Welcome to the Skull Session.
Two more sleeps.
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— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 18, 2023
Be EARLY
Be LOUD
Wear SCARLET pic.twitter.com/Etbj9GWSom
Let's have a good Thursday, shall we?
“ADVANTAGE BUCKEYES.” There has been much discussion about how Ohio State-Penn State will kick off at noon rather than 7:30 p.m. or even 8 p.m.
While, yes, the top-10 showdown should be under the lights at Ohio Stadium, it's not. That's because the Big Ten accepted billions of dollars for FOX, CBS and NBC to make decisions 'round here. FOX received the rights to Ohio State-Penn State; FOX selected to air the game on Big Noon. We can hate it, but we can't change it.
Because we can't change it, Ohio State sent fans a message before Saturday's matchup at the Shoe: ARRIVE EARLY AND BE LOUD.
Translation: Create the loud and hostile environment Ohio Stadium would have under the lights, except the sun will still be out, and fans will have consumed fewer adult beverages before the game.
YOU HEARD THE MAN.
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) October 17, 2023
Coach Day wants to ARRIVE EARLY and BE LOUD on Saturday @OhioStateFB needs Buckeye Nation to be loud as ever #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/hgEQdxT1nJ
"One of the biggest things (Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith) mentioned to me was getting everybody in the stadium early. We want to do that. We have done that in the past to set the tone. This is one of those games we have to really create a hostile environment for Penn State. In particular, their offense. When we are really loud in the stadium when their offense has the ball, it makes it very difficult to operate with the communication, the snap count. The louder we can be – doesn't matter whether it's third down, red zone and short yardage – if they are operating on the field, the louder we can be, the more hostile we can be, advantage Buckeyes. ... This is a big game, but we got them here in the Shoe. Let's make it as loud as we possibly can."
As I punch away at a keyboard in Ohio State's press box on Saturday, I want all who attend the game to reach incredible decibel levels when Penn State takes the field. I want to be astonished at how loud 105,000+ fans can be in a 101-year-old stadium. Remember: Ohio State's home games have been Youngstown State, Western Kentucky and Maryland, and soon will be Penn State, then Michigan State and Minnesota. The Nittany Lions are by far the best team Ohio State will face at home in the 2023 season. In other words, there is no better time than Saturday to lose your voice.
Be loud!
THE SEARCH BEGINS. Ohio State announced members of the search committee for the school's next athletic director on Wednesday. The committee will help Ohio State nominate candidates and provide input and feedback to the Collegiate Sports Associates (CSA) search firm. The committee will also work with CSA to coordinate and facilitate community listening sessions.
Michael C. Eicher, senior vice president for advancement and president of The Ohio State University Foundation, will be the committee's chair. The other members include:
- Pierre Bigby, Ohio State Board of Trustees; former Ohio State student-athlete
- Clark Kellogg, former Board of Trustees member and Ohio State student-athlete
- Archie Griffin, former senior vice president, Ohio State Alumni Association, and Ohio State student-athlete
- Michael Papadakis, senior vice president for business and finance, Chief Financial Officer
- Stacy Rastauskas, vice president for government affairs
- Lincoln L. Davies, dean and Frank R. Strong Chair in Law, Moritz College of Law
- Nadine Muzerall, head coach, Ohio State women’s ice hockey
- Janine Oman, senior deputy athletics director
- Xen Riggs, vice president and chief operating officer, Department of Athletics and Business Advancement
- John E. Davidson, professor, Department of Germanic Languages and Literature; faculty athletics representative
- Tom Gessells, director of information technology, Wexner Medical Center; staff representative, Athletics Council
- Nina LeFlore, co-president, Student-Athlete Advisory Council
- Alex Dediu, co-president, Student-Athlete Advisory Council
Look, a committee that includes Archie Griffin and Clark Kellogg has to be a committee that will make the correct decision on the next athletic director for THE World Famous Ohio State Buckeyes. It has to be. Add in national champion head coach Nadine Muzerall and some other impressive university representatives, and this process will be done in no time!
THE GAME OF HIS LIFE. We had to talk about it at some point.
On Oct. 29, 2022, JT Tuimoloau had one of the best individual performances in college football's decorated history: Six tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass breakup (that led to a Zach Harrison interception), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two interceptions, including a pick-six that helped seal Ohio State's 44-31 win over Penn State.
According to Eleven Warriors researcher Matt Gutridge, Tuimoloau is the only Ohio State player ever to record two interceptions, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the same game. That combination of statistics – which Tuimoloau accomplished alone, by himself, just him – has been achieved by the entire Ohio State defense in only eight games since 1976, and likely ever: Northwestern (1981), Iowa (1984), BYU (1985), West Virginia (1987), San Diego State (2003), Northwestern (2006), Tulsa (2016) and Michigan State (2020).
Tuimoloau is also the lone FBS player since 2000 with two interceptions, two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in a game, according to Stathead.
In short, Tuimoloau's performance was incredible. Should we expect to see the same production on Saturday? Maybe not. But Jim Knowles does.
"I expect him to do that again," Knowles said with a hint of sarcasm.
His comment was in response to a question that asked what he and Ohio State have seen from Tuimoloau in 2023 that has been different or improved from last season.
"(He has) increased football intelligence," Knowles said. "JT is an awesome player in his own right, doing his thing. I see a guy who continues to understand more about the defense and his role in the defense, where the ball will come out based on the call – all those things. He has a great understanding."
Six tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two interceptions #Loading...?
YOU CAN BET ON THAT? ESPN's College GameDay will be in Columbus for Ohio State-Penn State on Saturday, as Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and the rest of the GameDay team are set to appear on Ohio State's campus for the first time in 2023.
Through Wednesday, ESPN had not announced its guest picker for Saturday's show. There are also no rumors about who the Worldwide Leader in Sports will select for the role. Therefore, Bet Ohio has seized the day, opening odds for the most probable candidates – because, folks, you can gamble on whatever your heart desires these days.
- Actor J.K. Simmons: +700
- Golfer Jack Nicklaus: +700
- NBA star LeBron James: +1000
- Former Ohio State wide receiver Cris Carter: +1250
- Former Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk: +1250
- Former Ohio State center Nick Mangold: +1250
- Other: +130
The Other will probably cash here. But recent Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Nick Mangold has some value.
SONG OF THE DAY. “Encore” by JAY-Z and Linkin Park.
CUT TO THE CHASE. Martin Scorsese on finding the flow and his dislike of emails... Serena Williams has a 2-book deal, starting with an intimate and open-hearted memoir... Rite Aid plans to close 154 stores after bankruptcy filing... Magnitude 4.2 earthquake rattles Northern California, triggers alert... Body Electric.
