Skull Session: Remembering the Fall of Jim Tressel, Ezekiel Elliott Embraces Competition, and '18 Recruits Talk Ohio State's #Brand

By D.J. Byrnes on May 31, 2016 at 4:59 am
Erik Smith stretching for the May 31st 2016 Skull Session
Erik Smith
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The day after Memorial Day, where Americans stagger into work hungover and the GDP dips 30%. This is what people mean when they use the phrase "American exceptionalism."

 SALUTE TO THE FALLEN JIM TRESSEL. It's wild to think five years ago today we were in shock over the Memorial Day "resignation" of Jim Tressel, the championship Buckeye coach we all knew and loved.

Tressel's actions led to a 6-7 season and a loss in something called the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl. If Urban Meyer hadn't been a free agent, perhaps Tressel's legacy would be remembered in a much darker light.

From 247sports.com in 2011:

“There will be an absence of special privileges for any individuals, coaches and players alike,” the coach said. “Every one of us deserves the same privileges as the other. If we’re going to build a great team and a great society, there’s got to be no special privileges.”

But saying it and doing it were two different things for Tressel. His star players – Ray Isaac at Youngstown State and then Maurice Clarett, Troy Smith and Pryor at OSU – have always marched to the beat of their own drummer.

Freshmen are supposed to stay in a dorm at OSU. After one term, though, Clarett wanted to move into an apartment and his request was granted. It was no shock when he and Smith, one of Clarett’s closest friends on the team, were found to have taken illegal extra benefits. (Smith, it is said, actually took $500 from a booster to pay a cell phone bill that Clarett stuck Smith’s mother with, but that’s a story for another day.)

Pryor was installed as OSU’s starting quarterback four games into his freshman year after returning starter Todd Boeckman faltered in a lopsided loss at USC. But it was the way Pryor took over – taking almost every meaningful snap the rest of the season – that rubbed people the wrong way and showed Pryor that he was better than everybody else. Some would say he never truly earned the job that season, although his 8-1 record as a starter that year was good enough to secure a share of the Big Ten title.

I love the Senator, but if given the opportunity (and knowing Ohio State ended up with Urban Meyer), it would rob us of comedy Tatgate spawned like this:

2011: It was lit

Is Tressel's exit enough? It wasn't enough to keep Ohio State from winning another title, at least.

I'm still waiting for George Dohrmann to forfeit his 2000 Pulitzer to repent for the sins of that "How Deep it Went" piece that was so yellow it made William Hearst's corpse roll over in disgust. 

 ZEKE MEETS WORLD. Ezekiel Elliott is only 20 years old, but he's toiling among other men in the Dallas Cowboys' organized team activities. Though he left Ohio State as its second all-time leading rusher and was the No. 4 pick in the draft, there's still a learning curve involved.

From dallascowboys.com:

“Just a lot faster pace,” he said [after Day 1 of OTAs]. “The game moves so much faster.”

[...]

He already started to settle in by Day Two last week at Valley Ranch, displaying the vision and smooth swift running style that made him the Cowboys’ earliest draft selection in 25 years.

[...]

Elliott figures to have a prominent role right away, but he’s also entering a veteran running back room that includes free-agent signing Alfred Morris and returning starter Darren McFadden. If he’s going to be a featured back as a rookie, “Zeke has to earn it,” running backs coach Gary Brown said.

Elliott, in the non-embeddable video attached to the article, says he isn't shying away from competition. Though despite being outside of Northeast Ohio, he's going to have to earn his starting spot.

Don't expect me to bet against him.

 BUCKEYES #BRAND STILL THRIVING. Recruiting never stops.

Ohio State is working on polishing off its loaded 2017 class, but it's also hunting fish in the 2018 class. Though none of these men remember legendary coach John Cooper, the Buckeye #brand still holds weight among some of the top prospects in the class.

From landgrantholyland.com:

[Lindenhurst, NY, 2018 TE] Jeremy Ruckert
"I have no favorites right now, but it is Ohio State and it can't get much better than that. I'm just enjoying this whole process out. (When I think of OSU) I think of how they just have a winning, big brother attitude, and how they use the tight end a lot and bring a lot of them into the NFL."

[Justin, TX, 2018 OL] Darrell Simpson
"Prestigious University, championships, and a great college. It's another great option on the table along with the others. I'm honored to be considered. I have yet to do a top list. Being that I am just going to be a junior. I just want to make the best decision without rushing. I'm definitely looking at each school for academics."

[Cypress, TX, 2018 OL] Colten Blanton
"I think of success when I hear OSU. I mean OSU is a place where success is normal and that is something I want. OSU sticks out as long with Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn, Michigan, and TCU."

Love that quote from Ruckert about Ohio State "using the tight end a lot." Sounds like 2017 is finally the year Ohio State starts using the tight end a lot.

 CAVS IN 5. Despite my father, NBA great Magic Johnson, threatening to disown me... I will be cheering for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the upcoming NBA playoffs because Channing Frye is a wizard:

Sorry, dad. Go Cavs.

 THOSE WMDs. Twitter users with diverse timelines generate better ideas... Welsh sheep rampage after eating cannabis plants... 1970s Sci-Fi art... Reporter Don Bulles was killed for telling the truth... Explore flyover country on your phone...  How much sleep do you really need?

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