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LGHL 24 Club: Coach Earle Bruce’s magic touch against Michigan

24 Club: Coach Earle Bruce’s magic touch against Michigan
Jim Baird
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
When Bruce left Ohio State, he had more wins against Michigan than any OSU coach not named Woody Hayes.

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 20th head coach — Earle Bruce.


Name: Earle Bruce
Seasons Coached: Nine (1979-1987)
Overall Record: 81-26-1

Where Does He Rank in the 24 Club?
Overall Wins: No. 5 out of 24 OSU Coaches
Winning Percentage: No. 7 out of 24 OSU Coaches


Earle Bruce’s task was impossible — he had to replace Woody Hayes. Bruce knew Ohio. He played at Ohio State, served as an assistant to coach Hayes for six seasons, and racked up wins as one of Ohio’s top high school coaches. He jumped in as a college head coach and led the University of Tampa to a 10-2 record before moving to Iowa State. At ISU, he became the first coach since 1919 to leave the school with a winning record.

When coach Bruce came to Columbus in 1979, he picked up right where Woody left off. The Buckeyes went undefeated in the regular season, only to come up one point short of a perfect year and national championship against No. 3 USC in the Rose Bowl. Bruce would capture four Big Ten titles during his tenure, but would never recapture the magic of that first season. The Buckeyes lost at least three games each season in his final eight years at the helm.

Bruce did know how to beat Michigan, posting a 5-4 record against the Wolverines. At that time, that was more wins against Michigan than any OSU coach not named Woody Hayes. One of the highlights of his tenure was his last game as Ohio State’s head coach against the Wolverines in 1987. OSU’s president fired Bruce after a home loss to Iowa a week earlier. Bruce would coach out the season finale against the Wolverines before moving on.

On game day, every Ohio State player wore a headband with “Earle” written on it to honor their outgoing coach. OSU walked away with a 23-20 win. Bruce’s ebullient Buckeyes carried him off the field in Ann Arbor.

Coach Bruce went out a winner against Michigan. The same could not be said about his successor: John Cooper.

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LGHL Tennessee legacy talks Ohio State visit, commitment plans

Tennessee legacy talks Ohio State visit, commitment plans
Charles Doss
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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2022 TE Bennett Christian
The Georgia native found time to check out what the Ohio State campus has to offer.

After landing his chance to don the Scarlet and Gray and the college level in June, three-star class of 2022 tight end Bennett Christian told Land-Grant Holy Land the following:

“I was on the phone with Coach Wilson and Coach Day got on the line as well. We were talking for a little bit about how much he likes me as a player and a person as he congratulated me on my Ohio State offer. The next steps are really just to continue these relationships with those awesome coaches and getting up to Columbus as soon as possible.”

Fast forward a couple months and the Georgia native finally found the time to make the trek from the Peach State to Columbus to get a better feel at what the Ohio State University has to offer.

“The trip was amazing. I got to see any and everything I needed to see. The only downside was I couldn’t go inside anywhere, but it was very beneficial. love it” Christian said.

“One thing that really stood out to me was the greenery around the campus. I was expecting a bunch of buildings but there is a ton of historic buildings and trees everywhere. It was a great trip.” The 6-foot-6, 235-pound standout added.


OSU is legit!!

— Bennett Christian (@BennettC87) August 15, 2020

Although he couldn’t meet with the staff face-to-face, Christian was in constant contact with his potential college coaches throughout his time in the states capitol.

“I spoke with Coach Wilson and Coach Day a ton. Me and Coach Wilson talked all day over the phone while I was up there. Both of them made sure that I knew that they were ready to take my commitment.”

Earning around a dozen scholarships throughout the process, the Allatoona High junior is down to two programs. Considering either Ohio State or Tennessee, where his father played his college ball, Christian will let the world know his plans in the coming weeks.

“I’m committing on Sept. 1st between OSU and UT. I’m really looking for a school that can help me be the best I can be in every area.”


I will be announcing my commitment on September 1st on Instagram live at 8pm!! My Instagram is @Bennett_Christian_ !! Make sure you follow and tune in! #GoVols #GoBucks

— Bennett Christian (@BennettC87) August 17, 2020

Displaying a solid skill set, Christian was one of the main reasons Allatoona once again made a deep run in the Georgia state playoffs last season. Helping the Buccaneers finish the year off with 11 wins, he accounted for over 200 receiving yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore.

Buckeyes offer 2022 tackle


While Christian’s recruitment is coming to an end, another class of 2022 standout’s chance to call Columbus home is just beginning. Receiving his scholarship opportunity from the Buckeyes staff on Friday, massive offensive tackle Aliou Bah could now follow in the footsteps of former Whitehaven (TN) product Cormontae Hamilton and line up for the Big Ten power.

“Coach Stud broke the news to me and said moving forward they really want me. They love my game and how I’m continuously developing and getting better. And that OSU is a great place and has many opportunities in store.” The 6-foot-6 325-pounder told Land-Grant Holy Land.


WOW.....#BeyondBlessed To Receive An Offer From THE Ohio State University #GoBuckeyes #Big10 #AG2G pic.twitter.com/1H3WbKzukK

— LouiV⚡️ (@louivaton0) August 14, 2020

With programs such as USC, Florida State, and Texas A&M sticking out at the moment, his chance to roll with the Buckeyes isn’t something he’s taking very lightly.

“When I think of OSU I think of winning, competition, tradition, and first-round NFL picks. OSU is a big time one for me. They will definitely be one of my top schools.”

Want to see what caught the Buckeyes attention? Check out these highlights of Aliou Bah in action:

Quick Hits

  • Ohio State also sent out a scholarship offer on Saturday to 2023 defensive end Brenan Vernon. The offer means a lot to the 6-foot-5, 250-pound edge rusher, who reportedly teared up after hearing the news. The Mentor High School product is the first in-state offer for the Buckeyes in the class. Vernon already holds 10 offers so far, with Ohio State and Notre Dame seemingly at the top of his list.

Beyond thankful to have received an offer from the Ohio State University @OhioStateFB ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/1CPuCxlx7F

— Brenan Vernon (@brenanvernon) August 15, 2020

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Call of Duty: Warzone

I’ve just tried this game for the first time yesterday. I was impressed and enjoyed it. I’m still learning the basics. But it’s been fun. I only have the Battle royale game mood unlocked. Only thing I dislike is the massive and frequent updates. Otherwise it’s been a great first impression.

I judge most game through my personal standard of Halo, as you can tell from my Buckeyeplanet Avatar, but I’d compare this to a much deeper, smoother, and functional version of PUBG.

I play primarily on Xbox. But I think this is cross platform. My tag is: Its Shack
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ttun Shenanigans, Arguments, and Emasculated Cucks (2019 thread)

Rashan Gary got a motherfucking 9 on the wonderlic (that's close to Vince Young territory).....does that equate more to a Princeton SAT, a Chicago SAT or a Cal Tech SAT? Help me and my poor Ohio State edumacation figure it out.
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County wants to charge gays for being gay

In 2006 I was deployed to Iraq. This was during "don't ask, don't tell". A Soldier came out and declared himself gay. This would mean getting discharged. The brigade commander ordered a 15-6 investigation that resulted in a "not gay" determination. As the years pass, I've often wondered what was the criteria used to make the determination.
.
Preponderance of evidence.

Think it through.
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Yahoo Message Boards are whack!!

And . . . please let those "yahoos" stay right where there are, and NOT come on here!

There, are, sadly, a small but vocal group of bully yahoos right here on this board. They are insanely jealous of good looks and great fortune, and you may have to move your family to Tennessee to avoid the stalking.
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LGHL Ohio State hoops offer 2022 standouts

Ohio State hoops offer 2022 standouts
Charles Doss
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images
Chris Holtmann and crew recently threw their hat in the ring for a pair of top juniors.

While enjoying time with family and friends you might’ve missed out on some of the latest news surrounding Ohio State recruiting. Don’t worry! Land-Grant Holy Land is here to help get you caught back up with things.

Schutt talks Buckeyes


Already holding a verbal pledge from three-star Cincinnati Princeton shooting guard Bowen Hardman, Chris Holtmann and the Ohio State basketball squad are hard at work trying to find more pieces to the class of 2022 recruiting puzzle. Searching high and low for future Buckeyes, Jaden Schutt, who holds the state of Illinois single-game record for three pointers in a contest with 17, walked away with a chance to rock the Scarlet and Gray on Thursday.


Blessed to have received an offer from The Ohio State University #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/5U2Bq3p5Uq

— Jaden Schutt (@schutt_jaden) August 6, 2020

“We had a Zoom call and coach Holtmann offered. They said they were excited about me and wanted to continue to develop our relationship.” the 6-foot-5, four-star shooting guard told Land-Grant Holy Land. “OSU has a lot of winning history, it’s definitely a great school and I’m honored to have them offer.”

Coming off a season where he averaged 22 points and nine rebounds for the Yorkville Christian Mustangs (IL), Schutt is starting to put together a solid list of potential college homes. Gaining interest daily, Creighton, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Wisconsin are just some of the programs the Buckeyes find themselves up against for the sharp-shooter.

Working to build a rapport with coaches, Schutt has a few things he’s looking for before he shuts things down and commits to a school.

“I’m looking for a great connection with the coaching staff and a school that has great facilities and a great campus.”

Buckeyes offer big man


On Friday afternoon, three-star 2022 big man Kyle Filipowski earned his chance to play for the Buckeyes.


Extremely excited to receive an offer from Coach Holtmann and the staff at The Ohio State University!! Great program and a great opportunity. @OhioStateHoops #GoBuckeyes #BIG10 pic.twitter.com/Tli9hpAiJ8

— Kyle Filipowski (@KyleFlip_) August 7, 2020

A versatile post player who could play power forward or center on the next level, the 6-foot-10 Filipowski adds the scholarship opportunity from Holtmann and crew alongside over a dozen college programs. Earning offers from schools across the country, Providence, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Boston College, Louisville, Maryland, and UConn are just a few of those currently pursuing his talents.

Not just a rebounder, Kyle can put points up on the board too. During his three years on the court at Wilbraham & Monson Academy (MA) he’s accounted for over 1,000 career points. Last season as a sophomore, Filipowski, the 19th center, and 157th overall prospect in the entire class of 2022, per the 247Sports Composite Rankings, helped the Titans take home the New England Class AA championship by averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds a contest.

Quick Hits

  • The OSU basketball coaching staff recently held a Zoom meeting with four-star class of 2022 guard Corey Floyd Jr., according to 247Sports. Yet to lock in a offer from the Buckeyes, the New Jersey native does hold scholarships from programs such as Florida, Georgia, Miami, Providence, and UConn.
  • Clarkston (MI) four-star star offensive guard Rocco Spindler verbally committed to Notre Dame on Saturday. Spindler, a class of 2021 standout, had Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and LSU among his leaders before deciding to roll with the Fighting Irish. The Wolverines have now lost out on two of the top three in-state prospects in the class, with Spindler ranking third in the state.

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LGHL Play Like a Girl podcast: Will there be a college football season?

Play Like a Girl podcast: Will there be a college football season?
Tia Johnston
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images
Tia and Meredith breakdown Ohio State’s 2020 schedule, and discuss whether or not there should even be a college football season

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.

Well, safe to say there’s been a lot of rumors floating around the Ohio State beat since we recorded this episode. Many “P5 sources” are saying the Big Ten has all but officially announced their cancelation of the football season. Things aren’t looking great, but until we know for sure, we’ll be over here chatting/speculating about CFB for the small amount of time we have left.

In this week’s episode, we start the show by discussing all that is wrong with Ohio State’s 2020 schedule (why is Michigan in October?), then we get into a discussion on whether or not there should even be a college football season. And if there is one, will we even make it through September before chaos ensues?

On the second half of the show, we unpack the Pac-12 and Big Ten players’ list of demands, and talk about how refreshing it is to see college football players realizing the power they have over their NCAA/conference superiors.

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

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LGHL Column: If the season is canceled, we should be angry, but not just at the Big Ten, NCAA

Column: If the season is canceled, we should be angry, but not just at the Big Ten, NCAA
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
The NCAA and individual conferences haven’t done much during this pandemic, but they aren’t the ones ultimately responsible for CFB potentially being canceled.

Well, friends, it feels like we are in the last throes of a losing battle to have college football this season. Following chilling news on Saturday about the Big Ten moving towards canceling the fall season, it now appears almost an inevitability that should football happen during the 2020-21 academic year, that it will be in the spring of 2021. The common consensus is that the B1G, with new commissioner Kevin Warren at the helm, is the most likely league to pull the trigger first on a cancelation.

Not only has the conference long been the most progressive in making radical decisions, but thanks to the Big Ten Network and lucrative contracts with FOX and ESPN, it is believed that the B1G and its member institutions are the most well-prepared to withstand the inevitable financial shortfall should games be delayed until spring — or even fall — of next year.


As players and their parents are actively campaigning for the season to progress as (re-)scheduled, there is a palpable fear rising from all corners of the college football fandom and media. We are all reading the writing on the wall, and as reality washes over us, we are lashing out at everyone within arms length who has any part in taking the sport that we love away from us, away from the coaches, and away from the players.

You can think and say whatever you’d like about how individual schools and conferences — and the NCAA as a whole — have mismanaged their specific responses to this pandemic, and chances are that you’d be right. While these organizations were fairly proactive in March, moving to cancel unsafe and unnecessary in-person classes and large gatherings, in most cases they have completely abdicated their responsibilities since then when it comes to adequately planning for a return to some semblance of normalcy for their students; athletes or otherwise. So, they are by no means immune to criticism in regard to the handling of COVID-19 and the return of college football.

However, let’s be clear, wide-spread public health is not the responsibility of Ohio State, the Big Ten, or even the NCAA. They are institutions of higher education and intercollegiate athletics. They are simply responding to what is happening in the world around them; despite whatever political pull they might have, they are not dictating what is being done to keep the citizenry-at-large healthy.

That responsibility falls to our elected and appointed officials and to each of us as individual members of a collective society. So, as I said on Twitter on Sunday, for all of the anger and resentment being sent the Big Ten and NCAA’s way, I hope that there are ample amounts being reserved for the actual individuals who have spent the past five months doing little to nothing to get our country into a position in which playing college football was possible in the fall.


Being mad at schools/conferences/NCAA about CFB potentially being canceled is fine; I'm all for yelling at those orgs as much as possible. But I hope some of that anger is being saved for those who abdicated their responsibilities leading us to the position we're in now.

— Matt (@BWWMatt) August 9, 2020

This is not a political statement, this is not a scientific statement (lord knows that I am not an expert in either field); this is a blanket statement. There has been a gross dereliction of duty at every level of our nation when it comes to taking the coronavirus seriously and following through on the sometimes painful steps required to keep it in check.

We know that it’s possible to curb the spread the disease enough for life to return to something approaching normal; other countries of have done it. Heck, even in the sporting world, the NWSL has done it, the NBA has done it, the MLS has done it, the NHL has done it. We know what it takes to stop the spread of this highly contagious disease; we’ve always know what it takes to stop the spread of this highly contagious disease.


But, for whatever reasons (some valid, some less so), governmental officials at all levels and of all stripes have been hesitate to put these stringent protocols in place. And all too often when lesser protocols have actually been ordered, far too many people have selfishly refused to comply, thus in turn making it even more politically difficult for officials to do what is necessary to keep people safe and to get the country to a place where collegiate sports could return.

Now, I certainly am not carrying water for the B1G or NCAA, as I think that they have mostly followed the government’s model and washed their hands of any serious leadership and have instead defaulted to hoping for the best. But ultimately, they aren’t the ones to blame if college football is canceled this fall. Sure, they might be the ones that make the final decision, but we are the ones at fault. Both because of our communal unwillingness to do the difficult things needed to slow down the virus’ spread, and because we have not demanded more from the people that we put in power.

We could have had college football this fall; we should have had college football this fall. But if we don’t, I hope that those who are actually responsible for creating a situation that forces the games to be taken away from us are the ones who receive the brunt of the fandom’s collective anger.


From the first official day of preseason camp until whenever Ohio State’s football season ends, I will be posting a column every single day. Some days they will be longer and in depth, some days they will be short and sweet. Let me know what you think of this one, and what you’d like to see me discuss in the comments or on Twitter. Go Bucks!

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LGHL Column: It’s okay to be conflicted on whether or not there should be college football this fall

Column: It’s okay to be conflicted on whether or not there should be college football this fall
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
‘Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself; (I am large, I contain multitudes.)’

Woo boy, today has been a roller coaster of emotions. It started with the news that the MAC has canceled fall football and intends to hold a spring season. Then we had Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel reporting that the Big Ten presidents were meeting on Saturday and could move to cancel the league’s recently rescheduled fall season.


Source: Big Ten presidents are meeting today. All options are on the table. There's some presidential momentum for canceling the fall football season. It's unknown if there's enough support to make that decision today.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 8, 2020

We later learned that this was a meeting that had already been on the books, and was not an emergency meeting to address the prospect of canceling the season. However, shortly after Thamel’s report, the B1G itself released a statement in which it slowed down its preseason schedule, despite the fact that teams had already begun practices.

In their statement, the league office said that for the time being, all teams must remain in the “acclimatization period” of practices, which means that players can workout in helmets, but not in pads.

The B1G closed their statement with a fairly ominous reminder, the emphasis added is ine. “We understand there are many questions regarding how this impacts schedules, as well as the feasibility of proceeding forward with the season at all. As we have consistently stated, we will continue to evaluate daily, while relying on our medical experts, to make the best decisions possible for the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes.”

But that wasn’t it, as it is now being widely reported that new B1G commissioner Kevin Warren is in favor of pushing the season to the spring, a move that would essentially end Ohio State’s title chances as there would likely be a mass exodus for the NFL.

Today’s events have brought up a lot of conflicting emotions for me, which have long been bubbling just beneath the surface as I navigated the implications of this pandemic on college football, and that I have more or less been consciously ignoring.

Not only am a borderline obsessive college football fan as well as a columnist and podcaster here at LGHL, but I’m also someone who believes that we as a nation have not done nearly enough to curb the coronavirus’ spread, and generally believes that college athletes (especially in DI football) are exploited in a cartel-like money-making scheme in which the NCAA and universities generally default to doing the absolute bare-minimum for players while raking in billions of dollars for themselves.

So, I’m torn. In the words of Walt Whitman, “Do I contradict myself?/ Very well then I contradict myself.” As this pandemic has spread, I have adamantly believed that nearly everything needs to be shut down temporarily so that we could minimize the spread as most other developed nations have done; that includes schools, sports, arts (where I make most of my living), restaurants, etc. That has happened in small doses around the country, but obviously not for long enough to make the necessary difference.

So from that perspective, I should be in favor of all college sports shutting down their seasons until it is scientifically safe to resume. But part of me — perhaps my ego that is so tied to the success of my alma mater’s football team — won’t let me completely make that jump, despite the fact that my head knows that it would be the safest thing for all involved, and that my heart hurts for all of those impacted by the virus thus far.

If we were talking about professional sports, I would have a completely different opinion. As the NWSL, NBA, MLS, and NHL have proven, putting teams in a bubble and having strict testing and quarantining protocol in place actually works (so much so that I wish that our government had adopted something similar as experts were advising in February and March).

But the thing is, you can do all of that with professional athletes, even in sports where the minimum salary isn’t hundreds of thousands of dollars. People make sacrifices for their jobs that keep them away from their families, put them through medical testing, and require them to be in danger all of the time. So, with generous opt-out policies in place, while I have a bit of an issue with how many resources are being used to keep these leagues going that could otherwise benefit the community at large, I am more or less comfortable with pro sports returning if that return is handled responsibly (looking at you and your bungled restart, MLB).

But it’s different with college sports. You can’t quarantine the entire B1G in Indianapolis or Chicago or Minneapolis or wherever. Even with online classes, the idea of forcing unpaid athletes to spend three months in a hotel just to play some games for other people to make millions of dollars off of isn’t going to fly — even though that would be much safer for the players than the protocols that are currently in place.


Despite knowing all of that, my inherent fandom still wants to see a season — however shortened it might be. While I could rationalize this by talking about the fact that the players feel safe and want to play (more on that tomorrow or Monday), or that this is an opportunity for many of them to not only live out their dreams, but also to potentially set themselves up financially in the future; all of that would just be a cover for my very simplistic, selfish desire: I want to watch the Ohio State Buckeyes play football this fall with Justin Fields, Shaun Wade, Chris Olave, Wyatt Davis, et al. in uniform one more time.

Until this week, I had been fairly cynical about whether or not there would or should be college football this fall. I refused to get my hopes up, because I could see that things were trending towards the worst case scenarios of at least the season being pushed back to the spring — which would likely mean that all of the players that I mentioned above, and probably more, would opt out to prepare for the NFL Draft.

But when the Big Ten released the updated conference-only schedule on Wednesday, I got extremely excited despite myself. The rush of anticipation that I normally start feeling in mid-June finally pushed its way through all of the negativity and I let my guard down and allowed myself to pretend that the reality in which we are living had somehow evaporated with the release of a single 10-game schedule.

However, that is not our reality. We are still dealing with a global pandemic that is killing roughly 1,200 people a day in our country, and as important as college football is to millions of people (myself and, even more so, the players included), I know that it’s ultimately not worth risking — and inevitably sacrificing — the lives of otherwise healthy young men. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t still want a miracle to happen and all of the stars to align in order to allow us to revel in the pageantry that is the greatest sport in the world this fall.

So I have had to become comfortable sitting with the fact that I simultaneously want two mutually exclusive things to happen; there to not be a college football season this fall, and for there to be a college football season this fall. Life — and especially times of trauma and tragedy — is about navigating a maze of seemingly incongruous ideas, and finding a way to accept an outcome that you have no hand in shaping.

Therefore, despite the straw men that certain sports talking heads like to use as a crutch to explain away the realists in the media who candidly discuss the dire situation at hand, I am not rooting for the virus, I am not rooting against college football. I am rooting for safety, sanity, a return to the field, and for the Buckeyes to hang 100 on TTUN.


From the first official day of preseason camp until whenever Ohio State’s football season ends, I will be posting a column every single day. Some days they will be longer and in depth, some days they will be short and sweet. Let me know what you think of this one, and what you’d like to see me discuss in the comments or on Twitter. Go Bucks!

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LGHL Column: Jim Harbaugh is really weird, and I hope he coaches Michigan for life

Column: Jim Harbaugh is really weird, and I hope he coaches Michigan for life
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
But not just for the reasons that you’re thinking.

I like eccentric people. Generally the greatest advancements in art, science, and society come from the creativity and outside-the-box thinking of the weirdos amongst us. Even on a micro scale, more often than not, the most enjoyable people to conversate and spend time with are the ones who are just ever so slightly off their rockers.

But then there’s the coach of the Michigan Wolverines football team, James Joseph Harbaugh; he’s a completely different brand of bonkers. He’s cranky and combative and is constantly in search of two things: either a fight, or an opportunity to flaunt his idiosyncrasies, often just for flaunting’s sake.

Those aren’t opinions, they are facts. And I doubt that even the most ardent of Michigan Men would deny that Harbaugh is more than a little bit on the odd side of life; and those of us that don’t have yellow and blue running through our veins would probably be inclined to use even more colorful language than that. But is that weirdness necessarily bad? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Let’s discuss. In addition to his well-documented obsession with milk, eating a booger on national TV, hatred of chickens, slumber parties with recruits, jumping off high dives fully clothed, dedication to khakis, Usher-inspired dance moves, climbing trees to impress high schoolers, and rocking the palest dad bod in history, there have been a few stories in recent weeks about how Jimmy’s eccentricities could be hurting his team on the field; good for the Buckeyes, bad for TTUN.

First, he lost out on five-star (and eventual first-round draft pick) offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson because he refused to take his cleats off when visiting Wilson’s house. First off, why the hell was he wearing cleats in the first place? He was on a recruiting visit, not playing (or even coaching) a game.

It’s like his need to bring a glove with him to every baseball game he ever attends; does he feel like he always needs to be prepared just incase a game breaks out somewhere on his travels and a frantic coach might spot him in the distance and say, “Sonny boy. Yeah you, the one who’s already wearing cleats. We need another player so that the hometown team can win the championship and raise enough money to save our beloved, but dilapidated ball field from the evil real estate developer. You must be one heck of an athlete if you’re already wearing cleats for no discernible reason. Do you want to play with us? If we we win, I’ll take you out for a tall, cold, refreshing glass of milk.”

Grow up, Jim. You have less than zero reasons to wear cleats anywhere off of a football field, and even then it’s a little sus.

Secondly, with all due respect to his mother Jackie Harbaugh, why does he think that wearing cleats indoors is acceptable? I can’t tell you how many times that my mom yelled at me and my siblings after coming home from games, “No cleats in the house!”

And keep in mind, it wasn’t even his house. Have some respect for the people inviting you into their home, Jimmy.

Then this week, we had the whole fiasco with the confrontation on a Big Ten coaches conference call between him and Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day, which reportedly led to Day telling his team that the B1G better have a mercy rule in place because the Bucks are going to “hang 100 on them.”

Get your “Hang 100 On ‘Em” t-shirt now in time for The Game!


According to the original reporting by Bucknuts’ Dave Biddle, the incident started when Harbaugh interrupted Day on the call and accused former TTUN assistant and current OSU linebackers coach Al Washington of working with players before it was permitted by the NCAA. Jimmy allegedly came to this conclusion based on a photo shared on OSU’s social media platforms.

Now, I don’t know what image he is talking about, and I don’t know enough about what was and wasn’t allowed in the NCAA’s two-week pre-camp window, but if Washington was violating the rules, then I have no issue with Harbaugh bringing it up to the Big Ten compliance department. While I doubt that it gave any competitive advantage to the Buckeyes, rules need to be followed and enforced. So, no issue there for me. In fact, if he had evidence that his rival was committing NCAA infractions, he would be doing his team a disservice not to report them to the proper authorities.

But, how he (allegedly) instead chose to bring the accusation up feeds the narrative that Harbaugh is a little bit unhinged and lacks any semblance of interpersonal skills, especially when it comes to his coaching peers and colleagues. And let’s not forget about how he was basically fired by the San Francisco 49ers — despite impressive success — because nobody liked working with him.

This week’s interaction with Day also plays into Harbaugh and Michigan Man’s worst tin-foil hat tendencies. It’s like clockwork, after every edition of The Game, the MGoBlog message boards erupt with all kinds of emotions and excuses for why their team lost to the Buckeyes yet again. From disdain for Harbaugh to resignation that OSU has essentially lapped the rest of the B1G to conspiracy theories about how Ohio State is only better than TTUN because they cheat, it’s all there on full display once a year, usually on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.

Last year, they even latched onto the fact that Justin Fields, a transfer student who came to Columbus after a semester had already started, took mostly online classes. If you ask me, that just shows what a leader Fields is in his preparations for college in the time of COVID.

Now, we, the black sheep of the Ohio State blogosphere, have built our brand on being petty; somehow, it kind of works for us. But it is not a good look for a leader of men. Is Jim’s behavior really the type of thing that you’d want to send your son to play under for three to five years?

But, I will give credit where it is due, I do think that Harbaugh has gotten some things right over his years in Ann Arbor. I thought that his attempts to host satellite camps in talent-rich parts of the country were actually pretty brilliant, and I applaud his willingness to not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk when it comes to supporting Black Lives Matter.

So, if you’ve gotten this far in this column, you either are loving what I wrote and think that I didn’t go far enough, or you are rage-reading and think that I am just another arrogant Ohio State fan. Both might be true, but here’s the thing: I don’t want to see Jim Harbaugh leave Michigan.

Sure, there’s the fact that he’s 0-5 against the Buckeyes in his tenure at his alma mater and hasn’t gotten past third place in the Big Ten East; and that’s all incredibly gratifying to me as someone who’s formative years came during the John Cooper era. But, the real reason that I want him to stay is just that I find his entire schtick to be hilarious. He is just so strange that his whole being becomes entertaining. Jim Harbaugh is the perfect foil and target for meme culture. Hell, Jim Harbaugh is a walking meme.

I mean, we’ve known that he was wackadoo ever since it was revealed that he was Screech Powers’ cousin on an episode of “Saved by the Bell: The New Class;” that really explains a lot, doesn’t it?


But the point remains, Jim Harbaugh is unusually unusual, especially when it comes to the normally buttoned up profession of college football coaching. And while his antics can certainly wear thin — for both fans and foes alike — you cannot argue that they aren’t interesting. I mean, in a world in which coaches are openly stanning for deranged propaganda outlets or actively fighting to prevent players from organizing for economic or racial justice, isn’t it nice to have a coach that we can talk about who’s worst off field offense is just that he’s weird? It’s 2020, bring on the weird.


From the first official day of preseason camp until whenever Ohio State’s football season ends, I will be posting a column every single day. Some days they will be longer and in depth, some days they will be short and sweet. Let me know what you think of this one, and what you’d like to see me discuss in the comments or on Twitter. Go Bucks!

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C Trevor Thompson (Turi Svitavy - Czech Republic)

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Current, former Buckeyes stars set to graduate
Ohio State is much more than just an NFL factory. The Buckeyes coaching staff and administrators stress academics and stress earning a college degree. Two current Buckeyes football players will earn their degrees this weekend.

Linebacker Baron Browning and captain Shaun Wade will receive their degrees Sunday afternoon. Browning, a communications major, will be a key part of the Ohio State linebacker room this season. Wade put off the NFL to return to the Buckeyes, and the sport industry major will earn his degree, as well, while becoming a leader of the Ohio State secondary. Former Ohio State football player Michael Bennett will receive his degree, too.

Buckeyes basketball star Kyle Young is also graduating Sunday. Former Ohio State basketball player Trevor Thompson is also a part of the graduating class. In total, 27 current and former Ohio State athletes will graduate.
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DL Michael Bennett (National Champion)

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Current, former Buckeyes stars set to graduate
Ohio State is much more than just an NFL factory. The Buckeyes coaching staff and administrators stress academics and stress earning a college degree. Two current Buckeyes football players will earn their degrees this weekend.

Linebacker Baron Browning and captain Shaun Wade will receive their degrees Sunday afternoon. Browning, a communications major, will be a key part of the Ohio State linebacker room this season. Wade put off the NFL to return to the Buckeyes, and the sport industry major will earn his degree, as well, while becoming a leader of the Ohio State secondary. Former Ohio State football player Michael Bennett will receive his degree, too.
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LGHL Get your ‘Hang 100 on ‘em’ shirt today!

Get your ‘Hang 100 on ‘em’ shirt today!
Matt Tamanini
via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Hang100OnEm_BreakingT_shirt.0.jpg

A new phrase has entered the Buckeye lexicon to go alongside “Because I couldn’t go for three”!

Depending on how immersed in the Ohio State blogosphere you are, you might not have heard about a recent conference call kerfuffle between two Big Ten coaches who have their programs heading in opposite directions.

According to Bucknuts’ Dave Biddle, earlier this week on a call with all of the B1G’s football coaches, Michigan head man Jim Harbaugh accused Ohio State of cheating (which is, after all, the Michigan Man’s only defense for a nearly two-decade long spat of mediocrity) by having linebackers coach Al Washington featured working with players on the field in a social media video, a couple of days before that was permitted by the ever-changing NCAA regulations.

Buckeye coach Ryan Day responded matter of factly by saying that Harbaugh should focus on his team, and let Day focus on his. Then, again according to Biddle, in a subsequent team meeting, Day informed his players that he intended to “hang 100” on TTUN when they meet this November October. And thus a meme and a hashtag that we will likely beat into the ground were born.

But, being who we are here at Land-Grant Holy Land, your friendly neighborhood rabble rousers couldn’t pass up a chance to rub some salt in the Wolverines’ wounds, so we have made available the newest shirt in our long line of homer/trolling apparel.

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Our friends at BreakingT performed an admirably speedy turn around to make this gem available ASAP. You can now get this gorgeous, premium, lightweight, durable — yet ultrasoft — tri-blend crewneck here.

You know the story of “because I couldn’t go for three,” but a new chapter rivalry trash talk was written this week. We still aren’t 100 percent sure if The Game will be played this season or not, but this is the perfect shirt to have handy for whenever the Buckeyes next have the opportunity to #Hang100OnEm.

Some of our t-shirt greatest hits are also available here as well, starting at just $10. And, if you spend $70, you get free domestic shipping, so you might as well stock up.

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