ES Preview: Big Green vs Ugly Fans

Yup, misplaced priorities in Columbus. 
And, nope Oscar Meyer is a wiener, not a president. Poor kid. 

#25 MSU Spartans (4-1/2-0) at #4 Ohio State (5-0/2-0)
October 5, 2019. 7:30 pm ET.
Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH

TV: ABC-TV
Weather: 70/partly cloudy.  No real wind.

Vegas Line: Ohio State by 20.
What does Sagarin say? MSU #16... OSU #1

The ES woke up and took the dog outside to crap.  Instead, dog crapped in the house.  Nice. Then, put on a hat, get in the car, and stand in line to get Hinkley's Donuts for his gal.  Line was too long, so chocolate muffins from Cafe Lilla instead.  Working on window installation.  Where is my football?????  Well, time to publish this puppy and focus on Ohio State.

The ES hates Ohio State, some of the rudest fans ever - especially at the Big Ten Championship Game. The ES hopes we kick their arse.

Predictions:

• Cleveland Plain Dealer: OSU 45-10, OSU 41-14, OSU 36-13
• Freep:  OSU 31-16
• Sergio: State a little Ohio a lot
• Doc: Sparty 31, Hairless Nuts 17
• Oakland Ronnie: MSU 18, osu 13. couches will burn.
• Poke: Drink heavily...
• Andy Sensoli: Depends on if there's a rain storm or not. OSU if it's a clear day. By 18 points. 31-13.
• The Queen of Scotland: I predict I will not be anywhere near the ES after 7pm Saturday night:)
• Australian Paul:  MSU 18-14 (9 safties, wow!)
• Ruf (Thailand): Buckeyes 38-9
• Keith: 21-20 MSU
• CHock (San Francisco): OSU 17-6
• Sloth: tOSU 45-6; I predict the game will later be vacated due to NCAA sanctions leveled against Terra Community College.

ES sez:  Ohio State 24, Michigan State 14.

The thread on Ohio State for today

The Facebook thread from the Sloth:

... As much as I love getting fired up for the Michigan rivalry, or the incredibly intense battles our Spartans have had in both hoop and football with Wisconsin, I truly and deeply hate Ohio State. everything I dislike most about college sports - the cheating, the double-standards, the looking the other way at the transgressions of kids who very often have no business ever stepping foot on a college campus, the wannabe tough-guy idiotic fans who never attended college and confuse college sports for armed combat, etc. - is epitomized by no alleged institution of higher learning more than The Ohio State University. befitting of its long tradition of white trash assholedom, even its beloved superfan, "Big Nut", did not attend the university, which of course helps to explain why so many Buckeye fans are surprised to learn that the word "college" or "amateur" appears as part of the phrases "college athletics" or "amateur sports". for over 30 years and despite having teams in both Cleveland and Cincinnati, the Buckeyes have remained the best professional football team in the state of Ohio. Lord knows I will cheer as loudly or even louder for our Spartans as any other fan next Saturday in Indy, but regardless of outcome I will grin ear to ear the entire evening knowing that, regardless of which team wins on the football field, I will wake up Sunday morning a Michigan State Spartan, and not just a Spartan for the convenience of being a fan of college sports, either.

• sloth: and yes, Ma Ward, there are of course exceptions. 

   

  • ES: the older I get, the more I dislike all of the other Big Ten teams. But, yes, Ohio State is the ugliest of the bunch. Whether its Jim O'Brien and his hoops scum 1999-2002 (and we still kicked their ass), or the entire OSU program and its transgressions dating back to the days of Woody Hayes (too many to name), THE Ohio State University and its athletics arrogance is defined by THE. Can't wait until I see Max Bullough pile-drive Braxton Miller into that plastic grass. Multiple times. That will be worth the price of admission. It's just a matter of time until Urban "I can't have a real heart attack" Meyer gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar, just like his predecessors. What a piece of junk.
     
• sloth:  have no beef at all with anyone who wants to cheer for the college team of their choice, but I believe that competing in college athletics should be reserved to student athletes and cheering for college athletics should be reserved to those people who want to cheer for student athletes. I have no patience at all for people who cheer for college teams the same way they do professional teams, because the emphasis first and foremost should always be on the "student" part of the equation.

   

  • ES:  problem with your point being the term "student athlete" was invented by the NCAA to circumvent future lawsuits/workers' comp after a football player died in the early 1950s. I prefer the term "college athlete" or "varsity athlete" instead of the loaded-moniker. Nevertheless, your point still stands.

Hate Ohio State

The hate threads about the scandalous Ohio State program will be thick and heavy from the ES this week.  Tune in, starting Monday.

Bowl projections look terrible for B1G Ten

Wow, based on the projections by BTN's Tom Deinhart, the ES isn't so bullish on the Big Ten's chances in bowls.  This game by MSU really can make or break whether or not MSU plays in a premium bowl, or a toilet bowl. Right now, Deinhart has the Spartans in a toilet bowl.

Here is what the ES thinks with his prediction of a, gulp, ugly 3-6 Big Ten result:

BOWL GAME	MATCHUP	PROJECTION (ES PREDICTS)
BCS title game, Jan. 6	BCS No 1 vs. No. 2	Ohio State vs. Alabama (LOSS)
Rose Bowl, Jan. 1	Big Ten vs. BCS/Pac-12	Northwestern vs. Oregon (LOSS)
Capital One Bowl, Jan. 1	Big Ten vs. SEC	Wisconsin vs. Georgia (LOSS)
Outback Bowl, Jan. 1	Big Ten vs. SEC	Michigan vs. Florida (LOSS)
Gator Bowl, Jan. 1	Big Ten vs. SEC	Nebraska vs. Ole Miss (WIN)
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, Dec. 28	Big Ten vs. Big 12	Iowa vs. Baylor (WIN)
Texas Bowl, Dec. 27	Big Ten vs. Big 12	Michigan State vs. Texas (LOSS)
Heart of Dallas Bowl, Jan. 1	Big Ten vs. C-USA	Illinois vs. Rice (WIN)
Little Caesars Pizza, Dec. 26	Big Ten vs. MAC	Minnesota vs. Ohio (LOSS)

SI investigation tears down "ignorant" Tressel and Ohio State

Values, shmalues. Jim Tressel is a cheat, a sham and a fraud. Eight years of countless violations at Ohio State which went unnoticed... and of course, add to that Tressel's cheating ways at Youngstown State -- oblivious to the people of Ohio, who want a winner no matter what.

How shameful is OSU? Read the Sports Illustrated investigation... even if 10% of it is true, it is a significant blight and shameful for the Buckeye Nation.

Expect the Buckeyes to vacate their victories the past year or more, a few years of probation, and scholarship losses. No death penalty, but expect USC/Reggie Bush - or worse - type penalties... especially since Tressel embarrassed the NCAA.

my favorite excerpts: "For more than a decade, Ohioans have viewed Tressel as a pillar of rectitude, and have disregarded or made excuses for the allegations and scandal that have quietly followed him throughout his career. His integrity was one of the great myths of college football. Like a disgraced politician who preaches probity but is caught in lies, the Senator was not the person he purported to be."

"Tressel violated NCAA bylaw 10.1 -- Unethical Conduct, one of the cornerstones of NCAA rulebook -- three times: first by failing to act when tipped off about the tattoo scandal; again last fall, by signing a standard form given to all coaches declaring that he knew of no violations; and then, last December, by not being forthcoming with school officials. Tressel's violations will almost certainly lead to sanctions that will follow him to any school that might hire him, making it highly unlikely that he will coach a major college program again. Like Woody Hayes, the ruination at the end of his Ohio State career will tail him forever."

WOW. Plead ignorance and give me death.

Hypocrit Jim Tressel hangs NCAA to dry, collects millions in dollars and laughs

Muskyburger On Tressel (hit the video link): gotta love Brent. He has much of this right: Tressel a hyprocrit, lying, cheating, and making the NCAA look bad... except Musky misses the part of values, where he says 1) "I would have been proud to send my kid to Ohio State" and 2) "if I was in the same position as him with regards to learning about the situation, I would have done the same thing."

Huh? Glad you ain't my dad, and glad I can teach my own kids different.

Response to #1) This ain't the NFL, Musky, and you know it ain't. So, with shady situations going-on at Ohio State for the last several years (or more), with respect to your kid you will settle on the con man (or any other gent/gal) him/herself conning you into everything is honky-dorey at Championship U? Ummm.... don't you get second or third opinions? You believe everything you hear and experience? As a journalist, you'd fit right in with Mitch Albom and the Fab Five. Eyes open and ears closed. Stupid.

As for #2) you would do the same thing? Huh? Where are your values? It is strict NCAA and institutional philosophy to hand over any perceived knowledge of violations to compliance staff (not that they are lawyers, but...) Ohio State is a membership organization. If they don't like NCAA rules, don't belong. As an NCAA member, you must comply by the organization's rules -- which means to hand over facts and perceived knowledge (yes, this is part of the rules... don't like it? change it!). If it ain't true, nothing to worry about. But, we all know now that The Vest knew the issues but was a moreover a hypocrit, a liar, and a cheat. So, if Tressel knew or smelled of a problem, be should have notified compliance and the man (NCAA). But, he is a bigger liar than he is a man of values, so he decided to lie. How pathetic.

This ain't over. NCAA looks terrible throughout this, with the extra pass to OSU players for the bowl game. Now, they may vacate the game for which they gave the extra pass? Huh? That is just brutally ugly, and Tressel left the NCAA and college sports hanging out to dry. The NCAA and fellow members should want blood on this. As, Musky said, "he should have learned from Nixon"... what is worse than the crime is the cover-up. And, it smells worse than that.

Tressel: You dumb-ass, tell the truth. What will you say on your million-dollar speaker's circuit? Lie and collect millions... you will laugh to the bank.

Jim Tressel is a piece of trash. I'm gonna pick up The Winners Manual... from the library. Tressel and Ohio State University are a piece of garbage. The NCAA won't do it, but they really should give OSU the death penalty. Jim Tressel and Terrel Pryor (a.k.a. Chris Webber) will make millions, and Pryor won't even graduate. Just to make everything look foolish, and professional.

Ohio State: Cheatin', lyin', scandalous. Burn the vest, Tressell gets canned.

The Vest is gone. Lovely. Arguably one of the most embarrassing eras in the history of college football, that continues today at Ohio State University. And it will continue. Jim Tressel, the hypocritical coach at OSU -- donning a persona of values yet failing to live up to his own standards -- has resigned after increasing pressure from the college football nation. Tressel's lies, pleas of ignorance, and general disregard for institutional values caught up with him...

But this era of trouble and mayhem is not over, with continuing investigations of 1) lack of institutional control over the players selling wares; 2) Tressel knowingly lying about his knowledge of the players' actions; 3) freebies from Ohio car dealerships... and who knows what else. Where are the values? This, and not to mention the cost ($250,000-plus) of the investigations and more importantly the cost to the perception of Ohio State University as a cheatin', lyin', scandalous football program.

He's not only embarrassed himself, the OSU football program, and Ohio State University, but also college sports and painted the NCAA with a black eye. The NCAA looks incredibly foolish in its initial suspension-after-we-let-them-play-in-a-bowl-game, with the impending findings of Tressel lying about his knowledge. Tressel had to be fired (or did he resign? what is the difference).

The Big Ten will be richer, better, more respectful, and more honorable without that trash continuing with Ohio State football under the leadership of Tressel. It will be good to be rid of a football coach who is bigger than the institution... Nick Saban, Les Miles, take note and tread lightly.

Why is this on the ES message board? 'Cause I don't like the vest and I can't wait until we kick their tail this fall. You hear that Buckeye Nation? For once, welcome to our world.



Oh, and Tressell will be laughing all the way to the bank, as he will probably get a $10 million golden parachute and you'll see him in the ESPN College Game Day booth or on ABC Sports earning $1 million or more per year as an analyst. Losers always win.

Sugar Bowl: Root AGAINST Ohio State and hypocrisy

ES is pulling for Arkansas over Ohio State - big time.

It's a vote for hypocrisy otherwise. If Tressell had a problem with the NCAA decisions and had a proper value set he would suspend the five players immediately. He decided not to, and so I hope they lose based on principle and integrity.

HATE Ohio State.

NCAA and Pryor on edge of indictment

UPDATE - 1/3 - 10:50 pm: And here is a formal complaint filed by some nefarious group, "Playoff PAC," to the IRS. Is the shit hitting the fan for Ohio State and the NCAA? Wow, this one seems legit to some extent...

Or so, it looks that way... read Wetzel's column today and weep more.

The hypocrisy of the NCAA only gets worse. Memorabilia signing to drive used SUVs? And Ohio State's Tyrell Pryor stating, mocking ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit: “I already knew what I shouldn’t have done back two years ago.” Caribbean cruises from the Orange Bowl to 40 athletic administrators, tax-free?

Hey, I'm looking forward to a great Orange Bowl, but the lack of investigation of the finances of college athletics, Ohio State's athletics, etc. by the national media other than Yahoo's Dan Wetzel is truly extraordinary.

The accusation that there was pressure by Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delaney on the NCAA to give Ohio State players, including Pryor, a break in the Orange Bowl makes as much sense as the rationale given by the NCAA that the players shouldn't receive a penalty because a bowl game is a "unique opportunity." Yes, it makes perfect sense. Let that open the floodgates for future violations. Stupid, stupid decision by the NCAA that is not based on values of amateurism and fair play. An interpretation of rules should be based on values and mission -- in this case, when you read core value #2; "The highest levels of integrity" this falls flat and fails the test.

On top of all this, the NCAA may be trying to save itself, but it may be the federal courts that send it to the galley. Former UCLA hoopster Ed O'Bannon is suing the NCAA for using his likeness without payment... it's a class action lawsuit that is in Federal Court, and the comments from many legal scholars (not the ES) has the NCAA sweating. Why? "Legal analysts said that ruling will compel the NCAA to turn over many of its business secrets to the players' lawyers. No previous lawsuit has advanced to this stage." Read this for lots of lawyer-ese on this, but it ain't going away.

The NCAA is backpedaling since the new president, former U of Washington President Mark Emmert took charge. First Cam Newton, now five players at Ohio State for essentially the same thing -> the integrity of the NCAA has taken a hit to the gut and while it may make it to the final round, undoubtedly the public already has indicted the NCAA and sent it to defeat.

Shame on the NCAA: Ohio State, Auburn, NCAA, and Hypocrisy

Let us lay it flat out: the NCAA is being hypocritical, and college sports is at a crossroads in relation to the whole Ohio State and Cam Newton/Auburn situations.

The charge: that five Ohio State starters, including QB Tyrell Prior, cashed in their gifts of college jerseys, Rose Bowl rings, and free tattoos for up to $2,500 each. Now the Buckeye athletes have been caught and have to repay the money they earned and also be suspended for five games next year AFTER the Sugar Bowl. Said Ohio State AD Gene Smith: "The discount on tattoos is not as big as the other pieces... I'm not trying to make those two the same. But the cash was relative to family needs." God forbid, we might all starve or freeze to death without having tattoos.

The problems: (1) it is not a competitive playing field -- few others in college sports/football get a chance to sell championship rings, so the chance for extra revenue gives those players an advantage (and those coaches an advantage).

(2) what else is for sale? So let us say I am a famous booster (for example, Michigan's former booster Bill Martin), and I decided to give a Ferrari, or more realistically, a special edition Eddie Bauer Ford Explorer, to a famous hoopster. What's the difference in goods or cash: handing $2,500, $50,000, or giving an automobile? What if former UM hoopster Tractor Traylor had decided to sell his vehicle, which was GIVEN by Martin to Traylor's mother, for $35,000 in cash?

More importantly: (3) hypocrisy. Cam Netwon's father was shipping him around for cold-hard cash. And Newton was not exactly ace-ing his classes, coming from FSU to a junior college; God prays Newton is prepped for the real world without Pampers some day. But, Newton "didn't know," yet the NCAA finds, that his dad attempted to extort money out of Mississippi State and others? And Newton is given a clean break? So, how can Ohio State players also plead "ignorance" and not pay the price?

(4) Double hypocrisy: Moreover, going back to the UM situation, the NCAA eventually learned of the cheating via the Fab Five, and gave UM's basketball program near the death penalty, with a vacation of its Final Four, returning five seasons of victories, and multiple season of probation... something that decimated that program which has been down ever since. The ES says, where is the justice in this case? The values aren't so dissimilar.... that should be the emphasis.

(5) Triple hypocrisy. I teach a course in values at CMU. Much of what we talk about is 'doing the right thing" and "learning your value set" and "what is your moral compass." I guess they don't do that at Ohio State? Let's not pretend to be stupid. Ohio State players should have known this was a problem. If they did not, as suggested by the NCAA, then the compliance staff at OSU are really idiotic; for the college athletics program with the second highest revenues in the nation, I guess they can afford staff to know and share the rules with the players. I'm not buying this. At best, it is lack of institutional control and ignorance.... at worst, it is a holier-than-thou attitude among Ohio State athletes. I'm angling on the worst here, which leads to the worst penalties. Again, what is hypocritical here is players just pleading ignorance and getting off light... which means...

(6) Quadruple hypocrisy. Mark May on ESPN really had a solid point on Wednesday night. Ohio State, Michigan, the Big Ten is treated differently than rest of the nation. In all honesty, these OSU players should be suspended for the bowl game. But instead, OSU head coach Jim Tressel will support the NCAA decision to give them the opportunity to play in the game. Hmmmm.... For instance, this season at West Virginia, three players were suspended for the Champs Sports Bowl for not meeting academic eligibility requirements. So, why do three WVU players get suspended for their bowl game, but the five OSU players can wait until after the Sugar Bowl to enter the NFL draft or serve their eligibility next year? Earlier this year, Georgia's AJ Green was suspended immediately for the next four games after selling his Independence Bowl jersey for $1,000.... yet OSU players get to sit out until next season?

The NCAA LOOKS AWFUL, terrible, hypocritical... and matter of fact, it looks incompetent in this case with Ohio State. The ES just about gives up, other than KNOWING that it is the folks in power -- particularly JIM DELANEY -- that creates a culture to make decisions like this.

This decision is against the values of higher education, it is a "talk the talk but don't walk the walk" with respect to the NCAA, is ethically against the principles of college athletics, and is shameful. Shame on the NCAA: suspend the OSU athletes immediately, or open the financial floodgates for athletes.

Controlling Destiny: Go Buckeyes!

All you Spartan fans out there, join the ES in rooting for the Buckeyes over the Boilers tonight. MSU leads the Big Ten with two games in hand over Purdue, and one game over Ohio State. But, Michigan State plays its only game of the season vs Ohio State at home on Sunday, and then has a week to prepare for its stint at Purdue. Then, Sparty mops up the rest of the season at home with lowly JoePa and the Yellow Bellies.

After Purdue and MSU, the Buckeyes travel to JoePa, play scUM and Illini at home. Purdon't? after Ohio State, they have home games vs Illini, MSU and Indiana. They travel to Joe Pa and Minny. Purdon't has the toughest schedule remaining.

Make no mistake: with OSU beating Purdue puts distance between MSU and the Boilers. If we beat OSU and finish 2-1, we'd still grab a share of the title. If we lose at home to OSU, then the win at Purdue becomes a must for a share.

Control your destiny, take care of business at home FIRST. GO BUCKEYES! By the way, Ohio State is favored by 3 at home....

Lucas, Green, and Kebler lead Sparty past Indiana

Our Spartans skated by rather easily past Indiana last night, with a 72-58 win on the road. It is only the 12th time that MSU men's hoops has ever won in Bloomington, so any win down there is significant -- let alone a 14 point win. ES keeps being impressed by defense of #20 Mike Kebler, he will see more and more minutes as the season progresses. The guy is a lock-down guard. Very impressive. Also, nice to see Kalin Lucas (13 pts) back up to his old bag of tricks.

Three things that really stood out: (1) did you see Morgan (10 pts) go strong to the hoop a couple of times? Outstanding, where the hell has that been? (2) Draymond Green continues to be a beast (14 pts). And, (3) MSU force 16 Indiana TOs and only had 8 themselves. Now that is a tale of the tape.

Next up: Ohio State on Saturday. MSU remains on top of the Big Ten... and the Boilers travel to Buckeye-land tonight. Will it be Purdue or OSU that keeps pace with Sparty?