Mr. Bucknuts summarizes the first two months of Boarding House rumors and gossip. He also takes on the Minnesota game and gives his take on Glenville, rivalries, quarterbacks and older athletes with hot younger wives. All this in an all-new Bucket of Bullets.
Minnestota came in to Columbus on Friday in a big sleigh pulled by reindeer. How else to explain all the gifts they brought with them?
Ba-dum-bum
Quickly now, what's wrong with the OSU offense? What - there's no rush...
Ba-dum-bum
OK - just one more...
I got a crate of oranges for the OSU coaching staff. Hey - how did you make a swell trade like that?
Snare rim shot. And out.
Yes, the vaudeville offense of Ohio State was shown what a real comedy routine looked like as they brought in Minnesota to Gopher it. Maybe I have my vintage comedy a little off. Was it the Keystone Cops? A Chinese Fire Drill?
Regardless, even Ohio State looked good in comparison (insert your own obvious punch line here: ). And it goes to show that we probably shouldn't have been as distraught as we were last week. And we probably shouldn't be overly cocky and vengeful this week either.
7-0 in the first half against the #114th ranked offense in the nation and one of the worst defenses, as well. Here are some things that stood out, as I watched with my scarlet and gray glasses firmly in place:
1) We were going to the hurry-up offense in that first half? No - we went to a slow-it-down approach. We even had to call time outs because we were playing so slowly.
2) But Minnestota ran a MarQueis Gray hurry up? Remember him? If he wouldn't have faked his ACT scores, he probably would have been a Buckeye. Except for his test stats, he looked pretty good...
3) Did you see JT (Tress) looking like JC (Coop) on the sidelines. That deer in the headlights look. And, yes coach, you blew another review challenge call that could have been critical. Not to be critical of the referee-ing of course...
4) Did you get the feeling that the drives by OSU in that first half just HAD to pay off 'cause they were working so hard just to move the ball?
5) But we relied on gaffes and gifts and penalties and drops and really poor throws and their #1 player going down and...
If it sounds like I am not over the Purdue-ing of the Buckeyes, you are right. Beating a mercilessly bad Minnesota bunch is a good first step and I loved seeing Terrelle out there running around and some surprisingly good tailback plays from old teammate Jordan Hall (!) and new teammate Jermil Martin (!!!!).
But I worry about TP (Terrelle) every time he scrambles to his left. I worry about the really bad balls thrown into coverage. And the fact that he was just 1-2 on long balls in which the receiver had to call for a fair catch.
I love the win. I love Terrelle. And I love Jim Tressel. But I am not sold still.
Yet, I want to be.
Hey - what kind of equipment is New Mexico State coming in on next week?
* * * *
The Boarding House…here we come again with the same warning labels and explanations!
The Bucknuts Boarding House…Where rumors (and stories) live and die.
For the last couple of weeks, the Bucknuts beat boys have brought you what they hear and see and are loathe to write about as fact: a bunch of rumors and gossip and innuendo. We don’t treat it is if it’s “inside information”, like some sites do. And we certainly don’t treat it as “truth”. Yet – you guys love to hear the good stuff. To do that, we have to:
1)Disclaim that we don’t know if any of it is true
2)Not attribute it to any particular source
3)Not attribute it to any particular reporter!
We hope it’s interesting and it’s all fairly entertaining and some of it might even turn out to be actually, well…true! So, forewarned is forearmed. Don’t write me and tell me that we shouldn’t publish rumors. We already know that!
Here it is, anyway. Check inside the House. Hey – there’s always something cooking at the Boarding House!!!
This is an all-Glenville edition of the Boarding House, where we have some different rumors that come and go from Ted Ginn’s joint (of all the Ginn joints in all the world…).
* The Christian and Latwan show…I am not sure we have seen two better DB’s at Glenville since Donte Whitner and Dareus Hiley (yes, Teddy Ginn also served time in that backfield!). I am completely sure that Christian Bryant will be a Buckeye unless there is a problem of cataclysmic proportions. And as I have said here before, Latwan Anderson will make a really good run at becoming eligible but it is hard to handicap if it becomes “too little too late”. Our guys say that he has had a number of issues to resolve but that he’s changed significantly since becoming a Tarblooder. He’s trying hard and no one will help him more than Ted Sr.
* Next in line…We know about the sensational juniors at Glenville (Cardale Jones and Shane Wynn and Andre Sturdivant and Aundrey Walker…), but who are the super sophs? One of the coaches on the staff has said that sophomore running back V'Angelo Bentley - 5-9 and 170 pounds - is the best pure running back on the roster right now. He would be a starter on a lot of other teams in Cleveland, I was told. Junior Robert Walton is the main running back and he's a good physical back with good speed and Toney Foster is fantastic, also. But Bentley is going to be terrific the next two years. Then remember this name: sophomore defensive back Devon Bogard - 6-0, 170. He is the best defender on the team in his class. Bentley and Bogard are the two best sophomores on the team right now, as we see it.
* Better than Braxton Miller? Better than Terrelle Pryor?...That’s what Ted Sr. is implying about that frustrating physical specimen – Cardale Jones. We put the question to our own highly opinionated analyst, Duane Long and he said, “Braxton Miller is as big as he is going to get. This kid (Cardale) is going to get bigger. He has the same size as Pryor. He is just as agile and just as good an athlete. His arm is just as strong. His mechanics are light years ahead of Pryor RIGHT NOW.” More on that in the next bullet…
* Hollywoodville…Wood in the hood. Word is that big name documentarians want to make a film about Ted Sr. and the Tarblooders (and Ginn Academy). It is a great story and deserves as much recognition as possible. No one helps kids in need like Ted Ginn does. And no one expects so little in return.
* See below…for more descriptions and video of Cardale Jones
That’s the Glenville edition, a place that’s used to “taking it to the House”. We move the Boarding House along to a special premium mid-week edition that you won’t want to miss. Check in this Thursday to see what’s cooking…
* * * *
Better than Braxton? Better than Terrelle?...Yes, that’s what we said. Even more importantly, that’s what Ted Ginn Sr. thinks of Cardale Jones. After Duane looked at a series of games in which Cardale played, Duane went on to opine: “This kid is every bit of 6'4 maybe 6'5; if you thought Devontae Payne (Cleveland South) was a top 20 player then Cardale is number 1 in Ohio. Move over Braxton Miller.” Duane also said in a conversation with Senior that Ted commented that Braxton Miller would become a wide receiver and that “Cardale was better than Pryor hands down”.
* * * *
OK, let’s talk about this whole Boarding House thing…A month or two ago, I brought up the idea of starting the Boarding House, a place where we could talk gossip and rumors and never pretend they were anything other than that. Bucknuts has nearly twenty guys on the ground (and in the alleys and sneaking here and there); guys that are always hearing and seeing and sensing items of interest. We would never present a lot of those items as facts but we thought it would be entertaining to present them as what they were: unsubstantiated rumors from some substantiated sources. Hey – we don’t make the stuff up, but we can’t verify all of it, either.
Despite the warnings and caveats, a few Bucknutters got their shorts in a bunch when some of the stuff seemed a little too speculative or seamy. For any of you that were offended, I apologize now - and in advance of the next editions. And for any of the subjects (people) that felt annoyed, that was not our intention. I come up with very little of this on my own (I might be the least connected of anyone here) but I know who knows and who is guessing and I go with almost all of the former.
We did a bit of a survey of our readers and found that they broke down along these feelings about the Boarding House:
* They thought 60 % of the items in the House were speculative but they were positive
* They thought 30% were either on the seamy side or negative side and didn’t like the House
* And that 10% of the items were simply scurrilous!
Interestingly, 10% of our readers generate 90% of the comments so our own survey has certain statistical flaws. You could say that 60% of the 10% unabashedly liked what we were doing. That might be as good as it gets.
The rest is anecdotal. So when TTM2610 started a thread a few weeks ago, I copied down representative feelings to support the numbers pro rata. And I now report a summary of the anecdotal evidence. His thread was entitled:
How does everyone feel about Mr. Bucknuts "rumors"?
Here is a sampling of those anecdotal feelings represented in about the same 60-30-10 relationship we found with the overall:
I’m Feeling Positive
* Honestly he can say what he wants. He provides the disclaimer.
* To me it's not a big deal. We know they are rumors. Some people are taking them as true facts and running with them. No different than when someone else comes on here to post there own rumors. Recruits can read those as well.
* I kinda like em' personally
* It is no different then a member going to this forum and saying I heard this or I heard that he says they are rumors so if u don't wanna read that section don't if u do well then just except them for what he says they are
* I actually really like it. Hey, if nothing else it gives us something to do!
* It is what it is. I think it's a great addition to the site and it's the rumors and inside info that I pay for. If you don't like it then don't read it!
* I like it. I don't take the reports as the gospel but gives you something to think about. How many of you honestly wished you had an inside source to Buckeye info? I do. Everybody shows their love for Buckcrazy when he posts his recruiting rumors. Don't know if Mr. Bucknuts has inside sources or even if they're reliable but I see kids blasted a lot worse on these forums than any of his "rumors".
* If Mr. B. didn't give his disclaimer before posting the rumors, then I would be a little disappointed. As it stands now, I like it.
* I look forward to that part of the Bucket more than anything else. They are, in the end, just rumors.
* Without some degree of rumor what have you got? Coach speak, player speak, reporters weaving stories filled with what coaches and players said. then stats and history. And there's always complaining about the BCS, refs, coaches. Well when you click on as much as I do, and you read the same story week after week and year after year....
* I don’t mind a little spice in my chili
* What is irresponsible in my humble opinion is getting overly worked up by a rumor. You're going to hear them. They are posted on the forum everyday and people read/react.
* The column passes on things that are heard by Mr. B and the staff. It's up to the reader to interpret. If the reader doesn't have the mental maturity to acknowledge that it's a rumor and not confirmed fact, then in my opinion it falls back on the reader when said reader starts getting worked up into a frenzy or creating new opinions on subjects and/or people based off of a rumor.
* The boarding house has been my favorite new feature to the website... i love how he includes them in both buckets... in fact i think it makes the buckets much more enjoyable to read....
* please don’t get rid of it...
* It's far better than those that pretend their "rumors" are "facts." And there are plenty of them posing as journalists or insiders on OSU sites. At least Mr. B is up front about it and is giving us what we want. If he didn't say anything, people would question why he was holding back info from his subscribers.
* I'll put my $0.02 in. The Bucket is clearly the best part of Bucknuts, hands down, and many of the other contributors are just excellent as well. His columns are like a conservative Sports Illustrated. Bucknuts is, no doubt, only the most successful college sports publication thanks to Mr. Bucknuts. If you don't like his style, don't read it; simple. After every other writer danced around the Adams controversy, I finally found out thru this column what the H was going on.
Thank You Mr. Bucknuts! Keep it up.
* Thumbs up! I just about skip everything to read that shadowed area first. As he said, he's not making it up. IMO it's no different that printing the rumors/hearsay about which way a recruit is leaning, how he and his parents enjoyed the visit, how they compared (and disliked) the Meatchicken visit, etc.
Kudos, keep up the good work Mr. B!
* Mr B............If you have more sizzling stuff and these guys don't want to read it please PM me.
I’m Feeling Negative
* Any negative "rumors" should NOT be spread about 18 year old kids. Period. Give us facts or zip it.
* Personally, I think it is beneath the integrity of what this site has always maintained. I always thought that the posting of unsubstantiated rumors about recruits and current players was not allowed. It's really nothing I care to know and have stopped reading his articles because of it.
* Rumors about HS kids are not cool at all.
* I don't like it because it gives the Bucket a "gossip girl" identity. Posters are correct, however, if you read the threads, you usually see that stuff eventually. I'm sure Mr. B tries to be balanced and not print all the BS he hears. It's just disappointing coming from someone I have a high regard for.
* The disclaimer is meaningless. It's akin to standing up in the middle of your flight and announcing that you've heard rumor: "I don't know whether it's true or not, but I thought you might want to know about this juicy piece of information. Someone might have smuggled a bomb on the plane. Again, I don't know if it's true or not -- just passing along what I heard." Totally, totally irresponsible.
* It is a pathetic joke...his column is like US Weekly.
I’m Feeling Cynical
* haha i bet this get's locked up shortly
* I am sure they will lock this or delete this, but they shouldn't. Mr B needs to know this "rumor" crap is out of line
* The other sites are having a field day with this thinking they can get 1 up on Mr Bucknuts. Nobody knows if these are bs or not and if they are then he will lose subscribers. I just don't think bashing him to your members is the way to go about it. Pissed me off personally and I'm not happy with a guy from another site right now.
* Rather this than he go back to talking politics
* The other sites are laughing at Bucknuts for this reason and this reason alone. And you can't really defend it.
*My only issue with the rumors is not with Mr Buckuts but the fans and subscribers. Too many people read these rumors and form impressions of the people based on the rumor. SO I think the only reason these rumors are irresponsible is because I have no confidence in the competency of the readers.
The back and forth
* From an old military veteran, the Air Force 'Core Values': 1) Integrity first. 2) Service before self. 3) Excellence in all we do.
In my opinion the "boarding house" violates all three core values.
* I've been in the USAF for 21 years and I think comparing the Boarding House rumors to the AF's core values is going overboard.
If people don't like it then don't read it! How hard is it?
And then the soothing voice of reason – Mr. Bucknuts weighed in on the thread at the time...
Since I am being discussed in the "third person", let me be the "first person" to address some concerns:
1) I don't make the stuff up. These things come to me because that's the business we are in. When more than one source has the same story, I put it out there as a possibility. When it's positive? Lots of kudos! Negative? I suck.
2) I quit looking at the "other sites" when I realized we share the same hard-core contentious group of 500 or so posters that trade barbs back and forth regardless. It makes it seem like there are thousands of those opinionated message board fans. It isn't that way and we quit caring about the back-and-forth a long time ago. We had a large lawsuit over the particulars and that's over, too. There's lots of room in Buckeye Nation for other sites and other opinions. Thankfully!
3) I am not as sanctimonious as many of my apologists or even my antagonists. We are not hard-core journalists purely seeking to be fair and balanced in every feature. We are in the entertainment business and we are unabashed lovers of the Buckeyes. That skews our perspectives and we realize it. We hope you do, too.
4) I have a bunch of guys out there with multiple connections (each) to people within the program or with access. They are no different than some of the other "insiders" that have access from different routes. I don't claim any special status or infallibility. Just a large network of people feeding the site. That's all.
The test will be: a) Is it entertaining? and b) Do more of these speculations turn out to be true or not? Let time be the barometer and not other biased interests that have the same right as me to post opinions.
Believe me, I hear and DON'T report on a lot more sizzling stuff than what goes into the Boarding House. For those that accidentally become collateral damage - I apologize in advance. And for those that are offended - that's not my mission.
So there are the points. Some counter points. And a few extra points. Now let’s move on down the field…
* * * * *
Rivalries in name only…Made-for-TV events and the moving of games around to fit the media appetites (or for drumming up poll numbers like LSU being #4 in the nation…); or just the irrational hyping of college football games has made us all a little skeptical – nay, cynical – about some traditional “rivalry games”.
Notre Dame-USC? Until last Saturday, the Trojans had won the previous two games by the combined score of 76-3 and had won seven straight, six of them by twenty points or more. That’s a rivalry, or just teams that hate each other?
Cal has beaten Stanford (“The Game”) and Clemson has beaten South Carolina in six out of the last seven seasons. Not much rivalry parity there, either.
In fact, in a table published by the venerable sports analysts, the Wall Street Journal at the beginning of this season:
Rivalry
Win Streak
Ave Score
Tenn-Kentucky
24
38-17
Utah-Utah St.
12
36-12
Boise-Idaho
10
50-17
Navy-Army
7
39-10
USC-Domers
7
41-14
Navy-Air Force
7
26-21
OK-OK State
6
45-23
Wisc-Minn
6
39-26
It was also recognized that “There are at least 14 rivalries in which one school has beaten the other for the past five years or more”. They used as evidence such previously competitive games as Florida-Tennessee, Virginia-Virginia Tech and Florida-Florida State.
Now, I am not tempting the football gods by recognizing the Ohio State-Michigan game as anything other than the greatest rivalry in the history of sports. Don’t want the karma to run over the dogma, after all. But I would mention in brief that the Buckeyes have won seven of the last eight and that Michigan is, oh – never mind!
* * * *
Ohio State’s quarterback pipeline…Here’s how I see the poker game/chess strategy playing out in order for the Bucks to optimally deploy their growing cast of quarterbacks. First off, I would let Kenny Guiton play this year. For two reasons: 1) If he is good, you need someone as an alternative to back up TP along with Bauserman and 2) If he isn’t front-line caliber, let’s get him through the system!
After Guiton, comes the convalescing Taylor Graham next year. Same scenario. Play him early, either way, to provide support or “get out of the way”. (From the “Lead, follow, or get out of the way” scenario of life…). That gets us to much-anticipated Braxton Miller, the super-recruit from Wayne High School. If Terrelle plays his senior year (and are you as worried as we used to be about him leaving early?), that makes Braxton a true freshman when Terrelle is a true senior. That also makes Brax either take a red-shirt or become the experienced back-up or – gasp – replace a senior just like Terrelle did as a freshman!
One other consideration: We should strive to find another “great quarterback prospect” the same year that we anticipate Miller coming in (Teddy Bridgewater? Cardale Jones?). Experience teaches that once the newest superstar is entrenched, it is almost impossible to get another great one for a year or two. Unless you are USC, of course.
One last “other consideration”: Think Cardale Jones would be willing to gray shirt? Hey – it worked (for 5 of 6 years) for Todd Boeckman. Or – hey – one of the quarterback athletes could be moved to wide receiver!
* * * *
In a new series…that will last about two weeks until the complaints start pouring in, I thought to feature “old athletes with really hot wives”? Why? Well, I wanted to see who you would indentify with – and maybe if your wife identifies with your plight; or with the hot wife! If it is the latter, please send phone numbers and pictures.
Boris Becker and (11 year younger) wife Lilly Kirsennberg
Julius Erving and wife Dorys (about 15 years difference)
Michael Jordan and girlfriend Yvette Priedo (only 16 years difference)
And thanks to oddball site “Angry T” for inspiring this chicanery…
* * * *
The name game…Nominated by our always vigilant JJ Huddle crew for the best football name of the year: Dreadnaught Stubbs
School: Kenston High School Height: 6 ft - 3 inches Weight: 180 lbs Position: WR-Wide Receiver Class of: 2011 Home Town: Chagrin Falls
Dreadnaught? Must have some really big guns…
* * * *
Meandering along – the socio path…And what do I find? Temptations too numerous to resist, as usual. As a prime example – everyone knows we love high school football. And I defy you to find a more logic-defying ending to a football game than this one. The thrill of victory and the agony of having to live with this on YouTube for all eternity.
That made us stroll back through memory lane and pull up some film from St. Superior himself, Steve Spurrier and the past master of trickeration. Here’s one from the vault…
Maybe the best part of that is that Spurrier brought in a special quarterback just to run that play!
Finally, there’s this rare footage of a Bucknuts intern we hired at the Bucknuts Inter-galactic headquarters last year. Talk about a kid that can use his head and the agony of da feet. Butt of course…
If you can express yourself in a less dramatic flourish, you have one of two options: describe what you are feeling in the space(s) provided below or take your time and write Mr. B personally at MrBucknuts@yahoo.com
