Rivalry Week: Rehashing the feud between Ohio State and Mark May
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Chris Williams/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images
Remembering the good ole days of everyone’s favorite Buckeye hater

In professional wrestling, a ‘heel’ is someone who portrays the antagonist or a villain, directly opposing the ‘face’ which is viewed as the protagonist or the hero. The heel exists to provide a foil for the face characters, and it gives the audience someone to root against. This wrestler generally displays a kind of arrogance about him and an overall attitude that makes him deliberately unlikeable.

Every good hero needs a villain, and for many years, that heel for Ohio State fans was none other than an ESPN analyst by the name of Mark May.

Growing up in Oneonta, NY, May played college football at Pittsburgh from 1977-80, earning unanimous All-American honors as a senior and winning the Outland Trophy as the nation’s top interior lineman. Over his four years with the Panthers, he helped lead the team to a 39-8-1 record including three top-10 finishes, and would later have his jersey retired by the school in 2001.

May went on to have a rather successful NFL career, being drafted by the Washington Redskins with the No. 20 overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft. He played guard for the Skins from 1981-90, starting 115 games and helping lead the team to two Super Bowl victories. May would later have short stints with the San Diego Chargers and the Pheonix Cardinals before retiring in 1993.

May then began his broadcasting career, which is where his feud with the Ohio State fanbase would eventually unfold. The former offensive lineman worked for both TNT and CBS Sports before landing at ESPN in 2001 as a football analyst and college football commentator, and quickly became a regular on the network’s popular CFB shows like College Football Scoreboard and College Football Final.

This is where our saga comes into the public light, but for context of where this rivalry is believed to be rooted, we have to go back to one fateful afternoon in September of 1996.

Long removed from his college football playing days, May’s alma matter traveled to Columbus to take on the No. 7-ranked Buckeyes. Beginning the season 1-2, there weren’t many hopes among Pitt fans that their team would escape victorious, but nobody could have predicted what ensued that afternoon.

In what was the worst defeat in school history, Ohio State absolutely demolished the Panthers 72-0. Pepe Pearson had three TD runs and Joe Germaine threw a pair of TD passes as the Bucks were able to bench their starters at halftime with a 52-0 lead. After the game, Pitt coach Johnny Majors was quoted as saying, “They made an effort to keep it under 70 points and we wouldn’t let them do it. I’m not being sarcastic, that’s a fact.”

May never quite let this loss go, and almost seven years later, he let that Ohio State hate flow publicly for the very first time. On the day of the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, the famed BCS Championship Game between OSU and Miami, May predicted the Buckeyes to lose 42-10. While he was certainly not the only one to choose the Hurricanes that afternoon, it was at that moment he realized that he had pushed a button.

In an interview with The Blade back in December, May explained how his negative comments about Ohio State would always bring with them several nasty calls and letters to ESPN directed at him. Realizing how he was getting under the skin of one of college football’s most rabid fanbases, May leaned into his new role as a villain, and from there on out, continued to stick it to Buckeye Nation at any given opportunity.

These jabs by May continued for the remainder of his broadcasting career at ESPN. After Ohio State’s first win under Urban Meyer, during a 2012 campaign in which the team was bowl banned, May discredited the Buckeyes’ opening victory against Miami (OH), saying they struggled early — despite winning the game 56-10 — and comparing the team to liverwurst in that they weren’t one of the more desirable meats at the deli.


The next season, after that “very average football team” finished the season 12-0, May refused to put Ohio State in his preseason top 10, with the argument that they ‘should’ve’ lost four games that season and that they would lose at least four games if they played in the SEC.


We then move forward to 2014, where May insisted that Ohio State did not deserve to be in the College Football Playoff despite having three wins over Top 10 opponents, choosing instead to put Penn State in the No. 4 spot (whom the Buckeyes defeated head-to-head at Beaver Stadium).


Urban Meyer responded by knocking off big bad Alabama, the king of the SEC, right in their own backyard, and preceded to shoot daggers directly into May’s soul in the postgame.


Ohio State fans also got their revenge shortly thereafter during the pregame to the National Championship against Oregon, giving May the treatment now given to Michigan Man Desmond Howard on ESPN’s College Gameday.


It wasn’t a long run at ESPN thereafter for May, as he was replaced on College Football Final in June 2015 by Joey Galloway — ironically, a Buckeye — and would eventually be laid off by the network in 2017.

In the end, May was just playing up his heel character. In that same interview with The Blade, he admitted that he would at times pick against Ohio State even when he knew they would win just to get a rise out of the fanbase. Outside of his schtick, May does actually respect the Buckeyes. He is friends with a few of the alumni as well, with Keith Byars and Pete Johnson both playing in his annual charity golf event.

In the world of sports entertainment, everyone loves a good little back and forth. May has no actual ill will towards Ohio State — at least that he would openly admit — and played the perfect foil as a villain that Buckeye Nation loved to hate.

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Ohio State offers five-star combo guard
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Oak Hill Academy five-star CG Zion Cruz | USA Basketball
The Buckeyes sent out a scholarship offer to Zion — just likely not the one you’re thinking of...

The recruiting trail has been a bit quiet for Ohio State in recent weeks. I guess this is what happens when you secure 18 commits before June. While the current football pledges in the 2021 class keep teasing new upcoming BOOMs, the rest of us just have to wait and see how Ryan Day finishes out his impressive group. As usual, when all is stilled on the gridiron, we look to the hardwood for updates.

The basketball Buckeyes currently hold the No. 8 class in the nation in 2021 — good for No. 3 in the Big Ten — and while Chris Holtmann would still like to add to this two-man crew, he also remains hard at work searching for the nation’s top talents in future classes.

That work continued on Tuesday, as Ohio State offered 2022 five-star combo guard Zion Cruz.


Cruz, the No. 5 shooting guard and No. 20 overall prospect according to the 247Sports Composite, is a native of New Jersey, but announced in April that he would be transferring to the prestigious Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. The basketball powerhouse has an impressive track record of producing some top-tier NBA talent, including players among the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and Rajon Rondo.

With still two years left in his high school career, Cruz has already spent some time in the national spotlight. The 6-foot-3, 170-pound guard participated in the USA Basketball Men's Junior Team minicamps in both 2018 and 2019, and was named one of 18 finalists for the USA Basketball U16 National Team in May of last year. In addition, Cruz was also named a MaxPreps Freshman All-American honorable mention in 2019.

Currently holding at least 13 offers, Ohio State adds their name to the list alongside other top programs including Kentucky, Louisville, St. Johns, and Syracuse, among others. With likely a long way to go until he makes any sort of decisions, expect Cruz’s recruitment to ramp up significantly before things are said and done, especially with the added exposure he’ll receive at Oak Hill. Holtmann will be hoping to have earned himself some additional brownie points by being one of Cruz’s early offers.

This dude can hoop. I mean, just check out some of his highlights in this game as a sophomore at Hudson Catholic:


The Buckeyes currently have one player already committed in the 2022 class, with that being three-star Cincinnati shooting guard Bowen Hardman.

Quick Hits

• It looks like Ohio State QB commit Kyle McCord will have some serious work to do if he wants to walk away this year’s Elite 11 MVP. The event dropped its latest player rankings via Twitter on Tuesday night, and McCord came in at No. 8 of the 11 competitors. Both Justin Fields and Buckeye freshman QB CJ Stroud won the Elite 11 MVP in their respective recruiting cycles.

• Update: Shortly before midnight, it was announced that McCord won Tuesday’s Pro Day competition with a score of 45 points. Drake Maye, a North Carolina commit, finished second with 40 points. McCord finished just shy of Stroud’s record-setting 50-point performance in 2019, and will likely see himself shoot up the Elite 11 rankings as he looks to become the third Buckeye QB to take home the MVP award in the last four years.

• According to Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts, a pair of Ohio’s top prospects in the 2023 class are very interested in Ohio State. Both Luke Montgomery, a defensive end from Findlay, and Brenan Vernon, another DE from Mentor, planned to visit Columbus during spring practices this offseason, but those plans were obviously derailed by COVID-19. We’re still too far out for either player to have any sort of star-rating yet, but expect these two to be among the top in-state prospects in the class when we reach that stage.

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Buckeye Bits: Wyatt Davis and Billy Price make BTN All-Decade First Team, TBT game times announced, more
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images
All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond.

Man, I don't know about you, but the month of June seemed to really fly by. This has been one hell of a year, and it seems like each time the calendar flips over a new world issue arises. Lets hope July doesn’t bring with it the resurgence of the dinosaurs or any Australia-sized meteors.

On a more lighter note, this month should (hopefully) mark the beginning of preseason practice for your Ohio State Buckeyes. We have a bunch of content planned here at Land-Grant Holy Land for when camp ramps back up, so make sure to stay tuned for everything you’ll need to get you prepped for the 2020 season. With that being said, let’s get to today’s headlines.

From around Land-Grant Holy Land...

• Ohio State five-star CB target to commit today
  (Dan Hessler, LGHL)

The Buckeyes have long been linked to the nation’s top cornerback target in the 2021 class — five-star CB Tony Grimes. The Virginia native listed Ohio State among his top four, however he already announced his decision as he planned to do today at 5 p.m. ET, selecting North Carolina as his college destination. With Grimes joining the Tar Heels, the Buckeyes still have other options if they wish to pursue an additional defensive back.

• Play Like a Girl podcast: College athletes, Lebron James, Malcolm Jenkins making a difference
  (Tia Johnston, LGHL)

Gone are the days where athletes are told to ‘stick to sports’. Now more than ever, athletes in both college athletics and the pros are realizing just how powerful of a platform they truly have, and they are using their voice to speak out for change in the realm of social justice. Tia and Meredith highlight a bunch of the ways these athletes are making a difference in their communities, and how these prominent figures in society are helping to combat racism.

• Jae’Sean Tate’s TBT status up in the air after positive COVID-19 test
  (Brett Ludwiczak, LGHL)

Just days after the announcement that former Buckeye Keyshawn Woods would miss the TBT after being exposed to the coronavirus, yet another former Ohio State player’s status in The Basketball Tournament is up in the air. The second member of Big X to be exposed to the virus, it was announced on Tuesday that Jae’Sean Tate could potentially miss the entire tourney after testing positive. Tate says he feels fine, and all of his family members and his girlfriend that he’s been in contact with recently have tested negative.

• Leaders of the Room: If Justin Fields goes down, who’s taking over?
  (Tia Johnston, LGHL)

Kicking off some of our preseason camp coverage, Tia began what will become a postion-by-position series looking at Ohio State’s leaders in each unit. The leader of the QB room is pretty obviously Justin Fields, but what happens if disaster strikes and he is unable to go for whatever reason? Will Ryan Day call on one of his highly-touted freshman, or turn to the seasoned grad transfer?

• Yesterday’s Buckeye Bits
  (Tia Johnston, LGHL)

ICYMI, catch up on all the Ohio State headlines from around the beat on Monday, which included Ezekiel Elliott being snubbed from the BTN All-Decade First Team by two running backs that he was unequivocally better than, a medical expert’s take on the 2020 college football season, the nation’s No. 1 recruit in 2022 heading to the Big Ten, and much more.

From around the gridiron...

• If you needed any indication of just how good offensive guard Wyatt Davis is, look no further. The junior was named to the BTN All-Decade team after just one year as a starter, an incredible feat especially given all of the talented offensive lineman that have come through the Big Ten from 2010-2019. Already named a First-Team All-American in 2019, Davis is a sure-fire early first round NFL Draft pick if he has a repeat performance in 2020.

He wasn’t the only Buckeye to make the cut, as Billy Price was also named to the First Team.

• Kevin Wilson wouldn't be denied Cade Stover
  (Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row)

Ohio State’s defensive staff prohibited offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Kevin Wilson from going to watch Cade Stover play basketball in high school, because they knew if he saw the kind of athlete the 6-foot-4, 255 defensive end was, he would want to steal him for his room. However, Wilson now gets his wish, as Stover has transitioned from the defensive line to the TE position. He only got three practices in at the new spot before everything got shut down, but Stover has the talent and ability to be a key piece at the position moving forward.

• In addition to Davis and Price, another former Buckeye made the BTN All-Decade team. Pat Elflein, an Ohio State center that was named All-Big Ten three times during his career and was a member of the 2014 National Championship squad, was named to the All-Decade Second Team. In addition to these accolades, Elflein was the Rimington Trophy winner and 2016 Big Ten OL of the Year.

Joining Elflein on the Second Team is former Buckeye OT Taylor Decker.

• Tommy Togiai brings star potential to lineup as Ohio State’s new starting nose tackle
  (Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors)

There’s been a running theme at Ohio State when it comes to recruits reaching their maximum potential. The mantra in Columbus has always been that the first two years are on the coaching staff, but the third year is on the player. Year three of your collegiate career is when you should be able to make a big impact for the team, and Tommy Togiai is hoping to become one of those third-year breakout guys. Togiai was a member of the 2018 class — the highest-rated group in program history — as the nations No. 3 DT and the No. 55 player overall.

• I’m letting you know right now to look out for it. It’s definitely coming.

From around the hardwood...

• The schedule for this year’s TBT is now officially set, with The Basketball Tournament releasing the official start times and networks on Tuesday afternoon. Beginning July 3, the single-elimination winner-take-all tournament will tip off in Columbus. Ohio State has a bunch of alumni that will compete in the coming weeks, mostly split between Big X and Carmen’s Crew. We’ll be covering all the action for those two squads here at LGHL, so make sure you stay tuned for that.

• You may not think of Ohio State as a basketball powerhouse these days, but they have recruited quite well historically. It’s been a little while, but the Buckeyes are actually tied with Indiana for the most five-star recruits signed all-time in the Big Ten. The most recent five-star prospect to suit up for OSU was D’Angelo Russell in the 2014 class.

• What does Emoni Bates’ commitment to Michigan State mean for Ohio State?
  (Stephen Means, Cleveland.com)

In case you haven't heard, Emoni Bates, the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit in the 2022 class, has committed to Michigan State. Looked at as one of the greatest high school basketball prospects since Lebron James, Bates is the first No. 1 overall recruit to commit to a Big Ten school since Eric Gordon committed to Indiana in 2008. However, theres a chance he never actually suits up for the Spartans, as many of the nation’s top recruits the past few years have elected to spend a year overseas instead of playing a year of amateur ball. Means has all the details over at Cleveland.com.

From everywhere else...

• Michael V. Drake has a message for Buckeye Nation in his final day as president of Ohio State. He will be succeeded by Kristina M. Johnson, who was the former chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY) since 2017. Johnson become’s Ohio State’s 16th president.

• Someone please explain to me how Brian Hartline has the time to ride his bike 118 miles while also hauling in every top wide receiver recruit in the country? The man’s a wizard.

• Apparently it’s Social Media Day, and Brutus is celebrating accordingly.

Continue reading...

My goodness 5/3 is just a bunch of morons. 4 O’clock closing and paperwork isn’t ready. Disclosure statement provided didn’t match what was at closing. Had to call Loan Originator to find out why. Title fee went up because supposedly the title company had to adjust for the final loan amount, which was known awhile ago. Seriously, Is it really that hard to get numbers right.....

Leaders of the Room: If Justin Fields goes down, who’s taking over?
Tia Johnston via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
It could happen, but unlike last year, it won’t be the end all be all

Leading up to Ohio State’s Fall Camp, which is expected to start Aug. 7 — while players and coaches can begin other football activities on July 13 — we here at LGHL will be taking a look at the leaders of each position group. Who will the team turn to when the clock is ticking and the stakes are high? Some positions’ standouts will be obvious, but others are still up for discussion.

First up— who will lead the quarterbacks?

Well, his name is Justin Fields, and he is just a measly Hesiman-favorite and potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft who threw for 3,273 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just three interceptions with a completion percentage of 67.2 last season. He’s a dual-threat who also rushed for 484 yards and 10 touchdowns last fall. Oh, and he was named the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year and a second-team All-American. So, using deductive reasoning, I have come to the conclusion that Fields is the leader of Ohio State’s quarterback room.

I told you some would be obvious.

There’s absolutely no question that Fields will be QB1 heading into the 2020 season barring injury, but unlike last season, the junior finally has some sort of depth behind him for worst-case-scenario.

Since Fields is the obvious choice here, let’s just assume that, for whatever reason, Fields goes down. And folks, this is a very real possibility in light of current events. We are in the middle of a global pandemic caused by a highly contagious virus that is passed by talking or yawning next to someone. Safety precautions in place or not— the virus can and probably will spread on the Ohio State football team. All that to say, the backups and the backups’ backups at every single position are going to have to be ready to go at the drop of the hat.

So, getting back to my point, let’s say Fields either tweaks his knee again or he tests positive for COVID-19, who’s the next man up?

If it were to happen within the first couple of weeks, redshirt senior Gunnar Hoak will likely be told to suit up. While he’s spent his entire college football career as a backup — only throwing the football 32 total times — his seniority and collegiate experience may put him ahead of the freshmen I’m about to mention (at least at first).

But, if the stakes are high and the freshmen have gotten some fourth-quarter reps under their belts, I don’t think Ryan Day is calling on Hoak. I think he’s calling on whichever rookie that he believes has the potential to be next season’s starting quarterback, and that’s likely going to be one of the freshmen quarterbacks, C.J. Stroud or Jack Miller.

Stroud was a five-star prospect and the No. 41 overall and No. 2 pro-style QB in his class. He threw for nearly 6,500 yards in 35 games at Rancho Cucamonga, Cali., completing just under 63 percent of his passes with 70 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, earning him Elite 11 MVP honors.

The only thing standing in his way of stepping in for Fields is his fellow freshman, Miller. While his recruiting rankings don’t jump off the page like Stroud’s (Miller was a four-star recruit who, due to injury, dropped to No. 334 overall during his final year of high school) his stats certainly do. Miller threw for just under 9,500 yards in 38 games at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Ariz. He completed over 56 percent of his passes and totaled 115 touchdowns with 31 interceptions.

It’s your basic QB battle. They’re both fighting for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, which would then give them an edge for the starting job next season. And while it’s hard to say, considering they haven’t been able to practice with the team in quite some time, Stroud has seemingly popped up in the backup conversation more often than Miller.

“Stroud certainly looked the part for the Buckeyes and would be the knee-jerk pick to potentially develop into the heir apparent for the program,” Austin Ward of Lettermen Row wrote after the team’s one spring practice in early March. “Again, that’s nothing against Miller, who showed off some mobility and can definitely deliver the football with some zip. But Stroud’s package of size and athleticism combined with a few big-time throws caught the eye at least on Day One, and it just felt like a more confident performance for a debut practice than any other passers had in recent memory.”

That was in March, which means you can’t write off Miller just yet. It’d be silly to think that he didn’t spend these last four months putting in the work to catch up to Stroud. Of course, we won’t know much until they’ve gotten a few more practices in with the teams’ receiving unit.

All I can confidently tell you is, Fields is the clear leader of the room. If he goes down in Week One or Two, Hoak will suit up. If it’s Week Eight, the score is tied at Happy Valley and Day needs someone in who will win the damn thing, he’s calling on a freshman quarterback.

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Jae’Sean Tate’s TBT status up in the air after positive COVID-19 test
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The former Buckeye has tested positive for COVID-19 four times since June 13th, but still has hope to get on the floor in Columbus at The Basketball Tournament.


Just a day after it was announced that former Ohio State guard Keyshawn Woods would miss The Basketball Tournament due to a positive COVID-19 test, Big X took another hit today when it was revealed that Jae’Sean Tate tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month.

Tate had been training in Houston when he began to notice how sensitive his skin was, along with the loss of smell and taste. On June 13, Tate took a COVID-19 test, which came back positive. Since then, Tate has taken three more COVID-19 tests, all of which came back positive.

The former Buckeye says he feels fine, and his family members and girlfriend, who have been close to him recently, have taken multiple tests with all of those tests coming back negative.

Tate is planning to take another COVID-19 test on Thursday, and if the test comes back negative, he is hoping he’ll be able to play in Big X’s second round game. Big X, the ninth seed in TBT, takes on the Jackson TN Underdogs on July 4th, with the winner moving on to face Red Scare, which is comprised of Dayton alumni.

Since TBT will be under an even bigger spotlight this year with the lack of sports going on due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tate was hoping that a strong performance could help him gain the attention of some NBA teams. Tate spent last year with the Sydney Kings of the NBL in Australia. The forward averaged 16.4 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game, as he was named to the All-NBL First Team. Tate and former NBA center Andrew Bogut led the Kings to the NBL finals, where they lost to the Perth Wildcats.

While it’s possible that Tate could still play in TBT, he is going to do what’s best for his teammates and everybody else at the tournament. If Tate isn’t able to return, it leaves guards C.J. Jackson and Andrew Dakich as the only former Buckeyes left on Big X.

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Play Like a Girl podcast: College athletes, Lebron James, Malcolm Jenkins making a difference
Tia Johnston via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images
How various athletes are using their platforms in the fight against racism

On LGHL’s podcast Play Like a Girl, Tia and Meredith talk everything from Ohio State football to all the happenings in the sports world today.

In this week’s episode, Tia and Meredith discuss the incredible ways athletes and sports organizations have been making a difference within the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight against racism. They talk about how NASCAR stood behind Bubba Wallace, and how college athletes are realizing the power they hold and thus the impact they can make. They end the show highlighting two prominent athletes— Lebron James and Malcolm Jenkins— and all that they’ve done/are doing for the Black community.

Check out the podcast below, and make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:

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Ohio State five-star CB target to commit today
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Five-star CB Tony Grimes via Andrew Ivins of 247Sports
A big time cornerback prospect is set to commit later this afternoon. Will the Buckeyes add to the BIA?

Summer is in the air and football is right around the corner. Or at least we hope so. Regardless of the upcoming season taking place on time, Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day and the entire Buckeyes coaching staff have been hard at work solidifying the roster for years to come.

Ohio State sits atop of the 2021 class rankings, but North Carolina and Mack Brown have been right behind them since the beginning. Currently, the Tar Heels sit at No. 4 in the country, and a battle between them, Ohio State, Georgia and Texas A&M will be coming to an end this afternoon.

Five-star cornerback prospect Tony Grimes (Virginia Beach, VA/Princess Anne) will be announcing his decision today at 5 p.m. ET according to Grimes’ high school coach.


While Ohio State has been after Grimes for the entirety of his recruitment, the school was never viewed to be in the driver’s seat. Instead, the betting favorite to land Grimes today is North Carolina.

The move may be surprising to those who only slightly follow college football, as Ohio State is a known powerhouse and North Carolina is historically a basketball school. However, since the arrival of Mack Brown, the Tar Heels have become a strong competitor for the Buckeyes on the East Coast. Losing Grimes to them is just more proof of the turnaround Brown is conducting in Chapel Hill.

However, recruiting is never certain and Ohio State still has a chance at being the school selected today, it would just make for one of the biggest shocks of the 2021 recruiting season.

If the tea leaves hold true, Ohio State is still in good shape at DB in terms of recruiting. The Buckeyes already hold commitments from four-star CB Jakailin Johnson, four-star safeties Andre Turrentine and Jantzen Dunn as well as three-star safety Jaylen Johnson.

Grimes is the nation’s No. 1 CB in 2021 according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 7 overall prospect in the nation.

Ohio State four-star QB commit ready for Elite 11


With the Coronavirus pandemic ongoing for the majority of this year, football seasons at every level of play are in limbo, let alone high school camps. Thankfully, the Elite 11 will be taking place this week, as the event features the top quarterbacks in the nation competing against each other.

Those looking for their Ohio State football fix should be tuned in this week to the camp as Buckeyes’ four-star QB commit Kyle McCord (Philadelphia, PA/St. Joseph’s) will be competing.

Brian Dohn of rivals.com spoke with McCord leading up to the event and the future Buckeye was excited to compete with the best of the best and is planning on giving his all to win the MVP honors.


As for what McCord is looking to take away from the event, he told Dohn that he looks to improve his game by speaking with all of the coaches. In specifics to improving his game, McCord already has the mental strength to know where and how he wants to improve his game.


Whether or not McCord wins the MVP of the event, what is for certain is his game will improve and that is only good news for Buckeye Nation. Make sure to follow Land-Grant Holy Land throughout the week for updates on the Elite 11 camp as well as all things Ohio State.

Quick Hits

• As expected, three-star CB and former Ohio State commit Devonta Smith has chosen Alabama as his college destination. Smith de-committed from the Buckeyes on June 25 as the rumors began to swirl surrounding a flip to the Crimson Tide, and those rumors were confirmed on Monday afternoon when the La Salle product announced his new commitment via Twitter.

• If you were worried about another flip in the Ohio State defensive back room, you don't have to worry about Jaylen Johnson. The safety let everyone know on Twitter Monday night that his recruitment is officially closed, and that he will for sure become a Buckeye.

• There also may be something else in the works — *insert eyes emoji*

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Buckeye Bits: Ezekiel Elliott, Ryan Shazier named to BTN’s All-Decade second team, expert analysis on the college football season, more
Tia Johnston via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Lance King/Getty Images
All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond.

Happy Monday! Hope you had a wonderful (hopefully air-conditioned) weekend. Today’s Buckeye Bits is jam-packed with news, updates and questionable accolades, but before we get into it...


via GIPHY


Okay, let’s get into it.

From around Land-Grant Holy Land...


Rivalry Week: The current state of The Game

Gene Ross, LGHL

It’s Rivalry Week at SB Nation, and Gene is kicking things off by discussing the current state of every aspect of The Greatest Rivalry In All Of Sports, from the coaching to the talent to the preparation.

24 Club: Sam Willaman, a winner who followed a legend

Jim Baird, LGHL

The next Ohio State coach in Jim’s 24 Club series is Sam Willaman, who led the Buckeyes to five straight winning seasons— which was a really big feat at the time— but was run out of town for his inability to win the conference title.

Ohio State in touch with Georgia power forward

Charles Doss, LGHL

Chris Holtmann is in touch with a 2022 power forward who already holds eight offers. Charles caught up with him to find out what he thinks of the Buckeyes.

Podcast: I Want to Go Back - John Wilce’s Buckeyes Defend Newly Opened Ohio Stadium

Jim Baird, LGHL

More Buckeye history for ya! Next up on our I Want to Go Back podcast series, Jim takes us through the time head coach John Wilce’s Buckeyes played Michigan in the Ohio Stadium dedication game.

From around the gridiron...


WELP.


Interesting choice to not name the best running back of the decade as your All-Decade running back.

Zeke: 592 rush attempts, 3,961 yards, 6.7-yard average per attempt, 43 touchdowns, quite literally led team to a National Championship Win

Barkley: 671 rush attempts, 3,843 yards, 5.7-yard average per attempt, 43 touchdowns

Taylor: 320 rush attempts, 2,003 yards, 6.3-yard average per attempt, 21 touchdowns

J.K. Dobbins: 725 rush attempts, 4,459 yards, 6.2 yard average per attempt, 38 touchdowns

All great running backs, but one of them stands out a bit more than the other three, no?


Some people (mainly Penn State fans) are saying “well, you can’t just look at the stats.” To which I ask: what else should we be looking at???


At least they gave him second team accolades...


Zeke is joined by former Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier, who was also named to BTN’s All-Decade 2nd team.


Shazier was beat out by Iowa’s Josey Jewell, Wisconsin’s Chris Borland and Michigan’s Devin Bush.


Coronavirus and the upcoming college football season: Thoughts from the medical field

Aloyia Earl, Eleven Warriors

As much as I like to think I’m an expert when it comes to whether or not there will be college football this fall... I am, in fact, not. However, Dr. Aloiya Earl, a sports medicine physician in Dayton, is an expert and she has rejoined Eleven Warriors as a medical columnist. Earl writes about what the upcoming college football season will likely look like, and says to expect the situation and rules to change constantly, as it has for all of society over the last few months. That being said, second and third-strings will need to be more prepared to play than ever before.


How many regular season games will Ohio State football play in 2020? Buckeye Talk Daily Pod

Nathan Baird, Cleveland.com

Jumping off of Earl’s point about expecting fluidity over the coming months, what are the chances Ohio State will actually play its full 12-game schedule? The guys over at Cleveland.com discuss the factors that might make an impact on the full season, proposed solutions, and more in their Buckeye Talk podcast.


Complete tight ends give Buckeyes dangerous versatility

Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Not only do Ohio State’s tight ends show promise this year, but, as Holbrook writes, they are arguably the most complete group on the Buckeyes’ roster. Senior Luke Farrell is expected to land on an NFL roster next year, and right behind him is former No. 1 tight end prospect in the country, Jeremy Ruckert. Holbrook explains why this could finally be THE year for the Ohio State tight end room.


In 2-deep: Ohio State’s projected depth chart on offense

Dave Biddle, Bucknuts

The season is approaching, which means projected depth charts will be flowing across the college football world over the next couple of months. First up is Biddle’s, where he gives you a position-by-position analysis on what he thinks the Buckeyes’ offensive depth chart will look like come September 5.

From everywhere else...


Former Ohio State point guard Keyshawn Woods will no longer play in TBT.


Big X announced on Monday that Woods—one of their best players— has been exposed to the coronavirus and will therefore be unable to participate in TBT, which kicks off in Columbus this weekend. Woods was set to join former Buckeyes Andrew Dakich, C.J. Jackson and Jae’Sean Tate on Big X.


The “best prospect since Lebron James” is headed to the Big Ten.


Emoni Bates, who is expected to become the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, told ESPN that he was committing to Michigan State. Spartans fans, revel in this news because the odds of him actually stepping foot on a college campus are slim to none.


Cam Newton to New England


Cam Newton signed a “bare-minimum” contract with the New England Patriots, filling the vacant QB spot that Tom Brady left. Newton has been injury prone in recent years and was released from the Carolina Panthers on March 24. He signed a one-year contract with the Patriots that could earn him up to $7.5 million, depending on performance and incentives.


Hamilton signs with the Jaguars.


Former Ohio State defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton, who was picked by the Jags in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, signed a four-year rookie contract with the team on Monday.

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I wonder if one of these clowns is Jskinner? Woo pig sooie!

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LUKE FARRELL, C.J. SAUNDERS AMONG OHIO STATE'S CONFERENCE-HIGH 164 BIG TEN DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS

For the fifth year in a row, Ohio State leads the conference in Big Ten Distinguished Scholars.

The Buckeyes had 164 athletes earn the designation as Big Ten Distinguished Scholars for the 2019-20 academic year. They smashed the previous record set last year of 131 athletes honored with the award.

Every Big Ten Distinguished Scholar must have been an Academic All-Big Ten honoree the prior academic year, enrolled in their current university for at least a year and achieved at least a 3.70 grade-point average the prior academic year, excluding summer classes.

Tight end Luke Farrell, wide receiver C.J. Saunders and combo guard Danny Hummer are among this year's honorees.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...rence-high-164-big-ten-distinguished-scholars

HotMic said:

Committed to Bama

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I think I've seen this race before...in Seabiscuit. Unfortunately, Bama is Seabiscuit.

Thump said:

All of the online website deals have dried up.

I found out inadvertently yesterday when trying to cancel a tee time on Golfnow but the email came from Teeoff.com so it appears Golfnow controls all of the the big discount sites now.

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I've been getting emails from here: https://www.groupgolfer.com/
Not sure how I got on their mailing list, but the deals seem pretty good if they have anything near you. Never used it.

If we were to go back a couple of decades further the biggest disappointment of the 80s was probably DT Chuck Jones. He was the kind of tackle Ohio State had been lacking for more than a decade at that point. I think it was academics that prevented him from making an impact. IIRC he never played a down.

Congrats on cracking the 16-year mark...

YES

MOTSAG Pretend College Football Playoffs: #2 LSU versus #3 Clemson; 2nd Quarter
Charles via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



We pick up this semifinal game in the 2nd quarter with Clemson leading 10-7 thanks to dominating the time of possession in the first quarter (read the recap of how the first quarter went).

After Clemson’s touchdown at the end of the first quarter, LSU started the 2nd with the ball on their own 20. On the first play from scrimmage, Joe Burrow hit Ja’Marr Chase for 44 yards to put LSU in Clemson territory. A 12 yard run by Clyde Edwards-Helaire had the stadium assuming that another touchdown was coming very soon but the drive stalled after Edwards-Helaire got caught in the backfield on the next play and a short pass was followed by an incompletion. LSU was forced to settle for a 41-yard field goal to tie the game at 10.

Clemson got their next drive off to a good start with Trevor Lawrence finding Joe Ngata for a 14 yard gain and Travis Etienne picking up 7 yards on the ground. However Lawrence’s next two passes fell incomplete and Clemson was forced to punt.

After a 5-yard run by Edwards-Helaire, the rest of LSU’s subsequent drive was the Joe Burrow show as he completed 6 passes to 5 different receivers and picked up a few yards on the ground himself as LSU worked their way down the field. The drive was capped off as Burrow hit Justin Jefferson in the back of the endzone to put LSU back on top 17-10.

Travis Etienne must have been inspired by Burrow’s performance as he put on a show of his own on Clemson’s next drive, piling up 45 yards on the ground before catching a 10-yard touchdown pass to tie the game again.

With time running down, LSU had a chance to go into halftime with the lead but Joe Burrow forced a pass across the middle which was intercepted by Isaiah Simmons. Now Clemson had the ball at midfield with a chance to score. Two quick passes by Lawrence gave Clemson the ball on the 25 yard line with 3 seconds remaining. B.T. Potter lined up for his second field goal of the half but it sailed wide left, leaving the game tied at 17 as both teams headed to the locker room.




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MOTSAG Pretend College Football Playoffs: #2 LSU versus #3 Clemson; 1st Quarter
Chris via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Semi-Finals

The last “close game” The Joey Burrow led Tigers of LSU has was October 26th against a very game #9 Auburn Tiger team that had one game plan, try to keep the ball out of his hands. The Auburn Tigers failed(23-20) but the Clemson Tigers and Trevor Lawrence played it almost perfectly in a first quarter that saw them go on top just as the quarter ended.


Etienne and Burrow lead the charge in the first quarter

Almost every scripted first drive by Clemson this season has ended up in a TD. Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne combine for all of the rushing yards until 3 and goal from the 4 yard line and an incomplete pass intended for Tee Higgins. Dabo Swinney took a time out but chose to kick the FG and go up 3-0.

The key stat here is Clemson ate up more than 7 minutes of the 1st quarter clock(7:13) and turned things over to their defense, hoping to force a three and out and get back to work quickly.

Joey Burrow was not going to have any of that and only needed 1:52 of the clock to score. Derek Stingley gave LSU great field position and a short field after a 47 yard return. After two quick hitter to Jamar Chase, Burrow found a wide-open Thaddeus Moss over the middle for the 34 yard score.

On the ensuing kick-off disaster almost struck as Joseph Ngata muffed the short kick that bounced off the back of a teammate and into his hands. He then advanced to their own 39 yard line for Trevor Lawrence.

Etienne picked up where he left of chewing up short yardages and giving Clemson better efficiency on RPO as Lawrence kept it himself a few times to gain first downs. With 3rd and 11 from LSU’s 22, Trevor Lawrence found Tee Higgins who made maybe the best catch of the season in the corner of the end-zone as time expired in the first.

Clemson heads to the second quarter leading 10-7.




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24 Club: Sam Willaman, a winner who followed a legend
Jim Baird via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Case Western Reserve University Archives
Willaman led the Buckeyes to five consecutive winning seasons, one of the best runs of any coach for OSU at the time

There have been 24 head coaches in the history of Ohio State football. Each has a story and legacy. This offseason, Land-Grant Holy Land’s new series 24 Club will help you get to know the coaches from past and present who built the program. Today we look at Ohio State’s 13th coach Sam Willaman, who stepped in after a legend and delivered five consecutive winning seasons.


Name: Sam Willaman
Seasons Coached: Five (1929-1933)
Overall Record: 26-10-5

Where Does He Rank in the 24 Club?
Overall Wins: No. 9 out of 24 OSU Coaches
Winning Percentage: No. 13 out of 24 OSU Coaches


After 16 seasons, John Wilce stepped aside as Ohio State head coach. Before Wilce, Ohio State was a mid-tier power in the Ohio Athletic Conference. After Wilce, the Buckeyes had a string of Big Ten championships, victories over Michigan and a new Ohio Stadium. It’s never easy to replace a legend — but stepping into those shoes was Sam Willaman. Willaman was selected by Wilce to be his successor — and for good reason.

Willaman played for the Buckeyes, including for Wilce’s first Ohio State team in 1913. After a successful stint as head coach at Iowa State, he served as Wilce’s lead assistant coach. But the move to Willaman almost didn’t happen. The Buckeyes heard through the grapevine that Knute Rockne, the famed coach of Notre Dame, was interested in coaching in the Big Ten. Athletic Director Lynn St. John approached Rockne — and there appeared to be serious interest among both parties. But Rockne re-signed with Notre Dame, and the Buckeyes turned to Willaman.

Willaman led the Buckeyes to five straight winning seasons — tying Wilce for the most successful consecutive winning seasons of any coach in OSU history. The run saw a 2-3 record against Michigan — becoming only the second OSU coach (after Wilce) to beat the Wolverines. Willaman’s 1933 team was his best — finishing 7-1, but suffering a setback against the eventual undefeated national champion Wolverines. OSU finished second in the Big Ten. At the end of the season, Willaman resigned amid calls from the fans who were dissatisfied with the dry spell of Big Ten championships. The Buckeyes would win zero conference championships under Willaman — and had not claimed a conference title since 1920, before Ohio Stadium was built.

Willaman was a successful coach but stepped into a challenging situation following up his legendary predecessor. The program and its fans had high expectations. A string of winning seasons wasn’t going to be good enough. Championships were now the markers for success. The Buckeyes had Ohio Stadium — it was time to find a coach who could deliver some new banners to hang there.

The man the Buckeyes turned to next would do just that.

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Ohio State in touch with Georgia power forward
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
The basketball Buckeyes are looking to put together another solid recruiting class.

Chris Holtmann and the basketball Buckeyes already hold an early verbal pledge from three-star Cincinnati Princeton shooting guard Bowen Hardman, and are still searching the recruiting trail rather hard for more talented class of 2022 recruits to bring to Columbus.

Now able to contact prospects from the junior class, the Buckeyes have been in touch with a long list of standouts from across the country. Making Georgia just one of their top priorities during the process, one of Ohio State’s assistants broke bread with a Peach State power forward.

“I talked to coach Pedon. We only texted that first night when college coaches can text us, and we talked to on the phone.” 6-foot-8, 190-pound Grayson High junior Chauncey Wiggins stated to Land-Grant Holy Land.

“They said they want to build a relationship with my family and me and they said Ohio State is a very special place and we want to show you why.” Wiggins continued.

Yet to lock in a scholarship from the Buckeyes, Wiggins does hold offers from a solid bunch of college programs. Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Ole Miss, and Vanderbilt are just a few of the schools trying to add him to their future roster.

Although he doesn’t have a Ohio State offer on the table at the moment, Wigginis has definitely noticed what Holtman, Pedon, and crew are putting together in the Big Ten Conference.

“I think of they get people to the NBA, like D’Angelo Russell. I also think they’re a nice school, and play very good defense too.” He, said.

Battling a stress fracture in his foot, Wiggins might’ve missed some time on the court last season as a sophomore, but shined when he was on it. Suiting up for Eastside High before transferring to Grayson, he reportedly averaged over 12 points, and nearly eight rebounds a contest for the Eagles.

Quick Hits

• Ohio State has been in contact with 7-foot-1 big man Jake Martin. Martin, a newly classified 2022 prospect, is starting to gain major college attention. Not just OSU, but Georgia, Marquette, and TCU are some of the schools showing interest in Martin, who averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds last season at Whitewater High (WI).
• Five-star class of 2021 center Chet Holmgren released his leader list on Friday. Trimming this down from over 25 offers, Holmgren will call either Ohio State, North Carolina, Michigan, Gonzaga, Georgetown, Memphis, or Minnesota home. Want to know more on Holmgren’s top programs? Land-Grant Holy Land has you covered.

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Podcast: I Want to Go Back - John Wilce’s Buckeyes Defend Newly Opened Ohio Stadium
Jim Baird via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Ohio Stadium dedication game program, October 21, 1922. | Ohio State University
Relive the greatest stories from Ohio State football history in Season 2 of Land-Grant Holy Land’s exclusive podcast series.

Ohio State football has an unrivaled tradition and history. Now, it’s time to relive those epic moments once more. Each Monday over the next eight weeks, you can listen to Season 2 of I Want to Go Back — Land-Grant Holy Land’s exclusive podcast series that brings to life the greatest lost stories from Ohio State football history. This season, we’ll go back to OSU’s rise to power in the early days of the Big Ten Conference.

On this week’s episode — John Wilce’s Buckeyes Defend Newly Opened Ohio Stadium


As he had done countless times before, OSU coach John Wilce walked onto a football field. Wilce was already a legend. Now in 1922, he entered his 10th season leading the Buckeye program — and what a run it had been. He coached Ohio State to conference championships in 1916 and 1917 under the dashing and dazzling runs of All-American halfback Chic Harley. Wilce’s team was doing more than winning Big Ten Championships, they were breaking curses. The jinx that had plagued the Buckeyes — a 0-13-2 record against the Wolverines — ended in Ann Arbor in 1919 as Harley raced into the endzone and the history books, sparking the rivalry to come.

Wilce proved that he was building a program that transcended an individual player. With Harley graduated, halfback Pete Stinchcomb picked up the torch and illuminated the path forward to capture another championship in 1920 and the Buckeyes first ever trip to the Rose Bowl. The grandstands of Ohio Field — where the men of scarlet and gray were now so dominant — overflowed. With ticket demand soaring — and more than a million dollars of public funding raised — a new stadium would be built. Steel was erected, concrete poured, and the clang of work shadowed over the 1921 season.

The work was done in 1922. A new stadium stood. Now, Wilce’s Buckeyes took the field against the Wolverines for the dedication game to defend their new home. The game and the seasons to follow would test Wilce and the Ohio State program like never before.

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Ohio State makes cut for five-star center Chet Holmgren
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Photo courtesy of 247 Sports
The No. 3 player in the 2021 class included the Buckeyes alongside Minnesota, Michigan, and four others.

Buckeye basketball news has been tough to come by lately, but Friday night was the start to an especially sweet weekend for Chris Holtmann and Co., as five-star center Chet Holmgren included Ohio State in his final seven schools. The announcement, sent out on Twitter, included the Buckeyes alongside rival Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Gonzaga, Georgetown, and Memphis. Holmgren’s father, Dave, played for Minnesota in the 1980’s. Purdue and Texas were also thought to be in the mix, but were not included.


Holmgren, who stands 7 feet tall and weights 190 pounds, is the top-ranked post player in the 2021 recruiting class, the top player in Minnesota, and the third-ranked player in the 2021 class, according to 247Sports.

The Minneapolis, Minnesota native has been offered scholarships from 29 schools representing all five power conferences, including an offer from Ohio State in June of 2019. He took an official visit to Columbus on September 21, 2019, taking in the Ohio State vs Miami (OH) football game in the shoe.


Holmgren is considered one of the most unique prospects of the past decade, as he already possesses an above average outside shot in addition to elite shot blocking and rebounding ability. Obviously, he will get a bit bigger in order to hang tough with college post players, but 247Sports projects his ceiling as a potential NBA lottery pick.

Ohio State currently has the seventh-ranked recruiting class in 2021, with commitments from four-star guard Meechie Johnson and four-star wing Kalen Etzler. With Kyle Young entering his final season and Kaleb Wesson having left for the NBA, there will be an obvious need for post players, and Holmgren would be the biggest BOOM for Holtmann during his Ohio State tenure if he’s able to lock it down.

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Buckeye Bits: BIA making changes, OSU becoming QBU, basketball changes
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 Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
All of the latest Ohio State news from around the beat and beyond.

Another “work” week is now behind us, and we are now one week closer to what we currently expect to be the start of college football practices. Will the July 13 start of “fall” camps hold? Who knows, but today in Buckeye Bits, we wrap up the week with all the OSU news that’s fit to print.

From around Land-Grant Holy Land...


Ohio State’s 2021 DB crew may be reorganizing itself

Caleb Houser, LGHL

My favorite thing about this 2021 recruiting class for the Buckeyes is how they all have adopted the mentality that they are going to be an extension of the team’s recruiting efforts.

10 players to watch in TBT 2020

Connor Lemons, LGHL

This is a great list of players to pay attention to when TBT starts up next week. As Connor says in the article, it isn’t necessarily the best players in the tournament, but the ones that should be amongst the most exciting to watch.

Get your Ohio State face coverings today!

Tia Johnston, LGHL

If you’re gonna wear a mask (and you SHOULD wear a mask), if should be an Ohio State mask!

Trey Sermon could “swing the 2020 college football season”

Tia Johnston, LGHL

I don’t think that Ohio State has to have an All-Big Ten level running back to win the conference and to contend for the national title, but if Trey Sermon could turn himself into that, it would certainly help his new team’s efforts.

From around the gridiron...


Could Ohio State football add another defensive back to its 2021 recruiting class?

Stephen Means, cleveland.com

Earlier this week, Ohio State had its first decommitment of the 2021 class as Devonta Smith decided to explore other options, reportedly heading to join Alabama at some point in the near future.

Despite Smith just being a three-star prospect, I think it would be foolish to believe that the loss won’t hurt OSU’s secondary. If you are decommiting from Ohio State to eventually accept an offer from ‘Bama, chances are that there are other reasons why you haven’t been awarded a fourth star yet.

But, while Smith’s departure does create a hole for Kerry Coombs and company, if the Buckeyes decide to add another DB this cycle, chances are that they will be holding out for a stud. While Means runs through some options, I also think that it is important to remember that there is a long time to go until Signing Days in December and February, and that we are likely to see far more turbulence than normal as prospects contend with the repercussions that the pandemic has on recruiting.

I’ll put the over/under on first team selections at 9.5. What do you have?


Retracing the Steps that have Ryan Day Seeking to Make Ohio State the Next QBU

Colin Hass-Hill, Eleven Warriors

We all know that OSU is DBU, DLU, RBU, and WRU, but based on Ryan Day’s three years in Columbus, it looks like it is not out of the realm of possibilities that within a few more years that OSU could be QBU as well.

J.T. Barrett was already well on his way to cementing himself as an Ohio State and Big Ten legend by the time that Day got to town, but his new position coach’s hand certainly helped his development during his senior year. And then we saw what one year under Day’s tutelage did for Dwayne Haskins, and we are all anxiously awaiting year two for Justin Fields in the system.

With C.J. Stroud, Jack Miller, Kyle McCord already set for the next round of Buckeye QBs, it’s exciting to think what Day will be able to accomplish with OSU QBs of the future.

Morehouse might be the first, but they won’t be the last.


Jeff Hafley Staying in Touch with Ryan Day, Former Ohio State Players as He Navigates Unusual First Offseason as Boston College’s Head Coach

Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

I’m not going to lie, when it was announced that Jeff Hafley was leaving Ohio State to take over the program at Boston College, I was surprised. I knew that he would be a head coach fairly soon, but after watching how he spoke about his relationship with Ryan Day, I thought he’d be around at least for one more season, and if we got lucky, a third.

However, now that he is at BC, it tracks that he is still relying on his old friend to help him through what has to be an incredibly bizarre first six months on the job.

Just in case you had lost count.

From around the hardwood...


To-Do List: What Each Ohio State Basketball Player has to Accomplish in the Offseason

Colin Hass-Hill, Eleven Warriors

Whenever the Ohio State men’s basketball team takes to the floor for its next season, it’s going to look quite a bit different. For the first time since 2015, there won’t be a single Wesson on the team, and for the first time since 2016, there won’t be two Wessons on the team.

However, between a recent rash of transfers, the additions of Seth Towns, Justice Sueig, and Abel Porter, and a theoretically healthy Musa Jallow, this will be a much different Buckeye squad than what we saw when the season was abruptly ended earlier this year.

Despite these changes, Chris Holtmann’s squad has a lot of potential to continue to program’s progress to the upper echelons of college basketball.

New rule for the 2020 TBT (apparently): Every team must have at least one former Buckeye.

From everywhere else...


A Look at How Buckeyes are Aiding COVID-19 Relief Efforts

Ohio State Athletics

From former Buckeyes being spokespeople for educational programs to NFL stars raising money for important charities; from players speaking out in support of front line workers to alums providing aid to patients, the Ohio State family has gone above and beyond in providing help to those who need it during the coronavirus crisis.

Just be careful where you throw your cap and mortar board, don’t want to break a window or ceiling fan or anything.

And now for something completely different...


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Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch caught up with some of the Tat 5 and would you believe it, Mike Adams thinks the NCAA is trash.

“It was so stressful,” Adams said. “It was terrible, being young adults and the way they treated us and the (expletive) that they put us through interrogations every day for weeks and weeks via phone or in a room. Treating us like we have literally (committed) some type of felony or crazy crime, (like we’d) just killed someone.

“They’re the judge, jury and executioner. I think it’s bull. I think the NCAA really needs a whole overhaul, top to bottom. I just think it’s an outdated system designed to take advantage of these kids and capitalize off of them every chance they can.”

Adams, among others, also expressed support for a relaxing of NCAA rules that would finally permit college athletes to profit from their own name, image and likeness, offering that he could've made upwards of $5,000 a week and someone like Pryor could've raked in millions.

As they say, timing is everything.

MegaWoody said:

...And now that the ACC is reconfigured, Miami and Florida State are going to suffer the same in-league difficulties that tOSU and scUM do. They won't be able to pad their schedule with weak Big East teams and compile big winning percentages. The days of going undefeated into the BCS are over for those guys. They can count on a lot of seasons with 1 or 2 losses purely attributable to the tougher competition they must play in their new league.

Welcome to our world, Coach Coker.

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BayBuck said:

FSU-Miami

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That first post definitely aged well. Those two have not been the same.