Following the resignation of head coach Jim Tressel, co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell has been named interim coach for the 2011-12 season.
Names will begin to swirl around the job from today until the new coach is named. Who would you like to see as the next full-time coach at Ohio State? If you choose other, let us know who in the comments.
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The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel has resigned.
Tressel has been under investigation by the NCAA after some of his players were caught selling memorabilia. Tressel and five players, including quarterback Terrelle Pryor, were suspended the first five game of the 2011 season.
“I write to let you know that later this morning we will be announcing the resignation of Jim Tressel as head coach of the University’s football program. As you all know, I appointed a special committee to analyze and provide advice to me regarding issues attendant to our football program. In consultation with the senior leadership of the University and the senior leadership of the Board, I have been actively reviewing the matter and have accepted Coach Tressel’s resignation.
“My public statement will include our common understanding that throughout all we do, we are One University with one set of standards and one overarching mission. The University’s enduring public purposes and its tradition of excellence continue to guide our actions,” OSU President E. Gordon Gee said in a written statement.
“After meeting with University officials, we agreed that it is in the best interest of Ohio State that I resign as head football coach,” Tressel said in a release. “The appreciation that Ellen and I have for the Buckeye Nation is immeasurable.”
At Ohio State, Tressel had a record of 106-22, with three BCS National Championship Game appearances. The team won the national title in 2002.
Tressel’s Ohio State teams were 9-1 against rival Michigan and won seven Big Ten Conference titles.
According to the newspaper, co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell will serve as the interim head coach for the entire 2011-12 season. Fickell was to serve as interim head coach during Tressel’s suspension.
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Associated Press
COLUMBUS: Ohio State coach Jim Tressel apologized Wednesday for letting people down by violating NCAA rules, calling it “a difficult past couple of months.”
“The largest regrets I’ve had in my life have been when I’ve disappointed people, when I’ve let people down,” Tressel said while facing the media for the first time since March 8, when the violations were revealed. “The mistakes I’ve made are very disappointing. I’m sorry for that, as I’ve mentioned many times.”
Ohio State has recommended to the NCAA that Tressel be suspended the first five games of this season for knowing about players involved in selling memorabilia and receiving improper benefits. Tressel did not report it to his superiors or the NCAA for more than nine months.
An Ohio State spokeswoman, and Tressel himself, said no questions regarding the NCAA investigation could be addressed.
Dressed in his trademark sweater vest, Tressel introduced linebackers coach Luke Fickell as his replacement during the first five games of the 2011 season. The former Ohio State player was promoted just before Tressel stepped behind the microphones. [click to continue…]
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Ohio State Senior leader David Lighty arrived on campus back in the summer of 2006. Lighty averaged 26 points per game for St. Joseph’s High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He ranked #36 Nationally according to Rivals, but he stood in the shadows of more heralded incomers like DeQuan Cook(#13), and Greg Oden(#1). Even the 6’1″ Mike Conley Jr.(#18) stood over Lighty in terms of expectations and notoriety.
The freshman captured the eye of Buckeye fans despite scoring just 3.7 points per game, playing only 16 minutes per game, and shooting a mere 20 percent from behind the arc; but Lighty had an edge. Matta and the fans knew exactly what they were getting when Lighty entered the game; rebounding, defense, and undeniable effort. What the fans didn’t know, and what Matta probably did, is that they were watching a future definition of leadership, and everything that isn’t modern-day college basketball. Lighty’s journey had just begun, and oh what a journey it would be.
One-and-done. It was a phrase unfamiliar to fans only a decade ago. One-and-done has transformed the game of college basketball. Mid-major programs have become more competitive, and power conferences like the ACC and BigTen are struggling to find players that are good, but not too good. High profile recruits are treated more like short-term car leases in the college basketball world; cars you can’t afford, cars you have to give back. Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr., and DeQuan Cook departed for the NBA after losing the 2007 National title game. Over the next two seasons Ohio State lost more freshmen to the NBA draft, and the fans began to wonder if another Championship run was even a possibility. After all, they had come up short with arguably the best recruiting class in the schools’ history. The ‘Thad-Five’ and ‘Fab-Five’ had something in common – they didn’t win it all. Could Matta balance the new one-and-done trend with the development of players from years past? Only one thing would remain consistent, fan-favorite David Lighty.
Some might argue that Lighty did not have one-and-done talent. Thank God for that.
After the mass-exodus of 2007, Lighty led a rag-tag group of Buckeyes in his sophmore campaign. Ohio State finished the 2007-2008 regular season at 19-13, but was left out of the NCAA Tournament. Lighty and Ohio State rolled off five straight to win the NIT Championship, and Matta once again noticed the advantages of recruiting these in-state sleepers. You might have heard of some: Jamar Butler, Aaron Craft, Jon Diebler. Throw in a couple of Ohio grown McDonald’s All-Americans and you have a winning combination.
Ohio State flew out of the gates at 7-0 to start the 2008-09 season. They won at #22 Miami, then beat #7 Notre Dame and Butler in three consecutive games. Lighty’s Junior campaign was off to a great start until the unthinkable happened. Lighty had 21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals against Jacksonville State when he hobbled off the court late in the game. Post-game reports didn’t talk much about the injury because no one knew how serious it was. Reports surfaced the next day that Lighty had broken his left foot. Ohio State dropped 5 of their next 11 games. They slid down the other side of the bubble and just made the tournament. Ohio State was upset 75-73 in a first round double-overtime thriller against Sienna. Lighty could only watch from the sidelines and dream of better days ahead.
The team improved to 29-8 in ’09-’10, but was ousted by Tennessee in the Sweet Sixteen.
For the first time in years, Ohio State would enter the season as one of the most experienced teams in the country with four returning starters for the fall of 2010. Dallas Lauderdale, William Buford, Jon Diebler, and David Lighty sparked an Ohio State basketball fever. Thad Matta was busy rounding up the finishing pieces of his recruiting class when lightning struck again. In the spring of 2010 Lighty broke the same left foot, again. There was a collective sigh amongst the Ohio State faithful, and the promising season that fans were expecting was back in question. Could Lighty return to form before the start of the season? And, if he could, how good was this team going to be? Later, we found the answers, “yes, he would”, and “very, very good”.
It didn’t take long to see that Lighty was near 100 percent. He was elevating for thunderous dunks, and navigating the defensive-end of the court like an F-18 Hornet, representative of something even more powerful and intimidating. The Captain had returned with an even bigger chip on his shoulder, and a battalion of 4 and 5 star generals by his side.
The Buckeyes and David Lighty were 33-2 when they entered their second round game(I’m a non-conformist) against George Mason. There was little doubt who would step up when Mason started the game on an 11-2 run. All the Buckeye fans and Coach Matta did was turn to their 5th year Senior. There was zero doubt in my mind that his first three was going in when it was released. Zero doubt! Now, I wouldn’t have bet my house that he was going to hit the next 6, but that’s beside the point. It won’t be the last time in this tournament that Ohio State is tested, and it won’t be the last time that Ohio State depends on their Captain to get them out of trouble. If the Nations MVP is the most valuable player on the best team – then that player is David Lighty. He’s the winningest player in BigTen history. He may be the toughest and most resilient player I’ve ever seen take the hardcourt. He’s no one-and-done. He’s no primadonna. He is David Lighty.
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Associated Press
CLEVELAND: College basketball has been waiting all season for a special team, one to step forward and announce itself as the one to beat.
Well, that team may have finally arrived.
It’s Ohio State.
After two blowout wins to open the NCAA tournament, the top-seeded Buckeyes may have separated from the pack and served notice to the rest of the field that this might be their year to hoist the championship trophy.
Yesterday, they thrashed a George Mason squad that never knew what hit it with a dazzling display of offensive firepower and defensive resolve — a 98-66 win that could have made worse.
Seeking its first national title since 1960, Ohio State advanced to play Kentucky (27-8) in the East regional semifinals Friday in Newark, New Jersey.
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Ohio State and Kansas are 1-2 in The Associated Press college basketball poll for a second straight week.
The Big Ten champion Buckeyes are No. 1 for a fifth week overall and haven’t been ranked lower than second since December. They received 52 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel Monday.
Kansas was No. 1 on the other ballots.
Pittsburgh moved up one spot to third and was followed by Notre Dame, Duke, North Carolina, San Diego State, BYU, Purdue and Texas.
The No. 4 ranking is Notre Dame’s highest since being fourth in December 1980.
West Virginia and Cincinnati are among four newcomers this week and are part of a record nine Big East teams in the Top 25. The Big East had nine teams in for one week in January 2009 and for one week this January.
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By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS
AP Legal Affairs Writer
COLUMBUS: Former Ohio State quarterback Art Schlichter, whose NFL career was derailed by a gambling addiction, was charged Monday with stealing more than $1 million from a 68-year-old woman in suburban Columbus.
Schlichter has offered to cooperate with an ongoing police investigation into the sale of Ohio State football tickets and 2011 Super Bowl tickets, according to Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien, who didn’t provide details on how the theft charge was related to the ticket investigation.
Schlichter, 50, was charged in Franklin County Municipal Court with one count of theft alleging he stole more than $1 million from the woman in suburban Dublin by deceiving her about the reason he took the money. [click to continue…]
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Associated Press
Ohio State is a unanimous choice as the No. 1 team in The Associated Press Top 25 for a second straight week.
The Buckeyes are 24-0 and the only unbeaten team. They are No. 1 for the fourth consecutive week and received all 65 first-places votes Monday from the national media panel.
They are followed by Kansas, Texas, Pittsburgh and Duke. San Diego State and BYU moved up one spot to sixth and seventh.
The next five teams are from the Big East: Notre Dame, Villanova, Connecticut, Georgetown and Syracuse. With Pittsburgh, the Big East has six of the top 12 teams and eight overall.
Florida moved in at No. 17 after falling from the rankings last week. Temple is back in at 24. Minnesota and Washington dropped out.
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Associated Press
COLUMBUS: Even though one recruit was arrested and his future is in question, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was pleased with the 23 players who signed letters of intent Wednesday to be Buckeyes.
Offensive line recruit Chris Carter was arrested on Tuesday for alleged sexual imposition of girls at his Cleveland high school. He was not listed as a signee and his future at Ohio State is in limbo.
The Buckeyes got a late surprise, though, when defensive back Doran Grant from Akron signed on Wednesday morning.
The headliner of the team is acclaimed quarterback Braxton Miller out of Wayne High School, near Dayton, Ohio.
No running backs were brought in, but Ohio State signed five defensive linemen, four defensive backs and four linebackers.
Here are Ohio State’s signees:
Mike Bennett
DL, Centerville HS, Centerville, Ohio
First team Division I all-Ohio, all-southwest Ohio two-time GWOC conference player of year team captain helped coach Ron Ullery’s Elks post a 9-3 record and reach the regional semifinals broke the school record for knockdowns by 150 in his career U.S. Army All-American Bowl 2011 Team USA vs. The World Game USA Today all-USA also a track and field letterman, making the state quarterfinals in shot put and discus
Brian Bobek
C, William Fremd HS, Inverness, Ill.
Three-year starter for coach Mike Donatucci at Palatine’s Fremd High U.S. Army All-American Bowl Parade All-America first team all-state from Chicago Tribune, Champaign News Gazette, Rivals, Daily Herald Chicago Sun-Times all-suburban Cook County conference champion in shot put and discus … father was an Iowa lineman and mother played women’s basketball for the Hawkeyes brother Jeff is a Michigan State fullback
Tommy Brown
OL, Akron Firestone HS, Akron, Ohio
First team all-Ohio, all-city, all-district as an exceptional two-way lineman recorded 58 tackles, 22 sacks, one safety on defense as a Falcon senior all-academic and most valuable lineman for coach Tim Flossie city champion in shot put and discus plans to enroll at Ohio State for the spring quarter
Jeremy Cash
DB, Plantation HS, Plantation, Fla.
Recorded 96 tackles, 23 TFL, 7 sacks, 5 forced fumbles as a junior for coach Steve Davis missed five games as a senior with a knee injury Offense-Defense Bowl also a track and basketball letterman enrolled at Ohio State in January
Conner Crowell
LB, North Point HS, Waldorf, Md.
Totaled 212 tackles, 9 sacks, 5 interceptions during his junior and senior seasons four-year varsity letterman who also played fullback for coach Ken Lane’s Eagles Washington Post all-metro
Chase Farris
DE, Elyria HS, Elyria, Ohio
First team all-Ohio player on both sides of the football team, county, conference, district defensive lineman of year all-Lorain, all-northeast Ohio, all-district teams recorded 95 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 31 TFL as a senior for coach Steve Hamilton defensive MVP of Offense-Defense Bowl Ohio North-South Classic, Big 33 Game also a basketball letterman
DerJuan Gambrell
CB, Rogers HS, Toledo, Ohio
First team all-city, all-Blade, all-district for coach Rick Rios missed four games as a senior due to injury, but still accounted for 551 yards, 7 TD rushing and 24 tackles Offense-Defense Bowl, Ohio North-South Classic, Big 33 Game regional champion at 400 meters brother Darryl runs track at Arizona State
Curtis Grant
LB, Hermitage HS, Richmond, Va.
Three-year all-Richmond metro defender 134 tackles, 15 TFL, 6 sacks as a senior for coach Patrick Kane Parade All-America and USA Today all-USA leading tackler for the East in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl
Doran Grant
CB, St. Vincent-St. Mary HS, Akron, Ohio
Two-time all-state honoree for coach Dan Boarman recorded 203 tackles, 6 interceptions for the Irish, along with 88 catches for 1,115 yards and 25 TD Under Armour All-American Game, Ohio North-South Classic, Big 33 Game USA Today all-USA Dapper Dan selection state champion in the 110m outdoor and 60m indoor hurdles also a basketball letterman father was a receiver at Michigan State
Joel Hale
DT, Center Grove HS, Greenwood, Ind.
Recorded 40 tackles and 9 forced fumbles as a senior defensive line Mr. Football for state of Indiana all-county, all-MICC conference, all-state for coach Eric Moore enrolled at Ohio State in January
Kenny Hayes
DE, Whitmer HS, Toledo, Ohio
District defensive player of the year 47 tackles, 11 TFL, 7 sacks and a blocked kick for the 12-2 Panthers all-state, all-Toledo City League, all-district, all-Blade for coach Joe Palka Offense-Defense Bowl all-city in basketball
Bryce Haynes
LS, Pinecrest Academy, Cumming, Ga.
Rated as the nation’s top prep prospect at that position first team GISA all-region playing defensive end for coach Charles Wiggins also a basketball and track letterman
Jeff Heuerman
TE, Barron Collier HS, Naples, Fla.
Team captain for coach Mark Ivey’s Cougars all-conference, all-area and all-district as a senior his teams won 3 district 3A titles in 4 years father played basketball at Michigan enrolled at Ohio State in January
Cardale Jones
QB, Glenville HS, Cleveland
24-3 as a starting quarterback for coach Ted Ginn passed for 1,689 yards, 22 TD as a senior 14 career rushing TD MVP of the Offense-Defense Bowl Big 33 Game also a basketball letterman
Braxton Miller
QB, Wayne HS, Huber Heights, Ohio
Highly-rated quarterback who led Wayne High to the Division I state title game passed for 2,167 yards, 17 TD, and rushed for 658 yards, 17 TD, as a senior for coach Jay Minton career record of 31-7 over three seasons Ohio Associated Press Mr. Football finalist and first team all-state Under Armour All-American Game basketball letterman enrolled at Ohio State in January
Steve Miller
DL, Canton McKinley HS, Canton, Ohio
All-Ohio pick as a sophomore, junior and senior recorded 260 career tackles, 28 TFL, 19 sacks, 7 forced fumbles for the playoff-bound Bulldogs three-time all-Stark County, all-Federal League, all-Inland District defender for coach Ron Johnson Under Armour All-American Game, Ohio North-South Classic, Big 33 Game also a basketball letterman
Ejuan Price
LB, Woodland Hills HS, Pittsburgh
With 100 tackles and 12 sacks as a senior, helped coach George Novak’s Wolverines to their second straight WPIAL championship game Big 33 Game
Ryan Shazier
LB, Plantation HS, Pompano Beach, Fla.
All-state 87 tackles, 19.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 4 blocked kicks for coach Steve Davis Broward County most outstanding player 35.5 career sacks, a school best Under Armour All-American Game enrolled at Ohio State in January
Devin Smith
WR, Massillon Washington HS, Massillon, Ohio
Two-time first team all-Ohio 110 career catches for 2,119 yards, 24 TD (second-best in school records) for coach Jason Hall all-county Independent player of year state long jump champion and a state qualifier in the high jump and 4×200 relay also a basketball standout Ohio North-South Classic, Big 33 Game
Evan Spencer
WR, Vernon Hills HS, Vernon Hills, Ill.
All-state scored 19 TD as a senior and 14 as a junior helped lead coach Tony Monken’s Cougars to the state quarterfinals father (Tim) is a former Ohio State running back and assistant coach now on the coaching staff of the NFL’s Chicago Bears
Ron Tanner
DB, Eastmoor Academy, Columbus, Ohio
104 tackles, 3 interceptions, 15 PBU as a senior also passed for 1,100 yards and 14 TD al-city, all-central district, all-metro for coach Jim Miranda Offense-Defense Bowl, Team USA vs. The World Game basketball and baseball letterman plans to enroll at Ohio State in the spring quarter
Tony Underwood
OL, Shaker Heights HS, Shaker Heights, Ohio
Lake Erie League conference offensive lineman of the year team captain and three-year starter for coach Anthony Watkins also played nose guard as a senior Big 33 Game
Nick Vannett
TE, Westerville Central HS, Westerville, Ohio
All-Ohio recognition all-metro, all-OCC, all-district honors made 47 catches for 606 yards, 8 TD as a senior for coach John Magistro Offense-Defense Bowl, Ohio North-South Classic, Big 33 Game also a basketball letterman
– Player information courtesy OhioStateBuckeyes.com
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David Lighty was not the most heralded player from Thad Matta’s stellar 2006 recruiting class. He was a scrappy defender and athlete, but the headlines went to fellow freshmen Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr.
David was the 6th man, and a guy that Coach Matta could depend on for rebounds and solid defensive play. He certainly didn’t ‘light’ it up in terms of point production(3.7ppg as a frosh). Now, Matta is having the last laugh. Lighty is Ohio State’s Mr. Dependable. He isn’t just playing the role of lock-down defender. He’s playing the role of leader, veteran, and clutch everything. So when the undefeated Buckeyes’ backs are against the wall – they turn to that old, weathered 6th man who seems to do no wrong when his team needs him the most.
He’s the perfect frontman for a rock star cast of young talent and veteran scoring machines. The more pressure that’s put on this team, the better they play, and that’s a characteristic of Championship teams, legends.
Ohio State fans didn’t quite know what to expect from this years basketball team. They knew the team would be good, but how good? Player of the Year Evan Turner had left for the NBA, and the Buckeyes needed to find a way to replace that 20+ points per game in their line-up. Lighty would have to step up his offensive game, and freshman Jared Sullinger would have to pick-up where Turner left off. They did just that.
In Sullinger’s debut he poured in 19 points. He scored 26 in game 2 @ Florida. Three weeks later he tallied an Ohio State freshman record 40 against IUPUI. Sullinger has silenced his few critics by being every bit as strong on the inside as he was in High School. At 6’9″ 280 pounds, Sullinger demands double-teams. His post moves are polished, and his scoring touch, deft. Sullinger, while only 18 games into his College career, has already proven to have more upside and raw ability than B.J. Mullens, Kosta Koufos, and Greg Oden. The size of his lower half makes him a block-out nightmare. The only solution teams have found(to this point)is to flop at contact – a move that we called a ‘Mitch Uline’ in High School. Mitch wasn’t the best athlete, but he was a great actor.
Sullinger isn’t the only freshman making an impact. Deshaun Thomas is a rangy player who plays with tenacity under the basket. Thomas has embraced his role off the bench – even though he’d be starting for any other program in the country.
Aaron Craft has defied his 3-star recruiting ranking, and turned out to be a hidden gem with ball-handling skills and poise well beyond his years. Craft is averaging 9.6 points and 5.2 assists per game in Big Ten play. He seems to be taking on a larger role as each game goes by, and provides Ohio State with their first legitimate starting point-guard since Jamar Butler(’07/’08). This team would be good without these freshmen, but these freshmen provide a dynamic and depth that has helped move Ohio State to the top of the rankings. All of the credit for the advanced development of these players goes to the upperclassmen, and Coach Matta.
If you had to single-out the one thing that makes this Ohio State team dangerous – it’s the near-limitless scoring options. 6 players on this team have gone for 20 points on multiple occasions this year, and Craft nearly became the 7th player to hit 20 at least once; falling 1 point short with 19 against Penn State this past Saturday. If you’re going to talk about scoring – then you have to talk about the all-time leading scorer in OHSAA(Ohio High School Athletic Association) history, Jon Diebler.
Diebler finished his Ohio High School career with over 3200 points. 562 more than Lebron James, and 770 more than Jerry Lucas. Diebler is a pure shooter – the kind of shooter that molds defensive gameplans, and haunts opposing coaches in their sleep. So, needless to say, when Diebler hit just 29% from 3-point range as a freshman, it came as a shock. Chalk it up to the small-town-kid-deer-in-the-headlights-sydrome. Since then, Diebler has been on fire. In his Sophmore campaign Diebler increased that percentage to 41.6, and hit 96 3-pointers. Last year he hit 116 at 42%, and this year has hit 55 @ 50% through 18 games. One game in particular showed just how dangerous Jon Diebler can be.
On December 15th, 2010, Ohio State faced Florida Gulf Coast in ‘The Schott’. The announcers warned after Diebler missed his first two shots from behind the arc, “you can’t keep giving Jon Diebler open looks like that”. They were right. Diebler proceeded to hit the next 9 shots from three-point range. The feat tied an Ohio State record, but I’m quit sure that when Jay Burson did it, he didn’t hit 9 IN-A-ROW! Sometimes I get the feeling that if Diebler was a little more selfish, or played for a lesser team, he’d be averaging 30 points per game.
So what happens if Diebler gets shut down(I know – he’s hit a 3 in 34 straight games – BUT HYPOTHETICALLY)? The answer? You turn to the master of hitting difficult shots with a hand in his face – William Buford.
Buford is the kind of silky-smooth shooting guard that has the NBA scouts drooling. He’s 6’5″. He can take the ball to the hoop. He can hit the 3. He can jump out of the gym. The better question is, ‘what can’t Buford do’? The occasionally aloof Junior is averaging 13.6ppg, 3.5apg, 4.2rpg, 1spg, and is shooting 41% from the arc. The real question is how in the world Thad Matta has been able to get these players to play with this team-first attitude.
Sometimes asking a player like Dallas Lauderdale to take a smaller role can backfire. There can be dissention. Not with this team. Dallas comes in to give the frosh superstar a breather, and to play solid defense in the process. He’s an even better defender in the paint than his younger counterpart, and he provides a solid back-up if Sullinger gets in foul trouble. The Buckeyes have so many scoring options at the other four starting spots that it doesn’t really hurt this team when Sullinger has to leave the game. Lauderdale enters the game with an edge, and a shot blocking ability second to none. He has the longest wingspan in College basketball, and he could be a huge asset when Ohio State faces teams with elite big-men in the NCAA tournament.
7 of the next 9 games for Ohio State are against ranked teams. Right now the Big Ten has 6 teams ranked in the top 25. The worst teams in the Big Ten are Iowa, Michigan, and Indiana. Michigan took #2 Kansas to overtime, and Iowa easily handled Alabama out of the SEC. Indiana? Well, Indiana stinks. Point being, getting through the conference schedule unscathed is a very tall order. There’s no doubt that it will only help this already fantastic team get better. See everyone tonight at the Schott, or on the Big Ten network where Ohio State will play the Iowa Hawkeyes at 6:30 EST. Of course you wouldn’t know that by looking at the ESPN schedule because they don’t tell you what games are on BTN. Saturday we have the noon CBS game against Illinois. Thanks for reading, and GO BUCKS!
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