Damn, It Feels Good To Be a Bobcat...

Sports are wonderful thing. For many people who watch, they are metaphor for our lives, really.

When our team wins, we are elated. When they lose, we are crushed. We embrace the athletes who represent us, and pin our hopes and dreams on the achievements they reach on the field... court... ice... you get the point.

Well, like I said... that's for most people.

However, I graduated from Ohio (the State University, not to be confused with Ohio $tate, Inc.).I chose Ohio because of it's top-notch journalism school, which still stands as one of the finest in the nation. I worked at a couple of the fine publications in Athens, and later returned to get a Master's degree and begin a radio and television career as well.

I also attended quite a few athletic events during my time. However, that whole "pinning-our-hopes-and-dreams-on-our-college-athletes" concept was pretty foreign to OU people until recently.

My first football season was in... well, it was a long time ago. I hadn't read up much on the program before I arrived in Athens, but I knew it had been a few years since they had had a winning season. It would be a few more.

My first football game was against Miami... it was a 31-7 loss in a homecoming game. I also learned for the first time that leaving right after the Marching 110 left the field at halftime was apparently a time-honored tradition. That first game was in the midst of an 0-11 season... which was the last four head coach Tom Lichtenberg. That "oh" included the loss in the final week of the season, between the 0-10 Bobcats and an 0-10 Akron Zips team . In hindsight, I'm glad that was a road game, because that could not have been pretty.

The next year, I attended the Bobcats' game against I-AA Illinois State. The Bobcats' overall losing streak was at 14 or 15 games at that point. After the fairly unimpressive win, I was one among the group of about 30 to 40 students who stormed the north end zone.

No, I did not participate in any sort of property destruction.

A) My vertical jump was decent, but otherwise unimpressive, and B) OUPD was standing right there. The police in Athens tend to overreact, so I wasn't taking any chances.

However, the rocking of the goalposts eventually caused the crossbar and uprights to tip over to one side. One of my rabble-rousing colleagues (no I didn't know him) managed to very impressively shimmy his way up to what had been the left upright. After hanging and bobbing for about 30 seconds, the post worked its way out of its socket.

As heaven-knows-how-many years worth of rainwater, gunk and crud poured out of the socket where the upright had been, I and my fellow hooligans discovered that our goalposts were still made of wood. Yeah, it had been a long time since the Bobcat football team had done anything really tear-down-the-goalpost worthy.

Anyway with the guy who fell with the goalpost apparently uninjured, we turned our eyes toward the south end zone.

A few OUPD officers were standing 20 feet away from us, glaring and shaking their heads.

Yeah, never mind. I grabbed a handful of grass and made my merry way home.

OU always seemed more of a basketball school, anyway. We made the NCAA Tournament every so often, but never really went far. There was a flash of brilliance, however, when Gary Trent led the Bobcats to a victory in the Preseason NIT in 1994... a run which saw OU beat Ohio $tate and even Virginia before going to New York to wrap it all up. That boosted the Cats to somewhere in the teens in the rankings, too. 14th or something, if I recall.

After that... sure there were some wins... an NCAA berth (and subsequent first-round exit) here and there. Hell, there was even a win over North Carolina. Sure, it was during that disastrous year UNC had, but it was huge. UNC is more than a basketball team... it's a brand. There are probably people who don't know what basketball even is, and wear UNC swag.

And then that upset of Georgetown happened two years ago. The Bobcats earned their first NCAA Tournament win in 27 years that night. And the "did that just freaking happen" chaos ensued.

Last weekend, they did it again as a 13 seed, knocking off Michigan... then dispatching South Florida in the second round. As a bonus, the Mrs. and I watched that second-round game at Byrne's Pub (which was also hosting the St. Patrick's Day Survivors' Party that night).

And look who was there to visit...

Why yes... our own beloved Burrito Buggy made the trip again this year from Athens. [It was stormy that night... I swear it's there in the picture, though...]

Stuff from the Buggy never tasted so good as it did that night.

And here our guys sit in the Sweet 16 tonight, getting ready to take on top-seeded North Carolina. Another upset? Who knows?

But we know that memories are being made. Hell, I defy anyone to watch Clark Kellogg's reaction to his son Nick making the Sweet 16 with the Bobcats and not feel joy.

Between this outstanding basketball squad with a record-breaking 29 wins so far, and a football program that wrapped a ten-win season with a bowl victory... well, his has been one hell of a year for Ohio.

A year that will be long-remembered... and is still being written.

Go Bobcats!

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("Sources" Say) Congratulations Are In Order...

Today, Buckeye Nation’s Lunatic Fringe (reportedly) gets its wish.

I seem to recall The Ohio State University saying it would not make any determination of who would be coaching football until after the season. Then again, the same school also said Jim Tressel's job was safe. Obviously, circumstances changed there.

Apparently, the circumstances changed in this case, too.

Obviously, the Buckeyes didn’t do as well as expected. They lost a couple games they really should have won, and even fizzled when they actually had an outside shot at managing to make the very first Big Ten Championship Game.

Still… did even the biggest Buckeye fans think they were just going to roll over everyone? Of course not. Five of the team’s best players were suspended… well, four after Terrelle Pryor bolted like the classless coward that he is. The first starting quarterback was so bad, it was an accomplishment for some of his passes to even hit the ground. Your next guy’s a true freshman who had his mistakes, while also having his moments of brilliance… kind of reminds me of another recent true freshman starting at OSU.

Hopefully Braxton Miller’s similarities to Pryor end there.

Look at what was handed to Luke Fickell. Was he ready to be a head coach? Probably not. But he is an “Ohio State man,” and seemingly blameless in the whole tattoo/improper benefits controversy. He can motivate these guys. It seemed even Buckeye Nation’s Lunatic Fringe would back him.

Then the Buckeyes lost to Miami. I thought Twitter was going to crash from the sheer volume of the fan comments immediately calling for Fickell’s head and the hiring of Urban Meyer. Those cries intensified with every loss.

It all (allegedly) culminates (according to “sources”) in the announcement of the (alleged) hiring of (“sources” say) former Earle Bruce graduate assistant (that part’s confirmed) and former Bowling Green and Florida head coach (also confirmed) Urban Meyer as OSU’s new head football coach. The (rumored) compensation is (allegedly) substantial.

Note, we don’t know any of this for sure, since the Columbus Dispatch only cites “sources,” but wow… with so many people reporting this before the Dispatch “confirmed” it with “sources,” it’s probably a safe bet that something’s going on.

Here’s the problem with all this… what’s also going on this week – and among Buckeye Nation, I figured this was actually more important – is that the Buckeyes are playing Michigan.

Now, aside from the obvious distraction news like this would cause… does this whole thing strike anyone else as a “jerk” kind of move? Again, I don’t think anyone expected Fickell to stick as head coach, given that he inherited a decimated team and OSU never removed that whole “Interim” from his job title. However, I seem to recall Gene Smith (or somebody in charge) said no decisions were going to be made on a coach until after the season.

Well, I know the Buckeyes are 6-5, but there’s a shot at a seventh win. So, we’re still within the boundaries of “the season.”

So, if this (alleged) hire is a done deal (in priniciple, according to “sources”), then Ohio State has been doing some “back room” dealing, although these “sources close to the situation” are more than happy to share with the media (although apparently the Dispatch didn’t get priority… oops).

So… is it safe to conclude that Gene Smith is as good at controlling media leaks within his own athletics department, as he is at keeping players from accepting money for an appearance at a charity event?

While his athletics department is already under an NCAA investigation?

I said back in December that Smith was making a big mistake in appealing that “too harsh” five-game suspension against the Tattoo Five, and that his grandstanding was just going to bite him later. He should have left it alone… but didn’t. And the situation got worse. And worse.

Urban Meyer was still denying his (alleged) hire this afternoon. Why? Well, maybe he was trying to take the high road, to try and not cause the inevitable distraction that this would stir up… because it’s Beat Michigan Week.

Too late for that, Coach… if you were part of the discussions, there’s no way in hell you’re not at least somewhat responsible now. If you’re coming to Ohio State… give up, and just say so. Smith’s athletics department is leaking like Steve Mason in front of the Blue Jackets’ net.

Urban Meyer is not the answer to Ohio State’s problems, because hiring Urban Meyer doesn’t address the problem of Gene Smith.

The apparent defiance in the face of NCAA punishment. Continued violations by already-suspended players. Doing back-room negotiations with a coach before the head coach’s seat is even VACANT, let alone COLD.

Absolutely classless.

If this is official, than this is Luke Fickell’s last regular season game as the Buckeyes’ football coach (obviously, we don’t know what will happen, bowl-wise, with the NCAA).

And the game is against Michigan. Michigan was supposed to be the focus of this week.

I still remember when Earle Bruce was fired before the Michigan game. I still remember that game, and that win, and the sight of that team carrying Bruce off the field on their shoulders.

I hope that on Saturday, not only does Luke Fickell get the win over Michigan (carrying off the field optional), but that he walks up to Gene Smith afterwards and tells him where to put those Gold Pants.

Don’t think me too much of a tool in invoking Woody Hayes here… but I do have one final point, and I don’t think it counts as taking Woody’s name in vain.

We’ve heard Coach Hayes’ mantra for decades: “You win with people.”

Urban Meyer is a good choice. He has been a winner everywhere he has coached. I think he can build the Buckeyes back into a national power sooner rather than later. I think he’ll recruit young student-athletes with character who deserve to wear the uniform… and avoid the Terrelle Pryors, Devier Poseys and Jaamal Berrys.

Luke Fickell is a winner, and what happened when he coached what was left of this team doesn't change that fact. He doesn’t deserve to go out like this.

But… (alleged) Coach Meyer, congratulations, I guess.

Maybe, just maybe, with the coaching search (allegedly) out of the way… perhaps President (this part’s confirmed) Gee can start a search for a new athletics director. If you’re going to start clean… do it with the right people.

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Hey... I Watch Other Sports, Too...

Why a spinoff?

Well, why not?

Actually, there are a few reasons why not. Like Joey, Phyllis, Valerie's Family...

Wait... I guess Valerie's Family wasn't so much a spinoff, as it was an attempt to keep a show going after losing the lead actress (in this case, Valerie Harper... I'm not sure why she left).

I just couldn't think of a third unsuccessful spinoff off the top of my head. Hey, wait, didn't one of the guys from Barney Miller get one?

But I digress....

Anyway, spinoffs don't always work. Joey, for instance, flopped horribly after the roaring success of Friends, and nine out of ten people reading this probably have no idea who the hell Phyllis is (it was a spinoff of Mary Tyler Moore).

No, I'm not that old. I just watched a lot of Nick At Nite after college, for some reason.

Anyway, the fact is, I watch sports other than hockey, and I also like to share my opinions on other stuff... but it would seem a little weird to put that stuff on my blog that is devoted to hockey. It confuses the brand.

I've done work in the past for other sites, first in hockey, then branched out into other stuff. However, I figured I'd just do this, be my own boss in another venture, publish when I feel like it and shamelessly cross-self-promote it when necessary.

I decided to do this because it's fun...

...oh, and I had something to say about Gene Smith, Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes today.

Read on...

If you like it, feel free to subscribe... tell your friends about it, etc. Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers...