-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
Upvote
0
Upvote
0
American 7s Football League (A7FL)
- By ScriptOhio
- Professional Football
- 0 Replies
I was flipping around channels waiting for the Masters to start and ran into a channel called the Stadium Channel (on WOW it was on 139). The East Orange Renegades were playing the Old Bridge Hawks:
The American 7s Football League (A7FL) is a semi-professional traveling league in the United States which plays a seven-man version of Gridiron football it calls American 7s Football. Launched in 2015, its games are played without football helmets or other protective equipment.
It's kind of like: what if the guys from machine shop, warehouse, and/or local bar that played in an adult softball league on Friday night decided to play football.
About A7FL
About American 7s Football League
The American 7s Football League® (A7FL) has pioneered a familiar yet completely new format for America’s most popular sport: 7-on-7 football without helmets or hard shell pads. A7FL’s unique gameplay retains the toughness that fans crave while focusing on action-filled performances by its athletes. American 7s’ thrilling highlights and compelling content attract fans of all ages and drive a new younger audience of consumers while generating tens of millions of views. Founded in 2014 by CEO Sener Korkusuz and President Ryan DePaul, the Spring league (April-July) recently added UFC® Co-Founder David Isaacs to its ranks and has grown to 32 teams in 4 divisions with over 600K social media followers and partnerships with Eleven Sports, Facebook Watch, Twitch and WAVE.tv.
Athletes generally range from 18 to 30 years of age, must be 18 to play, and must sign an injury waiver. The A7FL field size is 100 x 37 yards and does not utilize the field goal posts. The narrower field width increases the pace of the action with fewer men on the field making for vicious hits while the 100-yard length maintains the grind. The quarterback has 4 eligible targets with 2 down linemen. Offenses can run bone or pistol, and there are no blitz restrictions for the defense.
History
The idea for an organized no helmets no pads football league popped into A7FL co-founder Ryan DePaul’s head late in 2002. His high School football days were over – he had to quit college football due to concussions – and he just wanted to keep playing the game he loved but in a safer format so he was playing pickup games of tackle football anywhere he could find them. In late 2005 he began to develop the format and rules for 7 on 7 no pads no helmets full contact football.
Entire article: https://www.a7fl.com/about-a7fl/
Apparently it has been going on for several years now:
Login to view embedded media
Seven on seven tackle football, with no helmets or pads. Well, it's interesting; however, don't think I could be a regular fan. Is anyone on Buckeye Planet actually a fan and follows this this league?
The American 7s Football League (A7FL) is a semi-professional traveling league in the United States which plays a seven-man version of Gridiron football it calls American 7s Football. Launched in 2015, its games are played without football helmets or other protective equipment.
It's kind of like: what if the guys from machine shop, warehouse, and/or local bar that played in an adult softball league on Friday night decided to play football.
About A7FL
About American 7s Football League
The American 7s Football League® (A7FL) has pioneered a familiar yet completely new format for America’s most popular sport: 7-on-7 football without helmets or hard shell pads. A7FL’s unique gameplay retains the toughness that fans crave while focusing on action-filled performances by its athletes. American 7s’ thrilling highlights and compelling content attract fans of all ages and drive a new younger audience of consumers while generating tens of millions of views. Founded in 2014 by CEO Sener Korkusuz and President Ryan DePaul, the Spring league (April-July) recently added UFC® Co-Founder David Isaacs to its ranks and has grown to 32 teams in 4 divisions with over 600K social media followers and partnerships with Eleven Sports, Facebook Watch, Twitch and WAVE.tv.
Athletes generally range from 18 to 30 years of age, must be 18 to play, and must sign an injury waiver. The A7FL field size is 100 x 37 yards and does not utilize the field goal posts. The narrower field width increases the pace of the action with fewer men on the field making for vicious hits while the 100-yard length maintains the grind. The quarterback has 4 eligible targets with 2 down linemen. Offenses can run bone or pistol, and there are no blitz restrictions for the defense.
History
The idea for an organized no helmets no pads football league popped into A7FL co-founder Ryan DePaul’s head late in 2002. His high School football days were over – he had to quit college football due to concussions – and he just wanted to keep playing the game he loved but in a safer format so he was playing pickup games of tackle football anywhere he could find them. In late 2005 he began to develop the format and rules for 7 on 7 no pads no helmets full contact football.
Entire article: https://www.a7fl.com/about-a7fl/
Apparently it has been going on for several years now:
Login to view embedded media
Seven on seven tackle football, with no helmets or pads. Well, it's interesting; however, don't think I could be a regular fan. Is anyone on Buckeye Planet actually a fan and follows this this league?
Upvote
0
Upvote
0
Upvote
0
Upvote
0
Upvote
0
Upvote
0
Upvote
0
Life advice to a boy quickly turning into a man.
- By exhawg
- Open Discussion (Work-safe)
- 90 Replies
I don't have any good stories because my dad took all the fun stuff out, but my first car was an 89 Gran Fury state trooper car that he got at an auction. Way too much power for a 16 year old and it only got 9 MPG, but that thing could throw you back in your seat when you gunned it. It was also the last of it's breed so it wasn't getting confused for current cop or trooper cars since they moved to Crown Vic's by then. The OG silver bullet for me.
Upvote
0
LGHL Reacts Survey: Share your thoughts on the future of the Ohio State men’s basketball team
- News
- 0 Replies
Reacts Survey: Share your thoughts on the future of the Ohio State men’s basketball team
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 John Fisher/Getty Images
How important is Malaki Branham’s decision to stay or go? What do you need to see from Chris Holtmann in 2022-23?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Each week we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State Buckeyes fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to join Reacts.
Click here to vote if viewing on a mobile device.
Check out DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.
As we head into the Final Four weekend with the Ohio State men’s basketball team definitively not involved, we are in a bit of a reflective state here at Land-Grant Holy Land. Earlier this week, Justin Golba looked at five off-season questions that will determine how the 2022-23 season will go for Chris Holtmann’s squad; not it’s your turn.
In the latest Land-Grant Holy Land edition of SB Nation Reacts, we have a pair of questions that we want you to answer about what you think about the future of the men’s basketball team as we head into the offseason.
We also want to get your thoughts on this weekend’s Final Four. We want to hear what you think about the all-blue-blood semifinals, the chances of Coach K going out a champ, and the first-ever Duke vs. UNC Final Four matchup.
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 John Fisher/Getty Images
How important is Malaki Branham’s decision to stay or go? What do you need to see from Chris Holtmann in 2022-23?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Each week we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State Buckeyes fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to join Reacts.
Click here to vote if viewing on a mobile device.
Check out DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.
As we head into the Final Four weekend with the Ohio State men’s basketball team definitively not involved, we are in a bit of a reflective state here at Land-Grant Holy Land. Earlier this week, Justin Golba looked at five off-season questions that will determine how the 2022-23 season will go for Chris Holtmann’s squad; not it’s your turn.
In the latest Land-Grant Holy Land edition of SB Nation Reacts, we have a pair of questions that we want you to answer about what you think about the future of the men’s basketball team as we head into the offseason.
We also want to get your thoughts on this weekend’s Final Four. We want to hear what you think about the all-blue-blood semifinals, the chances of Coach K going out a champ, and the first-ever Duke vs. UNC Final Four matchup.
Continue reading...
Upvote
0
LGHL Zed Key will be vital to the success (or lack thereof) of Ohio State men’s basketball team...
- News
- 0 Replies
Zed Key will be vital to the success (or lack thereof) of Ohio State men’s basketball team next season
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State are hoping Key takes a big leap in year three | Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
In order to reach their ceiling, the Buckeyes need “vintage” Zed Key in 2022-23.
Take a trip with me, folks... all the way back to 2021. Don’t worry, we’re not really going back. But this mental getaway won’t cost you any gas money, so indulge me.
It’s Christmas time, or New Year’s Eve, and all of us Ohio State basketball fans are excited for the upcoming slate. The program’s Covid pause is over, and the team gets Nebraska on Jan. 2. No problem, the Buckeyes will sweep that season series easily. Then they will roll over Indiana and Northwestern, before taking on Wisconsin. Sure, the Badgers are scrappy, but OSU already defeated them once — and they were projected to finish in the bottom half of the league. Put us down for another season sweep. Our guys should roll into Purdue on Jan. 30 with a stranglehold on the conference.
Well, you know what they say about the egg coming before your chickens hatch. One minute you’re daydreaming about cutting down nets, and the next, you’re catching an open hand from a fresh prince named Reality.
Ohio State was on the receiving end of a few slaps during Big Ten play — nine of them to be exact. All nine of their conference losses came after Jan. 5, and while there are a myriad of reasons (or excuses) as to why the Buckeyes struggled, specifically down the stretch, it is fair to say that injuries played a significant role.
Zed Key was one of the players who missed time, and even when he returned from his ankle injury, he did not look right for the entirety of March. Key’s absence or inability to play at 100 percent health coincided with significant struggles for OSU. The Buckeyes went 5-4 in his last nine games played, and 1-2 in the three February/March games he missed.
Key’s level of play was trending down prior to his injury; the ankle issue only exacerbated his late-season woes. But if Ohio State is going to bounce back and perhaps reach that elusive Sweet Sixteen, they will need the big man from Bay Shore at the peak of his powers. When he is on, Key is an effective low post banger and rebounder, with sneaky defensive chops. Despite playing primarily below the rim at 6-foot-8, he can be a double-double guy and third scoring option for the Buckeyes, as well as the interior defender they need.
Early season victories against Duke and Wisconsin are prime examples of how Key can impact winning. Against Final Four-bound Duke, Ohio State’s starting big man put up a career-high 20 points on 15 shots (also a career high). He was often guarded by Mark Williams, the Blue Devils’ best defender and a potential lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft. Key was not intimidated, and took it to the 7-footer on multiple occasions.
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski on Zed Key’s performance Tuesday.
“Very methodical and powerful.”: pic.twitter.com/l9haAvgJUb
— Lantern Sports (@LanternSports) December 2, 2021
Less than two weeks later, he bodied Tyler Wahl and Steven Crowl of Wisconsin, using his strong frame effectively. It was a more subdued scoring performance (13 points), but the soon-to-be OSU junior was hyper-efficient from the field and added nine rebounds by out-muscling certain Badgers. Key also did not turn the ball over in either game, proving to be the second-most important player in each of those victories. He led all Buckeyes in scoring against Duke, and picked up the slack for an injured Malaki Branham versus Wisconsin. As Key went, so did Ohio State.
To insinuate that Key was the captain that steered the ship is a little misleading, so let me pump the brakes on that. The Buckeyes’ success clearly hinged on the play of Branham and E.J. Liddell. But, Key did play at a very high level in both of the team’s signature victories. By the same token, he also performed poorly — or not at all — in a few of their closest (yet winnable and high-profile) defeats.
Key was plagued by foul trouble against then-ranked Florida, playing less than 20 minutes in the Fort Meyers Tip-Off. He was rendered almost completely useless at Purdue — again, due to foul trouble. The Boilermakers had massive size on the front line, but Key was limited to 12 minutes and a single point against them. He was also a non-factor in late losses to TTUN and Villanova, but that was almost exclusively due to injury.
To say that the results would have been any different had Key played well in those losses would be completely without merit. It would also be incredibly unfair to a key (no pun intended) contributor for this Ohio State team — past, present, and immediate future. Bashing Zed is not the intent here, in any way, shape, or form. To the contrary, referencing his ups and downs is meant to highlight the floor and ceiling of this team, and to stress just how important he is to their success.
With Liddell and Branham playing at a high level this season, OSU was still able to win a number or games in which Key was a minor contributor... but they were at their best when he was at his best. When he (Key) was not available or performing as a tertiary option, the Buckeyes struggled. This was especially true down the stretch.
Next season, Key could be asked to shoulder even more of the load down low! Kyle Young and Joey Brunk are gone, as is Liddell, who also spent considerable time in the post. Felix Okpara, part of Ohio States 2022 recruiting class, will join the team, but he is light on experience and light in general (210 pounds). Coach Holtmann will surely be scouring the transfer portal, but Key is currently the only proven big on the roster.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23354997/usa_today_17974302.jpg)
Alie Skowronski/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The recruiting part is done, but Holtmann still has plenty of work to do in building his roster for 2022-23
Who knows how the offseason will play out, but if say Justice Sueing and/or Seth Towns are being asked to battle for rebounds in ’22-23, the Buckeyes will struggle immensely on the glass. If Key is the only post option on offense, the team would be forced to rely heavily upon perimeter shooting, which was... not great recently. Let’s just say that Key needs help on the front line, but his own health and consistency are also of the utmost importance.
Not to put much too much on Key, but Ohio State likely needs a solid campaign from him if they want to be a top-10 or top-15 team next season. And some of the pressure he could face should also be put on the coaching staff. The OSU roster is not, and has not been, loaded with bigs. The staff had the luxury of Young for five seasons, but added minimal size beyond Key. Okpara has a very high ceiling, but he might take time to develop.
The basketball Buckeyes face many unknowns going into next season, but Key is one guy they should be able to count on. He has flashed potential as a second or third option, but Holtmann and his future teammates don’t need 20 and 10 on a nightly basis. They would prefer consistent energy and production, along with the passion and enthusiasm he always brings to the court.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State are hoping Key takes a big leap in year three | Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
In order to reach their ceiling, the Buckeyes need “vintage” Zed Key in 2022-23.
Take a trip with me, folks... all the way back to 2021. Don’t worry, we’re not really going back. But this mental getaway won’t cost you any gas money, so indulge me.
It’s Christmas time, or New Year’s Eve, and all of us Ohio State basketball fans are excited for the upcoming slate. The program’s Covid pause is over, and the team gets Nebraska on Jan. 2. No problem, the Buckeyes will sweep that season series easily. Then they will roll over Indiana and Northwestern, before taking on Wisconsin. Sure, the Badgers are scrappy, but OSU already defeated them once — and they were projected to finish in the bottom half of the league. Put us down for another season sweep. Our guys should roll into Purdue on Jan. 30 with a stranglehold on the conference.
Well, you know what they say about the egg coming before your chickens hatch. One minute you’re daydreaming about cutting down nets, and the next, you’re catching an open hand from a fresh prince named Reality.
Ohio State was on the receiving end of a few slaps during Big Ten play — nine of them to be exact. All nine of their conference losses came after Jan. 5, and while there are a myriad of reasons (or excuses) as to why the Buckeyes struggled, specifically down the stretch, it is fair to say that injuries played a significant role.
Zed Key was one of the players who missed time, and even when he returned from his ankle injury, he did not look right for the entirety of March. Key’s absence or inability to play at 100 percent health coincided with significant struggles for OSU. The Buckeyes went 5-4 in his last nine games played, and 1-2 in the three February/March games he missed.
Key’s level of play was trending down prior to his injury; the ankle issue only exacerbated his late-season woes. But if Ohio State is going to bounce back and perhaps reach that elusive Sweet Sixteen, they will need the big man from Bay Shore at the peak of his powers. When he is on, Key is an effective low post banger and rebounder, with sneaky defensive chops. Despite playing primarily below the rim at 6-foot-8, he can be a double-double guy and third scoring option for the Buckeyes, as well as the interior defender they need.
Early season victories against Duke and Wisconsin are prime examples of how Key can impact winning. Against Final Four-bound Duke, Ohio State’s starting big man put up a career-high 20 points on 15 shots (also a career high). He was often guarded by Mark Williams, the Blue Devils’ best defender and a potential lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft. Key was not intimidated, and took it to the 7-footer on multiple occasions.
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski on Zed Key’s performance Tuesday.
“Very methodical and powerful.”: pic.twitter.com/l9haAvgJUb
— Lantern Sports (@LanternSports) December 2, 2021
Less than two weeks later, he bodied Tyler Wahl and Steven Crowl of Wisconsin, using his strong frame effectively. It was a more subdued scoring performance (13 points), but the soon-to-be OSU junior was hyper-efficient from the field and added nine rebounds by out-muscling certain Badgers. Key also did not turn the ball over in either game, proving to be the second-most important player in each of those victories. He led all Buckeyes in scoring against Duke, and picked up the slack for an injured Malaki Branham versus Wisconsin. As Key went, so did Ohio State.
To insinuate that Key was the captain that steered the ship is a little misleading, so let me pump the brakes on that. The Buckeyes’ success clearly hinged on the play of Branham and E.J. Liddell. But, Key did play at a very high level in both of the team’s signature victories. By the same token, he also performed poorly — or not at all — in a few of their closest (yet winnable and high-profile) defeats.
Key was plagued by foul trouble against then-ranked Florida, playing less than 20 minutes in the Fort Meyers Tip-Off. He was rendered almost completely useless at Purdue — again, due to foul trouble. The Boilermakers had massive size on the front line, but Key was limited to 12 minutes and a single point against them. He was also a non-factor in late losses to TTUN and Villanova, but that was almost exclusively due to injury.
To say that the results would have been any different had Key played well in those losses would be completely without merit. It would also be incredibly unfair to a key (no pun intended) contributor for this Ohio State team — past, present, and immediate future. Bashing Zed is not the intent here, in any way, shape, or form. To the contrary, referencing his ups and downs is meant to highlight the floor and ceiling of this team, and to stress just how important he is to their success.
With Liddell and Branham playing at a high level this season, OSU was still able to win a number or games in which Key was a minor contributor... but they were at their best when he was at his best. When he (Key) was not available or performing as a tertiary option, the Buckeyes struggled. This was especially true down the stretch.
Next season, Key could be asked to shoulder even more of the load down low! Kyle Young and Joey Brunk are gone, as is Liddell, who also spent considerable time in the post. Felix Okpara, part of Ohio States 2022 recruiting class, will join the team, but he is light on experience and light in general (210 pounds). Coach Holtmann will surely be scouring the transfer portal, but Key is currently the only proven big on the roster.
The recruiting part is done, but Holtmann still has plenty of work to do in building his roster for 2022-23
Who knows how the offseason will play out, but if say Justice Sueing and/or Seth Towns are being asked to battle for rebounds in ’22-23, the Buckeyes will struggle immensely on the glass. If Key is the only post option on offense, the team would be forced to rely heavily upon perimeter shooting, which was... not great recently. Let’s just say that Key needs help on the front line, but his own health and consistency are also of the utmost importance.
Not to put much too much on Key, but Ohio State likely needs a solid campaign from him if they want to be a top-10 or top-15 team next season. And some of the pressure he could face should also be put on the coaching staff. The OSU roster is not, and has not been, loaded with bigs. The staff had the luxury of Young for five seasons, but added minimal size beyond Key. Okpara has a very high ceiling, but he might take time to develop.
The basketball Buckeyes face many unknowns going into next season, but Key is one guy they should be able to count on. He has flashed potential as a second or third option, but Holtmann and his future teammates don’t need 20 and 10 on a nightly basis. They would prefer consistent energy and production, along with the passion and enthusiasm he always brings to the court.
Continue reading...
LGHL Five-star CB from Florida adds Ohio State offer
- News
- 0 Replies
Five-star CB from Florida adds Ohio State offer
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Desmond Ricks | Parker Thune, 247Sports
The Buckeyes dished out their latest schloarship offer to the top-ranked player in the 2024 recruiting class.
Head coach Ryan Day and Ohio State had their sights set on the Sunshine State on Tuesday as they sent out their latest offer. Plus, one of the top quarterbacks in the class is set to make his way to Columbus this weekend.
Ricks adds Buckeye offer
Ohio State went to a familiar territory for the latest offer that was sent out on Tuesday. The program dropped an offer to 2024 five-star cornerback Desmond Ricks, a Virginia native that attends IMG Academy (FL).
Blessed to receive a offer from Ohio state university #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/wKZyc15AJl
— Desmond Ricks (@DesmondRicks2) March 29, 2022
The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder is now up to 33 scholarship offers as a prospect and has the top programs in the country battling for his services. Among the schools that have already offered the MaxPreps Sophomore All-American include Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Oregon, and many more.
Ricks is currently projected to wind up in Tallahassee to suit up for Seminoles at the next level, according to the 247Sports Crystal Ball. However, the Buckeyes are hoping to throw a wrench into things and pair the elite defensive back with newly hired cornerbacks coach Tim Walton, formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Sunshine State standout currently stands at the top in his class rankings across the board, which comes as no surprise when looking at the teams in pursuit of the former track star.
It is worth mentioning that the Buckeyes have had success in recent years with IMG Academy prospects. Ohio State has added Malik Barrow, Lejond Cavazos, Tyler Gerald, Isaiah Pryor, Taron Vincent, and Marcus Williamson from the Ascenders program in previous classes.
Moore set to visit OSU
From one elite prospect to another for the Buckeyes. According to a tweet from Eleven Warriors' Garrick Hodge, 2023 five-star quarterback Dante Moore of Martin Luther King (MI) is planning to make a stop to Columbus this weekend to visit Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have been in pursuit of Moore dating back to June of last year when they initially offered the Detroit native. The visit this weekend will not be the first trip to see Ohio State for Moore as the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder was in town this past October to watch the contest between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions.
Moore is presently pegged as the No. 6 overall prospect in this year's class and the third highest graded quarterback. While Ohio State is likely running behind in the race for Moore, if they find a way to reel in the Michigan standout it would come as a major win with Moore being the top-ranked player in the state.
Quick Hits
Continue reading...
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Desmond Ricks | Parker Thune, 247Sports
The Buckeyes dished out their latest schloarship offer to the top-ranked player in the 2024 recruiting class.
Head coach Ryan Day and Ohio State had their sights set on the Sunshine State on Tuesday as they sent out their latest offer. Plus, one of the top quarterbacks in the class is set to make his way to Columbus this weekend.
Ricks adds Buckeye offer
Ohio State went to a familiar territory for the latest offer that was sent out on Tuesday. The program dropped an offer to 2024 five-star cornerback Desmond Ricks, a Virginia native that attends IMG Academy (FL).
Blessed to receive a offer from Ohio state university #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/wKZyc15AJl
— Desmond Ricks (@DesmondRicks2) March 29, 2022
The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder is now up to 33 scholarship offers as a prospect and has the top programs in the country battling for his services. Among the schools that have already offered the MaxPreps Sophomore All-American include Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Oregon, and many more.
Ricks is currently projected to wind up in Tallahassee to suit up for Seminoles at the next level, according to the 247Sports Crystal Ball. However, the Buckeyes are hoping to throw a wrench into things and pair the elite defensive back with newly hired cornerbacks coach Tim Walton, formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Sunshine State standout currently stands at the top in his class rankings across the board, which comes as no surprise when looking at the teams in pursuit of the former track star.
It is worth mentioning that the Buckeyes have had success in recent years with IMG Academy prospects. Ohio State has added Malik Barrow, Lejond Cavazos, Tyler Gerald, Isaiah Pryor, Taron Vincent, and Marcus Williamson from the Ascenders program in previous classes.
Moore set to visit OSU
From one elite prospect to another for the Buckeyes. According to a tweet from Eleven Warriors' Garrick Hodge, 2023 five-star quarterback Dante Moore of Martin Luther King (MI) is planning to make a stop to Columbus this weekend to visit Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have been in pursuit of Moore dating back to June of last year when they initially offered the Detroit native. The visit this weekend will not be the first trip to see Ohio State for Moore as the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder was in town this past October to watch the contest between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions.
Moore is presently pegged as the No. 6 overall prospect in this year's class and the third highest graded quarterback. While Ohio State is likely running behind in the race for Moore, if they find a way to reel in the Michigan standout it would come as a major win with Moore being the top-ranked player in the state.
Quick Hits
- 247Sports' Allen Trieu casted a Crystal Ball prediction on Tuesday in favor of Ohio State for four-star safety Malik Hartford of Lakota West (OH). Trieu joins 247Sports analysts Bill Kurelic and Steve Wiltfong in expecting the fourth-best prospect from Ohio to ultimately chose the Buckeyes.
- According to Eleven Warriors, four-star defensive lineman AJ Hoffler of Woodward Academy (GA) knows that Ohio State (and Clemson) will receive one of his official visits. The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder was on campus this past weekend checking out his "dream school" and spent plenty of time with defensive line coach Larry Johnson.
Continue reading...
LGHL Play Like a Girl podcast: If you gave an Oscar for March Madness...
- News
- 0 Replies
Play Like a Girl podcast: If you gave an Oscar for March Madness...
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Plus, etiquette for rescinding retirement gifts and how to keep your brackets going all year round.
On LGHL’s Play Like a Girl podcast, Jami and Meredith talk everything from Ohio State sports to advocacy for women in sports and all the happenings in between.
Check out the podcast below, and make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:
Welcome back! This week combined two of Meredith and Jami’s favorite things: brackets and award shows. What better way to recap the chaos of the first two weeks of the NCAA Tournament than with an Academy Awards of sorts? From Best Original Score to a Lifetime Achievement Award we don’t even have to guess at, there’s been plenty of Oscar-worthy performances en route to the Final Four.
And if you’re sad that the season of bracket-making is behind us, never fear: Jami and Meredith offer tips on other things you can bracket, including vacation destinations and french fry dipping sauces.
Contact Jami Jurich
Twitter: @jamiurich
Contact Meredith Hein
Twitter: @MeredithHein
Continue reading...
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Plus, etiquette for rescinding retirement gifts and how to keep your brackets going all year round.
On LGHL’s Play Like a Girl podcast, Jami and Meredith talk everything from Ohio State sports to advocacy for women in sports and all the happenings in between.
Check out the podcast below, and make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:
Welcome back! This week combined two of Meredith and Jami’s favorite things: brackets and award shows. What better way to recap the chaos of the first two weeks of the NCAA Tournament than with an Academy Awards of sorts? From Best Original Score to a Lifetime Achievement Award we don’t even have to guess at, there’s been plenty of Oscar-worthy performances en route to the Final Four.
And if you’re sad that the season of bracket-making is behind us, never fear: Jami and Meredith offer tips on other things you can bracket, including vacation destinations and french fry dipping sauces.
Contact Jami Jurich
Twitter: @jamiurich
Contact Meredith Hein
Twitter: @MeredithHein
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Who is the greatest Buckeye villain?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: Who is the greatest Buckeye villain?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
For many people, anybody that went to Ohio State is a villain. That sort of thing comes with the territory when you have one of the biggest and winningest athletic departments in the country. Fans of opposing teams will go so far as to think that Kirk Herbstreit or Joey Galloway are villains because they now work for ESPN, or others are going to look at athletic director Gene Smith as a villain because his job is to do all he can to maximize exposure and revenue for the Ohio State athletic department.
Then again, if you’re not hated, then you’re not doing something right. Nobody is passionately hating Nebraska basketball or Maryland football. Do you want to know why? Because they are usually parked at the bottom of the conference. If anything, people feel sorry for them. What fun is it to kick the losers while they are down? Well, there is an exception with Michigan. There is no wrong time to want to see the Wolverines fail. Michigan went 10 years in between wins against Ohio State on the football field and Buckeye fans still hated Michigan’s guts.
By this point, you are probably wondering where we are going with this. Meredith was on a trolley on St. Patrick’s Day and mentioned she was an Ohio State fan, which prompted someone to say, “I hate Aaron Craft!”. While to Ohio State fans, Aaron Craft is this adorable figure with the most pinch-able rosy red cheeks, to opposing fanbases it felt like Craft was at Ohio State for two decades torturing their team on a yearly basis. We are looking for other Buckeyes that we love but everyone else looks at as villains.
Today’s question: Who is the greatest Buckeye villain?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Evan Turner
I know, this answer probably seems super lazy since Turner’s nickname is, “The Villain”. Could I have gone with someone like Woody Hayes? Sure, but I was also like -7 years old when he coached his last game, so I didn’t really get to appreciate how much Ohio State fans loved him, and everyone else hated him. Buckeye football teams have been great over the last 25 years, there just isn’t one player that I feel is disliked quite like Turner.
Whenever Turner is mentioned, the first thing Ohio State fans (as well as Michigan fans) are going to think of is the game-winner he hit against Michigan in the 2010 Big Ten Tournament. That alone should be enough for Turner to never have to buy a drink in Columbus ever again. Turner opened up his 2009-10 season by becoming the first Big Ten player since 2001 to record a triple-double, and only the second Ohio State player to ever accomplish that feat, with Dennis Hopson being the other. Not only would not only win Big Ten Player of the Year that season, he was also named National Player of the Year before declaring for the NBA Draft and being selected with the second overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers.
For those who aren’t Ohio State fans, it probably feels pretty easy to hate Turner. Not only did Turner have this funny voice which sounded a bit like he was huffing helium before he talked, even teammate Mark Titus had a bit of a feud with Turner during their time at Ohio State. If Turner was getting under Titus’ skin, imagine what he was doing to opposing fanbases. Fortunately Buckeye Nation won’t have to worry about the beef escalating, as Turner and Titus buried the hatchet before Turner’s jersey was retired in 2017.
Meredith’s answer: Aaron Craft
As Brett alluded to in his intro, when it comes to Buckeye villains, there’s really no one who comes close to Aaron Craft. While he was (and is) beloved by Ohio State fans the world across, there’s no love lost once you cross the border out of Buckeye Nation.
The most poignant example of the villainy of Craft came in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The Buckeyes were the No. 2 seed in the West Region and were facing No. 10 Iowa State.
Craft would finish with 18 points on the night, but none were more critical than his three-pointer with the game tied and a half second left on the clock to secure the win for Ohio State in regulation. The shot was a dagger in the heart of Iowa State fans. The West had been a wild region that year with upsets galore, with four of the top seeds — Ohio State the lone exception — falling in the opening weekend.
Iowa State had mounted a furious comeback after being down by as much as 13 late in the game, and the Cyclones had momentum, especially when it came to shooting beyond the arc. The shot by Craft (which he made over 6-foot-7 Georges Niang) was like getting beat by their own medicine.
Moreover, Craft was a 30% three-point shooter on the season. He hadn’t attempted a three-point shot before his game winner. It also doesn’t help that the shot itself was, simply, awkward. In short, his winning shot from range was unexpected.
Even today, Iowa State fans hold the Ohio State basketball program in contempt. We’re approaching a decade since Craft’s shot, but his name still elicits groans among Cyclone nation.
But the thing is, it’s not just Iowa State. Recently, a friend who cheers for Tennessee shared that Volunteer fans also hang onto their dislike of Craft for his role in an illegal barbecue hosted by then-coach Bruce Pearl in 2010. For the record, Craft was seen in a photograph at said event, which ultimately led to Pearl’s termination.
Living in the bubble of Ohio State fans, it’s hard to see what the vitriol against Craft is all about, but on the outside, I suppose it makes sense: He’s an aggressive defender; he’s undersized; he shouldn’t be that good — it’s probably annoying to opposing teams and fans. Moreover, when someone like that is the one who puts the dagger on what should have been a Cinderella season, it’s easy to label that the villain origin story.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
For many people, anybody that went to Ohio State is a villain. That sort of thing comes with the territory when you have one of the biggest and winningest athletic departments in the country. Fans of opposing teams will go so far as to think that Kirk Herbstreit or Joey Galloway are villains because they now work for ESPN, or others are going to look at athletic director Gene Smith as a villain because his job is to do all he can to maximize exposure and revenue for the Ohio State athletic department.
Then again, if you’re not hated, then you’re not doing something right. Nobody is passionately hating Nebraska basketball or Maryland football. Do you want to know why? Because they are usually parked at the bottom of the conference. If anything, people feel sorry for them. What fun is it to kick the losers while they are down? Well, there is an exception with Michigan. There is no wrong time to want to see the Wolverines fail. Michigan went 10 years in between wins against Ohio State on the football field and Buckeye fans still hated Michigan’s guts.
By this point, you are probably wondering where we are going with this. Meredith was on a trolley on St. Patrick’s Day and mentioned she was an Ohio State fan, which prompted someone to say, “I hate Aaron Craft!”. While to Ohio State fans, Aaron Craft is this adorable figure with the most pinch-able rosy red cheeks, to opposing fanbases it felt like Craft was at Ohio State for two decades torturing their team on a yearly basis. We are looking for other Buckeyes that we love but everyone else looks at as villains.
Today’s question: Who is the greatest Buckeye villain?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Evan Turner
I know, this answer probably seems super lazy since Turner’s nickname is, “The Villain”. Could I have gone with someone like Woody Hayes? Sure, but I was also like -7 years old when he coached his last game, so I didn’t really get to appreciate how much Ohio State fans loved him, and everyone else hated him. Buckeye football teams have been great over the last 25 years, there just isn’t one player that I feel is disliked quite like Turner.
Whenever Turner is mentioned, the first thing Ohio State fans (as well as Michigan fans) are going to think of is the game-winner he hit against Michigan in the 2010 Big Ten Tournament. That alone should be enough for Turner to never have to buy a drink in Columbus ever again. Turner opened up his 2009-10 season by becoming the first Big Ten player since 2001 to record a triple-double, and only the second Ohio State player to ever accomplish that feat, with Dennis Hopson being the other. Not only would not only win Big Ten Player of the Year that season, he was also named National Player of the Year before declaring for the NBA Draft and being selected with the second overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers.
For those who aren’t Ohio State fans, it probably feels pretty easy to hate Turner. Not only did Turner have this funny voice which sounded a bit like he was huffing helium before he talked, even teammate Mark Titus had a bit of a feud with Turner during their time at Ohio State. If Turner was getting under Titus’ skin, imagine what he was doing to opposing fanbases. Fortunately Buckeye Nation won’t have to worry about the beef escalating, as Turner and Titus buried the hatchet before Turner’s jersey was retired in 2017.
Meredith’s answer: Aaron Craft
As Brett alluded to in his intro, when it comes to Buckeye villains, there’s really no one who comes close to Aaron Craft. While he was (and is) beloved by Ohio State fans the world across, there’s no love lost once you cross the border out of Buckeye Nation.
The most poignant example of the villainy of Craft came in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The Buckeyes were the No. 2 seed in the West Region and were facing No. 10 Iowa State.
Craft would finish with 18 points on the night, but none were more critical than his three-pointer with the game tied and a half second left on the clock to secure the win for Ohio State in regulation. The shot was a dagger in the heart of Iowa State fans. The West had been a wild region that year with upsets galore, with four of the top seeds — Ohio State the lone exception — falling in the opening weekend.
Iowa State had mounted a furious comeback after being down by as much as 13 late in the game, and the Cyclones had momentum, especially when it came to shooting beyond the arc. The shot by Craft (which he made over 6-foot-7 Georges Niang) was like getting beat by their own medicine.
Moreover, Craft was a 30% three-point shooter on the season. He hadn’t attempted a three-point shot before his game winner. It also doesn’t help that the shot itself was, simply, awkward. In short, his winning shot from range was unexpected.
Even today, Iowa State fans hold the Ohio State basketball program in contempt. We’re approaching a decade since Craft’s shot, but his name still elicits groans among Cyclone nation.
But the thing is, it’s not just Iowa State. Recently, a friend who cheers for Tennessee shared that Volunteer fans also hang onto their dislike of Craft for his role in an illegal barbecue hosted by then-coach Bruce Pearl in 2010. For the record, Craft was seen in a photograph at said event, which ultimately led to Pearl’s termination.
Living in the bubble of Ohio State fans, it’s hard to see what the vitriol against Craft is all about, but on the outside, I suppose it makes sense: He’s an aggressive defender; he’s undersized; he shouldn’t be that good — it’s probably annoying to opposing teams and fans. Moreover, when someone like that is the one who puts the dagger on what should have been a Cinderella season, it’s easy to label that the villain origin story.
Continue reading...
LGHL Five questions for the Ohio State men’s basketball team this offseason
- News
- 0 Replies
Five questions for the Ohio State men’s basketball team this offseason
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
What are the main question marks the hoops team have to address this season?
After defeating Loyola-Chicago and then falling in the round of 32 to the now final four bound Villanova Wildcats, the Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball teams season is now over.
With April approaching and March Madness basically in the rearview mirror, it is time for the hoops team to start thinking about the future. What will the roster construct look like? When will the freshman be impact players? Which one of the nearly 1,000 transfers in the portal should the coaching staff target? All of these are questions that need to be answered as head coach Chris Holtmann and his staff face an important season coming up.
The difference between Ohio State being a top-five team in the conference again and having a rebuilding season comes down to how they handle the next six months, as is the case with a lot of teams.
Here are the five main questions the staff and team must answer if they want next season to be a productive one.
Who comes back?
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23352243/1386918752.jpg)
Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
First of all, for the Buckeyes, they could be facing a max exodus. The Buckeyes have nine seniors in the program and have already lost E.J. Liddell to the draft and could lose star freshman Malaki Branham as well, although that decision is likely far down the road. They have five freshmen coming in, but that still leaves possibly five or six spots to fill.
The problem that the staff could face is preparing for all potential outcomes. Justice Sueing and Seth Towns have a year of eligibility left that they could utilize, but even if the two seniors and Branham all decide to return, the bucks could still have three spots to fill.
However, they might not get all of these answers for a couple of months and the transfers in the portal are not going to sit around and wait. The staff now has the tricky job of juggling decisions with their current guys with trying to get commitments from some of the top transfers, none of whom will be on the market for too long.
Additions from the transfer portal
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23352237/1239408114.jpg)
Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As mentioned above, the transfer portal is becoming an increasingly important way that teams reload their rosters after the season and once their recruiting classes are official. One of the big questions that coaches face since there are so many players in the portal is do they go after straight-up talent or do they try to pick pieces to fit on their team? Last season, Ohio State picked up needed pieces, but all in all, minus a few solid moments, the transfers they brought in underperformed.
So do the Buckeyes go after needed fits again or just elite talent like an Andre Curbelo? The Illinois transfer is not the best fit to what the Buckeyes likely need next season, but he is one of the top overall talents in the portal and is a high-risk, high-reward guy.
Personally, I want them to get some serious talent and figure out how to make it work from there. Let the coaches do their job with the best possible players.
Coaching changes
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23352239/1230653474.jpg)
Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Chris Holtmann has put together a phenomenal coaching staff during his time at Ohio State and it has shown with the attention that his assistants have gotten from other schools. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, this season that attention was more than just attention. Holtmann’s right-hand man and top assistant coach Ryan Pedon has moved onto greener pastures, accepting his first head coaching job at Illinois State and first-year assistant coach Tony Skinn is heading back to the DMV to be an assistant coach under Kevin Willard at Maryland.
There are still some great coaches on the staff and Holtmann has done a particularly good job of replacing assistants in the past, but Pedon leaves the biggest hole that he has ever had to fill. The Buckeyes love Jake Diebler and Holtmann has been vocal about wanting to add Greg Oden to the staff full time once he graduates. Look for the Buckeyes to make some sizable coaching additions over the next few months.
Other conference team questions
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23352240/1386768242.jpg)
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Even though there were questions all season about how good the teams in the Big Ten actually were, there was no denying the conference’s individual talent.
Guys like Keegan Murray, Johnny Davis, Jaden Ivey, E.J. Liddell (sad), Hunter Dickinson, and Kofi Cockburn are all going to be heading to the NBA Draft; also B1G teams are losing some of their old guys like Jordan Bohannan, Brad Davison and Kyle Young (again, sad).
The league will likely look a lot different come fall, especially with most of the top teams losing their best talent. The transfer portal and incoming freshmen should play a huge role this season, likely benefitting the Buckeyes since they have the top recruiting class in the conference.
Incoming freshman class
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23352241/1237789128.jpg)
Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buckeyes have one of their best-recruiting classes coming to Columbus in a long time, but they will be put to the test immediately. As mentioned above, if Branham, Sueing and/or Towns come back, there will be less pressure on these guys to perform immediately, but if those three all move on — which they could — multiple freshmen will need to play 20-25 minutes at least as soon as they step foot on campus.
Freshmen playing right away can be a good or a bad thing. This is a great class overall, but none of these guys are five-star, top-tier recruits. Malaki Branham was fantastic this season, but it even took him 10-12 games to really get his feet wet. The Buckeyes will need to add some veterans from the portal if Sueing and Towns do not come back and/or aren’t able to contribute right away, otherwise, it will be tough to expect much from the freshmen early on.
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
What are the main question marks the hoops team have to address this season?
After defeating Loyola-Chicago and then falling in the round of 32 to the now final four bound Villanova Wildcats, the Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball teams season is now over.
With April approaching and March Madness basically in the rearview mirror, it is time for the hoops team to start thinking about the future. What will the roster construct look like? When will the freshman be impact players? Which one of the nearly 1,000 transfers in the portal should the coaching staff target? All of these are questions that need to be answered as head coach Chris Holtmann and his staff face an important season coming up.
The difference between Ohio State being a top-five team in the conference again and having a rebuilding season comes down to how they handle the next six months, as is the case with a lot of teams.
Here are the five main questions the staff and team must answer if they want next season to be a productive one.
Who comes back?
First of all, for the Buckeyes, they could be facing a max exodus. The Buckeyes have nine seniors in the program and have already lost E.J. Liddell to the draft and could lose star freshman Malaki Branham as well, although that decision is likely far down the road. They have five freshmen coming in, but that still leaves possibly five or six spots to fill.
The problem that the staff could face is preparing for all potential outcomes. Justice Sueing and Seth Towns have a year of eligibility left that they could utilize, but even if the two seniors and Branham all decide to return, the bucks could still have three spots to fill.
However, they might not get all of these answers for a couple of months and the transfers in the portal are not going to sit around and wait. The staff now has the tricky job of juggling decisions with their current guys with trying to get commitments from some of the top transfers, none of whom will be on the market for too long.
Additions from the transfer portal
As mentioned above, the transfer portal is becoming an increasingly important way that teams reload their rosters after the season and once their recruiting classes are official. One of the big questions that coaches face since there are so many players in the portal is do they go after straight-up talent or do they try to pick pieces to fit on their team? Last season, Ohio State picked up needed pieces, but all in all, minus a few solid moments, the transfers they brought in underperformed.
So do the Buckeyes go after needed fits again or just elite talent like an Andre Curbelo? The Illinois transfer is not the best fit to what the Buckeyes likely need next season, but he is one of the top overall talents in the portal and is a high-risk, high-reward guy.
Personally, I want them to get some serious talent and figure out how to make it work from there. Let the coaches do their job with the best possible players.
Coaching changes
Chris Holtmann has put together a phenomenal coaching staff during his time at Ohio State and it has shown with the attention that his assistants have gotten from other schools. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, this season that attention was more than just attention. Holtmann’s right-hand man and top assistant coach Ryan Pedon has moved onto greener pastures, accepting his first head coaching job at Illinois State and first-year assistant coach Tony Skinn is heading back to the DMV to be an assistant coach under Kevin Willard at Maryland.
There are still some great coaches on the staff and Holtmann has done a particularly good job of replacing assistants in the past, but Pedon leaves the biggest hole that he has ever had to fill. The Buckeyes love Jake Diebler and Holtmann has been vocal about wanting to add Greg Oden to the staff full time once he graduates. Look for the Buckeyes to make some sizable coaching additions over the next few months.
Other conference team questions
Even though there were questions all season about how good the teams in the Big Ten actually were, there was no denying the conference’s individual talent.
Guys like Keegan Murray, Johnny Davis, Jaden Ivey, E.J. Liddell (sad), Hunter Dickinson, and Kofi Cockburn are all going to be heading to the NBA Draft; also B1G teams are losing some of their old guys like Jordan Bohannan, Brad Davison and Kyle Young (again, sad).
The league will likely look a lot different come fall, especially with most of the top teams losing their best talent. The transfer portal and incoming freshmen should play a huge role this season, likely benefitting the Buckeyes since they have the top recruiting class in the conference.
Incoming freshman class
The Buckeyes have one of their best-recruiting classes coming to Columbus in a long time, but they will be put to the test immediately. As mentioned above, if Branham, Sueing and/or Towns come back, there will be less pressure on these guys to perform immediately, but if those three all move on — which they could — multiple freshmen will need to play 20-25 minutes at least as soon as they step foot on campus.
Freshmen playing right away can be a good or a bad thing. This is a great class overall, but none of these guys are five-star, top-tier recruits. Malaki Branham was fantastic this season, but it even took him 10-12 games to really get his feet wet. The Buckeyes will need to add some veterans from the portal if Sueing and Towns do not come back and/or aren’t able to contribute right away, otherwise, it will be tough to expect much from the freshmen early on.
Continue reading...
LGHL Column: Harry Miller shines spotlight on mental health discussion in collegiate athletics
- News
- 0 Replies
Column: Harry Miller shines spotlight on mental health discussion in collegiate athletics
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Harry Miller’s retirement statement and message on Good Morning America brought attention to an alarming problem in the college sports world.
On March 10, Harry Miller announced that he was medically retiring from football. This was not a result of a physical injury, as he made this decision citing mental health reasons. His message has been shared all over the world, and it is an extremely important one. The current state of college athletes’ mental health needs to be addressed, and cannot be ignored anymore.
Miller might be the person you least expect to hear struggling with mental health issues. He was a starter on the Ohio State football team. He carries a 4.0 GPA as a student in the College of Engineering. After the NIL laws were passed, he raised money to help kids in Nicaragua. Based on all of this, it sounds like he is thriving, right?
That is where the problem lies. It is never okay to make assumptions about how a person is doing mentally. In reality, Miller revealed to head coach Ryan Day that he had planned to take his own life prior to the start of last season. Day immediately put him in contact with mental health professionals to give him the necessary support.
Miller is yet another example that athletes are just people. He said that he has received hateful messages, that other athletes have even gotten death threats... and for what? Dropping a pass? Missing a block? Not making a tackle? This goes way beyond football, or any sport for that matter. Football is not who these kids are, it is what they do. The majority of these athletes won’t even go on to play professionally. There is more to their lives than a sport.
A tragic story that happened just in the past month is the death of star Stanford goalkeeper, Katie Meyer. The soccer captain, who was a National Champion and destined to have a great future in the sport, took her own life on March 1. Based off her social media, one would never suspect that she was struggling.
People have become way too good about hiding how they’re truly feeling. College athletes aren’t the exception. These men and women need to know that their value doesn't come based off their athletic performance or their grades. Yes, they need to be checked on. More resources need to go toward ensuring athletes’ mental well-being.
The pressure that athletes have placed on them is insurmountable and totally uncalled for. Kids as young as middle school are being pushed to their limits in order to earn a scholarship. Once they get to college, they’re already burnt out and struggling after basing their whole lives off of their athletic success.
Enough is enough. When student-athletes say that they are struggling, they need to be heard and supported. This problem cannot be swept under the rug any longer. The old rule of how athletes are tough and should push aside their feelings is outdated and frankly, idiotic. The weight of the world is on these kids shoulders, and they need to be relieved.
Words are impactful. Coaches and other team members need to realize how much they can impact a player. Athletes need to know that they are supported no matter if they succeed or fail. Fans and those on social media must keep this in mind too. At the end of the day, sports are just a game. They aren’t life or death, so athletes shouldn’t be treated as if they are.
“The dilemma is that nobody has to say something, but that is precisely why somebody has to say something.”
Ohio State University football star Harry Miller (@h_miller76) joins us to discuss his decision to step away from football to focus on mental health. pic.twitter.com/naKJLse0LC
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 21, 2022
Resources need to be redirected to keeping multiple mental health professionals on every sports team, and providing any support possible. Perhaps teams can scale back a bit on the 10 different uniform combinations and wild locker rooms for a more important cause. I’m all for spoiling athletes — they deserve it after their hard work. But, mental health must come first.
We are all in this race called life. Let’s not make it harder on anyone than we need to. I’m so thankful that Harry Miller is still with us today, and had the bravery to go public about his mental health battles. Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness, but quite the opposite. The strength it takes for one to admit he/she needs support is admirable.
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide please call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
Continue reading...
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Harry Miller’s retirement statement and message on Good Morning America brought attention to an alarming problem in the college sports world.
On March 10, Harry Miller announced that he was medically retiring from football. This was not a result of a physical injury, as he made this decision citing mental health reasons. His message has been shared all over the world, and it is an extremely important one. The current state of college athletes’ mental health needs to be addressed, and cannot be ignored anymore.
Miller might be the person you least expect to hear struggling with mental health issues. He was a starter on the Ohio State football team. He carries a 4.0 GPA as a student in the College of Engineering. After the NIL laws were passed, he raised money to help kids in Nicaragua. Based on all of this, it sounds like he is thriving, right?
That is where the problem lies. It is never okay to make assumptions about how a person is doing mentally. In reality, Miller revealed to head coach Ryan Day that he had planned to take his own life prior to the start of last season. Day immediately put him in contact with mental health professionals to give him the necessary support.
Miller is yet another example that athletes are just people. He said that he has received hateful messages, that other athletes have even gotten death threats... and for what? Dropping a pass? Missing a block? Not making a tackle? This goes way beyond football, or any sport for that matter. Football is not who these kids are, it is what they do. The majority of these athletes won’t even go on to play professionally. There is more to their lives than a sport.
A tragic story that happened just in the past month is the death of star Stanford goalkeeper, Katie Meyer. The soccer captain, who was a National Champion and destined to have a great future in the sport, took her own life on March 1. Based off her social media, one would never suspect that she was struggling.
People have become way too good about hiding how they’re truly feeling. College athletes aren’t the exception. These men and women need to know that their value doesn't come based off their athletic performance or their grades. Yes, they need to be checked on. More resources need to go toward ensuring athletes’ mental well-being.
The pressure that athletes have placed on them is insurmountable and totally uncalled for. Kids as young as middle school are being pushed to their limits in order to earn a scholarship. Once they get to college, they’re already burnt out and struggling after basing their whole lives off of their athletic success.
Enough is enough. When student-athletes say that they are struggling, they need to be heard and supported. This problem cannot be swept under the rug any longer. The old rule of how athletes are tough and should push aside their feelings is outdated and frankly, idiotic. The weight of the world is on these kids shoulders, and they need to be relieved.
Words are impactful. Coaches and other team members need to realize how much they can impact a player. Athletes need to know that they are supported no matter if they succeed or fail. Fans and those on social media must keep this in mind too. At the end of the day, sports are just a game. They aren’t life or death, so athletes shouldn’t be treated as if they are.
“The dilemma is that nobody has to say something, but that is precisely why somebody has to say something.”
Ohio State University football star Harry Miller (@h_miller76) joins us to discuss his decision to step away from football to focus on mental health. pic.twitter.com/naKJLse0LC
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 21, 2022
Resources need to be redirected to keeping multiple mental health professionals on every sports team, and providing any support possible. Perhaps teams can scale back a bit on the 10 different uniform combinations and wild locker rooms for a more important cause. I’m all for spoiling athletes — they deserve it after their hard work. But, mental health must come first.
We are all in this race called life. Let’s not make it harder on anyone than we need to. I’m so thankful that Harry Miller is still with us today, and had the bravery to go public about his mental health battles. Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness, but quite the opposite. The strength it takes for one to admit he/she needs support is admirable.
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide please call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
Continue reading...