TTUN
Thursday, August 13, 2009
The Official Info Re: Tyler Moeller
I have copied a link from the official website where Tyler Moeller's mother details what happened and Tyler Moeller's status. Enjoy.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Ranking Ohio State's 2009 Schedule
Last year, I wrote a similar article evaluating Ohio State's 2008 opponents. This year, in a similar vein, I am going to rate Ohio State's upcoming 2009 opponents in terms of strongest or toughest opponents to the weakest opponents. As always, I am eager for comments and discussion.
Category 1: Ohio State will probably be the underdog
1. USC, September 12th, 8pm EST (ESPN): Everyone remembers the shellacking USC applied to Ohio State last season, and the typical Ohio State fan’s mentality is one of “Wait till we get them in Columbus…”. All I can say to that mindset is be careful what you wish for, as this USC team has the talent again to contend for the national championship. Like just about anyone else, Stewart Mandel of SI ranks USC @ Ohio State as the best of the early non-conference games. If Ohio State loses this game, no matter what happens the rest of the season, they are out of the national championship discussion.
2. @ Penn State, November 7th, kickoff TBA: A popular selection to win The Big Ten, Penn State is always a tough place to play, especially with the Penn State fans in vaunted “white-out” mode. This game will not be a night game, as The Big Ten has recently enforced new policies with the networks, but even with a probable 3:30pm EST kickoff, this game will continue long after the sun has set and will have a primetime atmosphere. If this game lives up to its billing, it could determine The Big Ten championship.
Category 2: Ohio State should be favored but the game will potentially go down to the wire
3. Illinois, September 26th, kickoff TBA: I was somewhat surprised that Illinois was not ranked in the top three in the recent Big Ten Kickoff Meetings. While Illinois disappointed last season, I agree with Coach Tressel who stated that Illinois has as much talent as anyone in The Big Ten. The last time Illinois visited Columbus, Ohio State wound up losing in Ohio Stadium. Last season, Illinois was leading Ohio State going into the 4th quarter last season.
4. Iowa, November 14th, kickoff TBA: Despite losing RB Shonn Greene to the NFL, Iowa returns several key players from last year’s team. I agree with Bucknuts.com's Heath Schneider when he writes that Ohio State fans may be overlooking the Hawkeyes. Iowa traditionally gets better under Kirk Ferentz as the season progresses, and this will be one week after Ohio State has traveled to Penn State. Ohio State cannot afford a letdown in this one.
Category 3: Ohio State traditionally struggles with this opponent
5. Wisconsin, October 10th, kickoff TBA: Even though Ohio State has won the last two games, neither game was easily won. Ohio State traditionally struggles with Wisconsin, regardless of whether the game is in Columbus as it was in 2007 or in Madison last year. Coach Tressel has struggled against Wisconsin ever since becoming Ohio State’s head coach back in 2001. I look for Ohio State to win this game, but this one could be closer than fans may want to admit.
Category 4: Ohio State should put this game away by the beginning of the 4th quarter
6. @ Michigan, November 21st, kickoff TBA: Yes, I know this is THE GAME. Yes, I know that the game is in Ann Arbor. Yes, I know that Ohio State has never won six straight games against That Team Up North. Yes, Michigan will be improved in 2009…but Ohio State is still better. Tate Forcier is a better fit for Rich Rodriguez’s spread offense, but will Forcier be able to take the pounding that style of offense exposes its quarterback to over the length of the season in The Big Ten? Will Michigan’s shaky offensive line depth hold throughout the season? What about Michigan’s defense, which was bad last season and has a new defensive coordinator in Greg Robinson? All of these questions and concerns lead me into thinking this is another win for Ohio State in this rivalry. This could be a game that could determine Michigan’s bowl eligibility this season.
7. Navy, September 5th, 12pm EST (ESPN): This game concerns me, as it is the season opener. Navy will not be intimidated by the huge crowd, having played (and won) at Pittsburgh, at Notre Dame, and at Wake Forest over the last few seasons. No, those programs are not as good as Ohio State, but my point is Navy will not back down from the Buckeyes throughout this contest. Navy does not have the same level of athletes that Ohio State has, but Navy’s triple option offense will be enough to keep them in the game into the second half. Remember – Ohio State has several new defensive starters this season, and defending the triple option well requires exceptional discipline on defense. Throw in the fact that it will be challenging for Ohio State’s scout team to effectively simulate Navy’s triple option offense in practice preparations, and you can see my logic on why this game will be interesting throughout the first half and well into the second half.
8. Minnesota, October 24th, 12pm EST: In a strange scheduling quirk, Minnesota comes to Ohio State in back-to-back seasons. While I still believe Minnesota made a huge mistake in firing Glen Mason after the 2006 season, Tim Brewster did a great job in getting Minnesota into a bowl last season. With QB Adam Weber and WR Eric Decker returning, and new QB MarQueis Gray arriving on the scene, I look for Minnesota to be offensively entertaining but to struggle on the defensive side of the ball. Ohio State was handling Minnesota last season in The Horseshoe before taking their foot off the gas late in the game.
Category 5: Ohio State should have this game won by the end of the first half
9. @ Purdue, October 17th, kickoff TBA: While Purdue fans are excited about new coach Danny Hope, Purdue will realistically struggle during this transitional year. The last time Ohio State visited Purdue, Ohio State dominated Purdue in a night game. My biggest fear is that this game will be a noon kickoff on the same date as the much-anticipated Texas & Oklahoma contest that will be undoubtedly the biggest game that weekend.
10. @ Indiana, October 3rd, 7pm EST (The Big Ten Network): Ohio State has not visited Indiana since 2006, and I am anticipating a similar end result when this game is played on October 3rd. This is a night game scheduled for The Big Ten Network, and it will be interesting to see how many Ohio State fans make the trip to Bloomington for this one.
Category 6: Ohio State should be embarrassed for having this on the schedule
11. @ Toledo, September 19th, 12pm EST (ESPN Plus): With the game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Toledo is technically the home team and Ohio State the visitor but Ohio State will have the overwhelming support of the fans in the stands. Ohio State fans should outnumber Toledo fans, and Toledo will be well-compensated for this beating. I suspect QB Joe Bauserman to get substantial playing time in this one, as Coach Tressel likes to give his quarterbacks playing time in these early season contests.
12. New Mexico State, October 31st, kickoff TBA: This Halloween game will not be a trick or a treat for the Aggies, and I suspect it will not be a treat either for the fans who have to pay full price tickets - that is probably Ohio State's worst trick to play on its season ticket holders. Arguably the worst program in Division 1 football, this will be the game where Ohio State will (or should) empty its benches, resting key players for the big November stretch run of the season. I am guessing Ohio State scheduled New Mexico State because they believe the mighty Avon Lake Shoremen will be in the midst of the Ohio high school playoffs at this time.
Category 1: Ohio State will probably be the underdog
1. USC, September 12th, 8pm EST (ESPN): Everyone remembers the shellacking USC applied to Ohio State last season, and the typical Ohio State fan’s mentality is one of “Wait till we get them in Columbus…”. All I can say to that mindset is be careful what you wish for, as this USC team has the talent again to contend for the national championship. Like just about anyone else, Stewart Mandel of SI ranks USC @ Ohio State as the best of the early non-conference games. If Ohio State loses this game, no matter what happens the rest of the season, they are out of the national championship discussion.
2. @ Penn State, November 7th, kickoff TBA: A popular selection to win The Big Ten, Penn State is always a tough place to play, especially with the Penn State fans in vaunted “white-out” mode. This game will not be a night game, as The Big Ten has recently enforced new policies with the networks, but even with a probable 3:30pm EST kickoff, this game will continue long after the sun has set and will have a primetime atmosphere. If this game lives up to its billing, it could determine The Big Ten championship.
Category 2: Ohio State should be favored but the game will potentially go down to the wire
3. Illinois, September 26th, kickoff TBA: I was somewhat surprised that Illinois was not ranked in the top three in the recent Big Ten Kickoff Meetings. While Illinois disappointed last season, I agree with Coach Tressel who stated that Illinois has as much talent as anyone in The Big Ten. The last time Illinois visited Columbus, Ohio State wound up losing in Ohio Stadium. Last season, Illinois was leading Ohio State going into the 4th quarter last season.
4. Iowa, November 14th, kickoff TBA: Despite losing RB Shonn Greene to the NFL, Iowa returns several key players from last year’s team. I agree with Bucknuts.com's Heath Schneider when he writes that Ohio State fans may be overlooking the Hawkeyes. Iowa traditionally gets better under Kirk Ferentz as the season progresses, and this will be one week after Ohio State has traveled to Penn State. Ohio State cannot afford a letdown in this one.
Category 3: Ohio State traditionally struggles with this opponent
5. Wisconsin, October 10th, kickoff TBA: Even though Ohio State has won the last two games, neither game was easily won. Ohio State traditionally struggles with Wisconsin, regardless of whether the game is in Columbus as it was in 2007 or in Madison last year. Coach Tressel has struggled against Wisconsin ever since becoming Ohio State’s head coach back in 2001. I look for Ohio State to win this game, but this one could be closer than fans may want to admit.
Category 4: Ohio State should put this game away by the beginning of the 4th quarter
6. @ Michigan, November 21st, kickoff TBA: Yes, I know this is THE GAME. Yes, I know that the game is in Ann Arbor. Yes, I know that Ohio State has never won six straight games against That Team Up North. Yes, Michigan will be improved in 2009…but Ohio State is still better. Tate Forcier is a better fit for Rich Rodriguez’s spread offense, but will Forcier be able to take the pounding that style of offense exposes its quarterback to over the length of the season in The Big Ten? Will Michigan’s shaky offensive line depth hold throughout the season? What about Michigan’s defense, which was bad last season and has a new defensive coordinator in Greg Robinson? All of these questions and concerns lead me into thinking this is another win for Ohio State in this rivalry. This could be a game that could determine Michigan’s bowl eligibility this season.
7. Navy, September 5th, 12pm EST (ESPN): This game concerns me, as it is the season opener. Navy will not be intimidated by the huge crowd, having played (and won) at Pittsburgh, at Notre Dame, and at Wake Forest over the last few seasons. No, those programs are not as good as Ohio State, but my point is Navy will not back down from the Buckeyes throughout this contest. Navy does not have the same level of athletes that Ohio State has, but Navy’s triple option offense will be enough to keep them in the game into the second half. Remember – Ohio State has several new defensive starters this season, and defending the triple option well requires exceptional discipline on defense. Throw in the fact that it will be challenging for Ohio State’s scout team to effectively simulate Navy’s triple option offense in practice preparations, and you can see my logic on why this game will be interesting throughout the first half and well into the second half.
8. Minnesota, October 24th, 12pm EST: In a strange scheduling quirk, Minnesota comes to Ohio State in back-to-back seasons. While I still believe Minnesota made a huge mistake in firing Glen Mason after the 2006 season, Tim Brewster did a great job in getting Minnesota into a bowl last season. With QB Adam Weber and WR Eric Decker returning, and new QB MarQueis Gray arriving on the scene, I look for Minnesota to be offensively entertaining but to struggle on the defensive side of the ball. Ohio State was handling Minnesota last season in The Horseshoe before taking their foot off the gas late in the game.
Category 5: Ohio State should have this game won by the end of the first half
9. @ Purdue, October 17th, kickoff TBA: While Purdue fans are excited about new coach Danny Hope, Purdue will realistically struggle during this transitional year. The last time Ohio State visited Purdue, Ohio State dominated Purdue in a night game. My biggest fear is that this game will be a noon kickoff on the same date as the much-anticipated Texas & Oklahoma contest that will be undoubtedly the biggest game that weekend.
10. @ Indiana, October 3rd, 7pm EST (The Big Ten Network): Ohio State has not visited Indiana since 2006, and I am anticipating a similar end result when this game is played on October 3rd. This is a night game scheduled for The Big Ten Network, and it will be interesting to see how many Ohio State fans make the trip to Bloomington for this one.
Category 6: Ohio State should be embarrassed for having this on the schedule
11. @ Toledo, September 19th, 12pm EST (ESPN Plus): With the game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Toledo is technically the home team and Ohio State the visitor but Ohio State will have the overwhelming support of the fans in the stands. Ohio State fans should outnumber Toledo fans, and Toledo will be well-compensated for this beating. I suspect QB Joe Bauserman to get substantial playing time in this one, as Coach Tressel likes to give his quarterbacks playing time in these early season contests.
12. New Mexico State, October 31st, kickoff TBA: This Halloween game will not be a trick or a treat for the Aggies, and I suspect it will not be a treat either for the fans who have to pay full price tickets - that is probably Ohio State's worst trick to play on its season ticket holders. Arguably the worst program in Division 1 football, this will be the game where Ohio State will (or should) empty its benches, resting key players for the big November stretch run of the season. I am guessing Ohio State scheduled New Mexico State because they believe the mighty Avon Lake Shoremen will be in the midst of the Ohio high school playoffs at this time.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
The Sporting News: 2009 college football weekends
Thanks to my friend Mr. Seymour, I am posting a link to the upcoming college football season that describes the various weekends. Here's a big hint ~ I don't think you really want to be anywhere except on your couch with remote in hand on Oct. 17th. Enjoy.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Yet Another Example Of Why College Football Needs A Playoff System
Pat Forde is not necessarily the best-loved sports writer when it comes to Ohio State or The Big Ten in general, but his article about the SEC meetings (see below) and Steve Spurrier's omission of Tim Tebow as the SEC first-team quarterback speaks volumes about the foolish concept of "voting" for a national champion. Enjoy.
***
A tradition that needs to change
By Pat Forde
ESPN.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Head Ball Coach has ironically become the Head Gator Hater.
And perhaps he can become an inadvertent agent of needed change, as well.
Steve Spurrier admitted on Friday that he didn't actually vote for the preseason SEC team.
The Freaky Friday news at SEC media days was this: Steve Spurrier was the guy who didn't vote for Tim Tebow for all-SEC quarterback. That ended two days of suspense, as the media whittled down the list of suspects in search of the rogue voter who went against the obvious all-league choice.
The revelation had to provoke an et tu brute? response in Gator Nation, which saw its superstar quarterback dissed by a Florida grad, Florida great and legendary Florida coach. But it might also provoke a reconsideration of how coaches vote -- or don't vote -- in college football polls.
A remorseful Spurrier admitted that he didn't fill out his own all-league ballot -- South Carolina director of football operations Jamie Speronis did it. Spurrier said Speronis showed him the ballot for his approval before sending it in to the SEC office, and the HBC somehow overlooked who he had at quarterback -- Mississippi's Jevan Snead, not Tebow.
You might find it hard to believe that a Heisman Trophy-winning former quarterback wouldn't zero in on who he had at the quarterback position on his ballot. You'd be joining me in that disbelief. But that's what Spurrier said.
"I can tell you two guys that were on there, [Georgia wide receiver] A.J. Green and [Florida defensive end] Carlos Dunlap," Spurrier said. "Those were the only two names I saw. I said, 'That's fine.' Anyway, I did a poor job of looking at it."
Thus the most infamous all-league vote in SEC history was in the books. South Carolina's vote has been retroactively changed to Tebow at Spurrier's request, but that's just too-little-too-late window dressing.
What can happen going forward is a committed effort -- by university athletic directors, by conference commissioners and by the American Football Coaches Association -- to get coaches to do their own work. That's less important with all-league ballots than it is with their USA Today Top 25 ballots -- which actually impact the national championship race.
Several coaches at this event admitted they didn't do their own all-conference voting. Spurrier himself said this was his 17th season in the SEC, and the 17th time somebody else did his all-league team.
Spurrier said he looks over his Top 25 votes "a lot more thoroughly," but it's a long-standing college football tradition that those votes are delegated to someone else. Nationwide, a lot of ballots are routinely filled out by ops guys and sports information directors.
Nothing against those hard-working people, but is that really the way we want to decide a national champion?
So this is the current list of flaws with the coaches' poll:
• Fanatical ballot secrecy. The AFCA voted in the spring to keep the coaches' final ballots private, starting in 2010.
• Tunnel vision on their own teams. Coaches watch very little other football beyond their own games on any given Saturday.
• Potential agendas. Votes can be influenced by conference loyalty and personal friendships and rivalries.
• And this one -- coaches who have no idea who they voted for because someone else filled out the ballot.
"I don't know why we vote," Spurrier said. "I guess we vote because college football is still without a playoff system."
That's the bottom-line problem with college football. Unfortunately, that problem isn't changing anytime soon, perhaps not anytime in this lifetime.
With that in mind, it's time to make the system we're stuck with as good as it can be. And part of that should be a renewed push to get coaches to do their own work on any ballots that have their names on them.
Either that, or take the votes away from the coaches and give them to someone who will do the job right.
Pat Forde is a senior writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at ESPN4D@aol.com.
***
A tradition that needs to change
By Pat Forde
ESPN.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Head Ball Coach has ironically become the Head Gator Hater.
And perhaps he can become an inadvertent agent of needed change, as well.
Steve Spurrier admitted on Friday that he didn't actually vote for the preseason SEC team.
The Freaky Friday news at SEC media days was this: Steve Spurrier was the guy who didn't vote for Tim Tebow for all-SEC quarterback. That ended two days of suspense, as the media whittled down the list of suspects in search of the rogue voter who went against the obvious all-league choice.
The revelation had to provoke an et tu brute? response in Gator Nation, which saw its superstar quarterback dissed by a Florida grad, Florida great and legendary Florida coach. But it might also provoke a reconsideration of how coaches vote -- or don't vote -- in college football polls.
A remorseful Spurrier admitted that he didn't fill out his own all-league ballot -- South Carolina director of football operations Jamie Speronis did it. Spurrier said Speronis showed him the ballot for his approval before sending it in to the SEC office, and the HBC somehow overlooked who he had at quarterback -- Mississippi's Jevan Snead, not Tebow.
You might find it hard to believe that a Heisman Trophy-winning former quarterback wouldn't zero in on who he had at the quarterback position on his ballot. You'd be joining me in that disbelief. But that's what Spurrier said.
"I can tell you two guys that were on there, [Georgia wide receiver] A.J. Green and [Florida defensive end] Carlos Dunlap," Spurrier said. "Those were the only two names I saw. I said, 'That's fine.' Anyway, I did a poor job of looking at it."
Thus the most infamous all-league vote in SEC history was in the books. South Carolina's vote has been retroactively changed to Tebow at Spurrier's request, but that's just too-little-too-late window dressing.
What can happen going forward is a committed effort -- by university athletic directors, by conference commissioners and by the American Football Coaches Association -- to get coaches to do their own work. That's less important with all-league ballots than it is with their USA Today Top 25 ballots -- which actually impact the national championship race.
Several coaches at this event admitted they didn't do their own all-conference voting. Spurrier himself said this was his 17th season in the SEC, and the 17th time somebody else did his all-league team.
Spurrier said he looks over his Top 25 votes "a lot more thoroughly," but it's a long-standing college football tradition that those votes are delegated to someone else. Nationwide, a lot of ballots are routinely filled out by ops guys and sports information directors.
Nothing against those hard-working people, but is that really the way we want to decide a national champion?
So this is the current list of flaws with the coaches' poll:
• Fanatical ballot secrecy. The AFCA voted in the spring to keep the coaches' final ballots private, starting in 2010.
• Tunnel vision on their own teams. Coaches watch very little other football beyond their own games on any given Saturday.
• Potential agendas. Votes can be influenced by conference loyalty and personal friendships and rivalries.
• And this one -- coaches who have no idea who they voted for because someone else filled out the ballot.
"I don't know why we vote," Spurrier said. "I guess we vote because college football is still without a playoff system."
That's the bottom-line problem with college football. Unfortunately, that problem isn't changing anytime soon, perhaps not anytime in this lifetime.
With that in mind, it's time to make the system we're stuck with as good as it can be. And part of that should be a renewed push to get coaches to do their own work on any ballots that have their names on them.
Either that, or take the votes away from the coaches and give them to someone who will do the job right.
Pat Forde is a senior writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at ESPN4D@aol.com.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Bernie Kosar and his new challenges
I found this article on Bernie Kosar and thought it was well worth sharing on my blog, even though I usually write about college football. Kosar was certainly an athlete I never thought would have financial troubles, but I was wrong. While Kosar was a good pro quarterback until injuries ended his career, it seems to me that a lot of people have forgotten how good Kosar was while at Miami (FL). Arguably the greatest college football game of all time, the 1984 Orange Bowl against Nebraska showcased Kosar as a redshirt freshman at his best. Nebraska was truly dominant and the #1 team in the country, and Kosar took them apart for Miami (FL) to win their first national championship. |
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Sen. Orrin Hatch Vs The BCS
While I agree wholeheartedly with those of you who say Congress has enough to worry about and concern itself besides the lack of a college football playoff system, I make the following point that Sen Hatch makes himself in this article from last week's Sports Illustrated - if Congress does not get involved, nothing will change about The BCS.
For those of you who may want to hear Sen. Hatch on this issue, here is an excerpt from a recent appearance Sen. Hatch made on The Dan Patrick Show. Enjoy.
For those of you who may want to hear Sen. Hatch on this issue, here is an excerpt from a recent appearance Sen. Hatch made on The Dan Patrick Show. Enjoy.
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