The past six months have seen lots of talk about conference realignment and as a result many teams will be finding new homes in the next couple years and some conference will be almost unrecognizable after the massive reorganization. The Big Ten will not see any change in its membership until 2014 but Big Ten fans won’t have to wait that long to see the effects of conference realignment.  While everyone who is a college sports fan, at least beyond their own team, will likely see the impact of conference realignment beginning this fall, Big Ten fans will feel the direct impact of the realignment come December.  This week the matchups for the annual Big Ten-ACC Challenge in men’s basketball were released and for those fans who missed out in all the realignment talk, the list of matchups will cause a large amount of confusion.  In addition … [Read More]

Buckeye 411

• Mmmmm… Pancakes. Ken broke the news yesterday, but here’s the official word on the best offensive lineman to ever play the game’s induction into the College Football Hall Of Fame. It’s the first time that anyone can remember that Eddie George led Orlando over the goal line…Here’s a video clinic on how to play the left tackle position, and a very very very long afternoon for Penn State’s defenders.
• Speaking Of Greatness- Another Buckeye was honored on Tuesday, as Cris Carter was the toast of Middletown as they celebrated his induction into the Pro Football Hall
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Sandusky’s Own, Orlando Pace, has been elected into the College Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2013 class.

Background

Mr. Pace was born in Sandusky, OH, where he was a two-sport athlete at Sandusky High School. He was named to the Parade magazine high school All-America team as an offensive lineman and the USA Today All-America team as a defensive lineman.  Not satisfied with being a ‘one-sport wonder’, Pace was also named 2nd team all-Ohio his junior season, averaging 18 points, while playing center. Talk about a post presence.

You think I’m kidding? Watch this. (Warning: Commentary of Brent Musberger and Dick Vermeil).

Ohio State University

Orlando anchored, in every sense of the word,  The Ohio State University offensive line from ’93 -’96.  Considering the number of talented players that have come through Columbus, that is exceptional (more later). To be honest, I’ll … [Read More]

(Unless it’s a prequel to a horrible uniform announcement, that is)

UPDATE: From the twitters-

@BCastOZone: Russ Hoeflich from OSU video dept made this for Nike, it is his production, not something Nike made!

 … [Read More]

 Welcome to another Monday Musings episode, I’m glad that you stopped in. Grab your beverage of choice and let’s get to this.

A Bit of Context

This past Saturday marked the 43^rd anniversary of one of the more horrific events in war/policy protest, free speech exercises, 1^st Amendment type of stuff. May 4^th 1970 was a sobering, tragic day at Kent State University; the day of the Kent State Shootings when 4 students were killed and nine injured. May 1970 was spring of my freshman year at Muskingum, which is just less than two hours south of KSU.

The period of late 60’s/early 70’s was a turbulent period; really the first that I can remember of an “us vs. them” mentality. Somehow the fact that we were all Americans escaped a lot of people. As a nation, we’ve seen much worse, and managed to work our way through it.

5/1 – Ohio State swept Northern Kentucky on Wednesday by scores of 9-8 and 6-5.  Joe Ciamacco & Aaron Gretz each had three hits for the Buckeyes in game one while pitcher Greg Greve improved his record to 3-0 for the season. In game 2, Greve earned a second win to improve to 4-0 on the season while teammates Ciamacco, Pat Porter, and Jacob Bosiokovic each had two hits.

5/4 – Ohio State dropped its series’ opener at Northwestern on Saturday 8-0. Ryan Cypret & Jacob Bosiokovic each had hits for the Bucks.

Men’s Golf

4/28 – Ohio State tied for fourth at the Big Ten Championships last weekend with a total of 38-over 1190 after four rounds. Illinois won the team title with an 11-over 1163.  Buckeye sophomore Boo Timko finished fourth overall with a 3-over 291. His fourth-place finish earned him a spot on the All-Big … [Read More]

Since moving to Australia last year I have grown used to talking with people who do not understand many aspects of America.  Things like US politics, our view on guns, our appreciation of good Mexican food, etc… seem to baffle many Australians.  This lack of understanding continues to sports and one of the things that many Australians seem to have a hard time understanding about Americans sports, other than our realization that cricket is boring, is our love affair with college sports.  It’s not that Australians do not understand or appreciate American sports, the NFL, NBA, and MLB all have decent followings over here; NFL and MLB games are on free television here at least once a week and you can find NBA jerseys in many sporting goods stores here.  This interest in American sports does not extend to the college ranks though and many Australians … [Read More]

A couple newsworthy items regarding The James this week. First, a notice that The James will again be offering free skin cancer screenings on Monday May 5th. The 2nd item is an update on breast cancer research.

JAMES CANCER HOSPITAL TO OFFER FREE SKIN CANCER SCREENINGS

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC–James) and the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s division of dermatology will offer free skin cancer screenings from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday (May 6th), on the fourth floor of Ohio State’s Martha Morehouse Medical Plaza Tower Building, 2050 Kenny Road.

People who have any of the following symptoms should schedule a screening appointment: moles that are changing in color, size or shape, new skin growths, skin lesions that are painful, itchy or bleeding, or skin sores that will … [Read More]