Welcome to Skull Session.
Jamier Brown is good at football.
Another long touchdown catch-and-run for Jamier Brown vs. Bishop Hartley. pic.twitter.com/umlUWE0nQu
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) June 11, 2025
Let's all strive to have a good Thursday.
“COACH HAZELL STOLE YOU.” Legendary Ohio State coach, Ohio lieutenant governor and the ultimate wearer of sweater vests, Jim Tressel, brought another Buckeye legend, Ted Ginn Jr., onto his podcast, "It's All About the Team," alongside Ginn's Ohio State wide receivers coach Darrell Hazell. And on that podcast, Tressel dove into how Hazell converted Ginn from cornerback to wideout.
"I don't know if anyone knows the story of how Coach Hazell stole you," Tressel said. "Teddy was the player of the year in America as a high school player at corner. And somehow I turn around and he's moving from corner to wide receiver."
Hazell and Ginn arrived at Ohio State in the same year, in 2004. Ohio State's top receiver from 2003, Michael Jenkins, was off to the NFL. Ginn was rated as the No. 1 cornerback in the country out of high school, but Hazell got a glance at his skill set that summer and pitched Tressel on moving him to receiver.
"He's an unbelievable talent," Hazell said. "And he's over there, and he hasn't quite made his niche yet on the defensive side, and he's standing on the practice field. And I'm thinking, oh my goodness, there's an unbelievably talented guy that we could use on offense at the time.
"You watch him work out and you watch him train, you get so excited of the possibilities. And you know that he's raw, but you said, 'But he's special.' So you (Tressel) and I had a little whisper conversation. ... Said, 'Let me have this guy for a couple days.' He comes over there and it's just unique, unique, elite ability to do things once the ball was in his hands."
Ginn did indeed do some things with the ball in his hands at Ohio State, posting back-to-back 750-yard receiving campaigns in 2005 and 2006, finishing his career with 26 all-purpose touchdowns. Eight of those came on punt and kick returns.
Imagining an alternate reality where Ginn spends his college career at corner is an interesting exercise. On one hand, Buckeye Nation never would have gotten offensive gems like these:
On the other hand, Ginn's extreme speed and agility would have made him a phenomenal defensive back. Perhaps it would have been good for his development, too, as it was the position he was recruited to play.
But any of those considerations feel wiped away looking back at the electrifying specimen that was No. 7 at wide receiver.
Receiver or corner, however, there's no question Ginn would have established himself as the greatest returnman in school history.
DINNER WITH THE FAM. An important part of the offseason for any sports team is getting some off-field or off-court bonding with teammates. It develops on-field or on-court chemistry.
To help accomplish this goal, Ohio State basketball coach Jake Diebler hosted his team for dinner at his house. Or more like a mansion based on the photos.
Had a great family dinner at Coach Dieblers last night #GoBucks | #Family pic.twitter.com/QFjQgvfTGD
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) June 11, 2025
Each of the Buckeyes' players was in attendance, including their most recent acquisitions in German guard Mathieu Grujicic and Wisconsin native Myles Herro, both of whom will be freshmen in 2025-26. A variety of games were set up in Diebler's backyard, including cornhole (only psychos call it bags), a ring tossing game, a duck shooting gallery and putt-putt.
I've shared many, many thoughts on Ohio State's basketball team entering a pivotal second year for Jake Diebler. But any concerns, for now, can be set aside. I say we take a page from the team's playbook and enjoy our summers, who's with me?
SAFETY COACH? MORE LIKE SPLASHTY COACH. On the football side of team bonding, the June Olympics continued between Ohio State's players and coaches, this time with a 3-point shooting contest. One I am shocked to say the staff won.
Of all the June Olympic games, it feels like this should be advantage players. There are probably dozens of players on Ohio State's football roster who played high school basketball sometime within the past four years. None of the assistant coaches could have hooped at anything beyond a recreational level in the past decade or two. But safeties coach Matt Guerrieri took down wide receiver Bryson Rodgers to even the score of the Olympics for the coaches.
The Staff ties up
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) June 11, 2025
@MattGuerrieri takes down @IBryson13 in a 3pt contest pic.twitter.com/I2xr3MXfso
Neither of these guys are lacing up to help Diebler and company any time soon, but Guerrieri hit nothing but nylon on a few of his makes, and I gotta say, his release is quick and pretty clean.
A side note: I was the first media member to make a 3-pointer on Ohio State football's basketball court in the WHAC when we were first given a tour of it after its opening a few years ago. I had a backpack on, which might have counterbalanced the fact that I am normally like a 25-letter alphabet: I have no J.
SONG OF THE DAY. "COME ON, LET'S GO" - Tyler, The Creator.
Only Tyler could make a song that's simply about him waiting for his date this entertaining.
AROUND THE WEB WITH ANDY. Police engage in a low-speed chase with a tractor excavator... Baby monkeys are being kidnapped... Man plays a 35-hour round of golf in search of a World Record... An aquarium hidden inside a car.
