Inside The Shoe

Tuesday's Buckeye Bits

2012-02-14T06:00:00.015-05:00

Welcome to your Tuesday version of Buckeye Bits, and Happy Valentines Day Buckeye fans! We are in the midst of what can only be described as a sports apocalypse. Fairly meaningless college basketball, NBA games and the NHL are the only things out there to quench your sporting thirst.

Hopefully these links can get you through another cold February day. I know this is the only thing getting me through another horrible February. I hopped on a plane last year to check out the Tribe in Arizona. I highly recommend checking out your team during the Spring some day if you get the chance. Just make sure you bulk up on the sunscreen if you head to warmer climates. I learned that lesson the hard way last year.

Anniversary Of A Legend. As you may or may not know, today is a special day in Buckeye lore. The anniversary of Wayne Woodrow Hayes birthday has been reached. During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes football program, Hayes's teams won five national championships (1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970), captured 13 Big Ten Conference titles, and amassed a record of 205–61–10. Woody also sparked a fire under the belly of what is now arguably one the greatest rivalries in all of sports. He would be 99 years old today, having died in 1987. Happy birthday to one of the greatest coaches in history. You will never be forgotten.

Shooty Hoops- The Buckeyes played an inspired and sloppy game against the Spartans last Saturday in Columbus. I realize it's hard to get up for every game on your schedule but this was the Spartans! The Buckeye's have to give a better showing than that. It's performances like this that have me worried about what may happen in March. There are only a handfull of games left on the schedule to work out the kinks.Let's hope Matta and the boys get serious about this season or they will be watching the Final Four on TV in early April. Here's my go to column at the start of the week for OSU Hoops.

Respect for Diggs- After the awesome recruiting display given by Meyer and his staff over the last couple months, most thought that super WR Stefon Diggs was all but a lock to end up in the Scarlet and Gray. He would've been the cherry on top of our outstanding class this year. In the end, Diggs chose to stay at home and head off to Maryland in hopes of turning around the program.

I was a little disappointed but wish nothing but the best for this young guy. He did a noble thing by choosing the Terps over football powerhouse's such as OSU and Florida. It takes guts to make that call when everyone from friends to family are giving you their two cents. I hope he is successful and can help turn around a once promising program.

Buckeye Leaves- I have told you in the past how much I enjoy Dan Wismar and his "Buckeye Leaves" columns. Well, he has done it again folks. Check our his latest here. The guy is one of the best and can often get overlooked in the uber-crazy Buckeye blogosphere. Make sure you give him a read.

Roster Questions- As most know by now, I pretty much despise anything ESPN. They have a clear agenda and obviously pay some of their employees to rile up fan bases. That doesn't mean there aren't good writers on the staff. I have always enjoyed Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg. He wrote a good piece today speculating on what player might play the "Percy" position at Ohio State. It is an interesting read so give it a look.

That's it for today guys. Hope the rest of your cold February day is just a little brighter because of the bits. Just think pitchers and catchers report next week and the Spring game is only a couple months away. BBQ, babes and beer too!

2013 4-Star Offensive Lineman/Defensive Lineman Billy Price Commits To Ohio State

2012-02-13T17:00:00.000-05:00

Price is #3 in 2013

The Buckeyes had already landed commitments from the top two 2013 prospects in the state of Ohio, defensive back Cam Burrows and quarterback/athlete Jalin Marshall. Now, according to the man himself, 2013 4-Star OL/DL Billy Price has committed to Ohio State, giving Urban Meyer his third commitment of this class.

Price was in Columbus on Saturday. He spent the afternoon visiting Ohio State, and then was honored at the Touchdown Club Of Columbus’ banquet on Saturday night. The 6'4" 300-pound Price plays defensive end and offensive left tackle for Fitch. He rarely came off the field the past two seasons.

As for his future at Ohio State, Price has said that he will play on the defensive line for Luke Fickell, and be a defensive tackle. Price had numerous scholarship offers including Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Pitt, West Virginia, Tennessee, Nebraska, Arizona, UCLA and SMU before selecting the Bucks.

Coming into the 2013 recruiting class, there were three main targets. Those were Cameron Burrows, Jalin Marshall, and Billy Price. They are 3 of the best prospects in Ohio, and now they are a part of the 2013 class which is already shaping up to be a great haul.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates, and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

Monday's Buckeye Bits

2012-02-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

Another week has arrived Buckeye fans, and the last bits of recruiting in the 2012 class have come to a close. Let's pretend that there wasn't a basketball game this weekend. As you know by now, Stefon Diggs chose Maryland over Ohio State, Florida, and Auburn. What's interesting is that he's the second top 10 receiver in this recruiting class to stay home over so many great other offers.

The other, Dorial Green-Beckham, chose Missouri over many different schools including Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, and Florida. I guess I can't say I'm surprised about these top receivers staying close to home, but it is a bit curious as to why they wouldn't want to take their talents to an even bigger school. Oh well, let's get on with the Bits!

Time For 2013. The 2012 recruiting class ended with 25 members, with 6 of them being enrolled. Urban was really able to turn this class around with only a couple of months to do it. Now, 2013 will solely be Urban's recruits. He's started off very well, with two commits that both come from the Buckeye state in 5-star QB/ATH Jalin Marshall and 4-star cornerback Cameron Burrows.

Urban is upping the ante as he's already proved in 2012, but is continuing to do so in the 2013 class. Often times, Jim Tressel and Jim Bollman would not get too ahead of themselves when it came down to offering athletes in future classes, but Meyer has already started with 55 total offers as it stands.

Bringing In Some Talent. With a couple of those offers on the table, many '13 recruits are looking to make their decision early in the process, even if it doesn't mean going to Ohio State. OSU had another Junior day on Sunday, and hosted a bunch of different recruits. Thanks to 247Sports, we were able to find that included defensive back Caleb Day (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby), wide receiver Rob Wheelwright (Columbus, Ohio/Walnut Ridge), offensive linemen Steve Mathie (Canton, Ohio/GlenOak), Kyle Meadows (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) and Tate Leavitt (Thornville, Ohio/Sheridan), tight end Mason Morgan (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore), linebackers Rasheen Jones (Cincinnati, Ohio/Northwest), Darrien Howard (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade) and Marcus Oliver (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) and athlete Marcus McWilson (Youngstown, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney).

From out-of-state one of the country’s top offensive linemen, Chris Fox (Parker, Col./Ponderosa), will visit Ohio State on Sunday as part of a three-day trip that will also see Fox stop at Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Purdue.

Other out-of-state prospects expected to visit Ohio State on Sunday are defensive end Jason Hatcher (Louisville, Ky./Trinity), linebacker Tim Kimbrough (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central), quarterback Aaron Bailey (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook), running back Kendrick Foster (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods), athlete Tyler Boyd (Clairton, Pa./Clairton), linebacker Alex Anzalone (Reading, Pa./Wyomissing) and wide receiver Zach Challingsworth (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette).

Early Looks At Depth Charts Are Nice. Eleven Warriors has a real nice series going on that takes a look at what the depth chart may be looking like come time for the 2012 season. Last Friday showed the offensive backs, which included Braxton Miller and the rest of the quarterbacks.

Of course, the nice thing about this series is that it includes incoming recruits. Braxton is the man coming in this year, behind some serious experience. You may be wondering who might take the role of Boom Herron this year for the Buckeyes, so let's see what Jason had to say:

"Vying to inherit Boom's role as the team's primary rusher will be senior Jordan Hall, junior Carlos Hyde, redshirt sophomore Rod Smith and two very talented freshmen: Canton GlenOak's Bri'onte Dunn and Columbus DeSale's Warren Ball.

Hall would seem to be the best fit, given the personnel on hand, for Meyer's offense. He lacks high end speed and won't be mistaken for Percy Harvin anytime soon, but he's dependable, smart and busts his ass giving effort."

Bearcats And Buffaloes, Oh My. Ohio State announced on Friday that the Buckeyes will be adding the Buffalo Bulls to the 2013 schedule, while the Cincinatti Bearcats will have a game with OSU in 2018. The one-game commitment with Buffalo, which will pay the university $1 million, completes the 2013 Ohio State non-conference schedule. The Buckeyes will host Vanderbilt (Aug. 31) to open the 2013 season with a home game against Florida A&M to follow (Sept. 7).

"Buffalo was 3-9 this past season and 2-6 in the Mid American Conference. Jeff Quinn is in his third year as Buffalo head coach. An assistant coach on a Brian Kelly coaching staff for 19 years (Grand Valley State, Central Michigan and Cincinnati), Quinn was hired Dec. 22, 2009, after a three-year run with the Cincinnati Bearcats, during which time the team posted a 33-7 record. Quinn was offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the Bearcats."

The 2018 game date with Cincinnati was recently agreed upon after an original 2012 date was postponed last fall by mutual agreement. The teams are also set to meet Sept. 27, 2014 in Ohio Stadium.

That's all we've got for today folks, stay at Inside The Shoe for the latest and greatest, and be sure to follow us (These guys too: Brady, Stephan, Bob, and Chris) on Twitter!

Michigan State Handles Buckeyes, Snaps 39-game home streak

2012-02-12T12:00:00.000-05:00

The two best coaches in the B1G.

With four minutes to play and Ohio State trailing Michigan State by eight points, Jared Sullinger went up for a basket against former AAU teammate Adreian Payne. It looked like Sullinger was hacked on his way to the rim, but a charge call sent Value City Arena into a frenzy of boos. OSU head coach Thad Matta looked daze and confused while Jared’s dad, Satch, glared at the court with his hands on his hips.

For the first time in 40 games, the Buckeyes (21-4, 9-3) fell on their home floor, 58-48, to Michigan State (20-5, 9-3), and in the process blew a chance for a two-game lead in the Big Ten standings.

Ohio State opened the game with a 9-4 lead, but both teams struggled to find a rhythm offensively. Sullinger finished with a triple-double, but not the kind he will put on his résumé. The Buckeyes’ star sophomore grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds to go with 17 points, but also turned the ball over 10 times in the loss. It did not help that Sullinger’s teammates were largely ineffective against the Spartan defense.

The Buckeyes shot just 26.4 percent from the floor and made only two of their 15 shots behind the arc. They closed the rebounding gap to 37-34 in favor of Michigan State, but the Spartans dominated the game inside, outscoring Ohio State 30-12 in the paint.

Sophomore point guard Aaron Craft scored 15 points and played lockdown defense on MSU point guard Keith Appling for most of the night, but Deshaun Thomas and William Buford combined for just 12 points on 4-of-24 shooting. They were 0-of-7 behind the arc and totaled three rebounds and one assist.

Inside, the Spartans got 15 points and four rebounds from Payne, a former teammate of both Sullinger and Craft on the “All Ohio Red” AAU team. Payne was 6-for-6 from the floor and added four rebounds in 20 minutes while splitting time with Derrick Nix.

Izzo called it the best game of Payne’s career at Michigan State. The Spartans also got 14 points from Appling, who also had seven turnovers, and 12 from Draymond Green. The biggest difference in the game may have been the rebound boost they got from Branden Dawson (8) and Brandon Wood (7), two guys who aren’t known for their rebounding.

It was a season-altering victory for the Spartans, who would have fallen two games back in the race for the Big Ten title with just six games to play. Instead, they are tied with Ohio State atop the conference standings and they will host the Buckeyes in East Lansing in the regular-season finale on March 4.

Basketball Preview: #3 Ohio State vs. #12 Michigan State

2012-02-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

Time for the stretch to March Madness

Seven games left before the B1G tourney. All of them big. But today's matchup at the Schott is perhaps the biggest home test left for these young Bucks.

Eleventh-ranked Michigan State brings the two headed big man attack known as Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne to bear against Jared Sullinger.

Besides control over the Big Ten conference race, another thing is at stake: The Streak. 39 home wins in a row, to be precise, one of the longest such streaks currently active. The Buckeyes have the home crowd as a decisive sixth man. But Tom Izzo's teams know how to walk into hostile environments and come out victorious.

Even though the Buckeyes (21-3, 9-2 Big Ten) will still have six conference tilts left after the game, coach Thad Matta knows a head-to-head matchup with the closest pursuer is important because of the balance throughout the league.

It was good to see William Buford with the hot hand Tuesday against Purdue. He's been getting some heat lately for his lack of clutch shooting. The Bucks will need more Buford today. He put up 23 in last year's only game against the Spartans. Both the Spartans (18-5, 7-3) and the Buckeyes can attest to the B1G being a tough league this year, as they had to overcome struggles against lower teams just this week leading to the showdown.

Purdue on Tuesday became only the third opponent during the Buckeyes' 39-game home winning streak to lead in the second half. The Boilermakers pulled into a tie with five minutes left, before losing 87-84. The next night, last-place Penn State trailed 52-47 with nine minutes remaining before Michigan State pulled away from the visitors for a 77-57 victory.

Aaron Craft will need to step up his game today, after a foul-ridden, 13 point performance against the Boilermakers. Sullinger should attract double teams, freeing up Craft from deep. Lenzelle Smith, I feel, will be the difference maker for the Buckeyes. He poses some matchup problems for the Spartans.

Draymond Green will be a force against the Bucks. He's averaging over 15 points and 10 boards per game. Sullinger will need to be all over the glass on both ends to keep the ball out of Green's hands.

My pick: This will be a tough, low scoring game. Hopefully the guys in the stripes will let them play, but keep things even. If Sullinger can stay out of foul trouble, the Buckeyes take this 60-57.

'12 5-Star WR/ATH Recruit Stefon Diggs To Announce Decision Today

2012-02-10T06:30:00.000-05:00

Diggs has the potential to play instantly

2012 5-star wide receiver/athlete Stefon Diggs is scheduled to announce his college choice on a Washington cable channel at 6 p.m. today.

As of last night, the blue-chip receiver from Olney, Md., apparently hadn’t made up his mind. From what I've gathered; Ohio State, Florida, Auburn, and Maryland are all still in the running. Every single team site for those teams has said that he is going to their school.

The 6'1", 190-pound Diggs is rated as the nation’s No. 10 prospect overall, according to 247Sports.com. He is the lone prospect in the national top 50 that did not sign on national signing day last Wednesday.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, on national signing day, told reporters that he still had room for one more signee in the 2012 recruiting class and that he was specifically looking for a speed athlete to help with his spread offense. So he targeted Diggs to fill a need for playmaking speed, as he put it, to be the cherry on top of his highly ranked recruiting class. Of course, that doesn't mean Florida, Maryland, and Auburn can't use him for the same reason.

Mike Farrell of Rivals.com believes that the Terrapins are the team to beat, as of Thursday. In second place? The Florida Gators. If that seems surprising, remember that the nation’s No. 1 prospect this year, receiver Dorial Green-Beckham of Springfield, Mo., chose Missouri over Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama and a host of others on National Signing Day.

Hit the jump for video highlights of Diggs, and stay tuned for the latest news on his announcement.

Friday's Buckeye Bits

2012-02-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good morning Buckeye Nation! I really wanted to do that in the Robin Williams "Good Morning Vietnam" voice, but it doesn't really translate well to the written word...

I digress. We are finally starting to see something resembling winter here in Columbus. So imagine a warm September Saturday in the Shoe, surrounded by thousands of your sweatiest friends, and that will take the chill out of this weather.

What, recruiting season's still open? Yep, for players who ~~want to have the spotlight to themselves~~ can't make up their minds in time, there's still time. Stefon Diggs is one highly rated recruit still on the table, for now. Deciding between Ohio State, Auburn, Florida, and...Maryland? Really, Maryland? Hometown team, for certain, but the Terps don't have a particularly stellar track record for producing either winning teams or lots of high draft picks. Randy White, Boomer Esiason, and Shawne Merriman are the only ones I can think of.

Anyhow, Diggs is expected to announce his choice tonight on a local cable network. Most experts seem to think he's headed to College Park. Come to think of it, perhaps this is a smart move. Maryland has become the "flagship" university for Under Armour apparel (who can forget their special unis last season?), much like Oregon is the "flagship" for Nike. Oregon's program has certainly benefited from Phil Knight's pocket change...

Hoops news: Sparty's comin' to town. 6pm Saturday, in the Schott, or on ESPN. Coming off a twenty point win against the Lions of Mount Nittany, the 11th ranked Spartans are a game back of the Buckeyes in the B1G. Look for one heck of a battle Saturday evening. Look here Saturday for my preview of this matchup.

Playoffs? Yep, the B1G is proposing a four-team playoff for the national championship. Interestingly, the first round of playoffs would be a home game for the higher ranked team. As Rob Oller points out over at The Dispatch, simply the thought of a third or fourth ranked SEC team having to play in Columbus, Madison, or Ann Arbor, outdoors in January, brings dreams of redemption and frostbite to many a Big Ten fan. Will it happen?

My thoughts: probably. Considering that ESPN seems to run the show anyhow, I'd imagine they'd jump at the opportunity for two more marquee games for Gameday to show up at and have Erin Andrews strut.

Well, that's it for today. Like I said, come back tomorrow morning for my Buckeye Hoops preview, and get thineself to the Schott for that game!

Thursday's Buckeye Bits

2012-02-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good morning Buckeye fans! It's been a long week, but let's see if I can make it go smoother with today's Bits.

OSU v PU and Jared Sullinger. What a game two nights ago! It is rare to see the Buckeyes play a close game at home, but that Purdue game may have been just what the Buckeyes needed. Every run the Bucks had, Purdue matched, every big shot hit by Buford some guy named Byrd (nope not Larry) answered. Sully, even before his injury was not having a marquee game, in fact he just couldn’t get on track. He went 10-15 minutes (at least, I can’t find any exact numbers) between hitting shots from the field.

However, the shots I recall him making were pretty excellent, first a great 3 pointer then a powerful dunk. In my opinion that was all overshadowed by the mugging he took all over the court. Sully was being tugged, grabbed, and rocked all night capping it off by being yanked to the ground and walking off the court with a severe limp, not returning to the game. I have been checking/looking for news on his possible injury and if he will play this weekend against Sparty and I have found nothing.

The closest I have heard is a twitter response to a question I asked. The reporter who responded said Sully didn’t think it was anything serious and he would play against MSU. I see that as hopeful, because if it was serious everyone would be talking. So close games are great, but a few more blowouts would sure do me good (along with my wife and daughter, who really don’t appreciate me yelling at a television, like I actually have a shot to change the outcome).

How to beat a dead horse, or, it is Bret Bielema time. Oh my Bret Bielema is a whining little thing isn’t he. I just can’t believe this guy, he doesn’t get his way so he cries and whines to his boss, Barry Alvarez about big bad Urban Meyer and his “SEC style” recruiting. I believe Bret’s anger comes from 4-star offensive lineman Kyle Dodson flipping his verbal from Wisconsin to signing a LOI to Ohio State. Bret Bielema is fond of saying things like we are the B1G not the SEC, we don’t do things like they do in the SEC, we have unwritten rules.

I guess those unwritten rules include dropping 83 on a far inferior opponent or maybe going for 2 when you are up by 4 touchdowns late in the fourth quarter. Quoting an article at sbnation.com: Meyer has explained it simply. He contacts recruits who've committed elsewhere, asking them if they're interested in his school. If they aren't, he moves along. If they are, then game on. As we've seen, many of them are.

After two straight Rose Bowl losses, maybe Bret shouldn’t say things we don’t want to do things like the SEC (disclaimer, I thoroughly dislike the SEC), maybe there are things we could, gulp, learn from them. Bret needs to realize, while this is college sports, this is not a gentleman’s game, this is big business, and in a business like this it really is winning comes first. From what I read on Twitter from former Buckeye LB Brian Rolle, it is not like Wisconsin is clean. He stated he recalled Wisconsin recruiting him heavily even after he verbally committed to tOSU, right up to National Signing Day.

Urban Meyer knows how to win (how many of us remember 41-14). He knows how to win in the SEC, which means he knows how to beat the conference whose teams have won the last 6 National Championship games. So as long as he does it cleanly and by the express rules of the NCAA, I don’t care how hard he recruits. Go after everyone up until they put there name on the dotted line, and protect our recruits. Urban Meyer broke no rules, even Alvarez doesn’t think so.

An article on Yahoo Sports quotes an interview he gave saying he has no plans to speak to B1G commissioner Jim Delaney about Urban’s recruiting. He even goes on to state that recruiting is recruiting, right up until they sign. He goes on to say that there is no pact not to recruit, it is open season until they sign. Well, B1G fans, it looks like there is a new sheriff in town and he is ready to win now!!

Buford Sets New Career High As Buckeyes Edge Purdue 87-84

2012-02-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Buford finally stepped up big

With two starters on the bench and the score tied late in Tuesday night's game with Purdue, No. 3 Ohio State needed its most experienced player to take control. And that's what William Buford did.

Buford, the only senior on the roster, scored a career-high 29 points and capped his night with a pivotal dunk in the final minute to lead the Buckeyes past hot-shooting Purdue 87-84.

"I just got good looks," Buford said. "I was taking them and fortunate enough to knock them down. I wasn't thinking about my shots, I was just shooting the ball like my teammates have been telling me to do. That was about it."

The win was Ohio State's 39th in a row at home since losing to Purdue two years ago at Value City Arena.
Buford scored 21 points in the second half to carry the Buckeyes (21-3, 9-2 Big Ten) while All-American Jared Sullinger and point guard Aaron Craft were on the bench with foul trouble. He scored seven straight points for Ohio State as it took the lead for good, his dunk with 39 seconds left sealed it.

Some fans have been critical of Buford's play in recent weeks as he struggled to put two good games together.

But his coach never wavered in supporting him.

"I haven't ever worried about Will," Thad Matta said. "Maybe not every shot's been falling for him. But I've got confidence in him and I'll never lose it."

Sullinger had 18 points and Deshaun Thomas and Craft added 13 apiece for the first-place Buckeyes, who have won six straight and eight of nine.

It was a battle throughout, however.

"Sometimes you have to find a way to win," Craft said. "And we did that tonight."

D.J. Byrd, averaging 6.5 points a game, had a career-best 24 for the Boilermakers (15-9, 5-6), while Kelsey Barlow and Lewis Jackson each had 14 and Robbie Hummel added 13.

Purdue was coming off perhaps its worst game of the season, a 78-61 loss at home to Indiana. Coach Matt Painter said after that debacle that he was disappointed in his team's effort. He certainly wasn't after the close battle with Ohio State.

"I thought we played well enough to win," he said after watching his team shoot 52 percent from the field and 58 percent (11 of 19) on 3-pointers. "We just didn't get a couple of breaks at the end."

No more than three points separated the teams for the entire second half until Buford went off down the stretch.

After a first half that featured brilliant outside shooting and sparkling passing, the last 20 minutes were dominated by physical play, lots of fouls and near hand-to-hand combat under the basket.

The Buckeyes finally got some traction with Sullinger and Craft on the bench and Buford was the triggerman.

With the score tied at 73 and 4:38 left, he swished a shot from the top of the key to give the Buckeyes the lead for good. At the other end, Barlow's shot was blocked by Ohio State's Sam Thompson. Buford then hit another long jumper for a 77-73 lead.

After Hummel missed a 3-pointer, Buford took a pass in the backcourt from substitute point guard Shannon Scott, stepped back, and hit a high, arcing 3 to make it 80-73 with 2:54 left.

Purdue drew to five points on Jackson's drive through traffic at 1:53.

With 1:07 left, Sullinger went back to the bench after being hurt on a rebound attempt. Byrd, who was fouled on the play, missed the first but hit the second to make it 80-76.

Craft then hit a free throw before Buford tipped away a loose ball at the defensive end and raced the length of the court for a dunk with 39 seconds left to give Ohio State enough room to outlast two late Purdue 3s. All of the criticism Buford had been hearing was suddenly a distant memory.

Tuesday's Buckeye Bits

2012-02-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good morning fellow Buckeye's and welcome to your Tuesday Buckeye Bits.

Super Bowl!!- This past weekend was a sad one as it marked the final football being played until the spring game in April. The Super Bowl lived up to the hype as the game in Indianapolis turned into a thriller at the end. Watching Tom Brady and company lose was pretty satisfying to me. As a Browns fan, I must use the misery of other's as fuel to make it through a football season. Mmmmm, that misery tasted good. I guess we can't expect anything more from a guy who couldn't beat out Drew Henson while in college.

Foot meet your friend Mouth- After the game, his billionaire girlfriend Gisele Bundchen tried to take some heat off her beau as she claimed it was Tom's receivers that let him down all night. Umm, Gisele honey, I don't think that was the right play. If anything that will intensify the heat on your boy toy. People in Boston aren't interested in your "professional" opinion about football. They would've been happy to bitch and moan about the Welker drop but you just threw your family's hat in the ring. I will just sit back and laugh at what becomes of this story in the coming days.

Recrutegate- I could go on and on about the Super Bowl, but this is a Buckeye blog so lets get back to business. By now, all of you have read about the whining coming out of East Lansing and Madison over Urban Meyer and his recruiting tactics. I was ready for war when these statements were made but have come around a little bit on the issue. The days of Tressel and his "high standards" and "ethics" are long gone. Urban is a hired mercenary that was brought here to win games.

He saved our dreadful 2012 recruiting class in less than 2 months but some feelings were hurt because of it. My boy Brian McPeek over at the theclevelandfan.com had some great insight into this story that enabled me to take off the war paint for awhile. It is a Cleveland site so if you aren't interested in the Tribe and Cavs, skip down to the bottom and take a look.

Hoops- I am not the biggest college basketball fan out there. Don't get me wrong, I love the OSU team and watch as often as possible but Basketball wasn't my first love growing up. That is why I love this feature by the Dispatch. It gives me everything I need to know for the coming week in OSU hoops. I'm sure this isn't that big of a secret to OSU nation but I thought it was worth a shout out.

March is getting closer and it will be important for the guys to hone their game in anticipation of the madness. That's all I've got today folks. Keep ITS in your daily "blog rotation" as we try to bring you the most up to date and interesting info on your Buckeye's.

Ohio State Sports Update

2012-02-05T12:00:00.008-05:00

Alright Buckeye fans, the weekend is almost upon us and besides the huge basketball game between the Buckeyes and Wisconsin OSU is in for a large sports weekend. Let’s take a look at some of the other sports that the Buckeyes are suiting up for this weekend. The fifth and sixth ranked OSU Men’s and Women’s fencing teams are looking to continue their highly successful seasons at the Northwestern Invitational in Evanston.

The Buckeyes are coming off a dominating performance at the St. John’s invitational. The women went 5-0 and the men finished 4-1. Both squads scored wins w over #1 ranked Penn St. and defending National Champion and #3 (women)/ #4 (men) Notre Dame. The only blemish on the meet for the Buckeyes was a loss to the #6 ranked host St. Johns.

This week at the Northwestern Invitational OSU along with reigning National Fencer of the Week Max Stearns will face tough competition from top ten teams Princeton, Temple, and Duke. So let’s hope the Buckeyes can keep their winning ways up. Also this weekend the #3 ranked Men’s Tennis team will take on #12 Pepperdine at home. The Buckeyes have had a dominating start to the spring season, and are currently 6-0. The Buckeyes are already coming off of championship performance.

Last weekend the Buckeyes knocked off #29 Indiana in the championship match of the ITA Kickoff weekend tournament. The Buckeyes will be a force to be reckoned with when they travel to Charlottesville, Virginia to compete against the top teams in the country in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.

The Buckeyes are the 6 Time defending B1G Champions, and they along with successful coach Ty Tucker, look to continue their winning ways. This Buckeyes team is coming into the season stacked. Sophomore Blaz Rola is currently the 8th ranked singles player in the country. Senior Chase Buchanan a 2011 All-American and 2-time defending Big Ten Athlete of the Year and one of only two seniors on this relatively young squad is ranked 28th.

However, these two Buckeyes are not just singles players, they just happen to be the top ranked doubles team in the country. So hold on to your rackets and nets Buckeye fans, they are off and running. There is always a way for the Buckeyes to beat up on that school from up north.

This weekend the #6 Buckeyes play host to the #12 Wolverines. This match will take place Friday night and will include exciting matches between #3 Logan Stieber (OSU ) against #16 Zack Stevens at 133 pounds. There also should be a barn burner at 174 lbs. #7 ranked Nick Heflin (OSU) will take on #8 Justin Zeerip. These two matches should highlight a great afternoon of grappling.

However, there is no rest for this squad, after the Friday night tussle the Buckeyes will be on the road in East Lansing for a Sunday dual with Michigan State. In hockey news OSU senior co-captain defenseman Sean Duddy has been named a finalist for the Lowes Senior Class Award. The award is given to a senior student athlete who has been judged to have notable achievements in the four areas of classroom, character, competition, and community. Hopefully this nominating honor can get the Buckeye skaters off of a tough stretch.

The Buckeyes were formerly ranked #2 but have since gone an 8 game winless streak, they are 0-4-4 in their last eight. This weekend the #10 Buckeyes host perennial power Michigan State. So let’s go Bucks, let’s get those winning ways back. Last but not least the defending National Champion Men’s Volleyball Team (yep, until they are no longer the defending champs, I will refer to them as the defending champs) travels to State College to participate in the Penn State Invitational. The #9 Buckeyes are obviously one or the marquee teams in a field that includes Penn St., Cal-Baptist, and Mount Olive College.

I am hoping for a successful weekend for the Buckeyes. These are just a brief selection of the games, matches, tournaments, or meets the men and women’s teams will be involved this Friday – Sunday. So go to twitter (where you could follow me: @rudybux), www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com, or www.buckeyextra.com to look for results, or come back to www.insidetheshoe.com where we will do our best to provide results next week. Good Luck Buckeyes!!

Friday's Buckeye Bits

2012-02-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good Friday morning! Another lovely early spring day here in Columbus. Fair warning, this weather has brought on the usual nasty cold, so my writing may be somewhat Nyquil-affected.

So the news that Fielding Yost is objecting to Wes Fesler's recruiting tactics should come as no shock to anyone.

Well, actually, Bret Bielema is the one that's not happy. "We at the Big Ten don’t want to be like the SEC," he says. He's seems a bit upset that Kyle Dodson flipped from Wisconsin. Mark Dantonio is a bit upset, too, after Se'Von Pittman decided that Columbus is a nicer place to live than East Lansing. The coaches seem to be concerned that the "gentlemen's agreements" that had been informally in place between Big Ten coaches are being violated.

Well, too bad. Until the letter is signed and faxed (and, seriously, WHO uses faxes anymore?), everyone is fair game. And, honestly, why doesn't Bert want to be a bit more SEC-like? It's not like we are trying to train these young men to grow into mature, morally-grounded adults...

Will he wear a vest with a Zip(per)? Or a pouch? Jim Tressel sold his house the other day, and for good reason--he's moving north. He's headed back to the University of Akron to be the "Vice President of Strategic Engagement." In other words, he'll have his hand out. Due to the show-cause penalty he's been saddled with, he won't have anything to do with the athletic department. Strange that the best football coach in Akron won't spend any time on the sidelines next fall.

Well, time for our usual Friday TV sports preview. The men's basketball team heads to the tropical oasis of Madison for a 2pm showdown on Saturday. Please, Wisconsin fans, no spitting. They are supposed to be teaching you to be mature, morally-grounded adults. The Puckeyes host the Spartans for a pair Friday and Saturday. Time to turn it around. The women's basketball team is smarting from a loss to Minnesota, and will host the Badgers on Monday night. Oh, and there is some sort of exhibition football game going on in the middle of "12 Hours of America's Most Expensive Commercials" and a Madonna concert on Sunday.

Thursday's Buckeye Bits

2012-02-02T06:55:00.000-05:00

Recruiting. February 1, 2012 a day which will be marked in the continued rebirth of the Buckeyes. With all of the turmoil that has occurred in the last 12 months, I know I along with many other Buckeye fans was a bit concerned that all of the NCAA issues along with coaching issues would put a damper on National Signing Day.

However that uncertainty began to dissipate in late November when OSU made the huge Urban Meyer signing. It seemed that as soon as he became head coach, the recruits started coming. Players who said they were coming, reaffirmed, and others made the switch to OSU.

Yesterday confirmed everything. OSU got a huge class. According to ESPN Ohio State has the #6 rated class in the country (#1 in the B1G), with 24 recruits receiving 3 stars or higher. ESPN has DE Noah Spence out of Harrisburg Pa as the big win as the lone 5 star signee. The Buckeyes were once again strong, and they seem to be rebuilding that fence around Ohio. However, as great as we are in Ohio, Urban Meyer and OSU are national names. OSU received commitments from Indiana, Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and California. That is a great map and OSU’s footprint is apparently everywhere.

Believe me it was not easy to get this class, Urban Meyer was fighting against perception. According to SI.com recruiters from other schools, brought up the NCAA sanctions, and Meyer said it was a two week assault on the Buckeyes, but he decided to be pro-active, and he went after the recruits and battled the negative recruiting. Scott Kennedy, the director of recruiting and scouting for Scout.com said that usually it takes a full year for a coach to have an impact at a new school, but Urban Meyer’s impact at Ohio State this quickly has been unprecedented.

I love seeing this recruiting, though we won’t be able to judge this class right away, but this reminds me of the Cooper days. Urban is recruiting athletes, he is recruiting to win now. Apparently OSU may still have one scholarship open with two major players out there. Will we get them? I have no idea, but I am excited to find out.

Basketball Bye Week and Wisconsin. Dear B1G, I am a bit annoyed with you right now. Who came up with this schedule. I can’t say it better then the Columbus Dispatch and their Bob Baptist, so here is what he has to say: Ah, the idiosyncrasies of the Big Ten schedule. Ohio State has its second midweek bye in two weeks before beginning a backloaded stretch run that will make or break its quest for a third straight championship and fifth in seven seasons.

The Buckeyes will play five of their last nine games on the road, including four of the last six, and play Wisconsin and Michigan State twice apiece. This schedule is killing me. How often do the Buckeyes open with a tough Big Ten game on the road? Indiana, Wisconsin, and Illinois all away. That is tough a slate. Closing with a slate like this, if the Buckeyes can win out or win most, well then B1G you can go ahead and send that trophy right back to Columbus. So go ahead B1G throw your best at us (and yep that includes Ed Hightower), these Buckeyes are beginning to gel at just the right time.

The hoopsters are heading into Madison, and Madison has been a house of horrors for the Buckeyes, in fact I am not sure I remember our last win there. This memory loss of mine actually can be summed up again by the dispatch and Bob Baptist. The Buckeyes are 0-9 in their last nine trips, winless at the Kohl Center against Bo Ryan, in fact it is the only arena in the Big Ten where Thad Matta is winless. However, this weekend there may be revenge in the works.

The last time the Buckeyes were there (they were obviously beaten by the Badgers) and if anyone remember Jared Sullinger claims he was spit on by a Badger’s fan. So it looks like Sully will be a little pissed off. I believe the Badgers are good, but I if the Buckeyes run, there is no way the Badgers can keep up. My one fear is that Jordan Taylor does not have one of those days that players like Jordan Taylor himself or Brandon Paul has had against the Buckeyes. Aaron Craft and the Buckeye D need to step up, and I believe they will!!

4-Star Offensive Tackle Kyle Dodson Commits To Ohio State

2012-02-01T17:15:00.000-05:00

#25 in '12 is a huge one for the Buckeyes

4-Star offensive tackle Kyle Dodson switched his commitment from Wisconsin to Ohio State today during National Signing Day, in a move that was an absolute great grab for Urban Meyer's class of 2012.

Even though he committed to Wisconsin during the summer, Dodson made official visits to Ohio State, Michigan State, USC, Auburn and Wisconsin. Dodson's commitment gives the Buckeyes their 25th commitment for the 2012 class.

This past Sunday he was back in Columbus for an unofficial visit as the Ohio State staff had a huge junior day and the Buckeye basketball team took on Michigan. By far the biggest grab for Ohio State today, Dodson has a lot to like about.

The 6-foot-6 and 310-pound Dodson is one of the country’s premier offensive tackles. He had over two dozen scholarship offers including Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Auburn, USC, Michigan, Illinois, West Virginia, Louisville and Connecticut.

Dodson is a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports rankings. He is the No. 12 prospect in the state of Ohio, the country’s No. 24 offensive tackle and the No. 224 overall prospect.

Scouting Report: Dodson has the upper body playing strength to dominate opponents as an inline drive blocker, but also has the size with enough athleticism for the offensive tackle position at the major level of competition. However, defensive speed could become a challenge down the road; if this occurs, a move inside to guard could be in his future. Either way, he's a great asset to any team, and the Buckeyes are grateful to have him.

4-Star Linebacker Jamal Marcus Commits To Ohio State

2012-02-01T17:00:00.000-05:00

Marcus is excited to play for the Buckeyes

On signing day, the Buckeyes picked up two excellent recruits. The first was 4-star linebacker Jamal Marcus who was down to East Carolina and Ohio State. I made the prediction for Marcus to attend ECU, based off Ohio State picking up Camren Williams and David Perkins who, like Marcus, are 4-stars.

I can happily say that I was wrong here, as Marcus is now a Buckeye. The OSU staff recruited him as an outside linebacker, giving the Buckeyes their 24th commitment of the 2012 class.

Marcus (Durham, N.C./Hillside) made an official visit to East Carolina the weekend of Jan. 13. He then made an official visit to Ohio State the following weekend.

However, in the end Marcus narrowed his choices down to the two schools he made official visits to and announced moments ago at a press conference in his high school gymnasium that he is headed to Ohio State.Marcus’ mother wanted him to also take one last look at North Carolina State and North Carolina.

The 6'2" and 225-pound Marcus led Hillside to an 11-2 record this season. He made 89 tackles including 17 sacks playing a combination of outside linebacker and defensive end. Marcus is a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports rankings. He is the No. 8 prospect in the state of North Carolina and the country’s No. 151 overall prospect.

Scouting report: Marcus was a first-team all-state pick as a senior as he tallied 89 tackles and 17 sacks as a defensive end. Because of his body size, he may project as a linebacker at the college level. As a junior, he registered 45 tackles and 14 sacks. 40 time: 4.6

Wednesday's Buckeye Bits

2012-02-01T06:00:00.011-05:00

Depsite being seven months away from the first game of the 2012 season, today is one of the most important days in college football. It is national signing day, the day where recruits can officially sign a Letter of Intent to play at their school.

Urban Meyer has added several high-profile recruits since his hiring in November, and is looking to add at least one more today in Kyle Dodson.

At least 23 will commit the next four years to Ohio State. As of this morning, Ohio State had 23 commitments, with 15 players being from Ohio. The Plain Dealer made an interactive map where you can see where the recruits are from. In a landmark move, all players signing with Ohio State will be given four-year scholarships, rather than the renewable one-year scholarships that had been handed out in the past.

B1G Commissioner Jim Delany encouraged all conference schools to offer the four-year scholarships. The four-year grants were made possible in October by a rule change by the NCAA, but are not required.

Former Ohio State verbal charged with rape. Up until last week, Roger Lewis was committed to play football at The Ohio State University. The Pickerington Central star decommitted recently and was arrested on Tuesday, charged with two rapes that took place in December and January.

Tressel moves. 10TV has reported that Jim Tressel and his wife, Ellen, have sold their home located in Upper Arlington. Tressel worked for the Indianapolis Colts this past season as a replay consultant and interviewed for their head coaching position that ultimately went to Chuck Pagano.

Keep it tuned to ITS for all your signing day news today, and all Buckeye news in the future. Be careful if you go out today, Buckeye fans, Urban might get you to commit.

National Signing Day Updates

2012-01-31T06:00:00.017-05:00

Here's our National Signing Day dump post. You can find all of the latest Ohio State commitments here, as well as full recruiting posts later on today. For now, we wait and see who will be the last couple of recruits to sign to Ohio State after months of waiting.

Keep in mind WR's Davonte Neal and Stefon Diggs are not announcing today.

Joel Caleb: 8:30 am Prediction: Ohio State
Bam Bradley: 8:45 am Prediction: Pitt
Jamal Marcus: 10:30 am Prediction: East Carolina
Kyle Dodson: Ceremony starts 12:15 pm Prediction: Ohio State

National Signing Day Commits
Jamal Marcus
Kyle Dodson

Tuesday's Buckeye Bits

2012-01-31T06:00:00.002-05:00

Good morning Buckeye fans. Welcome to your Tuesday Buckeye Bits. Unfortunately we are entering the worst month on the sporting calendar tomorrow. February is the worst.

College basketball is still weeks away from the greatest tournament on earth, the NFL will be coming to a close with this weekend’s super bowl, pitchers and catchers are still a couple weeks away from reporting and it’s COLD.

Don’t fret Buckeye fans! I am here to scour the internet in hopes of finding some interesting tidbits for you to read. Let’s get to it.

Buckeyes continue their hot streak- National signing day is only a few days away and the Buckeyes continue to pull in the blue chippers. The latest commit was corner Armani Reeves out of West Roxbury, MA. Depending on what recruiting site you look at, Reeves is listed anywhere from the 17th to 8th best corner available. It came down to OSU and Michigan in the end and I think we all know he made the right choice. It probably didn’t hurt that his high school teammate Cam Williams signed on last week but we’ll take them any way we can get them.

The Rivalry is back- The Ohio State-Michigan game will always be the greatest rivalry in sports. I really don’t care what any other fan base says. The Buckeyes have owned their little brother for the last decade (besides that fluke last November) but now the battle has spilled over to recruiting as well. I remember when the two schools would go toe to toe in the 90’s and the Buckeye’s would often lose to that team up north. No more my friends!

Urban is officially 8-0 against his new rival for recruits that held offers to both schools. I’m not a math major or anything but that seems like a pretty good success rate. One of the first guys to “switch” was Brionte Dunn and as you can see, Michigan fans showed all the class that they constantly brag about having when he made his decision final. Ahhh, the hate is palpable. I love it.

Urban’s Staff- As you know, the Ohio State coaching staff is going to look a lot different this fall than it has over the last decade. I don’t really like linking ESPN stories because of their agenda but I thought this was a pretty good read.

Brett Beliema is sticking around- Wisconsin appears to be content losing Rose Bowl’s because they have added another year to Beliema’s contract. I really think the Big Ten is headed towards a “Big 4” type set up with Ohio St., Michigan, Wisky and Nebraska as the top programs in the league. Wisconsin is always going to be a dangerous team and as much as I hate looking at the guy’s face, this is probably a good move. I look forward to beating them in Madison next year.

That’s it for today. Keep it locked to ITS as we near National Signing day on February 3. We will keep you up to date on the newest Buckeye’s joining the fold for 2012 and beyond.

2013 5-Star Quarterback/Athlete Jalin Marshall Commits To Ohio State

2012-01-30T18:00:00.001-05:00

The versatile Marshall is #2 in 2013

According to the Middletown Journal, 2013 5-star QB/ATH Jalin Marshall has committed to Ohio State. Marshall has said that playing for the Buckeyes is a "childhood dream". This gives Urban Meyer the 2nd commitment for the class of 2013, and this is a HUGE grab for Ohio State. Jalin Marshall is the #1 prospect in Ohio for 2013, as Urban is once again starting to build that fence around the Buckeye state.

Ranked as the nation’s top athlete and the No. 5 prospect overall, the 6-foot, 190-pound Marshall joins four-star safety Cameron Burrows in giving his word to Ohio State, choosing the Buckeyes over offers from the likes of Notre Dame and Tennessee. During the fall, Ohio State and Notre Dame were running even for Marshall’s services, but when former Irish assistant coach Tim Hinton left South Bend for a job with the Buckeyes, it tipped the scales in the home-state school’s favor.

As a junior, Marshall rushed for 1,972 yards and 20 touchdowns, and he also passed for 781 yards and six more scores. He will begin his Ohio State career as a quarterback, which is very important to him. Along the way, both the coaches and Marshall may decide his talents best fit at slot WR, where many hope they will see him don the scarlet and gray.

To read more about Marshall's talents, we point you in the direction of one of our Recruiting Profiles.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest updates, news, and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

Monday's Buckeye Bits

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good morning Buckeye faithful, and welcome to your Monday edition of the Buckeye Bits. It's National Signing Day week, and that means the last couple of pushes, nudges, and full on shoves from coaches to recruits to sign with their school. As for the Buckeyes, they sit with 23 commitments, and hope to add to that number with a couple of big players.

I personally love the recruiting game. It's an interesting thing to watch a kid toy with coaches and fan bases with a simple tweet or even rumors that are started about said recruit which aren't true. Now all of that comes to the boiling point Wednesday, but might continue on for a couple of the recruits seriously enjoying the recruiting process.

Anyways, on to the Bits.

23 You Say? Not So Fast My Friend. As I mentioned above, the 2012 class stands at 23 commitments, but as we told you yesterday, wide receiver commit Roger Lewis is no longer a verbal to the Buckeyes, after not meeting the entry grade on his test. This opens up another scholarship, yes, but also puts on some serious pressure for Urban Meyer and his staff to lock down a commitment from another receiver. That can come in the form of Stefon Diggs or Davonte Neal.

Smith Jr. Providing A Serious Spark. After watching Lenzelle Smith Jr's performance against Michigan, I knew he was improving. I've watched the Buckeyes just like the rest of you have, and I can tell you that Smith has the motor just like Aaron Craft. Both guys continuously give it their all every game for the entire game. Yes, Smith thus far has been inconsistent, with his last great game coming against Indiana nearly 3 weeks ago, but Smith is getting hot at the right time.

With only 9 games left in the regular season, Smith has time to refine his skills and get to the level of consistent play. March Madness is going to come and go again, but if the Buckeyes want to be playing in early April, they're going to need more than just Craft, Sullinger, and Buford. Smith has stepped up into a role that I hope he can soon blossom into even more. It will be something to watch over the next few weeks.

Reeves Commits. 2012 cornerback recruit Armani Reeves announced his intentions late last night on Twitter, where he stated that he was a Buckeye. Reeves was deciding between Ohio State and Michigan. Reeves's friend Camren Williams also recently committed to Ohio State on the 20th, which may have swayed his decision on whether to don the scarlet and gray or not. Now we know that he is a part of Urban Meyer's first recruiting class. Over the next couple of days, we hope to see some more commits coming in.

That's all for today everyone. Stay tuned on the site for any breaking news, and of course, keep your eyes peeled for Recruiting updates.

2012 4-Star Cornerback Recruit Armani Reeves Commits To Ohio State

2012-01-29T21:30:00.000-05:00

Reeves is the 24th commitment in '12

2012 4-star cornerback Armani Reeves has just committed to Ohio State via Twitter, giving Ohio State it's 24th commitment.

Reeves picked Ohio State after decommitting from Penn State along with fellow Buckeye Camren Williams, and then choosing over the Wolverines, who were the only other choice besides OSU.

It has been a very busy week for Reeves. Last Saturday Michigan coach Brady Hoke visited him. On Monday, Urban Meyer, Everett Withers, Mike Vrabel and Luke Fickell met with Reeves. Then on Tuesday Michigan assistant Greg Mattison met with Reeves.

In addition to all of the football visits, Reeves is in the middle of his high school basketball season.

The 5-foot-11 and 180-pound Reeves made 57 tackles and intercepted a pass playing cornerback during his senior season. He is a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports rankings, the country’s No. 82 overall prospect and No. 7 cornerback, and the No. 1 prospect in the state of Massachusetts.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest updates, news, and opinions on Ohio State Athletics.

'12 WR Recruit Roger Lewis Not Expected To Be A Buckeye

2012-01-29T19:00:00.001-05:00

Pickerington Central's Roger Lewis

According to the Dispatch, 2012 Buckeye commit Roger Lewis might not be a Buckeye based off of what his high school coach has told the media. According to the coach, Lewis is not expected to sign his national letter of intent to Ohio State on Signing Day, due to not having the requisite pre-enrollment test scores and that he now is exploring other options.

Lewis's coach also stated, Lewis visited Ohio University this weekend, and said he also is considering Marshall and Bowling Green.

That leaves the OSU 2012 class, the first by new coach Urban Meyer, at 22 members, including the six players who enrolled at the start of the winter quarter.

Roger Lewis is a 3-star wide receiver commit, and with the recent struggles at wide receiver, the coaching staff made a priority of trying to get some athletes that can play the receiver position. While losing Lewis is not a huge deal, it does put a bit more pressure on Meyer to land either Davonte Neal or Stefon Diggs.

It sounds like Lewis doesn't have the test scores, and there's no chance anything can change. Especially coming from the coaches mouth, it looks like Lewis's time as a Buckeye commit will end short.

Smith, Buckeyes Give Late Push Against Wolverines

2012-01-29T16:00:00.000-05:00

(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Lenzelle Smith Jr. once again stepped up big time for #4 Ohio State, as he scored 17 points and had a career-high 12 rebounds as the Buckeyes (19-3, 7-2) flexed its muscle inside to beat the 22nd ranked Michigan squad 64-49 on Sunday, keeping the Buckeyes in a first-place tie in the Big Ten.

Jared Sullinger added 13 points and William Buford and Deshaun Thomas both had 12 for Ohio State (19-3, 7-2), which ran its winning streak over its archrival to six straight and eight of nine.

Tim Hardaway Jr. had 15 points for the Wolverines (16-6, 6-3). Trey Burke, the conference's top freshman point guard, returned to his hometown to play for the first time against Sullinger, his former high school teammate, and finished with 13 points.

The Buckeyes also extended their home-court winning streak to 38, the second-longest in the program's 100 years. Leading by three points at halftime, the Buckeyes pulled away with a 14-2 run midway through the second half. Bookended by 3-pointers by Burke, most of the points came as a result of backdoor cuts or drives. It didn't include a 3.

Buford, who was quiet throughout the first half, got it started with a driving layup. Later in the spurt he stepped in front of Burke's crosscourt pass and streaked the length of the court for a dunk.
Smith, who had more offensive rebounds than Michigan almost all game, scored twice -- a layup on an assist from Buford and a short baseline jumper. Aaron Craft, Thomas and Sullinger, who sat out portions of the game because of foul trouble, all contributed two points to make it 48-35.

The Wolverines drew as close as 50-43 on a basket by Morgan inside. Morgan then stole the ball from Sullinger and grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed 3 by Douglass. But as Morgan was bracing to go up for the follow, Craft darted in and stole the ball. Craft played an excellent game defensively, going wild as he normally does. The effort of both Craft and Smith are quite impressive.

Craft, who finished with seven points, four assists and three steals, then had an assist on Thomas' basket in traffic at the other end to make it 52-43. The lead never fell below eight points again. The Buckeyes held a 24-21 lead after a grueling, physical, defense-dominated half.

Buford, Ohio State's second-leading scorer and only senior, didn't score in the opening 18:57 and finished the half with three points. Smith had nine points and seven rebounds.

Can Urban "Put a Fence" around Ohio?

2012-01-29T12:00:00.000-05:00

Urban's goal: lock down Ohio recruits

As we wind closer to National Signing Day, it's time to look at how well Coach Meyer has done. Certainly, one can conclude that he has made a significant impact in raising the profile and quality of recruits for Ohio State. Perhaps most importantly, he has reinforced the long-held importance of keeping as many top-shelf Ohio recruits as possible here.

In the words of Gene Smith during the introductory press conference: "We wanted a football coach who..would create the environment here with the aspiration for every single football player in the state of Ohio is to be a Buckeye..and have no other thought."

Did Coach Meyer accomplish that? Of course, we won't know for certain for a couple of days, but let's look at what we know so far, especially in relation to TSUN. We'll also take a look at how Urban's immediate predecessor did in HIS first recruiting season.

According to Rivals.com, 15 of the Buckeyes' 23 commits for 2012 hail from Ohio. Michigan's class shows 8 soon-to-be former Ohioans on their list--notably five-star recruit Kyle "Blood on the Field" Kalis, a former Tressel recruit who flipped when the Vest ~~got scapegoated~~ resigned.

Looking back to the 2002 class--Tressel's first class--18 of 24 recruits were from Ohio. Michigan only had 19 that year, and only two Ohioans. Tressel's class had several names who would make a significant impact over the years: Clarett, Hawk, Carpenter, Hall, and Heisman winner Troy Smith, among many others.

Is this an indicator of a lack of focus on Urban's part to keep Ohioans home? Perhaps. In my opinion, however, the quality of the person and the player doesn't necessarily diminish at the border.

E.B. Cooper had an excellent piece on Ohioans going north a couple of days ago. He makes an excellent point: If not for Ohioans like Bo Schembechler, Jim Harbaugh, Charles Woodson, Desmond Howard, and others, Michigan wouldn't be the program they are today. Michigan just doesn't seem to turn out the talent like the Buckeye State. I perhaps take a perverted sense of pride that it took a bunch of Ohioans to make this rivalry great.

Friday's Buckeye Bits

2012-01-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good Friday morning, Buckeye Nation! As we continue to slog our way through another monsoon season here in ~~Seattle~~ Columbus, we inch closer to what has become quite the eagerly awaited holiday around these parts.

No, Ned Ryerson, the day before that...National Signing Day! No new recruits have been picked up in the last day or so, but it doesn't mean that Coach Meyer and his staff haven't been out pounding the pavement.

Bill Sheridan Joins The Crew. As Ian told you yesterday, Bill Sheridan is the Buckeye's newest coach. Likely leading the DB corps to replace the departed Taver Johnson, Sheridan most recently worked under Tony Sparano with the Miami Dolphins. He did work under Lloyd Carr in Michigan for a few seasons. Let's hope that he gets a new wardrobe quickly.

Women's B-Ball Dominating. The Buckeye women's team did a number on some Hoosiers last night, specifically the number 18. 18 point margin of victory. 18 points for Samantha Prahalis, 18 for Tayler Hill--all in the second half. Good thing her scoring came alive, as the Bucks were down by one at the half.

RIP JoePa. Wednesday, the funeral; yesterday, a memorial service was held for Coach Joe Paterno. KennardHusker has a nice piece at Off Tackle Empire about the legendary coach's legacy. I'll echo his sentiments: despite the cloud that taints the program and his involvement, in balance Paterno did a great deal of good things that positively affected not just football players, but a school and an entire town. As I saw on Twitter the other day (can't recall from whom, sadly) JoePa joins a list of coaches with a "yeah, but" on their legacies. Woody Hayes and Bobby Knight are two of those names. Will time redeem Paterno's legacy, too?

This weekend. The men's hoops team hosts TSUN on Sunday at 1pm. Should be on CBS, though you should go to the Schott. The women's team heads to the land of enormous malls and Marge Gustafson's shrill accent, also Sunday at 1 on the BTN. The Puckeyes head to the Soo for two against Lake Superior State, tonight and Saturday. Let's hope they can get off this losing streak.

Since this is the week of shameless self serving endings to these Buckeye Bits, I can't help but contribute. Follow me @tonn_chris on them there Twitters. Beware, I'm all over the place. Buckeyes, Chicago Cubs, Green Bay Packers (thus my not-so-thinly veiled spite toward Minnesota earlier) news all fill my tweets, interspersed with stuff about third-party politics, classic cars, and being a dad.

Bill Sheridan Hired By Ohio State, Urban Meyer

2012-01-26T13:30:00.000-05:00

The 9th hire by Meyer

According to multiple reports, (now) former Miami Dolphins assistant Bill Sheridan has been hired, and is now a part of the Ohio State coaching staff under Urban Meyer. Sheridan is the ninth new staff hire, since Meyer has been made the head coach at Ohio State.

Sheridan will likely be taking the spot of Taver Johnson, former defensive backs coach. Johnson left to coach at Arkansas with former safeties coach Paul Haynes on Jan. 15. Johnson's salary was set at $275,000, before he left to coach at Arkansas.

Sheridan worked under Lloyd Carr at Michigan for three years from 2002-2004, which means he was on the staff for one of the two wins against Ohio State since 2001. He later went on to coach linebackers for the New York Giants, from 2005-2008, which includes a Super Bowl victory in 2007. In 2009, he was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Giants. He was fired at the end of the 2009 season.

For the 2010 and 2011 season, he was the linebackers coach for the Miami dolphins under Tony Sparano. In addition to Michigan and his stint in the NFL, Sheridan has worked for Notre Dame, Michigan State, Army, Cincinnati and Maine. His son, Nick, was a quarterback at Michigan from 2008-2009. Nick competed for the starting job with Steven Threet, but both would end up transferring to other schools.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates, and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

Thursday's Buckeye Bits

2012-01-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good morning Buckeye fans! Welcome to your Thursday edition of the Buckeye Bits. Let's jump right in!

Non-Revenue Sports Update. Another week of Buckeye sports in the books. Let’s take a look around campus and see what we have. Let’s take a look at the Men’s Gymnastic team. The top 5 Men’s gymnastic team has had a strong start to the season. In their first meet of the year, they knocked off several top 10 teams and won the prestigious Windy City Invitational. This win secured their #2 ranking.

However, they couldn’t ride that momentum to a win in their first dual meet of the year, losing in a tight battle to #3 ranked Oklahoma in Columbus. They will try to rebound at the Winter Cup in Las Vegas next week, followed by a dual meet against TSUN on 2/18. The Lady Buckeye Gymnasts are 2-1 on the year and currently ranked #11. They are a tough squad with their only loss coming by less then 1 point. In other sports, the Wrestling team is off to another great start. Already this year they have knocked off perennial super power Iowa, and won the always tough Cliff Keen Invitational.

This past week saw Ohio State Freshman Hunter Stieber named B1G Wrestler of the week. The schedule gets no easier for the Buckeyes as this Sunday they travel to State College to face #1 ranked and defending National Champion Penn State. PSU is coached by the legendary Cael Sanderson. It should be a great test for the Buckeye grapplers. A look at other sports wouldn’t be complete without a look the defending National Champion Men’s Volleyball team.

This incarnation of the Buckeyes is ranked #10 and they are beginning to find their groove. They are on a 3 match winning streak, and are gearing up for the Dunlap Invitational in Columbus. Coming to town this weekend are nationally ranked Stanford, Penn State, and Pacific. The matches should be terrific and are worth going too. So while supporting football and basketball is great, don’t forget about wrestling, volleyball, swimming and diving, and gymnastics among others.

Women’s Basketball. What a great season it has been for Buckeye basketball. While everyone is excited about what Thad Matta and the men’s team has been doing, everyone should be paying attention to Jim Foster and his lady Buckeyes. The Bucks are #9 in the nation and have a 19-1 record including being 15-0 at home. It is time to compare OSU and their players to the rest of the nation. You know what I found out after looking at stats at the Buckeyes have dominant players on this team and are lead by star guard Senior Samantha Prahalis. She is the 30th ranked scorer in the nation averaging 18.7 points per game, and is the 20th best free throw shooter with at 87.5% (maybe she should work with the men’s team on free throws).

However, scoring is not the only part of her game. She is a great passer and is ranked #8 in assists averaging 6.9 a game. As great as Sammy is she can’t play by herself, she has help. In the back court with Prahalis is Tayler Hill. She is a dynamic player and dead on 3 point shooter. She is the 21st best 3 point shooter in the country, hitting 55 on the season averaging 2.8 a game.

Her 45.1% is 7th best in the country. 6’5” Sophomore Ashley has done a great job down low for the Buckeyes She had to fill some pretty big shoes, stepping into the center spot after the graduation of 4-Time B1G Player of the year and All-American Jantel Lavender. Adams is one of the best defensive players in the nation, ranked 30th in blocked shots with 2.4 a game.

The Buckeyes have a busy week coming up. On January 26 they travel to Indiana, followed by a January 29th game at Minnesota, before returning home to battle Wisconsin on February 6. Currently ESPN Bracketology by Charlie Crème has the Buckeyes as a #3 seed in the same region (Des Moines) as #1 ranked Baylor and #5 Duke. As a fan of all OSU sports both men’s and women’s I look forward to seeing scores and highlights for the Lady Buckeyes.

My Feelings on Joe Paterno. What an awful year for certain college football historical powers. We all know about the pathetic stuff that went on with OSU and the NCAA this year. Players were suspended, our coach fired, and we have basically lost 3 seasons. However, all of this pales in comparison to what happened at PSU. A seemingly squeaky clean coach and his staff were rocked by the what I consider the worst scandal ever in sports. As a teacher, a person who works with children, I do not see a crime more reprehensible then abusing a child. Now Joe Paterno did not touch a child, but he also did not do enough to stop the abuse. He heard what happened and reported it like he should have, but he should have done more.

He was Joe Paterno, there was no person in Happy Valley with more power then him, not they mayor of the city, the AD, or even the President of the University (at least two of them lost their jobs along with Joe Paterno). Joe knew he made a mistake, but does this absolve him, does the fact he passed away absolve him? Frankly I do not know.

But out of respect for Joe Pa and his family, I will mention some positives. Besides winning more games then any other coach in history Joe and his beloved wife Sue did many wonderful things in his decades at PSU. He was an educator. Joe donated millions of dollars to help build the campus library that bares his name. His wife Sue was/is a tireless worker for children with special needs as a dedicated volunteer for the Special Olympics.

From what I have read and heard on ESPN radio Joe’s players both past and present loved him, at his memorial the line of players, which included Heisman Trophy winner John Cappelletti wrapped around a block to pay their respects to the Paterno family. Joe was obviously a loved man. But how will he be remembered? Will the passage of time dull the pain of what occurred? Some people are attempting to compare what caused Paterno’s firing Woody Hayes punching a Clemson player at the Gator Bowl (OSU needs to stop going to the Gator).

Yes, Woody punching a player was bad, and sadly it cost him his job. But that was it with all of his temper Woody did not do irreparable damage to other children. Joe not following up on the allegations may have damaged other children. I just can’t get past what came out this year. I will always believe it is cool, that I was at games against Penn State and watched Joe Pa, one of the greatest coaches ever coach, but in my mind, because of what happened, and what he could have done there will always be an asterisk by his name.

Wednesday's Buckeye Bits

2012-01-25T06:00:00.008-05:00

Good morning, Buckeye fans! It’s Wednesday. This is a good thing. It means the week is almost half over, and, of course, the basketball Buckeyes take the court again tonight, taking on Penn State in Columbus.

Mike Adams Impresses at Senior Bowl. Mike Adams was one of the top prospects at offensive tackle for the upcoming NFL Draft before Senior Bowl practices started, but it seems that he is doing even more to help his cause. The 6-foot-8-inch Adams has the height to be a successful left tackle in the NFL, but scouts would like to see him add a few pounds to his frame. There is a good chance he will be a first-round pick in April.

A Legend is Laid to Rest. Sadly, Joe Paterno died this past Sunday after a battle with lung cancer. Public viewings were yesterday and today, with a private funeral to take place today. Paterno has the most wins in college football history with 409 over 46 seasons at the helm of the Nittany Lions.

Buckeye Basketball Star Named B1G POTW. While it is the men’s Buckeye basketball team that gets most of the press, the women’s team has been playing extremely well, improving their record to 19-1 over the weekend. Samantha Prahalis was named player of the week after avering 23.5 points, 7.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2 steals in wins over Nebraska and Illinois. Ohio State is up to No. 9 in the polls.

Since Brady did his shameless plug for himself on Twitter yesterday, I think I will do the same. You can follow me @StephanSharp. Do this. Right now. I tweet Buckeye sports, soccer (Visca Barça) and, really, anything that amuses me. Follow @InsideTheShoe too. He does a great job keeping you updated on all the latest Buckeye information.

Tuesday's Buckeye Bits

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Tuesday Buckeye fans! Glad to see you made it through another Monday. I know it’s still the dead of winter but we’re another week closer to Buckeye Football. Sure, we’re still closer to the last game of the 2011 season than the first game of next season but this is my column so leave me alone!

I’m sorry for yelling. As a token of good faith, I give you this. No need to thank me. The increased page views for ITS will suffice. I figured I already crossed into the “creepy old guy” zone last week with my comments about Urban’s daughter so might as well go all in right? Right. OK, enough of that. Let’s get to the bit’s baby!

Wismar: Recruiting Wizard. I often think about attempting to write a recruiting column but the sheer volume of research and pure insanity needed to do it right scares me off every time. The recruiting world is a dark and murky place where obsessive dudes hover over their laptops while perusing YouTube for the latest bits of shaky high school footage. I just can’t be one of those guys. Don’t get me wrong, I love those guys. I just can’t become one if I want to stay married.

There are many good bloggers out there with their finger on the pulse of this niche area of college football but none better than Dan Wismar over at The Cleveland Fan. The guy wrote a great piece the other day detailing the amazing turn around for the 2012 recruiting class. His writing is succinct, easy to read and has loads of information. If you can get past the serial killer profile picture (I kid Dan, I kid), I recommend you check out his stuff on a regular basis.

***BREAKING NEWS*** The BCS Still Sucks- While I’m whoring out a different website than my own, I might as well highlight another great article at the same address. Jesse Lamovsky gives his own version of how the BCS should change things up once the current deal mercifully ends. Lamovsky, along with the rest of us, is sick of the current bowl system and wants to see changes in the very near future. Someday college football fans will be able to enjoy a weekend like we just had in the NFL. What a glorious day that will be!

Ramzy being Ramzy- I’m sure most of you have already read the AWESOME ARTCLE by Ramzy over at 11W but if you haven’t, we aren’t internet friends anymore. We can stay friends if you drop everything and read it right now. Bosses be damned! I’ve been complaining about the bias at ESecPN for months now and Ramzy does a fantastic job of sounding way smarter than I ever could. It’s a must read.

The End of an Era- Joe Paterno didn’t stand a chance of surviving after the recent scandal at Penn St. I don’t mean to sound harsh or insensitive but the Nittany Lions were everything to the guy and once that was taken away, it was only a matter of time. He was and always will be a college football icon but his reputation is tarnished forever. His actions, or lack thereof, during the Sandusky scandal are inexcusable. I’m sure if JoePa could turn back the clock he would’ve handled the allegations differently but you only get one chance at doing the right thing in these types of situations.

His legacy will always be tied to those horrible events that transpired under his watch and within his walls. It’s a shame that all the good done by the man will end up being tarnished due to his “turn the other way” mentality in this instance. PSU will be reeling for years. Especially if Urban keeps stealing guys like this.

That’s it for today folks. Before I go, I just wanted to do a little shameless self-promotion. Ian does a great job on Twitter keeping everyone up to date on the latest Buckeye news. Make sure you follow ITS here. While I’m at it, if you like lots of bitching about Cleveland related sports, random Ohio St. thoughts and semi-coherent tweets at 2am, follow me @bucknut1981. Have a great day and keep it locked to ITS!

Burn it With Fire or Sour Grapes?

2012-01-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

Scary little guys

In spite of the recent recruiting success, our friend ProveIt has come to share some knowledge with the rest of us in form of a guest post. Be sure to tell him what you think of his article!

You hear claims that the recruiting boards are biased, but never any details. Are the boards truly biased and deserved to be cybernetically torched at every mention, or is this just sour grapes from fans in conferences with lower rankings?

A quick internet search of various analysis of their rankings show Scout and Rivals are notably more accurate than the others. Rivals nominally edges out Scout in accuracy, but not enough to herald them king (usually only a couple of players a year differentiate the 2, and some criteria is questionable).

I don’t consider subjective as less accurate or more biased than objective. An objective plus subjective analysis has the capacity to be much more accurate than a purely objective analysis. An objective formula can be biased if the criteria are slanted.

Proving bias in a subjective analysis is difficult. I looked at the objective rankings.

Scout Methodology

Ranking Description

Player Rankings are purely subjective. Starting at a local level, recruits are ranked by position and overall ranking (all positions combined). These lists are passed up and merged through a regional and finally national level. Stars are awarded based on the player’s position in the “All positions” list:

1-50: 5 star

51-300: 4 star

…and so on…

Team rankings are based on the top 25 players in the recruiting class. If a program goes over 25, only the top 25 recruits are used. If a program is under 25, they get 0 points for the missing recruits. Each player commitment adds points to the team’s recruiting class.

The points a player adds are based on the number of stars:

5 Star = 200 points
4 Star = 120 points
3 Star = 40 points
2 Star = 20 points

A bonus is awarded if the player is ranked in the top 100 at his position. The #1 player at a position is worth an additional 100 points, the #100 player is worth an additional 1 point.

Rivals Methodology

Ranking Description

Rival’s description is cryptic, but claims an objective and subjective element.

Objective Component I believe each program is given a recruiting ranking based on the weighted average of their recruitment classes over the previous several years.

Using this program recruiting ranking, a value is added to each athlete they present with a formal offer. The better the program has been at recruiting, the higher the value of their offers.

Recruits are ranked by the total value of the offers they receive (program interest). Each offer increases the recruit’s total by an amount based on the program’s recruitment ranking.

Using this method, Rivals cleverly incorporates the opinions of thousands of coaches and college scouts nationwide into their calculation. This can be considered their rough starting list.

Note: This is just my best guess based on Rivals description. It is understandable Rivals wants to keep the details of their calculation confidential and proprietary.

Subjective Component – I believe Rivals staff takes the rough starting list and tweak it to their scouting opinions. The result is the final player ranking, listed in both position rankings 1-100 and overall ranking of all positions.

Like Scout, Rivals’ team rankings for the year are based on the value of the recruits they have signed in the current class.

Unlike Scout, Rivals does not have a fixed number of 5 star, 4 star, etc. recruits but attempts to gage their quality over an extended period of time. Rivals typically awards about ½ as many 5 star rankings, but nearly the same number of 4 star rankings as Scout.

Star Ranking and Position Ranking Comments

Rivals establishes a subjective star ranking over several years. This provides a consistency in comparing star rankings of recruits from different years.

Scout issues a fixed number of stars based on the ranking of all recruits at all positions. Because of the broad base (all positions and all players nationwide) this should also be reasonable consistency year to year.

Position rankings do not provide a good comparison across multiple years.

Junior College Program Bias

Neither site ranks junior college recruits other than awarding a star rating. Both include Junior College recruits in the team rankings, based entirely on their star ranking.

In at least the Scout team ranking calculation (and perhaps both) this creates a bias against programs which cultivate junior colleges – the position rank can increase the value of a recruit in the team calculations by over 50%, but JC recruits do not get this bump.

I did not count the number of signed JC recruits to determine if this results in a regional or conference bias.

Scout’s Star Differential - Exaggerates Differentials

Scout establishes a broad point differential for team rankings based on the stars rating of the school.

For example, the 28^th ranked RB had 4 stars and added 201 points.

The 29^th ranked RB had 3 stars adding 120 points.

The 81 point difference between the 28^th and 29^th RB is greater than the difference between the 29^th RB and 113^th ranked RB – hardly a scale that truly represents the differential.

This exaggerates minor differences between programs, but does not present a regional bias.

Number of Signed Recruits Bias

The recruiting boards do not adjust based on the number of recruits signed. Scout counts the 1^st 25 recruits (which few programs sign). Rivals may count every recruit.

If a program signs less than this number, Scout gives zero points for the unfilled positions. If a program signs more than this number, only the best 25 recruits are used, the rest are discarded. Rivals might just keep adding forever.

This is the equivalent to playing stud poker where you are dealt 5 cards, while your opponent is dealt 6 and gets to discard 1. Reality it is even worse than this analogy - in comparing 2011 South Carolina and PSU, South Carolina was dealt 6 cards (32 recruits) and PSU was dealt 3 (16 recruits).

This could be easily remedied – just decrease the number of players considered, or diminish the value of additional recruits in large classes. Either would place the weight of the calculation where it belongs - on the top 17 or so players. Instead the recruiting services acknowledge but continue to use this extreme bias.

This creates a bias against conferences which sign fewer players on average. Recent limitations such as the SECs limit of 28 signed recruits will do little to correct this since very few programs sign 28 recruits a year.

This creates a bias against programs more likely to red shirt athletes since they have fewer scholarships to award. The irony being the red shirts may be a result of past recruiting success providing depth.

Rivals’ Formal Scholarship Offer Bias

In a useless gesture, the B1G limits programs to 28 or less formal scholarship offers to undecided and verbal recruits. Without the limit, programs in other conferences offer everyone and sort them out when the recruits try to accept (a complaint levied by Georgia’s Richt).

Rivals recruits rating is partially based on the number of offers they receive. This creates 2 biases.

1. Regional bias based on formal offers. The B1G region has a large population, but not nearly as many majors in the region. With other regions having a lot more programs, each awarding approx. twice the number of formal offers, it is no surprise the Rivals calculation determines there is more interest in these recruits based on more offers. As a result, these athletes start out higher on the Rivals initial list.

2. Regional bias based on early verbal commitments. With fewer majors in the region and conference rules limiting commitments, B1G programs are more likely to sign better recruits early. Recruits that commit early receive fewer formal offers decreasing their value in Rivals’ calculation, which decreases the program ranking, when in reality the program is demonstrating recruiting excellence.

These biases are multiplied. When these recruits commit to a local program, this bias boosts the local program’s ranking. Over time this boosts the value of the program’s scholarship offers, which boosts the recruits rankings, which boosts the program rankings, which boosts the athlete’s rankings, and so on…

These biases becomes apparent when you compare the teams rankings of Rivals and Scout – the B1G programs are around 4 rankings lower in Rivals than Scout. The real drop is really greater when you factor in Scout’s bias towards conferences that sign larger classes.

It Isn’t Just Sour Grapes… These Biases Exist

From the hidden regional bias introduced by Rivals’ basing their calculation on offers, to Scouts’ overt bias for signing larger classes, there is a definite bias against the B1G in the recruiting service rankings.

This comes just looking at the objective part of the calculations – the subjective may not exist, or it could represent even more bias.

This doesn’t mean these sites should be cybernetically torched

The sites aren’t incredibly inaccurate, and watching a coach build a recruiting class can add a new dimension to enjoying college football. I would pay good money to be taken through a typical recruit’s campus visit, and would love to sit in on a top coach making a pitch to a recruit and his parents.

You just need to know how to look past the biases…

Team Rankings and Conference Rankings are better viewed by sorting on average star rating to get around the class size bias. Recognize teams separated by 1/10^th of a star or less are about equal.

Some like to look at the number of commitments from Top 100. At Rivals I consider this a little bit too regionally biased. For both I consider this a bit too limited to get an accurate picture of the entire class.

Some like to look at the number of 5 star recruits signed. With only 25-50 recruits a year with this ranking, this makes the field a bit too narrow to get an accurate picture of the entire class.

I like to look at the total number of 4 plus 5 star recruits if I am looking at top recruiting programs. These are the athletes expected to be future stars. If I am looking at a middle or lower program, I also look at the number of 3 star recruits.

I personally prefer Scout. There isn’t a notable difference in accuracy, and at least its biases are somewhat predictable. I also find it easier to navigate.

Player Rankings depends on the priority. If I am looking at overall roster strength, I look at the star ranking since it is more constant in comparing players from different years. If I am looking at must fill position needs (2012 OSU and the OL), I look at the position rank since this is the only options available to my program.

Hint: When looking at the position, keep in mind the number of athletes on the field at any given time and the length of time he is expected to start. For example, the 30^th rank QB is probably around 60^th for 2 upper classmen classes – with only 1 on the field at any given time, this is low for a major and average for all FBS teams. On the other hand, with 3 typically on the field, the 30^th ranked WR is probably among the top 1/3 starters for majors.

Disclaimer My interest in recruiting is sporadic at best - I don’t subscribe to the sites. Without full access, my information on how the rankings are calculated might be off, particularly for Rivals. On the other hand, with this much bias, why would I want to pay for a subscription?

Thanks for reading. Any comments or corrections are greatly appreciated.

Monday's Buckeye Bits

2012-01-23T05:00:00.000-05:00

It's time again..

Good morning Buckeye fans, and welcome to a new week. National Signing Day is almost upon us, which is next Wednesday, and coaches are looking to make those final pushes towards the best recruits in the country. Meanwhile, basketball is still being played as the inching towards March continues rolling on. The NFL has it's conference champions, and the Super Bowl match up is set.

With all that being said, it's time to get started with our Monday Buckeye Bits!

Joe Paterno Leaves A Legend. As you may know already, legendary and former Penn State coach Joe Paterno passed away on Saturday. He was 85, and died due to a battle with lung cancer. A great coach, his final season of coaching was cut short when he was fired for the recent situation at Penn State. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer commented on JoePa's death, saying "I was a coach that really admired him and followed him," Meyer said. "Any chance I had to visit with him, I'd wear him out with questions. I was always trying to learn from him.". This is not only a great loss for the Penn State community, but for College football itself. We wish the best for the Paterno family in their time of need.

Basketball Buckeyes Continue Domination. William Buford was the go-to man against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who were fresh off of a huge upset against Indiana, as the Buckeyes rolled over the Cornhuskers 79-45, in a game that wasn't close at any point. Jared Sullinger chipped in 14 points (4/8 FG), five boards and three steals while Deshaun Thomas added 14 points and six rips. The win improves OSU to 17-3 overall and moves them into a three way tie for 1st in conference play with a 5-2 mark. Next up for the Buckeyes, a home game against Penn State.

There Are Other Sports Too, You Know. The main programs for Ohio State are Football and Basketball, always has been and always will be, but that doesn't mean we aren't damn good in those departments either. In fact, last Friday, the Wrestling team took on Iowa, a team they hadn't beaten since 1966. Ohio State is ranked 7th as a wrestling team, while the Hawkeyes were #2. This also snapped a 39-game win streak over the Big Ten for Iowa, so it was a good day to be a wrestling fan.

Jamal Marcus Might Be Next. The recruiting game continues, as 2012 4-star LB Jamal Marcus might be on his way to Ohio State very, very soon. He took an official visit to the Buckeyes over the weekend, and rumors have been floating around that Marcus may announce his intentions to go to Ohio State. His mom would prefer him to stay somewhere in Carolina, but Meyer just might have his way at the end of this race. Stay tuned.

4-Star Outside Linebacker Camren Williams Commits To Ohio State

2012-01-20T16:00:00.000-05:00

Williams is the 23rd 2012 commit

It's been rumored for a while now that 4-star OLB Camren Williams was going to decommit from Penn State and become a Buckeye, and even hinted his Buckeye lean in our interview with Camren a while back. As of today, Camren has officially given his commitment to Urban Meyer and Ohio State via Twitter, giving the Buckeyes their 23rd commitment in the 2012 class.

During Wednesday and Thursday, Meyer had played host to two super prospects visiting Ohio State over the past two plus days, which of course included then-Penn State commit Camren Williams but also was hosting William's teammate, Armani Reeves.

The 4-star linebacker and 4-star cornerback flew to Columbus on Wednesday morning and finished their visits this morning. Reeves was accompanied by his aunt and was on an official visit to Ohio State. Williams was an unofficial visit, but it was to bring his mother to the campus and see what Ohio State had to offer as a school, not just a football program.

The 6-foot-2 and 217-pound Williams made 119 tackles with two interceptions playing mostly middle linebacker during his senior season. Williams is a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports rankings. He is the No. 2 prospect in the state of Massachusetts, the country’s No. 15 outside linebacker and the country’s No. 174 overall prospect.

Reeves made 57 tackles and intercepted a pass during his senior season. He too is a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports rankings. Reeves is the No. 1 prospect in the state of Massachusetts, the country’s No. 7 cornerback and the country’s No 82 overall prospect.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest updates, news, and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

Friday's Buckeye Bits

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

It's the end of another week here at ITS, and we plenty to catch up on. In other words, it's FRIDAY! Time to dress casually for work (if at all), leave early, play that awful Todd Rundgren song, and sit in traffic for hours since everyone forgot how to drive in snow. Yay!

Leading off, as we told you yesterday, Cameron Burrows is Urban Meyer's first recruit for the 2013 national championship team. The number two CB in the nation hails from Dayton's legendary Trotwood-Madison program. Landing a high-profile commitment 13 days before the prior year's signing day is a major coup for the new coach. Burrows announced his decision at a press conference in his school's auditorium. We just wish he'd said "I'm taking my talents to High Street."

From the "Oh no, not again" file: Art Schlichter is in trouble again. The former Buckeye quarterback failed drug tests for cocaine while on house arrest awaiting approval of a plea deal that would lead to a 10 year sentence. Schlichter's rap sheet is well documented. It's unfortunate that he keeps getting himself into trouble.

Do they still use bulletin boards? If so, here's some material. One time Buckeye commit, now Michigan commit for 2012 Kyle Kalis of St. Edward of Lakewood has apparently been threatened by Buckeye fans, and isn't backing down. He claims "there will be blood on the field" on November 24th. It would have been so much cooler if the guy with the deep voice that does movie promos said it. "There will be blood, on the field" echo echo echo. "Coming November 24th to a plasma near you".

In other news, the Men's Basketball team travels to Lincoln Saturday night to beat Nebraska. I hope. The Cornhuskers upset the suddenly weak Hoosiers Wednesday.

On a lighter note, "Et tu, Brute Buckeye?" Eddie George will be portraying the title character in a production of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar." No word if he will strike the Heisman pose after getting stabbed.

And that's all for this morning. Stay warm, watch the Bucks shuck some corn tomorrow, and watch a weekend of football without Tebow.

2013 4-Star Defensive Back Cameron Burrows Commits To Ohio State

2012-01-19T16:40:00.000-05:00

Burrows is the first '13 Buckeye

4-Star cornerback Cameron Burrows has just committed to Ohio State via a press conference at his school, giving the Buckeyes their first commitment to the 2013 class. He selected Ohio State over LSU, Tennessee, Alabama, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Burrows is a 6-2, 195-pound cornerback from Dayton, OH. He is ranked No. 30 in the country by 247Sports. Burrows is also the No. 2 recruit in Ohio (OH) and is the No. 2 Cornerback in the nation.

Cameron is every bit of his listed 6'2'' and 195 pounds. Prospects with that size usually get projected to safety, but Burrows is a lockdown cover corner with great speed and quickness. He played cornerback and saw spot duty on offense as a wide receiver for a Trotwood-Madison team that took home the Division 2 state title this past fall and finished with a perfect 14-0 record.

On defense, Burrows finished with 26 solo tackles, 20 assists, 12 pass breakups and four interceptions, including one he returned 80 yards for a touchdown in a state semifinals win. He also added eight receptions for 198 yards and a touchdown.

Cameron gives Urban Meyer his first commitment in the 2013 class, and could be a huge asset coming in after the recent news of Dominic Clarke and DerJuan Grambrell being released from the Buckeyes. A very good start to the class of 2013, and we at ITS would like to welcome Cameron to Buckeye Nation!

Here's Burrows play in his own coaches words:

"His ability to process on the field gives him an advantage because he is such a good student of the game. He takes home two DVDs a week on each opponent. His overall game speed and ability to get in and out of his breaks for a big kid - he is able to sink his hips and settle when they settle. If they try to get him with a double route, he has the ability to flip his hips and get on top of the receiver. He reminds me a lot of Patrick Peterson or Morris Claiborne with his size. Kids who are long and loose, but also with the ability to flip the hips in and out."

Thursday's Buckeye Bits

2012-01-19T06:00:00.017-05:00

Happy Thursday, everybody. It is one day closer to the weekend and, more importantly, one day closer to Buckeye football.

David Perkins is a Buckeye. The Class of 2012 added more firepower on Wednesday as the Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes got another commit, this time a four-star linebacker/running back from South Bend (Ind.) Washington. Perkins was originally committed to the Fighting Irish, but changed his mind during the season before picking Ohio State. Perkins was a key member of the Washington team that went to the 4A state finals for the first time in nearly 40 years.

The Fall Continues for the Hoosiers. This time, Indiana lost on the road to Nebraska 70-69, despite leading 63-52 with about six minutes remaining. I can’t say I feel bad for the Hoosiers, especially considering some of the recent comments by Tom Crean. Crean went on a rant on his weekly radio show, making statements seemingly aimed at the Ohio State coaching staff, as well as the players.

“We don’t have a team of guys that are out wearing their Beats headphones as they’re warming up,” Crean said, “Our guys are out there working with them.”

I really do not understand that quote from Crean. Are you saying that your team is working before the game, the other team is just fooling around, and you still got manhandled by a closer-than-it-looked 17 points? Do the B1G a favor, Tom Crean, and just keep your mouth closed. It’s better for you, it’s better for your school, and it’s better for us, so we don’t have to hear you.
Buzzcuts Bounce Back. Wisconsin has continued to bounce back from early B1G trouble, beating Northwestern last night 77-57 in Madison. Preseason All-American Jordan Taylor had 15 for the Badgers, while John Shurna lead the Wildcats with 19 in a game that was close until early in the second half when Wisconsin pulled away.

The basketball Buckeyes aren’t in action until Saturday when they travel to Lincoln to take on the Cornhuskers. The Buckeyes will certainly be aware that Nebraska can pull off the upset after beating Indiana last night.

That’s all I’ve got for you today, Buckeye fans. Have a great Thursday!

4-Star Outside Linebacker David Perkins Commits To Ohio State

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

Perkins becomes #22

According to 247Sports, 4-star outside linebacker David Perkins has committed to Ohio State. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Perkins is ranked as the nation’s No. 16 outside linebacker and No. 177 prospect overall. Perkins did have future officials scheduled with Oregon, Illinois and California, but will no longer be taking those trips.

Perkins is the 22nd commit to Ohio State in the class of 2012 and the eighth ranked inside the Top247. He previously took an official visit to Missouri, and also held scholarship offers from the likes of Arizona, Iowa, LSU, Michigan State, North Carolina, Tennessee and Notre Dame, where he originally committed to during the summer before reopening his commitment during the season.

As a senior, Perkins earned First-Team All-State as a running back, but was also a standout defensively. He finished with 191 carries for 1,311 yards and 15 touchdowns, and also caught another 19 passes for 275 yards and three scores. On the other side of the ball, Perkins racked up 103 tackles including 24 stops for loss and seven sacks. He also forced eight fumbles, recovered five and intercepted two passes.

Perkins helped lead Washington to the class 4-A state championship game this season, and had eight tackles, with three coming for loss, a sack and a forced fumble in the loss to Indianapolis (Ind.) Cathedral.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates, and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

3-Star Offensive Guard Joey O'Connor Commits To Ohio State

2012-01-17T14:00:00.000-05:00

O'Connor gives Ohio State 21 in 2012

It wasn't long after 3-Star OG Joey O'Connor got his offer that he accepted the offer from Meyer to play in the scarlet and gray. O'Connor is Ohio State commitment No. 21 for the Buckeyes’ 2012 recruiting class.

The 6-foot-4 and 290-pound O’Connor committed to Penn State during the summer, but de-committed after the Jerry Sandusky scandal broke. Last week O’Connor narrowed his decision down to Ohio State, Iowa and Cal before deciding today to commit to the Buckeyes.

O’Connor, an Under Armour All-American, and played well at guard in that game and has been slotted as a guard by the Buckeyes. Joey is a 3-star prospect in the 247Sports rankings. He is the No. 5 prospect in the state of Colorado and the country's No. 20 guard prospect.

Meyer and his staff wanted to add two offensive tackles and a guard to the Buckeyes' recruiting class. They picked up a huge commitment on Sunday when offensive tackle Taylor Decker switched his commitment from Notre Dame to Ohio State. Meyer now has his guard in O'Connor. The final piece to the puzzle is to add either Jordan Diamond or Kyle Dodson.

Tuesday's Buckeye Bits

2012-01-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

Good morning Buckeye fans. Congratulations! Why am I congratulating you? It’s because you survived the most depressing day of the year yesterday. That’s why!

Personally, I think all Monday’s are depressing (especially in the dreaded off season) but apparently the third one on the calendar takes the cake. That’s what some crazy British Scientist says anyway. Have no fear though. Another edition of “Buckeye Bits” is here to help ease the pain of the work week. Let’s get to it.

Urban Meyer Has Entered The Building. Urban Meyer, along with his coaching staff, was officially introduced at the last home Basketball game against Indiana. Obviously Urban has been heading the program for the last month+ but it was nice to give a formal introduction to the fan base. I’m sure you have seen the video by now but if by chance you just emerged from a cave, here’s the link to check it out.

If you’re busy and don’t have time to check it out, there were a few things that jumped out at me. The boo’s that rained down on Gene Smith when he was introducing Meyer were freakin’ LOUD. I’m not sure he was the right guy to throw out there. The ovations for Fickell and Vrabel were tremendous. I am so pleased that both of these guys were retained on the staff. It was a great PR move by Meyer (not that he needed it). Finally, the Meyer daughters were, how should I put this, easy on the eyes. I just hit 30 years old this year so I’m dangerously close to “creepy old guy” status but I had to throw it out there.

Taylor Decker Officially A Buckeye. I guess we can’t say “official” until paperwork is signed but it appears that Meyer has done it again. Decker issued a verbal commitment to Ohio St. and bailed on Notre Dame (yes, that sentence was just as fun to write as it was to read). Kelly is likely to make another run at Decker before it is all said and done but for now OSU has convinced yet another player to flip on his original commitment. Decker should be a great addition to an offensive line that is losing 3 starters next season.

Indiana Went Down. Hard. The basketball Buckeyes righted the ship against Indiana this past weekend. It was nice to get back to our winning ways, especially against Tom Crean. That dude just rubs me the wrong way. Hopefully this victory can inspire the squad to finish off the second half with a vengeance. March is just around the corner so it’s time to put this thing in high gear and aim for that #1 seed.

I Hate Tim Tebow. There, I said it. Apparently, I’m not alone. Andrew from SB Nation hit the nail right on the head with that article. I understand he is a good guy and I’m not trying to diminish his charity work but ever since that fateful night in Arizona… well you understand. It was so satisfying to watch Timmy’s dream season go up in flames on Saturday night. Being a Browns fan, you have to find pleasure in the misery of others. It’s sad but true. It was a fun ride Tebow but an NFL quarterback you are not.

That’s it for today people. Hope you enjoyed the “Bits” and remember to check back with ITS for all your Buckeye needs!

DerJuan Gambrell And Dominic Clarke Released From Ohio State Scholarships

2012-01-15T18:00:00.001-05:00

Clarke released from OSU

According to Doug Lesmerises of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, an Ohio State spokesperson has stated that defensive backs DerJuan Gambrell and Dominic Clarke have both been released from their scholarships to the Ohio State football team for violations of team rules. Gambrell is facing an assault charge, while earlier this week, Clarke was arrested for driving under the influence.

Clarke, a redshirt sophomore from Frederick, Md., has been charged with drunken driving as stated above, and also had been arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct after allegedly discharging a BB gun on campus. No one was hurt in the latter incident.

Gambrell, a freshman from Toledo, was also discharged for a "violation of team rules," but Ohio State did not specify what that violation was, but as mentioned above, it's believed to be an assualt charge. It's too bad these guys couldn't stay out of trouble, and the cornerback position doesn't have a lot of depth as it stands. The only upside to this is that it opens up 2 more scholarships for Urban's recruiting efforts.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates, and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

4 Star Offensive Tackle Taylor Decker Commits To Ohio State

2012-01-15T17:30:00.000-05:00

Commit #20 is a big one for Ohio State.

According to Scout.com, 4-star offensive tackle Taylor Decker has decommitted from Notre Dame and has committed to Ohio State and Urban Meyer. Taylor Decker is a 6'8", 315-pound Offensive Tackle from Vandalia, OH. He is ranked No. 266 in the country by 247Sports. Decker is the 20th commit in Ohio State's 2012 class.

Taylor Decker is the No. 14 recruit in Ohio (OH) and is the No. 31 Offensive Tackle in the nation.

This commitment is huge for Ohio State, as they are in desperate need of offensive linemen, especially in the tackle area. Decker has prototypical size for a tackle, and will most likely play at left tackle, and that is a huge thing for the Buckeyes offensive line.

Decker is just finishing his weekend visit, along with 3 other recruits. Decker plans to major in zoology and reports a 3.7 core GPA and 25 ACT.

Video highlights after the jump.

Ohio State Cornerbacks Coach Taver Johnson Leaving For Arkansas

2012-01-15T16:00:00.000-05:00

Taver Johnson headed to Arkansas

According to the Dispatch, Ohio State cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson has said earlier today that he is leaving for Arkansas to become a defensive assistant and also will be the assistant head coach under Razorbacks coach Bobby Petrino.

“This is a great opportunity, getting the chance to be an assistant head coach and some of the added duties that will come with that,” Johnson said. “With that said, I love Ohio State. Urban Meyer is an incredible coach, and I really am appreciative of the opportunity coach Jim Tressel gave me (six years ago) to come to a place I’ve always wanted to be a part of.

Johnson, a 1994 graduate of Wittenberg, new OSU coach Meyer, who was hired on November 28th. Also kept from the previous coaching staff were interim head coach Luke Fickell, now defensive coordinator; linebackers coach Mike Vrabel, now defensive line coach; and wide receivers coach Stan Drayton, now running backs coach.

This is a surprise for me personally, as Urban Meyer had decided to keep Johnson on his staff. With Johnson leaving, that might open up another spot, or could make one of the coaches already in place take on more duties. We'll have to see how it plays out, but I'm happy for Taver, as he has produced some very good cornerbacks in his time here, including Malcolm Jenkins.

Taver will also be re-uniting with former Ohio State coach Paul Haynes.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for all of the latest news, updates and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

Sitting Down With 2013 4-Star TE Recruit Adam Breneman

2012-01-13T14:00:00.001-05:00

TE's aren't just for blocking

On Tuesday, we told you about Ohio State offering 2013 tight end Adam Breneman, and all about how he was the top tight end in the class of '13. Urban has shown time and time again that the tight end is a very important part of his offense, so we know this is a recruit that Meyer really wants.

The high school standout has around 20 offers and was also recently invited and accepted an invitation to play in the 2013 Under Armour All-America Game down in Florida next January. Breneman is 6'5'', 220 lbs and has the size to come into Ohio State and play almost right away. Breneman also has some very good speed for a guy his size and seems to be the perfect fit for an offense that will focus a lot of attention on the tight end.

We talked with Adam on Wednesday, a day after his offer came in. Hear his thoughts on Ohio State and the recruiting process overall after the jump.

When you learned of Ohio State hiring Urban Meyer, what was your initial reaction?
I was very excited knowing Coach Meyer's track record at UF and what he did with his tight ends, with guys like Aaron Hernandez, etc.

How much contact has Ohio State had with you since the hiring of Urban?
Tuesday was the first time I had contact with them, but nothing before that.

What visits are you planning to take in the future?
Ohio State, Miami, North Carolina, and Penn State.

What are all the schools that you hold offers from, and who's interested in you so far?
More than 20 schools, including Alabama, Stanford, Miami, Florida State, Michigan, PSU, Notre Dame, and more.

What are your goals for next season as a senior?
To win a district championship and to break the state receiving record.

What's most important to you when you're choosing a school to attend?
The type of offense that the school runs, and the way they utilize the tight end. Also, my relationship with the coaching staff is very important to me.

Are any schools your "favorites" right now? Does anyone hold an edge?
As of right now, no, but I'll release a top schools list sometime in the coming spring.

What are some things that you think you do on the field that most people miss?
My route running, the way I read defenses and the way I find the open space in the zone.

In your opinion, what do you most need to improve on football-wise?
Getting bigger, faster and stronger in order to become a more dynamic player in every aspect of the game.

Is there anything you'd like to say to Buckeye Nation in particular?
Buckeye Nation is one of the most intense fan bases I've dealt with so far. Stay passionate and keep grinding!

Friday's Buckeye Bits

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good Friday morning, everybody! It's been a heck of a first week with Buckeye Bits, and the first week of the off-season comes to a close today as well. Football may be over, but there is still plenty of Ohio State sports to watch.

Sunday, the men's basketball team tips at 4:30 against the Hoosiers at the corner of Lane and Olentangy. Vengeance shall be the word of the day, as the Buckeyes lost in Bloomington, as well as earlier this week in Champaign. Of course, last night the Hoosiers were shocked by Minnesota, 77-74. If you aren't going to the game, watch it on CBS.

If you like your Buckeye sports a bit colder and bloodier, the Puckeyes will face off against Michigan at 7:30 Friday at the Schott, and again Sunday at 5:05. The Sunday matchup is in Cleveland, in the Frozen Diamond Faceoff in the Indians' Progressive Field. Friday's game will be shown on the Big Ten Network, and the big game Sunday will be on Fox Sports Ohio. Jeff Svoboda has an excellent writeup on Buckeye Sports Bulletin. No word if Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn will be in attendance.

Dominic Clarke is in trouble again. He plead not guilty to a charge of drunk driving stemming from a stop last Saturday. You may recall that the cornerback missed the Illinois game because he fired a BB gun from the roof of a building on campus this fall. Coach Meyer notes that he is "very, very disappointed...[he'll] be dealt with very swiftly and sternly at the appropriate time."

In other news, Gordon Gee: open mouth, insert foot again. I'm waiting on a comparison of the recruiting classes between Little Sisters of the Poor and the Polish Army. And Coach Cooper should understand that old coaches should neither be seen nor heard. Coach, I have nothing but respect for you, but taking a myopic poke at the most successful conference in ~~oversigning~~ football over the last 6 years when you have neither the record nor the job to back it up is perhaps a bit optimistic.

And that's all for today, folks. Watch some basketball or hockey. The NFL has the second round of playoffs this weekend, and the Blue Jackets have two games here in Columbus, both Friday and Saturday, where they will play like champions for the the first two periods. And then forget to leave the dressing room for the third. Have a great weekend!

Is It Time To Fire Gene Smith?

2012-01-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

One down, one to go?

There are many who feel that Gene Smith needs to move on. From the mishandling of Tatgate, to the odd way that Coach Tressel was forced to leave, and the bowl ban that might not have happened had he self-imposed for 2011, Athletic Director Smith has committed many egregious errors in judgment and management that have much of Buckeye Nation calling for his head. I wonder if the Buckeye faithful would be more forgiving of someone with significant Buckeye roots.

When a new Ohio State football coach is needed, one major factor to consider is whether he is an Ohioan. Whether the man played for the Buckeyes, coached here as an assistant, or simply was born in the area, most fans can agree that having lived the history of the Bucks as a youth is really the only way someone can begin to understand the passion surrounding this program.

Anyone who remembers the John Cooper era can attest to the importance of being a Buckeye. Why don’t we demand a true Buckeye in the big chair?

Gene Smith grew up in Cleveland, but went to Notre Dame. He coached in South Bend in the late 70’s under Dan Devine. He worked his way as AD through such programs as Eastern Michigan, Iowa State, and Arizona State. Does anyone think that being a director in Ypsilanti or Ames is appropriate training for the “same” job in Columbus?

Smith’s predecessor, Andy Geiger, has no Ohio ties. He may have spearheaded many great building projects on campus, such as the Schottenstein Center, the Jesse Owens track facility, and Bill Davis Stadium, but left under a cloud due to improprieties in basketball and football. Remember Jim O’Brien and Maurice Clarett?

Handy Andy built an arena, but later crawled out of town.

We’ll skip Jim Jones’ time as AD for a moment, as he was a nearly lifelong OSU Athletics Department employee. He and his family are having a hard enough time right now with the tragic loss of their son, Associate AD Bill Jones.

Prior to Jones, we had Rick Bay. While I personally respect the integrity and resolve he showed when he resigned to protest President Ed Jenning’s firing of Coach Earle Bruce, Rick Bay was a Michigan man! How can hiring a Michigan man to run the Ohio State program honestly be a great option?

Before and after Rick Bay, we had ADs that spent the majority of their careers in the Ohio State Athletic Department. Jim Jones started with the department in the 60’s as a Physical Education teacher, and worked his way up, though he saw several people get hired over him over the years until he took over in 1988. Hugh Hindman, Ed Weaver, Dick Larkins, and Lynn St. John all had long careers as Buckeyes.

So we can see that Bay, Geiger, and Smith are the outliers. The non-Buckeye Buckeye ADs have had significantly more scandal and problems under their reign than the others. Isn’t it time we move on, and find a Buckeye to run this program? One suggestion: #45?

How can a man with such epic hair NOT be the Bucks' next AD?

Ok, it’s your turn. Comment below on your thoughts about the AD situation—assuming Gene Smith moves on in some fashion, who should replace him?

A Box Of Tissues For The NCAA

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

Screw the NCAA. Ha.

Ed. Note: Understanding the whole NCAA situation is no small task. Here's ProveIt with what we hope is his first of many guest posts here at ITS. Leave your thoughts and comments down below!

The laughable effect of the NCAA’s sanctions isn’t likely to give anyone pause. 3 scholarships a year for 3 years and a 1 year post season ban resulted in responses ranging from “…and what else? Over 1 year of investigation this is all?” to the ever popular sentiments “Bite me!”and “FFFFUUUU!”

What is less laughable is the rationale in the COI report (Committee of Infractions) though Tressel and the gear for tattoos there wasn’t anything new other than sanctions against Tressel.

The rest of the report starts with a false finding, and goes downhill from there…

Athlete Punishment - Work not performed (page 11 top item A)

The claim is 7 athletes were paid a combined total of $1605 for work not performed (around 2 days of labor per athlete).

The evidence – 1 hastily prepared letter from the employer listing the hours worked and hourly rate, and documents which were cited as evidence by the athletes they did work the hours (obviously not definitive). That is it – nothing more.

The athletes wanted to challenge the COI. They presented detailed records of hours worked, corresponding cell phone records, bank account information, incorrect hourly rate, and testimony from their supervisors showing the hastily prepared letter from the employer was inaccurate. The NCAA found this counter to their conclusion and therefore ignored it. So much for the NCAA keeping the athletes a priority.

Now how about some critical thinking… is all of the information provided by the athletes false, or is the 1 hastily prepared letter used as evidence wrong? if DiGeronimo wanted to pad the paychecks, wouldn’t he have entered the corresponding number of false hours correctly (all of the amounts were in multiples of hourly wages)? We aren’t talking about large amounts involved –wouldn’t DiGeronimo just given a couple of hundred dollar handshakes if he wanted to improperly pass money?

Gene Smith failed the athletes in not pursuing further (perhaps a simple request to verify the hours and hourly rate with the employer?). The NCAA failed to undertake a basic follow-up - after being presented with the evidence by the athlete’s representative, they simply denied it for consideration. Gene Smith failed the program by refusing to challenge the NCAA’s findings.

It is not known why Smith didn’t follow through. It would have been a simple matter to verify and provide testimony from the employer and supervisors. The prevailing sentiment is that Gene was covering for the failures of his compliance department. I think it is just another display of Smith’s incompetence.

The result of a reversal would have left the NCAA with nominal basis for an FTM (Failure to Monitor) An FTM finding is where the NCAA determines the absence of common monitoring practices lead to a violation – without a violation, there is no basis for an associated FTM finding.

Payment for appearance at a charity (page 11 top item b)

The 5 student athletes receiving payment for an appearance at a charity event had already been punished by the NCAA.

Lost in the hype – DiGeronimo provided the $800 to cover expenses of the 7 athletes attending the fund raiser; T. Pryor decided to split the money among just 4 athletes. The event was approx. 130 miles from campus; IRS mileage reimbursement was approx. 55 cents/mile at the time and meal per diem around $20 for around $163 per athlete, or up to $1,140 total (more than the $800 paid). The problem wasn’t the amount; it was completion of the necessary forms.

How important are these forms? According to the COI, these forms are important enough to cite as 1/3 of the basis for FTM.

NCAA Violation – not receiving prior approval to appear at a charity event (page 11 top item B)

This is a genuine NCAA major violation – 7 athletes were cited for attending an otherwise permissible charity event without getting prior approval directly from the program. The violation isn’t participation; it was not filling out the forms.

What type of dregs of society volunteer at a charity event without filling out the forms? According to the NCAA, this act is severe enough to form 1/3 of the basis for FTM program sanctions.

The FTM is based on the likelihood the following violations could have been prevented if OSU had taken standard monitoring actions:

1. The players might not have been overpaid (which did not occur).

2. The players might have been reimbursed for the charity event differently.

3. The players might have gotten prior approval to attend the charity event… because we can’t just have players volunteering at charity events willy-nilly.

1/3 of the NCAA FTM Rationale Involved Failure to Monitor DiGeronimo (page 16 Committee Rationale)

The NCAA credits OSU for removing all special privileges to DiGeronimo in 2006. (page 16 Committee Rationale Paragraph 2). What the COI found but finds inconvenient to include here is the loss of privileges was a program wide reduction in privileges to everyone, not a result of NCAA violations (page 12 top). There was no reason to believe DiGeronimo had had broken any NCAA regulations. The closest DiGeronimo came to improper actions was the use of players at an event for his charity without prior approval 5 years ago.

In case you still think DiGeronimo is just another booster buying access while using his charity as cover, his average yearly donation to OSU was about $2500 – about the same donation required to be eligible to purchase season football tickets and parking permit. His largest donation to OSU was $5000 for a new building fundraiser. He may be juvenile, but DiGeronimo is also a charitable business owner, not the slime ball buying access the COI frames him to be.

The COI carefully chooses its words to make the loss of privileges appear as evidence the program was aware of improper activities by DiGeronimo, and make him appear as the stereotypical booster buying access. This is the 1^st of many times the COI uses sophistry to manufacture supporting evidence.

(Definition of sophistry - fallacious assertions that replaces facts and evidence with seemingly plausible statements that are purposely misleading.)

COI Summary Rationale – The program is faulted for not checking if the players were still making off campus contact with a booster in good standing, which could have reduced the chances of infractions resulting from 7 athletes not filling out the proper forms before working at a charity event, and the infraction of overpayment for work which didn’t happen might not have happened (this is not a typo).

Thank god the NCAA is on top of this… because association with boosters with no history of improper activities is... wait… isn’t association with boosters in good standing the norm?

1/3 of the NCAA Rationale Involves Training Related to the Charity Event Violations.

A. Reinforced to student-athletes that they could not attend the charity event unless they were directly told by the compliance staff that their attendance was approved; (page 16 bottom)

The COI carefully chooses the term “Reinforce” to ignore their earlier discovery that all 7 athletes were well versed with the NCAA rules – they repeatedly ask the charity if they had received prior approval from the program, a charity representative repeatedly told the athletes they had program approval. (page 15 paragraph 3)

C. Contacted the charity in 2011 to inform it that student-athletes could not attend the event unless the charity submitted the appropriate forms to the compliance staff;(page 17 top)

The COI also ignores their finding that the compliance department was unaware of any involvement of athletes at this charity’s events since 2006. Apparently the NCAA expects programs to maintain contact with every passing outside entity for 5+ years after they are involved with the program. (I couldn’t make this up)

COI Summary Rationale – The NCAA found OSU did not provide sufficient training to a charity. OSU did not know the charity was using athletes for the 2011 event, but should have because they knew the charity had used athletes in 2006 (I couldn’t make this up).

The program did not remind the athletes of rules regarding involvement in charities. Their demonstrated familiarity with the rules ran counter to the COI’s assertion and was therefore ignored.

Had the program trained a charity they had not had contact with for 5 years, and provided more training to athletes for topics they were well versed on, 7 athletes might have completed the proper forms before working at a charity.

This is what the NCAA is looking to clean up… 7 athletes attending a charity event without completing the forms.

1/3 of the NCAA Rationale Involves Training Related to the Payment for Hours not Worked.

As noted above, their innocence in this matter goes far beyond plausible denial, but the COI’s bias doesn’t stop there.

“B. Contacted the representative directly to inform him that student-athletes could not be employed unless the student-athletes registered their employment;” (page 16 bottom)

The COI carefully chooses it’s verbiage to hide that employers have no reporting responsibility and compliance departments have no responsibility to identify employers – this falls on the student athlete. At no point does the NCAA claim the athletes did not know they were violating program rules. The NCAA again demonstrates its ability to use sophistry to manufacture evidence.

“D. Ensured that its football staff informed the compliance office about the representative's request to employ student-athletes and that it received from the representative completed questionnaires regarding such employment. The person who received these forms in 2006 and 2007 is no longer with the institution and the institution ceased sending these forms in 2009.”(page 17 top)

The coaching staff sends questionnaires to potential employers and post part time job listings for athletes – similar to what you will find posted at groceries, laundry mats, etc. The coaches quit passing this information on to the compliance department in 2009. 1 posting listed the names of athletes who worked for the employer accused of overpayment.

The COI again chooses its verbiage carefully. This isn’t a common compliance department practice since posting part time work isn’t a common practice. Searching out part time employment opportunities for athletes is a good thing. The benefit is mutual - at $15/hour it is cheaper than day temps. The NCAA again displays its ability to use sophistry to manufacture evidence.

COI Summary Rationale – the NCAA found OSU did not notify an employer to ensure he reminded the athletes they had to register their employment with the program (an action not normally done) and the coaches did not pass along job listings not normally collected to the compliance department (obviously not normally done).

Even though OSU compliance didn’t know they employer was still hiring athletes, they were aware the employer had hired athletes 4 years ago, and coaches had the information of athletes on a job posting not normally collected by programs, so the compliance department should have continued to follow up.

Had the compliance department followed up, NCAA violations that didn’t really happen might have been avoided.

The COI sophistry machine went into overdrive on this one.

That’s all folks!

The FTM wasn’t based on the Vest’s violations (page 10, end of section 2). The FTM wasn’t based on players trading/selling awards (page 5, end of paragraph 1).

This isn’t the BamaTextbook Incident (Institution = University of Alabama, December 10 2008, full report) where athletes were using their scholarships to purchase books for friends and resale. Several common practices would have made it impossible for athletes improperly buy textbooks at the store, making it impossible for the athletes to break this NCAA rule. (page 5) This might be the clearest case of FTM the NCAA will ever face.

This isn’t the USC incident (University of Southern California, June 10 2010, Public Report) where on page 1 the NCAA found USC violations “…struck at the heart of the NCAA's Principle of Amateurism… threatened the efforts of the NCAA and its member institutions to sponsor and support amateur competition… there was relatively little effective monitoring…” and then on page 2 the report continued with the same for 45 pages. USC wasn’t a marginal case whose sanctions were founded in sophistry, they defined “Loss of Institutional Control” as they weren’t even trying to prevent or detect rule violations (page 46-55, Committee Rationale). Unlike what has been presented in the press, it was far more than a couple of players and a couple of athletes.

These 3 items - 1 exaggerated bullshit (cutting off contact with a booster in good standing), 1 minor violation (charity events), and 1 false finding (payment for hours not worked) comprise the full rationale the NCAA used to find for FTM.

Well NCAA, here’s a box of tissues…

…go find another corner to squeeze one off in.

Making an example is a useless effort if evidence has to be discarded and sophistry used to manufacture evidence to support a finding. The COI’s problem wasn’t deciphering truth from fiction; it was trying to discard facts and manufacture evidence to support their conclusion.

Rather than appearing authoritative the NCAA risks the appearance of shooting blanks. Urban looks on his way to signing a top 10 (perhaps top 5) class, and the loss of 1 bowl season isn’t a big deal.

Why is Gene Smith still here? I can think of no action he did well. If there’s a party OSU needs to sever ties with, it’s Gene Smith. Fortunately there are indications from revealed correspondence Gee will soon send Smith on to his next career as manager of a Men’s Warehouse, because Gene’s career in athletics is over.

Wednesday's Buckeye Bits

2012-01-11T05:00:00.042-05:00

Happy Wednesday, Buckeye fans. It’s only the second day of the offseason and I already miss college football, despite the dud of a national championship game we witnessed on Monday night. The “Rematch of the Century” may have turned some viewers off, as the game received better TV ratings than only two other national championship games (Miami-Nebraska in 2002 and USC-Oklahoma in 2005).

If you were looking for a sports fix on the first night of the college football offseason, the Buckeye basketball team was on the court last night in Champaign, Ill. It was a very tough game for the Buckeyes, as the Illini shot the ball extremely well. Brandon Paul had a career game for Illinois, scoring 43 points on 8-10 shooting from three-point range, leading the Illini to a 79-74 upset of the Buckeyes.

Urban Meyer will be B1G’s highest paid coach. The Lantern did an excellent job of tracking down the salaries for Ohio State’s coaching staff and it showed that Meyer will be making $4 million next year. Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz is the second-highest at $3.785 million. Last year’s head coach, Luke Fickell, will be the highest paid assistant in the Big Ten, sharing that honor with Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison at $750,000.

On the day he was hired, Urban Meyer said that he wanted to get the best coaches in America to come to Ohio State, and it appears the university is willing to shell out the cash to get them to Columbus. The Lantern calculated that the average salary of the 10 coaches that have officially been hired at $321,500.

Four Buckeyes will play in Senior Bowl. Three of the four invited were members of the “Tat Five”, as running back Dan Herron, wide receiver DeVier Posey and offensive tackle Mike Adams will join center Mike Brewster in Mobile, Ala., as they look to impress the NFL scouts. CBSSports.com has Herron ranked as the 11^th best running back, Posey as the 14^th best wideout, Adams as the 5^th best tackle, and Brewster as the 3^rd best center eligible for this April’s draft. The 2012 Senior Bowl will be played on Jan. 28.

BTN visits with Urban Meyer. On the Big Ten Football Report last night, Gerry DiNardo visited with Coach Meyer and took us behind the scenes to get a look at Meyer’s new office in Columbus. Next Tuesday on the same program, they will have a full interview with Meyer starting at 6:30 p.m. The family aspect of his life is clearly playing a big role, as he has an entire wall of his office dedicated to them, including a framed copy of the contract his daughters made him sign before he could take the Ohio State job.

Top 25 rankings…for 2012? Mark Schlabach put together his top 25 for next season already, and the Buckeyes are nowhere to be found. I’m not sure if he isn’t ranking them due to the postseason ban or if he simply thinks that they aren’t one of the best 25 teams, he doesn’t clarify. I would have to hesitate to not put them in the top 25 if they are eligible. There is a lot of talent on this team, coupled with an excellent coaching staff, the Buckeyes could be in for a breakout year, even if they are ineligible for a bowl or the B1G Championship.

That’s all I’ve got for you guys this morning. Hope you guys will enjoy this new segment we’ve got here at Inside The Shoe.

Ohio State Offers 4-Star 2013 Offensive Tackle Ethan Pocic

2012-01-11T04:00:00.000-05:00

Pocic is a big boy

Lemont (Ill.) Township junior offensive tackle Ethan Pocic is taking the recruiting process slow, and on Tuesday the nation's No. 3 offensive tackle and No. 13 prospect overall added another scholarship to consider from Ohio State.

Pocic spoke briefly with Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer. The Buckeyes join Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Purdue, West Virgina and Wisconsin in offering the 6-foot-7, 280-pound Pocic, who is only 16-years old.

Pocic doesn't appear to report any favorites at this point in the process, but he does plan on looking further into Ohio State. This fall, Pocic attended games at Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Illinois, where his older brother Graham is a junior offensive lineman.

Pocic does not have a timetable for a college decision, but he still has another year to take part in. The process is starting early for Meyer, so that's another good sign.

Ohio State Offers Top TE Adam Breneman In 2013 Class

2012-01-10T18:15:00.000-05:00

Breneman has some speed

Ohio State and Urban Meyer are continuing their quest on the recruiting trail by dipping into the 2013 class.

This time in the form of top rated tight end Adam Breneman.

Meyer and the Buckeyes join the likes of Alabama, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State, South Carolina, Stanford and Virginia in offering the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Breneman. The Camp Hill (Pa.) Cedar Cliff standout checks in as the country’s No. 32 prospect overall according to 247Sports 2013 recruiting rankings.

Breneman has been been an absolute dynamic player these past two seasons. The future Under Armour All-American caught 72 passes for 1,120 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior, following up a sophomore campaign of 59 receptions for 863 yards and eight scores.

Early in the process, Breneman doesn't seem to have any favorites. In the past he’s taken visits to the campuses at Alabama, Boston College, Maryland, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Rutgers and Virginia. Coach Meyer and the rest of the coaching staff have been in "constant" contact with Breneman, and it so far it sounds like Breneman is taking it all in right now.

Urban has shown in the past that he likes tight ends that can move, and change a game quickly. Meyer loves the tight ends that aren’t big and slow, and word is that he is going full force on getting Breneman to end up being a Buckeye.

Keep it at Inside The Shoe for the latest news, updates, and opinions on Ohio State athletics.

Tuesday's Buckeye Bits

2012-01-10T06:00:00.001-05:00

So many Bits..

Welcome to your Tuesday morning Buckeye Bits here at ITS. During the painfully long College football offseason things can get pretty slow.

The mythical national championship has been played with Bama outlasting LSU 21-0. As for non-SEC football, besides recruiting news, there isn’t much to discuss and or argue about until the spring game chatter heats up. Have no fear fellow bucknutters! ITS is here to scour the news wire for you to uncover any interesting tidbits to quench your thirst for Buckeye news (or anything else that we find funny/exciting/interesting). Let’s get to it!

The BCS Is A Joke. I continually pile on to the current system we have for choosing a national champion every chance I get. I think most would agree that using computers and biased voting is the most un-American selection process out there. Once the current television deal is up, the college football brass will once again sit down and discuss tweaking the format. I guess it is a step in the right direction but there are many roadblocks ahead (cough.. Jim Delany.. cough) before we get the playoff that the nation has been clamoring for. Why can’t these fools see there is even more money to be made from a true playoff? Sigh…
The NFL Loves Buckeyes. Jake Ballard was a serviceable tight end when he donned the scarlet and gray but many, including myself, had a hard time believing he would do much in the pay-for-play league. Shows how much I know! Ballard has found a spot on the Giants and has taken advantage of his opportunity. He has been an important cog in the NY Giants machine this season and looks to see plenty of playing time this January. Good luck to Ballard this weekend.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers starting DE Brett Keisel went down in the first quarter on Sunday, OSU’s own Cam Heyward was thrust into the spotlight. Not only did he play well, Heyward was partially responsible for the huge Denver fumble that got Pittsburgh back into the game. It didn’t turn out well for the Steelers in the end (LOL) but Heyward made his alma mater proud with a stout performance from the defensive end spot.

Nittany Lions Are Turning The Page. After a tumultuous few months by hiring New England’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien. There were many that vehemently opposed the hire when it was first announced. There are still some out there that disagree with the hire but O’Brien received his first “We Are Penn St.” cheer at the PSU-Indiana basketball game and I’m sure it felt good. Listen, PSU fans drive me up the wall. They can be arrogant, loud and downright nasty on the message boards. However, in the wake of this awful scandal, I’m glad they have someone in place to concentrate on the football side of things. We are heated rivals but I wouldn’t wish this kind of scandal on anyone. Maybe Michigan. No not even Michigan.

Only 3 More Months, And Don't Act Like You Haven't Been Counting. I am so ready for spring ball to get here I can taste it. As I’m writing this, the national championship game hasn’t even taken place but I am already thinking about Urban’s debut. I don’t see how you can’t after taking a look at our final stats on the year.

That’s it for this morning folks. Keep tabs on us as we try to get the most interesting and up to date news on the Bucks. Thanks for reading!

Monday's Buckeye Bits

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Good morning Buckeye fans, and welcome to ITS's first edition of the "Buckeye Bits". Starting today, every week Monday through Friday, our writer's will present some of the links that may just perk your interest up, and not just with the Buckeyes. As for today, let's get started!

All He Does Is Win. True freshman quarterback Braxton Miller was named the National Freshman Performer of the Year by College Football Performance. Miller started in the fourth game of the 2011 season, against Colorado, and his season stats were 85 of 157 passing, for 1,159 yards and 13 touchdowns. Just running the ball, the young baller 715 yards on 159 carries, averaging almost 5 yards a carry and had 7 touchdowns. Previous winners included 2010's Marcus Lattimore, and 2009's LaMichael James.

Walrus Ball Takes A Bow. Jim Bollman, the previous offensive coordinator and Walrus Ball genius, is taking his talents to flight. Bollman will join the Boston College Eagles as their offensive line coach, as well as their running game coordinator. After being on the Ohio State staff for 10 years, here's what Bollman had to say: "I am very excited about this opportunity," Bollman said. "One of the most important and rewarding parts of my career has been working with outstanding people, and I look forward to working with Frank Spaziani and his staff. I'm very familiar with the ACC, having coached at NC State and Virginia. Boston College has a great offensive line tradition and has produced some of the best talent in the NFL. I look forward to the challenge of continuing and enhancing that tradition."

Bowl Season Ready To End. If you're the Big Ten, you're just about ready to shove your head in some dirt until next year. If you're the SEC, you're about ready to S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C! all night long, much to the dismay of the man who is 40. When LSU takes on Alabama tonight, will anyone really be watching? I know that about 85% of the B1G fans won't be. Or maybe they're just saying that, and will secretly watch with a mini-tv when no one is looking. Is this going to be forever?

It's Just One of Those Days. I hate the Steelers, but I hate Tebow even more. This fan is the best in the world, hands down. Not sure how this is style..More Tebow Tebowing, yes, really.