The Buckeye Cruise for Cancer raises over $4 million for cancer research
Tia Williams 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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This year’s cruise crushed last year’s total of $3.25 million


The 13th annual Buckeye Cruise for Cancer raised over $4 million for cancer research, beating last year’s record breaking total of $3.25 million.

Those who attended the cruise got to meet and hear from many Buckeye greats, including Urban Meyer, J.T. Barrett, Kirk Herbstreit, Ezekial Elliott, Terry McLaurin, and Raekwon McMillan.

All proceeds from the cruise benefit the Urban & Shelley Meyer Fund for Cancer Research and The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—Arthur G. James Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

The cruise’s anti-cancer efforts get bigger and better each year, considering the record-total in 2014 was just $1.5 million. It seems as though the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer’s future is bright.

“Marcus Hooker said he believes he has more quickness than his brother, and even though he doesn’t yet have a collegiate interception while his brother was one of the best ballhawking safeties in Ohio State history, he believes he has the upper hand in one key area of making plays on the ball.”


- Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

If you’re a college football safety, getting compared to Malik Hooker is a pretty high compliment, no? Well, Marcus Hooker, Malik’s younger brother and current Ohio State safety, would disagree.

That’s not to say he doesn’t respect his brother. He lets Malik guide him. He want’s the same success as his brother. But, as Marcus Hooker approaches what should be his breakout season now that Jordan Fuller is gone, he wants everyone to know he is not his brother.

“I kind of try not to steer myself into his world,” Marcus Hooker told Eleven Warriors. “We have two different paths. We did choose the same place and the same school, but we’re not the same.”

Their paths may be different, but they’re also similar in that both brothers—assuming Marcus starts at safety this season—didn’t really make a name for themselves until their third season as a Buckeye.

Last season, Marcus played in all 14 games on special teams and seven games on defense for a total of 82 defensive snaps. He finished with seven total tackles and one pass breakup. While we don’t know much yet, Hooker is expected to be the team’s top safety along with Josh Proctor this season.

Hooker said that Malik has inspired him throughout his life. Ever since he was young, his big brother taught him new things and new ways to approach things.

But when it comes to football, he’s established his own game.


It’s like the safety version of the Bosa brothers and, well, I’m here for it.

“With its toughest non-conference and conference games both coming on the road, the Buckeyes are more vulnerable to an in-season slip-up than a year ago. Yet the balance of the schedule provides enough quality opponents to potentially absorb one competitive loss.”


— Nathan Baird, Cleveland.com

It’s no secret that Ohio State’s upcoming schedule is a heck of a lot more challenging than last season’s. Despite everyone’s efforts to make Cincinnati, Nebraska, Indiana, etc., sound like doomsday, Ohio State’s opponents last season were lucky if they scored more than a field goal or two before the fourth quarter.

So, worry-warts (including myself), what games should we worry about this season? Baird from Cleveland.com says Michigan, Oregon, and Penn State should give Ohio State a run for their money—Penn State being the No. 1 most worrisome considering its at the dreaded Beaver Stadium.

Here’s why we should worry about all three:

Michigan— The only big question mark for the Wolverines is at quarterback, otherwise Michigan is returning quite a bit of talent and should put up points in Ohio Stadium, according to Baird. However, can their defense stop Ohio State from doing the same?

Oregon— Again, big question mark at quarterback with Justin Herbert gone. The Ducks, however, are also replacing four offensive linemen. Not ideal.

However, ESPN’s SP+ predicts Oregon to have the nation’s second-best defense in 2020. According to Baird, Kayvon Thibodeaux may be the best defensive end in college football, and four other starters passed up the NFL to stay in school.

The good news? The loser of this game should still be in the talk for the college football playoff.

Penn State— Well, their returning talent includes Micah Parsons, who was a consensus All-American linebacker, defensive back Tariq Castro-Fields and defensive end Shaka Toney who were All-Big Ten caliber players, five offensive linemen with starting experience, and Pat Freiermuth who might be CFB’s best tight end.

And Ohio State will face all of the above in the country’s loudest, most intense stadium.

Can we start panicking now or.....?


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Taking a look at potential Ohio State RBs in the 2021 class
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes are in on some of the best players in the country

The Buckeyes have been on a hot streak to begin the 2021 class, currently owning the top class in the country for the next cycle, but the momentum they have built is something they want to keep going for the long haul. Ohio State has seen sustained success in the win column for years. As Ryan Day and the other staff members have mentioned numerous times before, recruiting is the lifeblood of the Buckeye program, and their commitment to bringing the best talent to Columbus is well underway yet again.

Whose on the radar?


The running back spot is arguably the most important position of need in this cycle, and while the Buckeyes may have “missed” on their top targets the last couple of years, this class cannot be a repeat of the past. The Buckeyes will likely not look to add just one elite prospect at the position. Fortunately, Ohio State is in on many of the nation’s best backs, and just need to close the deal effectively.

The first prospect on the list is Ohio’s top-ranked running back, Corey Kiner out of Roger Bacon in Cincinnati. Kiner has every intangible Tony Alford and the Buckeyes are looking for, and keeping him at home for college is a big priority for the staff. Kiner has been linked to both Michigan and Ohio State the most, but as of late many have given the Buckeyes the nod for who has the slight edge in his recruitment. With the 247Sports rankings update for the 2021 class, Kiner is now the No. 7 prospect in Ohio and the No. 10 RB in the country.

Interestingly enough, only one spot behind Kiner is Ohio’s eighth-best player, Jaylen Anderson of Perry High School. The No. 16 RB in the country, the Buckeyes have not offered Anderson at this point, but he could certainly be one to keep an eye on if OSU decides they need to look at other options.

Looking out of state, North Carolina’s Evan Pryor is certainly not a new name to Buckeye recruiting followers. Pryor checks in as the No. 5 RB in the nation and the No. 84 player in the entire country. Having been in constant communication with Ohio State the past several weeks, Pryor is easily a top priority in this cycle.

Having been visited by three different coaches in the past few months, with Kevin Wilson, Brian Hartline, and Tony Alford all making the trek to see the four-star back, Ohio State will likely be involved in Pryor’s recruitment until the very end. In regards to where the Buckeyes stand, the amount of contact between the two parties and Pryor’s feelings himself seem to show a good extent of mutual interest.

Heading north behind enemy lines, Michigan native Donovan Edwards is currently the No. 3 back in the country and Michigan’s top prospect in the 2021 class. Ohio State has been in this one for awhile already, but with Edwards being right in the back yard of the Wolverines, TTUN is certainly going to be a serious player in this recruitment, and possibly the team to beat. If it truly is a two-team race, that pair of teams appears to be those involved in the biggest rivalry in sports. This one will surely go down to the wire.

Finally, a running back that has really seen a boost in his stock thanks to the newly updated class rankings is TreVeyon Henderson, a Virginia native is now checking in as the No. 2 back in the country and a top-30 prospect overall. A true every down back, Henderson checks every box you’d want in terms of size, speed, strength, and overall talent.

A prospect with 40 scholarship offers from every top program in the country, this recruitment is not going to be an easy one for those looking to land his services. Fortunately, per 247Sports, Henderson plans to take an unofficial visit to Ohio State for the upcoming spring game. On top of that, Henderson mentioned to Wiltfong that the Buckeyes are one of two programs that are currently recruiting him the hardest — the other being Oklahoma.

At this time, the Buckeyes’ chances at landing not only one, but maybe two really solid guys at RB seem very good. Ohio State has not landed their top target at the position of need for multiple classes in a row, and they can’t allow that to happen again., Look for the full-court press to be on each of these recruits until Ryan Day and Tony Alford finally find their guy(s).

Quick Hits:

• Per Bucknuts analyst Bill Kurelic, La Salle (Cincinnati, Ohio) product Devonta Smith will be visiting Columbus shortly for a spring practice after being invited by Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs. Smith, the No. 29 cornerback in the nation and No. 15 recruit in Ohio, will be making the trip with current teammate and Ohio State commit Jaylen Johnson.

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That was 2 ass beatings sandwiched around an error fest. Fantastic showing

I was wearing my Ohio State Metcon Reppers to work out on game days for the first several wins this season.



Stopped wearing them, and the losses piled up. I started wearing them again on game days recently, and did so for our last three wins. Forgot to wear them the day we played Iowa. Sorry all, my fault. Today's win over Maryland confirmed the correlation.

In the Spring.
https://www.buckeyeplanet.com/forum/threads/2020-spring-game-4-11-20-12pm.662350/

Wonder what the staff thinks as far as what side is concerned

buchtelgrad04 said:

Offensive analyst?

Hilarious.

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Offensive does seem more accurate...

Hetuck said:

It's an idiomatic expression. Do you know what that is?

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yes but saying halftime would have been easier lol

Jagdaddy said:

Weird that's it's written in the present tense. Didn't any changes that we're "observing" in Betelgeuse already happen about 650-700 years ago?

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Betelgeuse is going back to the Future?

Charlie Strong was in Tuscaloosa Thursday visiting Nick Saban, Alabama coaching staff

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Nick Saban doesn’t have an opening on his 10-man on-field coaching staff. However, Strong could conceivably join the Alabama football program as some type of an analyst, ala Butch Jones and myriad others.

Entire article: https://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/02/14/charlie-strong-alabama-football/

Bowling is a High School sport now. It wasn't back in my day, but it is now. Anyway, my son took to it as a Freshman, making the varsity team then and having a pretty good season. He worked his way into being named Captain by his junior year and as of this past week, completed his final season as a High School bowler by rolling games of 203, 204, 254 and 181 in the championship tournament. He was the top individual bowler at the match, though his team lost by 28 pins. Nonetheless, it was the first time his school had been in the championship, so that was cool, and he bowled as well as he ever has, so I was very proud of his leadership. He still has sectionals to go, and if he or the team is good enough, he or they could move on to districts and even states (though I'd think state's unlikely). He did well enough to move on to districts as a sophomore. Missed them as a Junior by something like 17 pins. After that... his last season of high school baseball.

I don't know how I have two kids over 18 in that I'm only 26... seriously, time goes really fuckin fast.

exhawg said:

What's wrong with him? I think Beck would do a great job as OC for scUM, MSU, or Ped State.

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He has a point. I have to agree!

FCS football could be on the chopping block at Eastern Washington



The days of playing football at Eastern Washington could be short lived.

Faculty at the school is pushing for significant budget cuts to the Eagles’ athletic department according to a new report obtained by The Inlander. At the heart of the issue? The football program.

The report analyzed the cost of the athletics program to be around $12 million to $14 million per year, but says it has had “no positive impact on our student enrollment, retention or recruitment.” It was commissioned by the faculty senate and has been sent to the EWU administration, including President Mary Cullinan. At the end of the month, it will be presented to the EWU Board of Trustees.

The faculty report says that it “aims to weigh the costs and benefits of funded varsity intercollegiate athletics” at EWU. In 2019, EWU athletics spent $18.3 million, and $13.5 million came from the university through either direct institutional support, student fees or indirect institutional support. (That $18.3 million is a little bit inflated, however, since that was during the football team’s run to the national championship game.)

“The Board of Trustees has asked that we be a Division I FCS program,” athletic director Lynn Hickey told the paper. “I was hired to do that and we’re going to work very very hard to do that until the Board of Trustees changes their mind.”

Among the options presented by the faculty report include a host of football-centric moves designed to cut millions from the annual athletics budget. This includes everything from dropping the sport entirely to dropping down to Division II or even the NAIA level. Such undertaking could trim between $5 million to $12 million off the total budget for the school.

Obviously that would be a worst-case scenario for many EWU fans. The team is among the most successful FCS programs not named North Dakota State for much of the past decade and is known well beyond the Pacific Northwest for their famous red turf at Roos Field. The Eagles started out at the NAIA level back in the day and made their way up to the Division I ranks in 1983. They have since become one of the flagship football teams in the Big Sky, which they’ve been a member of since 1987, and are a regular opponent of FBS teams during non-conference games.

Everything is still in the early stages and this is just a report commissioned by the faculty that, so far, hasn’t had anybody from the Eastern Washington administration pushing for anything drastic. Still, it goes to show you that for all the millions being thrown around by Power Five schools, life doesn’t come easy on the gridiron for those at the lower levels of Division I.

Entire article: https://collegefootballtalk.nbcspor...-on-the-chopping-block-at-eastern-washington/

Shuck invited to Nats camp as a 2-way player

Shuck, 32, will enter 2020 Spring Training as a two-way player. He opened the 2019 season as Pittsburgh’s Opening Day center fielder before being designated for assignment on May 4 and spending the rest of the season with Triple-A Indianapolis. With Indianapolis, he appeared in 61 games (.268, 12 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 14 RBI) in the outfield and made 14 pitching appearances (19.0 IP, 3.79 ERA, 23 SO).

BigWoof31 said:

I want all social media influencers to go to jail

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Better yet, FYRE II.

BuckBackHome said:

They are going to raise $150 million. I went ahead and gave @ORD_Buckeye contact information to the head of the school's foundation. He'll probably want some buildings (or bricks) with his name on them

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I've got watches more valuable than Akron's endowment.

BuckeyeNation27 said:

Sup

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I’m sure Boulder is still just as nice.