Unpopular Opinion: 2022 will be Maryland’s best season since 2010
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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At least I'm pretty sure this is unpopular.

There is something intriguing about unpopular opinions, mainly because if you are right you look like a genius, and if you are wrong, you can just chalk it up to guessing out of right field. Feels like a win-win.

My unpopular opinion is one that is honestly hard to even narrow down to one sentence. But basically, I think Maryland is going to be good. There are some caveats here, and I am not saying they are heading to the College Football Playoff and taking down Alabama. Nonetheless, this could be a fun season for the Terrapins. Maryland has not had an eight-win season since 2010, since they went 9-4 in the ACC. I am predicting basically that.

First of all, they have a top-five quarterback in the conference. Alabama transfer Taulia Tagovailoa is coming off a season where he completed almost 70 percent of his passes for 3,900 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. As good as Tualia is, his options are absolutely not limited. Rakim Jarrett, Dontay Demus and Jeshaun Jones are all returning to their receiving core, and the Terps added Florida’s Jacob Copeland.

Last season, Jarrett recorded 62 catches for 829 yards and five touchdowns, Demus recorded 28 catches for 507 yards and three touchdowns and Jones recorded 18 catches for 224 yards. At his previous stop, Copeland recorded 41 catches for 642 yards and four touchdowns.

The big loss for the Terrapins’ offense is running back Tayon Fleet-Davis, who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs. Fleet-Davis tallied 128 rushes for 721 yards and eight touchdowns, and also had 32 catches for 305 yards with a touchdown. But with this passing attack, they only need an average rushing game, and with guys like Jarrett and Copeland, they can be very creative with their rushing attack to throw teams off.



Maryland also had 12 guys get named to various preseason All-Big Ten teams, including Tagovailoa, Demus and Jarrett. Taulia is up for second-best quarterback in the conference with Aidan O’Connell and whoever Michigan sends out behind the obvious No. 1 in C.J. Stroud.



One of the issues that Maryland will always (maybe not?) have to deal with is conference divisions. If they were in the West Division, they would have a much better chance to pile up some wins, because it is no secret that the West is not as good as the East. Maryland has to play Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State this season.

However, some conferences — like the Big 12 and ACC — have already moved away from divisions, and the Big Ten could be one of the next ones to do so, since it is wildly agreed that the divisions are unbalanced. If that happens, Maryland will have a chance to have some simpler matchups. That is also irrelevant to my point, since my opinion is about this season and their season schedule is already set, but I digress...

So lets talk about this season. Their non-conference schedule is very doable, playing Buffalo, Charlotte and SMU — all winnable games. In conference, they do get to play Ohio State, Michigan State and Purdue at home. If you couple that with playing Northwestern, Rutgers and Indiana, their conference schedule does not look as daunting as it may seem.

It is still not easy by any stretch, and I don’t think they will contend for a title or anything, but the Terps getting to eight wins feels like something that can happen. And honestly, if it doesn’t happen this season, I am not sure when it will. The defense will have to hold stronger than they have before, but as long as they can help out Taulia and those receivers, they should be able to win some games.

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for July 1, 2022
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 Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.

Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.

You’re welcome!

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Four-star cornerback Calvin Simpson-Hunt commits to Ohio State
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!


What Calvin Simpson-Hunt’s Commitment Means for Ohio State’s 2023 Recruiting Class
Garrick Hodge, Eleven Warriors

Calvin Simpson-Hunt a Buckeye: The impact
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts

Analyzing impact as four-star cornerback Calvin Simpson-Hunt commits to Ohio State
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Twitter reacted after 4-star DB Calvin Simpson-Hunt flipped his commitment to Ohio State
Bill Kurelic, Bucknuts

Times, They Are A-Changin’...


USC, UCLA accepted as applicants to join Big Ten Conference, per report
Robbie Weinstein, 247Sports

University Statement: Big Ten Conference
Ohio State Athletics

The More the Merrier!


Big Ten planning to add USC and UCLA explained: How it could happen, when and what it means (paywall)
The Athletic College Football Staff

USC, UCLA will help Ohio State, bring Hollywood to Big Ten (paywall)
Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch

What potential Big Ten expansion would mean for Ohio State
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

SHOW ME THE MONEY!


How the move for USC, UCLA could impact the Big Ten, Ohio State
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Road trips will get longer in Big Ten
Chris Pugh, The Columbus Dispatch

On the Gridiron


Unpopular Opinion: Don’t expect an elite defense from the Buckeyes this year
David M. Wheeler, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State football’s Kaleb Brown undergoes ‘smooth surgery’ to repair loose knee cartilage
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

J.T. Tuimoloau taking full advantage of first offseason with Buckeyes
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Couldn’t be happier for Scary Terry!


Ohio State football’s receiver renaissance synching up with NFL’s salary explosion for wideouts
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

Unpopular Opinion: Ohio State’s game day experience and home field advantage are overrated
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood


Report: Jae’Sean Tate agrees to three-year deal, $22.1 million deal with Houston Rockets
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Good god...

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Women’s Swimming & Diving: Olympic Bronze Medalist Hentschel Signs With the Buckeyes
Ohio State Athletics

Swimming and Diving: Trace Joins Coaching Staff, Hulme Promoted
Chase Brown, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

While NIL is good for college athletics, some areas of it are sketchy
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land

And now for something completely different...


“I don’t have friends, I have family.”


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Twitter: @CSimpsonHunt



Class: 2023 (high school)
Position: Cornerback
School: Waxahachie TX Waxahachie
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 187 lbs

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HUDL Profile
Twitter: @LandonPace9




Class: 2025 (high school)
Position: Tight End
School: St. Louis (MO) St. Louis University High
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 200 lbs

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Orlando Pace's son.

Malaki Branham drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

The B1G Freshman of the Year is the first Ohio State first-rounder since D’Angelo Russell in 2015.

With the 20th pick, the San Antonio Spurs select Malaki Branham, freshman guard from The ™ Ohio State University, in the 2022 NBA Draft.

After a freshman season where he garnered All-Big Ten honors as well as earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Branham not only became Ohio State’s first first-rounder in seven years, but also the first one-and-done player in seven years and the first one-and-done player of the Chris Holtmann era.


Branham averaged 6.3 points per game over the first 10 games of the season, capping that streak off with a zero-point dud against Wisconsin on Dec. 11 where he shot 0-2 from the floor. But after a well-documented COVID-19 pause in the program that lasted three weeks, Branham returned a completely different player.

On January 2nd, Branham blew up for a career-high 35 points in a road win at Nebraska while many of his teammates were still recovering from lingering effects of the illness. Branham averaged 17 points per game from that point on, providing an elite Robin to E.J. Liddell’s Batman.

Branham’s defense will need to improve at the next level, as will his body. At 6-foot-5 and 180 pounds he’s still slender, but will get bigger with the San Antonio training and conditioning staff.

But his assets far outweigh the knocks on his game. Branham shot north of 40% from three last season and showed the ability to attack the basket with either hand from either side. And that doesn’t even include his mid-range game, which may be the most refined part of his offensive toolbox. He’s not a main ballhandler, but Branham has shown the ability to read defenses and make the appropriate pass when he doesn’t have a clear lane to the basket.

And at 19 years old, he still could grow, both physically and mentally. He’ll become a smarter, more cerebral player with time, but he could also get bigger and taller once he gets to the league. To have all these physical tools at such a young age, it’s no wonder Branham shot up draft boards so quickly once the calendar flipped to 2022.

Last season’s 20th overall pick, Jalen Johnson, signed a four-year, $12.8 million-dollar contract with the Atlanta Hawks following the 2021 NBA Draft. Branham will likely sign a contract in that range.

Congratulations to Malaki on being drafted to the Spurs. We can’t wait to see you become successful at the next level!

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This or That: Which position group from Ohio State’s past could change the 2022 outlook immediately?
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State’s defense was historically bad in 2021. Taking one position group from the past to fix it is not easy, but the linebacker position is a solid place to start.

This week, Land-Grant Holy Land writers will be comparing current facets of Ohio State teams and comparing them to those of the past: Comparing THIS year’s Buckeyes to those of THAT other time. Welcome to LGHL’s “This or That.”

In the 2021 season, the Ohio State Buckeyes were historically bad defensively, and head coach Ryan Day made wholesale changes to the coaching staff because of it. For the Buckeyes, the defense was never able to find their footing under Kerry Coombs, and as an entire staff never seemed to gel together.

Combine that with a long list of new starters on defense in the secondary, linebacker room, and on the defensive line and the results speak for themselves. Now the Buckeyes have revived their staff with the addition of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, safeties coach Perry Eliano, and corners coach Tim Walton while keeping Larry Johnson on the defensive line. This should lead to a major turn around on momentum shift, as all three new coaches have had success at their past stops.

Even with full confidence in the new staff, some question marks remain on the defense. The Buckeyes are still fresh faced at linebacker, the defensive line doesn’t have a dominant force coming into the season, and the secondary is being reworked for the third time in under a year. That being said, if the Buckeyes could take one unit from the past to replace a current one, which one would have the most immediate impact?

If you take the 2014 linebacker unit and put it on this team, you answer the biggest question mark and guarantee marked improvement in 2022.

2014 Unit vs. 2022 Unit


In 2014, the Buckeyes had quite few question marks coming into the season. They needed to replace one of the best linebackers in school history in Ryan Shazier, but they had two talented players returning. They also had the benefit of continuity with Luke Fickell in his ninth year as a defensive coordinator at Ohio State. All these played a part in how well this unit performed on a year over year basis.

Looking at the 2014 unit first, they returned two starters in Curtis Grant and Joshua Perry at the position. Perry improved his production and Grant had another solid year as a senior. The emergence of Darron Lee (who changed positions from quarterback in high school) and freshman Raekwon McMillan took the group from solid to elite. The addition of those two players to the rotation made the group even better than the previous season.


When you look at the units from 2014 compared to 2021 there are some similarities. With hindsight being our greatest advantage though, we know exactly how 2014 turned out. This year, there is a lot of projection going into how much this unit will improve. Jim Knowles is in his first year with the program and has had success at other places, but rivaling that continuity makes this even harder to project.

Steele Chambers switched positions and had an immediate impact leading the linebacker unit in tackles. Tommy Eichenberg started the season off struggling, but developed weekly, culminating in a dominant second half in the Rose Bowl. They seem have the Darron Lee and Joshua Perry roles. C.J. Hicks comes in with a similar excitement to Raekwon McMillan, and if he can provide immediately this group will be a lot better off.


Looking at the stats, you can see that there was a definitive lack of production from last year’s unit compared to 2014. With zero 100-tackle players, this is the main reason for the switch to 2014’s unit. The Buckeyes struggled against the run against well coached teams as you can see by the tackle totals. The on holdover is two of the most productive players in 2014 put up zero stats. This shows that a group can be a surprise and become one of the best units in the country.

For the Buckeyes and fans everywhere, the questions heading into the year at linebacker are still the most pressing. By bringing in a savvy, explosive group of linebackers, one of the biggest questions is answered. Now, this doesn’t mean Ohio State can’t have great linebackers in 2022, but there is significantly less mystery involved.

Why the 2014 linebacker unit?


The main reasoning behind this switch is the known ceiling of the 2014 group. Ohio State’s linebacker room at the moment is all potential, and knowing their ceiling is incredibly difficult. Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg have a high floor, but can they play at the national championship level needed?

We saw an all-time great group emerge in 2014, and the defenses in the early Urban Meyer years were incredible — starting with the linebackers. Historically, Ohio State’s best teams are elite at that position and having an elite group like 2014, which won a national championship, that eliminates the run threat is a great place to start. If you have elite linebacker play it allows the rest of your defense to work freely. The group, on top of being elite, still has the athleticism all over to play in the more modern RPO based game.

Adding Darron Lee, Joshua Perry, Raekwon McMillan, and Curtis Grant takes this defense back to the Silver Bullet level that is expected. Knowles just has to put the players in position and this group would give him the flexibility to help get the most out of the defensive line as well. Now with the coaches fixed, this group would guarantee a top-10 defense in 2022.

The 2022 group can still be awesome


Ohio State is looking at a group that is incredibly similar to the 2014 unit. You have similar paths to the position, a blue chip prospect looking to make an immediate impact, and some veterans who are looking to be tone setters. If you just look at the comparison on paper, the group should be capable of netting a similar result.

Eichenberg led the position group in tackles and did his best work late. Grant is a solid comparison to the past group, being a returning starter with solid production. Chambers moved to linebacker last year after starting his career as a running back, and ended up being one of the most exciting defenders on the defense. Hicks is a five star recruit who’s coming in and can have an immediate impact like Raekwon McMillan. Now they just need to find who will be their lead backer like Joshua Perry.

This group has an established floor, and with improvement other places, they should improve. Being in a new scheme will come with growing pains, but the 2014 team also lost early in the year to come back and win a championship. I’m not saying the Buckeyes are going to lose, but the success did not happen over night.

With as much returning production as the Buckeyes have, on top of the recruiting class in addition to transfer Deamonte Treyanum, this room brings potential. The gained experience should set them up for success in 2022. If they can find a way to reach the 2014 level, the Buckeyes can be playing in the middle of January.


Overall, the groups do have similarities, but the 2014 team was arguably the last group that truly met the standard set at Ohio State. If you add them to this roster, the remaining sense of doubt on this defense is gone.

The 2014 group had an incredibly high ceiling and it took time to get there, so there is reason to believe that under Knowles this team can reach theirs. The one issue that wasn’t mentioned is the question about general toughness. The 2021 group was pushed around and teams took advantage of the fresh faced group all season long. The 2014 group brings toughness in droves, and that tone being set alone would massively improve the defense.

Knowles will not have the luxury of the 2014 showing up, but he has the blueprint of what his defense should look like at Ohio State. The defensive line is loaded with potential and the secondary has a good mix of talent as well as experience. If the linebacker group can be tough, organized, and nasty Ohio State could end up with one of the best defenses in the country – much like 2014.

Even though the 2014 unit is not walking into the Shoe come September, this group can embrace the challenge to be the next great linebacker unit to win a national championship.

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Ohio State’s NBA Draft history by the numbers
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Bob Leverone/Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images

Tonight, two more Buckeyes will join the list of Ohio State players selected in the NBA’s annual event

Just a week removed for the Golden State Warriors becoming NBA champs for a seventh time in franchise history, the 2022 NBA Draft takes place tonight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. While the last few editions of the draft haven’t had much for Ohio State fans to get excited about, this year a couple of Buckeyes should hear their named called in the first round by NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

Malaki Branham and E.J. Liddell are poised to be the latest Ohio State players selected in the NBA Draft. Over the years there have been quite a few Buckeye products that have been drafted in the annual event. To get Buckeye fans prepared for tonight’s draft, we dove inside the numbers.

53


Since 1947, Ohio State has had 53 players drafted in the NBA Draft. Jack Underman and Paul Huston were the first Buckeyes taken, with Underman being taken seventh overall, followed by Huston coming off the board with the next pick. Underman never played professionally, instead becoming an oral surgeon after college. Huston played one season for the Chicago Stags, averaging 3.6 points per game.

The last Buckeye to be selected in the NBA Draft was Keita Bates-Diop, who was selected in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft with the 48th overall selection by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bates-Diop just wrapped up his fourth season in the league, appearing in 59 games for the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 5.7 points per game and 3.9 rebounds per game. Bates-Diop was the 14th Ohio State player to be chosen in the NBA Draft since 2000.

24


Almost half of the Ohio State players selected in the NBA Draft have been first round picks (24 in total). Eight of those first round picks have come since the 2007 edition of the draft, which kicked off a stretch that saw at least one Ohio State player drafted in the first round in four straight years. If you include Jared Sullinger, who was taken with the 21st pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, the Buckeyes saw at least one player drafted in the first round in five of six years between 2007 and 2012.

The last Ohio State player drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft came in 2015, when the Los Angeles Lakers selected D’Angelo Russell with the second overall pick. Russell joined Evan Turner as the only Ohio State players to be selected with the second overall pick in the draft, as Turner was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers just after John Wall in the 2010 NBA Draft.

1


Only one Ohio State player has ever been taken with the first pick in the NBA Draft. The Portland Trailblazers made Greg Oden the first pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, Oden’s body didn’t allow him the chance to live up to the hype. Not only did Oden miss the 2007-08 season, he was only able to play in 105 games during his NBA career. It was obvious that Oden was a force on the floor, especially on the defense end, it’s just a shame we didn’t get to see him fully healthy during his time in the NBA.

26,395


There’s very little doubt on who is the best draft pick to ever come out of Ohio State is. John Havlicek was taken by the Boston Celtics with the ninth overall pick in the 1962 draft. During his 16 years in the NBA, Havlicek scored 26,395 points, which ranks 17th all-time in NBA history. Hondo scored more than 12,000 points more than Mike Conley, who has scored the second-most points amongst players drafted out of Ohio State.

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Along with his impressive point total, Havlicek also won eight NBA titles with the Celtics, and was named the NBA Finals MVP in 1974, making him the only former Buckeye to earn that honor. The Martins Ferry product was a 13-time All-Star during his career, earned NBA All-First Team honors four times, and was included on the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team five times. Havlicek had his number retired by both Ohio State and the Boston Celtics.

12,942


Three picks before John Havlicek was taken in the 1962 NBA Draft, Jerry Lucas was selected as a territorial selection by the Cincinnati Royals. The Buckeye not only was part of the school’s 1960 national championship team, he led the NCAA in rebounding in 1961 and 1962.

After starting his career with the Cleveland Pipers in the ABL, Lucas joined the Royals for the 1963-64 season, winning Rookie of the Year honors after averaging 17.7 points per game and 17.4 rebounds per game. Lucas is still the only Ohio State product to win Rookie of the Year honors.

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

During his 11-year NBA career, Lucas would grab 12,942 rebounds, which ranks 17th all-time in the NBA. Lucas is the only Buckeye with over 10,000 career rebounds. The Middletown native averaged at least 15 rebounds per game in seven seasons, and had two years in which he eclipsed 20 rebounds per game.

1,363


Mike Conley was selected with the fourth pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2007 NBA Draft. While Greg Oden’s career was shortened due to injuries, Conley has been going strong in the NBA for 15 years. Even though he hasn’t been able to win a championship, Conley has been one of the best defenders in the league for years.

Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

Conley’s best season came in 2012-13, when he led the league with 174 steals. The high mark came during a five-year stretch where Conley recorded at least 100 steals in each of those seasons. In five other seasons Conley has been credited with at least 89 thefts. Conley is the only former Buckeye to record at least 1,000 career steals in the NBA.

1,605


One mark by a Buckeye in the NBA that will likely never be topped is the 1,605 blocks Herb Williams recorded during his career. Kosta Koufos has the second-most blocks by an Ohio State draft pick in the NBA, with his 506 rejections sitting just 1,099 behind Williams. Currently, the block total by Williams ranks 31st in NBA history. The Marion-Franklin grad was taken with the 14th pick by the Indiana Pacers in the 1981 NBA Draft

23


Ohio State draft picks have combined for 23 All-Star Game appearances. While that may seem like a high number, Havlicek and Lucas combined for 20 All-Star Game appearances during their incredible careers. Michael Redd, D’Angelo Russell, and Mike Conley are responsible for the other three All-Star Game appearances, with each player earning a trip to the annual exhibition.

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Column: Ohio State patented a word and that’s fine
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Content Services, LLC

How manufactured shock at Wednesday’s announcement is exactly what it looks like.

On Wednesday, Ohio State landed another long-pursued prospect. It wasn’t yet another top-ranked wide receiver or a shot-blocking forward to give guard Taylor Mikesell more room to shoot. Instead, Buckeye officials landed an article of speech. This noun-defining word was a tough commitment to land, with Scarlet & Gray leaders first receiving a “no” from patent office civil servants in Sept. 2019. Now Ohio State owns a word, a commonly used word, and everything is fine.

Why is it fine? Scouring through endless social media threads and message boards tells a story of Ohio State flexing muscles of arrogance and making a decision based solely on making money. Both of those points are actually valid and correct, but isn’t that what today’s NCAA world is all about?

Although there’s little confusion between Ohio State University and Ohio University, its use has grown over decades of collegiate rivalry. Ohio State’s word has been used to differentiate themselves and give fuel to rivals. Now, it’s finally been elevated to a higher calling of a marketing chip.

Imagine you’re a fan of a competing conference university like Michigan or an SEC powerhouse like Alabama, and maybe you actually are a fan of one of those two sides. On June 8, Buckeye football coach Ryan Day announced an astronomical $13 million needed to keep a roster together in a post-Name, Image and Likeness world.

Also, every other year it seems like another outlet is warning of a doomsday NCAA scenario where a stretching financial bubble is about to burst, with subsequent responses that everything is fine. Owning a word gets Ohio State what every school, and every fan (consciously or subconsciously) wants: more money.

Ohio State has free reign to add this word to any and every piece of sports apparel produced from June 21, 2021 until Earth — or America — ceases to be. It removes any chance of small, non-Nike, clothiers from adorning this famous article. Speaking of swoosh, securing rights is their expertise. They single-handedly (footedly?) broke Olympic marketing with a golden pair of shoes for track star Michael Johnson at Atlanta’s 1996 Olympic games.

There’s also merit in Ohio State’s claim. After all, Scarlet & Gray apparel shops have featured clothing with this word for 15 years, as Ohio State’s 2019 claim for this word states. Expensive sweatshirt designer Marc Jacobs tried taking Ohio State’s word for a sweater, and lawyers for Columbus, Ohio’s landmark pounced.

More money also benefits NCAA athletics far beyond its most popular asset of college football. More money for a school means less cuts to soccer, field hockey and women’s programs.

So, banter will never cease in a connected and ceaseless world, but an elephant on a crimson shirt would get similar focus. Universities protect individual letters, so what’s wrong with adding a couple more?

If you haven’t stopped watching this billion-dollar industry that just recently allowed players to receive compensation for their involvement in these billions now, I doubt a word’s addition to a history of stuffing pockets will trigger a tipping point. If anything, this will only motivate other schools to pursue similar avenues.

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Bucketheads Podcast: Talking NBA Draft with Ohio State Hoops’ Joe Gemma
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

Plus, rest in peace Caleb “Biggie” Swanigan.

Land-Grant Holy Land’s newest podcast, ‘Bucketheads’ takes you on a journey across the college basketball landscape every episode. The only basketball-focused podcast in the LGHL family of podcasts, co-hosts Connor Lemons and Justin Golba give the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes as well as all the other happenings in the college hoops world. ‘Bucketheads’ will be released every Thursday throughout the regular season and every other Thursday during the off-season.

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For the 40th episode of the “Bucketheads” podcast, Connor and Justin talk a little bit about their memories of Caleb Swanigan and the adversity he overcame to make it big in college basketball and ultimately the NBA. Also, the guys talk about the 2022 NBA Draft and where they think Malaki Branham and E.J. Liddell could wind up.

Plus, an interview with Ohio State social media guru Joe Gemma. Joe will have boots on the ground in New York for the draft, so we talked about what he’ll be doing at the draft as well as why teams need to draft E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham on Thursday night.

Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your music and podcasts.


Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGHL

Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor

Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba

Connect with Joe:
Twitter: @JoeDGemma and @OhioStateHoops

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Some history on "The Brotherhood":

Ohio State football assistant Al Washington says OSU program is unique because of this



“That’s the competitive culture we have,” said Washington. “And I’ll say this though — and this is unique to Ohio State, at least in my experiences. They are being pushed, but unlike any other place, I think our older guys do a great job of helping the young guys. Like I could tell you the countless times Baron (Browning) is working with somebody, or Tuf’s working with somebody, Pete’s working with somebody. And that really is unique, and I think that speaks to the brotherhood.”

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Entire article: https://buckeyeswire.usatoday.com/2...l-washington-says-program-brotherhood-unique/

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‘THE:’ Ohio State awarded trademark on the word

Ohio State University has successfully received a trademark on the word “THE.”

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office approved Ohio State’s application Tuesday by issuing a registration certificate. It allows Ohio State to control the use of “THE” on “clothing, namely, t-shirts, baseball caps, and hats; all of the foregoing being promoted, distributed, and sold through channels customary to the field of sports and collegiate athletics,” the certificate reads.

Entire article: https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-ne...the-ohio-state-awarded-trademark-on-the-word/

Ohio State Buckeyes win trademark right to the word 'the'

If you've ever watched Monday Night Football, you have probably heard former Ohio State football players proudly announce their school as "The Ohio State University," with an emphasis on the word "the," pronounced with the long "e" like "thee."

That simple article has become part of Ohio State's culture, and the university has successfully registered a trademark for "THE." The trademark, which was initially applied for in August, 2019, took three years to get approved and will apply to any application on clothing and apparel.

So, while the Buckeyes don't own the word "the," it is one of the more unique trademarks.

Josh Gerben is a trademark attorney and founder of Gerben Intellectual Property in Washington, D.C., who noted it is common for universities to protect their logos and emblems, but it is highly unusual to trademark such a vague word.

"You can't own the word for everything, so they don't own the word," Gerben said. "This was something that apparently they felt was important enough to spend the time and energy on to register and ultimately be able to police the marketplace from anybody that might be using the word as branded clothing."



Apparel brand Marc Jacobs had also applied for a trademark for the word, so it's possible, according to Gerben, that Ohio State was taking a defensive position by also applying for the trademark. If Marc Jacobs were to have gotten the trademark, they would have had the authority to ask Ohio State to stop using it on their apparel.

"On the other side of it, sometimes you see folks file trademark applications for things they might not have tried to register before because they see the mark being used in the marketplace," Gerben said. "It's kind of common for folks to go online and try to sell knockoff goods with university logos and catch phrases and things like that. Even at the professional level, you'll see people selling those kind of items and so they might get a trademark registered so that they can go to platforms like Etsy or Amazon or wherever the items are being sold, and have those listings removed."

It doesn't take away from the fact that it is unique to trademark this word.
.
.
.
It seems unlikely anyone would challenge Ohio State for use of the word, and while the university doesn't technically own the word, it can now say it has one of the most unique trademarks in sports.

Entire article: https://www.espn.com/college-footba...o-state-buckeyes-win-trademark-right-word-the

Alright, so in all the steps of buying and building our first house I got very excited that I could do ethernet ports in every room, which I of course did (really was a surprisingly cheap option, under $200 w/CAT6 cabling). Have the OnQ box in the laundry room which is upstairs with an outlet inside it, I'm excited and have everything planned out in my head, this is going to be awesome. Then comes my "oh crap" moment just this morning when I start looking closer at what networking gear I want to buy for the new place, if any at all. In all my excitement around the house I forgot a home networking basic that the order should be modem>router>switch, when I had been thinking modem>switch>router the entire time with the modem and switch hidden in the OnQ box and the router living in the office across the hall...where I did not put a cable outlet because I figured if I wanted to put a TV in there I'd just use the cable provider app/YouTubeTV/Sling for live programming if I wanted instead of paying for another cable box. Well that appears to have been a fatal flaw in my excited planning around the house, which leads to my question(s) below, since I know a few on here have more complex home networks and IT experience.

What's going to be the easiest, least hassle way to keep the actual wireless router in the office room instead of needing to try and fit the beastly, good wireless routers of today into the thin OnQ box? I do have an old, thin wireless router that I have no qualms trying to flash with DD-WRT if necessary, or spending $20-30 more than I was going to on a switch to get a cheap newer wireless router if I don't need to flash it and can just use it with some basic settings tweaks and no wireless/in its standard bridge mode(s). I don't mind going down the route of learning about VLANS either, if that makes my original, excitement-addled plan workable without too much headache and maintenance (planning on doing some smart home integration and I know that can be headache-inducing on its own merits, so trying to avoid any more major networking issues I create myself).

https://www.extrapointsmb.com/heres...ea-sports-college-football-with-updated-info/

When is this game expected to come out?
In March of 2021, I filed a series of Open Records Requests for updates that EA Sports, or the CLC (Collegiate Licensing Corporation) were sending to NCAA schools about the game. Those FOIAs returned a project proposal, dated Jan 15, 2021, that spelled out that the company was targeting a July of 2023 release date. The proposal stated:


But hey, that was a year ago, right? Things could change?

Additional records requests also turned up an update, sent from CLC management to multiple D-I institutions, dated Feb 25, 2022, nearly a full year after the first proposal.

That letter states:


So there you go. I saw some graphics floating around social media suggesting a Winter 2023 release was possible, but every document I have inspected, as well as all communications I've had with individuals directly familiar with the project's development, confirm July of 23 is the current target.

What is EA asking schools for now?
The most recent proposal, dated February 25, specifically concerns band songs, crowd chants, and team-specific audio assets.


This ask suggests that beyond marching bands, EA Sports is seeking to recreate the stadium experience as closely as possible for each school. So, hypothetically, if your alma mater played a specific song at the end of the third quarter, well, EA is trying to add that (if copyright allows for it) into the game. If your student section has a specific chant, well, EA is trying to get everything they need to replicate it.

I reached out and asked if this meant EA was committed to including drunk LSU fans demanding that the band play Neck, but those questions were not answered at press time.

Industry sources tell me that another realism element EA has asked schools for is additional data for spirit stickers on helmets. I'm told EA isn't just hoping to replicate the sticker asset, but sticker distribution and cadence. I.e, if you're playing as Ohio State in the first week of the season, the helmets should be plain. By early November, they should be full of stickers.

What schools are IN the game so far?
According to the Feb 25 memo, CLC is claiming that "nearly 120 institutions, athletic conferences and bowl games" have "conceptually approved participation."

However, I am told that the remaining holdouts have still provided stadium and musical assets, and are operating as if they are going to participate in the project. The holdouts, I'm told, are either because there is not currently an established mechanism for paying athletes for their likenesses to appear in the game, or because there are still a few licensing wrinkles to be ironed out for schools that currently don't operate under the CLC umbrella.

The industry expectation is that every single FBS institution, including the newest members joining from FCS, will participate in the game at launch.

What's the latest on player participation in the game?
In case there is any confusion, EA Sports WANTS to include player likeness in this game, and they want to pay athletes to do it. I've been told the company has wanted to do this for years, but prior to NIL, there wasn't a mechanism to do so without risking player eligibility.

The way for EA to pay the athletes now is for them to secure a group license. This is logistically difficult in the college space, since there is no college football player union or collective bargaining unit, but group licenses for college athlete products already exist, and are continuing to grow. Just last week, after all, Topps announced a new program to launch college football and basketball player trading cards.

I'm told there is optimism that the framework for a college football player video game group license could be announced as early as this summer. There was some hope it could have happened even earlier, but some shakeups in the college group license industry has made things a teensy bit more complicated. I'm told that when the framework of an agreement is announced, the licensing agent won't have anywhere close to every college football player, but will hope to sign the rest up after securing rights for a critical mass of athletes.

One fun wrinkle to watch for...some college athletes have reportedly already signed their exclusive NIL rights to collective groups. While I have not been told there's a meaningful risk that these athletes won't be in the video game, I have been told by industry sources that athletes who have done this will have a bigger paperwork headache to get in the game, and complications could arise, depending on the collective and the specific contract. I'm assuming that any collective that makes it harder for athletes to be in the game is going to face a big time recruiting disadvantage, no matter how many bags they drop.

In the very unlikely event that EA is unable to secure player likenesses, the video game is still schedule to publish, but it will not include every single FBS program. According to the 2021 memo, such a game would also not include the ability to edit rosters.

How much do schools make for participating in the game?
Each school's guarantee is determined by their "Tier", according to the 2021 memo. A school's Tier is based on the number of AP Top 25 finishes over a ten year period, a period that will include the 2022 college football season. According to the memo, those tier amounts are:

Tier 1: $104,900

Tier 2: $62,900

Tier 3: $41,900

Tier 4: $10,400

EA also confirmed that DLC will be a part of the game, and that such content "creates additional revenue streams that will be shared with participating institutions as incremental revenue above royalties." I am told that EA is prepared to do the same with athletes as well.

Our previous FOIA work showed that not every school was thrilled with this Tier structure.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Department of Athletics has announced the hiring of Bill Mosiello as its next head baseball coach. Mosiello has over 35 years of coaching experience at the high-level collegiate and minor league levels.

Over the course of his career, which includes stops at seven different Power 5 programs, Mosiello has coached over 90 major league players and his teams have made 16 NCAA Tournament appearances with five trips to Omaha.

“I am incredibly excited to lead the Ohio State baseball program,” said Mosiello. “I have been blessed to have had a lot of great experiences throughout my career, and the opportunity to come to such a prestigious school like Ohio State and work with tremendous student-athletes and staff is something I am truly excited about. I want to thank Shaun Richard and Gene Smith for putting their trust in me. That all being said, a part of my heart will always be in TCU. The last nine years were truly special and the relationships that I made with the players and staff will be part of my life forever.”

Mosiello comes to Ohio State after an extremely successful nine-year stint as associate head coach at TCU. He helped guide the program to four consecutive appearances in the College World Series (2014-17) and seven NCAA Tournaments. The Horned Frogs won seven Big 12 titles in his nine seasons and Mosiello was also instrumental in recruiting three Top 10 classes in his time in Fort Worth.

One of the most respected offensive minds in the game, the Frogs flourished under Mosiello’s guidance. TCU led the Big 12 in batting twice, averaged 56 home runs over the last five full seasons and ranked second among Power 5 schools with more than 800 stolen bases from 2014-22. Four times the Frogs surpassed the 100-stolen base mark over Mosiello’s tenure.

“Bill Mosiello is a Buckeye, and we could not be more excited about that,” said executive associate athletic director Shaun Richard. “During this search, I spoke to countless people about the right person to lead this program, and the conversation kept coming back to Bill. His passion for student-athletes, his knowledge and experience of the game, and his proven track record of success at all levels makes me extremely excited for the future of Buckeye baseball.”

“Bill is a great leader and one of the most respected coaches in collegiate baseball,” said senior vice president & Wolfe Foundation endowed athletic director Gene Smith. “He’s passionate about the game and his players, and I look forward to him bringing his energy to Ohio State.”

One of the top collegiate assistants, Mosiello has also spent parts of seven seasons in minor league baseball, managing teams in both the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim systems. He registered nearly 400 victories in the minor leagues and while with the Arkansas Travelers, he tutored MLB phenom Mike Trout for nearly two full seasons. Mosiello brings with him a wealth of experience and connections at both the collegiate and professional level.

“It’s a great day to be a Buckeye! I am thrilled with the hiring of Bill Mosiello,” said Ohio State alum and 17-year MLB veteran Nick Swisher. Mos’ passion for the game of baseball at both the professional and collegiate level shine through. His knowledge of the game is out of control and most of all, he loves his players. I am so excited to see the heights at which this program can soar!”

Mosiello began his Division I coaching career in 1991, joining Augie Garrido’s staff at Cal State Fullerton where he spent two seasons (1991-92). In 1992, the Titans advanced to the College World Series championship game, and he coached Golden Spikes Award winner, No. 1 overall draft selection and current interim manager of the Los Angles Angels Phil Nevin.

After his first of two stints at Tennessee (1993-94) and one season as the pitching coach at Ole Miss (1995), Mosiello spent five seasons (1996-2000) at Oklahoma with part of his tenure as associate head coach. Mosiello also had a stop at Arizona State and USC before returning to Knoxville for two seasons as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Volunteers in 2012 and 2013.

Mosiello has earned Manager of the Year honors twice in the Alaska Summer League (1990, 1991) and once in the Cape Cod Baseball League (1998). He played collegiately at both Fresno State and Cerritos College and completed his physical education degree at Cal State Long Beach.

The all time “name team”: starting with the offense; Wideouts, MacSpeedie, Cleveland Browns, and Fair Hooker, also Browns, Tight End, Stonebreaker, Ohio State Buckeyes, Quarterback, Sonny Sixkiller, Washington Huskies, Runningbacks, Hopalong Cassidy, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Crazylegs Hirsch, Wisconsin Badgers, Fullback, Thunder Enyart, Oregon State Beavers


That’s all I’ve got right now. Feel free to make additions or suggestions.

2022 FIFA World Cup predictions, picking every game: Brazil conquer all, USMNT reach knockouts in Qatar

Here's what we're expecting in Qatar later this year

The biggest tournament in football is in sight. There are still two more spots at the World Cup to be decided, but with scarcely more than five months to go until Senegal and the Netherlands get the tournament underway in Doha, it's time to unleash the wall charts (full schedule here https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/ne...aily-group-matches-start-time-for-games-more/) and pencil in what we're expecting to happen in Qatar.

Will France become the first back-to-back champions in 60 years? Can England continue their hot run at tournaments? Or will it all come crashing down against the USMNT as Gregg Berhalter's side begin a remarkable march to glory? Let's find out:

Group B predictions
1. England
2. United States
3. Wales
4. Iran

Matchday 1 picks
England 2, Iran 0
United States 1, Wales 1

Matchday 2 picks
Wales 0, Iran 0
England 3, United States 0

Matchday 3 picks
Wales 1, England 1
Iran 0, United States 1

England coast to top spot in their opening two games, a convincing win over the United States on Black Friday bringing buoyancy to the streets of London. Even a repeat of the underwhelming display against a Home Nation -- John Stones striking late to save them from defeat to Wales -- can't quite quell the national mood in that part of the United Kingdom. It is, however, a hammer blow to Welsh hopes. In truth it was their inability to break down Iran that costs them as a Christian Pulisic goal in the final round of games takes the USMNT into the last 16.

Round of 16 picks
Senegal 2, United States 0
Argentina 1, France 2
Spain 2, Canada 0
Brazil 1, Portugal 1 (Brazil win on penalties)
England 2, Netherlands 1
Denmark 1, Poland 0
Belgium 1, Germany 3
Uruguay 0, Cameroon 1 (a.e.t.)

The USMNT's round of 16 tie had been primed to bring with it an unwelcome reminder that what Berhalter needs to discover by 2026 is a forward of Sadio Mane's quality and a goalkeeper of Edouard Mendy's. Concacaf's involvement in the World Cup ends soon after, Canada simply lacking the quality to quell a Pedri-inspired Spain, who look to be making commanding progress through the field.

There were, however, two African representatives in the last eight as Vincent Aboubakar struck in injury time to send Uruguay crashing out of one of the tenser round of 16 ties. The same could be said of Denmark's win over Poland where Kasper Hjullmand's side just about held their opponents at bay after Christian Eriksen's early free kick.

Then came the four matchups of big hitters. Belgium were swatted aside by a Germany team who were first to every loose ball while the Dutch were undone out wide by the incisive Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden. At Stadium 974, Brazil ceaselessly hammer at the Portuguese door but can only find a way through once before Ronaldo strikes late on to fire the tie towards a penalty shootout. The Seleção extend their unbeaten run from 12 yards out at World Cups, with Richarlison netting the winner.

Quarterfinal picks
Spain 0, Brazil 1 (a.e.t.)
Senegal 1, France 3
Germany 1, Cameroon 0
England 2, Denmark 0

Semifinal picks
France 2, Brazil 2 (Brazil win on penalties)
England 1, Germany 0

Third-place playoff pick
France 2, Germany 4

Final pick
Brazil 2, England 0

As is so often the way at major tournaments, the games on the way to the final act prove to be more compelling than the conclusion. With a day's less rest, England look drained from their rearguard action against Germany. This time they cannot hold out, with Richarlison netting either side of halftime as Brazil are crowned world champions for the sixth time.

And so ended the era of Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on the international stage. The sheer luck of the draw had sent Argentina to the toughest of ties, one that would have been worthy of the final. Lautaro Martinez struck first for the Albiceleste, but the weight of French talent was too much for the Argentine rearguard to deny as Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe struck in the second half to keep Les Bleus' underwhelming title defense alive.

Entire article: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...e-delivers-a-finals-performance-for-the-ages/

What we know and still don't know about LIV Golf, the circuit challenging the PGA Tour

Two more major champions, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed, are reportedly defecting from the PGA Tour to the new LIV Golf Invitational Series.

They might not be the last high-profile golfers to join the breakaway circuit being fronted by two-time Open Championship winner Greg Norman and financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Rickie Fowler and others have also been linked to the new venture.

At least 16 PGA Tour players have defied the tour and joined forces with the Saudis, including six-time major champion Phil Mickelson and two-time winner Dustin Johnson, who are competing in LIV Golf's inaugural event, which begins Thursday at Centurion Club outside London.

At the RBC Canadian Open in Ontario on Wednesday, PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas called the defections a "bummer." "I don't know if annoyed or tired is the right word," Thomas said. "It's just one of those things. I've thought a lot about it and it's like, people are entitled to choose as they wish. I don't dislike DJ now. I don't think he's a bad dude. I'm not going to treat him any differently. It's like he's entitled to choose as he wishes.

"And I think that the day and age that we live in now, it's just so negative that you see it in everything. Sport, politics, whatever it is, it's like if you disagree with someone you just feel that you're entitled to hate them and talk bad about them and just bash their decision, when everybody's entitled to their own opinion, you know what I mean?"

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has warned players that they would face stiff penalties for competing in the rival circuit, and the tour issued another statement saying as much again last week.

While stars like Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay have said they'll remain loyal to the PGA Tour, they admit they're interested to see what goes down over the next several weeks.

"I'm as curious as you are to see how the tournaments will go and what the presentation will be like, if it will be similar to golf tournaments that we're used to seeing on TV, or if it will be something totally different, and only time will tell," Cantlay said last week. "I'm interested to see what that product will be compared to what the product is right now that we are all used to."

Where do the PGA Tour and LIV Golf go from here? Here are a few questions that must still be answered:

When will the PGA Tour players face discipline?

Will players who compete on the LIV Golf circuit be eligible for majors?

Why are PGA Tour players leaving for LIV Golf?

Entire article: https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/34020759/what-know-know-liv-golf-circuit-challenging-pga-tour

What does LIV Golf stand for? Explaining the name, meaning of the Saudi-backed invitational tour

What is the LIV Golf Tour?
The LIV Golf Tour is the name of the start-up tour that is attempting to compete with the PGA Tour. It was commonly referred to as the "Saudi Golf League" during its early days given that it is financially backed by Saudi Arabia.

It will host eight events during its inaugural season. Pros won't have to commit to playing a full schedule and will instead be paid to play on a per-event basis. The purses for the eight total events will total $225 million — $20 million will be awarded at the first event in London — while the most notable golfers that are competing in the tour have gotten nine-figure paychecks to defect from the PGA Tour.

The PGA Tour has insisted that players must choose between competing in PGA Tour events and in LIV Golf events. To date, only a handful of notable players — Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen and Kevin Na — have committed to playing on the LIV Golf Tour. Johnson and Na resigned from the PGA Tour to do so given the tour's policies limiting participation in LIV Golf Tour events.

It will also use a different format than the PGA Tour tournaments, and that is partially reflected by their name.

What does LIV Golf stand for?
The "LIV" in the LIV Golf Tour's name isn't an acronym. It is the Roman numeral for 54.

What does that mean in the context of the LIV Golf tour? Greg Norman explained in a recent interview with Sports Illustrated.

54 is the lowest score you could shoot if you were to birdie every hole on a par-72 course, so there is an aspirational aspect to the thinking. It is also the number of holes to be played in each event.

Indeed, LIV Golf players will play just 54 holes in total, as the start-up's tournaments are only three days long. Most events and tournaments on the PGA Tour last four days and 72 holes.

So, while the LIV Golf Tour may look like a strange name on paper, there is actually a reason they chose it. And at least it's catchier than the rather bland "Saudi Golf League" moniker.

Entire article: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/gol...es-meaning-explained/ietdisstrdtxa8k3u2s5c5kq

Well, the 1st LIV event is off and running in London. Here's their leaderboard:

https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/34069682/liv-golf-london-sights-sounds-leaderboard-day-2

Besides a few notable Americans (i.e. like Johnson and Mickelson, etc.) and some "over the hill" and/or marginal foreign players (i.e. like Oosthuizen, Garcia, Poulter, Na, and Westwood, etc.) I never heard of most of them. Apparently the money is there and the guy that finishes in last place still gets over $100K.

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Phil Mickelson reminds me of Guy Incognito:

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Class: 2024 (high school)
Position: LB
School: Sunbury (OH) Big Walnut
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 195 lbs

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Class: 2026
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School: Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei
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Son of former Bengals WR Chris Henry. Camped & earned an offer yesterday.

In just one NFL season, Pete Werner flashed potential to be Ohio State’s most productive NFL linebacker since A.J. Hawk or James Laurinaitis
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Initially blocked on the depth chart, the former Buckeye was forced to play a waiting game in New Orleans. When his number was eventually called, Werner took full advantage of the opportunity.

Pete Werner was a standout high school linebacker in the state of Indiana, and gave an early verbal commitment to Notre Dame. Fortunately for Ohio State, he flipped his commitment to the Buckeyes, and the rest – as some would say – is history.

But will Werner’s OSU career really go down in history? With any sort of infamy? Would you (or I) call it memorable? Because while his individual play was often better than that of the linebackers as a whole, I think he became guilty by association. And the general disappointment in that group’s performance may have overshadowed Werner’s stellar play.

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Werner became a starter for the Buckeyes in 2018, and spent most of his time playing alongside Tuf Borland, Baron Browning, and/or Justin Hilliard. The four of them took up a vast majority of the snaps at linebacker for three consecutive seasons, and while each guy had his moments, the entire unit was heavily criticized. Fair or not, Werner was one of those who took heat, but I would argue that he was far and away the most consistent performer. More than adequate against the run or as a blitzer, he often excelled in pass coverage, despite the fact that he never snatched an interception.

The New Orleans Saints saw through the occasional struggles and/or questionable coaching at Ohio State, and identified Werner as a versatile, high-upside linebacker. They took him with the 60th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and after just one season, they have to be thrilled with their return on investment. Werner began the year behind Demario Davis and Kwon Alexander, only seeing limited snaps in the Saints’ nickel-heavy defense. But when Alexander got banged up, Werner was inserted into the lineup and according to one NFL.com writer, became the team’s most underappreciated player.

Werner’s stats do not jump off the page, primarily due to the fact that he only started eight games. And even in those eight games, he was still subbed out in various packages — he was a rookie after all. But certain metrics paint the picture of a great rookie season. PFF gave Werner a 79.9 grade for his rookie campaign — a score that put him above the likes of San Francisco’s Fred Warner and Indianapolis’ Darius Leonard.

Nobody is saying the former Buckeye is better, relax. PFF graded him even higher solely against the run, dishing out a 91.0! Werner’s stop percentage (8.3) was the highest on the Saints defense in 2021, and despite not making a real impact until the halfway mark of the season, he finished 14th among rookies in total tackles.


Interestingly enough, Werner experienced more than a few growing pains in the passing game. He was targeted 29 times as the primary defender, and gave up 21 receptions (72% completion rate). He certainly has the background of a strong coverage linebacker, but it is something he will just need to work on moving forward. His teammate, Davis, is one of the better coverage linebackers in the league, so there is no shortage of resources when it comes to learning the tricks of the trade.

Entering the 2022 season, Werner should be penciled in as a starter, and if his eight-game sample size is any indication, he is likely to be a very productive linebacker. Perhaps the most productive former Buckeye since Hawk or Laurinaitis. Now, before the Jerome Baker hive comes for me: I get it, Baker has been solid for four consecutive seasons. And he adds a pass rush element that Werner does not. I’m just talking potential here. The hive and I should at least be able to agree that – despite the recent reputation – Ohio State squads have produced some nice talent at linebacker.

But there have been many lean years since Hawk and Laurinatis finished their NFL careers in 2016. More than a few stud Buckeyes entered the league at LB, but unfortunately, they have not had the opportunity or staying power to produce consistently. Ryan Shazier suffered a career-ending injury, Darron Lee was a bust, and Raekwon McMillian has been unable to stay on the field. Here is hoping that Werner (and Baker) can change or at least influence the recent narrative.

The reason I see higher upside with Werner is that he is almost always in the right spot at the right time. Every linebacker gets blown up or finds themselves out of position from time to time, but what sets the good ones apart is their ability to recover quickly and/or take a different angle of pursuit. Werner does both very well. In the run game, he will get bullied by the occasional lineman or tight end, but he attempts to counter with quick, decisive routes to the ball. Baker (no offense) will sometimes freelance or get lost in the shuffle, which is part of the reason his combined PFF grade is below 60 for the past two seasons.

Furthermore, where Werner struggled as a rookie was in pass coverage. But it was a strength of his while at Ohio State, so I expect him to adapt. His 4.6 speed is not tops in the league for his position, but it is more than enough to keep up with tight ends and/or most pass catchers across the middle. If Werner is able to marry his strong performance in the run game with improved awareness and positioning in coverage, we could be talking about an all-around stud sooner than later.

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You’re Nuts: Which team do you want to see Ohio State men’s basketball schedule a home-and-home with?
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 by Al Bello/Getty Images

Would you want to see an inter-state matchup, or perhaps a battle with one of the blue bloods?

After a one-week detour last week to share some of our sports trauma, we are back this week to give our thoughts on Ohio State basketball in this week’s edition of “You’re Nuts.” Ohio State’s schedule is still taking shape, and we won’t know the full schedule for quite some time. We do know the Buckeyes’ opponent in the CBS Sports Classic, the North Carolina Tar Heels. UNC ended last season as the national runner-up and is returning the core of that team that nearly won the title.

We also know that the Buckeyes will participate in the Maui Invitational from Nov. 21-23, where they’ll play three games. The bracket will be finalized at a later date, but Ohio State will play three of Arizona, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Creighton, Louisville, San Diego State, and Texas Tech. OSU will have a great chance to pick up some elite wins early in the season, but these early matchups could also sour their nonconference resume if they’re not able to pick up a few wins.


But first, a recap.

Last week, Connor and Justin shared their most painful sports memory. Connor picked the 2013 NLCS, where the Giants walked-off his beloved Cardinals. Justin picked the entire year of 2007, when Ohio State men’s basketball lost to Florida in the NCAA Tournament title game, Ohio State football lost to Florida in the BCS National Championship game, the Cavaliers were swept by the Spurs in the NBA Finals, the Browns missed the playoffs, the Penguins lost to the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals, and the Indians lost to the Red Sox in the ALCS.

The people sided with Justin’s thoroughly miserable 2007, winning him 95% of the vote. Justin is within one win of tying it up with Connor after one year of nuts.

After 52 weeks:

Connor- 22
Justin- 21
Other- 7

(There have been two ties)


This week we’re talking about Ohio State’s nonconference schedule and who we would love to see the Buckeyes schedule for a home-and-home series. With our picks, the Buckeyes would host that team and travel to their house. Additionally, it does not need to be realistic. Would Duke, for example, ever agree to a home-and-home just for fun? Absolutely not, because they are cowards. But if that’s your choice, go for it.

Today’s question:

Which team do you want Ohio State to schedule for a home-and-home?

Connor: Kentucky

Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Ohio State and Kentucky is one of the juicier rivalries that’s quietly simmering under the surface. It’s not a rivalry based on how frequently they play (only 21 times in 80 years), but geographically and between fans, this is a rivalry.

With Kentucky bordering Ohio to the south and Columbus only being about three hours from Lexington, there’s a decent amount of crossover amongst fans. There are plenty of UK fans that live in Ohio, and there are plenty of Ohio State fans that live in Kentucky. We all know someone who loves Ohio State football and Kentucky basketball — which is morally corrupt in my opinion. But it happens!

These two programs have faced off 21 times, with Kentucky leading the all-time series 11-10. Ohio State is currently riding a two-game winning streak over Big Blue, having beat them in the CBS Sports Classic in 2015 and 2019. The 2019 was a battle between two top-10 teams, with Ohio State winning 71-65. The 2015 game pitted the 4th-ranked Wildcats against the unranked Buckeyes, with Ohio State winning 74-67. Keita Bates-Diop, Marc Loving, Jaquan Lyle, and Trevor Thompson all scored in double-digits for an Ohio State team that did not make the NCAA Tournament that season.

These two teams were supposed to meet in the CBS Sports Classic this past season in Las Vegas, but — as we know — the Buckeyes dealt with some COVID-19 issues in December. The game was cancelled, in part because any players that tested positive in Las Vegas would not be allowed to fly back home for 10 days.

The two teams discussed rescheduling during the season, including playing the very next week, but Chris Holtmann and John Calipari weren’t able to work out a date. The two head coaches have said they would be willing to some sort of home-and-home series in the future, potentially as soon as this upcoming season. On his weekly radio show back on March 21, Holtmann said that “his guess” is that Kentucky will be on Ohio State’s schedule this upcoming season. Far from a guarantee, and this was also before they knew they’d also be playing North Carolina (on top of Maui).

And of course, Holtmann grew up in Nicholasville, Kentucky — 15 miles from Rupp Arena. He still has family living in Kentucky, and he donated $50,000 to the Kentucky United for Tornado Relief Telethon on Dec. 14, 2021. The head coach has personal ties to the area, so it looks pretty likely that the two programs will come to some sort of agreement here in the next year or two.

Justin: Gonzaga

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Hard to argue against Kentucky, and I might be the biggest fan of the CBS Sports Classic out there — just wanted to put that on the table. College basketball needs more events and tournaments like the CBS Sports Classic. Rant over.

I want the Buckeyes to play Gonzaga more. I went in between Gonzaga and Duke on this one, but I chalked Duke up to the moment and recency bias. Even with Coach K gone, a game versus Duke would still be huge because it’s still Duke, but they may never be able to live up to the magic that was Nov. 21, 2022 (that was when Ohio State played Duke in basketball, just to clarify).

For one, these two teams have only played three times. Ohio State won in 2011-12 and then they played twice in 2017-18, first in the super fun PK80 Invitational (I am at least consistent) where Gonzaga won and then Gonzaga knocked out Ohio State in the NCAA tournament that same year.

All of their matchups outside of the PK80 one were entertaining and fun to watch, as both teams can get out and run and score at high levels. Not to mention Gonzaga is consistently a top-five team in the country, incredibly well coached, and is very fun to go play on the road. What else do you need? Kentucky makes sense, but this one is a little outside of the box that could be a lot of fun.

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Twitter: @Jr2Maine



Class: 2023 (high school)
Position: Defensive back
School: Cincinnati (OH) Winton Woods
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 175 lbs

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B1G Thoughts: Five running backs to watch in 2022
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The Big Ten is full of top tier running backs. Which should you look out for in 2022?

The “slow” part of the offseason is here as college football is finally at a standstill. The NFL draft is over, the transfer portal is closed, and spring ball has come to an end. It is officially time to think about the 2022 season. Now is your chance to gather your surroundings, buy a few magazines and figure out who is on which roster and what players to key on. If you don’t know where to begin, B1G Thoughts is here to give you five players at each position to watch in the 2022 season.

Running back is somehow one of the most important and most underrated positions in football. Many coaches, analyst and fans will tell you that running back is replaceable, but a great running back is a difference maker. What would Michigan State be without Kenneth Walker III or LeVeon Bell before that? Ohio State’s dominance has been built off the backs of Archie Griffin, Maurice Clarett and Ezekiel Elliott. Wisconsin has won the West on the backs of Jonathan Taylor and Melvin Gordon.

2022 may be a running back resurgence in the Big Ten. There are more than five to watch, but here are the top five running back to watch in 2022.

TreVeyon Henderson

Sophomore - Ohio State


TreVeyon Henderson broke out in 2021 as a true freshman, rushing for 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns on 183 carries. He also showcased his versatility in the passing game with 312 yards and four touchdowns on 27 receptions. With a total on 19 touchdowns, Henderson broke Ohio State’s record for TDs in a season by a freshman, a record held by Maurice Clarett.

Henderson has a lot of hype behind him — deservedly so — but he did not finish 2021 as strong as he started. That’s fair for a true freshman, but entering his sophomore season, Henderson will need to be ready to carry the Buckeyes through a 15 game season if he hopes to win a national championship. He is one of the best running backs in the nation, and will be a must-watch in the 2022 campaign.

Check out Henderson’s 2021 highlights:

Mohamed Ibrahim

Sixth-year senior - Minnesota


If there is anyone who can contend with TreVeyon Henderson for the title of best running back in the Big Ten, it’s Mohamed Ibrahim. Ibrahim was on a tour de force against Ohio State in week one before he suffered a season ending injury. In three quarters against a national championship contender, he had 30 carries for 163 yards and two touchdowns. You could argue this was a sign of things to come for Ohio State’s defense but Mo Ibrahim almost single handedly upset the Buckeyes.

Without him, Minnesota went 9-3 and was in the running for the Big Ten West championship until the end. With Ibrahim carrying the rock, maybe they would have won. He’s coming back for a sixth season and hopes to lead Minnesota to a breakthrough and a Big Ten West title.

Check out Ibrahim’s 2021 highlights:

Braelon Allen

Sophomore - Wisconsin


Braelon Allen saved the Wisconsin Badgers’ season in 2021, and that is not hyperbole. Wisconsin struggled early in the season due to issues at running back and a quarterback that did not take the expected step up. Then Braelon happened. After a 1-3 start, Wisconsin won seven straight games on the back of Allen, ultimately winning every game where he rushed for 100 or more yards.

Allen finished the 2021 season with 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns on 186 carries despite being a non-factor in the first couple of games. Wisconsin is at its best when it has a game breaking running back, and Allen has all the makings to be one of the best they’ve ever had. He’s must-see TV, and will look to bring Wisconsin back to the mountain top.

Check out Allen’s 2021 highlights:

Chase Brown

Junior - Illinois


Illinois was not the most interesting team to watch in 2021, so it’s okay if you’ve never heard of Chase Brown. Heading into 2022, Illinois will be looking to build on a season that saw them lose a bunch of games but set a foundation for the future. Brown is one of the key pieces they’re looking to build upon after rushing for 1,005 yards and five touchdowns on 170 carries.

Illinois under Bret Bielema is a throwback to Big Ten days of old, built off big tough guys in the trenches, a staunch defense, a grind it out running back and a quarterback who does just enough. With Brown carrying the rock, Illinois has a chance to get to bowl eligibility and scare a few Big Ten contenders.

Check out Brown’s 2021 highlights:

Blake Corum

Junior - Michigan


Blake Corum was the lightening to Hassan Haskins’ thunder. While Haskins got the bulk of the carries and much of the shine for leading Michigan past Ohio State and into the playoffs for the first time under Jim Harbaugh, Corum was a major factor to their success. He ran for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns on 144 carries and made it tough on opposing defenses.

If you load the box and key on the inside run, then Corum would sub in the game and run past the whole defense. He comes into the 2022 season hoping to hold off upcoming underclassman Donovan Jackson for the No. 1 running back spot. Michigan has lost a lot of talent from last year’s squad. If they hope to build on last year’s success, Corum will need to have a monster season.

Check out Corum’s 2021 highlights:

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Buckeyes catching the attention of newly offered target, tight end camper to watch moving forward
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Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

A Michigan native impacted by new OSU offer and tight end recruiting continues in the 2023 class.

With Wednesday’s first camp of the summer, nearly 10 new offers being sent out proved how busy the coaching staff is going to be this entire month of June. A bit of a slower day on Thursday, it was an opportunity to let the dust to settle. Surely it won’t be long for things to ramp up again, and with how many elite level prospects are coming to Columbus over the next few weeks, the only goal is to add to both the 2023 and 2024 classes.

Cass Tech product impacted by latest offer


An Ohio State offer doesn’t come that easily. Sure, some programs dish out offers in droves in each cycle, but the Buckeyes are more the type to offer players they’re truly serious about and would accept a commitment from. Wednesday’s several new offers being sent out in one day isn’t a common practice for the staff, but after seeing the performances from those players, the evaluations gave the reasoning behind each one.

In one case, Jalen Thompson is proof to how much an Ohio State offer means to prep talents. The Cass Tech product is the No. 212 player in the nation per 247Sports, and has most closely been linked to Michigan State. Having five predictions in favor of the Spartans on the 247Sports Crystal Ball feature, Thompson is basically what you’d call a heavy lean to Michigan State, and while they may still be in the lead, Ohio State is certainly giving him a lot to think about.

Larry Johnson’s ability to land top defensive line targets is incredible, and many times the players he brings in come later in the process than other positions. Not to say commitments come early each cycle, often the quantity comes later on. In the 2023 class, the Buckeyes currently only have one player committed along the defensive line, and while there’s several top players strongly considering Ohio State, Thompson looks to be a name that’s already feeling the impact of the Buckeyes being in his recruitment.

Moving forward, it’s not going to be a surprise if Ohio State and LJ are able to make him at least slow things down a bit. After Thompson has made it clear that he intends to get back to Columbus for another visit, and an official visit for that matter. This is just one instance that shows how valuable it is when the Buckeye’s coaching staff sends out an offer.

A new tight end name worth watching?


The first commitment in the 2023 class for Ohio State was tight end Ty Lockwood. The Tennessee native has been an incredible leader in the class when it comes to peer recruiting other top targets on Ohio State’s board, but the staff has every desire to pair him with another player at the position as depth is definitely needed. Moving players to the position doesn’t always happen at a program like Ohio State, but that’s been needed to ensure there’s healthy depth. That said, there’s every reason to take two tight ends in this current cycle.

With offers out to elite players at the spot, the Buckeyes would love to land a player such as Walker Lyons, but not banking on anything right now, the staff looks like they’ll be casting their nets a little bit wider and new names should pop up.

On Wednesday, Vance Bolyard (Greensboro, North Carolina/Northern Guilford) was in attendance for Ohio State’s one day football camp and the 6-foot-5, 230 pound tight end was able to work with position coach, Kevin Wilson during his time on campus. Going through drills and testing, Bolyard, who currently has over 20 offers to his name, was taking in every bit of coaching he could as he looked to develop his game and get better on the field.

The No. 831 player in the country per the 247Sports Composite, Bolyard isn’t the highly ranked player the Buckeyes typically go after. While he doesn’t have an Ohio State offer to this point, this could be a name worth watching if the staff continues to look for tight ends. Schools such as North Carolina, Maryland, Duke, Pitt, Michigan State, and several more have already entered the mix, and it’s not a guarantee that Ohio State follows suit. But definitely a recruitment that with further attention, it could be one worth paying attention to as potential for another new offer.


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Previewing the 2022 Memorial Tournament presented by Workday
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Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

Two weeks before the U.S. Open, some of the best golfers in the world head to Jack’s place to try and tame Muirfield Village.

The eyes of the golf world will be on Central Ohio this week, as Muirfield Village Golf Club will host The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. The annual tournament falls two weeks after the PGA Championship, and two weeks before this year’s U.S. Open, which will take place this year at The Country Club in Brookline, MA. This week’s tournament will likely be the last time we see some of the top golfers in the world in action before golf’s next major in two weeks.

How it all started


Unless you were born under a rock, you know that Jack Nicklaus not only was born in Columbus, he was a standout at The Ohio State University. Nicklaus designed Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, which opened in 1974. The first Memorial Tournament was held in 1976, with Roger Maltbie taking home the inaugural title. Nicklaus won the second edition of the tournament in 1977, earning the first of his two wins at the event that he created.

While it’s not one of golf’s major tournaments, The Memorial is one of the most notable annual events on the PGA Tour. What makes The Memorial so special is that it is one of five “invitational” tournaments on the tour, meaning it has a field of only 120 players, where normal tournaments have 156 players entered. While most tournaments have open qualifying, The Memorial Tournament does not.

Last year’s tournament


After Muirfield Village hosted two events in 2020 in back-to-back weeks, the tour’s schedule returned to normal last year. Even though COVID-19 wasn’t seen as serious enough to keep spectators from taking in the tournament in Dublin, it did have a huge impact on the event. After finishing up his third round with a six-shot lead, defending champion Jon Rahm was informed that he tested positive for COVID-19, which meant he wouldn’t be able to play in the final round of the tournament.

Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

With Rahm out of the tournament, Patrick Cantlay and Collin Morikawa were both left to fight for the title, as both entered the final round at -12. 18 holes weren’t enough to settle things between the golfers. On the first playoff hole, Cantlay was able to record a par on the 18th hole, earning him the second Memorial Tournament title of his career. Cantlay joined Nicklaus, Hale Irwin, Greg Norman, and Tom Watson as two-time winners of the event. If Cantlay wins again, he’ll be tied for second with Kenny Perry for most wins at The Memorial, and be two wins behind Tiger Woods for most all-time.

This year’s notable players


Jon Rahm

With Scottie Scheffler not playing this week, Rahm will be the highest ranked player in this year’s field. Had it not been for his positive COVID-19 test last year, Rahm would be entering this year’s Memorial Tournament as a two-time defending champion. Rahmbo will be looking for his second victory in just over a month after winning the Mexico Open. A strong performance this week will give Rahm momentum heading into the U.S. Open, where he is the defending champion.

Cameron Smith

The Aussie hasn’t had much success at Jack’s Place, missing the cut in two of the last three years at Muirfield Village. After winning the Players Championship this year, it feels like Smith is close to busting through and winning his first major championship. A strong showing at The Memorial would give the third-ranked golfer in the world a boost heading into the U.S. Open in two weeks.

Collin Morikawa

It’s hard to remember that Morikawa is just 25 years old, since he already has two major championship wins under his belt. Morikawa hasn’t had much trouble figuring out Murifield Village in his young career, winning the Workday Charity Open in 2020, and taking Cantlay to a playoff last year. Morikawa is still looking for his first win in 2022.

Patrick Cantlay

Patty Ice will be looking to make it back-to-back wins at Muirfield Village, and three wins in his last four trips to Dublin. Cantlay’s only win of 2022 came at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he teamed with Xander Schauffele to win by two strokes in late April. That doesn’t mean Cantlay hasn’t been in contention in other events though, as he lost in playoffs at the Phoenix Open and the RBC Heritage.

Rory McIlroy

The golfer from Northern Ireland is knocking on the door of a tournament win. Even though he hasn’t claimed victory in 2022, McIlroy is playing some of the best golf on the tour this year, finishing second at The Masters, and following that performance up with an eighth place finish at the PGA Championship. Even though he has an incredible list of tournaments won during his career, McIlroy is still looking for his first victory at The Memorial.

Jordan Spieth

After starting off his career with 11 wins between 2013 and 2017, Jordan Spieth has had a hard time earning victories since, with just two victories since the start of the 2018 season. Spieth has been better over the last two years though, winning the Texas Open last year, and posting the low score at the RBC Heritage in April. Spieth enters this week’s tournament as the 10th-ranked golfer in the world.

Where to watch?


If you’re not going to Muirfield Village to take in this year’s tournament, you’ll be able to watch the action from the comfort of your own home. Thursday and Friday’s coverage will be provided by The Golf Channel and ESPN+, while Saturday and Sunday will have CBS handling the action. Usually CBS has Jack Nicklaus on for at least some of this weekend’s coverage. It will be interesting how much CBS has Nicklaus on considering his recent comments about the PGA Championship being moved from a Donald Trump course, as well as Nicklaus being sued by his own company.

What’s the weather going to be like?


Normally it seems like The Memorial is a magnet for rain. While this year’s tournament will likely feature some rain on Thursday, the weather should clear out nicely for the rest of the weekend. Along with sunny conditions, the temperatures should be perfect for the weekend as well, with highs around 80 in the forecast.

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