Eleven Warriors

PER ATHLON SPORTS:  Even though the 2012 college football season isn’t over, it’s never too early to take a peek ahead to 2013. Considering players are going to leave for the NFL Draft and more coaching changes are in store over the next few months, a lot is going to change between now and when Athlon releases its official top 25 poll for 2013 in May. With plenty of changes likely to occur and more in-depth research coming over the next few months, keep in mind this is a very, very, very early look at how the preseason top 25 will look like next season.

Keep in mind, this is more of an off-the-cuff early ranking, as we will dive more into the schedules and the returning depth charts once the season is finished. Expect plenty of changes when Athlon releases an updated top 25 in January and again in May.

http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/very-early-college-football-top-25-2013

With an already strong recruiting class (and getting better) along with what I believe will be a better defense it is not a stretch to say that Ohio State will win it all next season. Urban Meyer will keep this team motivated and hungry next season even with a horrible schedule. I am calling it Florida Vs Ohio State in the championship game with Urban Meyer winning one in blowout fashion over his old team....LET'S GO BUCKS AND FINISH NEXT YEAR WHAT THE SENIORS STARTED THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So you want to learn how to cook a wolverine do you? Well there's a GOOD reason they refer to the wolverine as "stink bear", and for most galloping gourmet's, they can't get past the smell far enough to even consider bringing even a hind quarter into the kitchen. That makes him grillin' fare at best. And depending (only a little bit) whether you have tagged a young female or a randy old boar, the smell may be more or less tolerable, even out on the deck during a heavy snowfall. To help tame down what might be an otherwise overwhelming odor which can dominate senses LONG before your taste buds ever get up the nerve to take that first bite, I recommend a recipe so popular with the Hawaiians that they literally ate the Hawaiian Wolverine right into extinction. Consider this: Cube about one pound of the more tender cuts and roll them in 1/4 cup of flour. Brown the cubes in margarine, butter, or olive oil. (Your preference) Once browned, add 1/2 cup of boiling water and simmer in a frying pan until tender. After the meat is cooked and tender, add two chopped green peppers, 1/2 cup of drained pineapple chunks, and part of a chopped purple onion to taste. Continue to simmer meat with other ingredients. Then add to a saucepan 1/2 cup of pineapple juice, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 2 tablespoons of corn starch, 1/4 cup of mild vinegar, 1/4 cup of sugar, one heaping teaspoon of instant coffee, and ground pepper to taste. (The pineapple juice, coffee, and vinegar help to work out any gaminess in the meat.) (Some like to throw in a minced jalapeno pepper as well. Make mine without.) Heat contents of saucepan over low heat and continue cooking until the sauce thickens. Pour sauce over meat and simmer a few minutes to allow the meat to absorb the flavors of the sauce mix. This recipe will serve six. The next time you cook it, you may have to double the ingredients to serve 12. Hope you enjoyed this recipe today and uh Oh yeah GO BUCKS! BEAT MICHIGAN!!!!!

Ohio State has seen it's share of elite running backs in the school's illustrious history of playing college football. Names such as Eddie, Archie, Byars, Clarrett, Cassady, Harley, Johnson, Beanie, and Spencer jump out at first glance but others such as Pepe Pearson, Michael Wiley, Joe Montgomery, etc; have left an indellible mark on the fabric that is Buckeyenation.

I believe that it is time that we add one more name to this great list of buckeye legends- and that name is Rod Smith.

Before I go any further let me first start off by saying that I understand that this is giant leap I am making and for all intensive purposes I am willing to take any criticism for my seemingly outlandish and bold claims. For starters, Rod Smith is barely a third string back, only receiving small portions of PT due to the injuries of speedy tailback Jordan Hall and the big buckeye bruiser Carlos Hyde. What I find is so troubling about this young man is that the talent and potential has always been within his grasp to be a truly elite back.

It is in my opinion, been because of a lack of focus that Rod Smith has yet to climb the pinnacle of buckeye stardom. In fact, earlier this year Smith found himself in Urban Meyer's lockup facility after showing a lack of passion for the game and in his words, "just not good enough" to gain meaningful minutes in the rotation.

Meyer strongly urged Smith to transfer to another team where he would be able to play. From the span of that moment until the present, a fire lit up in Smith. The passion for the game and the undeniable potential buried beneath lost fumbles and missed running assignments were on full display in crucial situations, last week against UAB.

I am not oblivious to the fact that Smith did not even play most of the game but what was clearly obvious is that when Ohio State needed a big third down he delivered when his number was called. There was an "it" factor that I saw in Smith's few carries last week that I failed to see in any of our backs.

If Smith continues to work hard, I have no doubt that he will be the number one option for the buckeye run game next season. Remember, most of our greatest players had rough beginnings. It is not where you start off but it is more about where you finish.

What a great story it would be if Rod Smith could overcome all of the obstacles that has plagued his young buckeye career. I believe he can and I believe he will. Get ready Columbus a star has been born.