Urban Meyer Wants Playmakers

April 17, 2012
Watching
& Waiting
Urban Meyer Wants Playmakers
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BSB Quickly
April 17, 2012
Cover
Meyer Still Looking For
Playmakers To Emerge
Quickly
April 17, 2012
Publisher ........... Frank Moskowitz
Asst. Publisher ..... Becky Roberts
Managing Editor ............Mark Rea
Staff Writers
Marcus Hartman
Jeff Svoboda
Ari Wasserman
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Matthew Hager
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Sonny Brockway
Kevin Dye
Josh Winslow
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On The Cover:
Ohio State head football coach
Urban Meyer is hoping to finish
spring football with potential playmakers having made themselves
known. (Photo courtesy of Sonny
Brockway)
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By Marcus Hartman
With a week remaining in his first round
of Ohio State spring football practices,
Urban Meyer remained on the lookout for
someone to wow him.
When things kicked off in late March,
the head coach said finding playmakers
was among his top goals this spring, and
the search was continuing as the Buckeyes
moved toward the annual Scarlet and Gray
Game scheduled to conclude spring ball
April 21 at Ohio Stadium.
“It’s a work in progress,” Meyer said
April 11. “I’m holding out hope in this last
half of spring that we’re going to put them
in situations where they’re going to make
plays or they’re not. We have had a lot of
emphasis on just installation and normal
situations, which is the play-action passing game, the run game. Now we’re going
to sink our teeth into the drop-back pass
game.”
Meyer named a pair of seniors – tight
end Jake Stoneburner and running back
Jordan Hall – as players who had shown
they can contribute, but the coach made
it clear he needs to see more from more
players.
“Guys have to step up,” Meyer said.
“Jake Stoneburner has done a very good
job. We’re moving him around, doing a
lot of things with him. And Jordan Hall.
Those are our two playmakers right now
on offense. That’s not nearly enough.”
That those two worked their way to
the top of Meyer’s list of potential playmakers came as little surprise to anyone
closely following the team over the past
few years.
The 6-5, 245-pound Stoneburner led the
team with seven touchdown catches last
season and tied for the team lead with 14
receptions.
“The first day we were warming up,
(Meyer) said, ‘You’d better be a hell of a
player,’ ” Stoneburner said. “I think he’s
expecting a lot from us. He loves to use
the tight end as a focal point in our offense
along with all the other skill positions.”
The 5-9, 198-pound Hall led the team
with 1,275 all-purpose yards last season.
That included 408 yards and two touch-
downs on the ground as well as 114 yards
and three TDs receiving.
Stoneburner and Hall cut very different
profiles, but each is expected to add versatility to the offense this fall.
Running backs coach Stan Drayton –
who mentored the OSU receivers last season – said to throw in 6-0, 246-pound senior
Zach Boren as well. A three-year starter
at fullback, Boren now shares a meeting
room with the tight ends as those two
positions have been combined for Meyer’s
spread offense.
Boren has been seen lining up on
the wing, next to the quarterback and
in between as an H-back this spring. He
seems likely to add to his total of one
career carry in his final season in scarlet
and gray, and he is certain to be asked
to do some blocking for a stable of big
tailbacks that includes junior Carlos Hyde
(6-0, 235), sophomore Rod Smith (6-3, 230)
and freshman Bri’onte Dunn (6-1, 214).
All will hope to complement the gifts
of quarterback Braxton Miller, a 6-2, 210pound sophomore who can leave tacklers
in his wake with wicked open-field running
as he continues to develop his passing.
Drayton – who was part of Meyer’s staff
for four of the head coach’s six years at
Florida – confirmed the mix differs from
what they worked with in Gainesville, but
that is not necessarily a bad thing. Tim
Tebow – a powerful quarterback listed at 63, 235 in college – made the Gators go with
the help of speedy running back/receiver
Percy Harvin, tight end Aaron Hernandez
and receivers such as Louis Murphy and
Riley Cooper.
“What Urban Meyer did at Florida
worked, so the core of what we did there
is still intact,” Drayton said. “Now we’re
adjusting to our talent. That’s what this
offense is designed to do – adjust to our
skill-set. We’ve still got a young quarterback in Braxton Miller who’s trying to
figure it out, but think about what we’re
talking about here. Probably the fastest kid
on our team is the quarterback, and then
you’ve got this skill-set at running back
and Jake Stoneburner out there at tight end
and Zach Boren at fullback – the future is
bright for this program.
Cover
“It’s just a matter of going through the
growing pains of this offense, and it’s going
to take awhile. It’s not going to happen
overnight, but when it does I really foresee
a very explosive offense in the fall.”
Expecting More Out Wide
While versatility is nice, Meyer still
desires another component for his offense
– someone with field-flipping speed. That
is where he has made clear he wants to see
more from the receiver corps.
Since taking over officially as head
coach, Meyer has not been shy about
sharing his feelings about that group. He
came away from his initial evaluation of the
roster unsure he had anyone who could
stretch the field or make big plays. He
reiterated that concern on National Signing
Day and again in subsequent press conferences before and after the start of spring
practice.
The players and receivers coach Zach
Smith are aware the spread offense innovator is not sold on what he has at his
disposal, and they are out to change that
perception.
“Those things aren’t said to the media
and not said behind closed doors,” Smith
said. “This is not a program based on
secrets. It’s a very transparent program.
Everyone knows what is expected of them,
so to read it in the newspaper or see it on
the news is not a shock.”
Devin Smith and Evan Spencer confirmed as much from their end. They are
well aware Meyer has thrown down the
gauntlet in preparation for the regular season.
“I know Coach Meyer expects a lot out
of us, so at the same time he’s saying that
he knows we have talent and we just have
to prove it every day,” said Spencer, who
is unfortunately sidelined for the rest of
spring with a broken bone in his right
shoulder. “We did feel like we had to step
up. At the same time, we know we’re talented and know what we can do so it’s just
up to us to show what we can do.”
Though only sophomores, Smith and
Spencer are among the elder statesmen in
the receivers room along with junior Corey
“Philly” Brown. Both saw significant playing time last year as true freshmen, but
their opportunities were sporadic as the
offense suffered through growing pains
associated with starting a freshman at quarterback and putting together a game plan
without former head coach Jim Tressel.
The numbers from 2011 confirm it was a
rough campaign to be a pass catcher. Smith
April 17, 2012
led the team with 294 yards receiving and
tied Brown and Stoneburner for the team
lead in receptions with 14 grabs apiece.
They have their sights set on much better numbers this season and feel good about
the progress made so far this spring.
“We were kind of struggling at first
because we were so overwhelmed with
what was going on,” Spencer said. “But now
that the install has been minimal, it’s a lot
easier for us to settle down and just be us.”
Before suffering his injury, Spencer was
having a positive spring. He had ascended
to a spot with the No. 1 offense playing outside with Smith as Brown manned the slot
most of the time.
“Evan was having a great spring – he’s
a typical coach’s kid,” Zach Smith said of
Spencer, whose father, Tim, is a former
Ohio State star and assistant coach as
well as longtime assistant with the NFL’s
Chicago Bears. “Evan was relentless in
the offseason. I’d walk into the film room
from a coach’s meeting and he would be
sitting there just watching film and doing
those things to learn a new offense and do
great things. He was an asset for me on the
field. He’s still in the meeting room, still
learning and doing what he needs to do to
learn. Just physically, he’s not able to do
anything.”
With Spencer sidelined, Michael
Thomas moved up to the No. 1 unit and
turned some heads with his impressive
combination of size and speed.
His position coach called Thomas, a true
freshman who enrolled in January, a bit of
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a surprise and praised his passion for the
game.
“He’ll text me every night, ‘Coach, how
was practice? How’d I do?’ His commitment
to being a great player is off the charts,” Zach
Smith said. “Is he a great player? Absolutely
not, but hopefully he’ll get there.”
Opposite Thomas on the outside has
been Devin Smith, whom Meyer called “a
real separator.” Much is expected of Smith
in his second year after he averaged a
team-best 21.0 yards per catch last season.
He possesses sprinter’s speed – as evidenced by an Ohio high school 100-meter
dash championship – but is continuing to
learn the nuances of playing his position on
the football field.
His position coach said Smith “needs
to play as fast as he is” and improve as a
route-runner.
“Devin’s done some things well, but he
has some things he needs to do better,”
Zach Smith said. “To say he’s going to be
that playmaker, we’ve got to see him make
plays. I think he’s made a couple but he
hasn’t made as many as he needs to. That
really goes for the whole unit. Devin is not
there, nor is anyone else.”
The player understands what is expected of him and is working hard to meet
the standards his head coach and position
coach have set for him.
“I think out of all the groups, (Meyer) is
hard on us just because he wants us to be
good,” Devin Smith said. “We’re a key part
of this offense. Everyone has to make plays
and everyone is doing a good job of that.”
SONNY BROCKWAY
BREAKOUT YEAR? – Sophomore Devin Smith (15) could be a top target at wide
receiver this fall.
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April 17, 2012
Insider
INSIDER
Meyer Opens Practice
To Students, Faculty, Staff
With no idea the unique role he would
play, Drew Basil arrived at the Woody
Hayes Athletic Center more than two
hours early for a 10:45 a.m. open practice
April 14.
That Basil was there so early was a
testament to how excited the junior kicker
was to perform in front of members of
the student body who were willing to
get up in the morning and head over to
the Horseshoe. Initially planned for Ohio
Stadium, the practice was moved to the
indoor practice field at the WHAC as a
result of inclement weather.
About 70 percent of the way through
the proceedings, with fans spread out
from bleachers behind the goal line all the
way to the 20-yard line on one side of the
WHAC field, Basil was instructed to kick
a field goal over the fans to the goalpost
painted on the curtain behind the bleachers.
After the first one went through, head
coach Urban Meyer had an idea. He
instructed the fans in attendance to surround the field goal units as Basil attempted a string of kicks of around 35 yards. On
top of that, the head coach jumped up and
down in the middle of the ring, inciting the
fans to create an atmosphere unlike any
other seen in recent years at the WHAC.
“It was pretty awesome,” Basil said. “It
was awesome knowing everyone around
you is Ohio State people yelling for you.
I don’t know if they were yelling for me
or against me, but I just thought it was
for me.”
By the end of the day, there was no
doubt there were connections made
between team members and the fans –
OSU MEDIA RELATIONS
PRESSURE KICK – Junior kicker Drew Basil (24) boots a field-goal try April 14 with
teammates, coaches and Ohio State students surrounding the attempt at the Woody
Hayes Athletic Center.
many members of the student body – who
showed up for the practice. Ohio State
estimated around 3,000 people crammed
into the WHAC field, and they were treated to a fun show.
Not only did Ohio State go through a
practice with more scrimmaging – including
battles between the top offense and defense
– than usual, but afterward, there was a
meet-and-greet between coaches, players
and fans capped with a photograph of the
groups taken from the top of the WHAC.
“I think it’s great for everybody,”
receivers coach Zach Smith said after
the practice was over. “Coaches, players,
but more importantly the student body. I
think the student body is probably one of
the most important assets for a program
just because of the support they provide
the team. At the same time, it’s good for
the team to get around students because
that’s what they are.
“It’s twofold. I think it’s a benefit for
the students and fans and it’s a benefit for
our kids and coaches to get around them.
At times you’re in your own world, like
you’re locked in the Woody Hayes and
going, going, going and you kind of lose
the magnitude of what it is. Then you let
all these fans in here and it hits you.”
Basil’s field goal exploits might have
been the most memorable part of the proceedings. After making the first kick, he
had one blocked by Johnathan Hankins
and missed one to the left before making
his last four tries.
“I thought it was awesome just to see
that whole end zone packed all the way
out to the 20-yard line,” Basil said. “That
was just incredible. I’ve never seen that
many people in the Woody at once. This
is the best atmosphere ever.”
As for whether he was worried about
pegging any fans with a wayward kick,
Basil just had to laugh.
“Not, not at all,” he said. “If I was out
there golfing, it would be a whole different story.”
The idea to invite students to a practice
was created by Meyer. He said he visited
each student organization when he first
got to Florida, but that was something he
couldn’t do at Ohio State because of the
size of the university. The open practice
was a fun alternative.
“We’re reaching out to the students,”
the coach said. “We’re all here and
sometimes we keep forgetting what
this is all about. It’s about student-athletes and it’s about the student body
and making the collegiate experience
a positive thing. So what does every
student want? They want ownership
and access.”
The setting also showed just how excited students are for the Meyer era to
begin.
“I feel like everybody is really excited,”
Basil said. “I know I’d be sleeping. To
have all these students come out here
and spend time with us showing they’re
excited, it’s pretty awesome.”
Insider
“That’s what makes it different from the
NFL and every other level,” Smith added.
“You do it for the students and the fans.
It’s awesome.”
Meyer Defends Record
In Wake Of Story
Two days after Sporting News published the results of a three-month investigation into the way Meyer’s tenure at
Florida ended, the new Ohio State head
coach vehemently defended his practices
and his past. Former players and a current
assistant also spoke on his behalf.
“My family and I love Florida,” Meyer
said April 11. “We still do (and) we always
will. I’m not sure where a three-month
investigation shows up. I’m extremely
proud of what our players and coaches
accomplished. We were hired to graduate players and we did that. We were top
three every year in the SEC in graduation
rate and APR. We were hired to win games
and we did that, and follow the rules and
we did that. And recruit great classes – we
finished in the top five every year.”
The story, written for Sporting News by
Matt Hayes, alleged “drug use among players, a philosophy of preferential treatment
for certain players, a sense of entitlement
among all players and roster management
by scholarship manipulation” that caused
the Gators program to spiral out of control
toward the end of Meyer’s ultrasuccessful
six-year run in Gainesville.
Hayes wrote that the preferential treatment went to members of something
called the “Circle of Trust,” a phenomenon Meyer said did not exist.
Meyer went 65-15 at Florida from 200510, capturing national championships
after the 2006 and ’08 seasons. But his
final season included just an 8-5 record
and 4-4 SEC mark. The Gators went 7-6
last season under new head coach Will
Muschamp and left some to postulate that
the health issues that drove Meyer from
the job were joined by the fact he had lost
control of the program.
That was alleged in the Hayes story,
with a smattering of former players –
although just one, Bryan Thomas, went on
the record – saying that entitlement issues
and preferential treatment of star players
drove a wedge in the team. One allegation
was that Meyer covered up failed drug
tests by pretending players were injured
for games in which they did not take part.
Meyer did not address that specific
allegation but said he took issue with multiple aspects of the story. He confirmed
April 17, 2012
his staff rewards those on the team who
deserve it. It is already well known that he
has a “Champions Club” at each school in
which those who do their jobs are given
better gear and positions of leadership.
“You start saying preferential treatment
of players (and) that’s probably a correct
statement,” Meyer said. “We did do that.
We do that here. We did it at Bowling
Green and Utah. If you go to class, you’re
a warrior, you do things the right way on
and off the field and you’re completely
committed to helping us win, you’re going
to great treated really good.
“You’re going to get nice gear, you’re
going to get to move off campus. You’re
going to get treated really good. Guys
that don’t go that hard and aren’t committed, it’s real difficult. You can’t please
everyone.”
The story also included an allegation
that former Florida star Percy Harvin
was disruptive enough to force a change
in the team’s workout regimen and once
shoved position coach Billy Gonzales to
the ground and was never disciplined.
Gonzales, now the offensive coordinator at Illinois, denied that incident during
an April 10 interview, and Meyer sounded
annoyed with the insinuation an incident
occurred.
“I’m extremely proud of what we did
down there,” he said. “Throwing great
players – not good players, great players
– under the bus like that, I don’t get the
intent. I’ll fight for those guys. Those guys
did a lot of great things for the University
of Florida, and to sit here and call them
out four or five years later … I’m not sure
of the intent, but I’ll always fight for those
guys.”
The story also accused Meyer of committing an NCAA violation in the recruitment of offensive tackle Kyle Dodson, who
switched his commitment from Wisconsin
to Ohio State on National Signing Day.
At the time, UW head coach Bret
Bielema mentioned at a press conference
that Meyer had broken a rule but the situation had been dealt with between the two
coaches. Hayes’ story indicated Bielema
was referring to OSU’s alleged practice of
having former players call recruits and of
having coaches “bump into” players during recruiting dead periods, both of which
are violations.
Meyer reiterated he did nothing wrong
in either case.
“There is no violation,” he said. “I
want to say this real clear: There is no
violation that we had as far as that whole
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conversation. I’m not sure why that keeps
coming up. If you would bold that for me,
underline it, there is no NCAA violation.
There was not one turned in. There’s a
pretty good track record there, too, with
compliance with the NCAA, so those are
just disappointing.”
Ohio State director of athletics Gene
Smith expressed his support for the head
coach in the wake of the Sporting News
story.
“Since his arrival, Coach Meyer has
demonstrated the values that are essential to his role as an educator and coach
within our athletics program,” Smith said.
“He has fostered the strong compliance
culture that we expect, and I have been
pleased with his commitment to academics and personal development of our student-athletes.”
Safety David Nelson wrote on his
Twitter page he had not heard of the Circle
of Trust while he was in Gainesville, and
defensive tackle Terron Sanders posted a
lengthy defense on a Florida fan blog.
“For the five years I was under Coach
Meyer at the University of Florida, I went
through a lot of ‘growing pains’ and had to
learn quite a lot,” Sanders wrote. “There
were good times and bad times, both with
Coach Meyer and my teammates, but in
hindsight … I can tell you that I was the
determining factor in that equation.”
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April 17, 2012
Sanders went on to add that at one
point he was told his scholarship could be
revoked because he was “indulging in college life a little too much.” He referred to
that as a wake-up call and credited Meyer
for his influence and methods.
“Coach Meyer never treated a man
on his team a certain way unless he was
deserving of it,” Sanders wrote. “Some
kids come into the program with a sense
of entitlement because they were highly ranked recruits out of high school
and weren’t ready for the cruel reality of
college. Just like normal students, some
students thrive with the freedom college
brings, and some fail miserably.
“If you were CEO of a company who
was in charge of making sure your associates performed to the best of their ability
or else you would lose your job, would you
not do whatever you had to do to make
that team excel? I know that personally, if
someone wasn’t doing their job or making
any attempt to learn from my coaching, I
would look at them differently and place
another hardworking individual in their
place.”
Stan Drayton, who coached running
backs at Florida from 2005-07 and again in
2010 and who now holds the same position
at Ohio State, expressed no regrets about
how the program was run in Gainesville.
He pointed out that hearing of disgruntled
former players is nothing new.
“It’s not uncommon at all,” Drayton
said. “That one just so happened to make
the Sporting News. Every program I’ve
been a part of, a kid who did not contribute a whole lot and may not have had the
experience that he thought he would, they
try to find a reason why. Bryan Thomas’
reason, I guess, was Urban Meyer. All I
know is we won two national championships down there.
“We had guys who are walking around
with degrees, guys who are raising families, guys who are contributing to society
the right way, and I would like to think the
program we were running had a lot to do
with that.”
Drayton said he is sure it hurt Meyer to
hear such accusations.
“He loves kids, and every time there’s a
kid who has a negative thing to say about
the experience under his watch, that bothers him – no question,” Drayton said. “But
again we can’t make everyone happy. We
can try. We’ve got a system in place and a
structure and this discipline, and you are
going to be held accountable. Some people
like that, some people don’t. That’s life.”
Insider
OSU Legend Dye Passes Away
Former Ohio State quarterback and
head basketball coach Tippy Dye died
April 11 at a California assisted care facility. He was 97.
William Henry Harrison Dye was born
April 1, 1915, near Pomeroy, Ohio, and
was a three-sport star at Ohio State
in the mid-1930s. He was a three-time
All-Big Ten selection and second-team
All-American in basketball, a two-year letterman in baseball, and a three-year letterman in football credited with becoming the first OSU quarterback to beat
Michigan three years in a row – shutout
victories in 1934, ’35 and ’36.
“A fine gentleman,” OSU football historian Jack Park told BSB upon learning
of Dye’s passing. “He was just a really
fine gentleman. He was a tremendous
athlete, of course, but he went on to
become a very accomplished coach and
administrator.
“I got to meet him and talk with him
a couple of times over the years, and he
was just a very gracious individual.”
Following his collegiate playing
career, Dye played one season of professional football and then embarked upon
a coaching career. Following three seasons at Grandview Heights (Ohio) High
School, Dye became a basketball and
football assistant at Brown University
before returning to his alma mater to
become an assistant on both the Ohio
State football and basketball staffs.
Dye was a member of Paul Brown’s
football staff in 1942 when that team
captured the school’s first-ever national
championship.
Freshman OL Sidelined
After Shoulder Surgery
Jacoby Boren made a significant
impression on his new head coach in a
short amount of time, but he will have to
wait to continue to work his way up the
depth chart.
The younger brother of current Buckeye
fullback Zach Boren and former OSU
offensive lineman Justin Boren enrolled
at Ohio State in January and took part in
winter conditioning. He then needed only
a few days of spring football practice to
convince the staff he has a bright future in
scarlet and gray.
Surgery on his left shoulder April 10
put Boren on the shelf for the remainder
of spring football, but Meyer said he had
Following a three-year stint in the U.S.
Navy during World War II, Dye served
four seasons as head basketball coach
at OSU, compiling a 53-34 record that
included the 1950 Big Ten championship. One of the players on that team
was future Ohio State head coach Fred
Taylor, who often credited Dye for helping to develop several of his coaching
philosophies and techniques.
After the 1950 season, Dye moved
on to Washington and spent nine years
with the Huskies, a tenure that included
a third-place finish in the 1953 NCAA
Tournament. That remains the UW program’s only trip to the Final Four.
Dye later became an administrator,
serving from 1962-66 as athletic director
at Nebraska where he is credited with
beginning a college football dynasty.
Dye hired head coach Bob Devaney
before the 1962 season to breathe life
into a team that had won only 15 of its
previous 50 games. During the next 11
seasons under Devaney, Nebraska won
eight Big Eight championships and two
national titles.
After leaving Nebraska, Dye became
athletic director at Northwestern, a position he held for seven seasons before his
retirement in 1974.
Dye, whose wife Mary died in 2001,
is survived by his daughter, Penny, who
lives in northeastern California.
A more complete story on Dye’s life
and legacy will appear in the May print
issue of Buckeye Sports Bulletin, scheduled to be published April 24.
– Mark Rea
already earned the backup center role
behind junior Corey Linsley, surpassing
sophomore Brian Bobek in the process.
“(Jacoby) competed and as of this point
he’s leaving practice as our backup center,” Meyer said. “What a tough nut that
guy is. He had labrum surgery. We did
it now so we’re going to try to get him
back for the end of training camp. That’s
a tough surgery.”
Zach Boren revealed the injury initially
occurred at the end of last season as his
younger brother played for Pickerington
Central during a 34-13 loss to Cleveland
St. Ignatius in the Division I state championship game.
“He was going to play this year and put
it off until after the Michigan game (this
fall), then get surgery on it,” Zach said.
Insider
April 17, 2012
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7
in the middle of his sixth season in charge
of the track and field program. He also
was the mentor for the cross country team
for 16 years.
He led the track and field program to
six top-three finishes at Big Ten championship meets, including runner-up finishes
during the 2009 outdoor and 2010 indoor
seasons. The program’s best national finish in his time came during this indoor
season when the Buckeyes placed 26th.
Eight of his cross country teams made the
NCAA championships, highlighted by an
11th-place finish in 2005.
An accomplished distance runner himself, Gary earned six All-America honors
at Ohio State from 1992-95 and qualified
for the 1996 and 2004 Summer Olympic
Games. He was inducted into the Ohio
State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.
Beathea was hired by Gary as associate coach in August 2006. The Ball State
graduate hails from Elkhart, Ind., and
said he will do his best to keep the team
together the rest of the season.
“The focus of the team hasn’t changed,”
he said. “I think that all of the staff is very
involved with the team and had been
involved with the team. The student-athletes have responded well.”
Prahalis Goes No. 6
Overall In WNBA Draft
SONNY BROCKWAY
HEADING WEST – Former Ohio State women’s basketball standout Samantha Prahalis
(21) was selected by Phoenix with the sixth pick in the WNBA draft April 16.
“But he was playing so well the coaches
wanted him to do it now so he would be
ready for camp because they want him
to be a second-string center and back up
the offensive line and if anything happens
to the offensive line he’d be ready to go
right in.”
He went on to call his younger sibling an unbelievable football player and
brother.
“He cares so much about the game,
coming in early and stuff and forgoing
his senior year,” Zach said. “He was
honestly one of the hardest workers
here in the offseason. He was trying to
learn the new system just like all of us
and he was here each and every day,
putting in hours and hours of work, and
it definitely paid off.
“He’s a fighter so he’ll recover as fast as
he can and he’ll be in here each and every
day getting rehab and stuff. It’s nothing
too major and he’ll be ready to go by the
season.”
OSU, Track Coach
Gary Part Ways
Ohio State confirmed during the week
of April 9 that men’s track and field/cross
country head coach Robert Gary and the
university had parted ways.
Multiple Ohio State officials declined
to comment about the reasons behind the
decision.
The school named assistant Ed Beathea
as interim track and field coach for the
rest of the season, and associate athletic
director T.J. Shelton said a search for a
new coach will take place after the season.
Whether that person will coach both the
track program and cross country remains
to be seen.
“We’re committed to a well-balanced
program, which we have now – strong
in distance, strong in sprints and strong
in the throws,” Shelton told BSB. “That’s
our focus and it will not change from that
standpoint.”
Gary is an Ohio State alumnus who was
The Phoenix Mercury selected former
Ohio State point guard Samantha Prahalis
with the sixth overall pick of the WNBA
draft April 16.
A Commack, N.Y., product, Prahalis
became the ninth Ohio State player chosen in the first-year player draft of the
15-year-old women’s league. She is the
third Buckeye to go in the first round and
the first guard. Center Jessica Davenport
was a first-rounder in 2007, selected No. 2
overall by San Antonio, and forward Jantel
Lavender went to Los Angeles with the
No. 5 overall pick last year.
Prahalis is the reigning Big Ten Player
of the Year and a two-time All-Big Ten firstteam selection. The USBWA All-American
led the Big Ten at 22.5 points per game in
conference play and finished her career
as the Big Ten’s all-time leader in assists
with 901. She also broke longtime WNBA
standout Katie Smith’s single-game OSU
record with 42 points in her last home
game, an 81-56 defeat of Minnesota on
Feb. 23.
Davenport, Lavender and Smith were
the only Ohio State players to play in the
WNBA last season.
8
BSB Quickly
April 17, 2012
Football
Offense Fares Well In Pair Of Open Practices
By Marcus Hartman
The second week of spring football practice included a pair of practices open to
the media. Both were held indoors at the
Woody Hayes Athletic Center, and the
BSB staff was on hand to watch and report
on the action.
The week was a positive one for the
offense, which bounced back after struggling through the beginning of spring, and
that pleased head coach Urban Meyer and
his staff.
April 14
The 11th practice of the spring was open
not only open to media but also students,
faculty and staff. All received a nice show
and were afforded a chance to mingle with
the coaching staff and players after practice
was over.
Originally scheduled to take place at
Ohio Stadium, the practice had to be moved
to the indoor practice field at the WHAC
because of windy and rainy conditions.
That might have limited the attendance
some, but the university still announced a
turnout of more than 3,100.
They were delighted to see the offense
make a handful of big plays, the first a 45yard touchdown pass from quarterback
Braxton Miller to receiver Devin Smith,
who ran a streak down the sideline and
hauled in a perfect pass. That drew a huge
cheer from the assembled fans.
Miller later threw another touchdown
on a short pass to reserve tight end Jeff
Heuerman. The quarterback kept the play
alive with his legs until Heuerman could
find an open spot. It was set up by a long
run by receiver Corey “Philly” Brown on a
reverse option pitch.
Toward the end of the practice, Miller
showed off his quick feet by juking a
couple of defenders on a touchdown run of
about 10 yards. That was set up by a long
catch-and-run by starting tight end Jake
Stoneburner.
Miller’s day was not perfect, however,
as he threw a pair of interceptions. One hit
cornerback Bradley Roby squarely in the
chest after the sophomore had dropped
into coverage. The second came when
Miller tried to force a pass to a well-covered
receiver in the seam. The ball was deflected by safety Corey Brown and caught by
safety Orhian Johnson, who returned the
ball about 60 yards for a touchdown.
SONNY BROCKWAY
UPS AND DOWNS – Sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller (5) impressed with his
legs and arm April 14 during a spring practice but also threw two interceptions.
The sophomore quarterback also
missed a chance for another big play
when he failed to keep a long bomb to
freshman receiver Mike Thomas in the
field of play.
For more on the public’s role in the practice, see Insider on page 4.
Other observations from the BSB staff
included the following:
• The day went a long way toward alleviating any stray concerns that Zach Boren
could get lost in the transition to a new
offense. He was heavily involved as both
a running back and H-back. He received a
Football
couple of handoffs early and later received
a shovel pass he turned into a gain of about
a dozen yards. The latter play was a double
option play with another running back
flanking Miller to his left and Boren to his
right. It was reminiscent of a play made
famous by quarterback Tim Tebow and
tight end Aaron Hernandez during Meyer’s
time as head coach at Florida.
• The defensive line put consistent pressure on Miller when the No. 1 units faced
one another. That was despite John Simon
sitting out much of the action because of
Meyer’s assertion earlier in the week that
he had been too disruptive throughout
spring ball. The staff also seemed to want
to get a look at reserve Leo defensive ends
Steve Miller and J.T. Moore. Miller was
among those to show up in the offensive
backfield on occasion. Johnathan Hankins
and Michael Bennett had sacks.
• Running backs Carlos Hyde and
Bri’onte Dunn had notable performances
for the offense. Hyde continued to look
nimble for a big back whether
running between the tackles or
catching passes in the flats, and
Dunn drew a big cheer from the
crowd when he took a late option
pitch from backup quarterback
Kenny Guiton near one sideline,
reversed his field and rumbled
for about 60 yards. Dunn ran all
the way across the width of the
field and juked a defender on the
other sideline to free himself for
Carlos
the final 10 yards.
• A few times the offense varied from its
typical personnel grouping of one running
back, a tight end or H-back and three wide
receivers. At one point it used an alignment with Boren at H-back, Stoneburner at
tight end, Smith and Philly Brown at wide
receiver and Jordan Hall at running back.
• The defense ran a few series with a
3-3-5 set after showing almost exclusively
its 4-3-4 base throughout earlier practices
open to the media.
• Injuries began to pile up with the
final one-third of spring ball under way.
Two projected starters – linebacker Curtis
Grant and safety Christian Bryant – left
with undisclosed injuries as did reserve
center Brian Bobek. None of the players
returned to practice, but none of the injuries appeared serious. Boren limped off the
field at one point but was able to return.
Wide receivers Evan Spencer (shoulder),
Verlon Reed (knee) and T.Y. Williams
(undisclosed); center Jacoby Boren (shoulder); defensive ends Nathan Williams
April 17, 2012
(knee) and Se’Von Pittman (knee); safeties
C.J. Barnett (undisclosed), Zach Domicone
(knee) and Jamie Wood (shoulder); and
linebackers Storm Klein (undisclosed) and
Josh Perry (undisclosed) did not practice.
• With Klein and Grant injured, redshirt freshman Conner Crowell moved up
to the No. 1 unit at middle linebacker and
held his own. He had a nice open-field
tackle on Hyde and put a big hit on Philly
Brown in the flat after the receiver caught
a screen pass.
• With both reserve centers out, freshman walk-on Tim Trummer moved up
to the second unit. Junior Corey Linsley
remained the starter.
April 11
The ninth time turned out to be the
charm for the Buckeyes, who impressed
their coach with a crisp, intense practice.
Meyer called the roughly two-hour affair
one of the best spring practices he had ever
been around and described it as “A-1-A”
shortly afterward.
“Intensity gets an A.
Competitiveness gets an A.
Coaching gets an A,” Meyer
said. “That was a ball practice.”
It also marked the first time in
four “winner-loser” practices that
the offense came out on top.
“The offense won their first
scrimmage,” Meyer said “They
kept winning the third-and-5
plays, but the defense battled
Hyde
back at the end.”
Leading the charge was Braxton Miller,
who struck an early blow for the offense by
scrambling to keep a play alive then finding
Hyde alone along the sideline behind the
defense. The junior running back caught
the pass and raced untouched for roughly
60 yards on a scoring play that covered 75
yards total.
Big play aside, Miller looked sharp all
afternoon. He threw passes with zip and
appeared confident in his reads as the offense
pushed the pace throughout the drills.
Helping his cause were wide receivers
such as Brown and Thomas, both of whom
turned in a couple of nice runs after the
catch. Thomas drew oohs and aahs from
the media in attendance when he dived to
catch a pass from Miller in the seam with a
pair of defenders bearing down on him.
Thomas, a true freshman who enrolled
in January, took advantage of a day with
the starting lineup in place of Spencer, who
watched from the sideline with his left arm
in a sling.
BSB Quickly
9
Klein also missed practice and Pittman
was limited. Klein began spring slowed by
a knee sprain, but no reason for his latest
missed practice was given. Pittman worked
to recover from a sprained knee that could
keep him out for the rest of spring but is
not expected to be a long-term concern.
Freshman center Jacoby Boren missed
practice because of surgery to repair a
torn labrum, and Barnett sat out most of
the afternoon after suffering what Meyer
termed a muscle injury.
Other observations from the BSB staff
included:
• Reporters in attendance did not need
Meyer to tell them Hyde had a good day.
Aside from his 75-yard touchdown catch,
he outran the defense to the corner on
an outside zone play and made defenders
miss on a couple of occasions after catching short passes in the flat.
• Hall earned the first reps with the
first team, ran well between the tackles and
lined up in the slot quite a bit.
• Steve Miller, Simon and Bennett
stood out for the defense in a one-on-one
pass rush drill while Linsley did a good job
anchoring inside against Hankins on a pair
of reps. Left tackle Jack Mewhort held his
own on the outside of the offense against
a couple of different guys, but offensive
guard Marcus Hall seemed to really struggle holding his ground.
• Redshirt freshman Chris Carter was
seen for the first time publicly on the
defensive line after spending his first year
in Columbus on offense. Meyer said he
noticed the 358-pounder making a few
plays. According to the head coach, defensive coordinator Luke Fickell and defensive line coach Mike Vrabel long advocated
moving Carter, but depth issues on the
offensive line had precluded it being made.
“We didn’t have the luxury to move him
over, but he wasn’t progressing (on offense
so we thought) maybe give him a shot on
defense,” Meyer said. “We were planning
on doing that anyway at some point, so we
went halfway through (spring) and said,
‘Let’s take a shot at defense now.’ (He’s a)
big body. He went hard today.”
• Redshirt freshman walk-on Eric
Kramer moved up to the No. 2 left guard
spot with Carter moved to defense.
• Redshirt freshman defensive lineman
Chase Farris had a late interception in the
third-down scrimmage to give the defense
a chance to steal the scrimmage late.
BSB staffers Matthew Hager, Jeff Svoboda
and Ari Wasserman contributed to this
report.
10
BSB Quickly
April 17, 2012
Football
Ohio Stadium’s Scoreboard Getting Upgrade
By Jeff Svoboda
Ohio Stadium is still in fantastic shape
after 90 seasons of hosting Ohio State football, but that doesn’t mean the venerable
edifice on the banks of the Olentangy River
doesn’t need a face-lift every once in a
while.
The latest update to be announced by
Ohio State will take place this summer when
the stadium scoreboard is expanded and
upgraded to a high-definition picture and
the sound system is replaced in an effort to
enhance the gameday experience.
The current 11-year-old scoreboard,
installed during the last major renovation of
the stadium that was completed in 2001, is
starting to experience problems, and its lack
of an HD picture means it was falling behind
the current technology.
“We’re getting toward the 12th year of
the video technology now, and we’re starting to see some wear on some of the panels,” OSU executive associate athletic director for finance and operations Ben Jay told
BSB. “That’s an indication that it’s starting
to break down.
“Plus there’s a need in that a lot of our
technology is going over to HD and a lot of
the filming that we’re doing is in HD. A lot
of the broadcasts that you see on the screen
are HD, so it was time to start moving that
board to HD.”
Parts from the old board will be recycled
as Ohio State transitions into the new model,
which will be produced by Panasonic. The
shell that is currently used at the stadium
will be maintained, but the size of the video
board itself will increase from 30-by-90 feet
to 42-by-124 as the Trivision advertising panels on either side will be eliminated.
In addition, the new video screen will
use Surface Mount Diode technology that
provides a clearer picture and also allows
wider viewing angles so that more fans may
see the picture.
“We’re utilizing the newest technology
with the Surface Mount Diode,” said Don
Patko, the school’s associate AD for facilities operations. “The difference with that
is the individual light won’t block out the
other light on the other side of it as you get
to the 180-degree viewing angle. This light
projects from the LED out to give you great
viewing angles because you’re not blocked
out by the lights within the board.”
The south stands will receive a new 4by-170-foot ribbon board attached to the
OSU MEDIA RELATIONS
NEW LOOK – Ohio Stadium will have a new scoreboard this fall, complete with an
HD picture screen.
top underneath the scoreboard which will
present statistics and closed captioning services.
Improvements to the stadium sound system are also desperately needed, especially
after portions of the system failed last season during the Oct. 29 homecoming game
against Wisconsin.
Even when the system was operating at
full capacity, it had difficulty delivering consistent sound levels across all parts of the
102,000-plus seat stadium.
“We’ve had a number of issues with
regard to poor sound quality across the different parts of the stadium,” Jay said. “There
were places where the sound was either too
loud or places where the sound could not be
heard at all.”
Ohio State will install a Pro Sound line
array audio system, which will include
25 speakers on each side of the scoreboard aligned in a way to increase directional sound. Other speakers throughout
the stadium will be either refurbished or
replaced.
“The most important thing to realize is
we’re not going to add a system that is going
to blow everybody’s socks off and hurt their
ears,” Patko said. “We’re going to put a
system in called a line array system. Each
speaker ray points toward certain sections,
and that gives you very clear, intelligible
sound, and it’s the latest technology.”
Lastly, the stadium will receive 223 new
flat-screen, HD televisions in its public areas
near concession stands and on the concourses. The current non-HD televisions measure
27 inches, but the newly installed screens
will be more fan-friendly at 32 inches.
The project, which falls under deferred
facility maintenance, will begin April 23 and
continue through August. It will cost $7
million and be funded by an internal loan
the athletic department is taking from the
university that will be paid back over the
next 10 years.
Ohio State has a plan to tackle other
such deferred maintenance issues, including replacing the roof at the Woody Hayes
Athletic Center and a pump house at the
OSU Golf Course, with similar funding.
“We have a hit list of deferred maintenance projects that we really want to take
care of,” Jay said. “Working with (OSU
chief financial officer) Geoff Chatas at the
university level, we’ve been able to put
together a plan to now be able to deal with
those issues.”
Ohio State also hopes to undertake a
project next year that would include replacing the acrylic covering on the stadium’s
original concrete found in the seating areas.
The covering keeps moisture out of the
concrete laid in 1922 and must be replaced
every decade or so, and it is starting to wear
in many portions of the seating bowl.
That project – which would entail removing all the seats, sandblasting the current
acrylic off and then replacing it before reinstalling the seats – would run between $3
million and $5 million and could start next
spring if funding is secured.
“It’s time,” Patko said. “We’re going to go
in there and really work on scraping the old
stuff off and putting the new on, and that’ll
just give us 10-12 more years of good life.
That keeps the water out of the 1922 concrete. It’s just a preservation method.”
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12
BSB Quickly
April 17, 2012
Football Recruiting
Tight End Becomes Latest 2013 OSU Commit
Urban Meyer has been searching for
a dynamic play-making tight end on the
recruiting trail since his first day on the
job as Ohio State’s head coach.
On April 10, he got his man when
Marcus Baugh of Riverside (Calif.) John
W. North offered a verbal commitment
to the Buckeyes. Baugh, a four-star
prospect rated by Scout.com as the
nation’s seventh-best tight end in the
2013 class, hopes to be the latest to
fit into the mold of talented tight ends
Meyer has coached in the past.
RECRUITING
OUTLOOK
Ari Wasserman
“There are a lot of reasons why I
committed to Ohio State, but Coach
Meyer was a big one,” Baugh told
Scout national recruiting analyst Greg
Biggins. “He’s a great coach and has
always had great success using the
tight end. I want to be the next Aaron
Hernandez (now with the New England
Patriots). I think I play a similar game
and that’s how they plan to use me.
“I love the tradition at Ohio State, and
I also have family in the area and that
was important as well. I’ll have a nice
support group around me since I’ll be
far from home.”
Baugh (6-4, 230) has been a top performer at camps because of his length
and impressive hands, and those attributes had helped create an impressive
offer list. Before deciding to end his
recruitment and become a Buckeye,
Baugh was considering scholarship
offers from Arizona State, California,
Florida, Miami (Fla.), Nebraska and
UCLA among others.
“I think I’m a complete tight end,”
Baugh said. “I can run and catch, but
I actually enjoy blocking, too. I think
overall Ohio State was just a great fit for
me, and I wanted to get this over with
early so I can focus on enjoying my summer and senior year.”
Baugh hasn’t been on Ohio State’s
campus in several years, but he felt
comfortable enough with the program
through correspondence with Meyer
and the OSU coaching staff to offer his
commitment.
back most recently picked up a scholarship offer from Oklahoma State and
has others from such top programs
as Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Miami
(Fla.), Michigan, Oklahoma,
Oklahoma State, Penn State,
Tennessee, USC, Virginia
Tech and West Virginia.
Next up for Green is a trip
to see Oklahoma, Oklahoma
State and Arkansas.
“It is just a blessing to go
to these schools and have the
offers,” he said. “I am just having fun with the process and
enjoying the opportunities I
Baugh
have. I have a little schedule going with
days where I call certain coaches. I am
just loving the process right now. I am
not trying to make anything overwhelming.”
With an offer list as extensive as the
one Green possesses, it most certainly
would take some time to sift through it
and make a list of favorites. However,
he said he isn’t in a hurry to narrow his
list to a top five because he doesn’t want
to make programs that are interested
hesitant about recruiting him.
Virginia Halfback Piling Up
Green – the No. 20 running back in
Offers; Remains High On OSU the 2013 class – did say he plans on
Ohio State’s recent verbal commit- using one of his official visits on Ohio
ment from running back Ezekiel Elliott State, the program he grew up rooting
of St. Louis John Burroughs isn’t an for with his late grandfather.
“I speak to (running backs coach)
indication of the Buckeyes being satisfied at the running back position for Stan Drayton often, and he tells me
they’re doing a lot of differtheir 2013 class.
ent things with their offense,”
If how hard Ohio State conGreen said. “I am still trying
tinues to recruit Richmond
to get out there to visit again
(Va.) Hermitage running back
and meet some of the new
Derrick Green is any indicacoaches I haven’t met yet.”
tion of the staff’s desire to add
Even without having a top five,
another back, the Buckeyes
Green made sure to acknowlare extremely eager to bulk up
edge that he has a special place
at the position.
in his heart for Ohio State, espeAnd Green, a four-star proscially since it was one of the first
pect, doesn’t mind at all that
programs to recruit him.
the program has added more
Derrick Green
“I think it is better now because
talent at his position.
“(Elliott) committing doesn’t really they have such a great head coach with
bother me because I know wherever I Urban Meyer and all the great things he
go I am going to have to compete for did at Florida and the things he can do
my spot,” Green told BSB. “Ohio State at Ohio State now,” Green said. “I know
is doing good things and they’re going they send me a lot of mail, and they’re
definitely moving up as a program,
to get players. That’s the way it is.”
OSU is one of nearly 30 programs which is really big. They’re recruiting
that have made the recruitment of me pretty hard, but they’re not recruitGreen a priority. The 5-11, 220-pound ing me too hard.”
“I haven’t visited Ohio State since
I was 12 but I’m going to check them
out soon,” Baugh said. “Hopefully I can
get out there in the summer, and I’ll
obviously do an official visit as
well. I know enough about the
school to know it’s the best fit
for me, and I’m very excited to
be a Buckeye.”
Baugh, who became the
eighth commitment in Ohio
State’s 2013 recruiting class,
could be the first of two tight
ends in the group since the
Buckeyes are still in pursuit
of Mike Heuerman of Naples Marcus
(Fla.) Barron Collier.
Heuerman, the younger brother
of current Ohio State tight end Jeff
Heuerman, is a four-star prospect rated
the nation’s No. 9 tight end. Sources
close to BSB indicate the Buckeyes
reached out to the younger Heuerman
about Baugh’s commitment, and the 64, 200-pound Floridian is unaffected by
Ohio State’s new commitment.
Heuerman is expected to announce
his college decision April 23.
Football Recruiting
Green once indicated to BSB that
he planned to make his decision on his
birthday, which is several weeks after
National Signing Day. However, he’s
since changed his mind and now plans
to make his decision earlier.
“To be honest, I don’t know when I
am going to sign,” he said. “I am going
to make my announcement when I am
ready. I actually don’t know when it is
going to be, but I know it won’t be later
than National Signing Day.”
OSU Leaving Impression
On Top Defensive End
One of the strengths of Ohio State’s
current team is on the defensive line,
and the position group will be even
deeper once the team welcomes in several top freshman prospects Meyer was
able to ink late in the recruiting process
for the 2012 class.
The coach is far from finished building that position group, however, and
he’s made that apparent in the recruitment of Joey Bosa of Fort Lauderdale
(Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas. Bosa, the
No. 2-ranked defensive end in the 2013
class, visited Wisconsin, Michigan and
Ohio State in a one-week span in midApril, and the five-star prospect came
away very impressed by Ohio State.
“I loved it,” Bosa said. “It gave me a
feeling like no other school I’ve been to.”
If Meyer proved anything in his first
few months on the job, it was that he
was able to land top defensive line
talent. To land Bosa, however, would
require some similar magic given he’s
one of the most sought-after uncommitted recruits.
The 6-5, 262-pounder has scholarship
offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida
State, Michigan, Notre Dame and several others. Sources close to BSB indicate
Alabama, Michigan and Ohio State each
stand in good position with the prospect though he hasn’t publicly named
a leader.
Bosa, who has a 3.45 GPA, said he’ll
likely make his decision before the start
of his senior season.
Glenville LB Star Adds
Coveted Ohio State Offer
Cleveland Glenville has been Ohio
State’s most consistent source of prep
talent for the last decade, and Meyer
hopes to land the first Tarblooder player
he personally offered in 2013 linebacker
Christopher Worley.
April 17, 2012
BSB Quickly
13
OSU Verbal Commitments
Players in the class of 2013 who have issued verbal commitments to play football
at Ohio State.
Player
Marcus Baugh
Cameron Burrows
Ezekiel Elliott
Evan Lisle
Jalin Marshall
Billy Price
Jayme Thompson
Eli Woodard
Pos.
TE
CB
RB
OT
RB
DT
S
CB
Ht.
6-4
6-2
6-0
6-6
6-1
6-4
6-2
6-0½
Wt.
230
195
195
275
190
265
185
180
Stars
“I was just offered by Ohio State,”
Worley said April 11. “I am grateful,
thankful and amazed.”
A 6-3, 195-pound prospect, Worley
turned heads as a junior delivering
big hits from the linebacker position.
However, most schools have recruited
him as a safety. Worley also has offers
from Arkansas, Illinois, West Virginia
and others.
Where the Buckeyes project Worley
at the next level is still to be determined.
“Ohio State said they see me as a
player they want to move around,” he
said. “They see me able to play different
spots on defense.”
Cleveland Heights Receiver
Enjoys Visit To Columbus
Cleveland Heights, Ohio, also seems
to be becoming an Ohio State pipeline.
The Buckeyes, who inked offensive
lineman Kyle Dodson in the 2012 class,
are after two more Tigers in wide
receivers Shelton Gibson and De’Niro
Laster.
The 6-1, 190-pound Gibson, a fourstar prospect, has an Ohio State offer
in hand and is set to announce his college decision June 20. Sources close to
BSB indicate that Gibson’s decision will
likely come down to OSU or Auburn.
With Laster, a 6-2, 220-pound prospect, an offer from the Buckeyes hasn’t
been issued yet. However, Ohio State
has expressed interest, and Laster was
in Columbus on April 9 for an official
visit.
“It was nice (but) I’ve been there
before so I knew what to expect,” he
said. “They want to see me in camp so
they can evaluate me further. I know
I need to be at my best in front of the
coaches, so I know what I need to do.”
Though Laster has become best
known for his ability at wide receiver,
High School
Riverside (Calif.) John W. North
Trotwood (Ohio) Madison
St. Louis (Mo.) John Burroughs
Centerville, Ohio
Middletown, Ohio
Austintown (Ohio) Fitch
Toledo Central Catholic
Voorhees (N.J.) Eastern
Ohio State is looking at him elsewhere.
“They are recruiting me as a linebacker, even though some schools see
me as a wide receiver,” he said. “I talked
to my former teammate, (offensive lineman) Antonio Underwood, and he loves
it there. I also spoke to Coach Drayton,
and he told me he could see I was getting bigger. I liked it there and I always
like going down there.”
Laster hasn’t hidden his admiration
for Ohio State, but he has six offers
in hand, including one from in-state
Cincinnati, and he hopes his recruitment will continue to expand this summer.
“I’m hearing from Cincinnati and
Kentucky a lot,” he said. “Kentucky
told me they need to see me in person
before they offer, so I’m going to get
there this spring for sure. I’m also hearing from Minnesota a lot and I’m expecting that offer.”
Canton McKinley Youngster
Making Strides At Linebacker
Given the prominence of the Canton
(Ohio) McKinley football program, it
isn’t often underclassmen find the opportunity to move into the starting lineup.
For linebacker Jamal Davis, his age
didn’t hinder him from finding a major
role on the team as a sophomore.
As one of the team’s top defensive
producers, the 6-1, 200-pounder now
looks to be on his way to being one of
the best prospects in the 2014 class if he
continues on his current trajectory.
“It felt good coming in so young and
starting at Canton McKinley,” Davis
said. “It was an adjustment, but I think I
did real well. I’m looking forward to this
season and I’ve put on 15 pounds since
last season. I played at 185 pounds last
year, which was kind of light. I’m still
just as fast, but the extra weight will
help me a lot.”
14
BSB Quickly
April 17, 2012
Though Davis was pleased with his
output as a sophomore, he understands
he has plenty of room to grow.
“I have more strength and power, but
my speed is my main thing,” he said.
“My father is always working me on
getting faster, and he has me running
hills a lot. I’ve never been timed in the
40-yard dash, but I’m one of the fastest guys on the team. I need to work
on my technique and also the mental
part. I want to eliminate all
mistakes.”
Davis has yet to pick up any
scholarship offers, but given
his age that isn’t out of the
ordinary. He carries a 3.0 GPA
and has become one of the
most exciting youthful prospects in northern Ohio, and
schools have started getting
into contact.
“I definitely want to play
Jamal
college football someday, and I know
how important grades are,” Davis said.
“Ohio State wants to see me at their
camp, and I will be going there in June.
“Syracuse is another school
that has called my coach about
me, and I’m thinking about
going to their camp also. A
lot of the MAC schools have
called about me as well. I love
Ohio State, Oklahoma State,
LSU and schools like that.”
Football Recruiting
Weyler’s recruitment has yet to really
kick off, but he knows he’ll be participating in a camp at Ohio State this summer with the hopes of garnering some
early interest.
“I’ve been an Ohio State fan for a
while,” he said.
However, the lineman does know what
will play a heavy factor in his recruitment.
“My college decision will be based
on things outside of football,” he said.
“I’ll be looking at the academics of both
schools to make my decision.”
OSU Makes Early Pitch
For ’14 Michigan Lineman
Recruiting Notes
Meyer might have thought it was
a strong move to offer 2014
offensive line- man/defensive end Malik McDowell of
Detroit Loyola with the hopes
the early opportunity would
help Ohio State stand out.
As it turns out, Meyer
wasn’t the only one with that
strategy. Getting the 6-6, 275pound prospect out of the
state of Michigan is going to
Davis
make for quite the battle.
McDowell, who also has offers from
Michigan and Stanford, is being heavily pursued by heavy hitters such as
Alabama, LSU and Michigan State.
“I’m planning on visiting Michigan State for their
spring game,” McDowell said.
“I’ll also be visiting Michigan
for their spring game and plan
on camping at Michigan and
Ohio State this summer.”
Given
the
notoriety
McDowell has earned this
Line Prospect Hails
early, it’s hard to imagine a
From Familiar School
scenario in which his offer list
Centerville, Ohio, has pro- Malik McDowell won’t explode as he approachduced plenty of Ohio State stars in es his junior season. Perhaps that’s why
the past – quarterback Kirk Herbstreit, he isn’t ready to start narrowing down
linebacker A.J. Hawk and kicker Mike his list.
Nugent to name a few. The Elks also
“I have interest in any school right
produced current defensive lineman now,” McDowell said. “Any school that
Michael Bennett and are scheduled to is willing to offer me is a school
send offensive lineman Evan Lisle to I have interest in. During the
OSU in 2013.
summer of my junior year,
And the Buckeyes are retracing their I plan on going on several
steps back to Centerville to chart the visits.”
progress of junior-to-be offensive lineMcDowell isn’t sure where
man Jared Weyler, who played for the his recruitment will take him,
Elks last season as a 6-4, 260-pound but he knows he’ll keep track of
sophomore.
what Michigan and Michigan
“I was on varsity as a freshman, but State are doing throughout
this (past season) was the first time I the process. During his sumplayed,” Weyler said. “I thought I had a mer visit to Ohio State, howJordan
pretty good season. I thought our team ever, the Buckeyes could make up some
did really well. We picked it up after our ground if he likes what he sees in
first few games where we struggled a Columbus.
little bit. The varsity level is faster, so I
For now, McDowell isn’t close to
had to adjust to that.”
thinking about formulating a decision.
• Wyomissing (Pa.) Area four-star
linebacker Alex Anzalone (6-3, 220) is
scheduled to attend Ohio State’s spring
game April 21. Anzalone, the No. 10
outside linebacker in the 2013 class,
has more than 30 scholarship offers,
including ones from programs such as
Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State,
Oklahoma, Penn State, Stanford, USC
and West Virginia.
• Solon, Ohio, defensive back prospect Darian Hicks is seeing his recruitment heat up. The 6-0, 175-pounder
has racked up 11 scholarship offers,
including a recent one from Syracuse.
Ranked by Scout as the nation’s No.
29 cornerback for 2013, the three-star
target has offers from Boston College,
Cincinnati, Illinois, Iowa, Penn State
and West Virginia among others. Ohio
State has shown moderate interest and
could become more involved if Hicks
performs well in camps leading into his
senior season.
• Youngstown (Ohio) Cardinal
Mooney outside linebacker Courtney
Love recently listed Ohio State and
Nebraska as the two leaders in his
recruitment. Love (6-1, 222) is a threestar prospect who also holds offers
from Michigan State, Notre Dame and
Oklahoma among others.
• Jordan Severt, a 2014 quarterback
prospect from Austin (Texas) Westlake,
plans to attend camps at Ohio State,
Stanford, Texas, Texas A&M
and TCU this summer. Severt,
who passed for 2,400 yards
and 24 touchdowns as a sophomore, has one dream that
he’s held onto for quite some
time.
“Growing up, it’s always
been my dream to play for
Ohio State,” he said. “But
really whichever team wants
me the most is where I will
Severt
want to play. I do want schools to
be good academically, as well as a
strong football program. I also want
a school where I can fit into their
system.”
2002 Championship Anniversary Celebration – Originally Published: April 13, 2002
2002 Championship Anniversary Celebration – Originally Published: April 13, 2002
20
BSB Quickly
April 17, 2012
Men’s Basketball
Weatherspoon To Transfer, Sibert Still Waiting
The departures of Jared Sullinger and
William Buford aren’t the only losses the
Ohio State men’s basketball team will
have to endure during the summer, as
sophomore forward J.D. Weatherspoon
was released from his scholarship April
16 so he could pursue a transfer.
Weatherspoon (6-6, 215) attended
Columbus Northland, the same high
school for which Sullinger played.
Weatherspoon was a three-star prospect
ranked by Scout.com as the No. 37 power
forward in the 2010 class but had only
limited roles for Ohio State in his two
seasons.
COURT REPORT
Ari Wasserman
“J.D. has done everything we’ve
asked,” OSU head coach Thad Matta said
in a university news release. “I can relate
to a young man’s desire to play. I was in
his shoes during my collegiate career.
His teammates and our staff appreciate
the hard work J.D. has put in to make
our team better. We wish him nothing
but the best.”
Weatherspoon said he has not decided
upon a future destination.
“Coach Matta and my teammates have
been great to me at Ohio State,” he said.
“Our fans and the Columbus community
have supported me while in high school
and at Ohio State. After discussing my
future with my family and my coaches,
we determined transferring to another
school would be the best opportunity for
me. My family and I will begin that process immediately.”
Weatherspoon averaged 6.3 minutes
and 3.0 points per contest during this
past season and became known for his
immense athleticism and dunking ability.
His OSU career highs in minutes (13),
points (seven) and rebounds (three) each
came during his freshman season.
Meanwhile, rumors of Jordan Sibert
transferring to Dayton have since been
debunked, though the potential for the
sophomore guard to leave also seems possible. Sibert told BSB after Ohio State’s
loss to Kansas in the Final Four that he
would explore his options during the offseason before making a final decision.
SONNY BROCKWAY
TAKING OFF – Forward J.D. Weatherspoon (15) will transfer from Ohio State after
two seasons as a Buckeye.
Men’s Basketball
Like Weatherspoon, Sibert has had
limited roles with the Buckeyes in two
seasons. The 6-4, 185-pound guard was
supposed to be a critical weapon off the
bench for Ohio State this season, but
he struggled early and saw his minutes
diminish as a result.
Sibert, who went to Cincinnati
Princeton, came to OSU as one of the
most highly touted prospects in the 2010
class. Scout rated Sibert a four-star prospect and the No. 14 shooting guard in
the class.
As BSB went to press, Sibert remained
enrolled at Ohio State.
OSU Chasing ’14 Big Man
Ohio State still hopes it will have
an instant replacement for Sullinger by
signing Lithonia (Ga.) Miller Grove big
man Tony Parker. The Buckeyes, however, are hedging their bets at the center
position by recruiting Chicago Whitney
Young center Jahlil Okafor.
The No. 2 overall player and the top
center in the 2014 class, Okafor already
has a 6-10, 265-pound frame and has
picked up significant recruiting attention.
Still only a sophomore, he has scholarship
offers from such high-profile programs as
Arizona, Arkansas, Duke, Michigan State
and Ohio State among others.
“I think individually I improved a lot,”
Okafor said when describing his sophomore
season. “Having (junior center) Tommy
Hamilton hurt the first part of the season
was tough because he is like a big brother
and has my back. But it made me grow up a
lot faster and become a better player.”
Okafor has a preliminary list of favorites – Ohio State, Michigan State, Arizona,
Duke and Illinois – but it is the Buckeyes,
Spartans and Wildcats that have made
the biggest efforts in gaining ground with
the big man.
Okafor has been pleased with what
he’s seen out of Ohio State.
“They have one of my former teammates in Sam Thompson and one of
my friends in Jared Sullinger,” he said.
“They both tell me they absolutely love
it at Ohio State. I like what they did in
terms of getting the ball to Jared a lot on
the post.”
Michigan State is also firmly in the
hunt.
“I talk to Draymond Green who tells me
about the campus and how much he loved
it there,” Okafor said. “I like Coach Tom
Izzo as well, and I think he is a good coach
who gets the best out of his players.”
April 17, 2012
Okafor has made an unofficial visit
to Arizona – high school teammate
Hamilton also has a UA offer – and
came away impressed with the progress
the program has made in its short time
under the direction of head coach Sean
Miller.
“They just tell me how they develop
players and how Derrick Williams wasn’t
ranked and ended up as the No. 2 (NBA)
draft pick,” Okafor said. “They just tell
me how they develop players and how
Arizona has the most players in the
NBA.”
While Illinois was still under the direction of former head coach Bruce Weber,
the program was very involved in Okafor’s
recruitment. Since the team hired John
Groce to take over the program, the Illini
haven’t been quite as involved.
“I’m not really familiar with the new
coach, but I do like the program,” Okafor
said. “I am mostly familiar with Bruce
Weber and Coach Jerrance (Howard).
I think Illinois will still be good and I
look forward to getting to know the new
staff.”
Then there are the two traditional college basketball powers in Duke and North
Carolina. Okafor has an offer from Duke,
but North Carolina hasn’t yet offered.
BSB Quickly
21
“Duke and North Carolina are schools
I have always watched,” Okafor said.
“It is amazing to be recruited by them
because that rivalry is always something
that I wanted to be a part of.”
Basketball Notes
• Mississippi State freshman Rodney
Hood has announced he will transfer
after averaging 10.3 points as a starter in
29 games. The 6-7, 185-pound forward,
who was a five-star prospect in the 2011
class, hasn’t announced which school
will be his destination, but Ohio State
is reportedly one of the handful of programs he’s considering.
• Sullinger and Duke guard Austin
Rivers have each hired sports agent David
Falk, one of the most respected representatives for NBA players. Falk is best known for
representing former NBA superstar Michael
Jordan for the entirety of his career.
• Parker was once supposed to
announce his decision April 11, but now
the five-star center recruit is scheduled to
announce his commitment April 23. The
6-8, 255-pound big man is Ohio State’s top
target, but he’s also considering Duke,
Georgia, Kansas, Memphis and UCLA.
Parker is the No. 20-ranked player in the
2013 class, according to Scout.
KEVIN DYE
MAKING MOVES – Former Ohio State men’s basketball player Jared Sullinger (0) has
hired noted NBA agent David Falk.
22
BSB Quickly
April 17, 2012
Big Ten Notes
Minnesota Mourns Linebacker Tinsley
Former Minnesota football player Gary
Tinsley, who passed away April 6 in his
sleep at the age of 22, was laid to rest April
14 in Jacksonville, Fla.
An estimated 1,800 mourners were
present, including the entire Minnesota
team and coaching staff.
“The thing that we’ll always remember
is that million-dollar smile,” Gophers head
coach Jerry Kill said. “In his gameday
(mode) and he’s got No. 51 down those
cheeks and he’s coming out of that tunnel ... the guy just had what you’d call ‘it.’
There’s no definition in the dictionary for
it, (but) he had it.”
BIG TEN NOTES
Jeff Svoboda
No cause of death has officially been
determined, but that wasn’t on anyone’s
mind at the Abyssinia Missionary Baptist
Church. Teammates and friends took
turns addressing the crowd during the
2½-hour ceremony.
“His smile could light up a room, his
smile could save lives, his smile did a
number to the team,” Minnesota defensive tackle Brandon Kirksey said. “As you
can see, there’s a lot of people out here.
He really impacted everybody around
him. He was a shining light. If you were
having a bad day, you could count on coming into the locker room and seeing GT
to brighten up your day ... and make your
practice a little smoother.”
Former Golden Gophers head coach
Tim Brewster, who recruited Tinsley
to Minnesota, also spoke. Discussing
Tinsley’s positive attitude and personality, Brewster told a story of how Tinsley
enjoyed performing at the team’s “Coming
to the Stage” talent show.
“That was right up GT’s alley. After
he saw ‘Coming to the Stage’ a couple of
times, he pulled me aside and said, ‘Coach
Brew, I want to come to the stage, I want
to come to the stage,’ ” Brewster said.
“And you know what, there was nothing
like GT on the stage. Boy, he danced.
He danced, he sang. He put a smile on
everybody’s face.”
Tinsley had been finishing his degree at
Minnesota after serving as a starting linebacker the past two seasons. He was also
preparing for the NFL draft and hoped to tickets can be exchanged for university
baseball or softball games.
move on to a professional career.
Purdue and Indiana also had their
He was discovered the morning of April
6 by former teammate Keanon Cooper, a fair share of weather-related issues. The
Boilermakers’ plan was to host the game
senior linebacker.
“For me, football is therapeutic,” Cooper in Ross-Ade Stadium, but with storms in
the area, the scrimmage was
said after the team returned
moved inside to the Mollenkopf
to the practice field April 10.
Athletic Center and was closed
“When I get out there, I’m with
to the public.
my teammates and concentratThe Black squad beat the
ing on what I have to get done.
Gold team, 36-20.
In football, I forget everything.
“I was pleased with the effort
“I was probably one of the
and I think we got done what
guys who was hurting the most,
we started out to get done,”
but I’ve been trying to stay
said Purdue head coach Danny
strong for the people around
Hope. “Sometimes to get them
me. For my teammates and the
Gary Tinsley
outside of their comfort zone
coaching staff, people close to
can be a good thing. Oftentimes in football
GT, his family.”
An investigation is still under way to you have to deal with the elements, so a
determine the cause of Tinsley’s sudden little distraction today might have been
death. On the field, the Gophers continue good for our football team.”
Indiana also had to move indoors after
to go through spring practice sessions.
“The kids are handling it really well,” the first quarter was played in Memorial
Kill said. “You always say you find out who Stadium. Its Cream team downed Crimson
by a 19-16 score.
you are in these times.”
“We’ve been having great weather all
spring,” IU head coach Kevin Wilson said.
Weather Plays Havoc
April 14 was supposed to be a big day of “I talked to the guys. With as good as the
spring football games around the Big Ten, weather’s been, we need to take advanbut a string of storms across the Midwest tage of some of the elements and learn
how to take advantage of tough situations.
changed some plans.
Nebraska was forced to cancel its spring We’ve got to play well on the road next
game thanks to heavy storms that includ- year, we’ve got to play well when we don’t
get good calls or make good plays, so I
ed lightning and a threat of tornadoes.
“It wasn’t a decision that we made light- kind of challenged them in the meeting to
ly,” NU athletic director Tom Osborne take advantage of the (bad) weather.
“We had a decent start, transitioned
said. “If you have someone get hurt badly
or hit by lightning, then you probably fields. I don’t know if it was ideal or persaved yourself a lot of grief and personal fect, but I thought we got a lot out of it. It
injury and all those kinds of things. We was a good day.”
made the best decision we could based on
Division Up For Grabs
the information we had.”
Last year was a new experience for the
The game will not be rescheduled
because of conflicts among the players. Big Ten when the league split into two
Nebraska had staged a spring football divisions for the first time with Michigan
State capturing the Legends side and
game every year since at least 1950.
“It’s not going to make or break us one Wisconsin finishing first in the Leaders
way or the other,” head coach Bo Pelini Division.
A lot will be different in 2012 on the
said. “I don’t want to disrupt everything
we have scheduled and planned heading Leaders half of the equation as well. Three
into the next phase of our offseason for of the six teams – Ohio State, Penn State and
one practice. And to be honest with you, Illinois – have new coaching staffs, while
you worry about the mind-set of your play- Wisconsin underwent plenty of change
ers at that point. How much are you going thanks to the departure of more than half
of its assistant coaches. Only Purdue and
to get out of them?”
The school chose not to reimburse fans Indiana seem relatively unchanged, but both
but did give away free food and said the had to replace at least one coordinator.
Big Ten Notes
April 17, 2012
BSB Quickly
23
Purdue Players Fall Short
DAVID STLUKA – WISCONSIN ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
BACK AGAIN – Running back Montee Ball will lead Wisconsin this fall, hoping to
build on a 2011 season during which he was a Heisman Trophy finalist.
“Everybody has new people,” Penn
State defensive tackle Jordan Hill told
ESPN.com. “Even Wisconsin, they’ve got
six new assistants, and in most cases the
assistants are who deal with the players
the most. So I feel it’s wide open. Not that
I don’t feel that every year, but it’s more
than usual.”
Wisconsin will likely be the division
favorite after returning Heisman finalist Montee Ball at tailback and adding
Maryland transfer Danny O’Brien to
play quarterback, but all teams will have
reasons to feel confident. All except
Wisconsin return the quarterbacks who
got the majority of the snaps a season ago.
In addition, perennial power Ohio State
cannot play for the Big Ten title thanks to
its bowl ban.
The new coaches – Urban Meyer at
Ohio State, Bill O’Brien at Penn State and
Tim Beckman at Illinois – could also level
the playing field as each brings new philosophies to the division.
Meyer said his staff did a study this
winter in an effort to scout the upcoming
opponents.
“There’s been a lot of transition and
we’re not quite sure what they’re going to
run,” he said. “We have an idea from the
previous stops.”
With all the changes the division teams
had during the offseason, even Indiana
– which finished last a season ago – thinks
it can have a chance in the upcoming
campaign.
“Last year we struggled in my first year
– didn’t play up to our capabilities,” Wilson
said. “Hopefully that will lead to giving
ourselves an opportunity to compete with
some of those teams as they go through
some transition.”
U-M Encouraging Tweets
Twitter has become one of the most
popular ways for fans of teams to communicate, and Michigan tried to take
advantage of that development during its
spring game.
The school painted the Twitter hashtag
“#GOBLUE” on the field, hoping to encourage fans to use the tag to talk about the
game with one another.
“Our goal is to challenge the status quo
and to create innovative ideas that speak
to our fans,” said Jordan Maleh, U-M’s
director of digital marketing. “This initiative will help our athletic department use
technology as a competitive advantage to
engage and connect to fans, build brand
loyalty, grow the digital audience and
monitor and listen to what is being said
through the digital engagement cycle.”
The Michigan Stadium scoreboard
showed the best tweets from fans using the
hashtag during the game, and the school
also gave prizes related to the spring
game to those who used the hashtag
before the game.
Previously, Mississippi State painted
“#HAILSTATE” in its end zone for a game
in 2011.
Name recognition is big in politics,
but it didn’t help Purdue football players
Ishmael Aristide and Rob Henry in their
quest to be named the school’s student
body president and vice president.
Aristide, who was the presidential candidate, and Henry fell short in voting conducted in early April, totaling only 1,144 of
5,900 votes.
“We took it seriously from the beginning, but we learned sometimes you win,
sometimes you lose,” Aristide told the
Journal & Courier of Lafayette, Ind. “We
knew that going in. Life isn’t perfect. It
teaches you to be resilient.”
The two campaigned heavily using
social media and made campaign commercials that spoofed popular advertisements for Old Spice and Dos Equis beer.
Aristide said he didn’t sleep much during
the campaign because the two put so
much energy into it.
Though the two fell short, they said
they hope the work they did getting out
into the student body will help create buzz
around the Purdue program and boost
attendance.
“You never know, but people are going
to do what they want to,” Henry said.
“Maybe more people seeing us out and if
we could get the whole team to go out and
do stuff like that it will be very good for
attendance.”
Big Ten Note-worthy
• Illinois athletic director Mike
Thomas told The State Journal-Register
of Springfield, Ill., that he hopes to have
his school play a nonconference football
game every other year in Chicago. The
Illini visit the Windy City every other year
to face rival Northwestern and would like
to return in the off years for the nonleague
games to boost the school’s profile in
the major metropolitan area. The games
would likely be staged at Soldier Field,
home to the NFL’s Chicago Bears.
• Former Michigan defensive back
Justin Turner could wind up playing college football at Akron. Turner was spotted
taking in a practice session of the Zips
during early April. The Massillon (Ohio)
Washington standout was rated the top
player in Ohio by Scout.com in 2009 but
redshirted his first season at U-M before
transferring to West Virginia. He spent
2011 at a junior college in Scottsdale,
Ariz., and then gave a commitment to
Hawaii but never made the trip to the
islands.
24
BSB Quickly
April 17, 2012
Baseball
Buckeyes Boast Starting Pitching Depth
By Jeff Svoboda
Ohio State baseball head coach Greg
Beals and pitching coach Mike Stafford
have a problem with which not many people around college baseball can identify.
The Buckeyes have five starting pitchers they feel can get the job done but only
three spots in the weekend starting rotation, creating a logjam so deep that two
of the players who began the season as
top-three starters are looking to get back
into the weekend rotation.
“I feel like we have five solid starters,
and it’s good to have those two guys
to run out there midweek and throw,”
said Stafford of opening day starter Brett
McKinney and sophomore Greg Greve,
who are now going in midweek games.
“They’re just as capable of throwing in
the rotation as anybody else, but in case
there’s an injury or when we get into
tournament play, we’re going to need four
starters.”
The talent has shown in the Buckeyes’
last 21 games, the number the team has
played since its March 16 home opener.
In that time, the five Buckeye starters
– Greve and McKinney along with Jaron
Long, Brian King and John Kuchno – have
combined to post 13 quality starts along
with a combined ERA of 3.94.
The Buckeyes are doing all that even
without Matt Wisler, a Bryan, Ohio, prospect who signed with OSU last year but
went the professional route after becoming
a seventh-round draft pick, and Bradley
Goldberg, a transfer who continues to
sit on the sideline while dealing with an
NCAA eligibility issue.
The depth the Buckeyes have created
– with all but McKinney and Greve having
been recruited by Beals and his staff – is
no accident.
“We’re going to continue to add pitching to our ballclub,” Beals said. “My plan
is to continue to get better and better on
the mound. The style of baseball I want
to play is a gritty game and have great
pitching. If you have gritty position players that give you tough, quality at bats
and scratch out three to four runs in the
ballgame, pitch the heck out of the ball
and play defense, you’re going to win a lot
of games.”
That is especially true with the new
KEVIN DYE
OFF TO GOOD START – Ohio State’s starting staff, including sophomore John Kuchno
(45), has posted a combined 3.94 ERA in its last 21 games.
bats that must be used in college baseball.
The NCAA created a new standard that
debuted a season ago limiting the trampoline effect that had been seen in the aluminum bats. As a result, runs and power
numbers are down across the sport.
“The game in general is going back to
the mound with the new bats and the way
pitchers are attacking the strike zone,”
Beals said. “I think it forces us to play
good baseball. We can’t just use the trampoline effect of the bat and play gorilla ball
anymore.”
When he was hired, Beals also put a premium on developing a staff that can groom
hurlers. Stafford, a former Ohio State pitcher, was on Beals’ staff at Ball State and
seemed a natural hire, but an underrated
addition has been that of Josh Newman,
who also threw at OSU and had a brief cup
of coffee in the major leagues in 2007 and
’08 with Colorado and Kansas City.
“Our pitchers get a great deal of attention with those two guys both on the
coaching staff,” Beals said. “Not too many
staffs in college baseball have two guys
working with the pitching staff. It’s an
emphasis I wanted to put on pitching.
We’re starting to see the effects of that.”
The starters have put together a few
solid stretches during weekend series
thus far. Against Austin Peay for the homeopening weekend March 16-18, Long,
King and McKinney combined to allow
just three earned runs in 21 innings.
While facing Big Ten favorite Michigan
State on the road March 31-April 2, that
same trio gave up only four earned runs in
16⅔ frames. A week later vs. Minnesota,
Kuchno took McKinney’s spot in the rotation when the latter developed a problem
with his mechanics, but there was no
drop-off – the starters surrendered just
four earned runs in 21 innings.
Long has emerged from being the team’s
long man out of the bullpen at the start of
the season into a bona fide ace. While
serving as the team’s No. 1 starter each of
the past five weeks, he has turned in four
quality starts – those with six-plus innings
and three or fewer runs – in five tries while
posting a 2.46 ERA in 40 innings.
Using a few variations of fastballs
including a cutter that dives away from
right-handed hitters, Long has worked
through the seventh inning in each of
those starts and the team is 4-1 in those
games.
Baseball
“It’s definitely a nice honor, but our
pitching staff is deep,” he said of being
the No. 1 starter. “Anytime you can win on
Friday, it makes it a lot easier.”
King also has five starts since the home
opener, posting three quality starts and
a 4.18 ERA, while McKinney and Greve
each have four starts. Greve has three
quality starts and a 3.13 ERA while going
3-0, and McKinney has two quality outings
and a 3.79 ERA.
“You see guys like Jaron going out
there and throwing, (and) that just gives
us confidence,” Greve said. “Whatever
role this team needs me to do, whether
it’s out of the bullpen or starting midweek
games, I’m willing to do it.”
Kuchno has struggled a bit, including
giving up 10 runs during a start March 20
at a ranked Louisville team. However, he
might have the best start in recent weeks,
an outing April 8 vs. Minnesota in which
he went six innings and allowed only a
single hit and no runs.
No matter how the rotation breaks
down throughout the rest of the season,
Stafford thinks the old saw about hitting
being contagious can also apply to his
starting rotation.
“I believe that anybody that comes in
behind someone that has success carries that over,” the OSU assistant coach
said. “I think sometimes when guys are
flowing and working fast, other guys see
what they’re doing and try to repeat that.
It’s contagious just like hitting is. If we fill
up the strike zone and work quick and
execute our game plan, it’s usually a pretty
good sign.”
Nebraska Takes Two
For the second time this Big Ten season, Ohio State captured the opener of a
three-game league series only to lose the
set by dropping the final two games. This
time it happened against Nebraska from
April 13-15 at Bill Davis Stadium when
the Cornhuskers battled back from being
embarrassed in the opener to win the two
games of a doubleheader on getaway day.
Ohio State finished the series at 21-14
overall and 6-6 in Big Ten play, completing its opening gantlet against league contenders in a tie for fifth place with Indiana.
Nebraska moved to 25-13 overall, and the
Huskers’ Big Ten mark of 7-5 is good for
third. Purdue leads the conference race
at 10-2 with Minnesota in second through
games from April 15 at 6-3.
The Buckeyes didn’t waste any time
in the series opener April 13, putting up
April 17, 2012
seven runs in the first inning on the way
to a 10-2 victory in front of 1,513 fans. The
win was Ohio State’s seventh in a row.
Beals credited the offensive explosion
to time the team spent in the batting cages
during its off day one day earlier.
“I liked the quality of our at bat,” he
said. “We had some extra-base hits where
we hit the ball hard. We seemed more
offensive tonight than we have been in a
while. Yesterday we had a good practice
with the hitters. It was great to see the
guys bring that to the field.”
Nebraska starter Tyler King didn’t
have command, walking three batters and
hitting two while retiring only one batter.
Ohio State made him pay for those control
issues when first baseman Josh Dezse had
a two-run single in the first and catcher
Greg Solomon had a bases-clearing triple
down the left field line.
Solomon later hit a two-run homer to
left on his way to a career-high five RBI.
“I was actually surprised by the fireworks,” Solomon said of his home run.
“He threw a breaking ball. I was actually thinking he was going to throw that
because the pitch before he threw a fastball up and in and I took an ugly swing
at it. A lot of the guys give me a bunch
of crap for it because they say I set the
pitcher up with like a really bad swing so
they throw a really good pitch so I can
hit it.”
Dezse finished with three hits including a double while outfielders Patrick
Porter and Tim Wetzel each had a triple
among their two hits.
On the hill, Long (3-1) threw his second
complete game in three starts, scattering
eight hits while allowing two runs to lower
his season ERA to 2.31.
The scheduled game April 14 was postponed because of all-day rain showers
in Columbus, setting up a doubleheader
a day later. Head coach Darin Erstad’s
Cornhuskers ended the Ohio State winning streak by taking both games by
scores of 5-4 and 17-9 in front of 1,820.
“Against good teams, you have to play
offense, defense and pitch,” OSU second
baseman and co-captain Ryan Cypret said.
“We finally hit the ball well this series, but
we didn’t do what we’ve done all year, and
that’s have good defense and pitching.”
The difference in the opening game was
just one pitch, an offering from McKinney
in the eighth inning that Nebraska third
baseman Josh Scheffert hit over the wall
to break a 4-all tie and provide the winning
run for the Cornhuskers.
BSB Quickly
25
That completed a seesaw affair in which
the visitors took a 2-0 lead in the second,
Ohio State countered to make it 4-2 in the
third and finally Nebraska rallied to post
the win. King allowed four runs in five
innings while McKinney fell to 4-4 thanks
to the homer.
Wetzel and catcher Aaron Gretz each
had two hits, with Wetzel smashing a tworun double. Shortstop Kirby Pellant also
had a sacrifice fly while Cypret scored on
an error to account for the fourth run.
The second game of the twin-bill was
ugly for Ohio State, which committed four
errors, walked five batters and hit four
more with pitches. Three of the errors and
two of the hit batsmen came in a seven-run
fourth inning for Nebraska that ended the
day of Kuchno (5-2), while the Huskers
added five more in the fifth thanks to
three walks and another hit batter.
“I wish we would have made them beat
us in the second game,” Beals said. “If we’re
going to lose, I want the other team to beat
us. I thought the first game they beat us. It
was a good baseball game. They got a big
hit. The second game, we didn’t play very
good baseball and helped them out a lot.”
Scheffert finished with three hits, a
homer and seven RBI for the Huskers,
while catcher Richard Stock went 4 for 5
with two doubles, a walk and three runs.
Ohio State’s offense was led by a three-run
homer by third baseman Brad Hallberg
while right fielder David Corna homered
and drove in three.
OSU Sweeps Pair
Ohio State kept its winning streak
alive during two midweek games played
April 10-11 in Columbus, downing Ohio
University on the first night before taking
down Akron.
The Buckeyes captured a 6-5 decision
against the Bobcats (16-16) in the first
matchup between the schools since 1994.
OSU opened a 5-1 lead before holding on.
Hallberg had a pair of doubles while driving in two runs while Pellant went 2 for 2
with an RBI single. McKinney got the win
to improve to 4-3, giving up four runs in
five innings.
Ohio State downed Akron by a 7-2
score, sealing the victory with a fourrun sixth inning. That frame included an
RBI double by outfielder Joey Ciamacco,
an RBI single by Pellant and back-toback bases-loaded walks by Cypret and
Hallberg. That was enough to make
Greve’s six-inning, two-run outing stand
up as the sophomore improved to 3-2.
26
BSB Quickly
April 17, 2012
Briefs
Track And Field Performs Well At Owens Meet
Rainy conditions didn’t do much to
dampen the mood at the 27th annual
Jesse Owens Track Classic on April 13-14,
and Ohio State athletes won a total of 13
events at the event held in Jesse Owens
Memorial Stadium.
“The tradition and history and what
the Jesse Owens meet used to be, I think
that’s always neat, rain or shine, to have
this kind of a meet in order to
try to live up to and remember and appreciate what Jesse
Owens did for Ohio State, Ohio
and the United States,” interim
men’s head coach Ed Beathea
said.
Ohio State’s women’s team
won seven events at the meet.
Christina Manning and Nyjah
Cousar each won a hurdles
event and had a hand in a winNyjah
ning relay. Manning won the 100-meter
hurdles in 13.06 and was also on the 4x100
relay team that won in 44.55, while Cousar
won the 400 hurdles in 59.98 and was on
the 4x400 squad that crossed the line first
in 3:45.12.
Additionally, Aisha Cavin won the 200
meters in 24.24, Ashley Galbraith bested
the field in the high jump at 1.70 meters
and Maggie Mullen took first in the hammer throw with a personal record of 59.84
meters.
The OSU men won six events on the
second day. The Buckeyes were at their
best in the sprints, with Timothy Faust
winning the 100-meter dash in 10.75 and
the 4x100 relay team crossing the line first
in 40.94. Ohio State had the top four spots
in the 400 hurdles with Antonio Blanks
getting the win in 52.56.
Marvel Brooks pulled away from the
field to win the 400 in 47.46, while the
4x400 relay emerged victorious in 3:12.66.
Competing against a strong field in the
mile, All-American Cory Leslie won the
event with a time of 4:01.99.
A meet record was set in the 5,000
meters as unattached competitor Jeff
Schirmer won in 13:59.59.
Men’s Golf Falls
To Fifth-Place Finish
Despite being tied for the lead after
one day of play, the Ohio State men’s golf
team fell off the pace in blustery conditions during the final round on the way to
finishing fifth at the 42nd annual Robert
Kepler Intercollegiate held April 14-15 on
the Scarlet Course.
Ohio State shot a 57-over score of 909
on the par-71 track to finish 11 shots
behind No. 20 Kent State. Fifteen teams
were in the field including Big Ten foes
Northwestern and Indiana, each of which
beat OSU.
Competing as an individual, Logan
Jones had the best Ohio State
finish, tying for ninth with a
score of 13-over 226. After an
opening-round 72, Matt Turner
finished with scores of 77 and
78 to finish tied for 13th with
a 227.
Alex Redfield shot 228 to tie
for 19th, Boo Timko was two
strokes back to tie for 27th and
Grant Weaver shot 231 to tie
for 30th.
Cousar
OSU was tied with Indiana after a wet
day one, shooting 31-over 599 for two
rounds to match the Hoosiers.
Men’s Spikers Close
Out Regular-Season Title
The Ohio State men’s volleyball
team won its sixth straight Midwestern
Intercollegiate Volleyball Association
championship and its 24th overall, clinching the No. 1 seed in the upcoming league
tournament with a 3-1 win April 13 vs.
IPFW in St. John Arena.
The No. 8 Buckeyes did finish tied with
Lewis for the title but hold the tiebreaker
for the league tournament. OSU will host
the winner of the match between No. 4seed Grand Canyon and No. 5-seed Ball
State in a semifinal April 25.
The program honored seniors Anthony
Hock, Mik Berzens and Shawn Sangrey
after the 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23 victory
against the Mastodons. Sangrey dominated
the proceedings with 34½ points, including
31 kills to top the 30-kill mark for the third
time this year. He also had three aces.
Berzins was also strong, notching
15 kills – including the match winner
– against just one error while receiving
35 serves and earning 15 assists. Peter
Heinen had 53 assists.
OSU left conference play to close the
regular season with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 2522) sweep at George Mason. Berzins and
Nick Gibson each had 14 kills in OSU’s
20th win, allowing the Buckeyes to reach
that plateau for the third straight season.
Gymnastics Teams
Ready For Nationals
Both the OSU men’s and women’s
gymnastics squads will take part in their
respective NCAA championship meets in
late April.
The 12th-ranked women will compete
April 20 in Duluth, Ga., in their first
NCAA finals appearance since 1990. The
Buckeyes are led by sophomore Sarah
Miller, who is ranked in the top 10 in the
country on both vault and balance beam.
They also have seniors Taylor Jones,
Casey Williamson and Nicole Krauter as
well as junior all-arounder Colleen Dean.
“We’re coming not just for the experience of being there,” head coach Carey
Fagan said. “The competition is obviously
going to be more difficult than anything
we’ve faced, but we’re coming in with the
intent to move on to the Super Six. We’ll
put our best 24 routines out and see how
we match up against the best teams and
hopefully we’ll leave the championships
with multiple All-America honors, which
will be a first for the program.”
The seventh-ranked men’s team has
advanced to the 12-team NCAA qualifier,
which will be hosted April 19 by Oklahoma.
The top three teams in each session will
move on, with OSU grouped with No. 2
Penn State, No. 3 Stanford, No. 6 Michigan,
No. 10 Nebraska and No. 11 Iowa.
Daniel Steiner and Misha Koudinov
are ranked in the top 10 on floor while
Ty Echard is in the top five on pommel
horse, Larry Mayer is top 10 on vault and
Koudinov is ranked fifth on parallel bars.
Rowers Have Another
Impressive Weekend
The sixth-ranked Ohio State rowing
team won 12 of 14 races vs. Michigan,
Oklahoma, Oregon State and Tennessee
while racing April 14 on Belleville Lake in
Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes captured six of
seven races in each session, with the First
Varsity Eight and Second Varsity Eight
boats going undefeated.
Ohio State’s most impressive win in
the opening session came in the First
Varsity Four race as Taylore Urban, Katie
King, Stephanie Johnson, Emily Ralph and
coxswain Dara Schnoll finished in 7:37.20
to beat Oklahoma by nearly 36 seconds.
The boat finished the second session in
7:44.42 to beat Tennessee by 13 seconds
and Oregon State by 20.
Briefs
The 1V8 of Ellen Heister, Claudia
Herpertz, Eelkje Miedema, Allison Elber,
Ilse Paulis, Emily Walsh, Ulrike Denker,
Claire-Louise Bode and cox Amanda Poll
won the first session race over Oklahoma
by almost 16 seconds with a time of
6:41.80. The group’s time of 6:48.25 topped
Oregon State and Tennessee in the second session.
The 2V8 of Katie Beletskaya, Samantha
Fowle, Ashley Bauer, Meghan Birkbeck,
Claudia Schiwy, Nadine Seehaus, Cori
Meinert, Kate Sweeney and coxswain
Victoria Lazur won both races by more
than 10 seconds with a morning time
of 6:48.20 and a session two time of
7:00.40.
The Second Novice Eight and Second
Varsity Four boats were also unbeaten.
Men’s Tennis Stays
Perfect In Big Ten
A pair of ranked opponents couldn’t
keep the No. 2 Ohio State men’s tennis
team from extending its Big Ten winning
streak to 88 as the Buckeyes beat both
No. 23 Illinois and No. 46 Northwestern
at home.
OSU started the weekend April 13 with
a 7-0 thumping of the Fighting Illini at the
Varsity Indoor Tennis Center. It marked
the Buckeyes’ 10th straight victory against
Illinois.
Ohio State won each match, starting
in doubles. The No. 1 pair in the country,
Chase Buchanan and Blaz Rola, posted an
8-3 victory over No. 25 Dennis Nevolo and
Roy Kalmanovich, while the Buckeyes got
wins from No. 23 Devin McCarthy and Ille
Van Engelen and No. 83 Connor Smith
and Peter Kobelt.
In singles, Buchanan won a marquee
matchup, as the No. 13 player in the country beat the fifth-ranked Nevolo, 6-4, 6-4.
Ranked seventh, Rola downed the 38thranked Kalmanovich, while Kobelt, Van
Engelen, McCarthy and Smith also won
in singles.
The Buckeyes came back two days later
to take a 5-2 win against Northwestern
at OSU’s new outdoor courts. Rola,
Buchanan, Van Engelen, McCarthy and
Smith won in singles.
Men’s Lax Bests Michigan
In Inaugural Showdown
The first-ever meeting between the
Ohio State men’s lacrosse team and the
nascent Michigan varsity program went to
the Scarlet and Gray squad April 14. The
Buckeyes bested Michigan by a 12-9 final
April 17, 2012
in front of 4,458 fans in what was billed as
“The Battle at the Big House.”
“We are thankful for the opportunity
to play in Michigan Stadium today,” OSU
head coach Nick Myers said. “It’s a special
day for both programs as we were able to
bring the Ohio State and Michigan rivalry
onto the lacrosse field. We are excited
to be going home with the win and the
chance to play in front of a record-breaking crowd in Ohio Stadium Saturday.”
Ohio State moves on to the annual
“Showdown in the ’Shoe” scheduled for 11
a.m. on April 21 vs. Air Force. The contest
will be staged right before the spring football game in Ohio Stadium.
The Buckeyes led throughout the day
against the Wolverines, taking a 3-1 lead
after one quarter, a 7-5 advantage at halftime and a 10-6 lead after three stanzas.
Logan Schuss extended his scoring
streak to 42 games with a team-high three
goals to go with two helpers, while Jesse
King and Tyler Frederick each scored
twice. Dominique Alexander picked up
three assists for the Buckeyes.
Offense Struggles,
Softball Swept
The Ohio State softball team couldn’t
get much going with the bats as the
Buckeyes were swept April 15 in a doubleheader at Purdue by scores of 2-1 and
8-3.
Ohio State got a run in the first inning
of the opener when Alicia Herron singled
in Taylor Watkins, but Purdue starter
Lexy Moore shut down the Buckeyes the
rest of the way. The Boilermakers got
the winning runs on a two-run homer in
the fifth by Erika Petruzzi off OSU starter
Mikayla Endicott, who allowed only three
hits.
Maddy McIntyre and Caitlin Conrad
had RBI in the second game but Purdue,
which entered leading the league in batting average, scored six runs (only two
earned) off starter Melanie Nichols.
The teams’ April 14 game was canceled
because of rain and will not be made up.
OSU posted a 3-2 win April 11 against
visiting Dayton at Buckeye Field. McIntyre
had the winning hit, a two-out, two-run
walkoff single in the bottom of the seventh. Endicott allowed only two runs on
four hits with eight strikeouts.
Penn State Pulls Away
From Women’s Lacrosse
The No. 10 women’s lacrosse team
gave up four of the last five goals to drop
BSB Quickly
27
a 15-12 decision to 13th-ranked Penn State
on April 15 at Jesse Owens Memorial
Stadium.
Kirsten Donahue led the Ohio State
attack with four goals while Katie Chase
had three to post her first career hat trick
in her first career start. Kaila Gottlick
also had a pair of tallies while Alayna
Markwordt posted two assists.
Gottlick, Donahue and Gabby Capuzzi
scored in a row early in the second half
to give Ohio State a 10-9 lead before
Penn State pulled away. The Nittany Lions
allowed only two goals in the last 23 minutes.
The loss dropped the Buckeyes to 1-3
in American Lacrosse Conference play.
Women’s Tennis
Drops Pair On Road
The Ohio State women’s tennis team
saw its three-game Big Ten winning streak
come to a close with a pair of losses in the
Land of Lincoln to top-25 teams.
The 61st-ranked Buckeyes started the
trip April 13 with a 4-3 loss at No. 23
Illinois. Kara Cecil and Kelsey Dieters
won in doubles, but the Illini won the
other two matches to capture the doubles
point, which proved to be critical when the
teams split the singles bouts. Gabby Steele
and Tiffany Dittmer won in straight sets
while Fidan Manashirova won a super-tiebreaker to win her match.
Ohio State also fell by a 5-2 score April
15 at No. 11 Northwestern. Steele and
Manashirova posted victories in singles to
improve to 11-1 and 11-2 at their respective spots in the lineup, No. 5 and No. 3.
Icers Pick Up Medals
At World Championships
Former Ohio State women’s hockey
players Tessa Bonhomme and Natalie
Spooner picked up gold medals at the 2012
IIHF Women’s World Championships,
held April 7-14 in Burlington, Vt.
Defenseman Lisa Chesson picked up
a silver medal for the United States team
after Canada defeated the Americans, 5-4,
in overtime in the gold medal game.
Bonhomme, also a defenseman, had a
hand in the game-winning goal, crashing
the net before Caroline Ouellette popped
in the winning goal. Bonhomme finished
the tournament with an assist and a plus-4
rating in five games while Spooner tied
for first among the Canadians with four
goals.
Chesson finished with three assists in
five games and a plus-9 rating.
28
BSB Quickly
April 17, 2012
2012 FOOTBALL
Sept. 1 MIAMI (OHIO); 8 CENTRAL
FLORIDA; 15 CALIFORNIA; 22 UAB; 29 at
Michigan State.
Oct. 6 NEBRASKA; 13 at Indiana; 20
PURDUE; 27 at Penn State.
Nov. 3 ILLINOIS; 17 at Wisconsin; 24
MICHIGAN.
2013 FOOTBALL
Aug. 31 VANDERBILT.
Sept. 7 FLORIDA A&M; 14 at California; 21
BUFFALO; 28 WISCONSIN.
Oct. 5 at Northwestern; 19 IOWA; 26 PENN
STATE.
Nov. 2 at Purdue; 16 at Illinois; 23 INDIANA;
30 at Michigan.
2014 FOOTBALL
Aug. 30 vs. Navy at Baltimore.
Sept. 13 KENT STATE; 20 VIRGINIA TECH;
27 CINCINNATI.
Oct. 4 PURDUE; 18 at Iowa; 25
NORTHWESTERN.
Nov. 1 at Wisconsin; 8 ILLINOIS; 15 at Penn
State; 22 at Indiana; 29 MICHIGAN.
BASEBALL
(21-14, 6-6 Big Ten)
Feb. 17 Big East/Big Ten Challenge at St.
Petersburg, Fla., vs. South Florida, L 5-3; 18
Big East/Big Ten Challenge at Clearwater, Fla.,
vs. Seton Hall, W 14-7; 19 Big East/Big Ten
Challenge at Clearwater, Fla., vs. Connecticut,
W 9-5 (6 innings); 24 at (10) Georgia Tech, L
12-4; 25 at (10) Georgia Tech, W 7-3; 26 at
(10) Georgia Tech, L 13-4.
March 2 Snowbird Classic at Port Charlotte,
Fla., vs. Michigan, W 9-4; 3 Snowbird Classic
at Port Charlotte, Fla., vs. Western Michigan
(DH), L 15-8, W 5-2; 4 Snowbird Classic at Port
Charlotte, Fla., vs. Villanova, W 4-3 (10 innings);
9 Chanticleer Classic at Myrtle Beach, S.C., vs.
Marist, W 17-2; 10 Chanticleer Classic at Myrtle
Beach, S.C., vs. Coastal Carolina, L 4-1; vs.
Toledo, W 13-1; 11 Chanticleer Classic at Myrtle
Beach, S.C., vs. Coastal Carolina, L 3-2 (12
innings); 16 AUSTIN PEAY, W 4-3 (13 innings);
17 AUSTIN PEAY, L 7-2 (10 innings); 18 AUSTIN
PEAY, W 7-3; 20 at (22) Louisville, L 20-0; 21 at
Dayton, W 11-7; 23 (24) PURDUE, postponed; 24
(24) PURDUE (DH), L 8-5, L 8-1; 25 (24) PURDUE,
W 5-4; 27 EASTERN MICHIGAN, W 13-4; 31 at
Michigan State, W 1-0.
April 1 at Michigan State, L 2-1; 2 at
Michigan State, L 10-5; 4 at Miami (Ohio), W
9-2; 6 MINNESOTA, W 2-1; 7 MINNESOTA, W
5-3; 8 MINNESOTA, W 4-1; 10 OHIO, W 6-5;
11 AKRON, W 7-2; 13 NEBRASKA, W 10-2; 14
NEBRASKA, postponed; 15 NEBRASKA (DH), L 54, L 17-9; 17 XAVIER, 6:35 p.m.; 18 CINCINNATI,
7 p.m.; 20 at Illinois; 21 at Illinois; 22 at Illinois;
25 BOWLING GREEN, 6:35 p.m.; 27 at Penn
State; 28 at Penn State; 29 at Penn State.
May 1 YOUNGSTOWN STATE, 6:35 p.m.; 4
NORTHWESTERN, 7 p.m.; 5 NORTHWESTERN,
3:05 p.m.; 6 NORTHWESTERN, 1:05 p.m.; 8
at Oklahoma State; 9 at Oklahoma State; 11
SEATTLE, 6:35 p.m.; 12 SEATTLE, 3:05 p.m.; 13
SEATTLE, 1:05 p.m.; 15 TOLEDO, 12:05 p.m.;
17 at Indiana; 18 at Indiana; 19 at Indiana; 2326 BIG TEN TOURNAMENT (AT HUNTINGTON
PARK).
MEN’S GOLF
(2-1)
Feb. 10 Big Ten Match Play at Bradenton,
Fla., vs. Wisconsin, W 4-2-0; vs. Indiana, W 32-1; 11 Big Ten Match Play at Bradenton, Fla.,
vs. Northwestern, L 5-1-0; 19-21 Puerto Rico
Classic at Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, 11th/15.
March
23-25
FAU
Spring
Break
Championships at Lake Worth, Fla., 2nd/15.
April 2-3 Villanova Wildcat Invitational at
Malvern, Pa., 1st/14; 14-15 ROBERT KEPLER
INTERCOLLEGIATE, T5th/15; 27-29 Big Ten
Championships at French Lick, Ind.
May 17-19 NCAA Regional at TBD; 29June 3 NCAA Championships at Pacific
Palisades, Calif.
WOMEN’S GOLF
(1-0)
Feb. 13-15 Northrop Grumman Regional
Challenge at Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.,
6th/15; 20-21 Central District Invitational at
Parrish, Fla., 6th/15.
March 5-6 Hurricane Invitational at
Miami, Fla., 1st/16; 21 vs. Northwestern at
Tucson, Ariz., W 11-7; 23-24 Mountain View
Invitational at Tucson, Ariz., 3rd/15.
April 6-8 Bryan National Collegiate at
Greensboro, N.C., T4th/17; 21-22 LADY
BUCKEYE INVITATIONAL; 27-29 Big Ten
Championships at French Lick, Ind.
May 10-12 NCAA CENTRAL REGIONAL;
22-25 NCAA Championships at Nashville,
Tenn.
MEN’S GYMNASTICS
(6-7, 0-4 Big Ten)
Jan. 14 Windy City Invitational at Chicago,
1st/6; 21 (3) OKLAHOMA, L 353.150347.750.
Feb. 2-4 USA Gymnastics Winter Cup at
Las Vegas, NTS; 18 at Ann Arbor, Mich., vs.
SUNY Brockport, W 334.200-275.700; at (7)
Michigan, L 345.700-334.200; 25 (2) PENN
STATE, L 355.500-347.200.
March 2 at (3) Illinois, L 355.100-341.300;
9 (4) STANFORD, L 355.800-347.400; 24 at
St. Paul, Minn., vs. (1) Oklahoma, L 353.100344.500; at (5) Minnesota, L 350.600344.500.
April 6-7 Big Ten Championships at Iowa
City, Iowa, 5th/7; 19-21 NCAA Championships
at Norman, Okla.
WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS
(11-3, 3-2 Big Ten)
Jan. 7 at Minnesota, W 195.375-195.075;
13 at (10) Michigan, L 195.500-195.175; 21
GEORGE WASHINGTON, W 195.900-188.900;
27 at Pittsburgh, W 195.625-193.500.
Feb. 4 at (19) Illinois, L 195.700-195.575;
10 (23) IOWA, W 196.125-194.425; 12 at
Morgantown, W.Va., vs. Ball State, W 195.450191.775; vs. Auburn, W 195.450-193.650; vs.
(24) West Virginia, W 195.450-195-175; 18
(20) DENVER, W 197.625-195.450; 25 (10)
PENN STATE, W 196.025-195.000.
March 2 KENT STATE, W 196.925-195.775;
10 at North Carolina, W 195.750-194.475; 17
(2) OKLAHOMA, L 196.825-196.700; 24 Big
Ten Championships at Iowa City, Iowa, 2nd/8.
April 7 NCAA Regionals at Raleigh, N.C.,
2nd/6; 20 NCAA Championships at Duluth, Ga.
Scoreboard
MEN’S LACROSSE
(6-6, 3-1 ECAC)
Feb. 9 DETROIT, W 11-6; 11 at Mercer,
W 15-8; 19 Moe’s Southwest Grill Classic at
Jacksonville, Fla., vs. (5) Denver, W 10-9; 25
(8) UMASS, L 9-3.
March 3 (13) PENN STATE, L 5-2; 9 ROBERT
MORRIS, L 9-7; 17 (1) VIRGINIA, L 11-9; 21 (6)
NOTRE DAME, L 8-7; 24 BELLARMINE, W 132; 31 at (4) Loyola (Md.), L 8-7.
April 7 at Hobart, W 10-9 (OT); 14 at
Michigan, W 12-9; 21 AIR FORCE, 11 a.m.; 28
at Fairfield.
May 2 ECAC Tournament Semifinal at
Denver; 4 ECAC Tournament Championship
at Denver.
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
(9-4, 1-3 ALC)
Feb. 11 vs. San Diego State at Palo Alto,
Calif., W 19-4; 12 at (6) Stanford, W 14-10;
17 ROBERT MORRIS, W 16-2; 19 LOUISVILLE,
W 21-7; 25 BROWN, W 16-3.
March 4 (14) NOTRE DAME, L 16-7; 18 at
Canisius, W 14-11; 19 at St. Bonaventure, W
15-8; 24 (5) FLORIDA, L 10-8; 29 at Hofstra,
W 15-9; 31 at Foxborough, Mass., vs. (1)
Northwestern, L 13-12 (OT).
April 8 at (15) Vanderbilt, W 13-11; 15
(13) PENN STATE, L 15-12; 21 AMERICAN, 2
p.m.; 28 at Johns Hopkins.
May 3-5 ALC Tournament at Gainesville, Fla.
SOFTBALL
(24-16, 5-6 Big Ten)
Feb. 10 Dot Richardson National Collegiate
Softball Invitational at Clermont, Fla., vs.
Central Florida, L 2-1; vs. Florida Atlantic, W
9-6; 11 Dot Richardson National Collegiate
Softball Invitational at Clermont, Fla., vs. North
Carolina, L 3-1; vs. North Florida, L 10-5; 12
Dot Richardson National Collegiate Softball
Invitational at Clermont, Fla., vs. Florida A&M,
W 7-1; 17 Louisville Slugger Desert Classic at
Las Vegas vs. Texas Tech, L 7-4; vs. San Jose
State, W 6-3; 18 Louisville Slugger Desert
Classic at Las Vegas vs. UNLV, W 4-3; vs. Long
Beach State, W 10-5; 19 Louisville Slugger
Desert Classic at Las Vegas vs. Idaho State,
W 6-2; 24 Cathedral City Classic at Cathedral
City, Calif., vs. Fresno State, W 3-0; vs. Oregon
State, L 4-3; 25 Cathedral City Classic at
Cathedral City, Calif., vs. Cal State Fullerton,
W 9-0 (5 innings); 26 Cathedral City Classic
at Cathedral City, Calif., vs. Colorado State, W
9-8 (6 innings).
March 2 Citrus Classic at Orlando, Fla., vs.
vs. Georgetown, W 5-0; Longwood, W 12-3
(5 innings); 3 Citrus Classic at Orlando, Fla.,
vs. Notre Dame, L 3-1 (8 innings); vs. Hofstra,
L 1-0; 4 Citrus Classic at Orlando, Fla., vs.
Pittsburgh, L 4-0; 16 TSU Tiger Tournament
at Nashville, Tenn., vs. Tennessee State, W
6-0; 17 TSU Tiger Tournament at Nashville,
Tenn., vs. Belmont, W 15-3 (6 innings); vs.
Mercer, canceled; 18 TSU Tiger Tournament
at Nashville, Tenn., vs. St. Bonaventure, W 82; 20 at (13) Louisville (DH), L 7-0, L 7-2; 24
INDIANA (DH), W 4-3 (8 innings), L 4-1; 25
INDIANA, W 7-3; 28 WRIGHT STATE (DH), W
6-0, W 6-2; 31 at Michigan State (DH), W 9-4,
W 14-1 (5 innings).
Scoreboard
April 1 at Michigan State, W 6-4; 4 BUFFALO
(DH), W 5-0, W 8-5; 6 (20) MICHIGAN, L 102; 7 (20) MICHIGAN (DH), L 11-4, L 6-5; 11
DAYTON, W 3-2; 14 at Purdue, canceled; 15 at
Purdue (DH), L 2-1, L 8-3; 18 OHIO (DH), 5 p.m.;
7 p.m.; 21 NEBRASKA (DH), 5 p.m., 7 p.m.; 22
NEBRASKA, 2 p.m.; 28 at Northwestern (DH);
29 at Northwestern.
May 5 IOWA (DH), 6 p.m.; 8 p.m.; 6 IOWA, 2
p.m.; 11 at Penn State; 12 at Penn State (DH).
MEN’S TENNIS
(27-2, 9-0 Big Ten)
Jan. 18 BUTLER, W 7-0; XAVIER, W 7-0; 22
(16) MISSISSIPPI STATE, W 6-1; 28 ITA KICKOFF
VS. (44) CORNELL, W 5-1; 29 ITA KICKOFF VS.
(29) INDIANA, W 4-0; TOLEDO, W 4-0.
Feb. 3 (12) PEPPERDINE, W 4-1; 9 at (36)
Louisville, L 6-1; 12 at (55) Michigan State, W 7-0;
17 ITA National Team Indoors at Charlottesville,
Va., vs. (14) Texas, W 4-0; 18 ITA National
Team Indoors at Charlottesville, Va., vs. (6)
Kentucky, W 4-3; 19 ITA National Team Indoors
at Charlottesville, Va., vs. (2) Virginia, W 4-1; 20
ITA National Team Indoors at Charlottesville, Va.,
vs. (1) USC, L 4-3; 25 (7) KENTUCKY, W 4-0; 26
(17) NORTH CAROLINA, W 6-1.
March 3 at (26) Notre Dame, W 5-2; 9 (17)
TEXAS A&M, W 6-1; 11 PENN STATE, W 70; NORTHWEST OHIO, W 4-0; 19 at (27) LSU,
W 6-1; 21 at (4) Georgia, L 4-3; 25 at (21)
Indiana, W 6-1; 30 (70) NEBRASKA, W 6-1.
April 1 IOWA, W 7-0; YOUNGSTOWN
STATE, W 6-0; 6 at Wisconsin, W 7-0; 8 at
(47) Minnesota, W 6-1; 13 (23) ILLINOIS, W
7-0; 15 (46) NORTHWESTERN, W 5-2; 18 at
Purdue; 22 MICHIGAN, Noon; 26-29 Big Ten
Tournament at Evanston, Ill.
May 11-13 NCAA First & Second Rounds
at TBA; 17-22 NCAA Team Championships
at Athens, Ga.; 23-28 NCAA Singles/Doubles
Championships at Athens, Ga.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
(8-14, 3-6 Big Ten)
Jan. 15 at (42) South Florida, L 6-1; 21
WEST VIRGINIA, W 7-0; DAYTON, W 7-0;
28 ITA Kickoff Weekend at Tallahassee, Fla.,
vs. (18) Florida State, L 5-2; 29 ITA Kickoff
Weekend at Tallahassee, Fla., vs. (29) Texas
A&M, L 5-2.
Feb. 4 SYRACUSE, W 5-2; 7 at Penn
State, L 4-3; 19 (10) TENNESSEE, L 4-3; 22 at
Louisville, W 4-3; 24 (71) DEPAUL, W 5-2; 26
(31) ARKANSAS, L 4-3.
March 4 at Oregon, L 4-3; 18 at (52)
Tulane, L 5-2; 20 at (49) LSU, L 4-2; 23 (27)
PURDUE, L 4-3; 25 (57) INDIANA, L 4-3; 30 at
(18) Nebraska, L 4-0.
April 1 at Iowa, W 4-3; 6 WISCONSIN, W
4-3; 8 (33) MINNESOTA, W 4-3; 13 at (23)
Illinois, L 4-3; 15 at (11) Northwestern, L 5-2;
20 MICHIGAN STATE, 2 p.m.; 22 at Michigan;
26-29 BIG TEN TOURNAMENT.
May 11-13 NCAA Regionals at TBA; 17-22
NCAA Team Championships at Athens, Ga.;
23-28 NCAA Singles/Doubles Championships
at Athens, Ga.
MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
March 23 Big Ten/SEC Challenge at
Starkville, Miss., Big Ten wins 400.5-314.5;
28-31 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at Austin,
April 17, 2012
BSB Quickly
29
Where To Watch The Buckeyes
Date
April 21
Date
April 17
April 18
April 20
April 21
April 22
Date
April 21
Date
April 21
Date
April 18
Date
April 22
Football
Opponent, Time
Spring Football Game, 1:30 p.m.
Baseball
Opponent, Time
XAVIER, 6:35 p.m.
CINCINNATI, 7 p.m.
at Illinois, 7:05 p.m.
at Illinois, 4:05 p.m.
at Illinois, 2:05 p.m.
Men’s Lacrosse
Opponent, Time
AIR FORCE, 11 a.m.
Women’s Lacrosse
Opponent, Time
AMERICAN, 1 p.m.
Softball
Opponent, Time
OHIO (DH), 5 & 7 p.m.
Women’s Tennis
Opponent, Time
at Michigan, Noon
Texas, NTS; 31 Jim Click Shootout at Tucson,
Ariz., 2nd/6.
April 13-14 JESSE OWENS TRACK CLASSIC,
NTS; 19-21 Mt. SAC Relays at Walnut, Calif.;
20-21 All-Ohio Championships at Oxford, Ohio;
26-28 Drake Relays at Des Moines, Iowa; 29
Payton Jordan Invitational at Palo Alto, Calif.
May 5 Campbell/Wright Invitational at
Akron, Ohio; 5 Oregon Twilight at Eugene,
Ore.; 11-13 Big Ten Championships at
Madison, Wis.; 24-26 NCAA East Prelims at
Jacksonville, Fla.
June 6-9 NCAA Championships at
Des Moines, Iowa; 14-16 USATF Junior
Championships at Bloomington, Ind.
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
March 24 UCF Invitational at Orlando, Fla.,
NTS; 31 Jim Click Shootout at Tucson, Ariz.,
4th/6.
April 6-7 Miami Invitational at Oxford,
Ohio, NTS; 13-14 JESSE OWENS TRACK
CLASSIC, NTS; 20-21 Tom Jones Memorial
Classic at Gainesville, Fla.; 26-28 Penn Relays
at Philadelphia.
May 11-13 Big Ten Championships at
Madison, Wis.; 24-26 NCAA East Prelims at
Jacksonville, Fla.
June 6-9 NCAA Championships at Des
Moines, Iowa.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
(20-8, 10-3 MIVA)
Jan. 6 UC Santa Barbara Invitational at Santa
Barbara, Calif., vs. (14) UC Santa Barbara, W 32 (19-25, 18-25, 25-19, 28-26, 15-9); vs. (3)
UCLA, L 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-16); 7 UC Santa
Barbara Invitational at Santa Barbara, Calif., vs.
(6) Long Beach State, L 3-2 (23-25, 22-25, 2624, 25-23, 15-10); 13 LEES-MCRAE, W 3-0 (25-
TV/Website
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TV/Website
OhioStateBuckeyes.com
BTN
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FightingIllini.com
FightingIllini.com
TV/Website
BTN
TV/Website
OhioStateBuckeyes.com
TV/Website
OhioStateBuckeyes.com
TV/Website
MGoBlue.com
19, 25-21, 25-18); 14 (7) PENN STATE, L 3-0
(25-22, 25-23, 25-17); 17 SACRED HEART, W 30 (25-18, 25-19, 25-12); 19 GEORGE MASON,
W 3-2 (21-25, 25-21, 25-22, 23-25, 15-11);
22 SAINT FRANCIS (PA.), W 3-1 (25-20, 22-25,
25-18, 29-27); 27 KEN AND DAVE DUNLAP
INVITATIONAL VS. (12) PACIFIC, W 3-1 (1925, 25-20, 25-18, 25-21); 28 KEN AND DAVE
DUNLAP INVITATIONAL VS. (4) STANFORD, L 32 (25-22, 23-25, 24-26, 25-22, 15-12).
Feb. 3 Penn State Invitational at State
College, Pa., vs. Cal-Baptist, W 3-1 (23-25, 2725, 25-20, 25-21); 4 Penn State Invitational at
State College, Pa., vs. Mount Olive, W 3-0 (2516, 25-17, 26-24); 10 at IPFW, W 3-1 (27-29,
25-11, 25-21, 25-20); 17 BALL STATE, W 3-0
(25-15, 25-22, 25-17); 19 CARTHAGE, W 3-1
(18-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-16); 23 at (7) Lewis,
L 3-1 (15-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-18); 25 at (14)
Loyola (Ill.), W 3-0 (25-18, 25-9, 25-19).
March 2 at St. Francis (Pa.), W 3-2 (23-25, 2521, 21-25, 25-14, 15-11); 3 at (6) Penn State, L 32 (25-17, 25-19, 27-29, 22-25, 15-13); 18 at Ball
State, L 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 15-12);
23 at Quincy, L 3-1 (25-21, 14-25, 25-23, 25-21);
24 at Quincy, W 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-22); 30
LOYOLA (ILL.), W 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-23); 31
(6) LEWIS, W 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-22).
April 5 GRAND CANYON, W 3-2 (2225, 25-14, 26-24, 23-25, 15-7); 6 GRAND
CANYON, W 3-1 (25-16, 22-25, 25-19, 25-18);
13 IPFW, W 3-1 (25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23);
15 at George Mason, W 3-0 (25-23, 25-23,
25-22); 25 MIVA TOURNAMENT SEMIFINAL
VS. (4) GRAND CANYON/(5) BALL STATE; 28
MIVA Tournament Championship at TBA.
May 3 NCAA Semifinal at Los Angeles; 5
NCAA Championship at Los Angeles.
30
BSB Quickly
April 17, 2012
Opinion
Meyer Article Was Much Ado About Nothing
One of the real highs of sports journalism happens when something you’ve been
following for a while makes a huge ripple. Your painstaking work and countless
hours of research and interviews finally
see the light of day, and it blows the lid off
things – think Reggie Bush and his problems at USC, the Cam Newton allegations
at Auburn or even the fiasco surrounding
Jim Tressel and Ohio State.
Those are representations of good
old-fashioned hard work and stories that
brought about changes in the programs
– or at the very least made the NCAA take
notice.
THE FACTS MAN
Mike Wachsman
Because I enjoy reading those kinds of
stories, imagine my surprise and pleasure
when Sporting News writer Matt Hayes
came out with something that made all
those others look like child’s play. He
went to the University of Florida, did three
months of interviews and investigations
and came out with something that could
blow college football as we know it out of
the water – coaches in general, and Urban
Meyer specifically, give certain players
in their programs preferential treatment!
Who knew?
I always thought that every player was
on equal footing, was treated the same
and regarded with the same standing.
Boy was I naive. Thanks to Hayes and his
thought-provoking piece, I learned that
while at Florida, Meyer had a different set
of rules for superstar Percy Harvin (and
a few others), and that he made players
work harder than they had before. A few
couldn’t hack it and decided to leave while
others stuck around.
Hayes really opened my eyes to things
and I’m thankful for that. I always thought
that when Jimmy Johnson said that the
big-time players earned their status and
should be treated differently than the
third-string tight end, it was just lip service.
It was written in a book about the
Dallas Cowboys dynasty that Johnson
would cut that third-string tight end for
falling asleep in a team meeting, but if star
quarterback Troy Aikman did the same,
SONNY BROCKWAY
PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT AT UF? – New Ohio State football head coach Urban
Meyer (center) was the subject of a Sporting News story on his tenure at Florida.
he’d whisper “Troy, Troy, wake up,” but I
still thought that was just embellishment.
I didn’t believe such injustice could take
place.
Now, thanks to Hayes, I know it’s true.
And I, for one, am aghast.
Quote-unquote stories, such as Hayes’
supposed exposé, keep college football
in the spotlight during the offseason, so I
guess that’s one result I can live with. That
a guy goes into a town, talks to a bunch of
disgruntled players and guys who never
really played to get his information, and
posits theories that have no backing as
absolute fact is not only doing a disservice
to Meyer, it’s shoddy journalism.
I have no problem with unnamed sources. Sometimes to break things open, they
are necessary and to attribute information
to them would mean severe repercussions.
So I get that. But the guys who stuck it out
and played for Meyer don’t recall most of
what was alleged to have happened.
Hayes also suggests roster manipulation, and while that is a dirty little secret
in the SEC – there are stories that coaches
will find a medical hardship for a player so
he can sign someone else who has caught
his eye – there is no real proof that it went
on at Florida during Meyer’s tenure.
There is a conversation with one former
player – who later transferred to North
Alabama – about that tactic, but what’s lost
in the equation is that the player had knee
injuries and likely wouldn’t have been a
contributor with the Gators. He signed
his medical hardship waiver, so the fact he
didn’t play was strictly on him and not on
Meyer. Whether or not he was told he’d
have to move on is known only to him and
the coaching staff. For his part, Meyer
denied to SN it ever took place.
There are elements of the story that
probably have some truth and could be
concerns for Ohio State – such as the
numerous arrests of Gators players on
various charges and many being given
second and third chances (which points
back to the “star system” in place). Things
like that can damage the chemistry of a
team, especially if the players doing things
the right way see that the screw-ups are
getting multiple opportunities.
Did Meyer recruit some bad eggs?
Sure he did, just like every major college
program that wins. With such a large
Opinion
recruiting pool to choose from, mistakes
will be made. It’s hard to know everything
about a player, though some schools try.
If they bring in someone with a checkered background it’s not always a bad
thing. Sometimes it takes them from poor
neighborhoods and gives them structure.
Some players welcome that, others can’t
hack it. It’s the same in the business world
– some thrive in new surroundings while
others wilt.
But to deny a player an opportunity
to succeed in college, both academically
and athletically, because of some minor
scrapes with the law would be a bad thing.
So some players had a little marijuana?
Big deal. Traffic tickets here and there? So
what? Not all offenses are created equal.
Now, if a player was brought in who
had a laundry list of assaults or thefts on
his record, that might be reason for pause.
But all coaches think they can change
a young man and sometimes they can.
They should, in most cases, be given the
opportunity. If the player doesn’t adapt
to the changes, that is on them. It’s only
when the problems continue, and the
coach doesn’t do anything about it, that it
creates turmoil. Hayes hints at that being
the case at Florida, but doesn’t give any
concrete proof.
Hayes hints ever so subtly that Meyer
knew things were going downhill in
Gainesville and got out at just the right
time, knowing that whoever took over
would have a big-time retooling project on
his hands. He didn’t go so far as to allege
that Meyer’s health problems were fabricated, though he did seem to say that the
timing was a bit curious.
Without rehashing the entire story
– and admittedly it is an interesting read,
if you go in with more than a grain of
skepticism and fully understand that the
allegations are nothing new and go on
everywhere in college football – it seems
safe to say that Meyer won’t be losing any
sleep over it. It’s just the latest in a spate of
missives about the new regime at OSU.
And it’s happening for one reason,
and one reason only – because Meyer
wins and wins big. That’s also expected
at Ohio State. Those on top are often targets and Meyer is learning that quickly.
The allegations of recruiting violations
by Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema
and the lamentations about the Buckeyes
breaking some sort of gentleman’s agreement not to recruit committed players by
the Michigan State coaches simply means
the stakes have changed. The ante has
April 17, 2012
been raised and those who don’t go all in
will be left behind. And there will probably
be more written about how the top teams
got to the top.
If that means more “revelations” about
the goings-on in major college programs
are revealed, that’s fine. I just hope that
they are a bit more substantial next time
around.
Big Finish Ahead?
The end of OSU’s first spring under
Meyer is nearly here, and for once I’ll be
interested to see the annual spring game.
Most of the time they are silly affairs with
bogus scoring systems and patchwork
teams that make it difficult to tell who is
really performing well.
What I’ll be watching for isn’t the end
result as much as how well the players
have taken to Meyer’s complex, highoctane system. There isn’t much of a
break between plays, so there will be a
real premium on conditioning, especially
with the guys up front.
To that end, reports that the offensive line has slimmed down and become
quicker paint an optimistic picture. In the
past, the Buckeyes would react, but this
season you will see the trench guys taking
the action to foes. Fans in Ohio Stadium
might be unfamiliar with that approach
and could think it’s new because it’s not
been seen in Columbus recently. But it
will be interesting to watch, especially if it
works sooner rather than later.
The development of Braxton Miller
will also be paramount if OSU is to have
success this season. He’s got the talent
but wasn’t properly utilized last season.
If there’s one thing Meyer knows how to
do, it’s putting his players in the best positions to make plays. So the inconsistency
Miller showed last year will hopefully
be replaced by a more confident signal
caller. If the quarterback doesn’t play well,
Meyer’s teams don’t win. It’s that simple.
Meyer decried the lack of real playmakers and a lack of conditioning from many
of the players at the outset of the spring,
but he seems to be changing his thinking
a bit in both areas.
He thinks the offense is finally getting
it, saying that a recent practice was the
best the Buckeyes have had since he’s
been here. He likes the aggression the
offensive line has shown, and he’s seen
flashes of big-play ability from a few players, notably receiver Devin Smith and
running back Bri’onte Dunn. The coach
wants to see more, but it’s at least a start.
BSB Quickly
31
Defensively I’m not quite as concerned
as there are proven performers returning. John Simon, Jonathan Hankins and
Michael Bennett – and hopefully Nathan
Williams – give the Buckeyes a bevy of
talent on the front line and will present
numerous problems for opponents.
Ryan Shazier is the only real proven
commodity at linebacker, though Etienne
Sabino has whet the appetite of OSU fans
with flashes of ability. If he can parlay
that into every down, he will be a handful.
The secondary has a lot of bodies but
no true stars, so the competition along
the back line will be one to watch. Travis
Howard has always been a personal favorite, though he’s had more downs than ups
thus far at OSU, so he will be watched
closely. Cornerbacks have always been
among my favorite players at OSU – Shawn
Springs and Antoine Winfield among my
all-timers – so I’m hoping one or two players emerge there as well.
Quick Hitters
• DeShaun Thomas – Nice job in
deciding to come back. Too many times
players remember what they did most
recently and base life-altering decisions
on that. Thomas realized he has some
work to do in creating his own shot and
defending, and he understands he could
be the top player on an OSU hoops squad
that won’t falter all that much next season.
That could add up to possible lottery pick
status next year.
• Samantha Prahalis – She appears to
be nearly a finished product as she moves
on to the next stage of her athletic career.
Too many players are picked on potential,
but Prahalis has a knowledge of the game
and vision that few possess. For that reason alone, she should be successful at the
next level – especially if she embraces the
team dynamic and knows that she doesn’t
have to score.
• Tommy Rowlands – The “old man”
is still at it, taking one last shot (I think) at
Olympic glory. Thirty is usually considered
past the prime of a wrestler on the international circuit, but Rowlands isn’t your average grappler. A four time All-American
at OSU, Rowlands has never shied away
from hard work and is one of the most
determined athletes I’ve ever dealt with.
Anyone betting against Rowlands, who
has tasted defeat in this spectrum before,
does so at their own peril. When the end
is right around the corner, that’s when the
true champions emerge.