Eleven Warriors

Ohio State received great news today when lineman Michael Brewster committed to the 2008 class. The 6-6/305 tackle from Edgewater High in Orlando will join fellow commit and 5-star recruit Mike Adams on what's looking like an incredible offensive line.

Brewster marks the first recruit for the 2008 class to hail outside of Ohio. I already know I want this guy on the team because he's gotta have a huge set to be a Floridian that commits to OSU in spite of the events of the last four months. The smack he's going to hear over the next year or so from people in his own state is going to be ruthless.

Pfef has more with word that stud tackle prospect J.B. Shugarts is also on the verge of committing.

Any fan of college football can tell you that Wayne Woodrow Hayes was, to put it mildly, a feisty man. Between stomping on wristwatches during practice, destroying the yard marker during the Michigan game, the Bauman incident and many other Hayesisms, you could say he had a little zest for life.

That's why, when I first saw this photo of Hayes serving as Grand Marshall of the 1984 Columbus Secret Santa Parade, I was shocked, yet not surprised.

A 71 year-old man is riding on a seat carved into a helmet on top of a conversion van in mid-November Columbus.

Yet, that's just Woody being Woody. I'm betting that a 71 year-old Chuck Norris may even take a pass before doing something like this.

(Via Random Nonsense)

Once again, defense took over as the Gray squad rallied to defeat the Scarlet squad 17-9 at the 2007 Ohio State Spring Game.

Over 75,000 fans turned out for a gorgeous Saturday afternoon of football that saw the defenses score 2 of the game's 3 touchdowns. But don't let that scare you. Experienced fans understand that offenses take longer to pick up their timing while good defenses are ready right away. And the Buckeyes look to have a scary good defense for next season.

Keith at Buckeye Commentary has a great game wrap-up pointing out (among other things) that Todd Boeckman's numbers would have been better had it not been for some drops.

Update: Reader Frosty was kind enough to send in some photos of the Spring Game.

See Also: Spring Game Photos [Go Bucks!]

Michael Redd was on SportsCenter this evening making it emphatically known that the Bucks wanted Greg Oden if they were to receive the first selection in the NBA draft. He was a kid in candy store while describing the things Oden could bring to Milwaukee.

Andrew Bogut, of course, would rather the Bucks select Kevin Durant should they receive the top pick in the draft. With a 15.6% chance of landing the top pick, Milwaukee has a good shot at getting that pick, thanks to the 3rd-worst record in the NBA. Odds are good that they'll land in the top two and will have the chance to make Redd or Bogut extremely happy.

Now that Buckeye fans have had some time to come to terms with the big fella leaving, where would you like to see Oden end up? Milwaukee? Boston? Memphis?

The Herbstreit Challenge, which pits Ohio high school teams against powerhouses from around the nation will be returning this season, despite lingering financial woes. The event, entering its 3rd year, will feature games at UC's Nippert Stadium as well as matchups at Canton Fawcett Stadium.

Although the official website does not have the 2007 matchups listed, the games will be played Saturday, September 1st and Sunday, September 2nd and feature the following (all times TBA):

South Event @ Nippret Stadium
9/1 - La Salle vs. Brother Rice (Mich.)
9/1 - St. Xavier vs. Indianapolis Cathedral
9/1 - Moeller vs. Mission Viejo, Calif.
9/1 - Elder vs. Charlotte Independence (N.C.)
9/2 - Clayton Northmont vs. DeMatha (Md.)
9/2 - Colerain vs. Hoover (Ala.)
9/2 - Highlands vs. Trotwood-Madison
North Event @ Canton Fawcett Stadium
9/1 - Youngstown Cardinal Mooney vs. Gateway (Pa.)
9/1 - Cleveland Glenville vs. Long Beach (Calif.)
9/1 - Canton McKinley vs. Union (Okla.)
9/1 - Grove City vs. Central Catholic (Pa.)

A lot of the big boys will be present. We're looking forward to the Ted Ginn Jr. vs. Snoop Dogg battle on the sidelines of the Glenville - Long Beach game and we know you MTV junkies will have all of your Two-A-Days swag on hand for the Hoover boys to autograph. If the games play out like they did last season the fans are in for another treat.

This feels redundant but it sounds like a statement will be issued Friday confirming Greg Oden, Mike Conley and Daequan Cook will announce their intent to enter this year's NBA Draft. Oden will not go back on his decision while Conley and Cook will at least keep that option open by not signing with an agent before the June 18 deadline to back out of the draft and return to OSU.

At this point, I just hope Cook does the right thing for himself and returns for another year. All the money hounds in his life need to chill - in fact, they'll be able to sponge much more cash out of him if they just wait a year. As for Greg and Mike - thanks for the magical run to the Final Four. No intelligent basketball fan can argue with their choices to leave and more importantly, how mature they were when going through the decision making process.

It looks like Coach Tressel is doing his part to help convince Mike Conley, Greg Oden and Daequan Cook to stay in school. Conley has been named an honorary head coach for Saturday's Spring Game and the rest of the hoops squad will be on hand, except for Oden, who will instead attend his auntie's wedding.

The hoopsters will actually call the plays, according to the SI.com article, and Conley appears to have his offensive gameplan ready:

"I play my share of video games," he said Wednesday. "I like to get up and down the field with the passing game. I'll mix in some run plays here and there as well."

The article says Tress came up with the idea and it's clear he's hoping it will have an impact on Conley and Daequan Cook based on his comments:

"I certainly want them around here. If we have to put them on the staff to do that, then we'll do it," he said with a grin.

As for the game itself, The O-Zone has your Scarlet and Gray rosters.

In honor of Tax Day, thewadeblogs examines the Top 10 Sports Star Tax Evaders. The visual of Daryl Strawberry's 1040 is especially good. Personally, I just hope Tressel avoids tax troubles if he forgets to inform the government of his ownership of Lloyd Carr. (via Deadspin)

In non-sports tax news, that dude who started the Girls Gone Wild videos is facing tax evasion charges. According to ABC News, Joe Francis makes $25 mil a year (11W format switch in the works?) but still felt the need to not so sneakily move his money to offshore accounts hoping to hide earned income a few years back. To ice the cake, his biz partner was arrested for sneaking prescription meds into the jailhouse. I guess maybe we'll just stick to Buckeye sports after all. Sounds a little more stable although a gazillion times less lucrative.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Virginia Tech community. If/when any charities or donation pools are set up, we'll pass them along.

The 2007 ACC/BigTen Challenge pairings have been released and the Buckeyes have drawn the Tar Heels for the 2nd straight year. Thankfully, this years tilt will take place in the friendly of The Schott. As you recall, the Buckeyes lost to UNC 98-89 in Chapel Hill this past season in what turned about to be their last game without Greg Oden. With Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson already announcing they will return next season, Carolina could come to Columbus ranked #1 in the country. If Oden and Conley shock the world and return to campus this game will be off the chain. Seriously. Oden and Conley may turn pro just to keep Dickie V's heart from exploding.