Friday Skull Session

By D.J. Byrnes on February 7, 2014 at 6:00 am
People were down on Smith's recruiting efforts as recently as last year.
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Do you like new things? We sure do.

What you are seeing is Tatum, the result of a year's worth of effort from Team 11W. Give it a spin and let us know what you think.

CONGRATS TO ZACH SMITH. It's well known in these halls that Urban's most cherished characteristic in an assistant coach is his ability to recruit. Smith had said he wanted to improve in that area, and 2014 was his break-out campaign. He was instrumental in bringing Johnnie Dixon, Jalyn Holmes, Noah Brown and Terry McLaurin into the fold and keeping them away from SEC power-brokers. 

His grind has finally caught national media attention, as yesterday he was named the Big Ten's Recruiter of the Year by Scout. No, it's probably not a good sign for B1G recruiting that a position coach won the award or that James Franklin – who's been on the job a mere three weeks — was the runner-up. 

MCDOWELLS: A HOUSE DIVIDED. Black smoke is still pouring out of Malik McDowell's parents' chimney every hour on the hour. The five-star DE committed to Michigan State on Wednesday but his parents are holding his National Letter of Intent hostage. As the Detroit Free Press mentioned yesterday, in the end, McDowell can get to MSU without his parents' signatures

This is easily the most bizarre recruitment I can remember, and it's amazing to see it drawn out in the public sphere like this. Hopefully it works out for the McDowells, but seriously, this isn't the best look.

CINCINNATI WANTS A NEW CONFERENCE. Gene Smith's policy on Cincinnati joining the Big Ten can be summed up thusly: over his cold, dead body. But newly minted Cincinnati AD Mike Bohn's top agenda item is finding a new conference for Cincinnati. Apparently, the American Athletic Conference, which is losing Louisville and Rutgers next season, isn't up to the Bearcat's snuff.

Bohn has a history of earth-shaking, too:

Bohn was hired Thursday to try to do for the Bearcats what he did during his eight years in Colorado. Bohn led the Buffaloes from the Big 12 to the Pac-12, and Cincinnati hopes his experience in conference jumping can be put to use.

"One of his main accomplishments in eight years there, what was most talked about among his accomplishments was his ability to lead that university into the Pac-12 Conference," President Santa J. Ono said while introducing Bohn.

Bohn resigned at Colorado last May when the administration decided to go in a different direction. Colorado hired former Texas Rangers executive Rick George.

Interesting.

I for one wouldn't mind seeing Cincinnati in the Big Ten. Hell, their football program is better than the entire Big Ten West. Plus, it'd be a great way to get after the the heart of Kentucky football's rise. I welcome an in-state rivalry with Cincinnati. Glory to football played in the greatest state in Western Civilization is what I say. 

FLAGS HAVE BEEN PLANTED. Chalk another W up for Sammy Silverman:

UR CROOTS BELONG TO TOSU

And hell, chalk up another W for Urban Meyer while you're at it too. 

THOSE WMDs. Where people in your city run... Now that's artistic talent... Yes, Bob Costas said "Pussy Riot"... Meanwhile, in Tennessee... Whatever happened to Ryan Perrilloux?... The NBA could be on the verge of understanding every movement on the court... Space, man... Cool fish... End the "Overrated" chant... Contents of Abe Lincoln's pockets at his death... Diego Maradona's goal of the century... Craziest of Russian city climbers... Marooned for 16 months, man lived on turtle blood... 

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