Own the group chat with The Weekender, highlighting the biggest stories in college sports, standout writing from Eleven Warriors, and a glance at what's next.
NCAA Vacates Les Miles out of CFB Hall of Fame Eligibility
Elyria native and 69-year old Michigan alumnus Leslie Edwin Miles has a 145-73 record, which is good enough for a .665 winning percentage. He is currently retired from coaching.
This week the NCAA hit LSU with penalties that included vacating 37 of his wins, reducing his official record to 108-73, a .597 winning percentage. That's notable, because according to the College Football Hall of Fame selection process:
A coach becomes eligible three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement provided he is at least 70 years old. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. He must have been a head football coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .600 winning percentage.
LSU's penalties stem from a scandal where a player under Miles lost his eligibility because a booster had embezzled $180,150 from a Baton Rouge children's hospital charity to give that money to guess who. Everyone, all together: yiiiiiiiiikes.
Alas, had Miles' Oklahoma State Cowboys simply beaten Ohio State in the 2004 Alamo Bowl he would be 109-72 after accounting for vacated wins. We’ll do the math in a moment.
You might remember Troy Smith was ineligible for that game because a booster paid his cell phone bill (ESPN spent a lot more time on this s c a n d a l than the children’s charity being looted by an LSU bagman, whatever) leaving the Buckeyes with just Justin Zwick on one leg and Ted Ginn in the Wildcat, aka the Shot-Ginn. Game wasn’t close.
Just beat Jim Tressel’s weakest team next time, Les. That’s a .602 win % and HOF eligibility.
Michigan Basketball had a big night at the NBA Draft
Michigan Wolverines guard Kobe Bufkin (2) and guard Jett Howard (13) at Crisler Center. © Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Kobe Bufkin and Jett Howard both had their names called early on in the NBA Draft on Thursday night. We don't give a damn about that whole state, but even we have to admit this is impressive:
Juwan Howard went 11-9 in the Big Ten with two Top 15 picks and Hunter Dickinson.
— Thomas Casale (@TheTomCasale) June 23, 2023
That's the stuff right there. Great work, fellas.
Happy Gilmore is a Ball State Cardinal
Bloomington South boys golf coach Dustin Carver, right, discusses the strong winds with Happy Gilmore, middle, and Nick Bellush on the fourth tee at Otis Park Golf Course during an April 8, 2021 match with Bedford North Lawrence.
It's not a nickname, it's his real name.
The 497th-ranked golfer among American high school golfers, Happy Gilmore, has committed to play at Ball State. And Happy Gilmore could not be more proud of his namesake:
Go get em Happy. Pulling for you. https://t.co/4o4LOoAWDN
— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) June 23, 2023
Awesome. The guy who eats pieces of shit like you for breakfast also sent his best regards:
Congrats but I tell you what, youd be something in one of those long drive contests. Hell, youd probably make a very good living. Traveling around, hustling at driving ranges. Just a thought. https://t.co/TzbPTQI39T
— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) June 23, 2023
Good luck, Happy. Remember, it's all in the hips.
ICYMI
Ohio State --> NBA Pipeline Now Official, Again
Chris Holtmann has now established Columbus as a reliable program for elite talent with professional aspirations. Now it's time for Ohio State basketball's results to show it.
Drue Chrisman Pays Forward
Chase Brown goes into detail about how the former Buckeye and current Bengals punter is using the offseason to help underprivileged people and communities around the Queen City.
Ohio State's Top 36 Athletes of 2022-23
Four football players. Can you name the other 32 without looking? (Go ahead and look)
What's Next?
- 69 Days: Until Ohio State football kicks off the 2023 season against Indiana in Bloomington. Nice.
- 90 Days: Until Ohio State football invades Notre Dame Stadium to play the Fighting Irish.
- 153 Days: Until Ohio State football gets revenge against Michigan in Michigan Stadium.
