Thoughts On Fickell: My Take

Saving 1 timeout at a time.

First of all let me remind you all I am a 1997 graduate of The Ohio State University. For those of you who may not realize this, 1997 is the same our current Head Coach Luke Fickell graduated from the great university. I did not know Luke Fickell personally, but I went to every home game, a couple of road games, and the 1997 Rose Bowl, a game in which Fickell showed his unbelievable toughness by playing the game with a torn pectoral muscle. He was “the man”. Because of our going to OSU at the same time I can honestly say I feel a kinship to Coach Fickell (though I am sure he does not feel the same way about me), and I hoped he would succeed as a coach, and one day become our head coach, I just don’t think that one day is now. Coach Fickell was a very good linebackers coach and a good co-defensive coordinator. However, he has never actually been in charge of a side of the ball by himself. As co-defensive coordinator he was basically in charge of linebackers, and worked with Jim Heacock on calling plays for the defense. I believe he needs more seasoning as an assistant coach, or if he is going to be a head coach right now or next year, it needs to be at a smaller school, not a school the size of and with the pressures of The Ohio State University.

Let’s take a look at how he has looked so far. Against Akron, he looked like Cooper. I say Cooper because like in the Cooper years we crushed teams that we were supposed to crush. Even with the suspensions Fickell looked to be making all the correct calls (though I thought maybe we would see a little more Braxton Miller in the game). It seemed people began drinking a little of the proverbial kool-aid. Then came Toledo. Make no mistake they are a good team, but elite they are not (look at their Boise State game as proof). We had the same suspensions, nothing new, and we looked awful. In the end our talent and depth was too much for Toledo to handle and we squeaked out an all too close win.

Recap: Day 1 of Fall Camp

Berry is ready to start

Buckeye football has finally hit the camps, which can only mean that College Football is just a couple weeks away from getting it's start. While our Scarlet and Gray get prepared, the media (including us), have all the latest news about what you need to know as they progress through camps. With that, let's jump right in to what we know.

From left to right: Andrew Norwell, Jack Mewhort, Mike Brewster, Marcus Hall, and J.B. Shugarts are your starters on the offensive line. Mike Adams also worked in some reps, but with him facing the 5-game suspension, we need Norwell to get his reps in more. Chris Carter was a very nice surprise after he reported in overweight, but yet still raised some eyebrows in camp as he was moving very quickly at the left tackle position. He could add some much needed depth to the offensive line.

As for the defensive line, Nathan Williams, Jonathan Hankins, Garrett Goebel, and of course John Simon. Solomon Thomas had to sit out because he was suspended for the first 5 games as well, and was wearing a yellow jersey. John Simon is a man, and he could be a serious threat along with Hankins and Williams. This defensive line should have no problems whatsoever.

So, Who's Got That QB Spot?

Props to Guiton for showing why he CAN be #1

Well here we are, almost at the end of Spring Practice and unfortunately as of today there is no real answer to the quarterback question. The most apparent thing is that it is no longer just a three-man race with Bauserman, Guiton, and Miller. Taylor Graham seems to want the job also. If you read the reports and go by Jim Tressel’s track record for starting experienced players (not including benching Boeckman for Pryor) over younger, less experienced players, all signs seem to be pointing towards Bauserman starting the first game of the season. In a recent Saturday scrimmage, it was reported by the Dispatch that Bauserman, Graham, and Miller all had “some” spectacular plays, but Guiton appeared to struggle. 

Later in the same article, it stated that during a weekday practice Guiton performed the best. Tressel’s response to questions regarding the #1 quarterback: “We don’t have a game tomorrow, so we don’t have to make the decision.” Frankly, that is not inspiring. I know it is only spring practice, and there is a long way until both summer camps, and the opening of the season, but I was hoping for a little more surety or confidence on the quarterback front.