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Truly The Blur By CEFarm

During my tenure as a sports journalist, I have had the extreme pleasure to watch some incredible modern day era basketball players compete - early in their careers. Including Kevin Garnett, Tim Thomas, Ron Mercer, Lebron James, Michael Redd, Kenny Gregory and D'Angelo Russell - Just to name a few.


Having grown up in Dayton, Ohio and played pick up hoops throughout the city at various rec centers and parks, the legend of Dwight 'The Blur' Anderson was second to none and he actually lived up to the hype.


I marveled watching him compete in high school and college over the years. In fact the way my alma mater, Colonel White High School competed against DA and the mighty Roth Falcons cemented where I wanted to attend high school because of their efforts against one of the all-time greats.


But it was not until a chance encounter with DA while home from college grabbing a run at the University of Dayton PAC did I truly understand the greatness of The Blur. I had heard the TV announcers debate who was quicker with a basketball DA or UCLA's Rocket Rod Foster?


Somehow I ended up being a teammate of the Blur. Our opponents had just scored and as the ball falls out of the net, DA grabs it and kicks it to me out of bounds.


He proceeds to clap his hands and say c'mon baby c'mon - I quickly pass him the ball and decide to help the Blur on offense by sprinting down court.


Now mind you, I am in the best shape of my life and feeling great about my game. As I crossed half-court, Dwight Anderson had scored and was back pedaling towards me headed back on defense.


Smh - Lol - It was at that point that I truly understood the greatness and the legend of The Blur - Dwight Anderson.


Rest in Peace DA - Thanks for the memories and helping to instill so much pride in many aspiring ball players who grew up in the Dayton, Ohio area. You will never be forgotten.


CEF




Real Recognize Real; 
Some of You Are Looking Unfamiliar

By D Maurice Waddell 

Forgive me for being cynical of today’s Black athletes and the energy behind the Black Lives Matter Movement. I’ll explain....


When Colin Kaepernick decided to take a stand against police brutality by taking a knee during the national anthem, he was seen as an outcast. Many Black athletes would not comment or distanced themselves from this action. He clearly articulated why he decided to protest. As a Black man I felt his action deeply. 


The Black athlete’s protest and displeasure regarding the social injustice of people of color had been dormant since the 1970’s. His treatment ran parallel to Muhammad Ali when he refused to join the military to fight against oppressed people while still being oppressed in his homeland. Instead of rallying behind him, some Black athletes and sports analysts ignored or did not take him seriously. When he was blackballed from the NFL (and make no mistake about it, he was blackballed) some stated that he wasn’t good enough to play in the NFL. 


I decided that year that I would boycott the NFL. Some in the Black community followed suit. While I boycotted, I couldn’t understand how and why Kaepernick was abandoned by his NFL brothers and other brothers in the professional realm. Like Kaepernick, my boycott of the NFL was not taken seriously. I spent countless hours explaining to people who knew my love for football why I was taking this stand. 


 I couldn’t understand why people wouldn’t join this easy boycott; don’t watch or buy the NFL product. Simple right? Wrong. What I received was responses/excuses on why they were going to keep watching the NFL. “The players should do more, this is not the way to protest, Kap should say more, etc. Anything but the two simple things: Don’t watch or buy the NFL product. 


Fast forward to present day. Over four years after Kaepernick kneeled, we faced a pandemic that shut down the sports world, the NBA, followed by NCAA’s March Madness. The world was quarantined and all of sudden sports didn’t seem like a priority. We all had to face life’s realities head on. No more ignoring what was so plan to see. What’s important and what’s not. 


The world learned what I discovered during my boycott of the NFL. In the bigger scheme, sports was not essential, it’s entertainment. Athletes, I believe, realized this too. They realized that they get paid a handsome salary for kids games. So when I hear sports athletes say “the country needs us to play ” I’m a little cynical. All the energy about Black Lives Matters, Say Her Name, Defund the Police, Education Reform, No Justice No Peace, the sound bites in between timeouts and the countless chants that ring in our streets today leaves me to wonder.... Where was all this energy when Kap took a knee? The cases of police brutality didn’t stop in the four years. Is the energy coming from permission from the owners of professional teams and sports stations that they can now speak? 


Is it in vogue? I’m looking at you side eyed because some of us have been in the struggle while some of you have just joined four years later. 


So forgive me for being cynical. Despite my cynicism I appreciate the energy because there is a lot to do and your platforms can be an asset to the cause. I will continue to keep a watchful eye of your sincerity. And by the way, despite his sacrifice, Colin Kaepernick is still Blackballed from the NFL. Food for Thought....

WHO WILL BLINK FIRST,

THE HOUSTON TEXANS OR DESHAUN WATSON?

By CE FARM

At the present time, the Houston Texans front office plans to stand pat on not trading starting quarterback Deshaun Watson.


Within the last year, the Houston Texans have made some very questionable decisions, perhaps having set the franchise back for years to come, with ownership serving as its own worst enemy.                                                                                                                                                         

Watson signed a new contract, for 4 years for $156 million and has now asked to be traded.


I grew up during a time, when a person who signed a contract was expected to honor it. I totally understand the reasoning for the Houston Texans front office being adamant about not trading Watson.


I totally understand that playing in the National Football League is not a right, it’s a privilege. 


In this particular instance though, I have given the situation a second look and have become more understanding of Watson’s point of view. Yes, despite the dumpster fire that was taking place in Houston, Watson signed the new contract.


The following is an example of the bad decisions made by Houston that now has Watson requesting a trade.

Former Coach and General Manager Bill O’Brien traded all-pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona, who was considered by many to be worthy of a franchise player tag. 


Houston hired a new Head Coach, David Culley, who has stifled the offenses of the last three teams he worked for.

These teams featured talented quarterbacks in Kansas City (Alex Smith), Buffalo (Josh Allen) and Baltimore (Lamar Jackson). 


The Chiefs went the entire 2014 season without throwing a touchdown to a wide receiver. Kansas City is the only team in the 16 game season era, to complete an entire season with no touchdown passes to a wide receiver and Culley served as the Assistant Head Coach and Wide Receivers coach. 


During quarterback Josh Allen’s rookie season in Buffalo, he compiled 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with Culley serving as his Quarterback Coach. 


In Baltimore last season, Culley was the Assistant Head Coach / Passing Game Coordinator / Wide Receivers Coach and the Ravens finished last in the NFL in passing offense and first in rushing offense. The Ravens starting quarterback is the versatile Lamar Jackson. 


Of course a franchise quarterback like Watson would want to play for a coach that could help him improve or excel. Common sense shows from the start, the Texans should have had accomplished Kansas City Offensive Coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, at the top of their list of candidates for their Head Coaching position.


The madness continued when the Texans owners, the McNair family agreed to release another franchise player, JJ Watt to sign with Arizona.


The thought is that perhaps, the Texans could have tried to trade him first, but instead they let Watt go and received no compensation.


When asked about the current state of the team, the Texans ownership and front office stated that this is not a rebuilding situation, but they plan to win now. 


Last season, Deshaun Watson had a career year, completing 70 percent of his passes, throwing for 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions, even with the team struggling and finishing with a 4-12 record.

To make matters worse, Watson was literally running for his life with limited line protection, he still played hard and showed great leadership during a dismal season.


Now Watson is being asked to stand at the forefront of a sinking ship, which does not appear to be improving anytime soon.


 So the question is how long should Watson wait for the Texans to improve and remain loyal, for the duration of his contract? 


Then there is the matter of Watson having a no Trade clause in his contract, which means he has to approve a trade to any team. 


Yes I recognize Houston maintains Watson’s rights for the next three years, even if he retires. That is definitely true, but if Watson sits out, the Texans would still have to find a quarterback for next season.


Perhaps Houston believes that they will break Watson down and he will come to his senses at some point. Maybe Watson is a man of principle who will stand by his decision and lose a year’s salary if necessary.



During a meeting with Coach Culley, Watson reinforced his opinion that he does not plan to suit up for the Texans again. 

It will certainly be interesting to see how this scenario plays out in the days to come.


NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE USES MONEY TO DIVIDE AND CONQUER PLAYERS PROTEST
By CEFarmer

 San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to protest racial inequality and police brutality in America by kneeling before games during the national anthem.

 The gesture was considered disrespectful to the American flag and military veterans by many. 

At some point, Kaepernick decided that he actually wanted to play football on the field again. He agreed to revoke some of the guarantees in his contract and in exchange, the San Francisco 49ers put the quarterback back on the field and allowed him to start 11 games.

 Fast forward to this season and Kaepernick was hoping to find a new opportunity to remain in the NFL, but has not been provided one by any teams. 

 Other players decided to continue the protest in the quarterback’s absence, which escalated public resentment from fans, NFL owners and even the President of the United States, Donald Trump.  

The National Football League's master plan was to teach their employees a lesson that if they stepped out of line, then the same could happen to them.

 President Donald Trump did major damage to the owners original plan when he stated, “He would fire the SOBs that were supporting Kaepernick’s protest before games.”

 With the majority of the group the President referred to being African-American, who represent 70 percent of the players in the league, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell responded quickly by making a statement denouncing Trump’s words, while pledging the NFL’s continued support of its players.

 The following week various owners came out on to the field and locked arms with the players in a showing of solidarity between management and the players.

 Was this a ploy by the NFL to pacify the players, because the one thing they don’t want is to have marquee players sit out games? 

 Just imagine the overall impact it could have on the NFL’s finances with fans not attending games or not watching on television, which could lead to corporate sponsors losing money.

Here is a question to ponder; do the owners believe that the players will not strike no matter what is done to them?  

 On October 15, Colin Kaepernick filed a grievance against the National Football League, alleging team owners had colluded to keep him out of uniform, not because of his athletic performance, but because of his decision to protest acts of police brutality and racial injustice before the games.

In today’s society, more players are concerned with their individual finances, instead of risking losing any income to support a fellow player’s cause.

 The NFL had discussions with a group, the Players Coalition led by Malcolm Jenkins, Anquan Boldin and came up with a proposal to donate $89 million over seven years to be used as the group sees fit towards social issues.   

The agreement has caused a split amongst the Players Coalition group, as Jenkins has decided to no longer kneel because of the NFL recent efforts and Boldin was stated as saying he believes it is a step in the right direction.

San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid, one of the first players to publicly support Kaepernick’s protest, said the agreement with the Players Coalition is a sham.

 Reid said that from conversations he had with Jenkins and Boldin, it appears the NFL may be doing little more than transferring dollars from other charitable organizations into social justice causes.

Is the $89 million the answer because the NFL recognizes the issue of social injustice and has decided to throw money at the problem? Or was this simply a Divide and Conquer move by the NFL to put the players back in their place?

 Are any of the players still concerned with the fact Kaepernick is still not playing football in the NFL?

In the end the NFL just wants a solution to help things get back to normal, so fans can focus just on watching football. If it takes writing a check to return things to normalcy, then the NFL has shown it is prepared to do so.

 With the recent developments, Colin Kaepernick’s situation seems to be quite similar to Baseball’s version of an ostracized player, Curt Flood who stood up for what he believed in which was free agency, two men on their own separate islands.

-30-

Don’t Hate the players
 Hate the game 

Some basketball purists seem quite disturbed by a trend in the National Basketball Association, termed "super teams", where players decide to join forces on the same franchise.  

This could not be possible without the cooperation of a team's General Manager, who is responsible for finding a way to make the financials work under the salary cap.  

Perhaps what is most disturbing to critics is the idea that some of the NBA's best players have acquired the freedom to form these "stacked teams".  

Another concern might be that this type of movement will create an uneven balance in the NBA, where only a few teams actually have a chance to compete for the championship.

A strong example was the Kevin Durant free agent defection from Oklahoma City to Golden State to play with the Warriors who already featured three all-stars. 

Many considered Kevin Durant to be a 'sell-out' by joining the team he couldn’t beat in the playoffs as a member of the Thunder. Oklahoma City held a 3-1 lead on Golden State but could not close out the series.   

After Durant's transfer to Golden State, the Warriors proceeded to win two championships in three years and the Washington, DC native was bombarded with criticism.  
Some might point to the Big Three in Boston, with Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett signing with the Celtics to join Paul Pierce as the start of this phenomenon.

The beginning of the super team discussion should start with Lebron James' decision to leave Cleveland after seven years and join friends Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.


Young Talent Makes Mark at 2018 Memorial Tournament with DeChambeau Outlasting the Pack

 Watching the first three rounds of the 2018 Memorial Golf Tournament, put into perspective the vast array of talented golfers that are currently on the PGA Tour. 

Heading into the final round, the leader board was filled with familiar names like Rory Mcilroy, Tiger Woods, Justin Rose and Phil Mickelson. There were also a few "young lions" including Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, Byeong -Hun An and Peter Uihlein in contention, within striking distance of the leader Bryson DeChambeau.

 The large gallery of fans on "Tiger Watch", were excited that Woods was able to remain within five shots of the lead heading into Sunday. The veteran Woods played solid doing the first three rounds and if not for a few miscues in putting, could have been at the top of the leader board himself.  

 On the final day of competition, Woods could not gain ground as he struggled at various times, but this was one of his best weeks hitting the ball, settling for an even-par 72 and finishing in a six-way tie for 23rd. Certainly a big improvement from a few years back in his first comeback attempt.

In the end, Youth was served as twenty four year old Bryson DeChambeau dropped in a 12 foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to beat Byeong Hun An and win the Memorial.

 Five of the top six finishers were younger than 30 years old, including :
Byeong - Hun An (26), Patrick Cantlay- 26 - Peter Uihlein (28) and Joaquin Niemann (19)             

The quest to become more consistent each week remains for many of the younger golfers under age 30 and their older contemporaries as well. Through various PGA events, golf fans are witnessing a large influx of talented young golfers making their presence felt by finishing in the money.

 With the abundance of talent that is now on the PGA Tour, perhaps golf fans and the media should pull back off the weekly or monthly declaration of crowning the sports' next legend.

Why not instead allow things to evolve naturally, where a few candidates can establish resumes and accomplishments over time to truly earn the right to be mentioned in the same circle of greats like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
Should Fans Boycott The National Football League ?
By CE FARMER
 
The Colin Kaepernick Saga. What can be mentioned that has not already been said? Not sure? What I do know is that the entire Colin Kaepernick scenario should be a history lesson in business and also in life. 

 Colin Kaepernick was a member of the San Francisco 49ers, when he decided to kneel down during the national anthem before each game.

 The quarterback was trying to bring attention to the fact that a number of unarmed African-American men were being killed at an alarming rate by the police. 

 Kaepernick insisted that this was not a shot at military veterans, it was simply a way to bring attention to a very serious situation that was taking in this country.  

The issue even seemed to create some racial divide amongst many. Fast forward to somewhere during the season, Colin Kaepernick decided he wanted to actually play football on the field again.

 I'm not certain if Kaepernick understood the cost he would have to pay to play again or maybe he did and just didn't care.

The San Francisco 49ers agreed to put Colin Kaepernick back on the field in exchange for the following:

 On October 12, 2016, Colin Kaepernick agreed to a restructured contract, relinquishing injury guarantees and added a performance void after 2016. He also voided his 2018 - 2020 guaranteed salaries with the ball club.

 Kaepernick performed decently on the field in 11 games as a starter, completing 59 percent of his passes for 2,241 yards, 18 touchdowns and only four interceptions, while rushing for 468 yards. The 49ers finished the season 2-14.

 Perhaps he was hoping through his performance on the field, he would get a fair shake to sign with a team this year. And yes I understand that the 49ers could have cut him and maybe wanted to start fresh with a new General Manager and Head Coach, but perhaps he could have just rolled the dice and they would have brought him back. No one knows the answer to that but where were his advisers, agent, family members, consultants with advice? 

  It just doesn't add up that Colin would actually believe that the National Football League, with whom he brought what many considered to be unnecessary negative attention to, would actually welcome Kaepernick back with open arms and a new contract.

 It appears as if the NFL wanted to set an example at Colin Kaepernick's expense, they literally broke him down, and made him relinquish his platform, by agreeing if he received another opportunity then he would no longer kneel before games. 

Now there's been a major call in the African-American community in particular to boycott the NFL in some form or fashion this season. A boycott could range from not watching the games, attending games, not supporting sponsors of the league or whatever an individual deems to be suitable for themselves in support of Colin Kaepernick.

 I have no issue with whatever someone wants to do in that fashion. Do I think it's wrong what the NFL is doing? The answer is yes, but we must remember that the NFL is a private organization that is allowed to make its own rules for those that participate in the league.

 Often times people say they do things because of principle, which is fine but the real question is how much of a difference will this make overall and how will it really affect the NFL? Perhaps it doesn't matter because individuals have made personal sacrifices and that's satisfying enough for them.

 But if real change is to be made, then it will take the participation of the active players to make a difference We're not talking about verbal support or sitting or kneeling before a game type of support. We're talking about players sitting out a game or two, which of course will affect their livelihood by missing a week's pay and possibly facing some fines as well. 

 This type of action would get the attention of the owners, but I'm not sure if any of the players are willing to do that.

It's a different time than when you African-American athletes in the 1960s, stood by Muhammad Ali when he refused to enter the military because of his religious belief. 

 There were notable superstars in their own right like Jim Brown, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and others who stood up for a real person and a real cause.

 That type of unity is not happening today on the highest levels of professional sports. 

 I recommend that everyone read the book $40 Million Slaves by William C. Rhoden, which will provide an even deeper perspective into the world of sports, on the athletes who play the game and how business is conducted and controlled by the league's owners. 










 2018 Women’s Final Four makes history in Columbus


The 2018 Women’s Final Four, hosted for the first time in Columbus, Ohio, marked the 37th year of the championship and featured thrilling basketball games in front of sellout crowds during a weekend of well-attended fan and community events and robust broadcast and digital viewership for the championship.


  “This year’s Women’s Final Four was a remarkable event for the entire women’s basketball community, and especially for college basketball fans,” said Lynn Holzman, NCAA vice president of women’s basketball. 


 “I am proud of my home state of Ohio for its support of women’s basketball and grateful to the Columbus Local Organizing Committee for its partnership in making this experience special for our student-athletes and coaches.”


 Starting in 2017, Women’s Final Four games shifted to a Friday-Sunday format from the Sunday-Tuesday format used in previous years. The change, which was intended to enable more fans to attend games, has resulted in sellout crowds both years.


The 2018 Women’s Final Four at Nationwide Arena saw a total attendance of 39,123, surpassing fan turnout from Dallas in 2017. The national championship game had 19,559 attendees, also up from the previous year.


The crowds in Columbus witnessed three of the most exciting Women’s Final Four games in tournament history. 


 Both semifinal games went to overtime — a first for the Women’s Final Four — and 2018 national champion Notre Dame won both of its games on buzzer-beating shots delivered by junior guard Arike Ogunbowale.


 In the first game of the semifinals March 30, a late 3-point field goal in regulation enabled Mississippi State to tie Louisville and send the game to overtime, where the Bulldogs eventually pulled away with the win. 


 In the second national semifinal game, Notre Dame defeated UConn, which was making its 11th straight Women’s Final Four appearance, on a shot from Ogunbowale that put Notre Dame ahead of UConn in overtime with one second on the clock.


 In the championship game April 1, Mississippi State dominated the first half, holding Notre Dame to only 3 points in the second period, and led by as many as 15 points in the third period before the Fighting Irish surged. Notre Dame won on a buzzer-beating 3-point shot from Ogunbowale, the Women’s Final Four Most Outstanding Player. The Notre Dame comeback was the largest in championship game history.


 With the victory, Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw earned her 800th win and second national championship at the school, where she has been head coach for 31 years. Notre Dame’s previous national title came in 2001.


 “The 2018 Women’s Final Four served as the best possible conclusion to an amazing overall tournament,” said Rhonda Lundin Bennett, chair of the Division I Women’s Basketball Committee .


Overall, the 2018 Division I women’s basketball tournament attracted 252,110 fans, an increase of more than 25,000 from the previous year and marking the highest combined total attendance since 2004 and 10th-highest combined attendance in tournament history. The four regional sites hosted 50,848 fans, a 35 percent increase from the 2017 tournament.


 Television


Ratings in local broadcast markets soared. Columbus averaged an 8.5 market rating for the championship game, the highest rating on record in that market for a women’s basketball tournament game. Hartford-New Haven was the top local market for the UConn-Notre Dame semifinal, averaging a 16.7 rating, an increase from last year’s Women’s Final Four semifinal featuring UConn vs. Mississippi State.


 The entire Women’s Final Four averaged 2.54 million television and digital viewers over three games.


On social media, according to Nielsen Social Top Five ratings, the 2018 national championship game was the No. 1 sporting event during the broadcast window, garnering more than 1.1 million social interactions.


 Tourney Town presented by Capital One, the official fan fest of the Women’s Final Four, recorded 23,770 attendees, the fourth-highest on record. Programming included the new Beyond the Baseline Lounge, which offered professional development and wellness advice to visitors.


Community impact


 “The joy, excitement and energy that hosting the Final Four brought to Columbus was remarkable,” said Greater Columbus Sports Commission Executive Director Linda Shetina Logan.  “While the games themselves drew sell-out attendance and the unprecedented attention of sports fans from across the nation, it was the empowering message of the NCAA Women’s Final Four that helped us create new alliances and legacy programs beyond the games that will continue to lift and expand the role of women in our community for many years to come.”







Holtmann Has Inspired Buckeyes To Overcome

Obstacles and Reach New Heights 

By CEFARM



At the start of the season, new Ohio State Men’s Basketball Coach Chris Holtmann entered with a clean slate and expectations were quite low after the team finished (17-15, 7-11) under Thad Matta.

This was based on the amount of departures, transfers and recruits who decommitted from the program last year.  

 

On the recruiting trail, fans were aware that because of the uncertainty surrounding the program, the new regime was more likely to attract three star players, or maybe a four star recruit looking for an opportunity to play early.

The team needed someone who could stabilize the program after a messy ending to the previous season. 

 

 Enter Holtmann, a grinder of a coach who at Butler University, motivated his players by instilling a hard work ethic and defensive focus to assist in developing a certain level of confidence in the team, no matter the opponent they faced.  


That was Holtmann's reputation at Butler, where with a lesser named cast of characters, his teams were able to defeat a few ranked opponents in the past three years.

 

In three seasons at Butler, Holtmann compiled a record of 70-31 as a member of the BIG EAST conference.  His teams won at least 20 games in each of the last four seasons, including a 25-9 record a year ago. Chris Holtmann is one of four active head coaches to win at least one NCAA Tournament game in his first three years at a school (Butler - 2015, '16, '17).

 

Last year, Butler advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011, tallying a 14-5 regular-season record against 12 teams that made the 2017 NCAA Tournament field. 

Wins over Arizona, Cincinnati, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Vermont, and Bucknell, in addition to a pair of wins over Villanova, helped the Bulldogs to a second-place finish in the BIG EAST and a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

 

By Holtmann bringing the same philosophy and approach with him to Columbus and getting the players to buy in, has produced stellar results, as this team has jelled and developed a chemistry that has propelled them to over 20 wins  this season.

 

 The Ohio State men’s basketball talent cupboard was not bare, particularly with a healthy  Keita Bates Diop returning, who has developed into one of the nation's most improved players.  

 

The key to this successful year started with the coaching staff's philosophy and the players effort and motivation, which has made a major difference in their win and loss record.

 

After 15 games the Ohio State men’s basketball team was off to an impressive 11-4 start and now are in sole possession of first place in the Big Ten with a 22-5, 13-1 record.

The team is led by Kate Bates Diop who averages 20 points per game and eight rebounds, CJ Jackson 12 points per game and leads the team in assists, Jae Sean Tate averages 12 points per game and six rebounds, Kaleb Wesson averages 11 points per game and five rebounds.   

 

In his first year, Holtmann's team has exceeded expectations and with an NCAA Berth already secured,  fans will once again become excited about Ohio State men's basketball.














Even Without Miller, Ohio State Knows The Show Must Go On


 The original game plan for the Ohio State Buckeyes this season was to find options to help reduce senior quarterback Braxton Miller's need to produce such a high percentage of the offense, limiting his chances to risk injury.


The plan included developing other playmakers on offense, spreading out the unit's overall production in hopes of creating a more balanced attack.


While the goal for the offense to become more balanced remains the same, the situation was altered when Miller, the  two-time Big Ten Player of the Year reinjured his shoulder in practice and will be forced to miss the upcoming season.  

Miller was in the process of returning from off-season surgery in February for an injury sustained in the 2014 Discover Orange Bowl and at press time was scheduled for another operation.

 

Now the entire team must pull together and find ways to win without Miller. Red-shirt freshman J.T. Barrett will replace Miller as the starting quarterback, with third-year sophomore Cardale Jones serving as the back-up. Jones is the only quarterback on the roster with any game experience.

 

Even with Miller out for the upcoming season, the talent cupboard at Ohio State is certainly not bare. 

 

Five starters (tight end Jeff Heuerman, receivers Devin Smith and Evan Spencer, and tackle Taylor Decker) return from an offense that shattered school records for points scored (637) and touchdowns (87).  


The offense also features a number of other talented options including running backs (Ezekiel Elliott, Rod Smith, Curtis Samuel, and Bri'onte Dunn); wide receivers (Jalin Marshall, Jeff Greene, Michael Thomas, Johnnie Dixon and Dontre Wilson); and tight end (Nick Vannett);who could provide added playmaking and much needed depth at their selected positions.



The Buckeyes are finalizing the offensive line unit after losing four starters but the group will feature veteran players looking for an opportunity to make their mark.


While it will not be easy to replace Miller's production, the rest of the group will be forced to become instant playmakers and help JT Barnett develop and make his transition into a starting role as smooth as possible.  

 

"Once a player becomes comfortable and learns the offense, he can start taking his game to another level because things come easier then," said Wilson.

 

Simply put the Buckeyes will have to find other ways to win and  a strong and improving defensive unit can serve as a catalyst in that process as well. 

 

Chris Ash enters as the team's new co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach.

The defense unit features seven returnees including front line starters Michael Bennett, Noah Spence, Aldophus Washington and Joey Bosa. 

 

At linebacker, (Curtis Grant and Joshua Perry)return  along with senior cornerback Doran Grant.

 

The secondary looks to be improved featuring a young and very talented group including Junior Armani Reeves, the only other cornerback with game experience.  

 

At safety, sophomores Tyvis Powell and Vonn Bell are expected to become playmakers, along with Cam Burrows, who switched over after playing cornerback as a freshman.  

 

"We have a new position coach (Coach Ash) and  we have bought into his system and are going to play real aggressive football this season," said Bell.

 

"On every play, somebody in the secondary will be competing for the ball and that is the biggest difference I see this year in our unit," added Powell.

 

Punter Cameron Johnston returns after an outstanding year in his first campaign, leading the Big Ten in average but also leading the nation in percentage of punts downed inside the 20 (31 of 49; 63 pct.).

 

The X factor in this scenario might be Head Coach Urban Meyer,  who three years ago inherited a team that had a 6-7 record the previous season.

 

Meyer challenged his players to do better, which they responded by winning 24 straight games.

 

The coach has a way of preparing players to compete and the same could happen this year in Columbus, with the Buckeyes surprising a few people.

 

What is most concerning about this Ohio State football team is the unknown, because there are a number of players who will be in new roles, some as starters.

 








DESPITE DISTRACTIONS BUCKEYES HELD UP THEIR END OF THE DEAL

By Charles Farmer


There was lots of controversy surrounding the Ohio State Football program prior to the team participating in the team participating in the AllState Sugar Bowl. 


Most became quite familiar with the facts that included six student athletes being suspended from the football team for violations of NCAA rules. Mike Adams, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Terrelle Pryor and Solomon Thomas will miss the first five games of the 2011 season while Jordan Whiting will miss the first game.

 

The biggest issue for most was why the accused players did not start serving their suspension immediately and who should have made sure that happened? Many people have stated they thought Coach Tressel should have done the morally correct thing and sat the players himself and perhaps are now looking at the coach in a different light. 


Can we be honest for just a minute, while I cannot speak for Coach Tressel, one thing I do know he is paid to win ball games and he also probably took in to account not wanting to disappoint the members of the football senior class.

 

These might be considered a lame excuse by some, but I ask the question while others sit back in their recliners and serve as arm chair coaches, who would have taken the stand by his or her self and sat the players despite the opposition they would have faced from the people handling the money? I’m waiting. 

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The NCAA declared that the players were eligible based on a rule that states they have the authority when to punish student athletes for stated acts and they decided to deliver the punishment later.  


 The organization also stated later that the decision had nothing to do with money, but it did ensure that the Sugar Bowl would be a financial success because of the fact the accused players would be able to participate in the game.

 

While in contrast, the Sugar Bowl Chairman came out publicly and stated how he lobbied for the accused players to be eligible to play in the game.   Making these players eligible also allowed the Sugar Bowl, ESPN and Sponsors to make a return back on the initial investment they made into the game.

 

But the $64,000 question still remains what would have happened if these players were not allowed to play? What kind of contest would the Sugar Bowl have been without Terrelle Pryor (336 yards of total offense – two td passes and game MVP); Dan Herron (87 yards rushing and one touchdown); DeVier Posey (three catches for 70 yards and one touchdown); and Solomon Thomas (who grabbed an interception late in the game securing a Buckeye win)?

 

According to Coach Tressel, the accused players had to promise him they would return to school next year, if they wanted to participate in the Bowl Game and all agreed to do so.

 

The Ohio State University has formally issued an appeal with the NCAA regarding the players’ suspensions and will have a hearing at a later date. History shows that there is a slim chance that the suspension will be reduced, but I wonder how the NCAA can not reduce the players’ sentences when they have clearly used these individuals to make sure that a Bowl Game and its investors received return on their investments.

 

Perhaps I am too much of a realist but this situation seems a little shaky or wrong too me. I guess we will have our answer when the results of the NCAA hearing are unveiled but this was a clear example of Big Business at work. I thought the focus of this column was to be about college football and student athletics. I digress.

 

The 31-26 victory was the Buckeyes first against a South Eastern Conference school in ten attempts which dates back to the days of Woody Hayes.

 

With all of the accused players participating, the AllState Sugar Bowl turned into an exciting game and the investors got what they wanted at the players’ expense.

 

This Bowl game should have sports fans thinking about what is most important, the game itself or what is the right thing to do?

 

While many have said suspending the players immediately would have taught lessons or even set a precedent for future incidents, but who wanted to deal with the fallout which included being ridiculed by those connected to the money? In this instance cash ruled the day and everything around it, dollar, dollar bill.

 

The All State Sugar Bowl needed a great show to take place betweenOhioStateandArkansas, and ESPN delivering its television audience a Buckeye team minus Pryor and the others would have been totally unacceptable to those involved with the money.

 

This postseason the College football bowl ratings were down nine percent, including an 11 percent drop in the national championship game.

 

The AllState Sugar Bowl was down four percent from last year, but ESPN said the title game received the highest audience rating ever on cable. 


The BCS cut off 15 million homes that do not receive cable or satellite by shifting all BCS games to ESPN for the first time, the result of a four year deal vaulted by Sports Business Journal at $495 million.
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