At first glance, it appeared the Ohio State coaching staff was using this bye week to bask in the glory of its team?s 10-0 start and as a good excuse to travel.
By late Sunday, offensive coordinator Tom Herman already was tweeting upon his arrival in Dallas. Receivers coach Zach Smith was in Washington, D.C., and one had to figure that assistant head coach Everett Withers was on his way to the Carolinas, while some of the others scattered to other corners.
Mark Pantoni, OSU?s director of player personnel, tweeted, ?Our coaches will be bringing the JUICE to 16 different states this week.?
By juice, he was referring to the sales pitch endorsed by Urban Meyer. At the start of this bye week, those assistants weren?t on vacation; they were recruiting. The Buckeyes are zeroing in on the final six to eight spots in the 2013 class while getting a head start on the 2014 class.
They?re also dealing from a position of strength, because even though the Buckeyes are not allowed to play in the postseason this year, they have quarterback Braxton Miller in the Heisman Trophy race, and they are gaining publicity for being undefeated.
