Yesterday marked the opening of Camp Meyer at Ohio State with upperclassmen reporting for an early morning workout, while the freshmen kicked things off in the evening.
If you missed Kyle's quote book yesterday, be sure to check it out, as he caught up with cornerback Bradley Roby, running back Carlos Hyde and quarterback Braxton Miller.
Not only did Miller look the part of a guy that's spent time in Mickey Marotti's strength program, but he also appeared calmer and generally more at ease with the media than he was as a freshman last season when he often carried a deer-in-the-headlghts look with him into pressers and other media events.
If the few minutes he spent with the press yesterday indicate anything, it's that he's better positioned to lead the team this year than he was last year. And how could he not be, really?
If you think about it, Miller was thrust into quite possibly the worst position for a freshman quarterback — despite his immense talents — conceivable.
The guy that was supposed to be his mentor bolted early in a cloud of shame, entering the NFL supplemental draft. The man that recruited him, a quarterback's head coach if there ever was one, was fired after lying to NCAA investigators. His offensive coordinator had one foot out the door, his position coach was a glorified video coordinator and his new head coach was a defensive guy with little to contribute to the other side of the ball.
It was textbook "How Not to Ready a Young Quarterback" and it showed.
Despite this, Miller finished with a decent rookie campaign. And that's why we're so bullish for 2012.
Summer term finals wrap up next week with the team holding single practices Monday through Thursday before things get real with two-a-days beginning on Friday, August 10.
EXIT HAYES. Redshirt freshman Kenny Hayes, a former all-state selection from Toledo Whitmer, has been granted his release from the program without restrictions:
An Ohio State spokesman confirmed that Kenny Hayes, a def. end who sat out spring because of recurring headaches, has been granted a release
— Tim May (@TIM_MAYsports) August 3, 2012
Hayes did not participate in spring ball due to what's believed to be recurring migraines. The fact that he was released without restrictions would indicate that he was in good standing with the team and in the classroom, otherwise, so you can't fault a guy for wanting to protect his most valuable asset.
The defensive line depth that Meyer and staff are stockpiling enabled them to move former defensive tackle Chase Farris to the offensive side of the ball on the first day of camp.
NOPE. The Paterno family filed an appeal with the NCAA hoping to reverse the punishment the governing body and the Penn State agreed upon:
As will become evident in a thorough and impartial review, the NCAA acted hastily and without any regard for due process. Furthermore, the NCAA and Penn State’s Board Chair and President entirely ignored the fact that the Freeh Report, on which these extraordinary penalties are based, is deeply flawed because it is incomplete, rife with unsupported opinions and unquestionably one-sided.
Wow.
As you can imagine, the NCAA quickly released a statement kindly telling the Paterno family that unless they could find a living Joe Paterno, they are not subject to appeal.
In the few hours between when the Paterno family released their statement and the NCAA responded, yours truly ignited a riotous hashtag that quickly completed the Twitter circle of life: an incredibly funny meme bringing out some of the sharpest Twitter has to offer -> Paterno supporters mistakenly believing the hashtag was their own, rallying behind it to do whatever it is they are doing these days -> spam/porn accounts arriving late on the scene to peddle links that are best unclicked.
It was beautiful, really. And sad. But mostly beautiful.
Good morning.IDK. DO YOU LIKE ME? Indiana coach Tom Crean inadvertently published a creepy tweet yesterday and a debate is still raging over whether it was intended for a recruit (most everyone in this camp) or a mistress (Purdue fans in this camp). You be the judge:
I am doing great. I've been thinking about u alot since last weekend. A whole lot. How are u doing?
Crean deleted the tweet and attempted to clarify, telling Purdue fans that "it's not what you want to think," but man, if that was Thad Matta, I'd almost prefer that it was intended for a mistress.
LONDON CALLING. Nick Mangold is heading to London after all:
After initially saying he wouldn't go to London to see his sister, Holley, compete in the women's weight lifting competition, Mangold changed his mind and is headed overseas, Jets sources said Friday night.
Mangold wanted to remain in training camp with his teammates, but his coaches and teammates were persistent, encouraging him to go.
"I'm laying the guilt trip on him, and everything else," Rex Ryan said at the start of training camp. "And you know what? His teammates understand, and they're pushing him as well. It's not just me."
If you want to follow along at home, Holley begins her competition tomorrow.
ETC. The Olympics have been great, but it's time for college football... Remembering Roboduck... OP asked Reddit to photoshop this image of Auburn DB coach Willie Martinez and Reddit delivered... The sixth ring... Yesterday was a huge day for SpaceX... 20 years on and it's still staggering how quickly this thing came down.
