May 19, 2013

The Ohio State Perspective

October 17, 2012 by 18 Comments

2002. A successful national championship season for the Ohio State Buckeyes led by Mr. Conservative himself, Jim Tressel and his trusty accomplice, Jim “Walrusball” Bollman. Both Jim’s had the same goals as any coach would – score more points than the other team and do not lose that lead. I know, real John Madden insight there but the processes involved as we all know are not the same for each coaching staff. Neither were known for taking chances offensively so when the team did take the lead, it became absolutely maddening to watch because a new playbook appeared that put the team on cruise control instead of their foot on the opponents throat. The team clearly had a lot of offensive talent. While Craig Krenzel was not exactly a top-tier quarterback, the demand for him to be was not pressing when he had surrounding talent such as Maurice Clarett, Santonio Holmes, Michael Jenkins and Chris Gamble. The team was more than capable of putting up 30+ points each game and with the incredible defense they had, winning games by a comfortable margin should seem somewhat effortless.

Yet, when you look at their schedule you find this: a 4-point win against a terrible Cincinnati team; a 5-point win against a poor Wisconsin team; an overtime win against a weak Illinois team and finally another 4-point win over Purdue that took exactly 8-years off my life (I did the math). This same team, loaded with ugly wins, won the national championship.

Was there an identifiable theme throughout all of this madness? There sure was – winning. [Read more...]

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While We’re Waiting…Fujita Says Colt’s a Young Drew Brees, and DET Eliminates NY

October 7, 2011 by 15 Comments

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.

Scott Fujita calls Colt McCoy a young Drew Brees on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland:  ”I think last season when Colt McCoy first got the nod as the starter and it wasn’t so much the play at that point it was just watching the way he commanded the huddle and the way he commanded the respect of the guys in the lockerroom and the way he was such a natural leader.

That was the thing that struck me the most being similar to Drew Brees. Drew is one of my best friends down there and played against his former team when he was with San Diego and I was with Kansas City. I got to know him really, really well over the years and Colt McCoy just reminded me of a young version of Drew Brees.

Obviously he is going to keep growing as a player and keep getting better and better, but in terms of those intangible leadership qualities? Colt has got that.”  [Sports Radio Interviews/ Steve Cuce] [Read more...]

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Maurice Clarett Talks Ohio State Troubles with Dan Patrick

June 8, 2011 by 23 Comments

Maurice Clarett had an exceptionally interesting interview with Dan Patrick this morning.  The former Ohio State Buckeyes runner-turned-prisoner-turned-UFL-er has a lot of experience with the sometimes problematic culture surrounding NCAA football.  There were more than a couple of revelations delivered during the fifteen minute conversation.

When talking about Ohio State’s problems, Clarett didn’t really blame anyone specifically as he cast a shadow over everyone.  ”In Columbus Ohio you’re treated like a celebrity,” he said.  ”So, it’s not a Terrelle Pryor problem.  It’s not a Jim Tressel problem… It’s just the culture of the whole system.”

When digging deeper though, Clarett did end up pointing the finger mostly at players and boosters who would meet individually throughout a typical NCAA career.  ”There’s no secret regime.  There’s no secret congregation of people who sit around at Ohio State and gives young guys money… Anything that a player goes and gets is based on him and who he meets in the community.” [Read more...]

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While We’re Waiting… Analyzing Indians’ Success, Browns Free Agency Targets, Drafting Derrick Williams

May 29, 2011 by 2 Comments

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.

Great Sunday read on the Tribe, with analysis of the magic of Brantley and Asdrubal: “To watch the current team and to know the pain that came pouring upon Indians fans’ (particularly in that fateful week in July of 2009) is to gain some measure of respect for the Front Office realizing what needed to be done and to go about doing it. Granted the compelling reasons to make some of those trades were self-inflicted (Mike Aubrey, Jerry Sowers, Crazy Eyes Crowe, Beau Mills…you want me to keep going), but in those mid-season moves, they unquestionably have had more hits than misses and as much as the questions were flying back then (and here’s another piece from yours truly attempting to rationalize what seemed irrational back then) as to what the organization was even doing or what direction they were headed, the Indians asked themselves the hard questions, realized that there were hard answers, and didn’t shy away from what that meant.” [The DiaTribe/Paul Cousineau]

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Maurice Clarett Signs One-Year Deal With Omaha Nighthawks

August 31, 2010 by 1 Comment

Maurice Clarett will look to restart his football career in the UFL.  Yesterday he signed a one-year deal to play with the Omaha Nighthawks.  I am sure you all remember, but Clarett was recently released from prison after serving three and a half years for a litany of charges involving weapons, drunk driving and wearing a flack jacket.  The stories from that day were borderline terrifying to those of us who have been fans of Clarett’s from the Ohio State days.  At almost 27 years of age and with a new lease on life, Clarett looks to find his way back to football via the Nighthawks.

The Nighthawks are an expansion team for the UFL this year.  They will be coached by former Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski.  Jagodzinski was fired from the BC gig after interviewing for the then-vacant New York Jets position without getting permission from the school.  The team features a few names that NFL fans will know.  Former Browns fourth round pick Beau Bell is one of the team’s linebackers.  The team will be guided on the field by quarterback Jeff Garcia.  In terms of competing for playing time, Clarett will have to beat out Ahman Green amongst others.  It won’t be an impossible task with Ahman Green being known to many football fans as a guy who is either hurt or fumbles. [Read more...]

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While We’re Waiting… Hillis’ Grit, Cavs and JR Smith, and Mo Clarett’s UFL Hopes

August 24, 2010 by 14 Comments

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.

THUNDER! “The Cleveland Browns won’t be one of the teams that will make people flock to the television to see them perform, but not because they are expected to bore while they rebuild. It’s that they lack many explosive, exciting players at the moment. The Browns won’t put up big numbers or light up the scoreboard. But Browns’ running back Peyton Hillis provided a gutty performance Saturday night in the loss to the St. Louis Rams, 19-17. Despite the loss, Hillis’ gritty play may be the trademark for the Browns this season, signified by the way he battled through defenders. The Browns will have to grind their opponents out and [Hillis] may lead the way.” [Barry Barnes/NFL FanHouse]

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Maurice Clarett Could Get Released Today

April 7, 2010 by 12 Comments

ProFootballTalk is reporting that Mo Clarett could be released today.  Clarett will have a hearing today where prosecutors could agree to parole which would put Clarett in a halfway house for up to six months. I am sure everyone remembers, but Clarett has served three and a half years of a seven and a half year sentence for various weapons charges and a robbery charge.  Clarett was wearing kevlar body armor during a police chase that involved driving over spike strips and a taser.

And so begins the next chapter in the strange story of Maurice Clarett.  He will be in that halfway house for a while.  Then what? [Read more...]

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Ted Ginn vs. Chris Johnson & The Best High School Athlete You’ve Seen

December 19, 2009 by 24 Comments

GinnTrackI am sure you have heard by now.  The story has been on PTI and has been on Jim Rome almost all week in addition to multiple other national shows.  Apparently, Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson challenged Miami Dolphins WR and Cleveland’s own Ted Ginn Jr. to a race on South Beach.  The story has bubbled up in the national press this week with those two teams facing off on Sunday.  Johnson says Ginn no showed for the race and Ginn is receiving lots of flak over supposedly ducking Johnson.  Ginn denies this and is rightly focused on football.  It’s a silly and inconsequential story but it certainly, for me, triggered images of Ginn’s athletic ability, in particular his speed, that we witnessed locally on the football field and track at Glenville HS and on a larger stage at OSU.  At Glenville he was a  state and national champion in track and in football was an immediate threat to take any interception, return, or catch to the house within seconds.

I’m biased in favor of Ginn here and would put my money on Ginn in any race over any football player on the planet.  He may not have been and is certainly not now the most productive football player, but he was probably the most athletic football player Ohio has seen this decade.  The publicity of this supposed race  combined with Columbus Northland and  future OSU basketballer and current No. 2 recruit in the nation, Jared Sullinger, being broadcast nationally on ESPN on Thursday got me thinking about some of the most exciting and dominant athletes our region has seen in high school.  A list like this could go on forever but I tried to be exclusive and focus just on modern athletic freaks instead of prolific HS legends.  The results are listed after the jump.  Who are some of the best athletes you’ve witnessed in person on the HS level?

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The NFL Will Have to Wait for Mo Clarett

August 5, 2009 by 11 Comments

moclarettcourtSentenced to seven and a half years in jail following his arrest in late 2006, Maurice Clarett  has been allowing us into his Mind via the blog format.  Which is why I cannot wait for his next post, only to see his thoughts on the most recent news attached to his name.  Via the AP…

Former Ohio State football star Maurice Clarett has withdrawn a request for early release from prison that he said would allow him to pursue an NFL career.

The former Ohio State running back has long talked about making another attempt at the game off football.  This past May, Clarett discussed his feelings about the game and how he could “not accept how things ended.”  Shortly thereafter, Clarett filed for an early release from prison so that he could pursue a career on the football field, or one as a motivational speaker.

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While We’re Waiting – Daequan’s donation, The only logical conclusion, Maurice wants out, and Lather, rinse, repeat

June 20, 2009 by 2 Comments

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While We’re Waiting is a roundup of cool stuff that we like to share with you guys to get your fix of info every morning.  If there’s anything you think we ought to see, send it to our tips email.  A link is up to the right.  Remember – sharing is caring.

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Former Buckeye Daequan Cook is a nice guy.

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We didn’t hear rumors of everyone from Detroit coming to play for the Cavs when Dan Gilbert bought the team.  This is getting absurd.  ”Rumors of a possible switch have swirled since a group of Chinese investors signed an agreement last month with the Cavaliers to become minority owners of the franchise, a move expected to boost the team’s popularity and marketing opportunities in China, where Cleveland star LeBron James is already very popular.” [Associated Press via Plain Dealer]

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Maurice Clarett Feels for Donte Stallworth

March 31, 2009 by 10 Comments

donte-stallworth-catchAs we’ve discussed in the past, former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett is transcribing a blog from the walls of his prison cell.  In his latest “post,” Clarett answers a handful of questions ranging from his feelings towards Ohio State to if he will ever suit up for a football team again.

But the final question was related to the latest tribulations of Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth.

I haven’t been interested in sports seriously since 2003 but I am familiar with who Donte is. I wasn’t aware of the situation when I received the question but became educated on it as the week passed. I believe that the situation is unfortunate for both parties. I think there is a lot to be learned and I hope and wish the best for everyone involved. I know what it is like to lose a loved one in a car accident and I know the stress that comes with your life being in limbo and prison potentially being in your future. Both situations are very uncomfortable.

The big difference, obviously, is that Stallworth’s potential prison sentence involves an accident – wrongdoing or not.  Clarett didn’t accidentally suit up in a bulletproof vest while packing assault weapons.  He may have accidentally gotten caught, but I’m don’t think that he accidentally brought his vodka with him on his joy ride. 

“Uncomfortable” may be quite an understatement. 

Now we just have to await the results of world’s longest blood test.  Ever. 

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Questions and Answers: 3-22-09 [The Mind of Maurice Clarett]

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Maurice Clarett is Blogging

February 28, 2009 by 6 Comments

Maurice Clarett will always be known around these parts for helping deliver one of the happiest moments in my sports life.  His performance at Ohio State in driving them to a win in the National Championship game over Miami will always be the thing about him that I remember most.  I know that isn’t the case for most other people in the world.  Most people will remember the man who was armed to the teeth, and had to be subdued with mace, and tasers while wearing kevlar.

You say tomato…

Anyway, now Mo is serving 7 years in prison and apparently started up a blog.  I don’t know if it is real or not. [Read more...]

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