Cheers From B Deck

Braxton...will he rise in 2015?

2015-01-18T13:25:00.002-08:00

2015 may be the coming out party for Cardale Jones but will Braxton Rise? I made this video back for 2013 season but it still rings true today....

Braxton Miller Rises

#2014 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

The 4th National Title game in my life time!

2015-01-11T11:45:00.002-08:00

2002, 2006, 2007 and now 2015!

Growing up a Buckeye fan in the 80's and 90's my fandom was full of mediocrity. I tend to reflect back on my experience by gauging my yearly emotions. The first game I remember going to was in 1987, against- you guessed it- Oregon. The excitement I felt at 7 years old was real. I remember sitting in trusty ole' B deck 60 minutes before kickoff with my dad. We were always early, to some painfully early, but to us soaking up every minute in the shoe' was very memorable. To this day I still like to get to the field at least 45 minutes before kick off. As for that first game, I remember asking my dad if the Oregon colors were orange. Thankfully, 28 years later, they were not. We won easy that day 24-14. Ho hum on many fronts but the beginning something special for me. On a side note, the 1987 non- conference schedule was West Virgina, Oregon and LSU. How about that for the playoff pollsters?

An 18th ranked, 8-4 team during my most formidable years, is just what the Buckeyes were. It just was what it was. 3 or 4 losses a year and hopefully a New years day bowl game to play in. I just missed the 84' Rose Bowl year being too young so for me it was the Citrus bowl or Hall of Fame bowl it seemed like every year.

That all changed in 1993.

Every year, whether we did or not, I feel like we started out ranked 18th in the polls. That is where we started in 1993. But something happened on the second week of the season that I never experienced before and something that I didn't think was possible. Yeah, I heard of the national titles and Woody and the tradition of seasons past but that was not real to me. What was real was a Cotton Bowl win over Texas A&M in 1988. That was it.
But on that second week of the 1993 season, the Ohio State Buckeyes I know and love today, were born. The game was the first night game in the 'shoe since 1985 against the #12 Washington Huskies. The Huskies, only one season removed from sharing the National Title with Miami in 1991, were a legit opponent. Napoleon Kaufman was a legit RB talent coming in and the stage was set. 4 quarters later, Bobby Hoying, Joey Galloway (Mr. SEC Speed), "Big Daddy" Dan Wilkinson and the rest put the nation on notice with a 21-12 win. (YouTube it) It also planted a seed in my head of seeing OSU become a national power. I remember keeping all of the sports page articles that year and watching the Bucks climb to #3 in the polls. It was crazy seeing that, so much so I couldn't fathom it. Ohio State ranked right up there with mighty Florida State and Nebraska. I had to cut the polls out and keep them. It was awesome. The future was bright at Ohio State.

Well, it all came full circle as I grew up. I have been able to witness great and talented, nationally ranked Buckeye teams, BCS Bowl games, a Rose Bowl, a National Title in 2002, a decade of dominance over Michigan, Jim Tressel and now the Urban Meyer era. The program is on the highest trajectory to-date and is on the verge of competing for a National Title every year in the new playoff system. In today's game that is just unbelievable. 10 days ago beating the mighty SEC's Alabama felt like we had won the national championship. It was a statement game that took Ohio State from a good program to a great program again. Now, another ho-hum win over Oregon will take Ohio State football to the stratosphere! The future is bright at Ohio State.

Go Bucks!

Ring the Bell!

2012-11-02T08:04:00.003-07:00

Update from the Good Folks at Bucknuts.com

VON BELL- We are here- arms wide open!

A good case can be made for safety Vonn Bell (Rossville, Ga./Ridgeland) being the most important prospect left on the Buckeyes’ 2013 recruiting board. And if he isn’t No. 1, certainly he is in the top three. The Buckeyes need help at safety and Bell is an impact guy who ranks as the country’s No. 3 safety prospect in the 247Sports rankings.

Bell has narrowed his choices down to Ohio State, Tennessee and Alabama and plans to make an official visit with the Buckeyes.

“He is playing safety, running back and wide receiver,” Ridgeland coach Mark Mariakis said. “And he plays on special teams. He doesn’t come off the field. He’s having an incredible year.”

Bell has just one interception and his tackle stats are not spectacular, but the numbers are misleading with Ridgeland standing 7-1 and winning most games by wide margins.

“Our starters have played the full game just twice so the stats are skewed,” Mariakis said. “Plus nobody throws his way. But Vonn makes things happen. In one game he touched the ball six times and had four touchdowns and 236 all-purpose yards.”

Bell has narrowed his very long and impressive list of scholarship offers down to Ohio State, Tennessee and Alabama.

“I think all three are dead even,” Mariakis said. “I’m not sure if he will take official visits to all three, but he will visit Ohio State because he’s been to Alabama and Tennessee a number of times.”

There is a possibility Bell could make an official visit to Ohio State when the Buckeyes play Michigan on Nov. 24, but not a strong one.

Ridgeland has their last regular season game tomorrow. They play for the region championship on Nov. 9 and then in the first round of the state playoffs the weekend of Nov. 16. A victory in the first round of the playoffs would mean Bell and his teammates would play in the second round the weekend of Nov. 23.

“He hasn’t seen a football game at Ohio State,” Mariakis said. “He would like to go up there for one of their home games. But he will wait until we are done with our season. But I think for sure he’ll take an official visit to Ohio State.”

Bell was in Columbus during the summer when he had a great performance at the first 2012 Ohio State Senior Advanced Camp.

Bell has been a varsity starter since his freshman season. His first two years of high school Bell attended Chattanooga (Tenn.) Central before moving to Georgia prior to his junior year. He made 119 tackles and intercepted five passes last season. Bell forced three fumbles and recovered five. He took three of those recoveries back for touchdowns.

Bell is a 5-star prospect. In addition to being the country’s No. 3 safety prospect he is the country’s No. 24 overall prospect and the No. 3 prospect in Georgia.

Kurelic’s Comment: It is hard to say which way this one goes. I tend to think Bell ends up at Ohio State or Tennessee, but much may depend on what happens with the Vols coaching situation.

Gamble. Money.

2012-10-26T12:38:00.001-07:00

In honor of this weekend's game against Penn State.
Chris Gamble takes it to the house.
Gamble was always a good bet.

PICK 6

Recruiting Nationally...or Florida, either one.

2012-10-25T09:26:00.001-07:00

Speaking of Urban going national with recruiting- here is an update via Bucknuts about Cleveland Browns star Joe Haden's younger brother. Florida hosted a familiar face in Gainesville for the victory over LSU on Oct. 6 in Washington (D.C.) Friendship Academy junior running back Jonathan Haden. Haden made it to Florida for a game this fall and would like to get to Ohio State by season's end. The younger brother of the Haden clan including former Florida standout Joe Haden, he’d been to the Gators campus several times in the past. “It was great,” Haden said. “They looked like they did when Joe was there. Very energetic.” Already holding early scholarship offers from Ohio State and North Carolina, the 5-foot-8, 180-pound Haden has been in contact with the Florida staff. Older brother Jordan also signed with the Gators coming out of high school before transferring to Toledo. “I talked to Coach (D.J.) Durkin and Coach (Brian) White," Haden said. "They were telling me they have a lot of interest in me." The interest is mutual for the nation's No. 7 all-purpose back according to the 247Composite. “I like Florida a whole lot,” Haden said. “I know most of the coaching staff. I like the whole atmosphere and coaches and everything.” A two-year starter at Archbishop Carroll, Haden transferred to Friendship Academy where he has rushed for roughly 900 yards and 10 touchdowns this fall. As familiar as Haden is with Florida, he has the same at ease with Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, who obviously coached the older Haden during his time with the Gators. “I want to go to Ohio State for one of their games,” Haden said. “I like the area. I like all the coaches, the atmosphere, it’s a big family. I like the offense too.” In the past, Haden has also visited Boston College, South Carolina and nearby Maryland. He attended the Terps victory over Connecticut earlier this fall. Following the season he plans to visit several other schools.

Obstructions toughen the soul

2012-10-25T09:17:00.004-07:00

Proud season ticket holder- no matter where you sit- Ohio Stadium is an amazing place to watch a game. I've been in A and C deck but in B deck, there is something about B Deck that solidifies the "fan" in me. Man UP! Beat Penn State!

Revived!

2012-10-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

It's funny to look back when you first begin something. I had the best intentions to write a sports blog concerning my favorite sports teams, mainly the Ohio State Buckeyes. Well, life happens and unless you write for a living, it is harder to do than you think. As OSU has moved on from "Tressel Ball"- I leave my "Tressel Blog" days behind as well and start a fresh, in the Urban Era. This is the Ohio State team that I have longed to see for years. We have always had the talent but it was such that outside of the early 2000's we always under achieved in the big games. I don't need to go in to the details of that as it is well documented. Not only the failings of Ohio State but the Big Ten in general. Besides the exciting offense, the one thing that I am looking forward to the most is seeing Urban and the coaching staff get the MOST out of the talent on this roster. It's clear that Tressel was able to win a lot of games, most of them not pretty. He put a lot of guys in the NFL and was very successful. With that said, watching games in the Tressel era would always leave me wanting a bit more. Outside of the Michigan wins- many of the victories would leave us with the question- 'are we a good team or did we just play a bad team.?' Tress could recruit but Urban looks to take this program national again. Recruiting track stars to play football, ala Jeff Demps will get OSU back on the national radar again. Our ability to compete with the SEC will not be answered for another year but by the looks of things, we are on the right track. Though our defense will need to improve, Braxton Miller and the offense are making strides. Urban is my "Woody Hayes". My dad and uncle would quote Woody and have his comments hanging on the walls of the basement, as if they were speaking to them today. I feel the same way about Urban. He is a motivator and simply watching the spring ESPN All Access program was enough to get me off the couch. "Why be average?" So I am revived- let's see where this thing can go. I'm hungry for another 2002- hopefully that will happen sooner than later.

The Big Board

2010-01-08T07:53:00.000-08:00

Per Mel Kiper @ ESPN:

Ndamukong Suh DT: Explosive, relentless and consistent.

Gerald McCoy DT: Disruptive force. Productive NFL career ahead.

Eric Berry DB: Ultimate playmaker, in the Ed Reed mold.

Jimmy Clausen QB: Improved through adversity, has under-center experience.

Sam Bradford QB: Has underrated arm, great feel for position, is super-accurate.

Joe Haden CB : Polished cover corner with tackling ability to match.

Russell Okung OT: Athletic, strong and fiery blindside pass-protector.

Derrick Morgan DE: Proven pass-rusher, stout versus run. Very productive.

Dez Bryant WR: Dynamic receiver, punt returner and TD maker.

Rolando McClain LB: Fiery, vocal team leader with top instincts for position.

Jason Pierre-Paul DE : Explosive, natural pass-rusher out of juco ranks.

Brian Price DT: Powerful leverage guy who wreaks havoc.

C.J. Spiller RB: Multitalented, super-fast, electrifying game-breaker.

Carlos Dunlap DE: Physical tools are off the charts. Has unlimited upside.

Aaron Hernandez TE: Great hands and excellent run-after-catch skills for a TE.

Everson Griffen DE: Supremely talented, now gaining the necessary consistency.

Dan Williams DT: High motor, consistent, tremendously powerful lower body.

Anthony Davis OT: Gifted physically, quick feet and still improving.

Taylor Mays S: Has linebacker size with cornerback speed.

Brandon Graham DE: Awesome athlete and force off the edge.

Sergio Kindle LB: Production finally matches his talent.

Jermaine Gresham TE6-6258Analysis: The best pass-catching tight end in college football.

Jahvid Best RB: Versatile; home run threat on every play.

Arrelious Benn WR: Silky-smooth but physical playmaker. Great RAC threat.

Patrick Robinson CB: Consistent, even in a tough year. Best overall senior CB.

BIG TEN still = BIG TIME

2010-01-06T07:29:00.001-08:00

Last night, Iowa completed a great bowl season for the Big Ten by defeating Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl. As I write this, I must confess to being born and bred in Big Ten country so of course my opinion is not without bias- but is not everyones'? With that said, I watch as much college football as any normal fan- if not a bit more than I probably should and I feel I can be pretty objective when I need to be. In light of that, since 2006 I had been persuaded by the national media that the Big Ten was on it's way out of college football dominance to be replaced by- gasp- the Big East?

With the onset of college football programs receiving more television coverage within the last decade than ever before- it's easy to see that the historically smaller programs have used the limelight to their advantage. Remember only a few years back when little upstart- choppin wood Rutgers upset Louisville in an 'epic' Thursday night game? Per the media- this might have been the greatest upset in college football history.

Rutgers and Louisville? Cmon.

Had we been programmed to think that 'if it's on tv- it must be good.'? These schools- it turns out were experiencing an abnormal shift in fortune as the undersized, easy scheduled and remodeled Big East- less the 'U'- and add UConn- had be gaining exposure by ripping through less than rugged team schedules to 7-0 records and somehow moving up the polls. Sure it was good for the overall coverage of college football but let's step back a bit and not ignore tradition and lets crown these programs until they pay some dues.

The reality is- Florida 51 Cincinnati 24. Cincinnati was regarded by some to be the best team in Ohio- yikes.

Turns out most of the craziness has been restored as the Big Ten stepped up with a 4-3 bowl record that very well could have been 7-0.

The problem with the Big Ten has not been speed or athletes- but more of game planning and execution. If anything, the Big Ten has been stuck in the 80's and 90's in game planning and play calling. I grew up use to seeing a chess match for pretty much the first quarter between teams as they tried to figure out schemes and match ups. These days I see, there is no time for delay as teams come out swinging and spreading the field and using trick plays every other drive. The SEC has gained a reputation of not punting and not settling for the field goal, which, somehow over the past three years seems to result in more touchdowns for them, but I'm not betting that in the long term.

With too many directions to go from here- I'm basking in the Big Ten today- they've answered the call and I'm excited to see the success this year. They were not out-manned in the losses and looked stout in the victories. What will 2010 hold? Hopefully BCS title coming back to the midwest...