Sweet weekend for Ohio

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By now everyone knows it, and everyone not from the best state in the union (look it up) is most likely a bit sick of hearing about it. But the fact remains, a full one quarter of the Sweet Sixteen are Ohio teams! Some were expected to be here, some are not huge surprises. And some are #13 seeds that beat Michigan. Either way, it's all sweet.

It's a damn shame that Cleveland State, Dayton, or Akron couldn't have joined this party. But nonetheless it's a good time to be from Ohio. And from the Big Ten, too. The Big Ten makes up a quarter of the field remaining as well.

To be honest, the field looks as good as can be hoped for some of the teams. Sure, OU could end up looking like a collection of dwarves fighting Andre the Giant in North Carolina, but with UNC starting point guard Kendall Marshall suffering a broken wrist, "..So you're saying there's a chance!" (200 to 1 odds to win the tournament, I hear. That seems a bit low to me...) And the Cincinnati/Ohio State winner will have a good look at the Final Four, facing either Wisconsin or a weakened Syracuse team in the round of 8. Xavier, on the other hand, has to get through Baylor just to get a look at Kentucky. (If, of course, Kentucky doesn't lose again to Indiana.)

Great quote from Mark Titus, famous Ohio State blogging basketball legend and of course, @ClubTrillion on Twitter. He wrote on Grantland, as part of his twenty NCAA observations...

7. The Big Ten is 9-2 and the state of Ohio is 8-0

As a proud alum of the only Big Ten school located in Ohio, let me just take a second to politely say, "Suck it, every other state and conference."

Love it. The dream still lives for an all Big Ten or Ohio Final Four.But that means the Bobcats need to do some work.

It's official, Leave It To Beaver reruns are on more often than Duke

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When Pete Gillen is right, he's right, but in this case he's wrong. I just looked and sure enough, Leave It To Beaver reruns are on way more than Duke this week.

YDUNK74THMD 

College football playoff a risk, but a worthy one

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How about Braxton vs. Oklahoma in a future playoff?

Bowl season is upon us carrying its usual air of controversy and discontent. This year's kerfuffle over an all-SEC title game carries a hint of good news, at least for supporters of football games that aren't mere post-season exhibitions, in that league athletic directors are considering adding a "plus-one" four-team playoff to crown a national champion.

A plus-one system would not be enacted until the current BCS format expires after the 2013 season. Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney, whose conference gets that comfortable, big-money Rose Bowl appearance every year, is on record as opposing any kind of bracketed playoff, especially one that could put Division I college football on a path toward a full-fledged, NFL-style playoff of eight to 16 teams.

What we think will happen with the Buckeyes and College Football in 2011

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Ohio State and 2011 College Football

Brian	Ohio State record: 10-2 Big Ten Champs: Ohio State BCS Championship: LSU over Boise State	Ohio State loses a ton (of players), but unlike the predictions of many, they just have too much talent (and too much ability to reload) to fall back much. They pay back Wisconsin at home, but fall in a couple road games, but still end up winning the premiere Big Ten Championship game.
Tom	Ohio State record: 9-3 Big Ten Champs: Nebraska BCS Championship: LSU over Alabama	A string of tough mid-season games does in the Buckeyes' chances to appear in the first Big Ten title game. Much like after John Cooper, the Buckeyes will take a couple of years get past the Jim Tressel era. As much as the University says they are behind Luke Fickell, one has the feeling that he is nothing more then a placeholder for a more high profile coach (Urban Meyer?) come 2012.
Doug	Ohio State record: 8-4 Big Ten Champs: Wisconson BCS Championship: 'Bama over Boise St.	Off-season turmoil and loss of key players aside, the Buckeyes will remain competitive in a reworked Big Ten. Joe Bauserman does well against the various culinary schools the Bucks play early, but development of Braxton Miller becomes the key to the season. A "down" year for Ohio State is a great year for most other programs. The campaign ends with a win against Michigan and a mid-card bowl appearance.
Kevin	Ohio State record: 10-2 Big Ten Champs: Ohio State BCS Championship: LSU over Oklahoma	Despite a couple frustrating losses led by inconsistent play by their inexperienced quarterbacks, Ohio State goes down in the record books as the first ever "Leaders Division" Champion and defeats "Legends Division" Champion Nebraska to win the Big Ten title. Mark May then apologizes for being such an ass.
SamVox	Ohio State record: 11-1 Big Ten Champs: Michigan State BCS Championship: Florida State over Oklahoma	Michigan State beats OSU in the Big Ten Championship game. And no thanks Urban, careerists aren't welcome in Columbus.
Ryan	Ohio State record: 11-1 Big Ten Champs: Ohio State BCS Championship: Alabama over Oklahoma	This Buckeye team will be playing with a chip on its shoulder. The Buckeyes know everyone outside of Ohio is expecting them to struggle without Tressel. They will rally around that idea and fight to keep coach Fickell. Bucks go 11-1, losing to Nebraska in Lincoln, but getting revenge in the Big Ten Championship game and head off to the Rose Bowl where Coach Fickell is given a contract extension.
Sean	Ohio State record: 9-3 Big Ten Champs: Ohio State BCS Championship: Oklahoma over Alabama	Ohio State pulls off a Big Ten championship game victory over Nebraska (after losing to them in the regular season)

Ohio State merchandise auction smacks of NCAA hypocrisy

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The line between what you can do, and what will get your program put on probabtion in NCAA athletics is just plain weird.  Or confusing.  Or unfair.  But one thing it isn't is clear.

I got an email today from Ohio State asking me to bid on some game worn Ohio State merchandise. 

Yes, now YOU can officially bid on great merchandise including a game-worn Cameron Heyward jersey, a game worn Dallas Lauderdale jersey, or some Fiesta Bowl warmups!  (Not sure they got the rights to use the Steelers logo--or how they think that can possibly increase interest...)

Why does this sound familiar?  Because these auction items are very similar to items that were sold by Ohio State football players that have led to the Tressel coverup scandal, and have put the 2010 season results in jeopardy.

Thoughts Heading into Final Four Weekend

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It's been another incredible, and perhaps more than ever, unpredictable NCAA tournament. As we head into Final Four weekend, I'm here to share some of my thoughts of the latest edition of what I believe is the best sporting event of the year.

1. View From the Top
Being a staff member of one of the most revolutionary and popular blogs from South Euclid to Lyndhurst and everywhere in between, you get certain media privileges and perks, like attending the opening round's (okay second round technically) Friday games and seeing THE Ohio State Buckeyes lay the hammer down on a #16 seed in Cleveland. The CST media crew was in force as myself and fellow CST contributors Doug, SamVox, and Sean descended... or I should say ascended... upon the Q to observe the game from a unique perspective. And by media privileges and perks I mean paying over $100 on the internet for the two afternoon games, and by unique perspective I mean sitting top row... in the upper deck. Ah yes, it's good to be a part of CST.

The CST Media Box - Top Row at the Q - 2011 NCAA Tournament

The experience was definitely unique. Ticket packages were available for either the afternoon games or the evening games, so you get two games per ticket. After downing a couple cold ones at a nearby establishment, we made our way over to the arena. The George Mason fans were in full effect as clusters of yellow and green could be seen and heard as the close game against Villanova wound down. The best part may have been listening to CST contributor SamVox angrily chastise the fans (who he perceived as not being real Mason fans) for rooting for George Mason, inexplicably yelling "We have to play them next. I hope we don't lose to them!" We at CST love SamVox's passion, but have to wonder if he realized that we'd also have to play 'Nova if they won, so it didn't really matter who the fans rooted for. One of those teams was going to win. After the Bucks swatted away the Roadrunners from San Antonio, everyone exited the arena so that the evening games' crowd could enter. I have no idea how they got everyone out of the Q in time... but my bigger question is where did the evening crowd park considering every lot was full when I parked for the afternoon games? That will always be as big of a mystery to me as the creation of the universe.