While We’re Waiting… B1G Brotherly love, Saban’s Ohio roots, Bowden’s Akron Debut, and Richardson’s Readiness

While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.

Maybe Penn State and Michigan losing were bad for the Big 10 (and therefor Ohio State), but I won’t act like I didn’t enjoy it happen. “I sat and watched Big Ten football all weekend, sneering in disgust as the slew of Midwestern collegiate football teams did everything in their power to make their mommas not wish they’d had socially awkward nerd kids instead of hulking morons whose only legitimate skill is chasing a ball around a field while losing to MAC and SEC teams.

Mission accomplished, none of you! I hate you all, and hope that sometime when you’re sitting on your toilet at home, you have the realization that your existence is ultimately a futile one and you’ll amount to less than the sum total of Michigan students who have gone on to not be completely insufferable adults.

Alert to any and all SEC fans who are struggling in vain to read the written word contained within this post: the Big Ten is not the SEC. We do not bro out after games and slap each other on the posteriors and make plans to upload videos on Youtube of good ol’ fashioned sexual assault on each other. There is no “BEE ONE GEE” chant. There is no mutual respect. There is only a dark and persistent hate that leads to glorious schadenfreude when other teams in the conference inevitably screw up in a sad and comically tragic fashion.” [Johnny Ginter/Eleven Warriors]

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The Browns had their scouts out at college games yesterday, wanna know which ones? [Chris Steuber]

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Wait, Kent State has gone to bowl games?? “And it all started at Kent State, where Saban played and coached under Don James, the last coach to lead the Golden Flashes to a bowl game.

James developed three sets of criteria for recruiting players and, borrowing the idea from former Colorado coach Eddie Crowder, did not allow his assistants to watch film of recruits. Instead, James wanted his coaches to base their evaluations and form their opinions only after watching recruits play in person and talking with their high school coaches.

James also worked to improve the academic support system for his players, something that Saban has carried with him through his coaching career.

“He really was into the personal, motivational, moral development,” Saban told SI about James. “There was a belief there that who you are mattered in terms of how successful you were going to be or how you played.”” [Tom Moore/Red Right 88]

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I’m hoping Bowden can turn Akron around. It’d be nice to have a good college team in NE Ohio. “The fans ate it up, showing up early on Thursday – some tailgating as early as 11am for the 7pm kickoff  – to start tailgating and welcome in the Bowden era with open arms. A fan base that was wallowing in apathy just eight months ago was suddenly all abuzz with new optimism and hope.

“The fans were great – I am so glad at the number of people that came,” Bowden said. “It really felt nice to be in that stadium with our fans. The fans have been real supportive. The mayor came by to see me at the hotel today to let me know how much the city is behind us and of course the university has been so good and then the fans coming out tonight.”

While the game didn’t turn out how the team – or the fans – would have liked for it to, it was a measuring stick for Bowden to see exactly where his new team stood. And even with the final score not in their favor, Bowden wasn’t discouraged by the performance of his team, nor was he worried about the rest of the season.

“They were 1-11 two years in a row,” Bowden said after the loss. “All you have done is practice against each other and so when you are good on offense you wonder if the defense is any good and when you are good on defense you wonder if the offense is any good. And you don’t have any way of really comparing where you are until you line up and play somebody.” [Ryan Isley/More Than a Fan]

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I’ll believe that Trent Richardson is ready to play when I see him on the field, not one minute sooner. “One of the most positive signs for the Browns was the fact that Richardson was seen out on the practice field for the first time since having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. He was on the stationary bike during the 15 minutes the media was allowed to observe practice.

Pat Shurmur has maintained that he is optimistic that Richardson will be ready for the season opener against the Eagles on Sept. 9.

“I’m pleased with what he’s done behind closed doors,” Shurmur said. “He’ll be out (at practice) soon, very soon. I’m very optimistic.”

Shurmur was asked if he’ll be able to play if he hasn’t played a down in the preseason.

“If he’s ready, he’ll play.”

Shurmur said he will do through simulated tackling drills, if need be.

“He’ll go through tackling drills to try and simulate (being hit),” he said. “He’s making really good progress.”

GM Tom Heckert feels the same way.

“I watch (Richardson) every day out my window,” he said. “He looks really good. I’ll let Pat decide on when he plays.”[Fred Greetham/Orange and Brown Report]