Friday Skull Session

By D.J. Byrnes on November 21, 2014 at 6:00 am
Cardale Jones reminds u: u gotta get up on Friday
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It's Friday; it's Friday, gotta get down on Friday

This week's NSFW ANTI-WORK #BANGERS:

LET'S TALK MOLLY WATER. Noah Spence, one of Ohio State's top two players according to Urban Meyer, had an interesting tweet the other day during an exchange with old friend of the program/cornerback Travis Howard.

Getting Noah Spence back for the stretch run of the season would be a delightful surprise. This tweet, however, went largely unspoken about.

Yesterday though, #OSUTwitter and the forums lit up when Craig Henman, an innocuous Ohio State alumnus, tweeted:

As others noted, Henman's source around Spence is indeed impeccable.

... And while an Ohio State spokesperson issued OSU's typical non-denial denial:

David Biddle then reported Noah Spence will have an appeal hearing scheduled for Tuesday (November 25th) and ambiguously added Henman was "on the right track." 

Assuming Spence was reinstated with reasonable haste, he would become eligible for Ohio State's (at maximum) three remaining games. Which, again, would be like finding $100,000 on an empty street corner. 

Here's a fun thought (if Spence returns): opposing offensive lines won't be able to slide their protection to either of Ohio State's defensive ends.

THE REDSHIRT PAYOFF. Yesterday, I deep fried some folks because I don't like turkey (it's dry and disgusting), but another controversial take I keep in the chamber is that I like the redshirt.

Unless it's a specimen like Raekwon McMillan or Curtis Samuel, then put a shirt on that #teen. I think, outside of true blue chips, there's no reason to waste a year of eligibility for negligible contribution. 

Everyone says Urban Meyer hates the redshirt, but he's utilized it, and the early returns indicate the redshirt is, in fact, good.

From Bill Rabinowitz of The Columbus Dispatch:

In Urban Meyer’s ideal world, no Ohio State player would redshirt. If the Buckeyes consider a player good enough to recruit, the hope is that he’s good enough to play as a freshman.

But redshirting has been very, very good to the Buckeyes this season. Many of the players who have been instrumental to the team’s success in 2014 spent last season watching and learning, and the Buckeyes are now receiving ample payoff.

Quarterback J.T. Barrett, receiver Michael Thomas, hybrid back Jalin Marshall, left guard Billy Price, linebacker Darron Lee and cornerback Eli Apple redshirted last year and have blossomed this year as starters.

I think the redshirt year especially helped Michael Thomas. He's always had the talent, but I think that chip on his shoulder created by the redshirt helped focus him.

Same with Jalin Marshall, although Marshall was an actual true freshman during his redshirt year. Fixable fumbles aside, I think Marshall is the player fans expected Dontre Wilson to be. (Dontre hasn't been slouchy, but it certainly makes you think.)

URBAN MEYER: COACH OF THE YEAR. Ohio State's offense lost four out of five OL starters (three are in the NFL), Urban Meyer's first 1,000 yard rushing back, its leading receiver, and its Heisman-contending quarterback. 

And yet, Ohio State is on the cusp of shattering all offensive records and on the verge of its first Big Ten title in four(!) years. So, I, like BTN's Tom Dienhart, think Urban is worthy of Ohio State's first Coach of the Year Award since the the 1700's. 

... Unless Jerry Kill leads Minnesota to the Big Ten title. If that happens, then just go ahead and make Jerry Kill the damned King of America.

GET DUMPED THEN, AKRON. Akron is a quality city; I've had a lot of fun there, but the Zips tried to cross the Buckeyes' men's soccer team in the first round of the NCAA tournament, and it didn't turn out too well for them:

Fifteen PKs! That's ridiculous. I would've mangled my controller in a fit of petulance if I had lost a FIFA game like that, let alone an NCAA tournament game. (#GoldenGoalForever.)

HORRIFYING. J.T. Barrett is nineteen years old. A real life #teen is leading Ohio State. A #TEEN. That's the most startling statistic from J.T. Barrett's break-out season.

(Shoutout to the empty husks of humanity that masquerade as a #teen quarterback on Twitter. There are crack dealers with more integrity.)

Oh, and Joey Bosa is good at football too:

At first I thought Bosa was burning a fat stogie, which would've instantly made this the greatest Lombardi Award finalist poster on earth.

THOSE WMDs. On the 150th anniversary of Sherman's March to the Sea: he was right to burn Atlanta... Film: What's wrong with the Browns' run defense?... Quiz: Which one of my garbage sons are you?... These photos of winter-hell are not from Buffalo... Look at this Indiana propaganda, smdh.

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