Agent: Urban to Join Ohio State
As first tweeted by our very own Ramzy and confirmed by multiple sources, including ESPN, Urban Meyer will be the next head coach at Ohio State per his agent, Trace Armstrong.
The news should not be surprising to anyone who has followed this story over the last two to three weeks, although this is the first public confirmation from a source directly connected to Meyer. Ohio State still has not released a statement, but we are expecting a press conference to announce the hire later today.
There will be more to come from 11W as details emerge. Continue to check back to the site throughout the day for the latest on the Meyer developments.
Comments
Cheers!
Taquitos.
You forgot to credit SbB.
I would personally like to thank you for calling him SbB, and not SBB.
Banned from ATO since June 3rd 2PMish PST
I originally typed "sbb" but later edited it because I remember you posting something about sharing the same initials.
Congrats 11W, you guys stuck to your guns through the entire thing. And bonus! We got Urban!
Thanks....as we have said...we don't run with anything...we had multiple good sources that have been right on a lot of things (gave us exact Tat 5 names days before announced, etc.)...glad this was correct again
I agree. 11W beat everyone else to the punch on this one. Hopefully people will start taking blogs more seriously (except spb).
This is good news.
Thanks Fick... whatever your future may be...
Yes sir.
vacuuming sucks
Great news to start the week!
Thanks 11 W, you guys are the best at what you do.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
Excited to finally start getting answers!! Whos on the staff? Fickells fate? How long has this been in the works? If there is a bowl whats the plan? Players thoughts? Recruits thoughts? Lots to discuss!!
"I'll fire when I'm god damn good and ready! You got that?" - Pete "Maverick" Mitchel
Yep, the fun is just starting.
Congrats to 11W for your excellent work on this story.
my guesses on staff (and just guessess)
OC/OL: Studrawa (LSU)
QB: Loeffler (Temple)
WR: Gonzales (LSU)
TE: Peterson (OSU)
RB: Drayton (OSU)
DL/Co-DC/Asst HC: Fickell (OSU)
LB: Vrabel (OSU)
DB: Johnson (OSU)
S&C: Mariotti (UF)
Co-DC: Durkin (UF)
Mike Stoops (formerly Arizona), Tenuta (NC State), Smith (Temple), Heater (Temple), Moore (UConn) all options as well
I have serious doubts that Vrabel and Johnson will be retained.
"It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)
I hope Vrabel is not retained.
I don't think your sample is large enough.
I don't think his shirts are glittery enough.
Taquitos.
Denny I'm going to rely on your reporting skills. I haven't seen his shirts but if you say so, I'm all in.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7289592/urban-meyer-joins...
Seems like Herbstreit is putting himself out there to Meyer...
Who is Scott Loeffler?
[excerpt]
Loeffler spent one season in the NFL with the Detroit Lions, where he guided a quarterback unit that threw for 2,960 yards in 2008.
Prior to joining the Lions, Loeffler coached the quarterbacks at his alma mater, the University of Michigan, for six seasons, guiding second-round draft pick Chad Henne. Under the tutelage of Loeffler, Henne became the first true freshman QB to lead his team to a Big Ten title and start in a BCS bowl game. Henne set school marks in career passing yards (9,715), touchdowns (87), completions (828) and attempts (1,387). He helped develop John Navarre into the team’s first All-Big Ten first-team quarterback since 1997.
[/excerpt]
Michigan grad... ugh.
#fistpumpgobuckeyes
As Conan the Barbarian would say, Urban shall now crush our enemies, see them driven before us, and hear the lamentation of their women. Time to drink the sweet tears of woe and misery of the rest of the Big Ten.
This is certainly good news. I guess it's time I changed my picture. Good luck Fickell, wherever you end up. You're a warrior and a great Buckeye!
"Here officer, hold my beer while I find my license."
If Denard Robinson isn't careful with spooning all that food into his mouth, he's going to end up lookin' like Whoopi Goldberg
9 months until the next 11W Banner... :)
Best. Monday. Ever.
Keep Calm and Ignore the Trolls.
So what about the NCAA? Will they be dropping a gray box on us today, too?
I think so
Is this just a guess or another "inside huntch"?
Well this is a big day.
I <3 11W. Great work!
Urban Meyer hired. 67 degrees, and its almost December.
O'Shea Jackson said it best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWfbGGZE07M
This definitely takes the sting away from losing to the shit hole up north. Cant want to get the details on the staff. What Alex speculates above sounds great. Any idea on who coaches the team in a bowl?
Fan of bacon since 1981
I think would have to be Fickell
If I am not mistaken about the timing, I believe this is why OSU asked for the "early" telecon with the NCAA. I would have to think that they would want to know what was heading their way prior to offering Urban (or any coach) the position. Any coach worth his salt would ask.
** this ended up under the wrong comment... meant as a reply to the NCAA incoming greybox. Oops! Hehe. Teach me to post without at least 2 cups of coffee.
GO BUCKS!
The 2011 Pulitzer Prize goes to...11W:
Gray box of JOY!!!!!!!
I want a fall Saturday in Ohio Stadium..
Great job 11W staff. Top notch reporting as usual. Thanks Coach Fickell for your dedication and good luck to you.
Now, let's see if we can have both a kick ass offense and kick ass defense.
Let's Go Bucks!
Thanks 11W. Aside from this being great Buckeye news, this is vindication for non-traditional media. While people attacked you and called you irrelevant -- ironically in their columns in newspapers that no one reads -- you had the best intelligence around and shared it with the world on this site. I love you guys (and girls).
Class of 2008
This so much. All the media that blasted 11W for their "basement reporting" can suck a bag of fat ones.
Fat one's?
If Denard Robinson isn't careful with spooning all that food into his mouth, he's going to end up lookin' like Whoopi Goldberg
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
"Winter is coming" - Urban Meyer
Props to 11W for never backing down. This site is my #1 source for everything Ohio State.
One thing I've been wondering is that given all of the Meyer rumors swirling about for the past few weeks, it seems like there haven't been any rumors about Gene Smiths fate. Given everything that has happened to the program, I don't see how he sticks around. However, one would think that something would have leaked if a dismissal was imminent.
Why not? He just hired Urban Meyer and you would figure that's predicated on only a few NCAA sanctions. I know the PR hasn't looked great, but I'd say he's doing his job fairly well and not many other ADs would be able to pull off what he has.
Pretty much everything I've read says that Smith didn't do the hiring - members of the university BOT did the hiring.
Taquitos.
Interesting. But he must have played some role though? At some point? Just a little?
At the very least I think its unfair to judge the job that Smith has done 1) without seeing final NCAA sanctions; and 2) judging solely by the lack of public relations.
Here's all you need to know about Smith: as I understand it, Tress was the only guy for which Geno did not provided written performance reviews or follow-up (as, for example, in instances of Compliance problems) -- unlike Andy Geiger. The story I read indicated that Smith's oversight with regards to compliance issues was much more lax and somewhat under-the-table -- there was nothing in writing to provided evidence for the NCAA that Smith/OSU may have followed up with Tress in any manner regarding compliance or infractions. Contrast that with Andy Geiger, who documented everthing and was much tougher on JT, and actually followed a regimented process. Keep that in mind, and then look at the way Smith has handled the current spate of NCAA problems -- I don't think the guy deserves to keep his job. I particularly don't think he does, if JT told him about everything up front and it just wasn't documented by Smith or the Compliance team, as I suspect.
I could be wrong (probably am), but I think JT fell on the sword for the university and for this tool, and I don't think he deserves it. Get him out of there.
For what it's worth, I am 100% in agreement on your theory of what happened.
"Props to 11W for never backing down. This site is my #1 source for everything Ohio State."
Ditto
and it wasn't just questionable reporting. you also had down the 7 years $40 mil didn't you?
"Winter is coming" - Urban Meyer
I still have minor reservations as I've stated in the past, but its hard to argue with his credentials and say anyone else would be better. I am happy.
Also, I hope to spend more time here to discuss things leading up to the bowl game and the start of bball, but finals are approaching and there's a lot to do at work. I trust everyone is having a great holiday season (plus Meyer, minus the work).
It may take Urban Meyer and Ohio State, to put an end to this SEC dynasty.
Good point . . . assuming a lot of ifs become reality, I was thinking the same thing. If a reinvigorated Meyer were able to lock up Ohio while also maintaining a steady pipeline out of FLA, with a few bluechippers from other states mixed in here and there, he could accumulate a wicked talent base at Ohio State.
Meanwhile, the SEC is on top of the CFB world now, but has some structural weaknesses: for example, because of the limited number of t.v. sets in the southeast U.S, the eSECpn product must maintain, and build on, a high level of national, not just regional, popularity to maintain the $7+ million coaching staffs and the $1 billion t.v. deals, etc., and yet the 24 hr. ESPiN machine + SEC ad naseum hype (e.g., Bama and LSU in NCG) can backfire, leading to "market saturation" and loss of interest in the SEC football product. I believe that the current SEC business model is unsustainable.
Lol!! You are right!! This was ESPN's and the SEC's plan all along!!
"I'll fire when I'm god damn good and ready! You got that?" - Pete "Maverick" Mitchel
While I think TX is Saban's next destination...what of these Hoke-to-San Diego rumors? Saban in Ann Arbor? Plausible, at least.
Saban will not leave Bama until he is forced to give up over signing. And for anyone who says over signing does not give an advantage - this year and the run of consecutive SEC NCs should serve as proof that it does. Bama and LSU have been leaders in over signing through the last decade. Couple that with AC salaries that attract and retain quality coaches and you have a formula for success that Saban is basking in. True, the SEC has made noise that they want to curb the practice, but it has all been a show up to this point. Does anyone honestly think they will put an end to something that has given them this much success? Does anyone think that Saban will walk away from it? Stranger things have happened, but we all know how good Saban is when he has to compete on an even playing field. Stints at MSU and the NFL proved he was good, but nothing compared to the success he is having at Bama.
2 of those 6 titles were from Florida, who didn't oversign. Auburn, caught lightening in a bottle with Cam Newton, and while shady circumstances existed, it wasn't oversigning that won them a title. LSU has been pretty average since their BCS title win against Ohio State, which was probably the weakest BCS title game in the history of the BCS a 2 loss team that probably shouldn't have been there against a Buckeye Team that really shouldn't have been there. So, while yes, there is some advantage to oversigning, I'd say at least 4 of those titles during this run had NOTHING to do with oversigning.
If not for oversigning, Auburn may never have even brought Cam Newton in though.
I'm just over the oversigning topic, it sounds like sour grapes and it's the topic du jour about why the SEC is better than everyone else. This time last year it was the good recruits didn't want to play in cold weather, and that success of southern high school football programs had to do with a dramatic population shift etc.
Another time it was that it's unfair they pay their coaches so much money. Then the media was blamed. It's just irrelevant to whine and complain about it. They are operating within the rules whether we like it or not.
Does it give a team an advantage? It can't hurt, but I believe coaching has much more of an impact. If you are a kid looking to play for a school and maybe you aren't good enough for Bama or OSU, would you rather go to Purdue or Northwestern and play, or go to South Carolina and play for Spurrier?
Instead of looking at their practices and saying it's not fair, let's look at what the B1G is doing that isn't working. Everyone in the B1G has extremely deep pockets. They could fork out some extra cash and bring in those type of coaches, but they don't. Until then you are going to see a conference with a couple of good teams (which this year I'm not even sure the B1G has that many) and 6 or 7 just crappy teams.
+1000
"I'll fire when I'm god damn good and ready! You got that?" - Pete "Maverick" Mitchel
When I posted that I knew you would take offense. My comments still stand. You can point to one school not employing as much oversigning as the others, but most of them do it. FL had to compete with and defeat teams who employed the practice, quite possibly making them better. How often have you and other posters slammed the B1G for not being a competitive league? Oversigning would go a long way to making them competitive in those posters' eyes. Would not be the only step necessary, but would certainly help.
And, you can not argue with the amount of success the SEC has enjoyed while they started to run rampant with oversiigning. Yes, coaching does figure into it. Spending big bucks on coaches helps (however, that hasn't worked out so well for Texas). But, Saban is arguably just a very good coach, not exceptional (his time spent at other schools/teams proves that). But, with the right mix of $$ (for coaches) and oversigning he has been exceptional at Bama. Get off your "we need to do what the SEC does" horse and admit that they have some questionable practices that do give them an advantage even if in your eyes it is negligible. We can learn from what they do right, but if jumping on the oversigning / push a kid out if he doesn't make it bandwagon is the answer to being competitive, I (as a former college athlete) want nothing to do with it. It is not only a disservice to the kids you use as numbers, but to the general well being of the sport as well. Just because the NCAA and SEC treat student athletes as indentured slaves doesn't mean the B1G should drop their standards and follow suit. (Actually, the SEC does not treat them as indentured - they treat them more like household trash - throw it away when you have no more use for it).
I didn't take offense to it, I just think the oversigning topic is today's outrage against the SEC. Since the Florida debacle and LSU game the following year it seems people have tried to come up with excuses as to why the SEC has an unfair advantage. Next year it will be something different. A lot of schools oversign in the NCAA, 2 are really good this year and that seems to be the rallying cry about why the SEC has such unfair disadvantages over everyone else. They aren't the only conference that oversigns, and 2 programs are benefitting this year. No one complained about oversigning when we lost to LSU in 2008. No one cared that LSU oversigned the last 3 years when they went to non BCS bowls. This year all the sudden it's a huge issue.
I never said the B1G should over sign, I just said instead of looking at what the SEC does and scream no fair, let's look at what some of the B1G programs do that doesn't work. Let's actually use all of the scholarships at our disposal. They don't want to pay a premium for coaching is 1 pefect example. Despite, every program having a ton of money. Maybe it's more important to have a Co-ed team handball program funded by football revenue than it is to actually use that money to hire competent coaches, I don't know. However, the SEC oversigning has nothing to do with 2/3 of the B1G sucking every year.
There's no questioning how good LSU and Bama are this season, they are great, where I have problem with the SEC is when a team like Arkansas this year gets voted up to number 3 in the country. One unfair advantage to the SEC is the hype machine behind their programs that are playing well. This creates a much higher strength of schedule than what the schools are actually playing. I knew LSU would blast Arkansas, because Arkansas isn't that good. But to the computers and human pollsters that was an incredible win against the number 3 team in America. That's the clear advantage that the SEC has to me. They have CBS and ESPN and all their "experts" writing and going on air telling everyone how much better the SEC is and how great all these programs are. That leads to the SEC champ being an automatic entry into the BCS title game.
Completely agree with you on almost every point. Oddly though not with Arkansas. They were number 3 by default because everyone else lost not because they play in the SEC, and now they aren't number 3. So it all evened out. BTW Saban is 60, he is not going to move to Texas and coach for them, much less Michigan.
"Without winners, there wouldn't even be civilization." -----------Woody Hayes
Great news for Ohio State and congrats 11W team. I come here every day as my morning routine and rarely post but this definitly deserves a thank you.
Hopefully the national media will give credit where it is due....... SbB of course.
from what i have read (on his website) SbB did break the story. So what if it was after 11W broke it.
Go 11W!
Screw the mainstream press.
F*ck Michigan!
11W is by far the best sports blog out there. A great mix of inside info, analysis, and humor.
I'm not the first to say it, but let me be the first today to welcome our new Urban Overlord!
"There's a fine line between stupid, and....clever. David St. Hubbins/Nigel Tufnel
grey box of goodness is back ....
also ef that school up north really effing classy with the whole gernade celebration thats all osu needed was even more motivation thanks weisels enjoy recieving your 40 point ass kicking next year
Gray box of happiness!
Could someone tell me if Forde ever had a positive word to say about TOSU? He's at it again on Yahoo...I really am starting to despise this tool as much as Mark May.
Just finished reading that too. In his defense, I remember that first article he posted about Meyer and agreeing with almost everything he said then. He's just sticking to his guns here, and it's not so much about OSU as it is about Meyer.
He must have negotiated a clause in his Yahoo Sports contract that prevented Yahoo from enabling user comments on his stories.
Yeah, a lot of them do cuz they can't man up to their comments. I take the extra step and email them directly which is prob redirected to a trash bin in the email.
I agree, outstanding reporting by 11W! Few sites - sports related or otherwise - can match 11Ws combination of interactive blogging with original reporting.
Meanwhile, the reporting by traditional media outlets steadily declines in quality, and obviously they're very weak on the interactive (blogging) side. These dinosaur media outlets will continue to blame the "instant gratification" society - and its supposed spawn, the blogosphere - for their journalistic failures. Yet sites like 11W keep getting better at traditional reporting while the mainstream outlets just make excuses, which include covering up for the structural weakenesses of their business models (e.g., eSECpn/ABC/Disney/etal).
Keep up the good work, fellas!
Hope the rest of the country in college football enjoyed OSU's "down" year? Here's to a run that will Bit*h slap all who got great joy out this past season.
Oh yes.
scUM fans better enjoy the next 12 months because their reign in the series will be very short lived.
Bucket list item : To be alive when Ohio State passes Michigan in the series record.
vacuuming sucks
Amen, Maestro. Amen.
#fistpumpgobuckeyes
Now the agent is saying that Urban has not accepted the deal yet. He also said he's very disappointed in ESPN for jumping the gun. He said he's kept them in the loop, but that nothing has been confirmed or announced. Ugh.
Becky in Cleveland
link or gtfo :)
"Winter is coming" - Urban Meyer
Source?
"It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)
Do not go to CBS Sports for your non-SEC news.
This. Everywhere else is still confirming it.
Curiously, I don't see anything about it on buckeyextra.
It sounds to me like the agent said something to someone at ESPN and wasn't expecting ESPN to report it, so now he is backtracking.
rookie mistake
Sounds like the SEC network, CBS, is pissed that they were never "in the loop" and everyone else was. Also, I would imagine that the university has yet to personally meet with Fickell, the team, and other parties involved. Urban and OSU are probably pissed at the agent, told him to shut the F up, and here we are.
D#mn good day!
Back in Cali, 6AM Sportscenter, Robert Smith can't get the grin off of his face!
"Don't put syrup on shit, and tell me it's pancakes"
No matter how sh*tty the tour is, it's always tough to leave.
I would love to be in Jim Bollman's office right now! Hahaha!!!
Tumbleweeds. And maybe empty fish buckets.
I have a feeling you'd be sitting there alone, staring at an empty desk and empty walls with dirty outlines of where pictures of his walrus children used to hang.....
LULZ!
Did you volunteer to help JB pack?
Johnny Hooker: "He's not as tough as he thinks". Henry Gondorff: "Neither are we".
ALL HAIL LORD MEYER!
That was a pretty long rebuild we had going there. Almost a full season?
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
The King is dead! Long live the king!
Decemberists fan?
I'd not heard of that indie folk rock band before now, but maybe I'll check them out.
"The king is dead, long live the king," was the old standard announcement for when a king died and was replaced by the heir-in-waiting. The idea is that the King is not so much a specific person, per se, but a divinely-sanctioned office. The mortal man who was king died but the kingship lives on, with the title, powers, honors, properties, responsibilities, etc., passing to the next-in-line.
Sometimes, there was a fight over which prince was the rightful heir to the throne. But even if you'd fought on the wrong side, once the new king was crowned, you were expected to pledge fealty to him, because you were loyal to the kingdom.
Similarly, two years ago, I despised Urban Meyer and loved JT, but now JT is gone and Meyer is the new boss. Long live the king!
Long live the king!
According to Bill Greene. Urban to meet OSU players at 4. Press conference at 6.
Where did you see this at?
Please give a welcome to our new coaching overlord, Urban Meyer.
Welcome home.
I, for one, welcome our new coaching overlords.
Thank you Terelle Pryor, you have given us Urbz.
We traded up. Way up.
You mean from Tress or Fick? I'm excited about Urban too, but let's not get hasty..
I'm talking about Pryor. Did we trade up from Tress or Fick? We'll see.
My comment really was meant to say that Pryor was a cancer.
Pryor was the perfect example of why you don't treat a special kid *too* special, and you let your senior leadership police their lockerroom, if they have shown the capacity to do it well (as I believe Jenkins, Laurinaitis, and Freeman, et al, would have, if they hadn't been pulled off Pryor's neck)...
Is Tress still partially responsible for this mess? Yes. But that kid deserves much of the blame, IMO.
and untold truckloads of shi*
JLP36
Great point!
Chip Smith
Stoneburner and Boren will likely be much more involved next year. Urban loves to use tight ends and H-backs in his power spread game.
What's the word on the bowl game? Will Meyer be taking over?
I hope our Oline gets more involved in our offensive scheme.
+1
Thread winner.
Excited. Curious to see what happens with Fickell, but excited for a new era.
vacuuming sucks
This.
So does this mean Dunn is a done deal (lulliteration) to Michigan? He didn't want to play in a spread offense and wasn't thrilled with all the Urban talk.
If that's the case, oh well. Have fun getting your shit blown up by Shazier.
It's okay. I had a dream last night and gawd told me that Derrick Green was going to play for Urban Meyer (*yeah, that Sharif Floyd stuff was pretty shady, dude, but all is forgiven my man...all is forgiven).
This, +1 million.
I want to see Shazier put on about 15-20 lbs. of muscle and just wreck shit all over the B1G.
WRECK. IT.
I love good linebackers. There's nothing like them :)
The UMich fans are hysterical today. They're comparing the hire with Dick Rod.
Even if you don't like Urban, no intelligent being could ever compare the two. in any way. ever. period.
Even if you don't like Urban, no intelligent being could ever compare the two. in any way. ever. period.
We're talking about Michigan fans here now.
Fla fans are in on it too, of course. On the bright side, they all hate ESPN.
Denial is a terrible thing.
"It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)
Denard is a terribler thing.
-The Aristocrats!
Said in your best Charles Barkely voice...
The agents comments are at collegefootballtalk.com. He is pissed he shared the info with them as a professional courtesy and they ran with it.
ESPiN = TMZ of the sports world
Buckeye born and bred. Buckeye til I'm dead.
I understand that OSU is meeting with NCAA today for final sanction verdict. I find it really hard to believe that OSU doesn't already know pretty much what's coming down the pike for them as far as sanctions. And Urban took the job anyway? Hmmm, can't help but think we are not going to get killed here!
Also very strange about the agent withdrawling that Urban officially accepted the job... Come on...isn't the first question an agent asks is : can I release the info?" Seems weird.. I would think in the next couple hours, OSU needs to make a statement. With 24/7 media coverage, PR is important and ducks need to be in a row( players know, all coaches spoken to) before info is released by an official person, like an agent! Good for OSU for holding off but they don't have much time left...they need to speak.
I would never want to be under this kind of pressure...in high profile sports PR. Probably really tough to keep all balls juggling in the air and do it right!
LP
It doesn't sound like the agent did much wrong here. And it's silly to be upset other than espn "break the story." Everyone saw this coming last week so its not really "breaking" news.
Pat Forde is on the Dan Patrick show in a few minutes. Topics include Heisman, NC game, and the Urban Meyer hire.
It's Christmas come early!
Appreciate the job Luke did given the situation he was put in. There were problems early on and they continued through the season, but every player went to bat for Fickell talking about how much they loved him. That says a lot to me. Hope it is true that he will remain on the staff.
So, while there are only a few schollies left for recruiting this year, does anyone in the know see any guys on scholarship that Urban may council to leave the program because they don't fit his system? I know it's an ugly thought, but a lot of time when a new coach comes aboard, this happens. Could there be some more schollies available for him to make a run at a few extra recruits this year? If so, what players do those in the know see being vulnerable if any?
See: Ryan Mallett. That worked out very well for Rich Rod.
And unlike RR, Meyer is a good coach who can deal great players who do other things.
I really don't think that's relevant to what I'm asking at all. A lot of indications were that Mallet was on his way out anyway. I mean more like the 3 or 4 guys a year who were given a scholarship that were walk ons or Archie's kid who was given a token scholarship. There are guys on schollie who don't make much of a contribution their 4 years with the program.
Not to bring up Tress, but this was the kind of stuff I loved him doing. This is also something you can't afford to do when "oversigning." Since Urban seems to be more Tressel like than Saban like (maybe?) I don't really see him doing it for one or two more freshmen.
Regardless of what he does, I think it'll be an indication of how he treats the program. I hope he sees it in the greater good rather than just about winning games, but, winning fixes everything so I'll eat those words in a few years if not sooner.
I guess it just doesn't make sense to me. We hear all this complaining and whining all the time about oversigning yet we don't even sign a full class every year. So, shouldn't we complain about our program undersigning instead of worrying about other programs oversigning? Don't get me wrong, there have been a few players who proved to be very valuable to the team who were given scholarships when they were walkons, but if my choice is to land a highly touted recruit that would be a star here as opposed to using that scholarship to make a walk on who may never be a starter or solid contributor a scholarship player, well, I'm going with that extra freshman every time.
I get what you're saying, and winning will fix a lot of my problems with it. I really liked NC_Buckeye's analysis, though. I'd much rather win by not having to resort to those tactics.
BT, telling the walk ons to take a hike would be a terrible idea.
Those 4 or 5 guys are usually rewarded with a scholarship their senior year because they've distinguished themselves as dedicated leaders of the practice squad. That's been standard practice since Hayes tenure (maybe longer). It was clearly an OSU tradition when Meyer was an asst here under Bruce.
Basically this year's walk ons are almost done (with the bowl game). It's up to Meyers to determine who will be next year's. And it's not always that many... sometimes it's just 1 or 2. Sometimes when a spot opens up (medical or someone quits) that's when a walk on scholarship gets rewarded. Maybe Matt Finkes can do an article on walk-on scholies (are you reading this Matt?)
I don't see Meyer getting rid of walk on scholarships but if he did that would be the wrong message to send to this team.
Now if there are position players that are not working out or he sees as unusable in his system then... he can do something like what Tressel did to James Jackson. Basically tell them they won't be seeing any playing time for the remainder of their time in Columbus. He can't pull their scholarships though.
Pulling scholarships is basically everyone's beef with oversigning. And that's not what Ohio State is about.
[edited]
#fistpumpgobuckeyes
I'm not saying quit the practice, I'm saying people need to quit complaining about oversigning when we don't even sign a full class every year. I said above there have been several players who this practice worked out well and there were players who were well deserving. I also am not telling anyone to take a hike. All I was doing is thinking out loud of who may be leaving and how many extra scholarships it could potentially open up for Meyer to work with. There is almost always attrition when a new coach comes to town in any sport, and sometimes it actually benefits the team. I'm j ust wondering if the writers know of any players on roster, with a scholarship that may take off, leaving scholarships to work with. Maybe I didn't convey that message effectively when I first brought it up.
Also, to name one, once in a while, you get a guy like Antonio Smith -- a local walk-on kid who by his Sr. year can really start, contribute, and make a huge impact on one side of the ball or the other. You can't beat the good press from something like that...
Per an ESPN insider article, Tom Luginbill seems to think this is going to be the case.
Who wouldn't fit his system? This team is pretty much Urban-ready.
I'm sorry, I read BT's post wrong. Luginbill was claiming he may take a look at the guys currently committed and offered scholarships for this recruiting class.
I'm not so much talking about guys we know a lot about. I can't imagine he'd go up to Rod Smith and say, sorry we need you to give up your scholarship. I mean does anyone see him cutting out some of the guys who aren't really role players. It may step on some toes since that would be similar to what happens in schools that oversign, but I know when a new coach comes in, this kind of stuff happens, and it p robbaly happened with Tressel when there were some transfers close to signing day. I also know that JT would typically sign around 20-23 per year and those extra schollies were given to someone who was a walk on, or they'd go out and grab some player recruit no one had ever heard of and give them a scholarship. I would think, that some of those players may be vulnerable, and Urban may be able to add more recruits than expected to the class. That's what I'm getting at.
This is, again, where you just don't get it. You want college athletics treated like a professional sports league. If a guy falls short of your expectations - show him the door. Fortunately, the powers at OSU and the B1G still see this all as college athletics. Offering a kid a scholarship should be a firm commitment from the school to help him get an education. Pulling the rug out from under the scholly because a kid does not fit your mold (or some future coach's mold) is just wrong in college athletics. I would not expect you to understand that because you have taken a firm positive stance on oversigning to begin with. Frankly, I don't give a crap if oversigning / selling kids short on their scholly's would make us more competitive. It is disgusting, dehumanizing, and wrong. If a kid wants to leave on his own volition, so be it, but there should be nothing done to encourage it or force it.
Slow clap.
vacuuming sucks
I've not taken a firm stance in favor of oversigning at all. I'm saying when I new coach takes over, often times there is attrition. The new coach can tell the kid what their role will be with the program and they can transfer. It happens all the time when a new coach takes over. I'm simply asking if there are such players that people think may leave the program. I don't like all the aspects of oversigning, but I'm not terrible against all of them either. It's not an either you are absoutely against it or OMG why do you hate college athletes so much.
I wish some journalist out there would take a look at some of these poor dehumanized kids and see how their lives panned out after they were replaced by someone else. A lot of them still keep a scholarship to go to school. A lot of them go on to play elsewhere. I've talked about the kid that Les Miles called from the dorm after he moved in and told he wasn't going to play and the kid had to move out of the dorm and was screwed. I think that is horrible, but I also believe that is the exception far more than the rule. A lot of the guys who are oversigned, never even step foot on campus. They can't make it into school because of grades or off the field issues. I think there could be a correct way to oversign. The B1G could do it and follow a different model than the Big 12, SEC, and other conferences who do it.
Dustin Fox just tweeted Ohio State press conference is at 5:15 tonight. Any word 11W you are the only ones I come to for TOSU info!?!?!?
DDN is reporting that as well. Also sayiing $6mil/yr
http://www.daytondailynews.com/dayton-sports/osu-to-issue-release-on-urb...
11W tweeted this as well.
That is Freaking amazing!!! Best present of my three year olds(on the right in the avatar) birthday!!!! And of course mine!!!
Nice Job 11W!!
Chip Smith
I expect Stoneburner and Fragel to have HUGE years next season. We'll be hearing talk of the best Tight End tandom in the country.
Jordan Hall's #'s should sky rockett next year as well with Urbans system in full force.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
DrSaturday reminding the twitterverse that 11W was the first to report the Urban news. #props
Can't link it here at work.
I am ridiculously exited right now. I am not the biggest fan of Urban Meyer (I have made my position clear a few times in the last weeks), but I am over the moon about having something positive happen for tOSU--its been a tough year.
Something else I am looking forward to is the litmus testing on just how biased ESPiN is going to be on this topic. Pre-tOSU Meyer was a genius, one the best college coaches of his era, etc, etc, etc, Now that he's at tOSU (arguably the target of this *cough* network's disdain for the better part of, well forever) lets just see what they have to say....
I dont know about you guys, but finally being able to open my browser without fear and anxiety for this first time in almost a year feels fucking fantastic!
Welcome home Urban. I'm still pissed about 2006, but I'm open to letting you make it up to me.
Buckeye born and bred. Buckeye til I'm dead.
My buddy just parked Urban Meyer's car at the Blackwell about 30 minutes ago, expect a press conference in a bit.
That's awesome!
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
What's he driving these days? Was it a rental? I'm sure he didn't drive all the way up from East Alabama. Or did he already own a house and car in Ohio? Let the conspiracy theories begin.
Time and change will surely show how firm they friendship... O-HI-O.
It was a rental but my friend believes OSU will provide him with a caddy like they did Tressel and Fickell....btw he is wearing tan pants, white shirt and scarlet and grey tie.
and a sweatervest?
THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE
"I 've got an El Camino full of rampage"-- Sterling Archer, codename: Duchess
Wednesday's 11W Recruiting Notebook should be interesting.
10tv reporting Fickell will stay on staff, backing up all the chatter the past few days. His role is not known.
http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2011/11/28/ohio-state-luke-fickell.html
EDIT: Now it's being reported he will be offered the DC spot. Twitter is too fast to keep up with.
Excellent!
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
ALL YOUR RECRUITS ARE BELONG TO US
Banned from ATO since June 3rd 2PMish PST
Damnit..I should've trademarked this
"Winter is coming" - Urban Meyer
Looks... familiar.
Taquitos.
http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2011/11/heres-what-we-know#comment-133415
These both look familiar :)
"Winter is coming" - Urban Meyer
:(
I want that image on a shirt so bad.
Banned from ATO since June 3rd 2PMish PST
First a mich fan basically steals your name and now this. Better start ™ing things like crazy!
™ <---- I just trade marked the idea of trade marking things
Haha right? Tough times
"Winter is coming" - Urban Meyer
I'm not sure I could be any happier.
Also, I'm not getting any work done today. Boss gunna be mad.
I'm not getting much done either, but I am the boss so it's OK.
I am getting zero work done as an OSU student. This is just way too exciting.
There are like 15 people in my class reading about Meyer stuff now. Totally one of them...
I haven't done any work in the 4 years I've been reading 11W. And I just got paid to type that.
Fan of bacon since 1981
sounds like somebody got one dem gubment jobs
Banned from ATO since June 3rd 2PMish PST
Fan of bacon since 1981
Banned from ATO since June 3rd 2PMish PST
+10000000000
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
Fear not loyal subjects of scarlet and grey nation. For I will arrive with ferocity and passion to destroy the weasels of the north. Follow me to the promise land, nation as we crush any who cross our path.
#BookOfTebow 9:17 NT
People are saying that I'm an alcoholic, and that's not true, because I only drink when I work, and I'm a workaholic.
Ron White
This could go down as one of the best college football recuriting forces ever. Ohio + Florida + other random places +minimal competition for recruits + good solid proven coaching = potential dynasty.
Time and change will surely show how firm they friendship... O-HI-O.
Urban started the SEC's run of dominance by smacking down a heavily favored Big Ten team in the MNC game.
Next year, Urban will end the SEC's run of dominance by smacking down a heavily favored SEC team in the MNC game.
Prepare for the resurgence of B1G Ten football.
Will the rest of the B1G be getting big name coaches too? This will be the resurgence of Ohio State football, but not the rest of the B1G.
We need more than just tOSU for the resurgence of B1G football. Right now Wisconsin is respectable nad Meatchicken appears like they are on the way up. Sparty looks good but does anyone have faith that they can go outside the big10 and beat an OOC top tier opponent? Nebraska looks good but is far from being a world beater. Penn State football just set itslef back about 10 years (I doubt they'll ever be the same agian). That doesn't leave us with the quality and depth to be the top dog.
We need the Iowas/Spartys/Illinois of the B1G to start stepping up and being consistantly good programs.
The B1G also needs another elite level team. Michigan used to be this staple but has taken a step back for the past decade. I can't decide whether or not I want them to return to the elite level yet. Every other relevant conference has 2 elite programs except the B1G. Its us, then some other pretty-very good teams in our wake that occasionally knock us off in a road contest but probably aren't regarded by many outside the Big10 as elite.
Big 12 - Oklahoma / Texas
Pac 12 - USC / Oregon
SEC - Bama / LSU / Florida?
Time and change will surely show how firm they friendship... O-HI-O.
What is it with you and the SEC? Did they steal your lunch money?
"Without winners, there wouldn't even be civilization." -----------Woody Hayes
I just get sick of the notion that the SEC is dominant above all other conferences. The SEC is a great conference - probably the best right now. But it's not unbeatable. They have benefited from the combination of a decline in the B1G and favorable bowl matchups (Who wouldn't love to play Hawaii and Cincinnati in BCS bowls?) and successfully avoiding Southern Cal the entire last decade (there was one regular season game... USC shut out Auburn 24-0).
USC beat us twice, and we are offically 0-9 against the SEC...I can't help but laugh when I read post bashing the SEC. I'm done worrying about the SEC, and more worried about taking care of our own. When we complain about the SEC, we are just being sore losers.
"Without winners, there wouldn't even be civilization." -----------Woody Hayes
The press conference is now listed on the home page of http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/
Les Miles phone call to Nick Saban...
Les: "Nick... there are storm clouds gathering to the north. Big ass storm clouds."
Nick: "Ya Les... I can see em' from my office window. We'd better start hunkerin' down. The ride was fun while it lasted."
Time and change will surely show how firm they friendship... O-HI-O.
I see this conversation happening while Les is stirring some stadium grass and eye of newt into a boiling cauldron.
Maybe that's just me.
We should strive to keep thy name, of fair repute and spotless fame...
(Also, I'm not a dude)
Scott Van Pelt just gave 11Warriors props on the radio.
Damn, that's big time. No joke.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
Just remember 11W, a big part of success is learning how to deal with it. (~J. Tressel inspired)
Meyer is about speed of course. Bad news for Sabino IMHO. I expect that he will not be a starter next season.
I wonder if we will lose any recruits other than Dunn. Luke Roberts comes to mind. I don't really see him fitting into the mold of the new regime.
I also wonder if Meyer will snag a few big fish like Pittman, Diamond etc?
vacuuming sucks
Diamond would be a nice get, and the staff has been recruiting Pittman even after he committed to MSU. We seriously need some O-line recruits, even with Meyer as the coach our O-line play may still be pretty poor next year.
Yep, Bobek needs to be very solid. Hall needs to improve by leaps and bounds.
Norwell, Mewhort, Bobek, Linsley, Hall doesn't look bad on paper..........but it scares the crap out of me in reality.
Underwood obviously isn't ready. The other youngsters are projects.
Boren and Elflein can't be expected to contribute, although Elflein looks like a mean dude. Expect him to be solid.
vacuuming sucks
Just remember, Bollman won't be coaching them up in the offseason so they have to be better.
I was going to say, they'll actually have an O-Line coach next year.
Surely by "coaching them up", you meant "coaching them down".
Elflein looks like a stud, and I agree with you that while that line looks good on paper, it really scares me. We can depend on Mewhort and Norwell, Linsley has been alright, Hall has played like a Matador and hopefully Bobek is ready to start. We need tackles, badly.
Also got to believe that Urban will pull at least one big time OL recruit. Diamond seems very intriguing to me now. He'd be in the 2-deep from the moment he stepped on campus.
Why would Roberts not work? They will utilize him as a LB, not a RB, if I'm not mistaken, and he's got the tools to do it, provided his coaches can bring him along on the next step. Plus, he's starting at OSU in January -- he's pretty much locked in, unless Urban tells him to FO...
I just think he looks like a great tackler who might not have the lateral quickness or foot speed to succeed at the highest level of CFB. A slower version of Scott McVey. I hope I am wrong. Best of luck to him. Prove me wrong Luke.
vacuuming sucks
I see where you're coming from -- but I have the advantage (maybe?) of having seen him play a few times (granted, there is a huge difference between HS and Div 1 college football, no matter how big the division you play in) -- I thought he was plenty fast enough -- so much so that he doesn't *usually* have to be able to move laterally. He just goes downhill to the ball, and BOOM. It will depend heavily on where they are thinking of playing him in the LB scheme...
cool
vacuuming sucks
IMO, the LB who should worry is Klein. Slowest LB I've ever seen at OSU. Also, the only one I've seen with a gut.
I remember when we all called Meyer a dirt bag for how he recuirted Sheriff Floyd, now we welcome it amiright?
"Without winners, there wouldn't even be civilization." -----------Woody Hayes
LOL, fans are funny that's for sure. I wasn't close to the situation but I'm sure when Saban was at LSU, Bama fans despised the man. I know in basketball when Calipari was at Memphis UK fans always carried on about him being a cheater and recruiting thugs, now you don't dare mention anything negative about Calipari to a UK fan. Same with Urban, everyone may not be crazy about him now, but a few seasons of success and no one better talk bad about him from outside of the buckeye fan base.
I must apologize to all of you guys I accused a few weeks back, of smoking weed because you were convinced that Meyer was headed here to coach the Buckeyes. I felt it was just too good to be true.
The crow tastes terrible but somehow, I don't mind.
PS. I suspect some of you were smoking weed anyhow.
In our mothers' basements of course.
"You know that day you once told me about, when
GothamColumbus would no longer needBatmanTressel? It's coming."So wait, Urban is Two Face?
So ole Beano Cook was right afterall.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/04/beano...
File this one under: "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while."
#fistpumpgobuckeyes
NC, I was thinking the same thing! I'll bet ya 50 bucks he picks Notre Dame to make it to the BCS title game next year!
Yeah, Beano makes his living on those ND predictions. How old is Cook, BTW? He and Paterno went to grade school together, right? (just kidding)
#fistpumpgobuckeyes
They went to Sunday School together. Jesus taught the class ;)
If Beano could get JoePa in a boxing ring right now, he'd do it. They hate each other, going back to when Beano worked at Pitt.
"Don't put syrup on shit, and tell me it's pancakes"
No matter how sh*tty the tour is, it's always tough to leave.
Did not know that about their mutual antipathy. Makes sense since Beano is a Pitt grad. I'll bet he has some strong opinions on the Sandusky scandal.
#fistpumpgobuckeyes
Something about PSU being scared to play Pitt and coming up with a bs excuse to get out of the series. I
l'll try to find the exact story...
"Don't put syrup on shit, and tell me it's pancakes"
No matter how sh*tty the tour is, it's always tough to leave.
New O-line coaching can do wonders. You're right the line looks good on paper, but needs major coaching up to get to a championship level...its possible.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
Not to be a dick, but the reply button is a wonderful thing
Fan of bacon since 1981
You don't say.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
Anyone know what channel the press conference will be on? I imagine ESPN and BTN will have it, but I didn't know if OSU is going to be dumb again and schedule it for one place exclusively. After all, this is the AD who youtubed a press announcement this year.
I'm certain ESPiN News will have it.
BTN is supposed to have it for sure and I think I read that 10TV will...but I am not sure on that one
OSU will also be streaming the presser @ http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/allaccess/
I couldn't ask for a better birthday gift...
Happy Birthday, buckeye.
I had been pretty vocal on the anti urbz wagon, prob just still butthurt ab 06...
Totally excited today. I was wrong and this is probably the biggest homerun hire at tOSU I can remember.
We gonna win us a lotsa tackle foozball games.
****igan smells like old water that hot dogs were boiled in. FACT
yer sig made me LOL. good one!
GO BUCKS!
i have only been following this site for the last couple weeks (been following on Twitter all season)... but this is my new preferred spot for catching my buckeye news. You all have been right on top of this story... and as a buckeye living in DC, it is much appreciated.
I hope your basketball coverage is just a good. Looking forward to tomorrow's game vs. Duke!
O - H !
Glad to have ya here! I-O!
The less complicated blocking scheme, more conservative passing game, and more aggresive running game that Meyer's offense brings should be tremendously beneficial for the offensive players we have coming back next year.
That and ten returning starters on defense (Although I wouldn't mind if we mixed things up at linebacker or safety a little) + Williams returning at LEO...
The safeties will be fine I think, neither Bryant nor Barnett had seen much playing time before this season, they were both coming off from serious injuries last year, Barnett with the ACL tear and Bryant with the staph infection I believe. They'll be fine, as for the linebackers, we have Shazier and that's about it. Hopefully Grant progresses this offseason so that he becomes a starter. As for Storm Klein, he needs to get off the Fatkins diet if he wants to see the field under Meyer.
We HAVE to mix it up in the Linebacker corps. Sabino and Klein both underperformed horribly this season, for no good reason that I can see. They were practically invisible, and you can't put in on Vrabel -- they were bad in space, they were bad at tackling, they were bad stepping downhill and filling holes. Bad. Either they step it up, or the coaches need to find someone who will do the job with the kind of ferocity and speed that Shazier brings to the game. There is no excuse for weak linebackers at OSU -- this is the REAL Linebacker U, dammit!
I think Klein has more upside than Sabino. Would like to see Klein, Grant, Shazier as the starters.
vacuuming sucks
Out of curiosity, why? I'm not disagreeing, however -- this was Klein's first shot at making an impact, and it's possible he just didn't handle it too well. Sabino was HIGHLY touted when he came in, and went so far as to take a redshirt in order to stay and make a name for himself (without, I might add, having to compete directly against Homan and Rolle, who were either one MILES ahead of him ability-wise). For that reason alone (taking the redshirt), I'd have to agree with you -- he's had an extra year to learn and grow, and we got very little to show for it.
An extra year to develop and he hasn't developed. I just think Sabino constantly looks like he has cinder blocks on his feet.
IMHO, Klein at least shows some flashes of being a playmaker.
vacuuming sucks
I didn't see either of them taking advantage of the opportunity to start. I'm hoping they can either be coached in the off season, or the younger guys move up quicker. Outside of Shazier, I had no faith in the LBs this year (Sweat wasn't too bad).
They were invisible on Saturday, especially after Shazier hurt his knee. He lost a step after that and the rest of the crew was like dust in the wind.
vacuuming sucks
100% agreed with both of you... Neither Klein nor Sabino lived up to their billing, let alone their predecessors, all season long. Sweat, to give him credit, WAS the leading tackler on this team, but it was seldom in the hole and almost always trailing... They need help. I'm heartened that Luke and Urban have already talked about that problem.
I had a lively (ahem) discussion with a gamewatch patron two weeks ago about linebacker play. He was trying to put it all on Vrabel. I was contending that Sabino and Klein are just dense and that no amount of coaching was going to fix that.
Hindsight, maybe Vrabel is 20% responsible. Someone has to police Storm's cookie stache afterall.
#fistpumpgobuckeyes
The thing that stinks about it is both guys were thought to be future stars. Even though Klein wasn't the highly touted recruit Sabino was, he was a fan favorite from early on. People anticipated him being the next great linebacker at Ohio State who virtually came from no where, like Hawk and others.
What kills me about Sabino is, slow was never an adjective that was used to describe him. WTF is wrong with him this year that he doesn't have speed anymore? Is it between the ears? Seems like he's had that problem his whole career, or perhaps was he just a guy that maxed out in high school?
Both guys were LB's we thought would be potential stars here and both have just failed to develop. I'm excited to see Grant emerge and Shazier is terrific. Maybe there will be another dark horse who comes out of no where next season or maybe Klein and or Sabino have a light go on next year.
Hopefully Connor Crowell will make an impact next year.
Funny how nobody mentions that certain January night in 2007...When Urban cemented our ass.
I'm not dissing Urban, I'm giddy about the news...I just find it interesting that it's not brought up (from what I heard and read).
"Hell, Woody didn't recruit me; he recruited my mother!" -Jack Tatum
You're just a little late. We've been excersizing those demons over the course of the last eleven days.
MAKE HIM APOLOGIZE!!!!
not surprising...news conference is on espinews and and espinu
"Winter is coming" - Urban Meyer
I came home from work early and decided to put on ESPN's coverage of Meyer's hiring. Predictably, the Four Letter is crapping it up. I guess it's my fault for checking it out in the first place.
I'm glad tOSU hired Meyer and I can't wait until next year to see how his coaching will affect this team, but I'm mildly optomistic that next year we will win more than 8 games because we still need o-line recruits. We will lose our two best o-linemen (Brewster and Adams) and Shugarts. Regardless of how you feel about them, that was 30 plus game starts for each. And what have they brought in the past 2 or 3 years to replace them? Virtually nothing as far as tackles and the guards are suspect. We did bring in a good center, but I still think next year we will struggle mightily. I am hopeful Meyer's name will bring in some quality recruits to fill the voids, but until they get some games under their belt, I just don't see how we will win the amount of games we are accustomed to. GO BUCKS!