Eleven Warriors

If you've ever attended The Game in Columbus or Ann Arbor, you know the rivalry can sometimes cause 'fans' to take it a little too far. You've seen it, a little verbal jousting combined with a little booze and before you know it a couple losers are ready to throw down. Apparently, that kinda stuff is child's play in comparison to how Sooner Fan handles Longhorn Fan.

According to NewsOK.com, Sooner fan Allen Michael Beckett became pissed when Brian Thomas strolled into a local bar sporting a Texas Longhorn t-shirt. Sooner Fan reportedly launched a 20 minute verbal assault that culminated with grabbing Longhorn fan by the scrotum and not letting go until actually tearing the guy's sack causing a wound that required 60 stitches to close. Beckett has been charged with felony assault and battery and could serve five years in the hole if convicted. (HT: The MZone)

Michigan offensive tackle and future top 5 draft pick Jake Long has been getting a lot of buzz heading into the season. Heck, Mandel has him rated as the 5th-best player in his vision of a "pure" Heisman race. No doubt Long is an incredible talent, but Buckeye fans can rest easy knowing that their squad has the perfect antidote in the form of the Gun Show:

Photo: Richard Izui

Unfortunately it's not a photo of Laurinaitis with Miss June and Miss July on each arm (there can only be one Buckeye porn star), but the photos from the 2007 Playboy All-American team that was announced way back in May, have finally hit the Playboy website (don't click that last link if you want to keep your job). The mag's writeup on #33:

LINEBACKER - JAMES LAURINAITIS OHIO STATE - 6'3", 244, Junior
Winner of the Nagurski Award last season as the nation's best defensive player, he started all 15 games for the Buckeyes and led his team with 115 tackles including 53 solo stops, plus he had four interceptions.

(Via Trojan Wire)

A bit of a surprise in Buckeye country on Thursday as coach Jim Tressel informed the media that Ryan Pretorius would be the starting kicker heading into this season. Surprising, of course, because sophomore Aaron Pettrey held down the job last season while Pretorius saw action on kickoffs.

Pretorius confessed that Tressel told him that he'd be the starter after the jersey scrimmage on Saturday, but it wasn't made public until Thursday evening. The change must have rattled Pettrey a little because he went 2 for 5 7 for 13, while Pretorius went 3 for 4 5 of 6 (with 3 blocks!!) in the kick scrimmage. If there's two things Tress has gotta have in life, it's a snazzy vest collection and a reliable kicking game. Pretorius now gets to deliver.

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Elsewhere, Sports Media Watch has the goods on ESPN's 25 hours of college football programming leading up to the kickoff game next Thursday. The WWL can overdue it and there's certainly no organization on earth more in love with itself, but if there's any sport I can take in a dose that size, it's college football.

We heard your feedback and made some updates to our ballot for the 1st preseason BlogPoll. Keep the feedback coming -- this is exactly what makes this thing so awesome.

1		The machine is so well-oiled, that we half expect to see Pete guest-starring on Entourage while his team reels off 7 straight.
2		Stacked with veteran skill players, but who will blow it first - Lloyd or the defense?
3		Stout defense will help break in a new quarterback and a favorable schedule could give Miles his put-up or shut-up moment with USC.
4		Loaded backfield, Devine and a great young coach with only Rutgers and Louisville standing in the way of a perfect season.
5		Wooderson's boys have a young Colt on offense, but concerns about the secondary may come back to bite them.
6		Herban's team speed continues to light up the scoreboard and police blotter. #5 out of respect and repeating is tough, but don't count out Meyer.
7		Under the radar, as usual. Fact is, if they run the table in the Big Ten, they'll be a NC candidate.
8		Another team loaded with talent, but Big Game Bobby is on a skid of sorts. Texas is also over the hump mentally.
9		Never been a huge Beamer fan, but there's no way you can't root for these guys this season. Still, you gotta wonder how a team gathering in Michael Vick Hall will do.
10		We're cautious, but there's too much talent on this squad to keep it out of the top ten.
11		Brohm's a stud, but you never know how things will go when a veteran QB gets a brand new coach.
12		Cal - that team you root for to beat USC each season, so your squad can rise in the rankings.
13		Little known fact: Phil Fulmer's blood type is Gravy+. Despite that, Ainge could have a monster year. The Coker situation hurts, though.
14		Only 11 returning starters, but friendly schedule could help the cause. Is this the season that it all comes together for Stafford?
15		Click-Clack. Tubberville knows how to win in the tough SEC.
16		Schiano is building something special out east and will own NJ shortly (ouch, Joe Pa). Rice will get about 1800 and the Scarlet Knights could easily be staring at a BCS bid when the dust settles.
17		Big win over USC last season is wonderful for the program's confidence and 20 returning starters helps. Your WR coach a cat burglar.. not so much.
18		Joe Poo's boys get OSU and Wisconsin at home, but until they can prove that they're capable of beating the Wolverines, we gotta keep them down.
19		The talent is most definitely there. How many other schools could Felix Jones start for right now? The real question is to the (mental) state of the program.
20		The Ian Johnson feel-good fest is alive and well for year 2. A tough season-ending ame at Hawaii may prevent them from repeating last season's heroics.
21		We still have grave doubts about Callahan's abilities as a coach, but the program is back on the up and the addition of Keller helps.
22		Jones is an underrated coach and Brennan should pass for .. oh.. about 75,000 yards and 200 TDs this season. A very favorable schedule could have them becoming the Boise State of 2007.
23		New coaches, new ideas, and the venerable Bobby Bowden. The program is a little down, but don't be surprised to see a slight resurgance heading into the Alabama game on 9/29.
24		It just wouldn't feel right leaving the Ol' Ball Coach out of the rankings, would it?
25		Steele likes Bama as a darkhorse national title contender, but Saban's karma may check those plans.

Less Filling, Looks Great

What a mess. I had to pick up both versions of the 2007 OSU Football Media Guide to get what should rightfully be packed into one version. The recently released Fall version features the coolest cover in the history of media guides but I agree with Ken Gordon that it lacks the stats, results, records etc. that are the main reason why someone would shell out $30. As a result, I had to slap a Gammons on the counter to get the Spring version that contains all those numbers that true fans really want.

Alas, for my $50 investment I have decided to present to you the best of the Fall Version in the form of responses by various Buckeyes to typical questions asked of college kids. I'll apologize in advance for future From The Media Guide(s) posts in advance because I plan to ensure I get maximum value as the season unfolds.

Without further adieu:

Mo Wells Car You'd Most Like To Drive: Old School Monte Carlo on 28's

Nader Abdallah Pets: Two alligators named Hulio and Ameireh

Alex Boone Car You'd Most Like To Drive: mine - the biggest truck on Earth

Vernon Gholston Favorite food: Meat, Favorite former Buckeye: Jack Tatum

Antonio Henton Nickname: Willy B ???, Favorite NFL Player: Michael Vick

Image via Tressel's World

For fans of Ohio State and Michigan, each season obviously starts with the hope that the two most important games of the year will be The Game and the subsequent bowl trip that could lead to a national title. At least that's the way it should be. I know for a time that this thought was lost on Buckeye fans as John Cooper bit his nails to the tune of 2-10-1 against Michigan rendering the bowl game a meaningless afterthought. Luckily, Andy Geiger brought Tressel to town and he immediately saved the program and swung the momentum of The Game itself. Check out how The Vest and Lloyd compare in the ever important last two games of the season since Tressel showed up in 2001:

Lloyd: 2 Wins, 12 Losses (1-5 v. OSU, 1-5 in bowls) Tressel: 9 Wins, 3 Losses (5-1 v. Mich, 4-2 in bowls)

Lloyd's two wins come in the form of a meaningless 38-30 Citrus Bowl defeat of #20 Florida to end the 2002 campaign and a 35-21 victory against the Buckeyes in 2003. During this same stretch, Tressel has won a national title, finished 2nd last season, and gone 3-1 in BCS bowls. I certainly don't feel sorry for UM fans, but I know how they feel.

This is a little old, but newly formed Iowa blog conglomerate The Hawkeye Compulsion have a hilarious post comparing Big Ten football teams with cars. They had us at "INDIANA: Ford Probe that got totaled by someone without insurance", but their top three is comedy gold:

WISCONSIN
Ford F-250 driven by a total douchebag

Built for one thing, and one thing only: power. They're awfully dangerous when they hit full speed, and they enjoy plowing over defenseless animals (raccoons, Temple Owls). If you see them coming toward you, buckle up; hitting the brakes is for pussies. MICHIGAN
BMW 760Li

While it's been a few years since you could toss around a label like "best in the world," you'd be crazy not to respect the hell out of them. If you want to talk shit, it'd better be about aesthetics; even then, while they're kind of weird-looking, the look is as distinctive as it is classic. All quality-based criticisms can easily be dismissed as unadulterated jealousy--unless they come from... OHIO STATE
Aston Martin that runs on the blood of puppies

Without question, the prettiest car on the lot, and boy are they fast. Pure excellence. Nonetheless, there's still an unmistakable stench of reprehensibility to them, whether it's slaughtering man's best friend or the unchecked use of sweater vests. A bumper sticker that says "Satan is my copilot" would just be restating the obvious. In the name of all that is holy and good, fuck them.

You know you're winning some games when Satan is riding shotgun..

You Don't Want Your Autographs to Run, Do You?
As mentioned in the comments, the Tuesday evening open practice and autograph session was canceled because of the threat of heavy storms in the Columbus area and rescheduled for Thursday evening. Same rules and restrictions apply. If you can't make it out, ONN and 10tv.com will be carrying the practice live at 8PM.

Is Little Animal Ready?
As Buckeye Commentary astutely pointed out a month ago, we've basically known who three of the captains will be when announced later this week: Barton, Freeman and the Gun Show. A lot of folks are thinking Laurinaitis for the fourth -- if a fourth captain is even selected. Will it be Laurinaitis or a darkhorse?

And while we're on the subject, Michigan selected tri-captains and not one of them is a senior QB named Chad. Must be one heck of a leader.

The Greedmongers Televise Your Team
Evidently a PR firm employed by Comcast has been posting not-so-nice things about the Big Ten Network on various B10 fan sites. Sample post @ GoSpartans.net:

I'm a big fan of State sports so I went to the Big 10 Network's kick-off party in East Lansing last week. Big 10 Commissioner Jim Delaney was there telling everybody how great this new TV package is going to be for college football and b-ball fans. WHAT A CROCK! Delaney is like the emperor who wore no clothes...the BTC has already sold its best games to ABC and ESPN. How delusional is Delaney and these other Big 10 greedmongers who want to charge us for the games we'd be able to see on our local cable station? If you want to learn more about the Big 10's big time rip off, I found a web site that explains a lot... www.puttingfansfirst.org VICTORY FOR MSU!!!

The web cool kids call it "astroturfing" as in the opposite of grassroots and regardless of what side of this debate you're on, it's pretty weak. This PR firm needs an ecard.