Ohio State Football - Urban Meyer Style



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Catching an early glimpse of what can be expected is on everyone's mind when Ohio State's spring football game rolls around.  This year's game held even more interest with the start of the Urban Meyer era.  Everyone was wondering what to expect.  Would Meyer launch his vaulted spread offense?  If so, would the Horseshoe be able to sustain itself from the obvious shock?

Over 80,000 Buckeye faithful showed up to welcome Urban Meyer and the 2012 team.  It was far and away the largest crowd ever to see a spring game at the Horseshoe.  Obviously, a great sign for a team that will not be able to play for a Big Ten Championship or post season bowl game.  Not sure anyone in attendance even cared about the score but for the record, the Scarlet won 20-14 over the Gray.

Those in attendance could tell that a new day had dawned in Ohio State football.  The energy and enthusiasm was rampant.  Meyer's two-man drills kicked off the day and provided the spark to get players, coaches and fans alike ready to play.  Watching Braxton Miller face off against Kenny Guiton in the two-man drill was not something anyone was expecting, including the players.  The energy created by the two-man drill spilled right over into the spring game.

Watching the early going of the game, one had to wonder if those in the Scarlet and Gray were in fact other teams disguised in our Buckeye colors.  Long gone is the three yards and a cloud of dust.  Long gone is the idea that three things can happen when you use the forward pass and two of them are bad.  .  Saturday's game was all about the pass and both Miller and Guiton did not disappoint.  Miller went 24-31 and Guiton was 16-24.  Both had one interception but through for a total of 443 yards.  The offense was indeed Meyer's spread with four and five spread sets included throughout the game. 

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It was a very different offense that what we Buckeye fans are accustomed to.  There is no question that this new Buckeye team will be airing it out.  Braxton Miller is going to be the quarterback and he appears to be improving dramatically.  The question remains however, whom will he have to throw to.  Freshman receiver Michael Thomas looked great catching 12 passes for 131 yards.  Thomas will certainly be in the mix.  One has to think that Jordan Hall will get some passes thrown his way coming out of the backfield. 

All in all, an entertaining and hopeful spring game.  In spite of the sanctions and a team that will have no reward for a great season, this Buckeye team will be fun and exciting to watch.  The fast pace offense will catch all of us by surprise come September when Meyer unleashes this new look offense.  Like so many Buckeye fans, I am anxious, excited and hoping that the summer flies by.  Bring on Miami of Ohio, I'm ready to watch some Buckeye football. 

NBA & Union Need To Act, Let's Keep These Kids In School

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As Kentucky was crowned King of NCAA basketball for the 2011-2012 season, hardly had the dust settled when college freshmen and sophomores across the country started announcing their intentions to leave school and head for the NBA payday.  Our NCAA champion Wildcats face the prospect of losing five underclassmen to the NBA draft including their superstar, Anthony Davis, a freshman.  The One And Done is alive and well and only hurting these young men and the universities they attend. 

The NCAA has no control over the young men who attend their schools to play basketball and then leave to head to the NBA after one or two years in school.  The NBA does have control over this situation and should put forth some new rules and guidelines encouraging these young men to stay put and earn their degree.  The big schools all have experienced the short-term student-athlete and for all practical purposes, the basketball programs at these schools are nothing more than farm systems for the NBA.

The NBA does have alternative programs for young men wishing to develop their game and should encourage these players to pursue these alternative development programs rather than taking away scholarships for young men who want to attend college to receive a degree and play basketball as part of the college experience.  The NBA Union must step up also with the NBA and create new guidelines that encourage college players to stay in college and earn their degree.  So many of the young players who opt out early from college to join the NBA are unable to make it professionally.  Their quick payday is gone along with the cash they received for signing.

Minimally, the NBA and the Union should put forth some standard mandating at least three years of college for those who choose to be student athletes.  Use the development programs for those not wishing to attend college.  The NFL has done better with their program with universities and it has not hurt their game at all.  Kentucky potentially stands to lose five players from the recent national championship team including Anthony Davis, Terrence Jones, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Doron Lamb and Marquis Teague. 

Our Buckeyes have experienced the same over the last five years losing outstanding players to the NBA early.  Sullinger being the most recent having announced only a week ago that he would be leaving to begin his NBA career.  One cannot fault the young men wishing for the payday.  Striking when the opportunity arises makes all the sense in the world.  Why risk potential injury or some other calamity and find yourself without an NBA payday.  At the same time, the development leagues would answer this dilemma. 

The college experience is an important one for those young men wishing to have it.  It provides a clear path once one's playing days come to an end.  It just does not seem fair to provide a full-ride scholarship for young men who will only attend one or two years of college taking away the opportunity for someone wishing to earn a college degree and participate in basketball while doing so. 

As long as the rule is in place, young men and their respective college coaches will take advantage of it.  Why not change the eligibility requirements and reestablish the real reason one chooses higher education.  It will never change without the NBA and the players Union making the change.