By my count (which is always an adventure), we must survive six more Saturdays until the team we all love to know is back in our lives. My body is ready, but it's also ready for six more summer Saturdays. This will make for the perfect decent.
In the meantime, two bangers are on TV right now. USA Network's Mr. Robot and HBO's The Night Of. Thank me later.
GOOD GUY MICHIGAN. Folks, rarely do I lead a Session with Michigan. Yet, there are actions in this world that transcend The Rivalry. The Wolverines did one such thing Friday when they announced legendary crying internet meme Michael Jordan will serve as an honorary captain Sept. 3 when Michigan hosts Hawaii.
From freep.com:
That's the day Michigan debuts its new Jumpman uniforms after U-M signed an 11-year, $127.12-million deal with Nike earlier this year to become its official apparel provider, with the option to extend the deal four more years for up to $173.8 million for the duration of the deal.
Love to see corporate synergy to help a downtrodden guy like Jordan get back on his feet. I must confess, however, I am worried an upset by the Rainbow Warriors could result in over 100,000 Crying Jordans — a tsunami unlike the world has seen since late November. With M.J. on hand to witness, it might break him psychologically.
Still, credit to the Wolverines for trying. It's more than they've done in the last few years.
REAL TALK *100 EMOJI* I don't think Thad Matta knew he was getting recorded when he delivered his "We got rid of problems" sermon to a booster group. I, like most Ohio State fans, enjoyed the fire-in-the-belly displayed by Matta. It made me pine for the world where coaches could be that frank with the media.
Though it wasn't pictured, there was still an elephant tucked into the corner of that room.
From cleveland.com:
If Matta had a group of freshmen who weren't going about things the way he wanted then Ohio State is in a better place with its current roster. But the coaching staff also doesn't get to chalk that up to "We got rid of problems."
If that group was a problem, then the staff that brought it here doesn't get off that easily. Mistakes happen in recruiting, you don't hit on every kid you bring in. Ohio State missed on 80 percent of what was a supposed to be a large cornerstone class. That, too, is a problem.
It's a problem out of which Matta gets to try to see his way. He's earned that much over his tenure in Columbus. But those comments, however entertaining they may be, don't place at least part of the blame at the feet of the coaching staff, and they should have.
Ohio State will be better this year (how could they not be?) but could you imagine if the Buckeyes don't get better? The #takes will be amazing.
BLESS JOHN L. SMITH. Sometimes, I wish my life were a sporting event so I could go back to a grainy, standard definition broadcast of me as a Montana University freshman listening to this game on Yahoo! radio in 2005.
I don't remember John L. Smith melting down, but he deserves to go into America's Hall of Fame.
From espn.com:
Michigan State (4-2, 1-2) led 17-7 with 24 seconds remaining in the half. Faced with a second-and-12 at Ohio State's 17 with no timeouts, Spartans quarterbackDrew Stanton was tackled for no gain by lineman Quinn Pitcock.
Rather than having Stanton spike the ball to stop the clock on third down, Michigan State's coaches hustled the field-goal unit onto the field. In the chaos, offensive players were scrambling to the sideline while the kick unit was rushing to set up for a 35-yard attempt. The Spartans snapped the ball with only 10 players on the field -- and with no one blocking on the left side because they thought Stanton was going to spike the ball.
Ohio State's Nate Salley broke through that side to block the kick, which was picked up by Youboty and returned as time expired to cut the lead to 17-14.
#PlayOfTheDay (2005): John L. Smith meltdown after Ohio State blocks and returns field goal for a TD pic.twitter.com/BHrKzeHevj
— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) July 15, 2016
Quinn Pitcock, Ashton Youboty, and Nate Salley will never get a statue in Columbus, but they were all bosses in their day.
Ohio State went on to win that game 35-24 because you don't make mistakes like that and live to tell the tale against Jim Tressel.
BIG WOODY STYLE. When the Big Ten Media Days kick off in nine days, remind yourself none of these coaches will ever possess Woody Hayes' swagger.
From a Big Ten luncheon "40+" years ago, via @BigTenMarkTV:
A 20% finder's fee to anyone that lets me know where I can get those pants.
ROOK GOES ON NOTICE. Taylor Decker hasn't even played an official snap for the Detroit Lions, but he's already on notice... from a guy he used to block for.
Exciting that my first NFL season is approaching #OnePride
— Taylor Decker (@TDeck68) July 15, 2016
@TDeck68 better take my team to the playoffs too
— Mike Weber (@mikeweberjr) July 15, 2016
My body isn't ready for this Lions–Browns Super Bowl game.
THOSE WMDs. Officials scramble to stop nursing home abuse on social media... Chinese lottery winner dresses as Baymax to prevent relatives and friends knowing his identity... Inside the playlist factory... They burn witches here... Scotts MiracleGro CEO bets on pot growers.
