Thanks to everyone who posted their #takes and thoughts about Boone, North Carolina, yesterday. The range tips and answers given is exactly why I long ago ceded control of my life to the 11W commentariat. Upon reflection, I think I can live in Boone for two years.
This week's NSFW ANTI-WORK #BANGERS:
- ODB will never be confused with Woody Hayes due to their different outlooks on responsibility to the community.
- The best of Deadwood's Al Swearengen.
- Lil Duval's friend has his fie on him.
OSU FAILED BY JIM DELANY. One thing that drives me crazy (outside of, you know, being crazy) is people clamoring for two SEC teams in the playoffs. Sure, the SEC is the "best" college football conference in America, but it already has its benefit of the doubt: the SEC champion is automatically included in the playoff field. That can't be said about any other conference in America.
The Big Ten certainly doesn't have that type of advantage, but it has a lot to do with its own missteps.
From Michael Bird of SBNation.com:
Finally, two are against Rutgers and Maryland, the league's latest additions. Neither appears in a top 25 list anywhere. At worst, these games damage Ohio State's strength of schedule. At best, they are wasted opportunities, replacing games that could have been played against better teams in the West or new additions to the league that would have bolstered the on-field product.
Jim Delany chose to add two teams with mediocre football profiles because he was motivated by media demographics. The irony is that the analysts on BTN, Delany's beloved creation, have to dance around the fact that the league's standard bearer has a poor strength of schedule. Delany's league is on course to make record profits, but Ohio State fans can't use those profits to get to the Playoff.
Meyer is one of two active coaches to have won multiple national titles as a head man. The other is Nick Saban, whose team lost a game earlier in the season, but which has a chance to come back because Alabama plays in the best division in college football history. College football fans are treated to the spectacle of the sport's best coach testing himself on a weekly basis against elite competition. The same is not true with the sport's second-best coach, as Meyer's team cuts through a hollow shell of a conference.
Maryland hasn't disgraced the Big Ten. Rutgers, while it started out hot, are headed south quick.
And in the end, the author's point stands: neither of those programs are bolstering the Big Ten's playoff. This might, however, be defensible if anybody outside of the Big Ten office defended the acquisition of Rutgers and Maryland.
GO TO HELL, FRANK BEAMER. I say that only jest, but seriously: that Virginia Tech loss is still getting more inexplicable by the week. And what did Frank Beamer do when presented with the bloodied hilt protruding from Brutus' back? HE TWISTED IT IN DEEPER.
From Dave Briggs of The Toledo Blade (emphasis mine):
On Wednesday, longtime Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer suggested his team — one that has played 21 true or redshirt freshmen this year — belied its record that night in Columbus.
“We had a great game against them, the kids played great,” he said. “That was a good part of our season, the high in our season. We've had some lows. What we've got to figure out is how to hang in the middle.”
[...]
“I would have hoped Ohio State thought they were beat by a good football team,” Beamer said. “Not for it to be such a low mark in their season.”
"I would have hoped Ohio State thought they were beat by a good football team." Funny you say that, Frank, because I had hoped that too. I really did.
But here's the difference between me and Frank Beamer: I DON'T GET PAID MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO COACH VIRGINIA TECH'S FOOTBALL TEAM.
Come to think of it: why in the blue hell is Frank Beamer — coach of a 4-5 football team with mighty, mighty Duke on tap this weekend — dishing out quotes to The Toledo Blade? No disrespect to The Blade, but it's not exactly syndicated nationally.
VEGAS LIKES THE BUCKS. As of this writing, I would take Ohio State against any team in the country and feel confident about the Buckeyes' chances. Vegas apparently agrees (somewhat).
From Tony Miller and Adam Kessler of the Golden Nugget, here are the (presumed) odds of a national title game featuring Ohio State against other foes in playoff contention:
Ohio State (+5.5) vs. Alabama
Ohio State (+3) vs. Oregon
Ohio State (-1) vs. Florida State
Ohio State (-2.5) vs. TCU
Ohio State (-2.5) vs. Baylor
Ohio State (-2.5) vs. Mississippi St
Ohio State ( -9) vs. Arizona St
Assuming you don't have any aversion to free money: is there any listing here you wouldn't take in a half second? Because nobody — NOBODY!!! — wants to see Ohio State if the committee goofs and let's Ohio State slide through the back door; I promise you that much.
OSU NOT LOOKING AHEAD TO INDIANA. Many people thought Ohio State might overlook Illinois since Michigan State was next on the schedule. Yet, I don't hear many people wondering if Ohio State will overlook Minnesota since a date with Indiana looms next week. But it looks like some hero put that very question to Ohio State's new punt returner, Jalin Marshall.
Good news: it does not appear Ohio State is overlooking Minnesota.
COME TO THE GOLD PANTS SOCIAL. I'm not one for self-promotion, but Eleven Warriors does a lot of good things, and The Gold Pants Social is one. What is The Gold Pants Social? Only the the scarlet tie event of the year:
We'll gather to toast another fine Ohio State football season with 100% of the proceeds going to the Gold Pants Club. You know, the group that purchases the coveted charms players receive for beating the Michigan.
[...]
Attendees will mingle with former coaches, players, and your friends at 11W all while raising money for a most excellent cause. Food and drinks will be provided.
Buckeye greats whom you'll meet Friday night include Earle Bruce, Mike Doss, John Cooper, John Hicks, Jim Lachey, Shawn Springs, Matt Finkes, Bob Hoying, Ryan Miller, William White, Mike Tomczak, Jerry Rudzinski, Tim Anderson, Kirk Barton and others as the confirmations roll in.
Full details available here.
But yes, the rumors are true, folks: for a small price, you can hear me interrogate Ohio State legend Mike Doss about the 1998 Canton McKinley-Marion Harding OHSAA playoff game. (The Prexies let 'em off the hook, SMDH x10000.)
THOSE WMDs. Sad but true: even the Cake Boss is subjected to laws... Tracking down a bully, 40 years later... Nike wants NFLers to stop customizing cleats... London's legendary taxi-driver test puts up a fight in the age of GPS... I don't want or need the context to this Vine... Ted Ginn Sr. to Massillon?
