Thousands gather at Joe Paterno tribute - Tiger Watch - Most ludicrous rumor ever: LeBron back to Cleveland

College Hoops Power Rankings

4. Ohio State Buckeyes (18-3)
The Craft Turnometer will return next week -- I'm trying to limit myself to once-a-month readings -- but turnovers are still the topic du jour when it comes to Ohio State, or better yet, the State of Ohio.



Just take a look at kenpom's national standings for defensive turnover percentage:

1. Ohio: 27.2%
2. VCU: 27.4%
3. Cleveland State: 27.2%
4. ETSU, 26.8%
5. Ohio State: 26.7%

John Groce, Thad Matta's former top assistant, has turned the Ohio Bobcats into a turnover-forcing machine, while Gary Waters' Cleveland State squad is wreaking havoc on the Horizon, and Matta's Buckeyes are forcing the most takeaways in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes are the only one of the five teams above that also ranks in the top 50 in defensive rebounding (No. 3), free-throw rate (No. 30) and eFG% allowed (No. 35) ... which is why they're the most efficient defensive team in the country.

Next three: 1/29 vs. Michigan, 2/4 at Wisconsin, 2/7 vs. Purdue







I am not a JoePa Fan or Penn St. I respect him and Phil Knight's speech was awesome! If you get a chance watch it below!!!




Thousands gather at Joe Paterno tribute
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Crediting him with building not just better athletes but better men, some 12,000 people -- including Penn State students, fans and football stars -- paid tribute to Joe Paterno in a campus memorial service Thursday that exposed a strong undercurrent of anger over his firing.
In a 2½-hour gathering that capped three days of mourning on campus, Nike chairman and CEO Phil Knight brought the near-capacity crowd at the basketball arena to its feet when he defended the coach's handling of child-sex allegations leveled against a former assistant. Paterno was fired two months ago by the Penn State trustees.
Joe Paterno's memorial brought together players young and old, who remembered him as a teacher and a philanthropist with a competitive spirit, writes Ivan Maisel. Story
"This much is clear to me: If there is a villain in this tragedy, it lies in that investigation and not in Joe Paterno's response," Knight said. Paterno's widow, Sue, was among those rising to their feet.
Later, Paterno's son Jay received a standing ovation when he declared: "Joe Paterno left this world with a clear conscience."
The ceremony was filled with lavish praise that probably would have embarrassed Paterno, who died of lung cancer Sunday at 85 after racking up 409 wins, more than any other major-college football coach, and leading his team to two national championships in his 46 seasons.
He was saluted for his commitment to sportsmanship, loyalty, teamwork, good character, academics and "winning with honor." He was called a good father, a good neighbor, a good friend, a good teacher.
Only one member of the university administration -- Susan Welch, dean of the college of liberal arts -- spoke at the memorial, which was arranged primarily by the Paterno family. No one from the Board of Trustees spoke.
Among the speakers were star athletes from each decade of Paterno's career, including Michael Robinson, who played from 2002 to 2005, quarterback Todd Blackledge from the 1980s and Jimmy Cefalo, a star in the 1970s. All three went on to play in the NFL.
Former NFL player Charles V. Pittman, speaking for players from the 1960s, called Paterno a lifelong influence and inspiration.
Pittman said Paterno pushed his young players hard, once bringing Pittman to tears in his sophomore year. He said he realized later that the coach was not trying to break his spirit but instead was "bit by bit building a habit of excellence."
"He was building a proud program for the school, the state and the hundreds of young men he watched over for a half century," said Pittman, senior vice president for publishing at Schurz Communications Inc., an Indiana-based company that owns TV and radio stations and newspapers, and a member of the board of directors of The Associated Press.
"Now, with grown children grandkids and 42 years removed from my playing days, I thought Joe Paterno had taught me all that he could teach me. I was wrong," Pitman said. "Despite being pushed away from his beloved game, and under the extreme pressure of the events of the past few months, Joe's grace was startling."
Similarly, Chris Marrone, whose playing career at Penn State was cut short by injuries, said Paterno molded him into a young man with "the strength to overcome any challenge, any adversity."
"The greatness and the legacy of Joe Paterno lies within each of us, and no one, and I mean no one, can take that from him or from us," Marrone said.
Paterno was fired Nov. 9 after he was criticized for not going to police in 2002 when he was told that a former member of his coaching staff, Jerry Sandusky, had been seen sexually assaulting a boy in the showers at the football complex. Sandusky was arrested in November and is awaiting trial on charges he sexually assaulted 10 boys over a 15-year span.
As the scandal erupted, Pennsylvania's state police commissioner said that Paterno may have met his legal duty but not his moral one to go to police. Penn State president Graham Spanier was also fired in the fallout.
At Thursday's memorial, Knight defended Paterno, saying the coach "gave full disclosure to his superiors, information that went up the chains to the head of the campus police and the president of the school. The matter was in the hands of a world-class university, and by a president with an outstanding national reputation."
Recounting Paterno's accomplishments, Knight asked: "Who is the real trustee at Penn State University?"
A public viewing for Paterno was held on campus on Tuesday and Wednesday, and he was buried Wednesday afternoon at a State College cemetery.


Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship

1 Thorbjorn Olesen -7 F -5 70 67 137

2 Gareth Maybin -6 F -2 68 70 138

2 Richard Finch -6 15 -2 68 - 68

4 Paul Lawrie -5 F -3 70 69 139

4 Tiger Woods -5 F -3 70 69 139
4 Robert Rock -5 F* -2 69 70 139

4 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet -5 F -1 68 71 139

4 Robert Karlsson -5 F E 67 72 139

4 Rory McIlroy -5 F E 67 72 139

4 Matteo Manassero -5 17 -6 73 - 73




Most ludicrous rumor ever: LeBron back to Cleveland
I think Thomas Wolfe was right — you can’t go home again.
Especially if you are LeBron James. Certainly not in the near future. You are not going to returning to the Cavaliers.
At PBT we try to avoid the craziest, most ludicrous rumors out there (Dwight Howard for Amare Stoudemire, for example) and bring you the ones that could, maybe, become reality. But one crazy rumor has generated some buzz, so here it is, via Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio.
Now, there is talk that James is less-than-thrilled with certain aspects of the Heat organization. Sources in Miami say that while James still thoroughly enjoys playing alongside fellow stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, he doesn’t particularly care for the heavy-handed and disciplined style of team president Pat Riley.
James can opt out of his contract at the end of the 2013-14 season, and speculation is he will strongly consider it if Riley remains in his current role. And the team James would be eyeballing most in free agency, say those close to the situation, would be the Cavs.
I call… um… organic male cow generated fertilizer on that.
It’s not happening.
I’m not going to question if the writer was told this by someone, but I will question said source as “close to the situation” or sane. The writer is Cleveland based, so guess where his sources are. Is this the dream scenario for some in Cleveland? Maybe, but most of the city hates LeBron with a white hot passion of a thousand suns, and that includes the Cavaliers owner. Would LeBron like to have the run of the Miami organization like he did Cleveland? Sure, and Pat Riley will not let that happen.
But that is a long, long, long way from LeBron leaving Miami in a couple years — a true contender in the middle of a championship window — to go back to the Cavs. LeBron is going to be with the Heat for a while, he likes playing with his friend Dwyane Wade and winning. Or, look at it this way: Would you rather be young, rich and a superstar in Cleveland or Miami? Exactly.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN, who has followed LeBron since high school, makes a good point — LeBron might finish his career with the Cavs. A decade plus from now maybe the hatchet is buried. Maybe then he is welcomed home. I could see that. But not in couple years. Not even close.

Recruiting trail leads Mark Richt to jail - Group of professors mull a 64-team college football playoff - Photos of NBA Championship Rings

Photos of NBA Championship Rings











Group of professors mull a 64-team college football playoff
The idea of a college football playoff, however small or mildly adjusted as it may be compared to the current BCS system, has gained more support than it ever has in recent years among college football’s powers that be.

For the immediate future, meaning 2013 or ’14, a plus-one seems like the most likely alternative. Down the road, that could expand to, say, eight teams. Perhaps, one day, 11*. It is, after all, the consumer’s natural instinct to want more to the point of saturation (see: bowl season).

But a four, eight or 11-team playoff, as realistic as those ideas may be, is child’s play compared to what one group is considering.

The Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics, a group of over 50 university professors and faculty members, met over the weekend to discuss changes they feel are necessary in collegiate sports. The Associated Press report details the COIA’s wide-ranging agenda, but one idea catches some attention:

Among the topics: Should COIA advocate changes in the BCS?

Not surprisingly, the dividing lines on many issues among the 50 or so faculty members were often split between those who represent schools from automatic-qualifying conferences and those who don’t. One of the ideas that came through on the BCS debate was to exchange some of the noncompetitive “guarantee” games at the beginning of the season for a 64-team playoff at the end and use the TV money from the playoff to recoup losses from the missing regular-season games.

It’s a proposal that could puncture the long-held contention of college presidents that a playoff would take too many athletes out of the classroom for too long. It’s also the kind of proposal — a December version of March Madness — that resonates with fans who have grown tired of the BCS; a pie-in-the-sky idea for sure, though some faculty think a little dreaming isn’t bad for a group such as this one.

“This is my first time here and I’m seeing very little dreaming,” said Timothy Ross, a civil engineering professor at New Mexico. “I’m seeing people wedded to the current model and asking, ‘What tweaks do we need to make this work?’ Well, it’s not going to work because the thing is spiraling out of control.”

That’s not to say a 64-team playoff is a top choice — it’s not even a realistic idea if you want to talk about spiraling out of control — but it does show how far some people are willing to go to get away from the current postseason format.

Would it be fun? Maybe; the first 48 hours of March Madness might be the best two days in sports. But you can’t really link college football to college basketball in determining what’s best for the game.

The important thing is that ideas are being put forward, and almost any idea at this point is better than the status quo.





Recruiting trail leads Mark Richt to jail
Ah, the lengths coaches will go to in their efforts to land a top recruit.

Josh Harvey-Clemons is a five-star player in the Class of 2012, rated as the No. 2 “athlete” in the country and the top player in the state of Georgia. Along with Florida, late-surging Florida State and Miami — he’s taking a visit there this Saturday, the final weekend before signing day — Georgia is considered one of the front-runners and would, obviously, love to keep the top-rated player in the state home.

As part of that effort, head coach Mark Richt and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo paid a visit to Harvey-Clemons Wednesday night, taking in a Baptist church service with the linebacker/wide receiver’s family. During the course of that service, Harvey-Clemons’ grandfather and legal guardian Woodrow Clemons, owner of a bail bondsman’s company, received a call that three individuals needed his services in order to get out of jail post-haste.

Harvey-Clemons and Clemons’ daughter, the player’s aunt, are also bail bondsmen and left church to go spring the individuals. Richt initially decided to stay but, after Harvey-Clemons’ aunt forgot her ID in a vehicle at the church, Harvey-Clemons’ uncle Roy Hart told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Coach Richt and Coach Bobo went to jail with my wife to take the ID to them. Coach Richt wanted one more time to talk with Josh before they hit the road. They talked at jail for about 20 or 30 minutes I guess.”

Ever the recruiter, Richt returned to the church following his trip to jail and, as he was saying the obligatory goodbyes, attempted to gauge where his program stood in its pursuit of Harvey-Clemons.

“Coach Richt said ‘Tell me Roy, how do we look with Josh?’” Hart said. “I said ‘Coach, you’re in the running. Nobody really knows except for Josh. He’s not saying much. He hasn’t made up his mind so nobody knows except for him.’ Then Coach Richt asked if Georgia was still looking good and if they still had an opportunity to get him. I assured him that they did.”

While Harvey-Clemons is taking his final official visit to the Hurricanes this weekend, it’s believed his top two choices are the Bulldogs and Gators. Based on the latter’s legal history over the past few years, having a recruit who also doubles as a bail bondsman could come in very, very handy for the Gainesville school.

T.O. is having a Pitty Party - Duke plagued by low attendance -

Tiger Starts Tomorrow!!!!!




Terrell Owens In GQ: I'm In Hell

Terrell Owens has always been an island of sorts. His brash personality and self-absorption routinely alienated his teammates during an NFL career that teetered between terrific and toxic, leaving him to fend for himself.
Now, at 38 and out of football, he's lonelier than ever, and running out of money. In a GQ profile, Owens comes across as wounded, broke and desperate. When people text him to ask where he is, he replies back: "I'm in hell."
But is it his own fault? That's the perennial debate on T.O., who had a heartbreaking childhood but continually pointed fingers at everyone but himself once he became an adult.
In the GQ story by Nancy Hass, Owens blames the media for not giving him a chance to rehab his injury, blames agent Drew Rosenhaus for not protecting him from a bad business arrangement, and -- perhaps most surprisingly -- blames a former team captain for his issues with former Philadelphia teammate Donovan McNabb.
Owens earned around $80 million during his NFL career, but has found himself in deep financial trouble, despite never spending lavishly. In the February edition of GQ, Owens admits to trusting the wrong people, who in turn cost him a lot of his fortune.
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"It's not a matter of having lived too large -- he was never the type to stockpile Ferraris or build himself a compound; the flashiest car he ever drove was a Mercedes, and while he indeed racked up a few homes that cost as much as $4 million, the only crib he classifies as even mildly sick by pro-ball standards was the one he bought in Atlanta to live in during the Philly off-season.
The problem, he says, is that he's by nature too trusting, loyal to a fault, despite everyone's carping that he's selfish. It's the sad old stereotypical song of the up-from-nothing black athlete: He let other people take care of things."
Owens said financial advisers recommended by Rosenhaus lost much of his money in highly leveraged ventures, then houses and apartments he thought he could rent out in a worst case scenario became dead weight in a housing market collapse (none of the properties is particularly excessive, but total a yearly mortgage of about $750,000), and $2 million was lost in an Alabama entertainment complex investment. That venture turned out to be illegal, and also claimed former Redskins running back Clinton Portis as a victim.
"I hate myself for letting this happen," Owens told GQ. "I believed that they had my back when they said, 'You take care of the football, and we'll do the rest.' And in the end, they just basically stole from me."
Owens has also found himself friendless, thanks to a growing sense of distrust thanks to his many unfortunate dealings.
He never had many friends -- teammates never called him to party, he says, wrongly assuming that he was "too big" to socialize -- and now, "I don't have no friends. I don't want no friends. That's how I feel."
And on top of that, he's battling in court with four women to whom he pays a total of $44,600 a month in child support for his four children, ages 5 to 12.
"If there's anything I'm sorry about, it's getting involved with all that." He never actually dated any of the women, he says. One was a one-night stand, the others "repeat offenders." Owens, who has never been married, concedes he is "not a very good judge of character." Still, he "never suspected they were the types to do what they done in the past year."
When money became tighter, Owens had to reduce the amount he paid to each of the women, and three of them sued him. A warrant was issued for his arrest when he didn't show up for a court date with the mother of his oldest child, Tariq. Beyond that, the relationship he's maintained with the mothers and his children is tenuous, at best.
Now he is in court with all four women, whom he lumps together like one big bloodsucking blob. None of them are being fair, he says: "They know I'm not working; they know the deal." Although he never established regular visitation with any of the children through the courts, he says he sees the eldest three as much as he can when their mothers allow it. So bitter is his relationship with the mother of the youngest child, a son, that he has never met the boy.
As for McNabb, Owens stands by his decision not to mend fences with the former Eagles quarterback, whom Owens characterized as "tired" following the Eagles' 24-21 loss to New England in Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005.
When given an apology written by the team's media relations staff, Owens claims to have handed Eagles' captain Jeremiah Trotter the mea culpa moments before he was to deliver it to reporters.
Owens tells GQ Trotter read through the statement and arrived at the portion regarding McNabb, who threw for 357 yards, but was picked off three times. Owens claims Trotter ripped off the bottom portion of the page and told Owens he didn't owe McNabb a thing.
"This is the team leader we're talking about," Owens tells GQ. "He told me not to do it."
Trotter calls Owens' account inaccurate, telling the magazine he was the one insisting Owens apologize.
Once again, T.O. stands alone.
Owens' career is defined as much by its theatrics than for its statistical body of work. His playing days ended last spring after his one-year, $2 million contract was not renewed by the Cincinnati, where Owens and Chad Ochocinco collectively proved to be more style than substance.
Owens has clearly moved on.
Some decisions, he admits, may have been handled differently now. But at this point of his life, he's not willing to look back.
"To say I regret anything would be a slap to my grandmother's face," Owens says, referring to the woman who raised him.
He concedes his only mistake in calling McNabb out was one of timing, admitting "I might not have said or done things at exactly the right moment."
To this day, Owens remains confident bordering on cocksure, convinced -- even with a medically repaired ACL -- that he is capable of the jaw-dropping playmaking ability of his youth. It's not his talent that keeps teams from calling, he insists, but instead a reputation cast onto him by the reporters he often held hostage.
"I think people change, but the media, they never allowed me to change," Owens says. "They never allowed me to be a better person."
Described in the GQ piece as a "caged cat" living in a spacious 1,800-square foot Los Angeles apartment, Owens remains on an island. He claims to be broke despite making at least $80 million during his playing days.
He says he's never been diagnosed as clinically depressed but he's been "real down."
"I don't have no friends -- I don't want no friends," Owens says. "That's how I feel."




Duke plagued by low attendance
Going Crazie is getting easier these days. Once regularly an asylum for 1,200 Crazies, Section 17 at Cameron Indoor Stadium now rarely plays host to a student-only crowd. Student attendance at men???s basketball games has fallen consistently over the last five years, even dropping after Duke won its fourth national championship in 2010. This season, approximately 650 undergraduates have attended each game, 150 fewer than during the 2008-09 season. As a result, Duke Athletics has begun to sell an increasing number of general admission tickets in the student section on a regular basis. "It has nothing to do with the revenue. We just want it to be full," Director of Marketing and Relations Mike Forman said.

Bubba Watson buys ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ car - Trey Griffey commits to Arizona - With spread on the way, Buckeyes FB to transfer

Bubba Watson buys ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ car


You know, there are a lot of "can you believe that?"s in sports, but the idea of a man named Bubba buying the iconic car from the most Southern TV series in history isn't exactly a shocker, you know?
Presenting Bubba Watson and his new car:
Watson was at the famed Barrett-Jackson automobile auction this past weekend, and picked up that gem there, which he called his "dream car," for $110,000. Now, there were plenty of General Lees, but the one there was special; called "Lee 1," it's the one that jumped the police car in "The Dukes of Hazzard" TV series' opening credits. It was totaled in the jump, but restoration brought it back to life over the course of 16 months. Autoblog calls the final price "seemingly paltry," which is really more a matter of perspective than anything else.



Trey Griffey commits to Arizona

Trey Griffey, the son of Major League Baseball legend Ken Griffey Jr., accepted a scholarship offer to play football at Arizona on Monday. Trey Griffey, who is 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, selected the Wildcats over scholarship offers from Iowa State, Michigan State, Washington State and other smaller schools.
Griffey, a senior at Orlando Dr. Phillips High School, is ranked by ESPN as the No. 145 player in the state of Florida and the No. 96 receiver in the nation. Griffey saw his stock rise considerably after impressing at the recent Under Armour All-America Game.
While he played baseball when he was younger, Griffey gravitated toward football, where he could make his own mark. He quit baseball six years ago, and it allowed him to reach his dream of playing Division I football.
"Baseball will always be in my genes," Griffey said earlier. "I'll always know a lot about it because of my father and grandfather. But I don't really have the love for it that I do for football."



With spread on the way, Buckeyes FB to transfer

A week after a pair of defensive backs were “released from their scholarships“, a player from the other side of the ball has decided to take his leave from the Ohio State football program.
Fullback David Durham confirmed to the Columbus Dispatch Sunday night that he has decided to transfer from the Buckeyes. Durham, who moved from the defensive line to the backfield last year, said the type of offense being installed by new head coach Urban Meyer was the overriding factor in his decision.
“I have really taken to playing the fullback position over the last year,” Durham told the paper. “Unfortunately, I will not have a significant opportunity to do this in coach Meyer’s spread offense.
“I love the Ohio State University and all of my teammates and coaches, and I really appreciate all of their support through this process. It will be tough to leave such a special place. I am exploring different options right now for my future.”
There’s no word yet on where Durham may continue his collegiate career. The Charlotte native was a member of OSU’s 2010 recruiting class.

Top 25 Recruits Football - AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll -

RIP JoPa!








The Rivals100: Class of 2012
Here are the top 25
Buckeye Committs are in BOLD

1 Dorial Green-Beckham
Springfield, Miss.
Hillcrest WR 6-6 220 List Green-Beckham became the all-time national career receiving leader after catching 119 passes for 2,233 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior.

2 D.J. Humphries
Charlotte, N.C.
Mallard Creek OL 6-5 265 A U.S. Army All-American, Humphries anchored an offensive line for a Mallard Creek team that averaged 47 points per game and went 13-1 his senior year.

3 Mario Edwards
Denton, Texas
Ryan DE 6-4 275 Edwards tallied 72 tackles, 32 tackles for loss and 11 sacks on his way to earning all-state honors as a senior.

4 Shaq Thompson
Sacramento, Calif.
Grant S 6-2 210 Thompson rushed for 1,068 yards and 15 touchdowns and also threw eight touchdown passes this season.

5 Johnathan Gray
Aledo, Texas
Aledo RB 5-11 190 Gray became the all-time national career scoring leader after rushing for 3,891 yards and 65 touchdowns in 2011.

6 Jonathan Bullard
Shelby, N.C.
Crest DE 6-4 255 Bullard, who competed in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, had 16 sacks for his state runner-up squad.

7 Eddie Goldman
Washington, D.C.
Friendship Collegiate DT 6-4 307 List Goldman finished his senior season with 40 solo tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.

8 Stefon Diggs
Olney, Md.
Good Counsel WR 6-0 185 List Diggs finished 2011 with 1,443 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns, and added 32 tackles and four interceptions on defense.

9 Noah Spence
Harrisburg, Pa.
Bishop McDevitt DE 6-4 245 Spence finished his senior season with 108 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 13 sacks.

10 Jameis Winston
Hueytown, Ala.
Hueytown QB 6-4 200 Winston accounted for nearly 3,000 yards of offense in 2011 and was a star in the Under Armour Game, going 8-of-9 for 178 yards and two touchdowns.

11 Darius Hamilton
Ramsey, N.J.
Don Bosco Prep DE 6-4 245 List Hamilton finished his senior season with 72 tackles and 21 sacks while pushing Don Bosco Prep to the No. 2 spot in the final national rankings.

12 T.J. Yeldon
Daphne, Ala.
Daphne RB 6-2 205 Yeldon rushed for 2,193 yards and 32 touchdowns in 12 games and was named MVP of the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic.

13 Tracy Howard
Miramar, Fla.
Miramar CB 5-11 175 List Howard, a U.S. Army All-American, finished the season with 10 interceptions despite rarely being thrown at.

14 Ondre Pipkins
Kansas City, Mo.
Park Hill DT 6-3 325 Pipkins tallied two tackles and a forced fumble in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl after being dominant all week during practice.

15 Trey Williams
Spring, Texas
Dekaney RB 5-8 175 Williams had the third-highest single-season rushing total in Texas history, running for 3,890 yards and 48 touchdowns in leading Dekaney to a state title.

16 Zach Banner
Lakewood, Wash.
Lakes OT 6-9 310 List Banner started all week at left tackle at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

17 Landon Collins
Geismar, La.
Dutchtown S 5-11 199 Collins racked up four solo tackles and an interception in the Under Armour All-America Game.

18 Nelson Agholor
Tampa, Fla.
Berkeley Prep WR 6-2 180 List Agholor, used predominantly as a running back, finished his senior season with 207 carries, 1,986 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground.

19 Kyle Murphy
San Clemente, Calif.
San Clemente OT 6-7 275 List Murphy, who helped lead San Clemente to an 11-1 season, was one of the top offensive tackles at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

20 Gunner Kiel
Columbus, Ind.
Columbus East QB 6-4 220 Kiel finished his high school career by throwing for 2,523 yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior.

21 Ellis McCarthy
Monrovia, Calif.
Monrovia DT 6-5 311 McCarthy proved at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl that he can serve as either a defensive end or defensive tackle.

22 Kyle Kalis
Lakewood, Ohio
St. Edward OG 6-5 302 Kalis started at right guard in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in January.

23 John Theus
Jacksonville, Fla.
Bolles OT 6-6 292 Theus, a U.S. Army All-American, helped to lead Bolles to a state championship. He also was the lead blocker for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers.

24 Eddie Williams
Panama City, Fla.
Arnold ATH 6-4 204 A versatile prospect who can play on either side of the ball, Williams is expected to begin his college career at wide receiver.

25 Adolphus Washington
Cincinnati, Ohio
Taft DE 6-4 230 Washington tallied 1.5 sacks in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, and totaled 25 in his impressive senior season.





AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll
January 23, 2012
1 Kentucky (61) 19-1 1,620 2
Last Week: Def Arkansas 86-63 (1/17), Def Alabama 77-71 (1/21)
This Week: 1/24 at Georgia (10-9), 1/28 at LSU (12-7) Tickets
2 Missouri (2) 18-1 1,532 5
Last Week: Def Texas A&M 70-51 (1/16), Def Baylor 89-88 (1/21)
This Week: 1/25 at Oklahoma State (9-10), 1/28 vs. Texas Tech (7-11) Tickets
3 Syracuse (2) 20-1 1,506 1
Last Week: Def Pittsburgh 71-63 (1/16), Lost to Notre Dame 67-58 (1/21)
This Week: 1/23 at Cincinnati (15-5), 1/28 vs. West Virginia (15-5) Tickets
4 Ohio State 17-3 1,411 6
Last Week: Def Nebraska 79-45 (1/21)
This Week: 1/25 vs. Penn State (10-11), 1/29 vs. Michigan (15-5) Tickets
5 Kansas 16-3 1,383 7
Last Week: Def Baylor 92-74 (1/16), Def Texas 69-66 (1/21)
This Week: 1/23 vs. Texas A&M (11-7), 1/28 at Iowa State (14-5) Tickets
6 Baylor 17-2 1,234 3
Last Week: Lost to Kansas 92-74 (1/16), Lost to Missouri 89-88 (1/21)
This Week: 1/24 at Oklahoma (12-6), 1/28 vs. Texas (12-7) Tickets
7 North Carolina 16-3 1,232 8
Last Week: Def Virginia Tech 82-68 (1/19)
This Week: 1/26 vs. North Carolina State (15-5), 1/29 vs. Georgia Tech (8-11) Tickets
8 Duke 16-3 1,176 4
Last Week: Def Wake Forest 91-73 (1/19), Lost to Florida State 76-73 (1/21)
This Week: 1/25 at Maryland (12-6), 1/28 vs. St. John's (8-11) Tickets
9 Georgetown 16-3 1,045 10
Last Week: Def DePaul 83-75 (1/17), Def Rutgers 52-50 (1/21)
This Week: 1/28 at Pittsburgh (11-9) Tickets
10 Michigan State 16-4 1,009 9
Last Week: Lost to Michigan 60-59 (1/17), Def Purdue 83-58 (1/21)
This Week: 1/25 vs. Minnesota (15-5) Tickets
11 Murray State 20-0 925 12
Last Week: Def Morehead State 66-60 (1/18), Def SIU-Edwardsville 82-65 (1/21)
This Week: 1/28 vs. Eastern Illinois (9-9) Tickets
12 UNLV 18-3 886 14
Last Week: Def TCU 101-78 (1/18), Def New Mexico 80-63 (1/21)
This Week: 1/25 at Boise State (10-8), 1/28 at Air Force (11-6) Tickets
13 San Diego State 17-2 832 16
Last Week: Def New Mexico 75-70 (1/18), Def Air Force 57-44 (1/21)
This Week: 1/24 at Wyoming (16-3), 1/28 at Colorado State (13-5) Tickets
14 Florida 15-4 709 17
Last Week: Def LSU 76-64 (1/21)
This Week: 1/26 at Ole Miss (13-6), 1/28 vs. Mississippi State (16-4) Tickets
15 Creighton 18-2 682 19
Last Week: Def Missouri State 66-65 (1/18), Def Indiana State 75-49 (1/21)
This Week: 1/25 at Drake (12-8), 1/28 vs. Bradley (6-15) Tickets
16 Indiana 16-4 609 11
Last Week: Lost to Nebraska 70-69 (1/18), Def Penn State 73-54 (1/22)
This Week: 1/26 at Wisconsin (16-5), 1/29 vs. Iowa (11-9) Tickets
17 Marquette 16-4 517 21
Last Week: Def Louisville 74-63 (1/16), Def Providence 79-72 (1/21)
This Week: 1/24 vs. South Florida (12-8), 1/28 at Villanova (10-10) Tickets
18 Mississippi State 16-4 422 18
Last Week: Lost to Ole Miss 75-68 (1/18), Def Vanderbilt 78-77 (1/21)
This Week: 1/25 vs. LSU (12-7), 1/28 at Florida (15-4) Tickets
19 Virginia 15-3 414 15
Last Week: Def Georgia Tech 70-38 (1/19), Lost to Virginia Tech 47-45 (1/22)
This Week: 1/26 vs. Boston College (7-12), 1/28 at North Carolina State (15-5) Tickets
20 Michigan 15-5 396 20
Last Week: Def Michigan State 60-59 (1/17), Lost to Arkansas 66-64 (1/21)
This Week: 1/24 at Purdue (14-6), 1/29 at Ohio State (17-3) Tickets
21 Saint Mary's 19-2 345 24
Last Week: Def Pepperdine 61-47 (1/19), Def Santa Clara 93-77 (1/21)
This Week: 1/26 at Loyola Marymount (11-8), 1/28 at Brigham Young (17-5) Tickets
22 Kansas State 14-4 252 25
Last Week: Def Texas 84-80 (1/18), Def Oklahoma State 66-58 (1/21)
This Week: 1/25 at Texas Tech (7-11), 1/28 vs. Oklahoma (12-6) Tickets
23 Florida State 13-6 244 NR
Last Week: Def Maryland 84-70 (1/17), Def Duke 76-73 (1/21)
This Week: 1/25 at Wake Forest (11-8) Tickets
24 Connecticut 14-5 203 13
Last Week: Lost to Cincinnati 70-67 (1/18), Lost to Tennessee 60-57 (1/21)
This Week: 1/29 vs. Notre Dame (12-8) Tickets
25 Wisconsin 16-5 182 NR
Last Week: Def Northwestern 77-57 (1/18), Def Illinois 67-63 (1/22)
This Week: 1/26 vs. Indiana (16-4) Tickets

Buckeye Football - Video of some of the Top High School Dunkers

Top High School Dunkers of All Time

LeBron James High School Dunks




Vince Carter High School Dunks





Bill Walker High School Dunks




Shawn Kemp High School Dunks




J.R. Smith High School Dunks






10 College Football Teams That Are One Signing Class Away from BCS Championship
Ohio State is 6th on this list!
The Ohio State Buckeyes had one of their best recruiting classes in 2009 as it ranked No. 3 according to Rivals.com.
There were two 5-star recruits and numerous 4-stars. These players will be entering their fourth year in the program.
The 2010 class was down a little at No. 25, but had talented players on both sides of the ball. The 2011 class finished No. 11, despite not having a coach, and produced many talented freshmen who saw ample playing time last year.
True freshman Braxton Miller was one of the most exciting freshmen in the country and the talented sophomore class will be joined by a 2012 group that currently ranks No. 5.
There are already commitments from two 5-star defensive ends who could see immediate playing time.
Although Ohio State cannot play for a national championship next season, the future is looking bright in Columbus.

UNC coach: I apologized to players - AP College BBAll Poll- Ohio St. dismisses two defensive backs

Syracuse is a runaway No. 1 in The Associated Press' college basketball poll for the sixth straight week.
The Orange, one of three unbeatens entering play Monday, received 60 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel.
Kentucky was second with four first-place votes, followed by Baylor, which got its first No. 1 vote this season on the day it lost for the first time this season, 92-74to Kansas.
Duke and Missouri moved up four places to fourth and fifth, while Ohio State, Kansas, North Carolina, Michigan State and Georgetown round out the top 10.
Unbeaten Murray State moved from No. 15 to No. 12.
Illinois moved in at No. 22. Saint Mary's, Calif. is No. 24, its first appearance this season.
Gonzaga and Seton Hall dropped out of the poll.








UNC coach: I apologized to players

North Carolina coach Roy Williams said he apologized Monday to the five players left on the court for the final 14.2 seconds of his team's 33-point loss to unranked Florida State.
The coach said on his radio show that he was not aware that he had left the quintet of reserves and walk-ons on the Tucker Center floor Saturday -- while he and most of the rest of the team left early to avoid the court-rushing crowd -- until he watched the game-tape of the loss.
Roy Williams said Monday he only pulled his players off the court Saturday due to safety concerns relating to Florida State fans rushing the court.
"I said, 'Guys, I apologize. There was a miscommunication between (assistant) coach (Joe) Holladay and myself. I would never have left you out there to play the game.' " he said. "I was trying to get my entire team off the court, apologize to Florida State, make sure they weren't interpreting it the wrong way; I was just doing it for safety."
Williams, whose team dropped to No. 8 in both polls after the most lopsided loss since he became coach at UNC in 2003, said he started to become concerned about the raucous crowd towards the end of the game. At the end of UNC's loss to UNLV in Las Vegas earlier this season, a female manager got pushed to the ground by rushing fans, and Williams said he was trying to avoid a repeat of that.
"Coach (Holladay) said, 'We're going to have problems getting off of this court. Because they're already in the aisles, we're going to have problems,' " said Williams.
Williams says he tried to explain the issue to an official standing in front of the team's bench, but said the referee responded with,"I don't know what to tell you."
During a dead ball timeout, Williams said he spoke with Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton about the safety issue and Hamilton agreed that Williams should take his players off the court.
"He's always sensible on things like that," Williams said Monday. " ... So I turned to Joe Holladay, and I motioned and said, 'Come on.' And I took about three steps -- and you can see it on TV ... Leonard says something, he says, 'Roy, your players.' And I turned around and said, 'Come on.' You can see me motion my arm again. And I take off, but I stop and I try to congratulate as many (Florida State) players as I can. ... I said to every player, 'Congratulations on the win.' I said to the assistant coaches, 'Please don't be offended by this.' And everybody said, 'Coach, we understand.' "
UNC assistant coach C.B. McGrath, strength and conditioning coach Jonas Sahratian and two managers stayed on the sideline to help the remaining Tar Heels players get off the court when the game ended. Williams said he waited outside his locker room for all of his players, and when it took a while for Holladay and walk-on Patrick Crouch to arrive, Williams asked Holladay what took Crouch so long.
"He said, 'He got caught up in the crowd,' and I didn't know what the crap he was talking about," Williams said Monday.
Williams, angry at the game's outcome, said he didn't talk to his team about the game immediately afterwards, or during Sunday's clinic with the Special Olympics. He said he didn't realize what had happened with the five remaining players until he watched the game tape.
"Every prospect, every walk-on I have ever had -- if I eat steak, you're going to eat steak; whatever happens to every scholarship player, you have to do. I would never leave five kids out there," Williams said. "If I was going to do that, why wouldn't I stay out there? I saw it happen one time on TV, and I thought, 'Why would they leave those kids out there?' "



Ohio St. dismisses two defensive backs
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- New Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has dismissed two players for off-the-field problems.
Ohio State spokesman Jerry Emig confirmed Sunday that defensive backs Dominic Clarke and DerJuan Gambrell have been released from their scholarships.
Clarke, a redshirt sophomore from Frederick, Md., has been charged with drunken driving and also had been arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct after allegedly discharging a BB gun on campus. No one was hurt in the latter incident.
Gambrell, a freshman from Toledo, was also discharged for a "violation of team rules," but Ohio State did not specify what that violation was.



Osborne: Frank Solich needs to be honored by Nebraska
Current Ohio coach Frank Solich lasted six seasons at Nebraska in the tough job of having to follow in the footsteps of the great Tom Osborne. Despite a 58-19 overall record in those six seasons, Solich was shown the door by current Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson after Nebraska went 9-3 during the 2003 regular season.
Now, nine years later, Osborne wants Solich to come back to be honored at a yet-to-be-determined event. From Huskerextra.com:
“I talked to Frank about that (Friday) morning, and would really like to do that,” Osborne said. “The big problem has been finding the right time to do it. But we’re trying to find a time when we might be able to do something like that.”
Was Solich receptive to the idea?
“He didn’t say no,” Osborne said with a chuckle.
Solich, a Nebraska alumnus, seemed less optimistic, or perhaps more humble, when asked about a potential return to Lincoln.
“Hey, the thing is, people are sick of hearing about me back there. You know that,” Solich said.
Time heals some wounds, but your thoughts, Huskers fans?