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LGHL Running back is the position battle to watch at Ohio State
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Running back is the position battle to watch at Ohio State
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Between Bri'onte Dunn and Mike Weber, including other talented backs, the position battle at running back should keep fall camp interesting.
"Ezekiel Elliott left large cleats to fill, and not just because he ran for 3,699 yards, 41 TDs and 12 multiple-TD games in his past two seasons. He was also valued as a blocker."
- ESPN Staff
Ohio State's running backs have been at or near the top of the priority list this offseason for the Buckeyes in determining who will get the starting nod between Bri'onte Dunn, Mike Weber, and Curtis Samuel. Replacing one of the best running backs in the country last season is never an easy task, but the coaching staff certainly has talent to work with as well. In addition to the senior Dunn and freshman Weber, the potential list of backs includes the aforementioned Samuel (who played at wide receiver for a good chunk of last season), Dontre Wilson, and early enrollee Antonio Williams.
All reports up to this point seem to be leaning towards Weber's way, but it'd be wrong to count Dunn out of the running. The fifth-year senior has shown flashes at times of what he's capable of but has been in and out of Urban's doghouse for the better part of his career in the scarlet and gray, including some fumbling troubles at times. Weber showcased his skill set during the spring game and definitely proved he's more than capable of being the starter. Samuel is sort of the wild card, as the staff will likely want to use him in a variety of ways this season to give J.T. Barrett enough options. Samuel has good hands but also is a strong runner in the backfield when given the carries.
"Barrett is a good runner in OSU's spread option system; more than that, he has savvy pocket presence. He's as good as any recent Buckeye quarterback."
- Sam McKewon, World-Herald
J.T. Barrett will be the lone Ohio State starter at quarterback for the first time since his freshman season in 2014. That year, Barrett led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record and a spot in the Big Ten conference championship, before injuring his knee against Michigan. After last season's up and down performance splitting time with Cardale Jones, Barrett is ready to saddle up for another breakout year. The junior quarterback lit up record books as a freshman and did plenty of damage on the field as a sophomore, but now looks for a complete performance to add to his personal achievements. The Buckeyes will likely go as far as Barrett can take them after losing much of its talented depth to the NFL draft.
But as head coach Urban Meyer has spoke about in the past, the quarterback position at Ohio State needs to be a Heisman contender. That shouldn't seem as difficult to Barrett, who finished fifth in the balloting back in 2014, after two seasons in Columbus under his belt. In the piece linked above, Barrett is listed as the best quarterback that Nebraska will face this season - and for good reason. None of the other Big Ten quarterbacks really meet the level of play that Barrett has had in the past two seasons.
Jr. DE @PrimeTime_Lewis is also on the Bednarik Award watch list. Lewis led the Buckeyes with 8.0 QB sacks in 2015. pic.twitter.com/uJMgkhZWUG
— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) July 5, 2016
In addition to J.T. Barrett making the Maxwell Award watch list and Raekwon McMillan making the Bednarik Award watch list, there's a third Buckeye to make the cut. Defensive end Tyquan Lewis was listed on the Bednarik Award watch list for the upcoming season after coming off a 2015 campaign that saw him rack up eight sacks over the course of the season. Playing opposite of Joey Bosa and Sam Hubbard, Lewis still shone brightly on a defense full of defensive stars. Having played in 28 games for the Buckeyes, Lewis is no doubt considered a veteran on the team as a junior and will be looked to as one of the leaders on the defensive line.
The Bednarik Award itself has been presented to the college level Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. No one from Ohio State has won the award since its introduction, but Lewis and McMillan both are hoping to make a case for it in 2016. The Maxwell Award has been given annually to America's College Player of the Year since 1937. Ohio State has had four Maxwell Award winners including Howard Cassady, Bob Ferguson, Archie Griffin, and most recently, Eddie George in 1995.
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Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Between Bri'onte Dunn and Mike Weber, including other talented backs, the position battle at running back should keep fall camp interesting.
"Ezekiel Elliott left large cleats to fill, and not just because he ran for 3,699 yards, 41 TDs and 12 multiple-TD games in his past two seasons. He was also valued as a blocker."
- ESPN Staff
Ohio State's running backs have been at or near the top of the priority list this offseason for the Buckeyes in determining who will get the starting nod between Bri'onte Dunn, Mike Weber, and Curtis Samuel. Replacing one of the best running backs in the country last season is never an easy task, but the coaching staff certainly has talent to work with as well. In addition to the senior Dunn and freshman Weber, the potential list of backs includes the aforementioned Samuel (who played at wide receiver for a good chunk of last season), Dontre Wilson, and early enrollee Antonio Williams.
All reports up to this point seem to be leaning towards Weber's way, but it'd be wrong to count Dunn out of the running. The fifth-year senior has shown flashes at times of what he's capable of but has been in and out of Urban's doghouse for the better part of his career in the scarlet and gray, including some fumbling troubles at times. Weber showcased his skill set during the spring game and definitely proved he's more than capable of being the starter. Samuel is sort of the wild card, as the staff will likely want to use him in a variety of ways this season to give J.T. Barrett enough options. Samuel has good hands but also is a strong runner in the backfield when given the carries.
"Barrett is a good runner in OSU's spread option system; more than that, he has savvy pocket presence. He's as good as any recent Buckeye quarterback."
- Sam McKewon, World-Herald
J.T. Barrett will be the lone Ohio State starter at quarterback for the first time since his freshman season in 2014. That year, Barrett led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record and a spot in the Big Ten conference championship, before injuring his knee against Michigan. After last season's up and down performance splitting time with Cardale Jones, Barrett is ready to saddle up for another breakout year. The junior quarterback lit up record books as a freshman and did plenty of damage on the field as a sophomore, but now looks for a complete performance to add to his personal achievements. The Buckeyes will likely go as far as Barrett can take them after losing much of its talented depth to the NFL draft.
But as head coach Urban Meyer has spoke about in the past, the quarterback position at Ohio State needs to be a Heisman contender. That shouldn't seem as difficult to Barrett, who finished fifth in the balloting back in 2014, after two seasons in Columbus under his belt. In the piece linked above, Barrett is listed as the best quarterback that Nebraska will face this season - and for good reason. None of the other Big Ten quarterbacks really meet the level of play that Barrett has had in the past two seasons.
Jr. DE @PrimeTime_Lewis is also on the Bednarik Award watch list. Lewis led the Buckeyes with 8.0 QB sacks in 2015. pic.twitter.com/uJMgkhZWUG
— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) July 5, 2016
In addition to J.T. Barrett making the Maxwell Award watch list and Raekwon McMillan making the Bednarik Award watch list, there's a third Buckeye to make the cut. Defensive end Tyquan Lewis was listed on the Bednarik Award watch list for the upcoming season after coming off a 2015 campaign that saw him rack up eight sacks over the course of the season. Playing opposite of Joey Bosa and Sam Hubbard, Lewis still shone brightly on a defense full of defensive stars. Having played in 28 games for the Buckeyes, Lewis is no doubt considered a veteran on the team as a junior and will be looked to as one of the leaders on the defensive line.
The Bednarik Award itself has been presented to the college level Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. No one from Ohio State has won the award since its introduction, but Lewis and McMillan both are hoping to make a case for it in 2016. The Maxwell Award has been given annually to America's College Player of the Year since 1937. Ohio State has had four Maxwell Award winners including Howard Cassady, Bob Ferguson, Archie Griffin, and most recently, Eddie George in 1995.
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tBBC Coach McGuff Adds Assistant Carrie Banks to Ohio State Women’s Basketball Staff
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Coach McGuff Adds Assistant Carrie Banks to Ohio State Women’s Basketball Staff
WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State Women’s basketball head coach Kevin McGuff is trying to replace two assistants and has hit a home-run with the latest addition in Carrie Banks.
The former Northwestern assistant brings a certain flare to the staff that will more than make up for the exit of Joy Cheeks. Her experience as a coach will add to the stables and she has coached at just about all levels of the game.
The Buckeye Battle Cry senior staff writer for women’s basketball Charles Kuehn, had this to say about the hire.
“Her Ohio ties are nice and also have familiar with the Chicago area could come in handy. Wonder if she still has good connections in Florida and elsewhere in the south, not an area we have recruited all that well.”
You can tell from the vast experience that she has the capability to reach the better players on the team and develop them into top talent. Every player that she has coached individually over the past six seasons became an all conference first or second team player including NU point guard Ashley Deary who, as a freshman, ranked in the top three in the Big Ten in assists, was an All-Big Ten honoree and a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award.
Banks will bring her recruiting expertise and coaching fundamentals to a team that already possesses some quality coaches in that area. She helped NU to one of their best seasons in over twenty years with a 23 win season in 2014-15 and the first NCAA birth in 18 years.
Head Coach Kevin McGuff had this to say about the hire (from Ohio State official release).
“I am extremely excited to welcome Carrie Banks to the Ohio State women’s basketball family,” McGuff said. “Her work ethic and passion for helping young athletes develop will be a great fit as we continue to move our program forward. She is also known as a great recruiter and will be instrumental in helping us continue to add the right student-athletes to our program.”
Here is the entire release directly from the Ohio State official website Coach McGuff Adds Carrie Banks.
The post Coach McGuff Adds Assistant Carrie Banks to Ohio State Women’s Basketball Staff appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State Women’s basketball head coach Kevin McGuff is trying to replace two assistants and has hit a home-run with the latest addition in Carrie Banks.
The former Northwestern assistant brings a certain flare to the staff that will more than make up for the exit of Joy Cheeks. Her experience as a coach will add to the stables and she has coached at just about all levels of the game.
The Buckeye Battle Cry senior staff writer for women’s basketball Charles Kuehn, had this to say about the hire.
“Her Ohio ties are nice and also have familiar with the Chicago area could come in handy. Wonder if she still has good connections in Florida and elsewhere in the south, not an area we have recruited all that well.”
You can tell from the vast experience that she has the capability to reach the better players on the team and develop them into top talent. Every player that she has coached individually over the past six seasons became an all conference first or second team player including NU point guard Ashley Deary who, as a freshman, ranked in the top three in the Big Ten in assists, was an All-Big Ten honoree and a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award.
Banks will bring her recruiting expertise and coaching fundamentals to a team that already possesses some quality coaches in that area. She helped NU to one of their best seasons in over twenty years with a 23 win season in 2014-15 and the first NCAA birth in 18 years.
Head Coach Kevin McGuff had this to say about the hire (from Ohio State official release).
“I am extremely excited to welcome Carrie Banks to the Ohio State women’s basketball family,” McGuff said. “Her work ethic and passion for helping young athletes develop will be a great fit as we continue to move our program forward. She is also known as a great recruiter and will be instrumental in helping us continue to add the right student-athletes to our program.”
Here is the entire release directly from the Ohio State official website Coach McGuff Adds Carrie Banks.
The post Coach McGuff Adds Assistant Carrie Banks to Ohio State Women’s Basketball Staff appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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Google Can Tulsa beat Ohio State football? A 2 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose - cleveland.com
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Can Tulsa beat Ohio State football? A 2 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Can Tulsa beat Ohio State football? A 2 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose
cleveland.com
The Buckeyes will be coming off a home game against Bowling Green. Chances to beat Ohio State: 2 percent. Tulsa has lost its last 12 games against ranked opponents, and is 3-18 in its last 21 road openers. Yet two percent is a high number considering ...
Latest point spreads released for key Ohio State games247Sports
Ohio State Favored Over Wisconsin, Penn State, Nebraska, Michigan State and MichiganEleven Warriors
all 3 news articles »
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Can Tulsa beat Ohio State football? A 2 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose
cleveland.com
The Buckeyes will be coming off a home game against Bowling Green. Chances to beat Ohio State: 2 percent. Tulsa has lost its last 12 games against ranked opponents, and is 3-18 in its last 21 road openers. Yet two percent is a high number considering ...
Latest point spreads released for key Ohio State games247Sports
Ohio State Favored Over Wisconsin, Penn State, Nebraska, Michigan State and MichiganEleven Warriors
all 3 news articles »
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Google Artificial joints can't stop Bionic Buckeyes - WKYC-TV
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Artificial joints can't stop Bionic Buckeyes - WKYC-TV
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Artificial joints can't stop Bionic Buckeyes
WKYC-TV
The Bionic Buckeyes also want to raise money for local school districts, so students don't have to pay to play softball or baseball. Woody Coddington, the founder of the Bionic Buckeyes, and Shelley Hoffman, a player who's in the Cleveland Softball ...
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Artificial joints can't stop Bionic Buckeyes
WKYC-TV
The Bionic Buckeyes also want to raise money for local school districts, so students don't have to pay to play softball or baseball. Woody Coddington, the founder of the Bionic Buckeyes, and Shelley Hoffman, a player who's in the Cleveland Softball ...
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Google Barrett among three Buckeyes named to national award watch lists - OSU - The Lantern
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Barrett among three Buckeyes named to national award watch lists - OSU - The Lantern
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Barrett among three Buckeyes named to national award watch lists
OSU - The Lantern
Eddie George was the last Buckeye to win the award in 1995, who also won the Heisman. This is Barrett's second nomination for the watch list in consecutive years. He was joined by former Buckeyes Ezekiel Elliott, Cardale Jones and Braxton Miller on ...
Two Buckeyes named to Bednarik Award Watch List247Sports
Ohio State QB JT Barrett on Maxwell Award watch listAkron Beacon Journal (blog)
Big Ten names all over Maxwell, Bednarik watch listsComcast SportsNet Chicago
The Buckeye Battle Cry
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Barrett among three Buckeyes named to national award watch lists
OSU - The Lantern
Eddie George was the last Buckeye to win the award in 1995, who also won the Heisman. This is Barrett's second nomination for the watch list in consecutive years. He was joined by former Buckeyes Ezekiel Elliott, Cardale Jones and Braxton Miller on ...
Two Buckeyes named to Bednarik Award Watch List247Sports
Ohio State QB JT Barrett on Maxwell Award watch listAkron Beacon Journal (blog)
Big Ten names all over Maxwell, Bednarik watch listsComcast SportsNet Chicago
The Buckeye Battle Cry
all 135 news articles »
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Google Ohio State women's basketball | Buckeyes hire assistant coach - Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State women's basketball | Buckeyes hire assistant coach - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Ohio State women's basketball | Buckeyes hire assistant coach
Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State has hired Carrie Banks as an assistant women's basketball coach, Buckeyes coach Kevin McGuff announced today. Banks had served the last three seasons as an assistant coach at Northwestern. “Her work ethic and passion for helping young ...
No FNL for No. 1 D-tackle, but Buckeyes remain in good shape247Sports.com
Around the Oval: Ohio State Dominates Michigan in Director's Cup and Buckeyes Compete in Olympic TrialsEleven Warriors
Ohio State Twitterverse reacts: Durant to Golden State247Sports
Land-Grant Holy Land -AllMediaNY -isportsweb.com (blog)
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Ohio State women's basketball | Buckeyes hire assistant coach
Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State has hired Carrie Banks as an assistant women's basketball coach, Buckeyes coach Kevin McGuff announced today. Banks had served the last three seasons as an assistant coach at Northwestern. “Her work ethic and passion for helping young ...
No FNL for No. 1 D-tackle, but Buckeyes remain in good shape247Sports.com
Around the Oval: Ohio State Dominates Michigan in Director's Cup and Buckeyes Compete in Olympic TrialsEleven Warriors
Ohio State Twitterverse reacts: Durant to Golden State247Sports
Land-Grant Holy Land -AllMediaNY -isportsweb.com (blog)
all 28 news articles »
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tBBC Barrett, Lewis and McMillan Make Watch Lists
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Barrett, Lewis and McMillan Make Watch Lists
WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Per Jerry Emig, Associate Sports Information Director at Ohio State
The Maxwell Football Club today announced its watch lists for the 80th annual Maxwell Award and the 22nd annual Chuck Bednarik Award. Buckeyes are on each watch list:
Barrett, from Wichita Falls, Texas, and Rider High School, was fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting as a freshman in 2014 and 4-1 as a starter last season with season-capping wins over Michigan, 42-13, and Notre Dame, 44-28 in the BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl. He enters his junior campaign with the Buckeyes needing just 13 touchdown passes for the Ohio State career mark, currently at 57 by Bobby Hoying. His 77 touchdowns responsible for are just 11 fewer than Braxton Miller’s school record of 88. Barrett also enters the season with a career passing efficiency rating of 160.06; the Big Ten record is held by Troy Smith at 157.1. Barrett is three completions shy of qualifying for the record.
Lewis, a 6-4, 260-pound end from Tarboro (N.C.) High School, led the Ohio State defense in quarterback sacks last year with 8.0, a defense that featured two-time consensus All-American Joey Bosa and five other NFL Draft selections. Lewis is a 28-game veteran, a 13-game starter and enters 2016 with 16.5 career tackles-for-loss and 8.5 quarterback sacks.
McMillan was a Butkus Award finalist last season as a true sophomore and a first-team all-Big Ten Conference linebacker. The 6-2, 240-pounder from Hinesville, Ga., and Liberty County High School led the Buckeyes in tackles with 119, a total/average that ranked fourth in the conference. He enters his junior campaign with 168 career tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, four quarterback sacks, one interception, five pass break-ups and a fumble recovery.
The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell, has been given to America’s College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell’s contributions to the game of football were extensive, including time as a player, a sportswriter and an official.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of ’69 and the NFL Hall of Fame’s Class of ’67.
The post Barrett, Lewis and McMillan Make Watch Lists appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Per Jerry Emig, Associate Sports Information Director at Ohio State
The Maxwell Football Club today announced its watch lists for the 80th annual Maxwell Award and the 22nd annual Chuck Bednarik Award. Buckeyes are on each watch list:
- Junior quarterback J.T. Barrett is on the Maxwell Award watch list. The award honors college football’s player of the year
- Junior defensive end Tyquan Lewis and junior middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan are each on the Bednarik Award watch list which honors the defensive player of the year.
Barrett, from Wichita Falls, Texas, and Rider High School, was fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting as a freshman in 2014 and 4-1 as a starter last season with season-capping wins over Michigan, 42-13, and Notre Dame, 44-28 in the BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl. He enters his junior campaign with the Buckeyes needing just 13 touchdown passes for the Ohio State career mark, currently at 57 by Bobby Hoying. His 77 touchdowns responsible for are just 11 fewer than Braxton Miller’s school record of 88. Barrett also enters the season with a career passing efficiency rating of 160.06; the Big Ten record is held by Troy Smith at 157.1. Barrett is three completions shy of qualifying for the record.
Lewis, a 6-4, 260-pound end from Tarboro (N.C.) High School, led the Ohio State defense in quarterback sacks last year with 8.0, a defense that featured two-time consensus All-American Joey Bosa and five other NFL Draft selections. Lewis is a 28-game veteran, a 13-game starter and enters 2016 with 16.5 career tackles-for-loss and 8.5 quarterback sacks.
McMillan was a Butkus Award finalist last season as a true sophomore and a first-team all-Big Ten Conference linebacker. The 6-2, 240-pounder from Hinesville, Ga., and Liberty County High School led the Buckeyes in tackles with 119, a total/average that ranked fourth in the conference. He enters his junior campaign with 168 career tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, four quarterback sacks, one interception, five pass break-ups and a fumble recovery.
The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell, has been given to America’s College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell’s contributions to the game of football were extensive, including time as a player, a sportswriter and an official.
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Chuck Bednarik, former standout at Penn and with the Philadelphia Eagles, is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of ’69 and the NFL Hall of Fame’s Class of ’67.
The post Barrett, Lewis and McMillan Make Watch Lists appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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LGHL Where Ohio State over-performed (and under-performed) in 2015
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Where Ohio State over-performed (and under-performed) in 2015
Chad Peltier via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes were excellent in spots during the 2015 campaign, but not in every game.
We have a tendency to divide teams in to tiers when we look at rankings — whether preseason polls and schedule analysis or when you’re picking games in the middle of the season. For instance, last season it would have been fair to say that Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State were more or less in a league of their own, with Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Michigan, Florida State, Notre Dame, LSU, and Stanford in the next tier.
The point is, even though we rank teams both in the traditional sense — like the top-25 polls — and using advanced stats like the S&P+, the teams are often grouped in tiers rather than there being an equal distance between each ranked team. The difference between the third- and fourth-ranked teams isn’t necessarily the same as the difference between the tenth- and the eleventh-ranked teams.
David Wunderlich, over at Team Speed Kills, recently looked at peers of SEC teams. For instance, he finds that Alabama’s only SEC peer was LSU, while Ole Miss has seven peers on their schedule for next season. That’s a pretty big difference. Naturally, you’d expect Alabama to have a much easier time with their schedule than Ole Miss, just because they should have more contentious games.
So what happens when you look at Ohio State’s 2015 schedule? Who were the Buckeyes’ peers in 2015 according to the end-of-season S&P+ rankings?
One way the S&P+ is presented is according to an adjusted scoring margin — essentially it converts the S&P+ percentages in to a score against a hypothetical average football team from that season. So Ohio State’s S&P+ margin was 24 last season, meaning that the S&P+ metric would expect an Ohio State victory of 24 points over that hypothetical completely average opponent last year (funny enough, the most statistically-average football team last year was Northern Illinois with a .8 S&P+ margin — and Ohio State only beat the Huskies by a touchdown!).
A couple of things are clear.
First, Ohio State’s tier includes more or less just Michigan and Notre Dame. Using the tiers, they would have been the only real toss-up games, though the Buckeyes would have been favored in every game of the season (going by the final advanced stats). The projected margins in those games were just 3 and 5 points, respectively. Ohio State played extremely well relative to the advanced stats, however — 26 and 11 points better.
Penn State, another game where Ohio State vastly exceeded expectations, and Michigan State, a game where the Buckeyes had their third-worst underperformance of the year, are the near-peers for the Buckeyes. These were teams that would have been expected to play the Buckeyes closely — within two scores or so. Instead, Ohio State out-performed their expected 14-point victory by two more scores, but didn’t meet expected outputs against Michigan State by 11 points.
But there were plenty of games where the S&P+ margins more or less nailed the actual outcome of the game. Against Virginia Tech, Hawaii, Maryland, Rutgers, Minnesota, and Illinois, the projected margin was within a touchdown of the actual margin in the game. For four of those games, the projected margin was within two points of the actual margin.
So the S&P+ peer system does a good job not only putting teams in to intuitive tiers (thanks, David!), but also projecting the actual outcomes of games (and identifying cases of under/over-performance). Next, we’ll look at Ohio State’s 2016 schedule and set best- and worst-case scenarios for the season.
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Chad Peltier via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes were excellent in spots during the 2015 campaign, but not in every game.
We have a tendency to divide teams in to tiers when we look at rankings — whether preseason polls and schedule analysis or when you’re picking games in the middle of the season. For instance, last season it would have been fair to say that Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State were more or less in a league of their own, with Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Michigan, Florida State, Notre Dame, LSU, and Stanford in the next tier.
The point is, even though we rank teams both in the traditional sense — like the top-25 polls — and using advanced stats like the S&P+, the teams are often grouped in tiers rather than there being an equal distance between each ranked team. The difference between the third- and fourth-ranked teams isn’t necessarily the same as the difference between the tenth- and the eleventh-ranked teams.
David Wunderlich, over at Team Speed Kills, recently looked at peers of SEC teams. For instance, he finds that Alabama’s only SEC peer was LSU, while Ole Miss has seven peers on their schedule for next season. That’s a pretty big difference. Naturally, you’d expect Alabama to have a much easier time with their schedule than Ole Miss, just because they should have more contentious games.
So what happens when you look at Ohio State’s 2015 schedule? Who were the Buckeyes’ peers in 2015 according to the end-of-season S&P+ rankings?
One way the S&P+ is presented is according to an adjusted scoring margin — essentially it converts the S&P+ percentages in to a score against a hypothetical average football team from that season. So Ohio State’s S&P+ margin was 24 last season, meaning that the S&P+ metric would expect an Ohio State victory of 24 points over that hypothetical completely average opponent last year (funny enough, the most statistically-average football team last year was Northern Illinois with a .8 S&P+ margin — and Ohio State only beat the Huskies by a touchdown!).
Team
S&P+ Rank
S&P+
Proj. Pts Dif
Tier
Actual Pts Dif
Actual Points - Proj.
Ohio State
3
24
Virginia Tech
59
4.2
19.8
3
18
-1.8
Hawaii
118
-16.1
40.1
6
38
-2.1
Northern Illinois
69
0.8
23.2
4
7
-16.2
W. Michigan
53
5.9
18.1
3
26
7.9
Indiana
60
3.9
20.1
3
7
-13.1
Maryland
65
1.8
22.2
4
21
-1.2
Penn State
30
10.4
13.6
2
28
14.4
Rutgers
105
-12.4
36.4
6
42
5.6
Minnesota
37
9.1
14.9
3
14
-0.9
Illinois
61
3.7
20.3
3
25
4.7
Michigan State
13
15.9
8.1
2
-3
-11.1
Michigan
6
21.1
2.9
1
29
26.1
Notre Dame
8
18.8
5.2
1
16
10.8
A couple of things are clear.
First, Ohio State’s tier includes more or less just Michigan and Notre Dame. Using the tiers, they would have been the only real toss-up games, though the Buckeyes would have been favored in every game of the season (going by the final advanced stats). The projected margins in those games were just 3 and 5 points, respectively. Ohio State played extremely well relative to the advanced stats, however — 26 and 11 points better.
Penn State, another game where Ohio State vastly exceeded expectations, and Michigan State, a game where the Buckeyes had their third-worst underperformance of the year, are the near-peers for the Buckeyes. These were teams that would have been expected to play the Buckeyes closely — within two scores or so. Instead, Ohio State out-performed their expected 14-point victory by two more scores, but didn’t meet expected outputs against Michigan State by 11 points.
But there were plenty of games where the S&P+ margins more or less nailed the actual outcome of the game. Against Virginia Tech, Hawaii, Maryland, Rutgers, Minnesota, and Illinois, the projected margin was within a touchdown of the actual margin in the game. For four of those games, the projected margin was within two points of the actual margin.
So the S&P+ peer system does a good job not only putting teams in to intuitive tiers (thanks, David!), but also projecting the actual outcomes of games (and identifying cases of under/over-performance). Next, we’ll look at Ohio State’s 2016 schedule and set best- and worst-case scenarios for the season.
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Google Two Buckeyes named to Bednarik Award Watch List - 247Sports
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Two Buckeyes named to Bednarik Award Watch List - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Two Buckeyes named to Bednarik Award Watch List
247Sports
Lewis earned a starting spot at defensive end last year for the Buckeyes and led the team in sacks with 8 on the season. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound junior is going to be the veteran on an inexperienced defensive line unit that is expected to replace the ...
Trio Named to Maxwell and Bednarik Watch ListsGoPSUsports.com
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Two Buckeyes named to Bednarik Award Watch List
247Sports
Lewis earned a starting spot at defensive end last year for the Buckeyes and led the team in sacks with 8 on the season. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound junior is going to be the veteran on an inexperienced defensive line unit that is expected to replace the ...
Trio Named to Maxwell and Bednarik Watch ListsGoPSUsports.com
all 51 news articles »
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Google Can Tulsa beat Ohio State football? A 2 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose - cleveland.com
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Can Tulsa beat Ohio State football? A 2 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose - cleveland.com
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Can Tulsa beat Ohio State football? A 2 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose
cleveland.com
The Buckeyes will be coming off a home game against Bowling Green. Chances to beat Ohio State: 2 percent. Tulsa has lost its last 12 games against ranked opponents, and is 3-18 in its last 21 road openers. Yet two percent is a high number considering ...
No FNL for No. 1 D-tackle, but Buckeyes remain in good shape247Sports.com
Around the Oval: Ohio State Dominates Michigan in Director's Cup and Buckeyes Compete in Olympic TrialsEleven Warriors
College Football 2016 Preview: Ohio State BuckeyesAllMediaNY
247Sports -Columbus Dispatch -isportsweb.com (blog)
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Can Tulsa beat Ohio State football? A 2 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose
cleveland.com
The Buckeyes will be coming off a home game against Bowling Green. Chances to beat Ohio State: 2 percent. Tulsa has lost its last 12 games against ranked opponents, and is 3-18 in its last 21 road openers. Yet two percent is a high number considering ...
No FNL for No. 1 D-tackle, but Buckeyes remain in good shape247Sports.com
Around the Oval: Ohio State Dominates Michigan in Director's Cup and Buckeyes Compete in Olympic TrialsEleven Warriors
College Football 2016 Preview: Ohio State BuckeyesAllMediaNY
247Sports -Columbus Dispatch -isportsweb.com (blog)
all 24 news articles »
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tBBC Ten Questions With Ohio State Women’s Ice Hockey Coach – Jenny Potter
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Ten Questions With Ohio State Women’s Ice Hockey Coach – Jenny Potter
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
This past Friday (July 1st) I had the pleasure of talking with The Ohio State University Women’s Ice Hockey Head Coach – Jenny Potter. She is quite the decorated athlete (of which you will learn more of as we move along). I enjoyed the short time that I spent with her and I know without question all of Buckeye Nation will enjoy our conversation as well. So shall we move along?
tBBC: Coming from a small town in Minnesota, Edina; which I do understand that Minnesota is huge on hockey – but how did hockey come to you – or was it you to hockey?
Coach Potter: It was a little bit of both. As you mentioned I grew up in small town Minnesota. My Dad and my Mom use to just take me down to the rink and we would play around some and eventually hockey would happen. My Dad and Mom were always into exercising. This was such a natural way for us to do that and have fun. I now know that in Columbus it is a little different. I don’t mind when it’s warmer. But I do miss the colder winters so that I can get out and play some. I notice that when it’s colder a lot of kids get out on the rinks, the frozen ponds, and so on, and just have fun. That’s what hockey is – a lot of fun.
tBBC: You have won All-American Honors in all four years of College. With the University of Minnesota Duluth you won a NCAA Title in 2003. Your amazing accolades don’t stop there … You are a Minnesota Duluth Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee and a three-time Patty Kazmaier Award Finalist; you are the Bulldogs’ all time leading scorer and share the NCAA record for goals in a game with six. In the 1999-00 season you led the nation in scoring; you were named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s Player of the Year, of which you also received in the 2002-03 season… You are the 2nd youngest player to ever make Team USA – Gold came your way in the 1998 Olympics, Silver in the 2002 and 2010 Olympics and the Bronze in 2006. In 2010 you led the US in scoring and became the first Olympic player to net hat tricks in back to back games while also setting a US single-game record with five points. I am talking to a true legend here aren’t I! Is there any special award, event, or notice that stands out the most to you – that you are the proudest of?
Coach Potter: The accomplishments are what kept driving me. I always had challenged myself to become the best player that I was capable of being. Chasing that first Gold Medal in ’98 – that is something I will never forget. That is something pretty special. Winning a National Championship is also super special – and not only did we win a National Championship but we won it in double overtime and in Duluth Minnesota. So that was like icing on the cake. Those are two very special moments but then again being part of an Olympics Gold winning Team is what it is about. I think that everyone that competes tries for the Gold Medal. There are not many who walk away with a medal, let alone a Gold one. So that is the one thing that is special to have. Not many people have that opportunity. I think of that.
tBBC: Do you stay in touch with Maria Rooth, Hanne Sikio, Erika Holst, Brittany Ralph, Navada Russell, and Tuula Puputti? (Members of the NCAA 2003 Champions University of Minnesota at Duluth)
Coach Potter: They are all from different countries and so the experience of all these different cultures … is wonderful. I try to stay in touch … I cannot say that I have been the best at it – especially with staying in touch with my family and all that I have going on now, it sometimes is not easy. But when I do see them in International events we do chat and catch up. I will be going to an International event in Finland and I will see Tuula Puputti there, not sure if anyone else on that list will be there. I did see Erika Holst last year and we chatted. It is a small world and as long as those players are still involved in Women’s Ice Hockey and keep elevating its values and the sport itself we will be in touch. It’s the circles and we will cross paths. I wish I could say I am better at staying in touch with some of the great people in my past, but I could certainly be better.
tBBC: As a coach for the Trinity College Bantams you led them to their first conference championship (NESCAC) and their second NCAA tournament berth in program history, as the squad concluded the 2014-15 season with a 18-7-2 record. You have coached High School too. Now you are in Columbus. When you move to different levels is there an adjustment in coaching that transpires or does the basic philosophy always remain the same?
Coach Potter: I think the philosophy is always the same. It’s like all sports. You teach. I think I am setting such a high bar. I think it is always a plus to have an idea of what you can accomplish and just by being myself, that person who has that drive of competitiveness, and now being a Coach, I know that edge they have and that they want, even though they do not know it exists within themselves. To me coaching is coaching – it doesn’t matter if you are teaching High School kids or College aged players. You know they want to be hockey players or they wouldn’t be there and it’s my job to find their special skills or talents and to teach to the level they can reach.
tBBC: I feel that everyone at The Ohio State University, students, professors, coaches, every employee, no matter the job, have a special spot on campus they yearn for either quiet time or positive interaction. Do you have such a spot on The Ohio State University’s campus and if so where is it?
Coach Potter: Personally? I like the Oval. I like the outdoors. I love the quiet it offers. I enjoy just walking around so that would definitely be the place. Some might say Mirror Lake, but, you know, I come from the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes’! So, yeah, The Oval!
tBBC: You are now a member of The Ohio State University and undoubtedly you have heard of the names, the stories – is there any special athlete you are most fond of that once called OSU home?
Coach Potter: One of the most well known would be Jesse Owens. I mean all that he accomplished as an athlete and a person, especially in the era that he did it – the controversies he faced. For sure he is the first name that comes to my mind of one, if not, the best that came from this University. As a hockey player I often lean towards thinking of hockey greats, of which OSU has had. Then of course the other sports! This university with their tradition and power they generate has many great athletes’ alumni. But I would have to say Jesse Owens is the commanding leader.
tBBC: How big is it in the loss of Julia McKinnon and Cara Zubko and who can we look forward to this coming season that will have us raising the rafters?
Coach Potter: Yeah definitely a big loss – those two – great players, great athletes. Hopefully we can fill their shoes the best we can. We have Jincy Dunne who got injured last year and we are looking forward to her coming back. She has fantastic potential, a true impact player with the ability to be a superstar in this league. There’s also Kassidy Sauve who will be able to stop some goals for us. These two are essential in our filling in the puzzle pieces for next season.
tBBC: Is there anyone who shared some valuable advice to you in your past that to this day you treasure, what is this wondrous advice … and if you like you can share with us from whom?
Coach Potter: Wow! I have had a lot of wonderful advice from so many. You gonna make me think one out, huh? I have had so many great people in my life that offered great advice at the time in my life when it was needed. I guess my Dad. He was there throughout. He helped me get where I wanted to be. He was such a huge and important part of all of this. The little things that he taught me that stuck with me. My husband too – he helped me to maintain who I am and in excelling and becoming even better; even in coaching just watching him and how he does things, handles things. It is so valuable. Often the best advice isn’t always words of wisdom but witnessing someone’s actions. You see in that a truth. The way they handle themselves is important. My Dad use to always tell me when I was trying harder and harder, the competitiveness level I was in was big, he use to always tell me that you never stay the same. You either get better or you get worse. In other words never become complacent. Even with the Gold Medal in the Olympics there’s always something else chasing you. Never give up. You must continue for that next plateau. You must always move forward, not stay in place, or move backwards. No on wins in that.
tBBC: What advice do you give young athletes when they clearly seek what you have obtained. After all you’ve been there, tasting the victories, and you understand the hard work and dedication to get to the level where you have been. Is there anything special you pass onto them that holds strong when they listen to you?
Coach Potter: I don’t know how much they listen to me. It is human nature, I think, to voice something from the heart, and to go towards things that you are good at. But to get to the things that you want there is always something you must get past that you don’t like. It’s like asking players how many of you like doing pull-ups? Not many hands come up. Then when you see this you ask how many of them can do a pull-up? Again not many hands come up. I feel like they have to learn to love what they don’t and become the best at that before you can be the best at what you do love – which is hockey here – that we are speaking of. I tell athletes to do the tough work, work hard at it. Then the sport you are going out for will benefit from your accomplishments – from the things you never dreamed you were capable of doing. It makes you the best at what you do. I tell them that there’s no substitute for hard work. Work hard at everything that you do. Because in that – you’ll become great at something … it may not be hockey but it may be something you do in school, or something else. You must give it your all. Giving fifty-percent in anything does nothing for you. You will never know the answer to how good you really are.
tBBC: I know you are a Bulldog … but you are a Buckeye now too. Can you share with us what it means to you to be a member of one of the most loyal and intense sports nations in all of America?
Coach Potter: I enjoy it – getting to know all of the traditions. I remember some of it from my WCHA days, but now really being a part of campus and seeing it from more of an insider’s perspective I enjoy the things about the school, the extended family atmosphere, the community. The Buckeyes do all of this. It is so wonderful; we are all one big family. And when you go anywhere you have your traditions and you are a part of this family forever – so it is something really special. I have enjoyed my experiences and look forward to much more.
Once again I’d like to thank Coach Potter for the time she allowed me. I found her refreshing, forthright, and inspirational. Once our conversation ended and I sat quietly in my room to my own thoughts – I was ready to tackle the world. Coach Potter is a fantastic motivational teacher. The Ohio State University Athletic Department knew what they were doing in landing Coach Potter for their Women’s Ice Hockey Program – getting an up-and-coming future Coach that will deliver wins for a School that is used to them. Get ready Buckeye Nation – Coach Potter is the real deal. Great things are soon to happen in Columbus.
The post Ten Questions With Ohio State Women’s Ice Hockey Coach – Jenny Potter appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
This past Friday (July 1st) I had the pleasure of talking with The Ohio State University Women’s Ice Hockey Head Coach – Jenny Potter. She is quite the decorated athlete (of which you will learn more of as we move along). I enjoyed the short time that I spent with her and I know without question all of Buckeye Nation will enjoy our conversation as well. So shall we move along?
tBBC: Coming from a small town in Minnesota, Edina; which I do understand that Minnesota is huge on hockey – but how did hockey come to you – or was it you to hockey?
Coach Potter: It was a little bit of both. As you mentioned I grew up in small town Minnesota. My Dad and my Mom use to just take me down to the rink and we would play around some and eventually hockey would happen. My Dad and Mom were always into exercising. This was such a natural way for us to do that and have fun. I now know that in Columbus it is a little different. I don’t mind when it’s warmer. But I do miss the colder winters so that I can get out and play some. I notice that when it’s colder a lot of kids get out on the rinks, the frozen ponds, and so on, and just have fun. That’s what hockey is – a lot of fun.
tBBC: You have won All-American Honors in all four years of College. With the University of Minnesota Duluth you won a NCAA Title in 2003. Your amazing accolades don’t stop there … You are a Minnesota Duluth Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee and a three-time Patty Kazmaier Award Finalist; you are the Bulldogs’ all time leading scorer and share the NCAA record for goals in a game with six. In the 1999-00 season you led the nation in scoring; you were named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s Player of the Year, of which you also received in the 2002-03 season… You are the 2nd youngest player to ever make Team USA – Gold came your way in the 1998 Olympics, Silver in the 2002 and 2010 Olympics and the Bronze in 2006. In 2010 you led the US in scoring and became the first Olympic player to net hat tricks in back to back games while also setting a US single-game record with five points. I am talking to a true legend here aren’t I! Is there any special award, event, or notice that stands out the most to you – that you are the proudest of?
Coach Potter: The accomplishments are what kept driving me. I always had challenged myself to become the best player that I was capable of being. Chasing that first Gold Medal in ’98 – that is something I will never forget. That is something pretty special. Winning a National Championship is also super special – and not only did we win a National Championship but we won it in double overtime and in Duluth Minnesota. So that was like icing on the cake. Those are two very special moments but then again being part of an Olympics Gold winning Team is what it is about. I think that everyone that competes tries for the Gold Medal. There are not many who walk away with a medal, let alone a Gold one. So that is the one thing that is special to have. Not many people have that opportunity. I think of that.
tBBC: Do you stay in touch with Maria Rooth, Hanne Sikio, Erika Holst, Brittany Ralph, Navada Russell, and Tuula Puputti? (Members of the NCAA 2003 Champions University of Minnesota at Duluth)
Coach Potter: They are all from different countries and so the experience of all these different cultures … is wonderful. I try to stay in touch … I cannot say that I have been the best at it – especially with staying in touch with my family and all that I have going on now, it sometimes is not easy. But when I do see them in International events we do chat and catch up. I will be going to an International event in Finland and I will see Tuula Puputti there, not sure if anyone else on that list will be there. I did see Erika Holst last year and we chatted. It is a small world and as long as those players are still involved in Women’s Ice Hockey and keep elevating its values and the sport itself we will be in touch. It’s the circles and we will cross paths. I wish I could say I am better at staying in touch with some of the great people in my past, but I could certainly be better.
tBBC: As a coach for the Trinity College Bantams you led them to their first conference championship (NESCAC) and their second NCAA tournament berth in program history, as the squad concluded the 2014-15 season with a 18-7-2 record. You have coached High School too. Now you are in Columbus. When you move to different levels is there an adjustment in coaching that transpires or does the basic philosophy always remain the same?
Coach Potter: I think the philosophy is always the same. It’s like all sports. You teach. I think I am setting such a high bar. I think it is always a plus to have an idea of what you can accomplish and just by being myself, that person who has that drive of competitiveness, and now being a Coach, I know that edge they have and that they want, even though they do not know it exists within themselves. To me coaching is coaching – it doesn’t matter if you are teaching High School kids or College aged players. You know they want to be hockey players or they wouldn’t be there and it’s my job to find their special skills or talents and to teach to the level they can reach.
tBBC: I feel that everyone at The Ohio State University, students, professors, coaches, every employee, no matter the job, have a special spot on campus they yearn for either quiet time or positive interaction. Do you have such a spot on The Ohio State University’s campus and if so where is it?
Coach Potter: Personally? I like the Oval. I like the outdoors. I love the quiet it offers. I enjoy just walking around so that would definitely be the place. Some might say Mirror Lake, but, you know, I come from the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes’! So, yeah, The Oval!
tBBC: You are now a member of The Ohio State University and undoubtedly you have heard of the names, the stories – is there any special athlete you are most fond of that once called OSU home?
Coach Potter: One of the most well known would be Jesse Owens. I mean all that he accomplished as an athlete and a person, especially in the era that he did it – the controversies he faced. For sure he is the first name that comes to my mind of one, if not, the best that came from this University. As a hockey player I often lean towards thinking of hockey greats, of which OSU has had. Then of course the other sports! This university with their tradition and power they generate has many great athletes’ alumni. But I would have to say Jesse Owens is the commanding leader.
tBBC: How big is it in the loss of Julia McKinnon and Cara Zubko and who can we look forward to this coming season that will have us raising the rafters?
Coach Potter: Yeah definitely a big loss – those two – great players, great athletes. Hopefully we can fill their shoes the best we can. We have Jincy Dunne who got injured last year and we are looking forward to her coming back. She has fantastic potential, a true impact player with the ability to be a superstar in this league. There’s also Kassidy Sauve who will be able to stop some goals for us. These two are essential in our filling in the puzzle pieces for next season.
tBBC: Is there anyone who shared some valuable advice to you in your past that to this day you treasure, what is this wondrous advice … and if you like you can share with us from whom?
Coach Potter: Wow! I have had a lot of wonderful advice from so many. You gonna make me think one out, huh? I have had so many great people in my life that offered great advice at the time in my life when it was needed. I guess my Dad. He was there throughout. He helped me get where I wanted to be. He was such a huge and important part of all of this. The little things that he taught me that stuck with me. My husband too – he helped me to maintain who I am and in excelling and becoming even better; even in coaching just watching him and how he does things, handles things. It is so valuable. Often the best advice isn’t always words of wisdom but witnessing someone’s actions. You see in that a truth. The way they handle themselves is important. My Dad use to always tell me when I was trying harder and harder, the competitiveness level I was in was big, he use to always tell me that you never stay the same. You either get better or you get worse. In other words never become complacent. Even with the Gold Medal in the Olympics there’s always something else chasing you. Never give up. You must continue for that next plateau. You must always move forward, not stay in place, or move backwards. No on wins in that.
tBBC: What advice do you give young athletes when they clearly seek what you have obtained. After all you’ve been there, tasting the victories, and you understand the hard work and dedication to get to the level where you have been. Is there anything special you pass onto them that holds strong when they listen to you?
Coach Potter: I don’t know how much they listen to me. It is human nature, I think, to voice something from the heart, and to go towards things that you are good at. But to get to the things that you want there is always something you must get past that you don’t like. It’s like asking players how many of you like doing pull-ups? Not many hands come up. Then when you see this you ask how many of them can do a pull-up? Again not many hands come up. I feel like they have to learn to love what they don’t and become the best at that before you can be the best at what you do love – which is hockey here – that we are speaking of. I tell athletes to do the tough work, work hard at it. Then the sport you are going out for will benefit from your accomplishments – from the things you never dreamed you were capable of doing. It makes you the best at what you do. I tell them that there’s no substitute for hard work. Work hard at everything that you do. Because in that – you’ll become great at something … it may not be hockey but it may be something you do in school, or something else. You must give it your all. Giving fifty-percent in anything does nothing for you. You will never know the answer to how good you really are.
tBBC: I know you are a Bulldog … but you are a Buckeye now too. Can you share with us what it means to you to be a member of one of the most loyal and intense sports nations in all of America?
Coach Potter: I enjoy it – getting to know all of the traditions. I remember some of it from my WCHA days, but now really being a part of campus and seeing it from more of an insider’s perspective I enjoy the things about the school, the extended family atmosphere, the community. The Buckeyes do all of this. It is so wonderful; we are all one big family. And when you go anywhere you have your traditions and you are a part of this family forever – so it is something really special. I have enjoyed my experiences and look forward to much more.
Once again I’d like to thank Coach Potter for the time she allowed me. I found her refreshing, forthright, and inspirational. Once our conversation ended and I sat quietly in my room to my own thoughts – I was ready to tackle the world. Coach Potter is a fantastic motivational teacher. The Ohio State University Athletic Department knew what they were doing in landing Coach Potter for their Women’s Ice Hockey Program – getting an up-and-coming future Coach that will deliver wins for a School that is used to them. Get ready Buckeye Nation – Coach Potter is the real deal. Great things are soon to happen in Columbus.
The post Ten Questions With Ohio State Women’s Ice Hockey Coach – Jenny Potter appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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LGHL Ohio State in prime position for 2018's No. 1 DT
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Ohio State in prime position for 2018's No. 1 DT
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Buckeyes looking for a big BOOM to start the 2018 recruiting class
For Ohio State, it has been an extremely exciting off-season. Buckeye Nation has been able to watch Urban Meyer put together what could become the best recruiting class in Ohio State history. However, things have slowed down recently with the dead period being in place.
Yesterday was Independence Day and many recruits spent the day with their families and friends, as they should. There was some news to that came arose from the remnants of the fireworks, however.
Buckeyes in the mix for 2018 DT
Five-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent (Bradenton, FL / IMG Academy) spoke with Bill Kurelic of BuckNuts yesterday and reaffirmed his interest in the Buckeyes. The top rated DT of the 2018 class included Ohio State in his list of top schools, along with Florida State and UCLA.
Vincent, only a sophomore in high school, has expressed interest in the Buckeyes since they presented him with a scholarship offer. Since then, he has visited campus three times, with the most recent being last month. While the 6-foot-2, 285-pound DT attended Ohio State's annual Friday Night Light's camp last year, he informed Kurelic that he didn't think he would be able to find time to attend this year.
Vincent's inability to attend the camp this year has no reflection on the Buckeyes potential to land the top 15 player in his class. Currently, 247Sports sees Ohio State as the sure-fire candidate to land Vincent, as 8 out of 8 of its crystal ball predictions favor the Buckeyes.
Five-star WR picks Clemson over Ohio State and others
Five-star wide receiver Tee Higgins (Oak Ridge, TN / Oak Ridge) announced his commitment to the Clemson Tigers yesterday.
Higgins had listed his top ten schools back in May, which included Ohio State, Michigan, Florida State, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Georgia Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss.
Missing out on the No. 3 WR in the class of 2017 is a definite loss for Ohio State. However, Urban Meyer has the Buckeyes in the thick of things for multiple WRs in this class, including three five-stars.
Donovan Peoples-Jones (Detroit, MI / Cass Technical), Trevon Grimes (Fort Lauderdale, FL / St. Thomas Aquinas) and Tyjon Lindsey (Corona, CA / Centennial) are all high on Ohio State – creating a chance for the Buckeyes to potentially land all three. Realistic expectations would be for the Buckeyes to land two of these three, with Grimes and Lindsey being the most likely.
Grimes has listed Ohio State as his favorite for the majority of his recruitment while Lindsey has become a much more practical since the recent commitment from Tate Martell (Las Vegas, NV / Bishop Gorman). The two were teammates in high school before Lindsey left for Centennial.
Quick Hit
Former Buckeye star RB, Ezekiel Elliott announced that he will be in attendance for this years The Opening Finals held at the Nike headquarters in Oregon. Five-star RB Cam Akers (Clinton, MS / Clinton) will be participating in the prestigious camp this year and it will be interesting to see if the crop-top hero can persuade Akers to join Buckeye Nation.
Continue reading...
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Buckeyes looking for a big BOOM to start the 2018 recruiting class
For Ohio State, it has been an extremely exciting off-season. Buckeye Nation has been able to watch Urban Meyer put together what could become the best recruiting class in Ohio State history. However, things have slowed down recently with the dead period being in place.
Yesterday was Independence Day and many recruits spent the day with their families and friends, as they should. There was some news to that came arose from the remnants of the fireworks, however.
Buckeyes in the mix for 2018 DT
Five-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent (Bradenton, FL / IMG Academy) spoke with Bill Kurelic of BuckNuts yesterday and reaffirmed his interest in the Buckeyes. The top rated DT of the 2018 class included Ohio State in his list of top schools, along with Florida State and UCLA.
Vincent, only a sophomore in high school, has expressed interest in the Buckeyes since they presented him with a scholarship offer. Since then, he has visited campus three times, with the most recent being last month. While the 6-foot-2, 285-pound DT attended Ohio State's annual Friday Night Light's camp last year, he informed Kurelic that he didn't think he would be able to find time to attend this year.
Vincent's inability to attend the camp this year has no reflection on the Buckeyes potential to land the top 15 player in his class. Currently, 247Sports sees Ohio State as the sure-fire candidate to land Vincent, as 8 out of 8 of its crystal ball predictions favor the Buckeyes.
Five-star WR picks Clemson over Ohio State and others
Five-star wide receiver Tee Higgins (Oak Ridge, TN / Oak Ridge) announced his commitment to the Clemson Tigers yesterday.
Higgins had listed his top ten schools back in May, which included Ohio State, Michigan, Florida State, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Georgia Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss.
Missing out on the No. 3 WR in the class of 2017 is a definite loss for Ohio State. However, Urban Meyer has the Buckeyes in the thick of things for multiple WRs in this class, including three five-stars.
Donovan Peoples-Jones (Detroit, MI / Cass Technical), Trevon Grimes (Fort Lauderdale, FL / St. Thomas Aquinas) and Tyjon Lindsey (Corona, CA / Centennial) are all high on Ohio State – creating a chance for the Buckeyes to potentially land all three. Realistic expectations would be for the Buckeyes to land two of these three, with Grimes and Lindsey being the most likely.
Grimes has listed Ohio State as his favorite for the majority of his recruitment while Lindsey has become a much more practical since the recent commitment from Tate Martell (Las Vegas, NV / Bishop Gorman). The two were teammates in high school before Lindsey left for Centennial.
Quick Hit
Former Buckeye star RB, Ezekiel Elliott announced that he will be in attendance for this years The Opening Finals held at the Nike headquarters in Oregon. Five-star RB Cam Akers (Clinton, MS / Clinton) will be participating in the prestigious camp this year and it will be interesting to see if the crop-top hero can persuade Akers to join Buckeye Nation.
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Google Can Bowling Green beat Ohio State? A 1 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose - cleveland.com
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Can Bowling Green beat Ohio State? A 1 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose - cleveland.com
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Can Bowling Green beat Ohio State? A 1 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose
cleveland.com
How they could compete with Ohio State: Let's not forget that Ohio State is replacing the vast majority of its contributors from a year ago, and the Buckeyes don't always come out and play well in early season day games. How could the Falcons come in ...
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Can Bowling Green beat Ohio State? A 1 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose
cleveland.com
How they could compete with Ohio State: Let's not forget that Ohio State is replacing the vast majority of its contributors from a year ago, and the Buckeyes don't always come out and play well in early season day games. How could the Falcons come in ...
and more »
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LGHL Ohio State football players learn the true meaning of freedom
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Ohio State football players learn the true meaning of freedom
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Urban Meyer is continuing to teach his players the importance of freedom by honoring those who have served.
"We have some incredible people on our team, as most places have, and I don’t think you realize the depth until you ask for this kind of assignment. They opened their hearts to something as serious as this, and I was blown away."
-Urban Meyer, via Jesse Temple, ESPN
As a continuation of "Patriot Week" at Ohio State in May, which aimed to teach members of the football team real-life lessons about their freedom, head coach Urban Meyer is seeking ways to help others beyond the team itself. As a result, Meyer and the team reached out personally to the families of deceased servicemembers through a letter writing campaign. To make the process even more personal, Ohio State staff worked to match the players on the team with the families based on their own hometown. Defensive end Tracy Sprinkle, for example, was matched with fellow Elyria native Army Sgt. Daniel M. Shepherd, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2004. Meyer said that he will continue to incorporate the letter writing campaign into his "Real Life Wednesday" sessions, and that many of the players have found the sessions in preparation for Memorial Day to be extremely impactful. In his letter to the family of Marine Staff Sgt. Mark A. Wojciechowski, who died in Iraq in 2009, Hilliard wrote "From now on, everytime I hear the national anthem before a game, I will think of your son, and be thankful for every selfless hero who has put others before themselves in making an extreme sacrifice for the people of this country. Though I have never met your family, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers for the rest of my life."
"Defending national champion Alabama has 10 of the 17 first-place votes and goes into the season as the clear No. 1."
-Steve Helwagen, 247Sports
With seemingly innumerable preseason polls available, all with different standings, 247sports compiled 17 of the most prominent polls currently available to produce a composite ranking of college football teams as they currently stand prior to the start of the 2016 season. Having lost two-thirds of its starters to the NFL Draft, the Ohio State Buckeyes are sitting at the No. 7 spot in the consensus poll, though they are as high as No. 3 in others. Michigan comes in at No. 5, but Ohio State ranked higher in four of five major preseason magazines. With the consensus poll, the Big Ten Championship would pit Iowa (No. 15) against Michigan. However, the Big Ten race will ultimately come down to Jim Harbaugh’s first trip to Columbus Nov. 26.
In terms of the College Football Playoff, the top-four teams are: Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma and Florida State. Ohio State and Tennessee (No. 8) are currently matched in the Cotton Bowl Jan. 2 as highly-ranked at-large bids.
While several teams, including Clemson, Oklahoma, Florida State, LSU and Tennessee, each received at least one first place vote, Alabama is the clear-cut favorite at the top spot. Following the trend of recent years, the SEC also seems to be the preseason’s favorite conference, with six teams in the top 25 and three in the top 10. The Big Ten, tied with the ACC and Big 12, has four ranked teams (Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa and No. 14 Michigan State).
"Head coach Tom Ryan and his grappling Buckeyes have embraced the challenge of being a contender in the most grueling conference in any collegiate sport."
-Joe Dexter, the Buckeye Battle Cry
Just a year removed from the first NCAA crown in program history, the Ohio State wrestling team is not letting up on its slate for the 2016-17 season. Despite its schedule last year, Ohio State still managed a third-place finish in both the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament as the team continued to improve over the course of the season. With so many tough opponents heading into this season, it will be a similar learning curve for the young but talented squad.
Already forced to contend with some of the most prominent wrestling programs in the country, such as Penn State and Iowa, the Buckeyes will also have to face Missouri, who upset Ohio State last season in Columbia. While the Buckeyes will have to travel to Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska, the latter two of whom finished in the top-10 of last year’s NCAA Tournament, Ohio State will face Northwestern, Rutgers, Illinois and Penn State at home. Ohio State is not scheduled to face Michigan in dual meets this season.
Despite the loss of key seniors, including Hunter Stieber and Johnni DiJulius, Ohio State returns six starters from last season, including junior Kyle Snyder, who is competing in the Rio Olympics later this summer. Snyder entered last season planning to redshirt in preparation for the Olympics, but returned to the Ohio State squad following the start of the team’s conference matches, ultimately earning a national title at the 285-pound weight class. After a third-place finish at Germany’s Grand Prix over the weekend, Snyder will head to Rio to compete in the 97 kg freestyle class. Beyond Snyder, the Buckeyes are inundated with young talent, including sophomore Myles Martin, who won the first national championship for a true freshman in program history at the 174-pound weight class. Ohio State also returns 2014-15 NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello at the 125-pound weight class.
STICK TO SPORTS
Continue reading...
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Urban Meyer is continuing to teach his players the importance of freedom by honoring those who have served.
"We have some incredible people on our team, as most places have, and I don’t think you realize the depth until you ask for this kind of assignment. They opened their hearts to something as serious as this, and I was blown away."
-Urban Meyer, via Jesse Temple, ESPN
As a continuation of "Patriot Week" at Ohio State in May, which aimed to teach members of the football team real-life lessons about their freedom, head coach Urban Meyer is seeking ways to help others beyond the team itself. As a result, Meyer and the team reached out personally to the families of deceased servicemembers through a letter writing campaign. To make the process even more personal, Ohio State staff worked to match the players on the team with the families based on their own hometown. Defensive end Tracy Sprinkle, for example, was matched with fellow Elyria native Army Sgt. Daniel M. Shepherd, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2004. Meyer said that he will continue to incorporate the letter writing campaign into his "Real Life Wednesday" sessions, and that many of the players have found the sessions in preparation for Memorial Day to be extremely impactful. In his letter to the family of Marine Staff Sgt. Mark A. Wojciechowski, who died in Iraq in 2009, Hilliard wrote "From now on, everytime I hear the national anthem before a game, I will think of your son, and be thankful for every selfless hero who has put others before themselves in making an extreme sacrifice for the people of this country. Though I have never met your family, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers for the rest of my life."
"Defending national champion Alabama has 10 of the 17 first-place votes and goes into the season as the clear No. 1."
-Steve Helwagen, 247Sports
With seemingly innumerable preseason polls available, all with different standings, 247sports compiled 17 of the most prominent polls currently available to produce a composite ranking of college football teams as they currently stand prior to the start of the 2016 season. Having lost two-thirds of its starters to the NFL Draft, the Ohio State Buckeyes are sitting at the No. 7 spot in the consensus poll, though they are as high as No. 3 in others. Michigan comes in at No. 5, but Ohio State ranked higher in four of five major preseason magazines. With the consensus poll, the Big Ten Championship would pit Iowa (No. 15) against Michigan. However, the Big Ten race will ultimately come down to Jim Harbaugh’s first trip to Columbus Nov. 26.
In terms of the College Football Playoff, the top-four teams are: Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma and Florida State. Ohio State and Tennessee (No. 8) are currently matched in the Cotton Bowl Jan. 2 as highly-ranked at-large bids.
While several teams, including Clemson, Oklahoma, Florida State, LSU and Tennessee, each received at least one first place vote, Alabama is the clear-cut favorite at the top spot. Following the trend of recent years, the SEC also seems to be the preseason’s favorite conference, with six teams in the top 25 and three in the top 10. The Big Ten, tied with the ACC and Big 12, has four ranked teams (Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa and No. 14 Michigan State).
"Head coach Tom Ryan and his grappling Buckeyes have embraced the challenge of being a contender in the most grueling conference in any collegiate sport."
-Joe Dexter, the Buckeye Battle Cry
Just a year removed from the first NCAA crown in program history, the Ohio State wrestling team is not letting up on its slate for the 2016-17 season. Despite its schedule last year, Ohio State still managed a third-place finish in both the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament as the team continued to improve over the course of the season. With so many tough opponents heading into this season, it will be a similar learning curve for the young but talented squad.
Already forced to contend with some of the most prominent wrestling programs in the country, such as Penn State and Iowa, the Buckeyes will also have to face Missouri, who upset Ohio State last season in Columbia. While the Buckeyes will have to travel to Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska, the latter two of whom finished in the top-10 of last year’s NCAA Tournament, Ohio State will face Northwestern, Rutgers, Illinois and Penn State at home. Ohio State is not scheduled to face Michigan in dual meets this season.
Despite the loss of key seniors, including Hunter Stieber and Johnni DiJulius, Ohio State returns six starters from last season, including junior Kyle Snyder, who is competing in the Rio Olympics later this summer. Snyder entered last season planning to redshirt in preparation for the Olympics, but returned to the Ohio State squad following the start of the team’s conference matches, ultimately earning a national title at the 285-pound weight class. After a third-place finish at Germany’s Grand Prix over the weekend, Snyder will head to Rio to compete in the 97 kg freestyle class. Beyond Snyder, the Buckeyes are inundated with young talent, including sophomore Myles Martin, who won the first national championship for a true freshman in program history at the 174-pound weight class. Ohio State also returns 2014-15 NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello at the 125-pound weight class.
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- This military tribute at Fort Bragg was awesome
- Check out the Big Ten mascots’ tribute to the Star Spangled Banner
- Who is Ohio State’s biggest celebrity fan? Check here to find out
- And the winner of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is...
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Google Ohio State Buckeyes of Past and Present React to Kevin Durant Joining the Golden State...
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Ohio State Buckeyes of Past and Present React to Kevin Durant Joining the Golden State Warriors - Eleven Warriors
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Ohio State Buckeyes of Past and Present React to Kevin Durant Joining the Golden State Warriors
Eleven Warriors
The United States of America turned 240-years-old on Monday morning, yet it's free agent NBA forward Kevin Durant that stole the show. Durant, who played his entire NBA career with the Oklahoma Thunder, the team that drafted him in 2007 when it was ...
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Ohio State Buckeyes of Past and Present React to Kevin Durant Joining the Golden State Warriors
Eleven Warriors
The United States of America turned 240-years-old on Monday morning, yet it's free agent NBA forward Kevin Durant that stole the show. Durant, who played his entire NBA career with the Oklahoma Thunder, the team that drafted him in 2007 when it was ...
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Google No FNL for No. 1 D-tackle, but Buckeyes remain in good shape - 247Sports.com
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No FNL for No. 1 D-tackle, but Buckeyes remain in good shape - 247Sports.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
No FNL for No. 1 D-tackle, but Buckeyes remain in good shape
247Sports.com
The country's No. 1 class of 2018 defensive tackle, Taron Vincent from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG, worked out at one of the Buckeyes' 1-Day Position Camps in mid-June. As one would expect, Vincent spent quite a bit of time with Ohio State defensive line ...
College Football 2016 Preview: Ohio State BuckeyesAllMediaNY
Inexperienced Ohio State Football still the Big Ten favoriteisportsweb.com (blog)
Ohio State football | Players like flotation tank as way to relax, heal fasterColumbus Dispatch
Eleven Warriors -Land-Grant Holy Land -247Sports
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
No FNL for No. 1 D-tackle, but Buckeyes remain in good shape
247Sports.com
The country's No. 1 class of 2018 defensive tackle, Taron Vincent from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG, worked out at one of the Buckeyes' 1-Day Position Camps in mid-June. As one would expect, Vincent spent quite a bit of time with Ohio State defensive line ...
College Football 2016 Preview: Ohio State BuckeyesAllMediaNY
Inexperienced Ohio State Football still the Big Ten favoriteisportsweb.com (blog)
Ohio State football | Players like flotation tank as way to relax, heal fasterColumbus Dispatch
Eleven Warriors -Land-Grant Holy Land -247Sports
all 14 news articles »
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Google Can Bowling Green beat Ohio State? A 1 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose - cleveland.com
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Can Bowling Green beat Ohio State? A 1 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Can Bowling Green beat Ohio State? A 1 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose
cleveland.com
How they could compete with Ohio State: Let's not forget that Ohio State is replacing the vast majority of their contributors from a year ago, and the Buckeyes don't always come out and play well in early season day games. How could the Falcons come in ...
and more »
Continue reading...
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Can Bowling Green beat Ohio State? A 1 percent chance the Buckeyes could lose
cleveland.com
How they could compete with Ohio State: Let's not forget that Ohio State is replacing the vast majority of their contributors from a year ago, and the Buckeyes don't always come out and play well in early season day games. How could the Falcons come in ...
and more »
Continue reading...
tBBC TBBC Roundtable: What Does Independence Day Mean To Me
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TBBC Roundtable: What Does Independence Day Mean To Me
WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
TBBC wants to wish everyone a very Happy Independence Day and hope it’s the most enjoyable day possible. We like roundtables around these parts and sometimes like to express our own feelings, shocking I know, but we have a great love for our country and the freedoms we have because of the brave who have fought and lost for us.
Some of here are veterans, some of us have serious ties and memories to those who did serve and to some it’s a special birthday. Thank you for taking the time to read one of the more powerful articles put together here in a while. Have a great day
What Does Independence Day Mean to Me?
Joe – I have never been a big fan of fireworks. They will never be my thing. Independence though, will always be my everything. From being able to raise a family through the freedom of my beliefs, to my god given right to make fun of That Team up North.
I am blessed to practice the freedom bestowed upon me to pursue happiness. I cherish the groundwork that, even when challenged, allows my country to stand tall.
Most importantly, I’m reminded of the great unity of Independence that is found in the roots of this country. I praise those before us that come together in times of tribulation and struggle to defend this land. And I hope that we as a country — a power beyond measure in this world — find those values in a growing time of disdain between our citizens.
The United States of America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. Today, I encourage you to remember that while freedom is a god-given right, It’s also a privilege.
If we’re united, we can stand together against the transgressions our nation faces every single day. Does that mean we have to agree on every single thing? Absolutely not.
The birth of our nation should serve as a reminder though that if we’re not united as a nation, we will not stand as the greatest nation ever known to mankind. What makes this country great isn’t just the ideals that have been in place since 1776.
It’s the power of a united people.
Without that core strength — split by only empowering what we believe without being willing to open discourse — divided we will fall.
That unfortunate truth is self-evident.
The first step in taking our country back, is remembering and respecting the core values of what makes this country great. Not just from the first person perspective, but that those rights are equal for those around us as well
Michael – 4th of July means family, fun, food, and fireworks. It’s a time to celebrate this great country we all live in. It means freedom and to thank all the men and women who died bringing and defending that freedom. I love this country and I love celebrating the 4th of July. My home town does as well. For a very small town it has a big parade and one of the best firework shows around the area. It’s so good in fact, a town that has a population of just 4,000 gets crowds as big as 30,000 for the show. Happy 4th of July everyone!!
Scott – I’m old fashioned when it comes to holidays. I like them for what they mean, not all the pomp and circumstance.
While I love fireworks and festivals, for me, July 4 is a day to remember and recognize all the freedoms we earned by leaving the tyranny of England and becoming an independent country
JC – Independence Day to me is the representation of all that we are. I am not punished because of my faith, my politics, or my strong disdain for TTUN. I love America. I love the idea that I can strongly protest anything and only be branded by the opposition as a”whatever” is encouragement to continue.
There just isn’t anywhere on the face of this earth like America. And just as important there’s no where like The Ohio State University.
Patrick – I’m like everyone else in some regards when it comes to the 4th and what it means to my freedoms and remembering the birth of our country, but the 4th of July holds a special meaning to me in a bigger way than just that.
Many of you know that I have a disabled brother, but what many of you don’t know, is how much this kid means to me or the involvement in which I have in his life. My brother Blake was born on the 4th of July, 1978. Blake is non verbal and autistic and has cerebral palsy. Blake requires daily personal care and it is very involved. Blake is my best friend and my brother. Blake comes to my house on Friday nights and stays till dad comes to pick him up on Monday morning to take him to work.
I have chosen to take over Blake’s care full time when my parents can no longer do it and it’s a labor of love I can’t wait to do. Blake also has a love for Ohio State that probably tops many of us in this forum. Blake is perpetual motion most of the day but when a Buckeyes game is on, he sits and watches and cheers. He’ll even stop and watch if a replay is on Big Ten Network.
The two biggest highlights of Blake’s year is when he gets to compete in the state of Ohio state Special Olympic Summer and Winter Games held on the campus of The Ohio State University. Almost every piece of clothing he owns is OSU gear and his room at my house is donned in pictures and posters of Ohio State. Blake LOVES to get on YouTube and look up videos of his favorite thing and with out hesitation, the very FIRST thing you will always hear when he gets on the computer are the campus chimes of Carmen, OH.
When Blake and I are traveling, many times he’ll sign “hot dog” and “Coke” and point in the direction we travel down 71 south to Columbus to ask me if we’re going to a Bucks game. Having a sibling that’s disabled often reminds me to sit back and remember and experience the simple things in life, like a hot dog and a coke at a Buckeyes game. Happy 4th to everyone and happy 38th birthday to my brother Blake!!
Brandon – Independence Day is a time to celebrate our freedom. We celebrate this by spending time with family and friends, we cook things on the grill, and we watch fireworks. It is a joyous occasion where it is not uncommon for a community of absolute strangers to come together to celebrate. Outside of these fun activities, there is another whole side of the 4th of July which I implore you to think about.During the American Revolution, there were 217,000 individuals who put their country’s best interest ahead of their own and battled for our freedom. Since then, over 40 million individuals have stepped up to the challenge and fought for our freedom. Over 656,000 of those brave souls have lost their lives so that we can celebrate this day together.
We have over 23 million veterans living among us. It could be yourself…it could be your neighbor…it could be your family member but seek them out and thank them. It doesn’t have to be Memorial Day or Veterans Day to do this. I am lucky enough to be friends with many service members from all of the branches. I myself am a veteran who deployed three times. My wife is an active duty service member who has deployed twice. I have friends who have been wounded…I have friends who have died…I thank each and every one of them for their service and for allowing me the opportunity to celebrate this day with family and friends.
Charles – Like many others have said, Independence Day means the celebration of our freedom and that I am lucky to live in the US. Of course we tend to celebrate these things by spending time with friends and family grilling out, drinking beer, and watching fireworks and that is appropriate because these are things we are able to do because we live in this country and I mean that not only in terms of our freedom to do so but that we live in a country where we have the economic opportunities to do these kind of things.
Of course we should also take time to think about those who have made our freedom possible and this country so great. This tends to be focused on remembering and honoring the veterans who sacrificed to preserve our freedom and we should do this but we should also remember all the others who have contributed to the country over the years, to make the US great and worth protecting.
Living in Australia for three years (this is actually my first Fourth of July in the US since 2011) helped give me a different perspective on the US, both good and bad. While the are many great things about the US, there are also things that could be better (I’d love to have Australia’s gun laws and health care system more like theirs) but in the end, I’m grateful and lucky to be an American. My time abroad gave me a chance to think about what makes America great and while there are a lot of little things, there are two big ones that stand out:
1. Freedom of speech. This is something that we all talk about and say we appreciate but it is also something we tend to take for granted. While we know that there are many countries that don’t have freedom of speech for their citizens, we tend to assume that this a common thing about western democracies. While most western countries have some form of freedom of speech, many of them are not as expansive or as well protected as it is in the US. For example, the Australian constitution does not mention freedom of speech, it is just another law that can easily be changed by the government and they have placed significant restrictions on it by banning offensive speech. While we all appreciate our freedom of speech, it is important to understand how crucial it is to making our country great. Where would the US be if people in the past couldn’t speak out and protest against injustices that were being done, whether by the government or society?
2. The fact that we are a giant melting pot. The US is a diverse nation made up of people whose families originated from all over the world. These people came to the US and contributed their skills to help build this country. The importance of being a melting pot seems to have been forgotten by many lately who seek to keep certain groups out or to insist that those who come here entirely assimilate to our way of life without adding anything from where they come from. The purpose and strength of being a melting pot is that people who come here do become Americans and part of our country but in doing so add bits of themselves and where they come from to our society. Just look at how we celebrate the Fourth of July, fireworks originated in China, beer originated in the ancient Middle East and was popularized by the Germans, hot dogs originated in Germany, and grilling meat predated Europeans arriving in North America and was common amongst numerous native groups throughout the Americas.
I hope everyone has a good Fourth of July and takes some time to think about what this day means to them.
WVa – There isn’t much that I can say that hasn’t been said above. What this day means to me is truly what it is for. I myself have served my country, was involved in a bombing by terrorist and yet that isn’t a drop in the bucket compared to what others have been through.
I lost a friend in the bombing and he left behind a wife and child. There is rarely a week or days that go by I don’t think about him and them. He saved several of my shipmates from the destruction from the grenades used and sacrificed all for me and others. He didn’t throw himself on the grenade, but if he hadn’t been setting where he was, several others would be lost.
We live in the greatest country in the world and we have the freedoms we have because of people like Ron Strong and thousands of others who have fought and lost. Today is special to me because I get to enjoy the day with my family because of what it stands for. I hope everybody has a blessed day and enjoys it with those you love!
God Bless The U.S.A.
The post TBBC Roundtable: What Does Independence Day Mean To Me appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
TBBC wants to wish everyone a very Happy Independence Day and hope it’s the most enjoyable day possible. We like roundtables around these parts and sometimes like to express our own feelings, shocking I know, but we have a great love for our country and the freedoms we have because of the brave who have fought and lost for us.
Some of here are veterans, some of us have serious ties and memories to those who did serve and to some it’s a special birthday. Thank you for taking the time to read one of the more powerful articles put together here in a while. Have a great day
What Does Independence Day Mean to Me?
Joe – I have never been a big fan of fireworks. They will never be my thing. Independence though, will always be my everything. From being able to raise a family through the freedom of my beliefs, to my god given right to make fun of That Team up North.
I am blessed to practice the freedom bestowed upon me to pursue happiness. I cherish the groundwork that, even when challenged, allows my country to stand tall.
Most importantly, I’m reminded of the great unity of Independence that is found in the roots of this country. I praise those before us that come together in times of tribulation and struggle to defend this land. And I hope that we as a country — a power beyond measure in this world — find those values in a growing time of disdain between our citizens.
The United States of America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. Today, I encourage you to remember that while freedom is a god-given right, It’s also a privilege.
If we’re united, we can stand together against the transgressions our nation faces every single day. Does that mean we have to agree on every single thing? Absolutely not.
The birth of our nation should serve as a reminder though that if we’re not united as a nation, we will not stand as the greatest nation ever known to mankind. What makes this country great isn’t just the ideals that have been in place since 1776.
It’s the power of a united people.
Without that core strength — split by only empowering what we believe without being willing to open discourse — divided we will fall.
That unfortunate truth is self-evident.
The first step in taking our country back, is remembering and respecting the core values of what makes this country great. Not just from the first person perspective, but that those rights are equal for those around us as well
Michael – 4th of July means family, fun, food, and fireworks. It’s a time to celebrate this great country we all live in. It means freedom and to thank all the men and women who died bringing and defending that freedom. I love this country and I love celebrating the 4th of July. My home town does as well. For a very small town it has a big parade and one of the best firework shows around the area. It’s so good in fact, a town that has a population of just 4,000 gets crowds as big as 30,000 for the show. Happy 4th of July everyone!!
Scott – I’m old fashioned when it comes to holidays. I like them for what they mean, not all the pomp and circumstance.
While I love fireworks and festivals, for me, July 4 is a day to remember and recognize all the freedoms we earned by leaving the tyranny of England and becoming an independent country
JC – Independence Day to me is the representation of all that we are. I am not punished because of my faith, my politics, or my strong disdain for TTUN. I love America. I love the idea that I can strongly protest anything and only be branded by the opposition as a”whatever” is encouragement to continue.
There just isn’t anywhere on the face of this earth like America. And just as important there’s no where like The Ohio State University.
Patrick – I’m like everyone else in some regards when it comes to the 4th and what it means to my freedoms and remembering the birth of our country, but the 4th of July holds a special meaning to me in a bigger way than just that.
Many of you know that I have a disabled brother, but what many of you don’t know, is how much this kid means to me or the involvement in which I have in his life. My brother Blake was born on the 4th of July, 1978. Blake is non verbal and autistic and has cerebral palsy. Blake requires daily personal care and it is very involved. Blake is my best friend and my brother. Blake comes to my house on Friday nights and stays till dad comes to pick him up on Monday morning to take him to work.
I have chosen to take over Blake’s care full time when my parents can no longer do it and it’s a labor of love I can’t wait to do. Blake also has a love for Ohio State that probably tops many of us in this forum. Blake is perpetual motion most of the day but when a Buckeyes game is on, he sits and watches and cheers. He’ll even stop and watch if a replay is on Big Ten Network.
The two biggest highlights of Blake’s year is when he gets to compete in the state of Ohio state Special Olympic Summer and Winter Games held on the campus of The Ohio State University. Almost every piece of clothing he owns is OSU gear and his room at my house is donned in pictures and posters of Ohio State. Blake LOVES to get on YouTube and look up videos of his favorite thing and with out hesitation, the very FIRST thing you will always hear when he gets on the computer are the campus chimes of Carmen, OH.
When Blake and I are traveling, many times he’ll sign “hot dog” and “Coke” and point in the direction we travel down 71 south to Columbus to ask me if we’re going to a Bucks game. Having a sibling that’s disabled often reminds me to sit back and remember and experience the simple things in life, like a hot dog and a coke at a Buckeyes game. Happy 4th to everyone and happy 38th birthday to my brother Blake!!
Brandon – Independence Day is a time to celebrate our freedom. We celebrate this by spending time with family and friends, we cook things on the grill, and we watch fireworks. It is a joyous occasion where it is not uncommon for a community of absolute strangers to come together to celebrate. Outside of these fun activities, there is another whole side of the 4th of July which I implore you to think about.During the American Revolution, there were 217,000 individuals who put their country’s best interest ahead of their own and battled for our freedom. Since then, over 40 million individuals have stepped up to the challenge and fought for our freedom. Over 656,000 of those brave souls have lost their lives so that we can celebrate this day together.
We have over 23 million veterans living among us. It could be yourself…it could be your neighbor…it could be your family member but seek them out and thank them. It doesn’t have to be Memorial Day or Veterans Day to do this. I am lucky enough to be friends with many service members from all of the branches. I myself am a veteran who deployed three times. My wife is an active duty service member who has deployed twice. I have friends who have been wounded…I have friends who have died…I thank each and every one of them for their service and for allowing me the opportunity to celebrate this day with family and friends.
Charles – Like many others have said, Independence Day means the celebration of our freedom and that I am lucky to live in the US. Of course we tend to celebrate these things by spending time with friends and family grilling out, drinking beer, and watching fireworks and that is appropriate because these are things we are able to do because we live in this country and I mean that not only in terms of our freedom to do so but that we live in a country where we have the economic opportunities to do these kind of things.
Of course we should also take time to think about those who have made our freedom possible and this country so great. This tends to be focused on remembering and honoring the veterans who sacrificed to preserve our freedom and we should do this but we should also remember all the others who have contributed to the country over the years, to make the US great and worth protecting.
Living in Australia for three years (this is actually my first Fourth of July in the US since 2011) helped give me a different perspective on the US, both good and bad. While the are many great things about the US, there are also things that could be better (I’d love to have Australia’s gun laws and health care system more like theirs) but in the end, I’m grateful and lucky to be an American. My time abroad gave me a chance to think about what makes America great and while there are a lot of little things, there are two big ones that stand out:
1. Freedom of speech. This is something that we all talk about and say we appreciate but it is also something we tend to take for granted. While we know that there are many countries that don’t have freedom of speech for their citizens, we tend to assume that this a common thing about western democracies. While most western countries have some form of freedom of speech, many of them are not as expansive or as well protected as it is in the US. For example, the Australian constitution does not mention freedom of speech, it is just another law that can easily be changed by the government and they have placed significant restrictions on it by banning offensive speech. While we all appreciate our freedom of speech, it is important to understand how crucial it is to making our country great. Where would the US be if people in the past couldn’t speak out and protest against injustices that were being done, whether by the government or society?
2. The fact that we are a giant melting pot. The US is a diverse nation made up of people whose families originated from all over the world. These people came to the US and contributed their skills to help build this country. The importance of being a melting pot seems to have been forgotten by many lately who seek to keep certain groups out or to insist that those who come here entirely assimilate to our way of life without adding anything from where they come from. The purpose and strength of being a melting pot is that people who come here do become Americans and part of our country but in doing so add bits of themselves and where they come from to our society. Just look at how we celebrate the Fourth of July, fireworks originated in China, beer originated in the ancient Middle East and was popularized by the Germans, hot dogs originated in Germany, and grilling meat predated Europeans arriving in North America and was common amongst numerous native groups throughout the Americas.
I hope everyone has a good Fourth of July and takes some time to think about what this day means to them.
WVa – There isn’t much that I can say that hasn’t been said above. What this day means to me is truly what it is for. I myself have served my country, was involved in a bombing by terrorist and yet that isn’t a drop in the bucket compared to what others have been through.
I lost a friend in the bombing and he left behind a wife and child. There is rarely a week or days that go by I don’t think about him and them. He saved several of my shipmates from the destruction from the grenades used and sacrificed all for me and others. He didn’t throw himself on the grenade, but if he hadn’t been setting where he was, several others would be lost.
We live in the greatest country in the world and we have the freedoms we have because of people like Ron Strong and thousands of others who have fought and lost. Today is special to me because I get to enjoy the day with my family because of what it stands for. I hope everybody has a blessed day and enjoys it with those you love!
God Bless The U.S.A.
The post TBBC Roundtable: What Does Independence Day Mean To Me appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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BTN Dienhart: Big Ten East linebacker unit rankings
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Dienhart: Big Ten East linebacker unit rankings
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network
Linebackers need to be a special breed of crazy and talent, willing to take on big offensive linemen and fullbacks with power while also having the speed to chase down running backs. And no school in the East has a better collection of LBs than Michigan State. [ MORE: East OL | East receiving corps | East backfields | East DL | East predictions ] Here’s my ranking of Big Ten East linebacking units. 1. Michigan State. Lots of talent in East Lansing. Senior Riley Bullough will be one of the Big Ten’s best. He is Mr. Spartan, a true
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Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network
Linebackers need to be a special breed of crazy and talent, willing to take on big offensive linemen and fullbacks with power while also having the speed to chase down running backs. And no school in the East has a better collection of LBs than Michigan State. [ MORE: East OL | East receiving corps | East backfields | East DL | East predictions ] Here’s my ranking of Big Ten East linebacking units. 1. Michigan State. Lots of talent in East Lansing. Senior Riley Bullough will be one of the Big Ten’s best. He is Mr. Spartan, a true
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