What a difference a week makes.
After binging on the last of the non-conference cupcakes culminated a week largely void of intriguing news outside the Braxton/Guiton storyline, there's a whole different level of excitement around the program as the Buckeyes prepare to tangle with the Wisconsin Badgers in primetime this weekend.
In conjunction with the big game, a bevy of intriguing nuggets emerged from Urban Meyer's media session following last night's practice.
The biggest news, of course, centered on Braxton with Meyer offering:
“I think Braxton will probably start. He had a good day today, and looks like he’s pretty close to 100 percent. I just want to make sure running the ball he’s good, too; and he was, and Kenny’s good. Right now we’re still working through exactly how we’re going to manage the game, but they both look good.”
“Braxton took a good majority of the snaps this week in practice, like we did before he got hurt; but we still have a Kenny Guiton–not necessarily package–but we certainly let him practice a bunch.”
With Meyer later adding Miller "looked very natural" when it came to analyzing his gait, the stage is set for Miller to retake control of the Ohio State offense. Further, with Hyde back in the top-two rotation at tailback, the offense, barring any Braxton-rust, should be optimized for the increased physicality and overall upgrade in talent on the opposite side of the ball.
Having a more-than-competent backup quarterback chomping at the bit to see the field is icing on the luxury-cake.
Meyer shared even more good news noting that Adolphus Washington will return to action against the Badgers. Nursing a groin the last few weeks, Washington joins Michael Bennett, who missed last week's laugher against Florida A&M, on the finally-intact starting defensive line along with Joel Hale and Noah Spence with what appears to be a fast-improving crop of rotational reserves in Joey Bosa, Chris Carter, Chase Farris, Jamal Marcus and Steve Miller.
Despite the numerous conference flaws, the B1G is still a pretty physical league and having such depth up front can only help put the linebacking corps in better position to effectively perform.
Finally, the alternate rivalry jerseys the Buckeyes will sport Saturday night drew plenty of discussion. Urban made it clear that he doesn't care about looks; he only cares about how the jerseys can postively impact the program:
I liked the result (last year against Michigan). I'm not so much into looks. I'm into good players and recruiting.”
Bingo. As a man closing in or the age of 40, it took me awhile to come around on compromising tradition but that's a short-sighted approach in today's day and age. Bradley Roby's comments add all the perspective you should need if you prioritize winning over accepting the alternate uniform craze:
"Any time you get a chance to wear a different uniform, it's like, 'All right, cool, yeah, we're going to go kill them. There's something about wearing a different uniform that makes you play a little better. And the whole atmosphere added with that, it's just going to be crazy.”
I don't get it, but I don't need to. If newfangled uniforms help attracted talent in an effort to get that crystal, sign me up.
BFF? NO. DIAF? YES. At the end of his regular Monday presser in prep for Wisconsin, in response to a question of whether or not he misses Bert being at the helm of the Badgers, Meyer sported a big sh!t-eating grin and said, "No, I am good with Gary (Andersen)", in reference to Wisky's current head coach and former Meyer defensive coordinator at Utah.
The whole thing was very tongue in cheek but of course the scene made its way back to Brent down in Fayetteville.
Assumedly in between gulps of Michelob Ultra Pomegranate Raspberry (though DJ has him pegged as a Bud Light Lime guy) Bret was asked on College Football Live what he thought about Urban's comment and he fanned the flames with a simple, "the feeling's mutual."
With Burt out of the B1G grid down in Arkansas, the players are very much aware of the difference in the relationship between Urban and both the former and current Wisconsin head coaches. Just ask Badger DT Beau Anderson:
"Not to get too much into things, but obviously Coach Andersen and Coach Meyer have a relationship in the past. There's a mutual respect between Coach Andersen and that staff over there. That may be something that might be a little different this year, without getting too detailed or specific."
Okay, I'll say it. I miss having Bert around for Urban to bully.
It's almost here...ITTY-BITTY PLAYOFF COMMITTEE. Bill Hancock, BCS/College Football Playoff executive director, gave an update on the slow but sure formation of the selection committee that will determine which teams take place in a four-team playoff capping the 2014 football season.
Hancock notes the committee, which will be comprised of 12-18 members with a final number most likely leaning toward the lower end of that range, could be announced as soon as early-December.
As previously shared, the committee is targeting folks who are either current athletic directors, former administrators, coaches or players in addition to members of the media.
Due to the time commitment, some prospective members have turned down invitations though the solicitation process is ongoing.
Other details shared by Hancock include:
- The group will meet 6-10 times per year for 2-3 days at a time.
- The group will release rankings – which will not feature computer standings – roughly 3-5 times per season.
- Hancock is drawing ideas from the current NCAA basketball tournament philosophies in which wide-ranging criteria is applied to the evaluation/consideration process, taking into account things like common opponents, head-to-head outcomes and conference championships but those philosophies still need further refinement before they're ready for primetime.
QUICK CLICKS. That had to hurt... I don't play video games but was still shocked to learn this was a thing... The History of the Trapper Keeper... Weird on so many levels, plus American cheese? (slightly NSFW)... What is the Most Screwed Up Thing About Your State?... Average SAT and ACT scores by state... The 10 greatest comebacks in sports history... Mark Richt with a little twitter-soft-porn... Worldwide meat consumption per capita... Who nose?... Bo Jackson’s Elite Sports Center Breaks Ground in Hilliard... The Working Titles of 14 Popular Hollywood Movies... The amazing story of Oregon WR Huff.
