Rest In Peace, Coach Joe Paterno

Below is a video, courtesy of ESPN.com. A true coaching legend who believed in the importance of education and doing things the right way.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:7487797&startTime=00:01

Quick updates re: Twitter, as well as other news

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas. The Minnichs certainly did.

I have been working on getting Twitter updates to work over the last few days, and I think I finally figured it out. Twitter updates are located on the right side of the blog, and I have identified several top Ohio State writers/bloggers/websites that I believe others may wish to follow. As always, let me know what you think.

In other news, The Big Ten and Pac-12 are announcing plans that will involve annual games in essentially all sports. When this comes to pass, it will essentially cap The Big Ten at two non-conference games, as The Big Ten had announced plans earlier this year to move to a nine-game conference schedule.

Personally, I am all in favor of doing anything that will make Ohio State's, or any other Big Ten team's schedule, better than what they have been over the last few seasons. I do wonder if this will help to entice Notre Dame to joining The Big Ten, as this will leave Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue only one non-conference game. Again, I wonder if The Big Ten will still move forward with a nine-game conference schedule in 2017, as originally planned.

Twitter added to blog today

Last evening at Close Quarters Pub, my friends and fellow Buckeye fans urged/begged/bribed me with Christmas Ale/all of the above to join Twitter. You will notice a new Twitter feed on the side of the blog.

The intention is more to follow Twitter feeds, but I am sure I will have the occasional tweets myself. My twitter name is http://twitter.com/ChipMinnich.

My thoughts on the NCAA punishment for Ohio State

When I learned that Ohio State was going to be ineligible for post-season play in 2012, my first thought was, "Why didn't Ohio State self-impose a bowl ban on itself for the 2011 season?". After a moment to reflect, it dawned on me that it was entirely possible that even that self-punishment may not have been enough for the NCAA, and Ohio State would have been without a bowl for two seasons. If you are thinking of a parallel scenario, perhaps this classic movie clip will help - just substitute the NCAA for Dean Wormer, and you'll understand the analogy.

Regardless, it seems the NCAA never seems to grasp how the punishments and penalties always fall upon the individuals who had nothing to do with the crime that has been committed. Terrelle Pryor, "Boom" Herron, DeVier Posey, Mike Adams, and Solomon Thomas will all be elsewhere in 2012.

Moving forward, Ohio State fans should take this news as a positive. Knowing what the penalties and punishments are for the program will only help new head coach Urban Meyer with recruiting.

How, you ask? Because for the first time, Coach Meyer can accurately tell any young man what is going to be taking place at Ohio State. Everything else up until this point has been pure speculation, wondering when or if there would be a bowl ban, what type of scholarship reductions would be enforced, etc. Now, Coach Meyer can look any player in the eye and tell them precisely what the situation is with the NCAA.

Looking ahead to the 2012 schedule, knowing how young the 2011 team was across the board, it will be very interesting to see how Ohio State ranks among the other teams in college football. The 2012 squad could potentially rival this season's USC team that was arguably one of the nation's best, but ineligible to play in a bowl game.

Am I disappointed in today's ruling? Yes. Am I happy that the punishments are not as severe as some were predicting back in the summer? Absolutely. Time to move forward into 2012 and beyond. Time for an "Urban Renewal".

Urban Meyer interview

The Ties That Bind: Looking At Possible Urban Meyer Assistants

Below are some quick thumbnail sketches on possible Urban Meyer assistants, and how these men have worked with Urban Meyer in the past.

Greg Studrawa: Currently the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at LSU, Studrawa is rumored as an offensive coordinator candidate at Ohio State. A native of Fostoria, Ohio, Studrawa is a former player and alumnus of Bowling Green. Like Urban Meyer, Studrawa is a former Ohio State graduate assistant (1997 season), so he would have familiarity with Ohio State's rich history and traditions. Studrawa formerly worked for Urban Meyer at Bowling Green as the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator, before moving to his position at LSU.

DJ Durkin: Currently the linebackers and special teams coach at Florida, Durkin is rumored as a possible defensive coordinator candidate. Like Greg Studrawa, Durkin is a former Bowling Green player and alumnus. Durkin began his coaching career at Bowling Green under Urban Meyer as a graduate assistant.

Mickey Mariotti: Currently the strength and conditioning coach at Florida, Mariotti is rumored to be under consideration for Ohio State's Director of Football Operations. Mariotti first worked with Urban Meyer when both were assistants at Notre Dame under Bob Davie. If Mariotti is hired, would this bring an end to the successful reign of Eric Lichter in Columbus?

Chuck Heater: Currently the defensive coordinator at Temple, Heater could also be considered as a defensive coordinator candidate. Heater formerly worked for Urban Meyer at Florida as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. Heater is a former Ohio State assistant, coaching the secondary under Earle Bruce (1985-1987).

Scot Loeffler: Currently the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Temple, Loeffler could also be under consideration for an offensive coordinator position at Ohio State. Loeffler formerly served under Urban Meyer as the quarterbacks coach at Florida, working with Tim Tebow. Loeffler is also a former Michigan player and alumnus, having worked with several notable Michigan quarterbacks in his career, including Tom Brady.

Stan Drayton: Drayton currently is on staff with Ohio State, and is rumored to be under consideration to remain on Urban Meyer's staff. Drayton is working as the wide receivers coach, but could move back to his traditional running backs coach position. Drayton formerly served as the running backs coach under Urban Meyer at Florida.

Luke Fickell: The most enigmatic of the assistant coaching candidates, Fickell is currently serving as Ohio State's head coach. Thrust into the position with the forced resignation of Jim Tressel, Fickell has performed admirably as Ohio State's head coach, dealing with multiple player suspensions, as well as a staff he was forced to retain. Fickell has been a long-time Ohio State assistant, and is a former player under John Cooper. Meyer and Fickell have arrived at an agreement that would have Fickell remain as an Assistant Head Coach and Co-Defensive Coordinator. It seems that Fickell has turned down Akron's head coaching overtures. Unlike all of the other possible assistant coaches on this list, Fickell has no previous coaching history with Urban Meyer.

However, if Butch Jones leaves Cincinnati for Illinois or UCLA, as has been rumored, then Fickell could receive a call from the Bearcats. Turning down Akron was one thing, but could Fickell turn down a head coaching job in a BCS conference?

As written above, all of these assistants are rumored to be under consideration as possible Ohio State assistants. Odds are that some of these men may be with him as assistant coaches for the 2012 Ohio State Buckeyes.

Still, many names remain possibilities. Mike Stoops, former Arizona head coach, was contacted by the Arizona Central and questioned about his interest in the job. Stoops said he had not been contacted, but would be interested in becoming Ohio State's defensive coordinator.

Tim Hinton, current running backs coach at Notre Dame, is another strong possibility. Hinton and Meyer are close friends, and Meyer even tried hiring him at Utah in 2004.

Two other offensive coordinator names are also probable to be under discussion. Clemson's Chad Morris, and Illinois' Paul Petrino, are both offensive coordinators well-versed in the spread offense attack that Urban Meyer plans to run. Chris Spielman, Urban Meyer's ESPN broadcast partner and friend, often remarked how he would hire either of these men, or would strongly recommend hiring them to Luke Fickell if Fickell remained head coach. Considering their friendship, it is likely Spielman relayed that same advice to Urban Meyer. Could Urban Meyer possibly target one of them for the offensive coordinator position?

This post originally appeared on Along The Olentangy, 11/28/2011

THE GAME: The Best Rivalry In Sports

I highly recommend this video below. It is respectful of both programs' traditions and history, and shows the intensity and passion of THE GAME very well.

The countdown clock is going to be reset for 2012 on the blog shortly too...