At the risk of derailing this thread I will post an article I just ran across. Just so everyone remembers that there ARE folks to be proud of. There ARE good stories written about our team. Even though we are frustrated, angry and bewildered, the sun will rise tomorrow. Good folks will step up to right the wrongs, mete out punishment, and always ... always ... try and make our young men and women better people. That is the whole point. Whether or not someone deserves to play for the Buckeyes in the future isn't the issue. Some will be given that chance, some will not. Some deserve the chance, some do not. What I hope we always do as Buckeyes is continually strive to make better people of those young folks. Regardless if someone is given the privilege of playing for OSU or not, we should not allow their shortcomings or failures to deter our efforts. That is our promise to them upon coming to tOSU. We pledge to look out for their best interests and well being. Their failures do NOT alleviate our responsibilities. THAT, my friends, takes courage. It takes heart. It takes determination and conviction. It is not an easy road, but teachers, coaches and parents will tell you ... it IS the right road. Many times it is not their decisions that are most important ... it is our response.
(FWIW, I too would like to start cutting people from the team. It is easy as a fan (me) to sit in judgement and eliminate the problems that arise. In some cases it will be in a player's best interest to do just that. It is not so easy as a teacher, coach or parent to turn your back on someone you have made a commitment to making better.)
Some of the comments below indirectly relate to the recent incidents as well.
Former OSU players drop in on Heartland - NN of Central Ohio (Bucyrus Telegraph Forum)
•FB
Former OSU players drop in on Heartland
By Dan Clutter
Telegraph-Forum staff
T-F photo by Beth Thompson
Former Ohio State star James Cotton helps Heartland of Bucyrus resident Martha C. Williams during his visit Wednesday.
BUCYRUS -- Martha C. Williams isn't much of a football fan. She prefers the Atlanta Braves.
"I don't know the first thing about football," said the former Upper Sandusky and Sycamore resident who now lives at Heartland of Bucyrus.
Elma Butler of Bucyrus said she was "somewhat" of a football fan.
"Once in a while I'll sit there and watch it," she said.
But the women were right there when former Buckeyes Branden Joe, James Cotton, John Hollins and Bam Childress visited Heartland on Wednesday. The four players signed autographs and talked to fans from the community.
The four Buckeyes travel throughout the state visiting "every nook and cranny," according to Joe.
"We'll visit eight to 10 places this week," Joe added.
"It means a lot to give back to the communities in Ohio that support us," Cotton added. "We want to show everyone that that support is appreciated."
When the comment was made that Bucyrus is not as exciting as Columbus, Joe quickly advised, "Do not judge a book by its cover."
The former players visited Bucyrus the day after the NCAA released its allegations against the Ohio State athletic programs. While the governing body made nine total allegations, seven coming against the basketball program, just one -- an allegation of quarterback Troy Smith taking $500 from a booster -- was leveled against the football program.
The report ended nearly two years of national speculation concerning the football program, following the explosive allegations made by former running back Maurice Clarett that coaches and boosters arranged for him to get passing grades, cars and thousands of dollars.
That none of those charges were verified by the NCAA was not a surprise to any of the Buckeyes at Heartland.
"Damn straight," Joe said when added if the players and the program felt vindicated by the NCAA report.
"We have a clean program," Hollins said. "I'm glad that we got that known."
Joe said success sometimes breeds rumors.
"When you're the best at what you do, people take shots at you," Joe said. "We play football. We can't worry about spreading rumors. We're just here to win football games."
Joe, Hollins and Cotton all said the players are schooled on the NCAA rules and each player is made aware of them all the time.
"The procedures we have to follow are given to us all the time," Joe said. "We see them every year."
"Ten coaches just can't watch 100 players all the time. (Smith) was just a young kid who made a mistake."
Joe said this class, the one that finished its careers in 2004, left a special mark on OSU football.
"I'll bet you didn't know this," Joe said. "But we're only the second class that had a winning record (3-1) against Michigan and a winning record (3-1) in bowl games. That just shows what we accomplished."
This senior class not only won a national championship, but a Big Ten title, along with wins in the Fiesta Bowl (2003, 2004) and the Alamo Bowl (2004).
Cotton, who was in Bucyrus a year ago, said he enjoyed meeting the residents and enjoyed making the trip.
"This is nice," he added.
Cotton, who played for the Atlanta Falcons for the last two years, recently agreed to a deal with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.
Childress said the CFL is also in his plans. But Hollins and Joe are leaving their options open. Both have had interest from teams in the CFL and in the arena league.
"Right now, I'm unemployed. Do you know anyone who needs someone?" Joe joked. "No, I have some workouts coming up in June. That's why I'm sitting here eating this pizza with all the cheese on it."
The Buckeyes were not the only players at Heartland on Wednesday. Brothers Roger and Marvin Monroe of Bucyrus were at the facility for their weekly gig involving stringed instruments and harmonicas. This week they played OSU songs.
"We really enjoy doing this," Roger Monroe said, adding they've been playing in Galion, Bucyrus and Upper Sandusky for five or six years.
"The residents really appreciate it," Marvin Monroe added.
