What are some of the specifics you guys are hoping to see as far as performance this season? Obviously we want to see it be the best ever but realistically:

1. I think the biggest for me is seeing JT establish consistency. Guy takes over two games per year it seems but other weeks if he were young enough there’d be an amber alert.

2. same with Sawyer albeit I don’t think he has the same caliber as JT to be a player that dominates or takes over games — but he can still be impactful and disruptive. Going to need more consistency if this defense takes the next step to get this program’s monkey off its back.

3. Josh Simmons: some are higher on him here and that’s fine but some of his performances made my skin crawl. Probably a little recency bias talking here but that effortless block that led to a sack in the cotton bowl where his body language screamed “fuck this” (like most of the team’s did) it was just gross. I’ll take it as a positive if he can sustain mediocrity which he seemed capable. If he takes another step it’s a bonus but I don’t expect much.

4.) the Jud/Hedo duo: this is going to be fascinating from a locker room and on the field dynamic. Will Henderson be reliable late in the season? History says no. Happy to be wrong - but he just doesn’t seem built to be a reliable ball carrier. I know he stayed to prove otherwise in conjunction with a nice cash infusion. Running back should be a strength with Hayden both.

The room itself looks stable and we seeemingly shouldn’t be worried about catastrophe over one single injury.

Sonny Styles: this will be unpopular but I’d like to see more consistency here too. Absurd potential, occasional flash: that’s what he’s been to me and I’d like to see more consistent production out of him too.

I dunno maybe I went off the rails but the depth chart made me think of things to look out for in 2024; if that should be a different thread I’ll pack my shit and leave. (And go to a new thread)

I can’t stay out of here sorry

CONGRATS TO MIKE JACOBS​

Congratulations to former OSU football player Mike Jacobs for becoming the head football coach at FCS Mercer University in Georgia. Previously, Jacobs had great success as head football coach at DII schools, Notre Dame (Euclid, OH) and Lenoir-Rhyne (Hickory, NC).


CLIMBING THE RANKS. In January, Mercer — the school made famous for its men’s basketball team’s 78-71 upset win over Duke in the 2014 NCAA Tournament — hired former Ohio State offensive lineman Mike Jacobs as its next head football coach.

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“My family and I are humbled to be joining the Mercer University Football family,” Jacobs said in the program’s press release. “Mercer is an elite institution that has competed at the highest level both on the field and in the classroom. We look forward to immersing ourselves in both the campus community and the city of Macon. Go Bears!”

The son of former Ohio State offensive coordinator Michael T. Jacobs, Mike Jacobs was a center, guard, and long snapper for the Buckeyes from 1997-2001. A walk-on for three seasons, Jacobs earned a scholarship in 2000 and started at long snapper for the final 24 games of his collegiate career.

In 2002, Jacobs started his coaching career as an assistant at Eastern Michigan. Over the next 14 seasons, Jacobs spent time as either an offensive line coach or defensive line coach at Wilmington (2004), Purdue (2005-07), PennWest California (2008-13) and Ohio’s Notre Dame College (2014-15).

Jacobs became Notre Dame College’s head coach in 2016. Across four years in the role, he led the Falcons to a 42-8 record and two appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Jacobs then moved to Lenoir-Rhyne, where he collected a 32-9 record and two NCAA Division II playoff appearances from 2020-23.

With a combined 74-17 record in eight seasons, Jacobs boasts the sixth-best winning percentage among active coaches at the NCAA Division I and Division II levels.

Is that good?

Yeah, that’s good.

These FCS teams don’t know what’s about to hit them.

Cheers to Coach Jacobs. I hope he continues to make Buckeye Nation proud.

SETH TOWNS, EVERYONE. At 26 years old, Seth Towns is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, players in college basketball. After all the bumps, bruises and torn ligaments he suffered at Harvard and Ohio State, Towns transferred to Howard in May 2023 for his eighth season of college hoops.

With one look at Towns’ box scores, I could argue that the 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward has saved some of his best for last.

Across 19 appearances for the Bison, Towns has averaged 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per contest. Those points, rebounds and assists are all career bests for the Columbus native — yes, even better than his averages as the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2018.

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In a recent interview with ESPN's Jeff Borzello, Towns said his improved knee health and a restructured relationship with basketball have allowed him to thrive on the hardwood.

After sitting out the first three games while awaiting NCAA clearance, Towns came off the bench for three games, and has been in the starting lineup since. He's averaging 15.5 points and 6.5 rebounds, shooting 37.4% from 3-point range. He has scored in double figures in 16 of 19 games, including 26 points against Mount St. Mary's and 27 against Cincinnati.
"I'm playing the best since my sophomore year," Towns said. "Now I'm 26. It's a huge difference in how I'm playing the game."
...
Blakeney has been most impressed by Towns' work ethic. He recalls a specific instance against La Salle, when he subbed out Towns for a breather; moments later, Blakeney looked up to see Towns walking past him to sub himself back in the game.
"I was like, you just MJ'd me right now," Blakeney said.
"If all things are equal and he doesn't have injuries, he's in his fourth or fifth year in the NBA. And yet he's fighting and scratching and clawing his ass off everyday for us at Howard," he added. "He doesn't want to take plays off. He understands there's a sense of urgency with his basketball clock right now."

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TDunk said:

I'm sticking to my guns. If they lose against Indiana, he gone. There is talent there. But WTF kind of coaching is going on where it does not translate to the floor.

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I will be all-time shocked if they make a move in season. But we can hope.

Kamila Valieva DQ'd; Russia to lose '22 skating gold to U.S.​

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva was disqualified from the 2022 Olympics on Monday, almost two years after the teenager's doping case caused turmoil at the Beijing Games.

The verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport means the Russians are set to be stripped of the gold medal in figure skating's team event. The United States finished second and is set to be named Olympic champion instead.
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The U.S. team took silver in Beijing and should be upgraded to gold. Japan took bronze, and Canada placed fourth. The IOC is responsible for reallocating medals; its executive board is next scheduled to meet in March.

"We now anticipate the day when we can wholeheartedly celebrate these athletes, along with their peers from around the world," the U.S. Olympic body's CEO, Sarah Hirshland, said in a statement Monday.

The likely new Olympic champions are Evan Bates, Karen Chen, Nathan Chen, Madison Chock, Zachary Donohue, Brandon Frazier, Madison Hubbell, Alexa Knierim and Vincent Zhou.
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winners meet in superbowl

OHSportsFan said:

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He has the attitude that every employee of every organization should exhibit: I’m here to do whatever needs to be done, and to never complain or engage in self-promotion.

Just sayin': That is really great advice for all employees no matter who they work for.

Never watched a team that made more s**t shots than NW. It seemed like everything they threw up went inside the hoop. Watched balls climb up the rim and over into the nets, saw off balance heaves split the cords, simply everything (OK, not 100%, I get it) found the bottom of the net. Plus, tOSU's offense looked like a peewee game (used to call it 'herd ball'), and no one was spacing, cutting, or setting picks (called it more of a California stop - at a stop sign). Great win for NW, toppling the mighty Ohio State, burying them actually. Starting to believe Holtmann doesn't have the leadership skills to reset, or have team believe in him to have the answer. Saw couple of freshmen, but in cameo appearances, not getting meaningful minutes. Woulda acknowledged the outcome early in fourth quarter and emptied the bench. Who knows, somebody might have played well, and hopefully gotten more minutes down the stretch. Bjork might have an item for the top of his 'to do' list already.

DZ83CK said:

Guess I'm gonna have to start getting used to OSU not making the Big Ten Tournament now. Thanks, Gene!

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Yeah…..with Holtmann, making the BTT will be considered ”a successful season”

4 years ago 1/26/20

Jake said:

Live his life in a sanctuary? Where the fuck do they think he is for 364 days a year? Let him have his moment.

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In PETA’s defense, Punxsutawney is a bit too close to…

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Class: 2026
School: Weldon (NC) Roanoke Rapids
Position: S
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 190lbs

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ScriptOhio said:

Skull Session: Ohio State is the “Apex Predator” of the NIL World, “Culture” Must Prevail for Buckeyes to Win 2024 Title and a Look at Ohio State Sports Illustrated Covers Through the Years

Ohio State is the "apex predator" of the NIL world, "culture" must prevail for the Buckeyes to win the 2024 CFP and a look at Ohio State's SI covers through the years.

www.elevenwarriors.com

SKULL SESSION: OHIO STATE IS THE “APEX PREDATOR” OF THE NIL WORLD, “CULTURE” MUST PREVAIL FOR BUCKEYES TO WIN 2024 TITLE AND A LOOK AT OHIO STATE SPORTS ILLUSTRATED COVERS THROUGH THE YEARS​

When I learned Sports Illustrated would soon cease to exist, I mourned the death of one of sports’ greatest magazines by looking at some of my favorite covers SI created and distributed throughout the years.

Many of my favorites were Ohio State-themed: One featured Aaron Craft, another Braxton Miller and another Ezekiel Elliott. Ah, the memories.

For those like me who will miss Sports Illustrated, I collected over 30 Ohio State-themed SI covers from 1960 to 2017 and organized them in a gallery below. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAF60DI7R3w/view

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Nebraska wins!

You heard it here first!

Dale had some good shooting games early in the season. Might be time to find his stroke again or else stay seated.

twister55 said:

i'll see what i have i'll reseed the final

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jus reseeded it

i know my spelling sucks .

ScriptOhio said:

Just sayin'; Hey, he "opted out" after graduating to "go pro"; it just wasn't in football.....

With his departure, Ohio State is now at 85 scholarship players for the 2024 season.

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Funny how it always works out that OSU gets to 85 scholarship players

RB07OSU said:

Probably user error, but I can't get a GIF to run properly and I've had some dammed good content to run. I can fax it into BP or send it by letter, just let me know.

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See above about 5 posts. I think that might be what you are looking for

Charlie Weis said:

I eat a lot of food so

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fixed it for you

Steve19 said:

A moment of silence please for teenage memories of swimsuit editions.

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If they had stuck to that, they may still be around.

Respect.