Eleven Warriors

Things are looking up for Potokar (86)

As most of you know, Buckeye footballer Dan Potokar went to Indianapolis recently to undergo extreme treatment for cancer. At the time, it was discussed that he might not even survive the actual treatment, let alone the cancer.

Well, according to informed sources on the Grove City high school football site, Dan has emerged from the treatment in amazingly fine fashion. Here's most of the text from "Suzanne" so you can read for yourself. Hopefully this kid has seen the worst and can move forward from here.

Today's update, May 17. Hi Again...and hopefully for the LAST time. Danny had his CAT scan…. the doctor stated “this is exactly what we expected to see.” They are very optimistic!!

Now, there appears to be a small blood clot in the groin area. Whether this is a result of the original tumor is unknown. The clot will be managed by a blood thinner shot once Dan’s platelet counts increase. The abs are clear!! And the lungs- well….still not pretty, but the doctors think it is scar tissue based on the tumor markers being so low.

Danny’s tumor markers were over 250,000 in December. Now they are 7.8!!! Can anyone calculate that percent of decrease?? (Can you tell I write math books for a living??)

The following is the Game Plan that Danny will be on for awhile: - He will return to Indy in one month for additional testing. - On a monthly basis, for one year, Danny will have his tumor markers checked. - The Big Celebration Day for the Indy doctors will be in one year given that the markers remain nil. - For two years after that, Danny will have his tumor markers checked every 3-4 months. - For two years after that, Danny will have his tumor markers checked every 6 months. - At the 5 year mark, he is considered to be in remission.

Danny’s first goal is to gain his strength back so he can play in the Grove City Alumni Softball Tournament at the end of July. What do the Dawgs think about that?? After losing two quarters at OSU, he plans to resume his educational pursuits in the Fall. How ready is OSU for him to return??

"I'd take you out right here."

Evidently Will Leitch had a warmup prior to his incident with Buzz Bissinger a few weeks back on the Costas special. He writes in the latest issue of The Sporting News, about a greenroom encounter with Cris Carter:

Somehow, I ended up being introduced to Cris Carter, formerly from HBO Sports (and the Minnesota Vikings) and now on ESPN. I shook his hand.

“Hello, I’m Will.”

Cris frowned, and even sneaked in a scowl. “Are you the blog guy?”

I smiled. The best way, I’ve learned, to deal with the hostility is just to smile. They’re not expecting that. I suspect they all think we look like the Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons or, more sinister, like a member of the thrash metal group GWAR. “Yes, sir, I do write a blog.”

Cris’ scowl was no longer sneaky. “You know, I got a problem with you,” the Ohio State grad said, through gritted teeth. “Some Michigan blog said I was an a--hole. Better nobody say that to my face.”

Smiling, trying to look calm, I said, “Well, sir, you know, I didn’t write that.”

Cris took a step closer to me. “You damn well better not of, ’cause if you had, I’d take you out right here.”

I smiled, again, shook his hand, and went on my way.

The million dollar question is which Michigan blogger is on Carter's shit list? There's the obvious choice, but the only thing I can find out of Brian was published after the special and doesn't seem too inflammatory. Any guesses?

Obligatory.

----

(Via SPORTSbyBROOKS)

You never want to wish the summer away, but this season can't really get here soon enough. We know that, despite seeing a quite a few great teams over the past seven years, this one could be special. The guys getting paid to put together rankings seem to agree as virtually every pre-preseason poll has the Buckeyes or Georgia in the top spot.

But what does Vegas think? The Money Line Journal compared summer rankings to current odds and showed that while the press may be all about the Buckeyes and Bulldogs, the guys setting the odds like a few other teams better. USC is the favorite at 3-1, while the Florida Gators have the 2nd best odds at 6-1. Oklahoma is 3rd at 8-1, while Georgia and Ohio State round out the top five at 9-1 and 10-1 respectively.

One thing to keep in mind is that the odds don't necessarily represent a team's full worth. The Buckeyes have the fifth-best odds to win the championship, but they could easily be the second-best team in the nation. The fact that they have to go on the road to the team with the best odds is most certainly playing a factor on their number. Either way -- the winner of the Battle of Los Angeles on September 13th will not only sit atop the polls, but will also be the team with the new best odds to win the championship.

Click image to enlarge (Operation Sports image)

If Vegas isn't your thing in terms of indicators, screenshots revealing top player rankings for EA's NCAA Football 09 are out and the Buckeyes and Trojans are both stacked. Laurinaitis registers a 99 overall rating, Beanie a 97, Jenkins, Boone and Freeman are 96s while Rehring and Lawrence Wilson close out the top seven with a 95 and 94, respectively.

While I'm not sold on Rehring at 95, this is a partial list of guys that weren't good enough to make the first screen: Robiskie, Coleman, Washington, Chekwa, Hartline, Cordle, Boeckman, Saine and Heyward. Scary, huh?

Click image to enlarge (Operation Sports image)

In the minds of EA, the Buckeyes are slightly better than USC, as the Trojans only have three players with a rating of 95 or better to the Buckeyes' six. Linebacker Ray Maualuga is a 98 -- and he's given me enough nightmares to earn it. All-American safety Taylor Mays is a 96 and tackle Fili Moala is a 95. The Trojans' second beast of a linebacker, Brian Cushing checks in with a 94 rating.

What's interesting about this Trojan team and it's nicely illustrated in the player rating graphic, is the fact that most of USC's talent is on the defensive side of the ball. McKnight is electrifying and Sanchez will be good (if not right away), but that defense could be the best unit the Buckeyes go against since the BCS Championship victory over Miami.

(Odds link via Get the Picture)

In case you were wondering, Tressel is not currently part of the webcam crowd.

Could Big Mike be the next Buckeye Legend?

The recruiting of high school football players has blown up over the last five years. There is so much information and exploitation of these young kids, it is difficult and expensive to keep up. I try not to get too hyped over someone who has yet to play a down for OSU, as rating 16 and 17 year olds is definitely not an exact science, so IMO, none of those rating services mean much.

However, it is hard not to notice the new verbals Tressel and his staff seem to be pulling in every week. We all know Tressel has a nice chunk of recruits verballed for the 2009 season and kids are jumping at the chance to play in Ohio Stadium.

Since Vico inspires me to know my Buckeyes a little better, I wanted to read a bit more on Tressel's boys possibly coming to Columbus next fall. The list is quite solid, as 11 of the 14 are four or five star recruits, according to Scout and Rivals.

That is obviously impressive, but how about the head start JT has on the rest of his peers. After back to back national title games and three straight Big Ten championships, what high school kid wouldn't want to come here and play in the Shoe, if offered a scholarship?

Michigan is second with seven verbals, although those recruits will probably be forced to sign their LOI under false pretenses, with nonwritten agreements and pressure from the governor. Michigan St. and Penn St. follow with six each .

However, the rest of the conference, has a total of 14. That's right, Ohio State has as many verbal commitments as Minnesota(5), Wisconsin(3), Illinois(2), Iowa(2), Northwestern(2), Indiana (0) and Purdue(0), combined.

Jim Tressel and his staff have their recruiting machine rolling, picking up the top players nationally and separating themselves from the rest of the conference. While I think it is too early to discuss the 2009 class, I wonder if there is a freshman coming in this season, not named Terrelle Pyror, that you would like to see turn into a Buckeye Legend?

That’s the only reason I can think of as to why they haven’t just paid off West Virginia and put the Rodriguez saga to bed. How else do you explain the fact that the university is trying its best to ensure that the most exciting period in the last decade of Wolverine football enjoys some turbulence?

Contracts?

The latest twist is Rodriguez's claim that he was forced into signing an amended contract while under pressure from what were assuredly the sturdiest and most intimidating trustees ever. So, you're a former college football player and you're going to let the Montgomery Burns triumverate pressure you into signing a contract that you're uncomfortable with signing?

At a certain age -- most say 14 or so -- you learn what contracts are and also learn that breaking a contract will usually result in bad things happening to you. In his mid-forties, Rodriguez contends that he was misled because a variety of verbal promises, which were nowhere to be found in the... ahem... written document he was signing, were kept. Here's the best part: West Virginia says he had a sports agent, a lawyer and a financial advisor at his side during the signing.

Certainly Rodriguez and his attorneys believe they have a case and they may, but why a school that's dropping $226 million on stadium renovations is flinching over $4 million is beyond me.

Looks guilty to me...

After being arrested last July for having sex with a 14 year old student, former Buckeye captain Jason Simmons plead guilty today to three counts of sexual battery meaning he could face up to five years in the hole.

Additionally, DDN noted he's earned the title Tier Three Sex Offender meaning he'll have to keep law enforcement informed of his address for the remainder of his life.

Unfortunately, the judge didn't order him castrated but I'm sure 5 years in the joint for doin' the dirty with a 14 year old will result in a few beatings, at least.

Maybe I'm crazy, but you'd think a former Buckeye captain could parlay stories of the glory days into some action with a woman of legal age.

Bare minimum his record of 4.0 sacks in a game (Washington, '91) should yield some dry humping from a Dayton area Cougar if he played his cards right. Ridiculous.

Former Buckeye or not, dude can rot in the clink forever for all we care.

Could Oden change Kosta and create a Blazin' dynasty?

There is no question Buckeye Nation felt Kosta Koufos should have stayed another year. Dreams of twin towers have danced in our heads for two years now and Kosta would have fit perfectly at the four spot, while B.J. Mullins could control the inside next year. We all know Kosta is selfish for not fulfilling our dreams and pursuing his, but it looks as if he may have made the right decision.

There are a couple of draft lists that have Koufos ranked within the top 16 prospects and Draft Express has Kosta listed as the 13th pick in their mock draft.

Which team has the best chance at pick #13 in this years draft you ask? Well that would be the Portland Trailblazers. What if Buckeye fan, what if? Could our dreams of Buckeye twin towers happen in the NBA? Would all be forgiven if Koufos ends up playing along side McLovin?

In another news, it became official yesterday, as Thad received the signed letters of intent for the two JUCO players he had been pursuing. Jeremie Simmons, a 6'2" guard, originally from Chicago and 6'9" Nikola Kecman, a native of Serbia. Chris profiled Simmons a bit last week and it looks as if Kecman is a prototypical European big man, Koufos Jr. anyone?

The scene in O'Brien's driveway

Former head basketball coach Jim O'Brien was seen outside a National Check Cashers branch in Whitehall late Monday night armed with a check for $2.74 million thanks to Andy Geiger's botched firing of the man with the $6,000 handshake.

Though I'm still red-assed over the whole saga, I'm pleased it's finally over and done with.

Former O'Brien assistant coach and recruiting coordinator David Spiller also made the news taking over as head basketball coach at Berne Union High School. Spiller had been out of hoops altogether, working for John Deere and UPS, but the coaching itch returned.

I'm doubting the line of candidates for the post was overwhelming but it probably didn't hurt that Spiller interviewed armed with references from Michael Redd and Clark Kellogg. Good luck to Spills in his new role.

In one other bit of news, it was recently announced Thad Matta's Buckeyes have agreed to a home and home series with John Calipari's Memphis Tigers. The first game will be in The Pyramid next season with a return game in The Schott the following season.

Besides the Tigers, other known non-conference games next season include Butler and at Miami as part of the Big Ten / ACC Mismatch, er...Challenge.