader in the Michigan game.
But for the Michigan game — and the Michigan game ONLY — I’d bring in Nick Bosa to start alongside Tuimoloau.
Sawyer, for his part, spent much of last season adjusting. When Mitchell Melton suffered a season-ending injury, Sawyer stepped in to fill the “Jack” position, a hybrid role between defensive end and linebacker, more than any other player on the team. While it wasn’t used all the time, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has said this shift prevented Sawyer from really improving last season.
Now Sawyer — and the backups — are all players I trust to get the job done this Fall, and I do think Sawyer will make up for lost time on the improvement front in the games leading up to Michigan. Certainly, the gap is not due to lack of talent.
But as Tuimoloau himself said after OSU’s loss to Michigan last season, “In big games like this, it’s the little things.”
And since I cannot physically stomach another loss to Michigan, I’m calling in Nick Bosa to make sure he and Tuimoloau can take care of the big things.
During Bosa’s time as a Buckeye, he secured his spot as one of the all-time great defensive linemen. Accolades and honors rolled in — and so much of it was due to Bosa’s execution. By the 2018 season, he was considered by some to be the best player in all of college football before a core muscle injury in the TCU game (just the third game of the year) ended his season.
Now about to enter his fifth season with the San Francisco 49ers, Bosa is still in playing shape — so much so that he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year at the end of last season.
Keep in mind, if we were adding one alumnus back in for the entire season, this is not the choice I would make. But because it is only for this one very high-stakes game — a game the Buckeyes have to travel to Ann Arbor for — I want the reassurance that we’ve got an extra playmaker on defense.
It wasn’t that the defensive ends were the big defensive gap in last year’s Game. Michigan’s usually exceptional rush game limped into the Shoe, with standout rusher Blake Corum (who I still maintain should have been a Heisman finalist) playing only a few snaps and Donovan Edwards donning a cast on his arm. Still, the Wolverines rattled our defense, particularly in the second half.
Bosa would bring an added dose of leadership to help keep the defense focused on the details and the execution, and he’d likely toss in a few key plays while he was at it.
His presence could be that not-so-small detail that bridges the gap the Buckeyes have failed to fill for the last two years and FINALLY brings a victory back to Columbus.
Matt’s Take: Joe Thomas Barrett IV
Would I like Justin Fields or C.J. Stroud back for another full season at quarterback for Ohio State? You’re damn right, I would. Would I like Maurice Clarett or Ezekiel Elliott lined up in the backfield for 12 to 15 games? Of course. Would I want either Bosa or Chase Young coming off of the edge for an entire fall? Duh.
But that’s not the question that we are wrestling with today. Instead, we are talking about who we would want to add to the team in order to beat Michigan. And for that, there is truly only one answer: Joe Thomas Barrett IV.
Is J.T. Barrett the best quarterback in Ohio State history? Of course not; although you could argue that he had the greatest career. Would he stack up well against Fields, Stroud, Dwayne Haskins, Terrelle Pryor, Troy Smith, et al. in terms of talent? No.
But you know one category that no OSU QB can match him in? His record against TTUN. J.T. Barrett holds a career record against the Maize and Blue of 117-0; that’s true, look it up. Ok, all kidding aside, Barrett started four games against the Wolverines and won all four of them. Granted, he went a combined 40 for 76 (52.6%) in those games for 443 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception thanks in part to a handful of injuries in 2014 and 2017.
While those stats aren’t exactly mind-blowingly impressive, the fact that he has four pairs of gold pants from games he started is. You know who doesn’t have that? LITERALLY ANY OTHER QUARTERBACK IN OHIO STATE HISTORY!
So, would J.T. Barrett being added to the 2023 Ohio State football team dramatically increase the talent level on the roster? No. Would he be the best person to throw the ball to Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Ebguka, Julian Fleming, and the rest of the wide receivers? Probably not. But if you want to break the two-year drought of rivalry wins, I’m going with the man who’s never lost to the Mitten Men.
Ok, now it’s time to have your say. Who are you agreeing with this week?
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