An Ohio State Sports Blog
Local kid makes hometown proud and becomes a Buckeye. I could come up with days upon days of titles for this post. What I cant do is offer a lot of info about this young man. He is a Freshman at Upper Arlington in the class of 2018. He is 6’4″ and 170 pounds but that is sure to change by 2018 right?
Here is Dane Goodwin in his own words….
Hopefully we will have more on Dane soon…
Last week Walk-On Kosta Karageorge went missing after calling his mother in the middle of the night with cryptic messages about his concussions. It was what he said and how he said it that sent a Mother and family into panic mode. They tried to contact Kosta with no luck and called Columbus Police to report him missing.
Instantly news spread and efforts were made to find him. Hundreds of volunteers put up posters and even former Buckeye alumni raised money for a reward to help find Kosta.
Today a body was found near his apartment just off campus and Columbus Police just confirmed it sadly is the body of Kosta Karageorge.
It is with a very sad heart that this has become the worst case scenario. Sports aside this is a young man who suffered and was struggling. This is devastating news to the family and his team and all of Buckeye Nation.
Suicide is never the answer if you or anyone you know needs help please seek it.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Three feet of water, thirty degrees, a few thousand of your closest friends. That’s basically Mirror Lake in a nutshell. Tuesday, I took part in my last jump of my college career. Starting in the 1990s at the end of a simple rally march for The Game, the Mirror Lake Jump has become something of legend in college traditions. Here’s how it happens, through the eyes of a student.
Tuesday, November 25th. 5:00 PM
On my way to my last class of the week in Haggerty Hall, I stopped at the Ohio Union to pick up my “required” wristband for the jump. As last year, I waited until the last day to get my wristband because I live life on the edge. Standing between me and a plunge into the freezing water was an 80 minute German class. Once class ended, I hurried home to pack my backpack for the evening: a bathing suit, my Crocs, a towel, a change of clothes, and some adult beverages.
Tuesday, November 25th. 8:30 PM
After packing for my trip home over break, and watching some CBJ hockey, it was time to go to the pre-jump party. I threw on my sweatpants and an appropriate for the occasion Ohio State jacket and headed to my friend’s apartment. Over the next three hours, I met some people who, by the end of the night, would feel like I had known them my entire life. That’s what the jump does. It brings together people who would otherwise never meet or hang out and turns them into the closest of friends. There was a handful of party games, one person who we lost at 9:30 to the comfort of the floor, and plenty of overplayed pop-country songs. Prior to finally heading out, we wrapped up our hype-up with Seven Nation Army (sorry, people who are tired of that), We Don’t Give a Damn, and of course, Carmen Ohio.
Tuesday, November 25th. 11:30 PM
It was cold, but I didn’t care. There were 10 of us or so, with 3-4 “designated dry people”, or people who aren’t jumping and will be taking pictures/holding stuff. After getting some pictures taken and stripping off my coat, we charged into the masses. Calling the wristband check at all strict would be offensive to the word strict. By this time, the ground around Mirror Lake was already smashed into a muddy pulp, and if you stood still for too long, you would start to sink into the ground. We made our way to the edge of the water and wasted zero time in jumping in. If you think about it, you’ll hesitate, and start to realize how cold you are, and how cold the water is. As soon as my legs hit the water, I realized that I hate being in a freezing cold body of water. That didn’t stop me from splashing the people around me, screaming things that I probably can’t print, and plenty of O-Hs. We climbed out of the water, made our video debuts (that’s me in the gray “Beat Michigan” shirt at about 28 seconds in). There was a second jump, just for a picture. We then made our way back to the apartment. Freezing, dripping wet, dirty, but totally pumped.
Wednesday, November 26th. 12:15 AM
We all made it back to the apartment safely, and took shifts taking a hot shower in our bathing suits to warm up and try and clean off. After drying off and changing into clean clothes, we walked back to our respective apartments. I took a real shower because if you don’t shower after the jump you’ll probably end up with diseases that you can’t pronounce. Never has a bed felt more warm and comfortable than after the Mirror Lake Jump.
It’s impossible to capture how hectic this event is in text. Even a video doesn’t do it justice. It really is organized chaos. If you’re a student, I encourage you to go to the jump at least to watch, at some point in your college career. It’s an experience unlike any other. If you’re jumping, just be prepared with warm clothes, a towel, and a “safe house” to go back to after the jump, and you’ll be fine. As a friend’s dad used to say, “Be safe. Have fun.”
And remember. Go Buckeyes.
Sad Face.
But remember OSU has had to deal with this once already. They will be prepared and not give up. So don’t you either!!!
Man alive what a game. Just your typical OSU vs Michigan rivalry game for sure. Let’s just talk about a few things and then I will give my final thoughts.
– Joey Bosa please control your emotions and stop trying to rip guys heads off.
– Joey Bosa please keep killing the QBs and causing fumbles.
– Ezekiel Elliott you are the man. What a 4th down run for a TD.
– Darron Lee thank you for being a small star recruit and a big star Buckeye.
– JT Barrett you have just become 1-0 as the starter against UM congrats.
– JT I pray your leg is ok but I fear the worst.
When JT went down OSU was up 28-21. The crowd went quiet. I started to panic. Urban Meyer got balls of steel and went for it on 4th and 1 on the 44 yard line and Zeke ran all the way to the endzone to put OSU up 35-21.
Bosa than sacks and strips Gardner and Darron Lee ran it back for another TD.
UM got a garbage TD at the end of the game. OSU wins 42-28.
I repeat OSU WINS!!!
I wish that would be enough but the JT injury may be the nail in the coffin for OSUs playoff hopes. We shall see.
On to the next game the B1G CCG against winner of the Wisky/Minn game.
P.S. Goodbye Brady Hoke you will be missed by all of Buckeye Nation.
Ohio State has been established as a 20 point favorite over their rival (since Coach Urban Meyer states it like this, I figure I will follow suit). So many Ohio State fans look at this visiting team and believe Ohio State will easily win THE GAME. So many Ohio State fans have no memories of what THE GAME was like in the 1990s.
One of my favorite bands from the 1990s to present day is Counting Crows. The album “August and Everything After” is widely considered to be one of the influential albums of the 1990s. Perhaps being a fan of Counting Crows makes me old, but I want to elaborate a bit further.
A lengthy song by Counting Crows that was on the album “This Desert Life” was “Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby”. While the song never became a hit by music chart standards, it certainly stands as one of my favorites by Counting Crows.
What does this song, or the band Counting Crows, have to do with Ohio State football, and THE GAME? Let me share some of the lyrics from “Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby”, and I will paint you a picture at the end…
“If dreams are like movies then memories are films about ghosts…”
Memories of THE GAME from the 1980s and 1990s, I have plenty of those; I am haunted by those “films about ghosts”. I can vividly recall how THE GAME ended on a field goal attempt in Ohio Stadium in 1986. Or how a one-time high school rival athlete was able to win THE GAME almost completely by himself in Coach Cooper’s first season in 1988.
“Well I am an idiot walking a tightrope of fortune and fame…”
Running an option play on 4th and short when THE GAME is tied late in the 4th quarter in Ohio Stadium in 1990. Or the former university president proudly proclaiming that a final game result of a tie in 1992 in Ohio Stadium was “One of our greatest wins ever…”
“I am an acrobat swinging trapezes through circles of flame…”
Memories of THE GAME include finally breaking through in 1994 with a victory that saved one coach’s job. The 1994 victory in Ohio Stadium helped to propel Ohio State into some of the most memorable seasons for the remainder of the 1990s decade.
“And the price of a memory is the memory of the sorrow it brings…”
The price of the memory of THE GAME in 1996 is not only sorrow, but also regret for a missed opportunity at a national championship. I will always contend that while the 1998 team should have played for the BCS Championship (we’ll get to that team soon enough), the 1996 team was five points away from an undefeated season and the national championship. Ask any of the players on that team about the price of the memory from THE GAME in 1996.
“And there is always one last light to turn out and one last bell to ring…”
The 1998 victory by Ohio State in THE GAME was satisfying, but not nearly enough for fans who expected so much more. The 1998 team truly played like it had nothing to lose, as everything had been lost to an unranked team only a few weeks before in Ohio Stadium.
“All the razor perceptions that cut just a little too deep
Hey, I can bleed as well as anyone but I need someone to help me sleep…”
In 2000, fans such as myself had developed a weary sense of resignation for THE GAME. Yes, Ohio State might play well for a quarter, maybe a half, but eventually…Ohio State would lose. And I do not believe I was alone within the fan base who believed that way, after so many painful memories, or “films about ghosts”, as Counting Crows might have stated.
For those of you who are curious, Ohio State was not always the superior team. I would argue that the 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1994 teams were not as talented as our rival. 1986 and 2000 were probably equal. 1996 and 1998 were more talented than our rival. No matter the year or example I have cited, all of the games I listed above took place in Ohio Stadium. And in so many circumstances, our rival left Ohio Stadium with the victory.
“Well I know I don’t know you and you’re probably not what you seem…”
It was not until THIS MOMENT that Ohio State fans such as myself knew Ohio State had turned the corner. And thirteen years after that moment took place, there are generations of Ohio State fans who truly do not understand why Ohio State fans such as myself look at this upcoming version of THE GAME with apprehension and anxiety. Ohio State fans have seemingly forgotten how close THE GAME has been in both 2012 and 2013.
Perhaps I am being too fearful. After all, Ohio State has clinched a trip to Indianapolis, and can secure a B1G championship with a victory on December 6th. A possible shot at a national championship is still up for discussion, as Ohio State is presently lurking on the perimeter of being a playoff participant. I am predicting the final score to be Ohio State 35, Our Rival 17 (figured I should again follow Coach Meyer’s lead with this approach…)
Or maybe I can rely upon Counting Crows to summarize my anxiety before this version of THE GAME, if events do not turn out in Ohio State’s favor on Saturday afternoon…
“That’s when I know that I have to get out cause I have been there before
So I gave up my seat at the bar and I head for the door…”
All games Saturday, November 29, unless otherwise noted.
Rankings reflect current College Football Playoff rankings.
THE GAME
That Team Up North (unranked, still sucks) @ #6 Ohio State. Noon, ABC.
A win here will complete Ohio State’s third consecutive perfect Big Ten regular season. Wolverine Destroyer and Heisman trophy winner Troy Smith will be on hand for his number honor ceremony and we expect him to transfer his Wolverine-destroying and Heisman-trophy-winning powers to J.T. Barrett. Much like last week, we should not take a win for granted. After all, Michigan is playing for a chance to be humiliated in some stupid bowl.
OTHER BIG TEN GAMES THAT AREN’T NEARLY AS IMPORTANT
(Friday) Nebraska @ Iowa. Noon, ABC.
Illinois @ Northwestern. Noon, ESPNU.
Purdue @ Indiana. Noon, Big Ten Network.
#18 Minnesota @ #14 Wisconsin. 3:30p, Big Ten Network. Winner plays Ohio State for Big Ten title.
#10 Michigan State @ Penn State. 3:30p, ABC/ESPN2.
Rutgers @ Maryland. 3:30p, ESPNU.
OTHER RIVALRIES THAT WISH THEY WERE OURS
(Friday) #13 Arizona State @ #11 Arizona. 3:30p, Fox.
#16 Georgia Tech @ #9 Georgia. Noon, SEC Network.
South Carolina @ #21 Clemson. Noon, ESPN.
Kentucky @ #22 Louisville. Noon, ESPN2.
Florida @ #3 Florida State. 3:30p, ESPN.
#4 Mississippi State @ #19 Mississippi. 3:30p, CBS.
Notre Dame @ USC. 3:30p, Fox.
Kansas @ #12 Kansas State. 4:00p, FS1.
#15 Auburn @ #1 Alabama. 7:45p, ESPN.
#2 Oregon @ Oregon State. 8:00p, ABC.
Washington @ Washington State. 10:30p, FS1.
On November 3, 1958, Brady Patrick Hoke was born in Dayton, Ohio. In 1977, he left home to attend Ball State University, where he played linebacker. Somewhere in there, he made the fateful decision to be a Michigan fan. This betrayal of his home state (and his father, who played for Woody Hayes at Miami) would doom him to a career of mediocre football–a career that will likely come to an end this Saturday.
Hoke didn’t contribute much in his first two years at Ball State, and the team posted an impressive 19-3 record with Brady riding the bench. In 1979 and 1980, with Hoke on the field, the Cardinals went 6-5 each year. Bringing a team’s success to a screeching halt? Sounds familiar.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. In 1983, Hoke became a defensive line coach at Grand Valley State, who had turned in winning seasons every year since 1973, the first year they accomplished the feat. But during Hoke’s only season on the staff, the Lakers went 4-6. His stain would linger even after he left for Western Michigan–GVSU didn’t win a single game the next year, but bounced back in 1985 to go 6-5.
At Western Michigan, Hoke joined Jack Harbaugh’s staff, who had already turned in two winning seasons for the Broncos. During Hoke’s three-year stint, the team went 5-6, 4-6-1, and 3-8. His poisonous presence got Harbaugh fired. It took his replacement just two years to get the team to 9-3.
From there, Hoke went to Toledo to join Dan Simrell’s staff as a linebackers coach. Simrell had gone 7-3 the previous year, but the arrival of Hoke predictably sent the team into a tailspin, finishing the 1987 season 3-7-1. The Rockets would go 6-5 in each of the final two years of Hoke’s tenure and, once again, Simrell was fired. He was replaced by Nick Saban, who promptly went 9-2.
It’s hard to blame Hoke for Oregon State’s woes during his five-year run on the staff there, but it’s still worth noting that the Beavers only managed 11 wins in the time span. They were bad both before and after Hoke was there, but they were particularly bad while he was on campus.
In 1995, new Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr brought Brady on board to help build what Hoke would eventually tear down. The Wolverines had a good run with Hoke around, winning a lot of games and even a national title until he finally left in 2002. This may seem like an aberration in the pattern, but we know now that it was just the universe setting Hoke up for the final punchline. His presence on a successful staff was necessary to entice Michigan to hire him later.
In 2003, Ball State gave Hoke his first head coaching job. He took a mediocre team that had hovered around .500 for a few years and turned it into a crappy team that lost at least 7 games in each of his first four years. But the Cardinals kept him around for some reason and somehow managed to taste success, going 7-6 and 12-1 in Hoke’s final two years.
The Ball State success coupled with Hoke’s two years at San Diego State (during which the Aztecs improved from 2-10 before his arrival to 9-4 in his second year) were enough for Michigan to take a chance on him after being turned down by the guys they actually wanted (or whatever Wolverine-fan alternate reality version you choose to believe.)
With Hoke finally installed in Ann Arbor, it was time for the universe to begin dismantling him under the unflinching lights of big-time college football. The first order of business was to give him an unrealistically remarkable season in the form of 2011’s 11-2 Sugar Bowl winning campaign. The machinations of making this happen despite Hoke’s woeful incompetence were so complex that they included orchestrating a silly scandal that would cost Buckeye coach Jim Tressel his job, just to keep him from beating Hoke mercilessly just as he did Rich Rodriguez.
Once the absurdly high expectations for Hoke at Michigan were set, all that was left to do was step back and let him bumble around and wreck stuff like a really hungry Tasmanian devil. The team got worse and worse and it all culminated in the hilarious clown show that has been the 2014 season.
There’s just one more piece of business to attend to.
Record in Week 13: 42-17 (71.1% of games predicted correctly) To see my picks for week 13, click here.
Overall Record for the Season: 549-220
Last week’s games weren’t exactly the best. But you won’t have to worry about that this week. There are plenty of great games to watch, including several rivalry games and games that will have implications on playoffs, conference championships and bowl games. This will also be the last week of the season for several programs. It’s getting down to crunch time! Not only are these games going to be more exciting than normal, but I have picked a lot of upsets because I see a lot of carnage happening. Let’s take a look…
Tuesday Nov. 25
Ohio @ Miami (OH) – Pick: Ohio
Thanksgiving Night
TCU @ Texas – Pick: Texas (Upset)
LSU @ Texas A&M – Pick: Texas A&M
Friday Nov. 28
Northern Illinois @ Western Michigan – Pick: Western Michigan
Nebraska @ Iowa – Pick: Iowa
Houston @ SMU – Pick: Houston
Western Kentucky @ Marshall – Pick: Marshall
UCF @ South Florida – Pick: UCF
Ball State @ Bowling Green – Pick: Bowling Green
Toledo @ Eastern Michigan – Pick: Toledo
Akron @ Kent State – Pick: Akron
Buffalo @ UMass – Pick: UMass
Arkansas @ Missouri – Pick: Arkansas (Upset)
Navy @ South Alabama – Pick: Navy
Arizona State @ Arizona – Pick: Arizona
Stanford @ UCLA – Pick: Stanford (Upset)
Colorado State @ Air Force – Pick: Colorado State
Virginia @ Virginia Tech – Pick: Virginia Tech
East Carolina @ Tulsa – Pick: East Carolina
Saturday Nov. 29
South Carolina @ Clemson – Pick: South Carolina
Cincinnati @ Temple – Pick: Cincinnati
West Virginia @ Iowa State – Pick: West Virginia
Purdue @ Indiana – Pick: Purdue
Illinois @ Northwestern – Pick: Northwestern
Team Up North @ Ohio State – Pick: Ohio State
Rice @ Louisiana Tech – Pick: Rice
Georgia Tech @ Georgia – Pick: Georgia
Kentucky @ Louisville – Pick: Louisville
Old Dominion @ Florida Atlantic – Pick: Florida Atlantic
North Texas @ UTSA – Pick: North Texas
NC State @ North Carolina – Pick: North Carolina
Syracuse @ Boston College – Pick: Boston College
LA Lafayette @ Troy – Pick: LA Lafayette
Utah @ Colorado – Pick: Utah
Idaho @ Appalachian State – Pick: Appalachian State
Texas State @ Georgia State – Pick: Texas State
New Mexico State @ Arkansas State – Pick: Arkansas State
Wyoming @ New Mexico – Pick: Wyoming
Florida @ Florida State – Pick: Florida (Earle Bruce Upset Special)
Rutgers @ Maryland – Pick: Maryland
Michigan State @ Penn State – Pick: Michigan State
Minnesota @ Wisconsin – Pick: Wisconsin
Notre Dame @ USC – Pick: USC
Mississippi State @ Ole Miss – Pick: Ole Miss (Upset)
Baylor @ Texas Tech – Pick: Baylor
San Jose State @ San Diego State – Pick: San Diego State
UAB @ Southern Miss – Pick: UAB
Kansas @ Kansas State – Pick: Kansas State
Tennessee @ Vanderbilt – Pick: Tennessee
Connecticut @ Memphis – Pick: Memphis
BYU @ California – Pick: BYU
LA Monroe @ Georgia Southern – Pick: Georgia Southern
Wake Forest @ Duke – Pick: Duke
Pittsburgh @ Miami – Pick: Pittsburgh
Hawaii @ Fresno State – Pick: Fresno State
Middle Tennessee State @ UTEP – Pick: UTEP
Auburn @ Alabama – Pick: Auburn (Upset)
Oregon @ Oregon State – Pick: Oregon
Utah State @ Boise State – Pick: Boise State
Nevada @ UNLV – Pick: Nevada
Washington @ Washington State – Pick: Washington
I’ll let you know how I did with my predictions on next week’s post. Let me know in the comments what you think of my picks and feel free to ask me why I picked the way I did. Also you can follow me on Twitter @SchottJosh.
It’s beat the team up north week! That means this week’s podcast is special and different from the norm. This podcast we had two different guests join us to discuss The Game. First we were joined by former Ohio State defensive end Matt Finkes, who I’m sure many Buckeye fans remember from the 90s. He was honest and informative as always and gave a great insight to what The Game is all about. In the second part of the podcast we were joined by Anthony Broome, a contributor to Maize n Brew, part of the SB Nation network. Broome discussed numerous topics with us from Hoke’s inevitable dismissal to who they think will be their next head coach to previewing this week’s game between Ohio State and the team up north. He’s also going to find out what happened to all of the #FireBrandon t-shirts!
