My blogging friend Tracy is awesome. We had a nice dinner on Friday night (we were joined by my dad and her husband, Eddie) at The Redeye Grill. I’m looking forward to blogging with her again this fall at The Columbus Dispatch.
Even though I have been there 3 times prior to this trip Times Square continues to amaze me. Seriously, that many people? We stayed in Times Square at The Hotel Mela. Nice, contemporary joint.
Little Italy on a Saturday is pretty much the awesome.
It is a shame they’re tearing down Yankee Stadium. When I learned that they would be making the area into public parkland I was a little less ashamed that America was losing one of it’s historical markers. I wasn’t ashamed at all when I learned that the new Yankee Stadium was (or is being built) on public parkland. Tracy compared it to the Bronx’s Central Park.
The Reds can actually play some ball when they like to. A couple of great defensive plays by Edwin Encarnacion and Paul Janish probably saved the game for the Reds (it kept it 0-0). The Reds broke it open in the 7th and Corey Patterson hit a home run right at us (after I screamed at Dusty Baker for leaving him in!).
Greg Oden is much bigger in real life. Yeah, I met him. Shook his hand. No picture though. I’m not kidding, his hand literally swallowed mine! Awesome.
So that’s it. Many great stories and we met some interesting folk just walking around. Sorry another great trip with Dad had to end so early (6 AM flights suck by the way) but it’s nice to be at home with my girls!
Five Man Electrical Band - Signs, signs, everywhere there’s signs.
Any more sign songs?
Michigan Football out to have a song thanking two former ball boys for figuring out that a Northwestern coach was stealing signs (which is legal) in a 1997 game. Don’t believe me? Read.
Yikes.
I can’t decide what to laugh at. The fact that it was two ball boys who figured out what was going on or that they had to tell the coaches twice that it was happening? Perhaps it’s the fact that the Northwestern coach figured out whether a run play or pass play was coming based simply on where the center’s hands were placed in his stance? Even more so humorous that the signal into the NW defense was as simple as a finger towards the ground (run) or to the sky (pass)?
Funniest thing is this: somehow Michigan State’s plays, according to this coach, were easier to read. HOW?!? What did they do, hold up a sign that indicated what they were doing?
No wonder Tressel prefers the quarterback run to the sideline to take plays. Sweater vest equates to smart.
This whole idea of naming an All-Futures team is a bit of a stretch as it is no lie that predicting what young men can become on the college football field can be tricky. James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins were both 3-star prospects coming into Ohio State. Upon departing after this upcoming season they will both likely be top ten (if not top 5) NFL draft picks.
I’m not going to necessarily name someone at every position; however, I will name the people who I am certain will have a significant effect for the Buckeyes during their careers. Without further adieu …. The Ohio State All-Futures Team.
Terrelle Pryor
I know this comes across as cliche but let’s face it - this guy is the highest touted recruit to step foot on the campus of The University of Ohio State The Ohio State University. I’m curious how he shrunk 2 1/2 inches and lost a whole bunch of pounds in the offseason but I digress. This guy is going to be good.
He’s going to be fun.
Lamaar Thomas
Holy stud running back from Maryland Batman!! This guy will be to Ohio State what Sam McGuffie will be to Michigan. Look out world as speed is coming to the Big Ten (and the Buckeyes) in massive numbers. Watch Lamaar.
DeVier Posey
Another speedster and with flypaper hands. The next Ted Ginn Jr.? I know that was supposed to be Ray Small but, yeah, that’s worked out well. While these upcoming highlights aren’t much (except for the last play) it does display his quickness and his hands - two great attributes.
Cam Heyward
Ok, not fair .. he has a season under his belt. Well, shut up. Ok, he was a Freshmen All-American but his role on the D-line increased exponentially when Vern Gholston left early. I don’t think it is any exaggeration that Cam could go down as one of the best D-lineman in Ohio State history. Watch how the true freshmen made an LSU back look slow.
Mike Adams, Michael Brewster, JB Shugarts
I won’t make you watch vids of offensive lineman because, well, that would be just downright offensive. But it is true that Ohio State brought in three of the top offensive lineman in the nation in last seasons recruiting class and they’re bound to be good with graduations abounding after this season. I would expect they’ll each be on the two-deep after Fall practice.
Keith Wells
Yikes! He looks mean. Well, doesn’t look mean, I am sure he is handsome and if pressed for an answer by him directly I may even kiss him (hey! he’s big and mean!). This guys is fast and even though he’s coming in as a defensive end recruit this video shows him dropping into zone coverage as a defensive back. Wow!
Etienne Sabino
Speedy and smart inside linebacker from Florida. Sabino came early and participated in Spring Drills. Apparently he showed up and played his arse off because there are rumors he’ll be more than a special teams hero this season. I present to you, Etienne Sabino.
Dane Sanzenbacher
He scored Ohio State’s first touchdown of the 2007 season and he’s going to be good. Think Anthony Gonzalez but prettier.
Down ladies, down.
In all seriousness, I feel Dane is going to be a good one. Maybe there is a slight bias seeing as how he hails from the same school my nephew plays at but in all fairness I think 2008 is a breakthough year for this fella.
So Buckeyes, did I miss anyone? Let me hear your thoughts.
And for all of my Michigan friends and fans …. does this guy remind you of Howard Dean at all? EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeyeah … and we’re going to Washington, and Oregon, and Ohio, and then we’re going all the way to the Alamo Bowl …. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeyeah. God bless you Mike Barwis (warning: language)
I picture if I was in a group setting right now we’d be laughing similarily like Dr. Evil and his cohorts do in the Austin Powers movies.
I suppose the worst part is, at 30-1 odds, those of you who typically drop a c-note every year on Michigan won’t get as great a return as originally one could have hoped for in this upcoming season.
Good God. Thank you Vegas for the much needed laugh.
I’m aware that speculation has been running rampant regarding what Michigan’s 2008 offense is going to look like and have some inside information as to what that just might be. Recently a source of mine had a discussion with an incoming U of M freshmen who was a part of Spring Practice in Ann Arbor. Silly Wolverines … shouldn’t talk to Buckeyes.
Word out of camp is Michigan is primarily going to be throwing the ball as the personnel just are not there to run a traditional zone-read offense. I imagine there will still be elements of the zone read available to keep defense honest; especially if Justin Feagin shows any semblence of football intelligence.
Offensive lineman are expected to not be any larger than 280 lbs. as Rodriguez wants these guys to be mobile and be able to get to the line. The no huddle aspect of the offense will keep defenses on their heels. I also think this may be in effort to help battle the surge of quick defensive rush ends; in theory a 280 pound lineman should be able to move a bit quicker than the 300 pound type hogmolly. Obviously, technique is still important.
The most interesting part of what we heard though is apparently Rodriguez is telling this team he isn’t worried about wins this year. That 2008 is strictly a rebuilding year, that he anticipates using a lot of freshmen, and use this year to gain experience. How will the Michigan faithful respond to a potential losing season?
Finally, the word from the inside is that Rodriguez never speaks, always yells. The only time he said Rodriguez actually spoke was when he met with his parents. Roddy and Barwis a match made in heaven.
What do you think Michigan fan? Worried? Not worried? Interested?
Of course, maybe this is all a giant slap in the face to those trying to figure out what Michigan will look like come this fall. It could be the exact opposite.
Here is my recommendation and I hope fans of all schools will use it. Stop using the whole number of arrests by a football program as some sort of knock on your rivals program. For example to the buffoon Michigan fan who on the freep.com insinuated that as soon as Jim Tressel starts graduating as many players as he has arrested he can be taken seriously. Off the top of my head in just the last season alone 3 schools in the Big Ten have had more players arrested than Ohio State has in the last several. In 2007 Ohio State had one player arrested, Antonio Henton for solicitation. Those other three schools?
Penn State - who had six players arrested regarding THE SAME INCIDENT!!
Michigan State- who had three players arrested regarding THE SAME INCIDENT!!
Michigan - who had two players arrested for assualt as well as a handful of other arrests.
Seriously, everyone stop with that crack back. It just doesn’t apply anymore. There are a plethora of schools facing legal issues in and out of the Big Ten. These are kids (supposed amateurs) playing a sport we love to follow. Can we not all harken back to when we were 17-23 years old and recall some of the shenanigans we got ourselves into?
