103 Buckeyes checked into the University Plaza Hotel for the start of fall camp yesterday afternoon (photos: here, here, here and here). Later today, the first session will kick off and the team will spend the next three weeks bonding and working towards whatever goals they have set for themselves this season.
Just sad, reallyUnfortunately, all anyone wanted to talk about were the players not at camp. Rumored academic casualties Ray Small and Robert Rose did not report, but the biggest news of the day was the surprise announcement that Tyler Moeller was in the hospital.
What started as a simple announcement saying he was out and could even be day-to-day quickly evolved throughout the day with a confirmation that Moeller was in fact at the University Medical Center, and that the injury was dangerous with his season perhaps in doubt, to finally the good news that he may be released from the hospital late Sunday.
News on what exactly caused the injury, confirmed to be a head injury, was just as scattered. University officials and players are being tight-lipped on the circumstances and theories are everywhere from something that happened during 7-on-7 drills to a sucker punch at a bar in Florida. Tressel is supposed to meet with the media Tuesday morning, so hopefully we'll have further clarification1.
Above anything else, your thoughts have to be with Moeller. The news of his release from the hospital is encouraging and he'll be in great hands, but head injuries aren't to be trifled with. His return will likely be something they can't pin a date on and you can only hope he makes it back soon.
Given his ability to cover in space and wreak havoc on blitzes, the fourth year junior was expected to see a lot of minutes this season and was penciled in as a starter heading into camp. He was everywhere in the spring game, leading his side with 8 tackles, one of which included a 13 yard sack. This is a huge loss, if even for one game.
Fortunately, the back seven is pretty deep and someone else will step up if called upon. Whether it's in the form of more playing time for Hines or Sabino getting more snaps, Moeller being out for any period of time is not exactly END TIMES turf, but the team will miss what he brings to blitz packages.
Small & Rose Still in Limbo
Small and Rose continue to exist at the intersection of rumor and curious statements. Rose was mum when pressed about his status last week and Small's father, when reached Sunday, said Small's history grade is in, but it's waiting to post.
That's fine and all, but the team is only holding open two spots and one of those is surely reserved for Moeller. It's just a hunch, but the last spot should be Small's. Assuming he makes the grade.
His Music isn't Just Music, It's Medicine
The youth movement looks like promising young football players. And it also looks a little Kanye.
Other photo highlights:
- Marcus Hall traveling like a lineman
- Stoneburner looking like a tight end.
- Boren needs his own sitcom.
- Pure beast mode.
- Sweat and Evege, homicide detectives. One is a grizzled vet on his 3rd marriage. The other, a street-smart rookie.
- LOLPunter. With sand wedge.
The Chronicles of Gar
Fanbases love their unheralded players with exotic names. Michigan has (now heralded) punter Zoltan Mesko, Penn State has Graham Zug and LSU has the legendary Barkevious Mingo.
Buckeye fans have been lacking here, but no longer. Enter Gar Chappelear. The Grove City product is a backup longsnapper and is our new cause partie temps. As such, he will have the full support of the 11W empire going forward and will no doubt rise up for a momentum changing play at least once in his career.
BTN Party Bus in Town on Tuesday
The Big Ten Network will be in town Tuesday to observe practice sessions and a 90-minute feature will be broadcast that evening at 10pm. As tight as things are normally run at WHAC, this is a real treat for the 99.9% of us that will never step near the practice field. Speaking of, we will probably find out soon whether camp remains open to the press like it was during the spring.
Finally, if you missed AJ Trapasso's sick fake punt and run in the Hall of Fame game yesterday, do yourself a favor and check it out (queue to :27). Simply amazing.
- 1 I vaguely remember hearing about trouble coming out of Florida and the possibility of losing a player earlier in the summer. The poster wouldn't offer much else and ended up driving the rest of the commenters into speculation that one of the Florida kids was in trouble, so I didn't pay much attention to it at the time. But that would imply the org has a higher level of secrecy than the CIA (which is possible) and it doesn't explain the sudden trip to the hospital on Sunday.
Comments
the florida thing you're thinking of was a rumor about o-linemen in trouble with the law that never materialized.
i am unbelievably saddend about moeller. i was extremely high on the kid coming into this year, he's paid his dues, and it's just sad as hell he's out. i hope he recovers quickly and can be back on his feet.
Trapasso's play was a thing of beauty! He put the ball behind his back like Pistol Pete!
Actually, it was a fake punt, not a punt return.
Marcus Hall is one of my new favorite Buckeyes. Plastic bag and a half gallon of water. That's travel chic, right there.
I'm thinking walking in with a trash bag is in part designed so he can walk out with one and not raise suspicion, if you follow my thinking. Do we know if Ryan Hamby would satisfy his code?
Small is going to let us down again if he makes the team.... somebody plz explain why he did not receive a History grade on time to post to his transcript??? Late work?? The cat ate it?? This guy knows he is on very thin ice and he keeps tempting fate. Not a very smart guy.
Moeller....hurt? Nooooooo! I've been singing this kids praises since the Spring. WTF. Im still getting the 26 jerz tho....
Moeller is a big loss..... from some of the reports this morning, he may not be back this season... Medical Redshirt??
http://www.buckeyextra.com/liv...
OSU's first session classes ended July 23rd & 24th.
The professors are required to post grades within a week. It's extremely unusual to be waiting on a grade over 2 1/2 weeks later.
Small's grade issues sound extremely fishy.
However, maybe he is taking second session classes in order to become in better standing and eligible by the time the session ends the last week in August?
Almost everyone has been singing has praises. Fortunately, this is a good chance for us to prove we run 2-deep when it comes to linebackers. Plus, Brian Rolle may be the beneficiary here, and everyone has wanted to see him on the field more, right?
Absolutely. He looked every-bit the part of tOSU LB in the Spring Game.
Mr. Cheezel just called to say that "He swam with the seabirds, and good things are coming coming"
I was impressed with how well fit Jermil Martin looks.
Sabino will get some time also.... dude is a beast.
I think Sabino gets significant time at all three positions this year. He's just too good to keep off the field.
the one thing about moeller that really stood out to me was during the spring game this year. He ran down williams, one of the back up rb's. I was quite impressed with his pursuit and being able to get that tackle. Now, he may not be able to do that against an usc back but, seein his determination to stop that play was enough for me. I am quite impressed and hope its not to bad. I am sure glad we are two deep. Our D should be fun to watch this year. We are much younger but I do believe our overall speed on d is MUCH faster
Cordle brought a refrigerator to the hotel... LOL!!!!!! I hope it was full of health foods!!
http://photo.the-ozone.net/det...
Dorian Bell time.
I was impressed with Jordan Hall. I pictured him alot skinnier. Dude looks solid. Combine his relationship with Pryor, along with feeling he has alot to prove, well, you never know.
if marcus hall comes from hard times and does not the money for a suitcase is it against NCAA rules for us to take up a collection and buy the dude something?
that shirt was WAAAAAY too loud for him to come from hard times kid
No, no, not against the rules... You should absolutely take up a collection to buy "the dude" something. Don't forget to buy Pryor something too - ya know, just to help out. Make sure it's something expensive. He already has a corvette. I think he would like a home on campus.
Id rather take up a collection and buy you scUM's a win....that way maybe the game will actually mean something this year
I've got a feeling this is going to be a big silly group of football players. (Meaning in a good way).
What about selling coke? Is it okay for the QB to arrange drug deals? I think Michigan has recent experience with this, let us know ASAP so we can pass the word onto Pryor, times is tough.
because buying a dude who travels a lot a suitcase to be a nice guy is the same thing as giving players a car in exchange for their playing for the team. you do realize the guy is at most 18 years old?
i know there is a lot of delusional arrogance up there in ann arbor, but do try to keep the delusional part under control. it'll keep you from thinking calista is going to be a star and in general being an asshole.
PS I love the idea of Boren with his own sitcom. That idea is worth its own 11W post all by itself. Luke, perhaps an opportunity to silence the doubters?
I don't get the whole corvette thing. Pretty sure I read about it and it was his ride for prom. Who doesn't get a nice ride for prom? I don't know why it got blown so outta proportion. Now LeBron on the other hand.....
I think what he is saying is to go ahead and buy that dude a suitcase. I mean its not like it's a car. Go ahead and send it straight to his dorm room. Hell show up there with it. Completely legal if the guy needs it.
I think his arrogance came from your extremely dumb question. You can't even buy a guy a bag of doritos, so buying him luggage is out of the question.
I wish Tyler all the best and a speedy and full recovery.
This really sucks for him, but we must move forward so I to am very excited about Sabino and Bell possibly being the guys that will pick up more playing time.
and your equally stupid response is a failure to discern between serious and tongue in cheek.
your mother should have gator chomped your head at birth.
We Buckeye fans have been fairly unlucky when it comes to strange injuries over the past couple of years. First it was Ted Ginn in the game against Florida. Then, Larry Wilson, our top DE got hurt in 2007 and again in 2008. Then Saine got hurt last pre-season, which didn't matter until we were suddenly without Beanie Wells...leaving us with one freshman RB going into the USC game.
Now, after 3 years of hearing how we have no speed defensively, and we've got a mass-exodus to fill at LB, who else of anybody gets hurt in a freak occurance but our fastest LB prospect and projected starter? When you've got college football's leading rushing attack coming into your house, followed the next week with college football's best offesnive talent who killed you last year, you need SPEED on defense. We just got a step-and-a-half slower if Moeller can't play.
I say damn the jackass from the state of Florida who did this (if that so happens to be what occurred). As if we didn't have more reason to hate that sewer of a state.
Word!
lol
I don't think you can buy them a win against a quality opponent, Ski. They have several patsies on the schedule so I think 5-6 wins may be possible.
I wish Moeller all the best, but a 6'0" (I'm immediately suspicious of the heights of anyone listed as 6 feet even, especially given OSU's tendency to embellish height) and 216 pound LB does not get me excited. Yes, he played well at the Spring game; I was there in person and saw his blitzing. To be fair, he blitzed well against a young line whose talent was split into two teams by the spring game draft and that was still learning to play together. I'd much rather see Sabino in the lineup, and I think he has the speed to be a playmaker, as well as nice size. Yes, he might blow some coverage, but the coaching staff needs to get over that; young talented teams make mistakes, but they bounce back with big plays.
Now is that serious or tongue in cheek, cause this "dude" doesn't want his mother to gator chomp his head.
I agree right up to the Sewer of a state comment... the Ohio State Alumni base is huge in Florida..... can't blame the whole state for one moron..... lets find out the name and location of the guy responsible and we can put the alumni on the prowl to torment him a bit.
I was more impressed with Hall's game film than any of the other rook backs. Hope he makes a difference and backs up my words.
Have TP talk to his teammate Jamaal Berry - still on the team right? Must be OK for the RB to deal? The Michigan player connected with drugs is on his way back to Florida.
You think facilitating a cross-country drug deal for cocaine is the same thing as consuming pot with your buddies? That vaunted Michigan degree hard at work, I see.
You're absolutely right - Berry should be a buckeye. Y'all should be very proud...
Yeah, I know, my grandparents retired there, I just got back from vacation there myself. The sewer comment was in relation to the fact that 1/3 of the state is wetland/swamp.
Matt-1 Michigan Fan-0
ESPN reporting the Moeller "brawl" occurred in Cinci, not Florida.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/...
and that Moeller will be out for the year.
Or, Marijuana-1, thee Ohio State-0. Despite your talk about "character", Tressel continues to have low standards for his players and high tolerance for criminal behavior. Again, take pride bucks, winning college football games is much, much more important...
You pretty much said it all, Matt. As much as everyone wants more than anything for TM to make a full recovery, we need to keep its effect on the '09 Buckeyes in perspective. Sure he could be a difference maker in spots, but Id rather see NFL bodies on the field like Sabino, Bell, Whiting, and Klein. I mean, how many championship teams rely on "tweeners" to win big games? Other than Tebow, of course.
Is it me, or does Bryant Browning look a little slimmer and trimmer this year?
http://images50.fotki.com/v155...
Absolutely, but Im still fuming over watching Desmond Howard and his 1,000 teeth snicker on TV about us possibly losing Moeller and Small. Then goes on to say scUM has a ton of talent now and Greg Robinson is gonna "get after" the quarterback this year. Like Um wasn't 3 and 9 last year. Thats the type of shit that makes whippin' scUM's ass never get old.
Get outta here. Seriously. Moeller is one of the hardest hitters on the team.
Yea, but being 210-215 you cant expect him in on every play is all Im saying. No doubt he lays the wood, but one of his best games was vs. scUM and they wouldn't have won the MAC. Please understand, I still think TM is a hell of a player.
Put it like this, how do you like his chances vs. John Clay at the goal line?
Character? Michigan fan wants to make an argument about character. Gee, wasn't there a Michigan player that was arrested and convicted for exposing himself not once, not twice, but more than 6 times and thought to be a suspect in more than 16 other exposure cases?
Wasn't Manningham in a car with some pot a few years ago and had Oxy pills on him with no script until one magically showed up from team doctors a few days later?
Didn't Arrington beat his girlfriend and drive off drunk only to be arrested but then she didn't want to press charges.
Kevin Grady?
Yup, it's just the Ohio State kids who get in trouble. That's what they say in Gainesville, FL too.
Yeah, if anyone recalls Scott Shaffer also had something about 'hitting their QBS and then getting after their backup' or something to that effect last year. That worked out well.
Howard is a complete ignorant fool. If Herbie is a homer then Howard needs to get RichRods dick out of his mouth.
Brewster did say in his video interview at the charity-video game thing that all of the linemen, with the notable exception of Boren, intentionally slimmed down to the 300-305 mark.
Boren could play at 400lbs and still be a force!!!! lmao
Guys.. does anyone know if they will allow cameras at the open practice??
In 8 years... Berry (pot), Worthington (DUI), Clifford (assault), Henton (sex), Boone (DUI), Schafer (fight), Haw (pot), Skeete (pot), Dukes (sex), Ross (fake $), Irizarry (robbery), Trapasso (booze), Guilford (robbery), Joe (booze), Holmes (fight), Smith (fight), Arden (DUI), Clarett (a lot), Wilhelm (assault), Pagac Jr (fight), Pitcock (booze), Vance (booze), Chattams (theft), Cooper (drugs/weapon), Bellisari (DUI), Ross (fake ID).
Clarett's legal transactions only occured after he was no longer an enrolled student at the university.
Seriously, I genuinely find the debate about which program has more kids get in trouble childish. It happens EVERYWHERE!
People say, oh X coach takes chances on more players and discredits this, and this, and this. Well, all coaches do that. All schools lower academic standards for athletes, all schools take chances on kids, kids will be kids.
I mean seriously, grow the fuck up about it already. It's the most ass backwards and hypocritical argument any fan could ever make. The Fulmer Cup is funny for what it is and it's fun to watch and track but in the grand scheme of things it proves what I am saying .. all schools are guilty of it and mine is no better than yours and vice versa.
Yes, they should.
I love how Michigan fans catalog our arrest history and then claim we're the obsessed ones.
Nevermind that for quite a few of those guys, the charges were eventually dropped.
Now CBS Sportsline’s Gregg Doyel, a Florida alum, is not too happy with the law-breaking at his alma mater.
An excerpt:
Because this isn’t funny. This is infuriating, bordering on insanity. This is a football program that has had 24 players arrested — that’s an entire recruiting class — in Urban Meyer’s four years as coach. This week cornerback Janoris Jenkins became No. 24 with a flourish, getting Tasered and then showing enormous heart and toughness and criminality by rising from the Taser’s electric current and running away from cops.
This has to stop. And it has to stop now. Florida has won two national championships in four years under Meyer, but that’s not enough to justify 24 arrests in those same four years. Four titles in four years wouldn’t justify 24 arrests. Five titles in four years wouldn’t do it. It can’t be done. There is no justifying something like this.