Buckeye Blogger NetworkLotta stuff rattling around the ol’ brainpan the last couple of days… sometimes it’s good to have a bit of distraction from the harshness of our realities. Here’s the song that’s been stuck in my subconscious…
Buckeye 411
Pride of the Palmetto State
Looks like the recruiting train is rolling again, as Ohio State picks up its second commitment in two days via the decision of Pendleton South Carolina Defensive Tackle Michael Hill.
Rated as the top player in South Carolina, Mr. Hill also held offers from Florida, LSU, Tennessee, Alabama (where he visited just last weekend), Georgia Tech, and in state powers USCe and Clemson. Rumor has it that he was actually on the road to a visit at Clemson, but turned around and made the call to the staff in Columbus.
The 6’2″ junior made an early June trip to Ohio State with his family, and by all reports came away impressed. According to his father, he grew up a Buckeye fan, so this is another “homecoming” of sorts.
While many would assume that this is the work of Coach Everett and his Carolina connections, Coach Vrabel is actually the staffer responsible for connecting with Michael and closing the deal on his recruitment. According to Michael’s coach, he’s “down” to 300 pounds, with the agility of a much smaller player- although, you can see that for yourself in the film. Read More
Wouldn't You Rather Have A Rifle?
An Easter basket full of Ohio State and college sports news and notes, as we await one of the sacred holidays of the year. That’s right- “Easter Chocolate On Clearance Monday”.
Buckeye 411
Today, Ohio States’ full coaching staff was available for interviews, including the newest members of Coach Meyer’s staff, Ed Warinner and Tim Hinton. These last two, most recently at Notre Dame, have been working with Buckeye recruiting over the past several days, but were only officially introduced and named today- they will also be a part of Coach Meyer’s introduction opportunity at halftime of the Hoosier Basketball game this Saturday.
Coach Hinton is a former Ohio State coach who’s career includes the following (from the press release):
Coach Hinton
Hinton’s 30 seasons of coaching experience includes 16 seasons in the collegiate ranks with positions at Ohio State, Wilmington, Ohio, Cincinnati and Notre Dame, and 14 years as a head coach at three Ohio high schools: Zane Trace (1987-88); Van Wert (1989) and Harding (1993-2003).
“I have always felt it would be an honor to have an opportunity to coach for and to represent Ohio State,” Hinton said. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to work with great people and great coaches at such a wonderful place.”
Coach Hinton will be working with the Tight Ends and Fullbacks- I’m sure Boren and Stoneburner are more than excited.
Coach Warinner doesn’t have previous Ohio connections, instead:
Coach Warinner
Warinner, who is 50, has coached at seven different schools: Akron, Michigan State, Army, Air Force, Kansas, Illinois and Notre Dame. In addition to his nine years in coordinator positions, he has spent 15 of the past 20 seasons coaching the offensive line. He has coached on teams that have won four national rushing titles, and earlier this season Rivals.com named Warinner one of the Top 20 “hottest assistant coaches” in the nation.
“I’ve always strived to coach in positions where I have a lot of responsibility,” Warinner said. “Serving as a coordinator goes beyond just coaching what my guys are doing. It is a thought process of attacking and moving the ball, and strategies and reading plays. There is a big picture as a coordinator that I am into and really enjoy, and it’s a position from where I think I can make a significant contribution to the success of a team.”
Coach Warinner will serve as co-offensive coordinator and work with the offensive line. Read More
In an announcement today that surprised no one, Urban Meyer has added former North Carolina interim head coach Everett Withers to the Buckeye Coaching Staff as Assistant Head Coach and Co-Defensive Coordinator (with Luke Fickell).
Welcome to Buckeye Nation!
Withers, who inherited the TarHeels after the tumult from this summer, has a legacy as a defensive backs guru, having coached the position at the college and professional level. From the press release-
Withers spent one year as defensive coordinator at the University of Minnesota prior to his North Carolina position. He also has been an assistant coach at the University of Texas (1998-2000; defensive backs), Louisville (1995-97; defensive coordinator/assistant head coach/defensive backs), Southern Mississippi (1992-93; defensive backs/assistant special teams), Tulane (1991; outside linebackers) and Austin Peay (1988-90; defensive coordinator/defensive backs; tight ends/special teams).
His first unit (at UNC in 2008) – ranked eighth in the country with 20 interceptions, a number that was just one off the UNC single season record.His 2009 defense was among the nation’s elite, ranking sixth in total defense, 10th against the run, 13th in scoring and 14th in pass defense. His 2010 unit ranked fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference and 30th nationally. Five players off that unit were taken in the NFL draft, including first-round pick Robert Quinn. And this past year the Tar Heels ranked 14th against the run.
As you can probably guess, he’s stoked:
I am excited, and I couldn’t be more excited to be on coach Urban Meyer’s staff at The Ohio State University. Ohio State is obviously one of the storied programs in college athletics. Having an opportunity to work at that university, and as part of Coach Meyer’s staff, is something that you just can’t pass up.
Additionally, after much speculation, it was announced today that coach Mike Vrabel will be retained as a part of the staff. Read More
We’re less than 36 hours from the opener so it’s time to find out what the BBC staff is hoping to see.
And if you got a silly grin on your face reading “less than 36 hours from the opener”, you’ll feel right at home.
Can Carlos Hyde achieve Jim's goal?
- 400 yards rushing. I channeled my inner “no accountability” national broadcaster in the podcast by predicting 400 yards on the ground, so what the hell, I’d like to see it.
- No sacks. Protecting the new QB on the edge is my number one concern this season. Not giving up a sack against Akron would make me feel a little better about this. It would also mean that the QBs are making smart decisions and not holding onto the ball.
- Defense. After watching the defense in practice, I just want to see them on the field. They are going to be good.
- Carmen Ohio. I want to see the team singing Carmen Ohio in front of the south stands after the game led by Coach Fickell. I won’t be at the stadium, so this one is the least likely of all of the things I’d like to see.
Third String Left Tackle Erik Kramer
Eric, Jim and Joe are back with another preseason look at the 2011 Ohio State Buckeyes! Jim has attended all of the open practices so far this year and has a lot to say about the make-up of the depth chart to date. In particular we discuss the offensive line – primarily it’s youth and in experience behind the starters – along with the shrinking of the QB competition. Current injuries are also touched on briefly, along with the names who we will likely be seeing out wide to start the season.
The three of us also spend some time discussing recent College Football news, including the recent Yahoo! Sports revelation of the Miami University (FL) scandal, and the recent spat of conference expansion news.
All this and more on this week’s BBC Radio Hour!
The Radio Hour is also available via iTunes subscription! Go to iTunes and search for “The Buckeye Battle Cry Radio Hour” at the iTunes store! Subscription is free, and you can take us with you wherever you go on your iPod, iPhone, iPad, or iWhatever!
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Let’s jump right in.
