Welcome to the Skull Session.
This video brings me great joy:
runnin' back that @OhioStateFB connection @justnfields x @Jeremy_Ruckert1 pic.twitter.com/yAZYGBqd3L
— New York Jets (@nyjets) April 30, 2025
Fields → Wilson, back again!
Have a good Thursday.
KEEP THAT SAME ENERGY. According to The Houston Chronicle’s Kirk Bohls, Texas’ football budget is estimated to be between $35 million and $40 million for the 2025 season.
With the addition of 10 football players out of the transfer portal and probably one or two more on the way, the budget for next season’s Texas roster has grown as well. It currently sits somewhere “between $35 million and $40 million,” which counts the likely revenue-sharing allotment expected to be $20.5 million as well as payouts through the Texas One Fund, a connected source tells the Houston Chronicle. This also figures to be a one-time exorbitant expense because athletic director Chris Del Conte and others have said the school plans to phase out its collective in favor of the revenue-sharing via the House settlement and with the move to name, image and likeness payouts through corporations. “It’s just unsustainable,” the source said of the high payouts. “The next season after this year, the whole world will be back to reality.” The source declined to reveal how many Longhorn players will command at least a $1 million salary because such transparency foments comparative discussions and locker-room chaos. … Head coach Steve Sarkisian applauded quarterback Quinn Ewers for not taking money from the Texas One Fund although the Texas source said he got some but was paid the bulk of his money by corporations “so Texas could have more good players around him.” … Quarterback Arch Manning is “by far the highest-paid Texas player,” as expected, but doesn’t take a dime from the school. He and his family acquired all his deals on their own “with no help from the school.”
Remember last college football fall when people latched onto the idea that Ohio State somehow purchased its regular-season success (and later its national championship) because it spent over $20 million on its roster?
You think people will do the same to Texas?
They should!
“IT’S GONNA GET BETTER.” In a recent interview with The Lantern’s Noah Weiskopf, Ohio State men’s basketball coach Jake Diebler shared that he and athletic director Ross Bjork have plans to improve the program’s gameday atmosphere.
And no – it doesn’t involve the Buckeyes moving from the Schottenstein Center to St. John Arena.
“It’s gonna get better. I can say that,” Diebler said of the environment inside the Schottenstein Center. “I’m really excited. Ross and I have been working closely, and he’s invested a lot of time and energy in raising the level of the atmosphere in the Schott. I think that part is great. There are some things – and I don’t know how much I can share today – but there are some things happening that are gonna be new and exciting. There are gonna be changes within the Schott that will help raise the atmosphere.”
“Make no mistake, we've got to do our part (as a team to improve the atmosphere), certainly. I think the style we played was enjoyable, but I want to play a little bit faster. Us raising our collective basketball IQ should create more energy in there, and I want us to play a little bit faster. But we need the help of the students. There’s no question about it.
“I think there were many times when they helped carry us through some tough moments of games. I am a believer – and I think I’ve seen that throughout our league, when you look at some of the historic venues in our conference, the atmospheres are impactful and you feel that as an opposing team. This year, we were able to overcome some of them and get wins, but I want that same thing in the Schott. We are doing our part. I think everybody needs to know we’re doing our part to make it a great environment, but make no mistake, we need help from our students here to help us take it to the next level.”
Weiskopf shared that, in a recent interview with The Lantern, Bjork told him Ohio State plans to make the hardwood floor “a stage” and alter some of the music selection before, during and after games. Weiskopf then asked Diebler to describe “the potential” of the Schott: “When the Schott is at its best, what can it be?”
“I remember watching my brother (Jon) play here. I was here for Senior Night… The game was against Wisconsin. They had towels all through the lower bowl. I mean, it was a big game because Wisconsin had beaten them at Wisconsin earlier (that season). It was kind of payback. They did a special video (on the scoreboard because former Badgers coach) Bo Ryan had some things he said in the press conference after the first game. The energy in the building at that moment – that, to me, is the potential of that building,” Diebler answered.
“We got to fight to get it back to that. A lot has changed since then. It’s easier to watch at home now than it’s ever been. People’s TVs are a little bit bigger than they were back then. There’s a lot that’s changed. I understand that. But I view this program as kind of our program. Our former players play a significant role in that, but it extends beyond that throughout the state of Ohio. We need to all kind of pitch in together to get it back to that point.
“Now, (Ohio State) was arguably the best team in the country at that time, so we got to do our part to keep fighting to get back there. Again, it doesn’t have to take a long period of time, but it does take a little bit of time to get there. We are doing everything we can every single day to do it. But I’m excited because I think the things Ross has planned and what he and I have been working on are gonna be exciting. It’s gonna raise the level.”
I will watch this development with great interest.
PAIN AND HUMILITY. In another nod to Weiskopf’s work for The Lantern, I wanted to share an article he published this week in which Ohio State punter Nick McLarty taught him to punt a football. I will not spoil the article’s #content – which I found both hilarious and insightful – I will share its introduction to paint a picture for what to expect when you read it:
Who knew punting a football could cause so much pain?
My foot.
My hamstring.
My ego.
And my self-esteem.
Punting is something many people see but few think about. Punters are difference-makers in games and can be the reason a game is won or lost…
USA TODAY / Imagn Images
… Some people think it’s easy.
I wanted to see what it takes to punt a football in a game-like situation, so I spent an afternoon learning what all goes into punting with Ohio State’s Nick McLarty.
My key takeaway: It’s harder than I ever imagined.
Now I just need to see Jayden Fielding teach Noah how to kick...
PAY IT FORWARD. Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate and safety Caleb Downs spent this past weekend mentoring the next generation of football players.
On Saturday at St. Charles Prep in Columbus, Tate and Downs hosted the “Game Day Youth Camp,” teaching 6 to 16-year-olds fundamentals and position-specific drills. In an interview with ABC6’s Kellyanne Stitts, Downs called the experience “a blessing.”
Game Day Youth Camp: Its a beautiful day to grow the game! #Buckeye stars Carnell Tate and Caleb Downs are hosting a Youth Football Camp for kids ages 616 at St. Charles Preparatory Academy. pic.twitter.com/9gg7uq7mzP
— Kellyanne Stitts (@KellyanneStitts) April 27, 2025
“The kids that come out to the games, I want to be around them and support them anyway I can,” Downs said. “I think the game is growing and will continue to grow.”
Tate echoed his teammate’s sentiment.
“These kids mean a lot to me. I was once in their positions, looking up to the players,” he said.
This is a page from Woody Hayes' book: Pay Forward!
SONG OF THE DAY. "She's A Rainbow" - Rolling Stones.
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