Tressel's contract extended. Shocker.

In news as unexciting as his demeanor, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel's contract was extended Wednesday. Apparently Tressel turned down a raise on the new contract which will run until 2015.

In coaching contract extensions are pretty much worthless and amount to legalese translation of "here's what we're going to pay you when we fire your ass." But in this case, the extension is probably more about recruiting as the Tressel retirement rumors will likely begin to start in a couple years.

But the interesting part, according to a tweet from OSU beat writer Ken Gordon of the Columbus Dispatch, is that this new contract contains a provision that if Tressel doesn't finish this entire extension, he gets a job as an assistant athletic director.

That's interesting on two fronts: A) Tressel was the AD at Youngstown State and reportedly loved the work and B) his previous contract guaranteed Tressel a spot on the faculty.

Seems to indicate the Senator is thinking about retirement. Maybe not next year, but coming sooner than most Buckeye fans are prepared for.

Bowl Preview: Rose Bowl presented by Citi

Rose Bowl presented by Citi
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
Ohio State vs. Oregon
Date: Jan. 1
Time: 4:30 p.m.
TV: ABC
Line: Oregon -4

About Ohio State (10-2): The Buckeyes discovered a running game in the second half of the year. Good thing, because the passing game has been missing all year. QB Terrelle Pryor didn't take the giant leap forward people were expecting. Instead it's been very small steps. Jim Tressel remains his ever-boring, ever-conservative self.

Intangibles:
1997 Rose Bowl: +3
Rest of David Boston's career: -2
"Rivalry" uniforms: -5

About Oregon (10-2): The Ducks' offense has been on fire the second half of the season, lighting it up with their wacky spread and wackier uniform combinations. What's this week? Retro - a salute to October 2007? Anyway, Chip Kelly's done a nice job since LeGarrette Blount coldcocked a Boise player.

Intangibles:
Phil Knight: +$120 million
Phil Knight's soul: -3
Chip Kelly in visor: -4

Impact player: Oregon RB LaMichael James. OSU needs to slow this little shit down to have a shot.

Little known fact: The Rose Bowl used to be very important back when Nixon was President and wide collars were in.

Watchability (1-5): 4.9

The Pick: Ohio State 31, Oregon 27

Podcast: Episode 43

There's a lot going on in this week's podcast. Here are some highlights.

Can you believe Chucklin' Charlie Weis is griping that Notre Dame isn't ranked higher? Hey Chuck, beat a team that matters and then maybe we'll listen. How do you think Boston College, Michigan and West Virginia feel? The Wolverines already beat the Irish, Boston College will later this season, and we're both pretty sure the Mountaineers would roll in South Bend or Morgantown.

Of course, we couldn't overlook the big clash in the SEC this weekend. Is this the week Florida's long winning streak ends or will LSU become another chapter in the Tim Tebow lore? We also try to figure out why Bob Stoops gets a pass in the national media for "sucking it up" in big games, but other coaches (e.g., Jim Tressel) doesn't.

We're also pleased to welcome back Mike Eisenberg from Eisentower30.com. He gives us some insight into the Hurricanes as well as some outlandish early week betting lines. Tune in as this is another excellent episode from your favorite College Football podcasters.

Picks of the Week: No. 3

If Stanford hadn't buckled in the second half, and if Texas didn't sleep walk through the first half 'Eer would have been 4-1. Instead the week wasn't as good as I had hoped. So this week I have to prove my mettle. Here we go.

Ohio State (-20.5) over Toledo
Jim Tressel is not known as a guy who runs up a score. But after last week's near-win against USC and the heat he's taken all week from the fans, Coach Tressel will try to show he can still call an effective game. This should be like a home game for the Buckeyes as most of the crowd in Cleveland Browns Stadium will be rooting for No. 11 OSU. Just Toledo will get the huge gate receipts.
Pick: Ohio State 42, Toledo 13

Texas (-17.5) over Texas Tech
How bad does No. 2 Texas want to avenge its only loss of 2008? Watch this game and you'll see. Colt McCoy and Mack Brown want payback and to keep the Longhorns on track for a BCS Championship showdown. Beside, Mike Leach and the Red Raiders don't fare well in Austin. Another interesting fact is since 2000, the Red Raiders have lost all four games played against ranked teams in August and September.
Pick: Texas 45, Texas Tech 21

Tulsa (+17.5) over Oklahoma
The 12th-ranked Sooners will win this game, but it's going to be much closer than 17.5 points. The Golden Hurricane are 2-0 and one of the top teams in Conference USA. This is Tulsa's best chance to win this in-state battle. Don't overlook the fact that Tulsa is road-tested this season with wins over Tulane (37-13) and New Mexico (44-10).
Pick: Oklahoma 38, Tulsa 28

North Carolina (-7.5) over East Carolina
The Pirates were everyone's early season darling in 2008. This year Skip Holtz' defense is a bit more porous as is evident in ECU's opening games against the Mountaineers (35-20 loss to West Virginia and 29-24 win over Appalachian State). Butch Davis' boys struggled at UConn last week, but returning to Chapel Hill and a focused week of practice is all the 24th-ranked Tar Heels need to win this week.
Pick: North Carolina 32, East Carolina 14

Upset of the Week
Georgia (-1.0) over Arkansas
Something doesn't seem right about this one. UGA is the underdog at Arkansas? OK. I'll bite. The Bulldogs got the offense going against South Carolina last week (wish I could say the Dawgs' defense looked better). QB Ryan Mallett is a nice player and could light up Georgia, but I'm going with the more talented team ... that's Georgia.
Pick: Georgia 32, Arkansas 24

Last Week: 2-3
Season Record: 5-5

Podcast: Episode 40

This week it is the ’Eer and his WVU Mountaineers who have the big game as they travel into SEC country to take on Auburn. He is optimistic the Mounties can continue their recent dominance of SEC foes.

On the flip side, ’Eye is going to stay home and watch the Buckeyes travel to Cleveland and take on Toledo. He needs the break after the tough loss to USC last week. However, he does an excellent job of breaking down OSU's offensive woes, what the future is for Terrelle Pryor and what is lacking in Jim Tressel’s playbook.

We also look at the potential whipping that Lane Kiffin may take at the hands of Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators. Folks, strap ’em on, this should be another great week of College Football.

Late observations on Week 1

All right. Enough already. Sorry for the late post, but family time and the UConn-Ohio game last night have kept the 'Eer away from the laptop. So here are my thoughts from the first weekend of games (with a few still to play).

- I guess I'm a little more a believer now. The BCS busters came up big this week. I don't want to take anything away from Boise State and BYU, but is that really the best Oregon and Oklahoma could muster? Seriously Chip Kelly. You've had all that time to get the Ducks motivated and prepared. Instead your offense executed as well as Coca-Cola execs trying to market New Coke back in '80s. Thanks for letting Boise believe it belongs. Maybe I should be more surprised by Oklahoma's showing against BYU, but this is so Bob Stoops. When's the last time this guy really beat a good team? Don't tell me Texas Tech. At least now the Sooners should be eliminated from the national title discussion.

- Do you think Iowa's Kirk Ferentz and Ohio State's Jim Tressel are glad not to be lumped into the same conversation with Virginia's Al Groh? I don't see how Groh can even make it through the year after the Wahoos lost to William & Mary, 26-14. The loss was Virginia's first to a Football Championship Subdivision school since 1986.

- Crap. Did both 'Eye and 'Eer really underestimate how much Notre Dame and Michigan have improved? Maybe. But after this week, one of them will be 1-1 and the coach will be on the hot seat again. Also, I'd still be a little concerned watching how both offenses failed to execute as well in the second half.

- It may be a loss, but as someone with nothing to gain, Washington's nice showing against LSU in Steve Sarkisian's first game is a good sign for the Huskies and also important for the Pac-10. However, if I'm a Tigers fan I'd be concerned that LSU is going to struggle again in 2009.

- The Big East didn't do much to help quiet the critics, but we should give credit to Syracuse and new coach Doug Marrone for almost pulling an upset of Minnesota in the Carrier Dome. Greg Paulus also played a solid game, despite throwing an interception in OT.

Enough of that. Now we're ready for Miami-FSU on Monday.

Buckeye hype

Nice video. No doubt it has the Buckeye faithful fired up for the home opener against Navy.

However, I doubt Jim Tressel's days of producing inspirational videos aren't over. Also, Redemption 2? Is that all Ohio State is up to? Seems to me the Buckeyes should be up to about Redemption V. Loss to Florida. Loss to LSU. Loss to USC. Loss to Texas.

We'll keep a lookout for future renditions.

(Hat Tip: Eleven Warriors)

Enough about Twitter

Jim Tressel is old school. He doesn't Twitter. Doesn't seem to know too much about it. I don't see him Tweeting soon. I think Tress will be just fine without joining the other coaches (Pete Carroll, RichRod, Bill Stewart, Tim Brewster and so on) who are Twittering. Wait. Shouldn't OSU Football SID Shelly Poe be doing this for him?

Ahh, list journalism. Creating angry fans wherever you go

So, which one of these guys is the better coach?

I've enjoyed the work of Tom Dienhart for years. A former Sporting News editor, Dienhart is now writing college football for Rivals.com.

But this column, smells of the "what can I write to generate hits by really pissing someone off" variety.

Dienhart lists the coaches in the Big 10 as such.

1. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
2. Rich Rodriguez, Michigan
3. Jim Tressel, Ohio State
4. Joe Paterno, Penn State
5. Mark Dantonio, Michigan State
6. Ron Zook, Illinois
7. Bret Bielema, Wisconsin
8. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
9. Danny Hope, Northwestern
10. Tim Brewster, Minnesota
11. Bill Lynch, Indiana


I know, I know. Bill Lynch at #11??!?!?! OUTRAGEOUS!

You can read Dienhart's reasons by clicking the link.

Sweater Vest happy to discuss Clarett's blog

Maurice Clarett is our new Lane Kiffin. Two posts in three days. Hopefully it will stop soon. But when Sweater Vest took a few minutes to discuss Clarett's blog from prison with Palestra.net it seems like a good time for this subject to resurface.

SV is doing his best to put a positive spin on Clarett, but he almost seems too excited to talk about this. It's almost like the conversation went something like this:

Reporter: "Hey coach, have a few questions. What do you think about Maurice Clarett blogging from prison?"

SV: "What, no questions about the SEC? Nothing about our lack of speed in the secondary? Or on the offensive line?"

Reporter: "Nothing like that coach. Just want your thoughts on Maurice."

SV: "Sure you're not buttering me up so you ask me about losing in big games?"

Reporter: "Just Mo coach. That's it."

SV: "OK, but I'm wary."

Desperate measures

Jim Tressel is so determined to catch up with the rest of the nation's best teams that Ohio State has now turned to the cheerleaders for infusion of speed. Congrats Josh Springer and good luck. Hey Phil, do think this will work?

Uh, Tress...about that tie...

Obviously Jim Tressel is concentrating so hard on Penn State that he's neglecting his wardrobe choices. Meanwhile, the yapping begins from Happy Valley.

That's okay. While Penn State - Ohio State is big, it's not all that's going on in college football.

Notes:

- Don't look now, but if USC and Oregon State win out, who goes to the Rose Bowl? Uh, not so fast, Trojans...

- What's left of Michigan takes on a downtrodden Michigan State squad this weekend in the rivalry game that's never meant less. What's nice though, is that either team can beat the snot out of their hockey player.

- This is old, but still interesting to those of us who never really get a peek into the inner workings of college football. USC WR Vidal Hazelton's father was less than pleased with his son's treatment this year and let Pete Carroll know about it.

This just in -- Ohio State offense bad

Apparently, some Buckeye players are unhappy that:

A) the offense was terrible against Purdue
B) their season isn't turning out how they thought it should
C) the coaches hate us and obviously do not want to win


this kind of blather, split-lockerroom yapping goes on everywhere. With 100 egos, pro contracts on the line and just general stupidity of youth, there are very few teams that have everyone moving in the same direction.

Would it be better if the team didn't air it's laundry to the drooling media? Probably. But as an Ohio State fan, it's just nice to hear somebody, anybody, say something real that didn't seem it came preprogrammed out of Tressel's mouth.

As for Boeckman, this offensive line is having difficulty blocking for the most mobile QB in college football, is statuesque Todd Boeckman really the answer?

Anyway, the offense was terrible against Purdue and this week's game with Michigan State looms large for the Buckeyes and whether they'll come apart at the seams or stay in the hunt for the Big 10.



Waah. my friend got benched.

Buckeye Legend is Born

Not that Ohio State fans (as well as Jim Tressel) had not already declared Terrelle Pryor a savior, but his performance against Wisconsin last night is the stuff of legends. He will win a Heisman Trophy before he departs. It may have been nothing more than an 11-yard TD run, but Pryor led the Buckeyes on this late scoring drive for a huge win. What a performance by a true freshman in hostile Camp Randall.

Coaching changes

Special Report

Retired Coach Rick
ACC Correspondent

Am I the only person in the country who thinks Lou Holtz is laying the groundwork for his return to college coaching? I think he wants the job at Ohio State. Every time he is on TV, he tells us how dumb he thinks Jim Tressel is for not throwing the freshman backup quarterback into the fire now.
The announcers on the USC-OSU game were talking about it.

Herbstreit works with "Dr." Lou on ESPN, so who knows.

I also wonder how much groundwork was laid at Notre Dame concerning Skip Holtz taking over next year. I think Coach Weis will retire because of the knee injury he suffered Saturday. You can't coach if you are worried about your injury. You can't think with a bad knee.

Don't be surprised.