To start with, I'd just like to remind everyone that this is the penultimate Friday before football season officially begins.
You never like to see anyone leave the team, but at least in Najee Murray's case, the decision was mutual and the departure on (fairly) good terms.
Najee is leaving because of a suspension related to "training camp issues," whatever that might mean.
His departure might not hurt at first, with Armani Reeves, Gareon Conley, Cam Burrows, and Eli Apple all ready and willing to take his playing time. Good luck to Murray as he looks towards the MAC and the west coast for a new football home.
OBI-WAN PRYOR, YOU'RE MY ONLY HOPE. GoldenGate Sports thinks that Pryor might be the answer at QB – and if he's not, then he should get the start anyway, because at least the Raiders would know he's not good enough:
"And Pryor won’t prove anything in the 4-8 starts people are suggesting he’ll get in 2013. He’ll show some promise, some very rough edges, and the Raiders won’t know what they have at year’s end. It’s barely enough time to notice Pryor was brazen enough to claim his college number just as soon as the Raiders let him, symbolic of the fact Pryror exudes confidence found only in athletes that have been special their whole lives...And he’ll either: A) Prove he’s definitely not an NFL QB. B) Demonstrate potential as a No. 2 QB who should be groomed further. Or, C) Make it clear he’s a viable option to start in 2014."
I think there's probably a segment of the Buckeye fan population that nodded their heads in agreement with the "exudes confidence" part of his argument.
But what do you think? His logic is pretty good. Why settle for a guy who's definitely not the long term answer at QB and limiting the snaps for other guys on the roster, when you could test all of your available options now and plan better for the 2014 draft?
Wouldn't it be great if the Raiders did have the QB of the future on their roster and could take Clowney first overall next season? Not that I have even an ounce of Raiders fandom in me, but that seems like a solid move.
THE DIENYS. After over two weeks of touring all Big Ten football camps this preseason, Tom Dienhart is finally ready to present his "Dienys" (you're welcome to use that name for your awards, Tom), or best-of list.
Funny enough, nothing about the Buckeyes or Columbus make the list for the non-football related items, like food, campus, or interview. It's not until he commends Chris Carter's shade-providing qualities that the Buckeyes are even mentioned. He then goes on to talk about the Buckeyes as the best looking team with spirited, with a heck of a yeller in Coombs, and a captivating speaker in Meyer.
So, basically, exactly what you'd want to hear.
Matta has to be pleased with Mickey's commitment HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR FOOTBALL? The Big Ten Network did a survey of U.S. Americans "to find out how and where they like to watch college football." The answer is A) Any and everywhere, but Imma let you finish:
53% say they wear certain clothes or shoes to help their favorite team beat their opponents while 40% felt looking away from the screen sometimes helped their team win. When it comes to superstitions and the game, age matters – 31% of superstitious fans are 18-24 while that number drops down to 10% by the time fans reach their 60’s.
The majority of Americans, 62%, prefer to watch a college football game at home and 30% of respondents between the ages of 25-34 who do go out, prefer to go to a friend’s house to watch a game. When it comes to game day, 63% admit eating is a natural companion to college football which beat out napping (34%) and screaming at the TV (31%).
While watching the game at home is nice (pizza and beer from my fridge is cheaper than at the stadium) and I typically enjoy the commentators, production, and even College Gameday, nothing beats going to games live.
In case you're looking to scratch that Big Ten Network itch, the BTN Kickoff Week starts with #BTNLive at 6PM on Monday and includes a rotating cast of analysts. Further, the BTN is debuting its hour-long Big Ten Football Preview: Legends and Leaders shows at 7PM next Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. It'll look at each team's biggest questions followed by Griffith and DiNardo's picks for the divisions.
MATTA SMILES. In the midst of pre-college football season euphoria, Buckeye Hoops received some truly serendipitous news in the commitment of Mike Mitchell's younger brother, 2015 F Mickey Mitchell.
This is huge news for Matta and the Basketball Buckeyes, as Mickey joins recent commit A.J. Harris to start the 2015 class off right. Here are some "ill" highlights:
According to Doug Lesmesires' interview with Mike and Mickey's dad Ken,
Mike was not the deciding factor, but it's that extra gift. He got up there and realized the legend of Ohio State and what the basketball program has done, and the educational system and how much Mike loves it up there while he's working his tail off.
MORE PREDICTIONS FOR YA. If you can handle any more prediction pieces, College Football Talk has another one for you about the Big Ten.
They obviously pick the Buckeyes to win the conference, only seeing The Game and Northwestern as potential stumbling blocks:
The Game against Michigan can go either way, but there’s really only one spot I can potentially see Ohio State slipping. That would be an Oct. 5 game at Northwestern. The Wildcats enter 2013 with some hype (there’s something you don’t type everyday) after winning 10 games last year.To that I'd say that
LINKS AHOY. It's still not a great time to be a Trojan fan... I didn't even notice that this was a new helmet for Wisconsin... Beyonce is a fan of David Ash? Is that even possible? Don't tell me Jay-Z wants to represent Ash at the next level... Here's what happens when you change defenses... When the guy in front of you won the Heisman and one of the top QB recruits is coming in next year, this is bound to happen.
