Hello, and welcome to the Skull Session. DJ Byrnes would likely write something fascinating and provocative here, but seeing as he's probably in a Nashville holding cell after celebrating the Browns' historic comeback win, it's better if I handle this.
The Ohio State football team is coming off a comfortable win over Maryland. Some essential links, in case you missed them this weekend:
- A recap of the 52-24 win.
- A photo gallery of the game.
- Five things to take away from the Maryland game.
- The Buckeyes are No. 15 in the Coaches and AP polls.
- J.T. Barrett was named Athlon Sports' National Player of the Week.
Today's Family-Friendly Pro-Work #Soother: "Pennsylvania Polka" by The Lawrence Welk Show. Welk's the best way to start off your day!
TAKING IT EASY. The Buckeye football team is on its second and final bye week, meaning that this is the closest thing to down time they're going to have until the end of the season. So how are they enjoying the R&R?
Stephen Collier contemplated pouring out his heart on social media:
Its past 11 which means the emotional Instagram paragraph posts are coming.
— Stephen Collier (@S13Collier) October 6, 2014
Cardale Jones admired his hurdle over a Maryland defender:
And Michael Bennett chastised moviegoers for their poor etiquette.
Who the hell smokes a vape in a movie theater? I know it's not a cig but honestly. That was the weirdest movie experience ever
— Mike (@mike63bennett) October 5, 2014
Shine on, you crazy diamonds.
INSIDE THE MIDWEST'S FOOTBALL DECLINE. The New York Times doesn't often step into the college football world, but when it does it excels. The latest foray is a look at the Big Ten's decline and loss of talent, and it too is superb.
Using four-star Cleveland prospect Jerome Baker as a case study(Baker is a Florida commit from OSU's back yard), the story segues into the Big Ten's failures and waning interest in the conference. Jim Delany appears and harrumphs for the league:
"When things don't go your way competitively, the most important thing to reinforce is we're going to do things the right way," Delany said. "We're not going to change our standards. We want kids who are admissible, who want to be there, who want to get an education."
...but even Delany admits the recruiting trouble the Big Ten is in. Among other issues, the story touches on the Big Ten's reliance on Ohio talent and the inroads programs like Kentucky and Texas A&M have made to the Midwest. The piece is absolutely worth the read.
THE VAST ANTI-CYCLONE CONSPIRACY. Iowa State had a rough time this weekend, losing 37-20 to Oklahoma State. A few critical calls went against the Cyclones, namely an on-field ruling that helped ISU only for officials in the booth to overturn it on shaky evidence. After the game and even during halftime, Iowa State players and head coach Paul Rhoads ranted about the unfairness of it.
Athletic director Jamie Pollard fully supported Rhoads and the players, not-so-subtly alleging that the Big 12 has given the Cyclones the "short end of the stick" for the last year and a half.
I'm torn on this. The idea that anyone cares enough about Ames to screw with it is laughable, but I respect that Pollard is so loyal to his reeling football program that he'll take a huge fine to defend Rhoads and the players.
Pollard mentioned three occasions on which Iowa State has gotten an apology about refereeing, one of which is presumably the charge Aaron Craft drew against the Cyclones in the 2013 NCAA Basketball Tournament. That call was legit, Jamie.
AARON CRAFT, FASHION VICTIM. Speaking of the rosy-cheeked cherub, Aaron Craft is getting acclimated to NBA life. There's just one probem: Draymond Green is one of his Golden State Warriors teammates, and he played against Craft for three years at Michigan State. Because of that, Craft is getting razzed worse than the average rookie.
According to Bay Area News Group's Diamond Leung, Green punished Craft for wearing Ohio State gear to practice, forcing him to wear a backpack with "sparkles and a cartoon character on it":
“He came in the locker room with an Ohio State backpack,” Green said, the Michigan State alum smiling. “I went straight to the store and got the pink backpack. Tell them blame Craft, coming in with that ‘O’ on his back. Uh, (nobody) wants to see that.”
Sadly, there is no photographic evidence of Craft's backpack. Until it surfaces, I can only picture a sparkly Minnie Mouse bag like the New Orleans Pelicans use.
LINKS AHOY. Philly Brown gets tackled, still returns punt 79 yards for a touchdown... Washington State's Connor Halliday threw for Division I record 734 passing yards and lost because his kicker missed a 19-yard field goal... Syracuse's football coach contrasted a loss with ISIS beheadings... If Jim Harbaugh is leaving the 49ers no matter what, will Michigan hire him? Only if they don't hire Ron Zook first... ESPN: Florida State "struggles" to 43-3 win... "World cow-milking championships mired in controversy"... TIMBERRRR... and DJ, you have a billboard ad to finance.
