Recent Comments

Hadn't thought about that... Could be.

If you have played any football at all - from HS varsity on up - you know that sound that comes out of a player when his ACL/MCL/ medial meniscus gets torn (knee gets "blown up") or if there is a major fracture. It's sickening, but part of this game and always will be.

Speaking as a physician, I see two things that have led to perhaps more knee/lower leg injuries: 1) Players are bigger and faster. I tackled some big and fast guys in the day, and I chose to go low - between the knee and ankle - most of the time rather than get run over (because that's too embarrassing in the film room). 2) Targeting rules are forcing players to lower the point of impact, and I suspect coaches are teaching lower tackling because if you hit a guy in the chest, waist, or thigh, he may bounce off and keep going, but if you take his legs out, he goes to the ground.

But this particular injury to this particular player hurts Ohio State. No way around it. I have always liked Terry McClaurin. Watched him at the opening a year ago, and he was a stud in 7 on 7, and he had a nice spring game. Parris Campbell was a kid I watched in the OHSAA playoffs, and he was pretty amazing. But neither of those guys have done it on the level we are talking about that OSU will face on Sep 7. I think Dixon is going to be a star, but I don't know if he will be healthy enough to play and it's speculation as to whether he can do it. When you get down to true frosh like KJ Hill, then you might be in a lot of trouble.

One thing Ohio State players and coaches cited as enabling them to overcome the adversities of last season was "E + R + O": an event plus your reaction to that event equals the outcome. But there has to be a certain amount of attrition, that E+R=O can't overcome. Either some of the guys mentioned will be being lauded on Sep 8, and everyone will be saying that OSU is scary with their depth of talent, or Jalin Marshall, Dontre Wilson, and Corey Smith better go into the witness protection program. :)

To add to @buckeye476...

Brown made it on the field in 13 games as a freshman last year, ahead of some more heralded recruits and upperclassmen. He did so because Urban Meyer wants guys to be versatile. Brown showed up at Ohio State at 240lbs as a WR...he's since trimmed down, but he's big and strong. OSU's #1 corner said he was unguardable in camp because of his strength and outstanding hands. He started getting more and more PT as the season wore on last year because Meyer liked to use him in the run game as he was a very good blocker out wide.

One of the big things I think we're losing from last year is a guy like Evan Spencer. So versatile and such a strong, exceptional blocker as a WR, both downfield and in the box (it was his block that took out two linebackers to clear the path for Zeke's 85 yard game clenching run against Bama). I think Ohio State fans don't realize how much we're going to miss his versatility and how he was able to be so effective without needing the ball in his hands very often (though he did make some jaw dropping catches throughout his career as well). That's what I saw in Noah Brown this year. He was going to fill that void and be one of the unsung heroes of the offense that gladly did the dirty work and came up with a big catch here and there. With Corey Smith being suspended, I just don't know who else we have left at WR against VT that will be a capable blocker on the edge and/or a proven threat to make plays in the passing game.

Maybe I'd agree if players were being paid a performance based salary, but they're not. There's plenty of other ways to discipline. Get original with it. Have them wake up early and write lines on chalkboard or something.

Just don't hit Usain Bolt with it

Found him

via GIPHY

Herbie picked GT over Noles for ACC championship. He is out of touch doesn't he know it is going to be VT over Louisville?

I claim no actual knowledge of the rules or policies, but my guess is that VT can't, or doesn't want to, punish players with physical activity outside of the normally scheduled practices and meetings. So no 6am mandatory workouts for 5 players who messed up somehow some day previous while the rest of the team sleeps or goes about their day. HOWEVER, in the regularly scheduled events, the coaches do make players do extra physical workouts as a form of punishment. Example: Zohn making WRs do push-ups each time he noticed they didn't properly block in previous game film while reviewing during a WRs meeting.

In my opinion, I totally agree with Whit on squashing the fining of student-athletes from their stipend money. The stipends, I believe, are meant to help pay for expenses that a normal student would have the opportunity to account for. By taking away that money, you may be preventing that student-athlete from buying groceries or school supplies they need. Now, many will argue that the stipends will mostly go to gaming consoles, TVs, bling, etc. But to me, that's a problem of implementation, not a problem of purpose.

I am not in agreement with Whit on stopping the fining against bowl money/gifts. Everything a player receives from a bowl game is exactly that: a gift. If we don't go to a bowl game, the players don't get anything. It's a reward for a successful regular season. If a player misses practices or meetings during bowl preparation time, then by all means start taking away their gifts. Now Whit has really tightened down on what options the coaches have to re-enforce the contract that the student-athletes have with the university: come play a sport and represent our university and we will provide you with a free, first-class education plus expenses.

PS: I wonder if Whit shutting down ALL fining systems includes the punishment that if you miss curfew at a bowl game you have to ride the bus back to Blacksburg instead of flying?

Not to mention they drive their electric cars. Have you ever read about how much environmental damage is done creating the batteries for those things. The batteries only have a limited life and then need replacements. Lastly, where do they think the electricity to charge the batteries comes from? The power fairy?

everything I need to make my next move in my career?

In theory, you would be getting everything you need to make your next move in two careers: professional athlete (if your skills merit it, which I believe was the premise) and your area of study. Heck, considering that a good number of football players get grad degrees so they can play out their eligibility, they could be prepped for three careers by the time they leave school.

I wouldn't say this is a huge deal comparatively, but it's certainly something we wanted to be transparent about and bring closure to.

This is exactly it.

ugh, PETA is so hypocritical. Every single one of those smug hippies is spewing greenhouse gases with every breath, thus destroying the environment and killing off animals.