Skull Session: Troy Smith Narrates Ohio State’s TTUN Trailer, TreVeyon Henderson is En Fuego Entering The Game and the Buckeyes’ Equipment Staff Are Unsung Heroes

By Chase Brown on November 24, 2023 at 5:00 am
Troy Smith
Neal C. Lauron / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Welcome to the Skull Session.

One more sleep.

Cam Martinez, C.J. Hicks, Carson Hinzman and Hero Kanu made Turkey Day special for some Columbus residents. That's a real good job out of them.

Did I mention that we have one more sleep?

Have a good Friday.

 BRING THAT ENERGY. Before Ohio State travels to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to battle the Wolverines in the 119th edition of The Game, Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith had some words to share with the Buckeyes in the Team Up North Game Trailer.

"How do you want to be remembered in a world where passion and hatred run deep in the spirit of rivalry? Football isn't just a game, and this most certainly is not just another game," Smith said. "Collisions of will, toughness and chaos will only elevate the undeniable test to become legend. But in the chaos, there is a bond that transcends the hatred – a brotherhood forged over decades of sacrifice, hostility and one type of love: Tough love. You may see this as just a rivalry. But no, oh no. This is a way of life."

Ohio State needed those words this week.

In three seasons as Ohio State's QB1, Smith accounted for 1,151 yards and seven touchdowns as the Buckeyes secured three consecutive victories over "That Team Up North" in The Game.

In the 2006 "Game of the Century," Smith completed 29 of 41 passes for 316 yards, four touchdowns and one interception as No. 1-ranked Ohio State defeated No. 2-ranked Michigan, 42-39, in Columbus. His performance won him the Heisman Trophy over Darren McFadden (Arkansas) and Brady Quinn (Notre Dame) and sent the Buckeyes to the BCS National Championship Game.

Note: That performance came after Smith capped off Senior Day festivities with what is still one of the best celebrations I've seen a player do on a football field.

That dude had (and still has) so much swagger. It was insane.

 TOUCHDOWN TREY. Last weekend, TreVeyon Henderson proved to be way too much for the Golden Gophers to handle. With 17 touches for 172 yards and two touchdowns, Henderson proved once more he is one of the best weapons in college football when at 100 percent.

Henderson was at his best in the first possession of each half for Ohio State. In the opening drive of the first half, he rushed four times for 35 yards and a touchdown and caught a 13-yard pass. In the third quarter, he took a handoff, became speed and outpaced the Minnesota defense for a career-long 75-yard touchdown. During those two possessions, Henderson averaged 20.5 yards per touch.

Henderson's performance marked the third time in four weeks he topped 100 yards of total offense (and then some) in a game.

In Ohio State's win over Wisconsin – Henderson's return to action after a four-week absence – the Hopewell, Virginia, native had 28 touches for 207 yards and one touchdown. His encore was 27 touches for 208 yards and one touchdown vs. Rutgers, and he had 15 touches for 77 yards and one touchdown vs. Michigan State. Add in last week’s stats and those numbers combine for an impressive 74 touches for 664 yards and five scores in just four games.

Earlier this week, former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer broke down Henderson's performances in recent weeks and how the Buckeyes could use the 5-foot-10, 212-pound running back vs. Michigan on Saturday.

On Monday, I wrote that Henderson needs 20-plus touches in Ann Arbor. HE NEEDS IT.

He has run with a purpose since his return. He's also become a factor as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Both aspects should be favorable for Ryan Day, Kyle McCord and the Buckeyes, who will be 3.5-point underdogs at the Big House.

In Ohio State's 42-27 loss to Michigan in 2021, Henderson totaled 128 yards and two touchdowns, including five catches for 53 yards. Day and McCord should lean on him in a similar fashion – however, this time around, one can hope it will lead to a more positive outcome when the scoreboard reaches 0:00. (It will).

 BEHIND THE SCENES. I have a friend. His name is Jake. From 2019-22, Jake was a member of Ohio State football's equipment staff. He loved it. Every second of it. Through the good days and the bad days, he wore the Block O with immense pride.

While Jake has graduated and moved on from Ohio State – and is now a hard-working, super-successful accounting analyst in Columbus – the equipment staff continues its behind-the-scenes work, keeping the Buckeyes looking sharp on and off the field (and some other all-important stuff, too).

This week, Big Ten Network broke down a "Week in the Life" of Ohio State equipment staffers, also known as the Unsung Heroes of THE World Famous Ohio State Buckeyes.

"That's a drop in the bucket of all that the managers do," Jake said when he watched the video. "They are the heartbeat of the team. The program would die without them."

That's straight from the horse's mouth, people.

Thank a manager the next time you see them.

I already thanked Jake.

He said, "You're welcome."

Jake is a good dude.

 GAME RESPECT GAME. As noon approaches on Saturday, Chris Holtmann will be in the thick of his preparation for Ohio State’s final game of the Emerald Coast Classic vs. Oregon or Santa Clara. How Ohio State performs vs. No. 17 Alabama on Friday in Niceville, Florida, will determine whether the Buckeyes meet the Ducks or the Broncos inside Raider Arena.

In between those contests for the Basketbucks, Ohio State and Michigan will battle in the 119th edition of The Game. Before Holtmann’s squad traveled south for the two-day tournament, he was asked to offer his prediction for the rivalry matchup.

“It’s gonna be an unbelievable contest,” Holtmann said of The Game on Tuesday. “I’m not in the prediction game, but I think we’re going to play really well. I think we are playing really well right now. I think we’re peaking at the right time. I know Ryan (Day) is going to have those guys ready. I can’t wait.”

Holtmann and Day have developed a wonderful friendship over their years at Ohio State. The coaches have supported each other’s programs on multiple occasions, such as Day's attendance at the men's basketball team's home win over Michigan in 2020 and his appearance on the first episode of Holtmann's "More Than Coach Speak" podcast.

Ryan Day, Chris Holtmann
Ohio State men's basketball head coach Chris Holtmann is congratulated by Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day following the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Value City Arena. (Photo: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports)

Ohio State and Alabama will play at 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. Oregon and Santa Clara will face off at 9:30 p.m., with the losers and winners set for matchups on Saturday.

THE WEEKEND RUNDOWN:

Ohio State vs. No. 17 Alabama is the appetizer before The Game.

The Game is the entree. One that will taste so, so good.

Ohio State vs. Oregon/Santa Clara is the dessert after The Game.

Sounds like a good weekend to me.

 SONG OF THE DAY. "Paint It, Black" - The Rolling Stones.

 CUT TO THE CHASE. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade ushers in holiday season in New York... Dolly Parton, dressed as an iconic Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, rocks Thanksgiving halftime... What’s streaming now: "Oppenheimer," Adam Sandler as a lizard and celebs dancing to Taylor Swift... Eddie Merrins, the "Little Pro" who had an enormous influence on golf in LA, dies at 91... Amazon will stream the first-ever NFL Black Friday game... "Scott Pilgrim Takes Off" —and levels up.

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