With Spring sessions in full swing for most teams, it’s now time for people to pick apart what they think each school needs improvement on and who will have a comeback season for 2012. Of course it’s interesting to see what other writers have to say about Oklahoma and what their opinion is on what needs to be changed.

Recently, Dave Miller of the National Football Post listed the Sooners as 1 of 5 teams to make a comeback for the 2012 season. Not surprisingly, he also listed Florida State, Tennessee, Texas Tech and Ohio State. Before we jump into what he said about the Sooners, I just want to mention Florida State. It seems that the Seminoles are always listed on things like this and every season since Bobby Bowden left, the Seminoles under-produce and disappoint. Jimbo Fisher and crew have done a really nice job recruiting to Tallahassee, and they will return 9 starters on defense and their ‘stud’ QB, EJ Manuel. Analysts are saying the same thing they have been saying for a couple years now about Manuel: if he gets help with the run game, the Seminoles will be a force. I’m still waiting for this from 2 years ago..

Texas Tech is another team that people tend to want to throw in the comeback season mix. The Red Raiders and Tommy Tuberville missed out on a bowl games last season, finishing the year 2-7 in Big XII play and yes, we ALL remember that they beat Oklahoma. In Norman. After a 2 hour rain-delay. On National Television. Texas Tech may be returning more starters than any team in the Big XII, and the Red Raiders have been able to get a hold of some solid recruits. Looking at the big picture though, the quality of the players that Texas Tech will be returning compared to the size and speed of players at the larger schools in the Big XII might not get it done.

Landry Jones and Drew Allen after 2012 Insight Bowl win over Iowa

Tuberville is working to get things back on track for the Red Raiders, but he needs to remember he isn’t at Auburn anymore. The style of play is very different over here in the Big XII and sometimes those SEC schemes he uses aren’t going to work. And he also isn’t Mike Leach.

Now, onto what was said about the Sooners, which is exactly what myself and most everyone else has been saying: Stoops needed change. Since Coach Stoops has been in Norman, he has virtually had the same exact staff. Bringing his brother Mike back after DC Brent Venables’ departure to Clemson isn’t necessarily big change, but considering the defense stats and logistics during the Mike Stoops Sooner era and post M.S. era, he could be the game changer. Another concern Sooner fans have is that they are worried about replacing key components on offense like Ryan Broyles, and if you have been following Spring drills, Trey Metoyer is NOT disappointing. I think the term Stoops used was “human vacuum”. People have mentioned the replacement of Frank Alexander and Ronnell Lewis at DE. Considering key players leave every year at most schools, I think Stoops and crew are fully capable of being able to replace players.

Landry Jones used his Spring Break wisely. Instead of taking off to a beach, he decided to get back to fundamentals. Jones, along with soon-to-be No. 1 draft pick, Andrew Luck worked out with George Whitfield. Whitfield worked with Cam Newton before the draft last year and also worked with Ben Roethlisberger while he was on NFL suspension. Whitfield started the Whitfield Athletix Quarterback training program in 2004 and has developed dozens of players into collegiate level quarterbacks and helped pros get back in their rhythm.

Yes, last season was a disappointment for all of Sooner Nation, but the Chase for Eight still isn’t over. Sometimes change is all you need and it sounds like the players and staff in Norman are embracing it.

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor announced through his lawyer today that he will not be returning his senior year.

It really doesn’t come as a surprise, with all the on-going drama out of Ohio State lately.

With Pryor now officially out, he removes himself from any further investigation  the NCAA would have thrown at him; this would be from the recent car benefit allegations that have been flying around. Pryor will most likely declare for the supplemental NFL draft.

Pryor said through his lawyer Larry James:

In the best interests of my teammates, I’ve made the decision to forgo my senior year of football at The Ohio State University.

Pryor was already suspended for the five first games of the 2011 season for accepting improper benefits.

The Ohio State Athletic Director, Gene Smith didn’t waste any time after Pryor’s announcement:

We understand Terrelle’s decision and wish him well in this next phase of his life,” Smith said. “We hope he returns to The Ohio State University one day to finish his degree.

Where does Ohio State go from here? They lost a head coach and their starting quarterback within a week of each other. The beginning of the end?

All signs are starting to point at yes.

BIG Memorial Day news for the Buckeyes…

After several months of allegations, rumors and shocking claims, Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel has submitted his resignation to the University. On Memorial Day…

Out of Columbus:

The Ohio State University announced today that it has accepted the resignation of Jim Tressel as head coach of its football program. Luke Fickell will serve as interim head coach for the 2011-2012 football season. Recruitment for a new head coach – which is expected to include external and internal candidates – will not commence until the conclusion of the 2011-2012 season.

It was also announced that his replacement will be Luke Fickell, the current co-defenisve Coordinator. Fickell has been on the coaching staff for the last nine years.

A more in-depth analysis of this story will be covered by Deb Baratz, our Hawkeye reporter, HERE

It just keeps getting worse for the Buckeyes.

Ray Small

Former wide receiver, Ray Small, has told the school’s student newspaper that he indeed did sell his Big 10 Championship rings, memorabilia, and received special car deals while a player at Ohio State.

He told the newspaper that this was a common thing happening during his playing days there.

Small revealed in his interview:

We have apartments, car notes,” he said. “So you got things like that and you look around and you’re like, ‘Well I got (four) of them, I can sell one or two and get some money to pay this rent.”"It was definitely the deals on the cars. I don’t see why it’s a big deal.”

“They have a lot (of dirt) on everybody,” Small said, “cause everybody was doing it.”

Small also admitted to using the services of the tattoo parlor, the very tattoo parlor that was under investigation for drug-trafficking that led to the OSU improper benefits case.

Small on the tattoos:

If you go in and try to get a tattoo, and somebody is like ‘Do you want 50 percent off this tattoo?’ You’re going to say, ‘Heck yeah.”

They explain the rules to you, but as a kid you’re not really listening to all of them rules,” “You go out and you just, people show you so much love, you don’t even think about the rules. You’re just like ‘Ah man, it’s cool.’ You take it, and next thing you know the NCAA is down your back.”

This story by a school-affiliated newspaper is damning evidence. This is the beginning of the end for the Buckeyes. The NCAA has been pretty soft with them so far. There is no way they can ignore this.

No official response has come out of OSU yet.

The NCAA is now coming out swinging  against Ohio State and coach Jim Tressel. In a new 13-page indictment, the NCAA accused Tressel of withholding information and lying to keep his players on the field.

Tressel decided not to immediately share information with the OSU compliance department when he became aware that some of his players were trading jerseys, helmets, and Big 10 Championship rings for free tattoos at a local Columbus Tattoo parlor.

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting today that Ohio State could be facing the most severe punishment their football program has ever seen.

In the indictment, it stated

Tressel had “permitted football student-athletes to participate in intercollegiate athletics while ineligible.” It also said he “failed to deport himself … [with] honesty and integrity” and said he was lying when he filled out a compliance form in September which said he had no knowledge of any NCAA violations by any of his players.

The University responded to the new accusations with this statement,

“The allegations are largely consistent with what the university self-reported to the NCAA on March 8. … The university will continue to work cooperatively with the NCAA during the response phase to the NCAA that now begins, and will have no further comment until the process is completed.”

OSU has already given Tressel a five game suspension and a hefty fine of $250,000. The only thing the University can hope for at this point is that the NCAA accepts their self-imposed punishment.

If not, things do not look real positive for Tressel and the Buckeyes.

Buckeye Athletic Director Gene Smith said he would have no comment until the case has been solved.

Guys lifting weights, trying to get stronger. Running sprints on a quiet football field. Gaining that extra ten pounds to get you in the mix for a starting position. That’s what is supposed to be happening in the months between college football seasons. And for most schools, that is whats going on. Nice quiet spring practices with no drama. No distractions. But that’s a different story for some student-athletes.

The players at Ohio State are waiting to see what will happen with their coach. And the boys in Auburn are now waiting to see if that National Title they worked so hard for will eventually be stripped.

A little back story on Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel if you haven’t been following the story or living under a rock. Ohio State actually turned in Tressel for violating NCAA bylaw 10.1, which is the bylaw that enforces Unethical Conduct. So what did Tressel do?

» Continue reading “Greed, Corruption and Sanctions? It’s College Football Off-Season, Of Course!”