Eleven Warriors

I'm no fan of the use of Seven Nation Army in Ohio Stadium - I haven't been for a while, but it seems to sit well with the students so I've been able to shrug it off up until now. After seeing the crowds in State College tonight (and last night) singing it, I thought it would be good to ask the Athletic Department to no longer play the song in Ohio Stadium (especially since our only remaining home game is against Penn State). I encourage anyone else who agrees to do the same (email addys available here).

Below is the body of an email that I just sent:

Misters Smith, Brown, and Quisenberry,

I'm writing to request that you remove all use of The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army" from in-game video/audio from the Ohio State/Penn State football game next Saturday. Given the song's history of use by Penn State (and the fact that OSU adopted the song immediately after the win in Happy Valley in 2009), it seems extremely inappropriate for the university to publicly play the song as part of the stadium experience.

The past few days have produced horrific news coming from State College, and part of the student response (both at Coach Paterno's residence last night and on campus this evening) has been to sing the song as a sort of rallying cry. As such, I feel that it would be in the best interests of the team and university to separate from the song. I realize that there may be many more pressing matters that you have in your duties, but I ask that you stongly consider simply omitting the use of Seven Nation Army before kickoffs. The crowd surely will provide enough noise.

 

Thanks for your time, and Go Bucks.

Dennis H. Mayo
The Ohio State University
Class of 2006

 

According to ESPN's NFL Analyst, the two greatest things in the world (in order) are Andrew Luck and Sliced Bread.  There are too few superlatives in their lexicon to describe his greatness.  There has never been a pro prospect with as much potential as Andrew Luck.  He is so good, they cannot classify his greatness... get the point?

Meanwhile, OSU is stuck with a pittance of a passing offense.  Fans are just happy if a pass is attempted once every five minutes.  Let's do the impossible and compare a non-Andrew-Luck speciman (Braxton Miller) to the scrumtrulescent Andrew Luck.

In six starts (half a season) he's thrown 74 attempts and harbors a completion rate of 51% with 6 TDs and e Ints.  Extrapolate that out to a 12 game schedule (umm, multiply by 2) and we have a projected stat line of 148 attempts with 12 TDs to 6 picks.  Definitely pathetic when compared to Andrew Luck; this explains why OSU has a running oriented offense.

How did Andrew Luck fare his true freshman year?  He didn't play.  That's right, the greatest thing in the history of all things was sentenced to the bench.  What did his second year wraught in 2009?  A paltry 56% completion rate and a Braxtonesque 13 to 4 TD to Int ratio.  All this in a conference not known for the defense.  Remember the RB Heisman candidate Tony Gerhart?  He was the core of the Stanford offense; yep, like Braxton's first year, the offense revolved around the run.  And, even with a future NFL MVP at QB, a future NFL coach (Harbaugh) and a future NFL RB, Stanford finished 2009 with a mediocre 8-5 record and 4th in the Pac-10.

Even the great QB draft picks take time to develop.  Yes, Braxton will be lucky to end up with double digit touchdowns, but so was a second year Andrew Luck.  There's only 4 teams in the nation starting True Freshman QBs, three are terrible and one is in Big Ten title contention.  OSU won the 2008 Big Ten during Pryor's true Freshman year; I challenge you readers (because I'm too lazy to look this up) to find the last time a BCS team won its conference with a true freshman at the helm.

Stop complaining about the excessive runs, Braxton is doing just fine.  Let's wish him the best of Luck.

(by the way, if anyone knows what scrumtrulescent means Will Ferrell will be proud)

Join me next week when I compare Joe Bauserman's value to Andrew Luck's.  I may need help.

Completely ripped off from MGoBrian.

He explains his terms here http://mgoblog.blogspot.com/2006/10/hennechart-legend.html

Three inaccurate passes, all in a row at the end of the first half.  The first one is wide of Corey Brown who is standing 8 yards down field on the outside, I'm not sure on this one if Miller threw the ball where he wanted to and was expecting Brown to cut outside or if Miller just didn't get the ball where he wanted to.  On a 2nd and 8 following a pass interference and a 2 yard bootleg, Miller completely airmailed Brown, and followed that up by overthrowing a well covered Fragel on 3rd and 8.

The bad read is the interception on a 3rd and 18 I formation play action pass, Miller throws into double coverage.  I'm not 100% certain he had a better option as 3 receivers are around the line of scrimmage to his left and I can't see the tight end to the right.  The interception ends up better than any punt Ohio State could hope for as IU goes out of bounds at the one.

One drop on the day on his final attempt as Miller hangs in the pocket on 3rd and 16 against a 6 man rush and delivers a good ball to Brown.

In my opinion the game really wasn't as bad as this makes it look.  There were 2 pass interference calls on balls that could have gone for big gains as the defenders were beaten and had no other option.  And there was the 3rd and 11 at the beginning of the second quarter where Miller throws a pretty good ball and bizarrely 19 yards down field the IU defender is allowed to push Brown out of bounds while the ball is in the air.  On the other hand 2 of the 5 completions were for negative yards, so the passing game really was a very small mixed bag in this game.  One more thing, excellent job by all on the 26 yard 3rd and 19 completion against an 8 man IU pass rush.

Runs

Even without the 2 draws for 101 yards and 2 td's, Miller had 41 yards on 5 carries.  Miller and the offense have to get better at reading blitzes, IU brought more than 4 on 13 of the 25 plays I tracked.  3 of the 6 sacks were Miller leaving the pocket, but that still leaves 3 plays with unblocked blitzers getting to the quarterback.

Receivers

No targets for Stoneburner, nice catch and run by Boren.

Stoneburner dropped a first down on a 3rd and 12 and Brown had the drop on the first pass of the night.

This next table is similar to what I think mgobrian is doing with his receiving chart but I am unable to find a link to his explanations so mine will have to do.  The first digit in the grade is from the receiver’s point of view, 4 easy to 1 impossible.  The second digit indicates the presence of the defender (1 there, 0 not there) at the time the ball hits the receiver’s hands.  When I say there, I mean close contact.

Therefore:
11  Bad pass, tight coverage.
10  Bad pass, no defender to stop it
21  Really tough ball to catch and in tight coverage.  A catch on this means the receiver is saving his qb.
20  Really tough ball to catch, no coverage.
31  Ball outside the strike zone, tight coverage

30  Ball outside the strike zone, no coverage

41  Ball on the money, tight coverage
40  Ball on the money, no coverage

Receivers

Perhaps nothing instigates anger more than, crimes against children.

How can Penn State continue to play football, this season?

Fears have been expressed for the safety of Joe Paterno and Mike McQueary, should they appear at the game in Happy Valley, this weekend. And what of those attending the game, in Beaver Stadium? What will happen in the stands?

Anger and outrage is growing. How can Penn State risk the possibility of public unrest amidst such large crowds, when playing its final two games of the year - on the road - in Columbus and Madison, Wisconsin?

Public safety trumps football. Penn State should forfeit its remaining games.

Fellas, in case you care, Heavy D died this morning...

(EDIT): This sucks...listened to this guy alot in HS,on the North side of Columbus with my best friend at that time, "Big" Mike Mundell, who died during our junior year because of diabetes...Mike and I  hung out alot on campus in HS, with the Young Scholar's program and other events...tough day reminiscing about those times listening to Heavy D, Craig Rock, Biggie, Wu-Tang, Jodeci, etc in high school with people I will never see, things I'll never do again. I gotta make it back for a game in the next few years...

44? Man that's young, coulda swore he was older.

RIP big fella.

The Gold Pants Club is holding its annual Gold Pants Party on Saturday, November 26 at the Park Street Patio in Columbus.

Come join former Buckeyes Craig Krenzel, Dan Wilkinson, Matt Finkes, Dee Miller,  Bob Hoying, John Hicks, Jim Karsatos and many more to watch Ohio State try for its fourth straight win in Ann Arbor.  Arrive early and your $20 entry ticket will get you unlimited draft beer and reduced-price appetizers.

Cheer the Buckeyes on and enter the raffle to win a cruise for two on the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer benefitting the Stephanie Speilman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at the James Cancer Center. 

The winner will win an oceanview room for two with all meals and much more included. There will also be a one-of-a-kind cycling jersey signed by Jim Tressel, Chris Speilman, Archie Griffin and Craig Krenzel aong with many other prizes.  You can buy ticket online right now or at the door on 11/26.

We will also have a live auction at half time with a Luke Fickell-signed football, a helmet signed by both Mike Vrabel and Matt Finkes, a Green Bay Packers football signed by the three Buckeyes currently on the Packers, an AJ Hawk-autographed Packers jersey and some exculsive signed Gold Pants framed pictures.

Please come join the Gold Pants Foundation in raising money for endowed scholarships to the Ohio State University.

http://nittanywhiteout.com/2011/08/31/rose-bowl-applauds-big-ten-championship-trophys-public-debut/

I saw a comment on an ESPN stroy which reminded me about the new B1G Championship Trophy. I called the B1G home office and left a message with Jim Delany's secretary.  She was very polite as she took my name and number. I merely said that the conference may want to consider a new name for the trophy and stick to naming it the B1G Ten Championship Trophy, or only name it after someone who has been dead for at least 50 years and has had their entire coaching career and university activities fully vetted.

B1G home office: http://local.yahoo.com/info-17192392-big-ten-conference-park-ridge

The calendar suggests the NCAA will will make public its ruling on Jim Tressel and Ohio State, some time between today and Monday, November 21 - the beginning of the week of the regular season.  One would expect the NCAA to complete its work, to avoid complicating the first annual, B1G Ten Championship Game, in any way.

Here's a short list of how some expect the NCAA to rule, in this matter:

1.) Jim Tressel - Show-Cause. Ohio State - 1-Year bowl ban and loss of scholarships numbering 10, or less.

2.) Jim Tressel - Show-Cause. Ohio State - 1-Year bowl ban.

3.) Jim Tressel - Show-Cause. Ohio State - Loss of scholarships numbering 10, or less.

While Gee and Smith can certainly be criticized for their inartful statements and clumsy press conferences during this investigation and more seriously - the revelation of additional infractions undertaken by Ohio State players after the December 2010 announcement - Ohio State has vigorously penalized itself and cooperated with the NCAA. It would seem more than prudent for the NCAA to "send a message" to other member institutions that it's better to cooperate and be transparent, in these investigations. I cite the NCAA's language, to support my opinion:

The NCAA's Cooperative Principle

The cooperative principle imposes an affirmative obligation on NCAA member institutions (and their representatives) to assist the NCAA enforcement staff in developing full information about potential violations. All individuals who are subject to NCAA rules must protect the integrity of an investigation and maintain confidentiality throughout the process.

How do member institutions fulfill their obligations under the cooperative principle?

Member institutions fulfill their obligation by: fully cooperating with the enforcement staff, Committee on Infractions and Infractions Appeals Committee; disclosing to the enforcement staff all relevant information regarding potential violations; and protecting the integrity of the investigation (that is, limiting the disclosure of information relevant to the investigation) (see: http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Enforcement/Process/Inve...).

Ohio State has fulfilled this obligation.

And Ohio State has done much to correct it mistakes:

Suspending players

Accepting Tressel’s resignation;

Vacating the football program’s wins in the 2010 season, including the 2010 Big Ten Football Co-Championship and its Sugar Bowl victory in January 2011 (and financial reward, therefrom);

Self-imposing a two-year NCAA probation and

Implementing additional measures to enhance the university’s already extensive monitoring, educational and compliance programs (see: http://www.alongtheolentangy.com/2011/7/8/2266309/ohio-state-responds-to...).

In my opinion, the NCAA should rule, accordingly:

4.) Jim Tressel - Show-Cause. Ohio State - No further penalties.

Why? Ohio State has exemplified the NCAA's "Cooperative Principle."

Missouri is set to join SEC East division with Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky. This makes no sense geographically but the move was made to protect historical rivalries already established within the SEC and to maintain competitive balance. Where have I heard something similar? Oh, right. That's the reasoning behind the B1G division breakdowns. So...cue the outrage from the national media, right? "How will I ever remember Missouri is in the EAST?! They're one of the western most schools in the league!" Oh, I guess not. The media is all on board. This is the way it should be considering I could teach a 5-year old which schools are in which division in any league regardless of geography or stupid division name. You can honestly draw a line straight through B1G country and plainly see the divisional breakdown. The only one that doesn't fit is Wisconsin. Pic - http://i44.tinypic.com/i42yxc.gif And you can do this for the new SEC too.

Violating children is an atrocity. The fact this may have occurred so often and over such a long period of time at one of America's most revered academic and athletic institutions - Penn State - assures a long criminal investigation, congressional involvement and likely, the largest civil case brought against the state of Pennsylvania, in its history.

Penn State's football season ended this past weekend. Joe Paterno's career may end this week. And it is likely - given the magnitude of the charges - Penn State may - some time soon - find itself not playing football, for awhile.

Today, Penn State may be the top story. But, all of America's universities and colleges hosting or involved in programs similar to the one at Penn State, must contemplate the worst of what if's. Let us hope this hasn't occurred anywhere else -  let alone be widespread.

If it has, the American institution of college athletics - oft-criticized of late for scandal-upon-scandal - will be brought under the type of control, indicative of a police state.