Ohio State Off Season All Things (2020 Football Season To Resume 10/24))

[VetteMan]

Ohio State and Texas have a lot of similarities when it comes to how their athletes fit into their perspective conferences. Both are historically successful in a wide range of sports. Both bring the largest fan base with the most revenue. Both are clearly the top dog. They are pretty similar except for one thing, the current Big Ten situation would never have happened to Texas. Texas knows it's worth, knows it's power, and it's not afraid to use it. Just look at the latest conference realignment, the Big 12 did pretty much exactly what Texas wanted, regardless of what other schools wanted. They are not afraid to throw their weight around to get what they want.

[VetteMan]

The Ohio State Buckeyes have the most overall NFL draft picks ( 141 ) since the turn of the century. The Buckeyes also recently moved past USC ( University of Southern California ) to claim the top spot in all-time first round selections with ( 82 ). That includes ( 18 ) 1st round picks since 2009, Ohio State accounted for 2 of the top 3 picks this past April in Chase Young and Jeff Okudah, with former Buckeye Joe Burrow going #1. Not everyone gets drafted, at the beginning of August, Ohio State had the second-most Alumni ( 63 ) of any college entering training camp. Included in that group were ( 13 ) former Buckeyes that went undrafted, 5 this past spring but have since been signed by a team. That list has now been trimmed to ( 12 ) as the Steelers released J.T. Barrett. The list includes: Austin Mack, WR (Giants), Ben Victor, WR (Giants), Brandon Bowen, OL (Panthers), Rashod Berry, TE (Patriots), Liam McCullough, LS (Raiders), Johnnie Dixon, WR (Arizona), Malcolm Pridgeon, OL (Browns), Marcus Baugh, TE (Washington), Cameron Johnson, P (Eagles), Rod Smith, RB (Raiders), Andrew Norwell, OL (Jaguars), Jake McQuaide, LS (Rams). Norwell was first team All-Pro in 2017, while McQuaide has been a 2-time Pro-Bowl selection.

[Omega]

Ohio State and Texas have a lot of similarities when it comes to how their athletes fit into their perspective conferences. Both are historically successful in a wide range of sports. Both bring the largest fan base with the most revenue. Both are clearly the top dog. They are pretty similar except for one thing, the current Big Ten situation would never have happened to Texas. Texas knows it's worth, knows it's power, and it's not afraid to use it. Just look at the latest conference realignment, the Big 12 did pretty much exactly what Texas wanted, regardless of what other schools wanted. They are not afraid to throw their weight around to get what they want.

Texas is the only state to revere football more than does Ohio and their flagship school has the resources to be a successful bully. Yet the other states in the conference have had low Covid-19 cases so a play decision was more easy to make.

As to the Big-10, New Jersey, Michigan, and Illinois are still under somewhat stringent contagion emergency orders and Minnesota is still suffering from civil unrest, so I guess their no play decision makes some sense.

Also remember the Big 10 is also an academic alliance of member schools, thus athletics does not always dominate conference decisions. As to Ohio State, with a new president, there only options was to accept the no play decision or go rouge and join another conference. On short notice the logistics of that were daunting and it could end $50m a year in conference revenue sharing. That and TOSU is extremely conscious of their image or brand. No where in the University's mission statement does it say TOSU exists to compete for football championships. Sometimes the professors gain the power to cut the athletic department down a notch or two.

[VetteMan]

Northwestern University offensive tackle Rashawn Slater has decided to opt out of his senior season, and instead declare for the NFL draft. Slater is 6'4", 308 lb and is considered a top 40 pick by most NFL teams. He said that he had been in an ongoing dialogue with head coach Pat Fitzgerald, and that everybody had been and were understanding of his decision.

[VetteMan]

In a letter sent to all Ohio State University Students, the University said students who host or attend large parties or gatherings could be suspended, and student organizations involved could lose their recognition or funding. Remember that this is all about more than the individual. We have one shot at this, responding to what so many of you asked for, an on-campus semester at Ohio State. For many, this could be their last semester as a student. For first year students, their first college experience at Ohio State. For some, this is where they find housing, safety and food security. Don't make intentional choices now that inherently challenge the future for so many members of our Buckeye family. In the letter, Vice President of Student Life, Melissa S. Shivers, remined students they are required to wear a face mask, practice social distancing and avoid gatherings of more than 10 people.

[Raider6309]

Hopefully all the best athletes leave Ohio State for the South. Justin Fields will play for a national title at Georgia next year

[Omega]

Hopefully all the best athletes leave Ohio State for the South. Justin Fields will play for a national title at Georgia next year

Fields likely has played his last snap of college football. Why risk being a first round draft pick and millions of dollars? That and you are correct the Big10 will lose premier players to the south if the NCAA loosens eligibility and transfer rules due to the ChinaFlu. There is a risk the no play decision will downgrade OSU and Big10 football to mid major status.

[Omega]

Well speaking of the NCAA, I found they have granted an extra year of eligibility for fall athletes, but keeping scholarship limits at 85 with a one-time waiver for current seniors. Looks like OSU will either have to encourage non contributing football players to leave or reduce the number of schollies offered. Unintended consequences:

https://www.ocregister.com/2020/08/21/n ... -covid-19/

[Omega]

OSU looking at $130M reduction in athletic dept revenue:

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-sta ... all-sports

[VetteMan]

Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports reports that University of Louisville plans on having 18,000 fans at their football game. Ohio State and the other schools in the Big Ten are not playing football this 2020 fall season. Louisville is not that far from Columbus, where is the disconnect ? How could this happen if there isn't something going on behind the scenes? It is said that the Big Ten is afraid of lawsuits, isn't Louisville subjecting themselves to far worse potential liability with fans ? Something else has to be at play. If Kevin Warren and the Big Ten have nothing to hide, then why are they hiding ? Nebraska parents and the Nebraska senator didn't even get a call from the Big Ten, so they have filed suit in Federal Court.

[Omega]

Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports reports that University of Louisville plans on having 18,000 fans at their football game. Ohio State and the other schools in the Big Ten are not playing football this 2020 fall season. Louisville is not that far from Columbus, where is the disconnect ? How could this happen if there isn't something going on behind the scenes? It is said that the Big Ten is afraid of lawsuits, isn't Louisville subjecting themselves to far worse potential liability with fans ? Something else has to be at play. If Kevin Warren and the Big Ten have nothing to hide, then why are they hiding ? Nebraska parents and the Nebraska senator didn't even get a call from the Big Ten, so they have filed suit in Federal Court.

The disconnect is real but unknown. Kentucky and Louisville have covid restrictions just as severe as any Big 10 state except Michigan and New Jersey. You assume the Big 10 precautions were expected to be at least equal to the conferences that are playing.The only thing left is the thought that a majority of the Big 10 presidents want to de-emphasize football and not playing will do that. Throw in fear and liability over head injuries in football, covid19 might be the catalyst for colleges eventually getting out of the football business.

[VetteMan]

Justin Fields, Shaun Wade and Wyatt Davis were each named to the Associated Press pre-season All American teams, with Wade and Davis earning first team honors and Fields checking in on the second team behind Trevor Lawrence. Despite the postponed fall season, Fields, Wade and Davis are all potential first round picks ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft. The trio was also named pre-season All Americans by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

[VetteMan]

University of Cincinnati has extended former Buckeye Luke Fickell's contract through the 2026 football season. After Fickell led the Bearcats to back-to-back 11 win seasons in just three years as the teams head coach, Fickell's hard work has paid off, as Cincinnati has rewarded Fickell with a contract extension, which comes with a $1 million annual raise. Under Fickell's previous contract he was set to be paid 2.4 million annually through the 2022 season. Under the new contract, Fickell will make 3.4 million a year through the 2026 season. Fickell is a pretty hot item right now as a head coach, as I'm pretty sure that Michigan State and a few others did come after him at the end of last season.

[Bleeding Red]

Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports reports that University of Louisville plans on having 18,000 fans at their football game. Ohio State and the other schools in the Big Ten are not playing football this 2020 fall season. Louisville is not that far from Columbus, where is the disconnect ? How could this happen if there isn't something going on behind the scenes? It is said that the Big Ten is afraid of lawsuits, isn't Louisville subjecting themselves to far worse potential liability with fans ? Something else has to be at play. If Kevin Warren and the Big Ten have nothing to hide, then why are they hiding ? Nebraska parents and the Nebraska senator didn't even get a call from the Big Ten, so they have filed suit in Federal Court.

I hope they sue the @as off the B1G. This should trigger Karen Warren getting fired.

[Omega]

Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports reports that University of Louisville plans on having 18,000 fans at their football game. Ohio State and the other schools in the Big Ten are not playing football this 2020 fall season. Louisville is not that far from Columbus, where is the disconnect ? How could this happen if there isn't something going on behind the scenes? It is said that the Big Ten is afraid of lawsuits, isn't Louisville subjecting themselves to far worse potential liability with fans ? Something else has to be at play. If Kevin Warren and the Big Ten have nothing to hide, then why are they hiding ? Nebraska parents and the Nebraska senator didn't even get a call from the Big Ten, so they have filed suit in Federal Court.

I hope they sue the @as off the B1G. This should trigger Karen Warren getting fired.

BR, my thought is that Warren is just the messenger for the university presidents. Yeah Warren has been aloof and he has handled the messaging about the decision very badly. That said he is just carrying out the decision per his bosses instructions. Unfortunately for OSU fans, Warren does not work for the Big 10 athletic directors. He works for the universities as a whole.

[Omega]

Do not look now, Ron Day and Ohio State no longer has the lead in recruiting rankings for 2021. Nick Saban at Alabama has recently received commitments from 9 of the top 100 rated high school players. This wiped out OSU's once insurmountable recruiting lead. The Bucks still can look forward to a historic recruiting class.

[VetteMan]

LSU Men's Basketball Coach Will Wade is under intense NCAA scrutiny once again. The NCAA is accusing Wade of either arranging for, offering or providing impermissible benefits, including cash payments, to "at least 11" potential recruits or others around them. The NCAA is pursuing an infractions case against LSU, a notice of the allegations has yet to be sent to LSU. Wade, who was infamously heard discussing making a "Strong a-- offer" for a recruit on a federal wiretap is at the center of this case.

[VetteMan]

Liam McCullough is getting another shot to make it in the NFL. The Pittsburg Steelers have signed the former Ohio State long snapper, who was waived by the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this month on Thursday. McCullough signing comes after the Steelers incumbent long snapper, Kameron Canaday suffered a knee injury last week.

[VetteMan]

Eight University of Nebraska football players have filed suit in the District Court of Lancaster County Nebraska against the Big Ten. This will probably not go anywhere, but it does show that players and parents both have not given up hope, and are very unhappy with the Big Ten.

[VetteMan]

Ohio State got a commitment from 4-Star defensive tackle Tyleik Williams today for the Class of 2021. He is 6'3", 330 lb out of Unity Reed High School in Manassas, Virginia. Up until this past June, his high school was named Stonewall Jackson High School. He's the 160th overall player in the country, the 10th overall defensive tackle and the #5 player in the state of Virginia. He said that Larry Johnson had really offered him earlier while on the phone, but that he was so excited at that time, that he wasn't sure. There was no misunderstanding today though, as Johnson had him as a priority all along.