Eleven Warriors

No, really. There are flames and it's hot and OUCH.

So, Derek has accepted a new position and will be taking his talents to Scout Beach. It all happened so quickly and we're very excited for him – he'll bring a fantastic skill set to his role working under Bill Greene.

We're also a bit frustrated, because if you know anything about the major Ohio State subscription sites, Bucknuts/247 is the Hatfields to Buckeye Sports Bulletin/Scout's McCoys. The Hatfields made a move last week, and the McCoys answered. Thanks, eternally feuding pay sites!

So Miles is the last man on Moon Base Alpha but he's a good man and he'll deftly hold things down through this big recruiting weekend, letting you know the moment the class of 2014 grows.

And we have insurance!

We'll be announcing the addition of an all-state talent within days. This person should be up and running ahead of the Spring Game next weekend. And as of this writing, we have over 50 applications – many stellar – to become our third recruiting analyst. We are still collecting applications for the open analyst position, so if you or someone you know might be interested, let us know.

Please join me in congratulating Derek and thanking him for his time and effort.

Yesterday was Alex's last day with Eleven Warriors. He's moving on to Bucknuts after receiving an offer that he'd be crazy to turn down.

Alex has been instrumental in building Eleven Warriors to the place it is today and he'll be sorely missed. If we could have cloned him, we would have. His four years of hard work on the recruiting front and dedication to making 11W a better place was a crucial part of our growth.

If there was a way to keep Alex, we would have done it. But as a small, independent site, we simply did not have the resources to match the offer.

While it's never easy to lose someone like Alex, we are well positioned for his departure. Derek moves into our Director of Recruiting/Scouting role and both he and Miles have built extensive networks with recruits and coaches in Ohio State's recruiting footprint (which is pretty much the entire country at this point). They're both excited to step into expanded roles and to build upon what Alex started at Eleven Warriors. We have some exciting things planned.

I also firmly believe that in an age of Twitter and instant information, our free model is sustainable and will keep us competitive on the recruiting front.

Alex becomes the fourth writer at Eleven Warriors to move into a salaried position, covering the team and topics that they love. We embrace that cradle of writers image, but at the same time, we'll continue to work to ensure Eleven Warriors grows to become a destination spot and not an elite AAA team for better funded operations. We're close.

Please join me in congratulating Alex and Derek on their new roles.

Alex has asked me to share this farewell message:

For over four years this place has been like a second family to me and I want to thank each and every one of you making it a special part of my life.

Special thanks go out to Jason and Chris (and Corey) for first giving me the opportunity to express my passion for Ohio State on this platform after finding me struggling to keep dottingthei.com afloat after starting the site with a few of my friends.

I also want to thank the other staff writers who have always been there for me and have helped me develop throughout my career. Big props to Derek and Miles for elevating our recruiting platform with me over the last year.

Finally, I want to thank all of you readers for actually caring about what I put on the interwebs and giving me feedback, both good and bad throughout the years, to help me grow and more importantly, help this site grow.

I hope you all will follow my content at Bucknuts, but also continue to come to 11W for all of your Buckeye needs.

This site is truly a special place and I really believe the ongoing success it has seen over the last couple of years will continue well into the future. I know I couldn't get to where I am today without 11W and I wish the staff all of the best. I'll definitely be sure to pop in from time to time to say hi and I know Derek and Miles will do a great job of keeping you in the loop for recruiting.

Once again, thank you all and feel free to reach me at any time at alexgleitman247@gmail.com.

Go Bucks,

Alex

 

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It was closer than it should have been and mother of god, that defense, but Urban Meyer's Buckeyes improved to 7-0 with a 52-49 win over the Hoosiers in Bloomington Saturday night.

Braxton Miller racked up 360 total yards of offense (149 on the ground and 211 through the air) to go with two passing and one rushing touchdown. Running back Carlos Hyde turned in his second strong showing in a row, finishing with 156 yards and two total touchdowns (giving him six in two games), and Devin Smith hauled in two very important passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

Oh, Zach Boren, in his first game at linebacker, led the defense in tackles with eight.

Here is your game in GIFs.

Miller to Smith for another bomb on the right sideline. Shades of East Lansing.

Braxton goes 67 yards to put the Buckeyes up 31-17 minutes into the third quarter.

Kenny Guiton comes on in relief of the injured Miller and hits Carlos Hyde with a nifty shuffle pass for a 14 yard touchdown to put Ohio State up 38-24.

As if to make up for the two touchdowns he had dropped, Devin Smith takes a hitch, breaks two tackles and outraces the Hoosier defense for a 46 yard touchdown to put Ohio State up 52-34 with 7:41 to go in the game.

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Urban Meyer improved to 11-0 all-time in conference openers with Ohio State's 17-16 win over Michigan State in East Lansing. The Buckeyes didn't play a perfect game, but the win was an important win. Michigan State was thought to be the most complete team in the Big Ten and winning on the road is never easy. The Spartans also featured the league's top running back, but Le'Veon Bell was held to a meager 45 yards on 17 carries – just 2.6 yards per carry.

Now, Ohio State finds itself in a position to be favored in every remaining game on the schedule.

Here is your day in GIFs.

Lee Corso kicks things off by drawing the ire of Spartan fans with his pick.

Carlos Hyde gets a little too eager to pop a punt returner... and earns a penalty for it.

No worries, Carlos. Your coach feeds off this intensity.

Braxton Miller connects on a beautiful throw and catch with Devin Smith to take the lead for good.

"He's a special player."

Next up: A homecoming tilt with Nebraska following the Eat Too, Brutus 2012. High stakes.

If you plan to attend Eat Too, Brutus prior to the Nebraska game, get your weekend off to the right start by making it out for Drink Too, Brutus on Friday, October 5^th.

We're going to gather at Bernard's Tavern in the Short North (Map) at 8pm to eat, drink, talk football and celebrate the buckets of cash you're helping us raise for DownSyndrome Achieves. Bernard's will be supplying wristbands and will have drink/food specials throughout the night and we have a surprise or two in store as well.

This is a great chance to meet your favorite D-list writers as well as site regulars and kind, charitable people. We hope you'll join us.

In bullets:

• DATE/TIME: Friday, October 5^th @ 8:00pm
• LOCATION: Bernard's Tavern - 630 N High St (Map)
• SPREADING TO RUN POWER, A SYMPOSIUM: To begin one hour into the night, or whenever Ross starts to tingle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I don't have a ticket to Eat Too, Brutus because I am unable to attend the tailgate?
You're more than welcome to come out for Drink Too, Brutus even if you don't have a ticket to Eat Too, Brutus.

Will you be accepting donations for DownSyndrome Achieves at Drink Too, Brutus?
Yes! If you'd like to make a donation to DownSyndrome Achieves, we can accept it at Drink Too, Brutus.

I'm not drinking age. Can I still attend?
Sorry. Bernard's is a 21+ establishment.

I plan to drink. Should I line up a designated driver or look into getting a cab?
Yes. A thousand times yes.

Will Johnny sing The Legend of Air Bud to me?
Yes. But only after 10pm.

It's that time of the year again. We'll be hosting live blogs for every game this season starting with the opener against Miami this weekend.

We had a great crew that handled moderation and pretty much ensured things ran smoothly last year, but we're always looking to add a few more to help ease the load. If you are interested and we utilize your services, you will be paid in t-shirts from the soon-to-be-reopened 11W Dry Goods.

It's a good gig, really: Spend a bit of time on Saturday doing what you'd likely be doing anyway, and come away with the choicest cotton on the planet.

If you're interested, please shoot me a note and we'll go from there.

Thanks!

Ohio State has released their game week media schedule and we're pleased to inform you that you'll have ample opportunity to catch the dreamy Urban Meyer on television and radio every week of the season.

• MONDAY 11:45AM - URBAN MEYER'S WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE: The first 20 minutes will feature a Meyer Q&A and then a short break before two assistants conduct their own Q&As at 12:15pm. Meyer's session will be streamed live on OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Following each presser, Eleven Warriors will bring you the coverage you deserve.
• THURSDAY 12:00PM - URBAN MEYER RADIO CALL-IN SHOW: Recorded live at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, this show will air live weekly at noon on 97.1 The Fan.
• SATURDAY 9:00AM - GAME TIME WITH URBAN MEYER: Meyer's television show will air every Saturday morning on WBNS-10TV and statewide on FOX Sports Ohio.

With former Buckeyes David Lighty, Dallas Lauderdale, Jon Diebler, Ron Lewis, Terrence Dials, JJ Sullinger, George Reese, Scoonie Penn, Brian Brown, Evan Turner and Ivan Harris in action for today's Battle of Ohio charity basketball game (not to mention Clark Kellogg, Brad Sellers, Ron Stokes, Michael Redd and Greg Oden serving as coaches), it's hard to believe the game isn't being televised anywhere in Columbus. Instead, this is what's on tap:

Thankfully, Kyle is on hand and tweeting live from the event.

Full rosters if you're interested. And yes, that's Damon Stringer.

M Man, our resident Wolverine expert, already published the definitive review of Three and Out: Rich Rodriguez and the Michigan Wolverines in the Crucible of College Football, John U. Bacon's behind-the-scenes look at Rich Rodriguez's short tenure in Ann Arbor.

His review is fair, thorough and informative. If you didn't get a chance to read it, you should really make time to do so. Oh, and if you're looking for a good read, pick the book up. You'll get the dirty on the Machiavellian atmosphere on "The Hill" as well as learn a lot about Michigan and Big Ten history along the way.

There's really not much I can add to his review, but I did finally have a chance to squeeze the book in¹ and thought I'd share some of the passages I highlighted when reading it.

Part opposition research, part just plain interesting facts, my Kindle notes are yours.

Their FAVORITE SONG is Probably Ripped Off (P. 15)

Either way, Elbel worked with amazing efficiency—perhaps because he seems to have lifted the renowned melody of “The Victors’” from “The Spirit of Liberty,” which his friend George Rosenberg had copyrighted seven months earlier.

The Victors, the song you grew up hating, is not original (fast-forward to the 1:40 mark of the embedded "The Spirit of Liberty March"). It's safe to go ahead and add "intellectual property thief" to the long list of characteristics that define the Michigan Man.

Bo Schembechler May Have Thought the Helmets Were Ugly, Too (P. 22)

Although Schembechler made an ill-advised crack during an early speech about changing the team’s funny-looking helmets (he maintained it was a joke, though others aren’t so certain), he quickly received the help of Canham, Bob Ufer, and his predecessor, Bump Elliott. He learned Michigan’s gospel and how to preach it.

While Michigan Men are still debating whether or not Bo was joking, I'm going to go ahead and assume that he wanted to change the helmets but had the common sense to play his way out of the situation. They are pretty ugly.

You and Rich Rodriguez shared the same seat on the Demon Drop (p. 28)

For their honeymoon, all [Rich and Rita Rodriguez] could afford was Cedar Point for one night, but they remember it fondly.

It's easy to think HURR-DURR RICH RODRIGUEZ WENT TO CEDAR POINT FOR HIS HONEYMOON, but it's impossible to read this book without coming away liking the guy. Ipso facto, honeymoons at Cedar Point are now considered charming. Also, this is the first of many documented instances of Rodriguez's stomach dropping in the state of Ohio.

Lloyd Carr is crazy (p. 42)

Each week he went through the game program and circled everything he didn’t like—right down to an ad for Velveeta cheese featuring former Ohio State quarterback turned ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit—and told the sports information people to make sure it was pulled by the next week. Inside the department, such stories earned him the nickname "Paranoid Lloyd."

I got nothing.

Rodriguez Was a Trash Talker (p. 114-115)

When the tape finished, Rodriguez said, "They don’t like us. Weis has popped his mouth off and a few of their players have, too. That’s fine. They talk about the Golden Dome and Touchdown Jesus and all those national championship banners. That’s fine, too. But let me tell you right now: It wouldn’t matter if the pope himself came down and blessed every one of them. From what I know, the pope doesn’t coach football!"

And...

Rodriguez finished with a classic coaching tactic: the assumptive victory. "I visualize walking across the field after we kick their asses and shaking the fat boy’s hand and saying, 'We can’t wait to see you again in 365 days.'"

Told you that you'd grow to like the guy.

Rodriguez the Sailor (p. 263)

In the coaches' room, Rodriguez said, to no one in particular, "They’re running the same goddamn play twenty times in a row and we can’t fuckin’ stop 'em. Fuck me!"

This outburst came after Michigan had turned a three point halftime deficit into a 45-24 beatdown in Madison, handing the Wolverines their sixth-straight loss of the 2009 season.

Rodriguez used a lot of colorful language and you'll recall some pointed to his language as what Justin Boren was referring to when he mentioned the erosion of family values within the program.

I also found it interesting that Rodriguez would use language like this at practice in front of his children, as they attended most of them.

Carr let his players skip class during rivalry weeks (p. 266)

"This week, we will give Ohio State our undivided attention. This is all you’ll be thinking about this week, except for classes—and as you know, we expect you to attend." The last bit was a reference to Carr’s policy of letting the players skip class during rivalry weeks. By Rodriguez’s second year, they knew not to ask him anymore about that.

Let's see: three rivals, 15 weeks of classes during fall quarter... Who wouldn't want to play for a coach that let you skip 20% of our classes?

Mark Dantonio is who you think he is (p. 361)

"Coach Dantonio," he said, extending his hand, "I just want to wish you a speedy recovery and welcome you to Michigan Stadium." Dantonio brushed his hand away. "Get the hell outta here."

That's Michigan State Mark Dantonio talking to a crowd control volunteer at Michigan Stadium.

Imagine the Kenny Powers shower scene in the pilot of Eastbound and Down (p. 366)

When Rodriguez took his postgame shower a few minutes later, it sounded like he might suffer from a rare strain of Tourette's. "Fuckin' defense! Fuckin' long snapper! Fuckin' LIFE!"

That's the head coach, shortly after dropping his first game of the 2010 season, in ugly fashion, to Little Brother.

Cool story, officer (p. 405)

In the second half, the Buckeyes scored on their first three possessions to post a 37–7 score, and it would have been worse if Coach Tressel had not shown some mercy in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes’ infamous fans, of course, showed a little less mercy, yelling and screaming profanities throughout the game. In the words of a U-M police officer assigned to guard the players, "If I was given a free pass to shoot Ohio State fans today, I’d have run out of bullets."

Note to self: Don't get pulled over in Ann Arbor.

Meanwhile, Taylor Lewan lives in a parallel universe (p. 405)

"Let's don’t act like they beat us!" Lewan told his teammates back in the locker room. "They didn’t. We beat ourselves. We had ’em! We outplayed ’em!"

Remember, this is right after losing to the Buckeyes 37-7.

We were tantalizingly close to getting footage of Rodriguez's Groban Moment (p. 415)

The rumor mill had Fox Sports offering $50,000 for the film and another outlet $100,000. Dave Brandon—a world-class whiz at damage control, who had handled the NCAA investigation so masterfully—quickly quashed that problem by telling the film crew that if they did so, they’d never work for Michigan again...

If I had been aware of a bidding war for the video footage of Rodriguez urging the banquet crowd to sing along to Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up", we would have held a fundraiser a year earlier.

• ¹ I spend about 90 minutes commuting on the Red Line each day, so I have ample opportunity to read. Three books that I've really enjoyed lately are: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, The Cold War: A New History by John Lewis Gaddis and The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean.

Last Friday DJ published a thought-provoking story encouraging student athletes to seize the option to go pro when opportunities to do so arise. One line in the story, regarding universities generally not caring about whether students graduate, struck a nerve and the comments subsequently turned into the type of discourse we try to avoid at 11W.

While in a general sense, I agree with DJ's view that many universities put profits above education these days, many of you have an emotional attachment to one big university in particular, and I can see why you may feel that his statement did not apply to Ohio State. Ultimately, his opinion was not the issue -- we pride ourselves on the edge we provide, challenging popular opinions and avoiding the milquetoast analysis you see at so many other sites -- but his reaction in the comments is not what we'd prefer to see out of our writers. Things got heated and DJ and readers alike were insulted and probably felt as if they were being talked down to by the other party.

We thought it would be best to give DJ a little bit of time away from the site and also asked that he apologize to anyone that he may have offended. He decided it was best to part ways, so we mutually agreed to do so. He's given me permission to reprint his resignation letter:

Dear Internet Comrades,

On Friday, an article I wrote devolved into a messy string of ugly internet comments about something entirely different than what I had originally written. There's nobody to blame for it, but me. I humbly accept any and all blame and apologize to those which were angry at words I had arranged on the internet. It was a spirited debate which became (unfortunately) personal to me.

In the defense of my arguments and myself, I crossed some lines. In crossing those lines, I enraged some of the commentariat. I did my best to contain my words and standby the crux of what I was saying, but I'm not going to say I threw a perfect game.

I realize my abrasive ways aggravate a lot of people, and I realize this puts a lot of people I respect in very hard places. The Elders of this site have stood by me through much more embarrassing times than this past weekend, namely when I tried to bullshit a defensive preview like I had so many college papers. Then there was the time I used the word "fagz" in a crunken tweet against Manchester United's team and supporters. (And from those ashes rose @dj11w.) There were countless small factoids I bungled as well. However, I have done nothing but pour my heart and soul into every letter I've typed on the internet. I know it may seem like bullshit, but I have truly tried to choose which arrows I let loose from my sling. Even at my best, I can't do what this site deserves.

I respect you guys and your work too much to jeopardize your quest for credentials any further. The other night, when @hollabucks said I hurt 11W's "quest for legitimacy", I wanted to reply "It's already legitimate," but then I realized I had very little to do with the actual legitimacy of this website.

This stable is much more professional and hard-working than I probably will ever be. I have met most of you, and I have deep respect for all of you. I have been and will continue to be a fan of all of your works.

Thank you for seeing enough in the mangled humanity which is my existence to offer me my first writing gig. I will forever be in your debt and I am sorry for the ill-will which I have created. You guys will be much better off without me.

May Warren G. Harding Save Us All,

Donald J. Byrnes, II

I want to reiterate that we will go to bat for our writers and their opinions, even when controversial. This is an exchange of ideas and there will be some that you won't like. However, we will not tolerate the comments turning into a war zone between writers and readers. If you disagree with a writer's opinion, feel free to voice your disagreement, but do so without ad hominem attacks. We promise to do the same in return.

We wish DJ the best. He is a gifted writer and a wildly entertaining Buckeye fan. And while it's true that we're now staring down a post-spring game party named after one of his favorite words (hello, awkward), he's been invited to come out and enjoy the night with us and we hope he takes us up on that offer.

If you have any questions or comments, please let me know.

Jason