RECRUITING: IT'S HARD TO BE A 'MAN' WHEN YOU'RE STILL A 'BOY'

Gunner Kiel

My father told me when I turned 18 years old that just because by law I’m considered a man doesn’t mean I am one.

He would say: “Son, you may look like a man, but to be a man you must act like a man. Until then, you are still a boy.”

THE MEYER EFFECT: FIVE BUCKEYES BOUND TO MAKE THE LEAP IN 2012

Jordan Hall
The Buckeye Times/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

COLUMBUS — The amount of impact that head coach Urban Meyer will have on the Ohio State Buckeyes is no secret. 

Now, we've seen the spread offense struggle to adapt to the confines of Big Ten play (Michigan and Illinois, most notably), yet Meyer isn't shying away from shipping his wide-open system to Columbus. Meyer, who is currently putting the finishing touches on a mighty impressive staff, has customized the spread offense around his personnel at previous stops in his coaching career. Meyer has stated that he still plans to play smash-mouth football while trying to attack the defensive edges.

BUCKEYES SEASON CAN BE SUMMED UP IN ONE WORD: DISAPPOINTING

Braxton Miller, left, and Luke Fickell on the sideline during Ohio State's 24-17 loss to Florida in Monday's Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. (AP)

JACKSONVILLE — It was a fitting end to a disappointing football season for Ohio State on Monday.

Although the Buckeyes (6-7) exceeded Florida in total offense, passing, rushing, first downs and time of possession during Monday's Gator Bowl showdown in Jacksonville, it was two lapses on special teams that prevented the boys in scarlet and gray from avoiding their first seven-loss season since the late 19th century.

GATOR BOWL: THOUGHT OF MEYER MAY POWER BUCKEYES TO WIN

Braxton Miller
TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

JACKSONVILLE — Boy, how the mighty have fallen.

Just five years ago Jim Tressel and the Ohio State Buckeyes faced off against Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators in the BCS Championship game in Glendale, Arizona. Each were sitting atop the college football mountain. Both powerhouse programs with head coaches to match.

Now each are relegated to playing in Monday's TaxSlayer.Com Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. Not exactly the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, but certainly not a national title game either.

TBT Q&A: QB MILLER WILL BENEFIT FROM MEYER'S HIRING IMMEDIATELY

Urban Meyer

Due to my inbox and Twitter accounts pushing occupancy limits, I must act as a cyber-world firefighter and extinguish some of the questions and comments from my readers and followers about Ohio State football.

As in the past, I will use full names from Twitter and initials/first names from e-mails (Note: if you don't want your e-mail or tweets to possibly appear in my stories, do not write to me.) ...

SMITH COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE DISAPPOINTMENT AND CHOSE NOT TO

Gene Smith

COLUMBUS — "We are surprised and disappointed with the NCAA's decision."

Those words were uttered Tuesday by Ohio State director of athletics, Gene Smith, following the NCAA's ruling of a one-year bowl ban for the football team, among other penalties.

The sad thing about it is, Mr. Smith himself could've avoided all of this disappointment. He had the power to soften the blow, to nip things in the bud, to take a real stand as a leader of the program. Instead, his arrogance prevented him from doing what was right. He thought the team and the school was bigger than the game. He found out Tuesday, that certainly isn't the case.

BUCKEYES RECEIVE SANCTIONS, INCLUDING A ONE-YEAR BOWL BAN

COLUMBUS — After a year of investigations surrounding the Ohio State football team, the NCAA finally handed down punishment to the Buckeyes on Tuesday afternoon, sanctions which include a one-year bowl ban effective the coming season.

MEYER HIRES MICKEY MAROTTI AS DIRECTOR OF SPORTS PERFORMANCE

Mickey Marotti

COLUMBUS — Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer added another to his football staff on Thursday afternoon, naming Mickey Marotti as his assistant athletic director for football sports performance.

The former director of sports performance at the University of Florida (2005-11) will head up the football team's strength and condition program effective Jan. 2, 2012.

Meyer, who worked with Marotti at Florida — as well as Notre Dame and OSU (as grad assistants) — praised the Buckeyes' new strength staff leader.

MEYER SNAGS TWO DE-COMMITS; HIRES TWO MORE TO HIS STAFF

COLUMBUS — Urban Meyer's hiring at Ohio State as head football coach is already reaping huge rewards on the recruiting front for the Buckeyes.

On Monday, Tommy Schutt — a star defensive tackle out of Chicago's Glenbard West High School — pulled his commitment from Penn State and declared that he would be playing his collegiate football for the Buckeyes instead.

BUCKEYES HIRE TOM HERMAN AS NEW OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/QB COACH

Tom Herman

COLUMBUS — Ohio State named former Iowa State assistant Tom Herman as its new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer announced on Friday.

Herman, who held the same position at Iowa State for the past three years, is considered one of the top young assistants in the country according to Meyer.

TEN BUCKEYE FOOTBALL PLAYERS MAKE ALL-BIG TEN ACADEMIC TEAM

COLUMBUS — Ten members of the Ohio State football team were named Academic All-Big Ten, the conference announced on Wednesday.

In order to qualify for all-conference honors, the student-athlete must be a letterwinner in at least his second year at the institution and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

The Buckeyes who were honored by the conference for their scholastic achievements were Ben Buchanan, Dominic Clarke, Zach Domicone, Nate Ebner, Derek Erwin, Adam Homan, Chris Maxwell, Tyler Moeller, Chris Roark and Andrew Sweat.

BCS GOT IT WRONG ... AGAIN

Once again, the Bowl Championship Series and college football got it wrong.

Alabama — and not Oklahoma State — was selected on Sunday night to play in the BCS Championship Game against No. 1 LSU (Jan. 9, 2012 in New Orleans), even after failing to score a touchdown in their 9-6 loss to the Tigers earlier this season in Tuscaloosa.

BUCKEYES TO FACE FLORIDA IN 2012 TAXSLAYER.COM GATOR BOWL JAN. 2

COLUMBUS — Ohio State has accepted an invitation to play the University of Florida in the 2012 TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl in Jacksonville on Jan. 2, the school announced on Sunday evening.

The Buckeyes (6-6) — who have suffered three-straight losses — will face a Florida team (6-6) which has fell to defeat in six of their last eight games.

It will be the first time the two teams have faced each other since the 2007 BCS Championship Game in Glendale (Ariz.), where the Gators won 41-14.

The kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

STOOPS VISITED WITH URBAN MEYER, MAY HAVE BEEN OFFERED DC JOB

Mike Stoops

COLUMBUS — Former Arizona head coach Mike Stoops confirmed Thursday that he has visited with newly hired Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer about the defensive coordinator position, according to The Oklahoman.

Stoops, 49, told the Oklahoma news outlet that he did make a trip to Columbus this week to meet with Meyer but wouldn't confirm whether he was offered the DC role by the Buckeyes' boss.

OSU QB BRAXTON MILLER NAMED BIG TEN'S TOP FRESHMAN WEDNESDAY

Braxton Miller
TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

COLUMBUS — Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller has been named the 2011 Thompson-Randel El Big Ten Freshman of the Year, the conference announced on Wednesday afternoon.

The true freshman Miller — who turned 19 on Wednesday — totaled 1,692 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Buckeyes this season, including team-highs in rushing yards (695) and rushing touchdowns (7).

WHEN IT COMES TO URBAN MEYER, BRAXTON MILLER IS HELEN OF TROY

Braxton Miller
The Buckeye Times/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

COLUMBUS — During Urban Meyer's press conference on Monday evening in Columbus to announce his hiring as the new head football coach at Ohio State, I was patiently awaiting the old guy from the eHarmony commercials to come popping his head out from behind the small curtain on the right side of the stage.

Seriously, Neil Clark Warren — said "old guy" and founder of the aforementioned online dating site — totally missed out on a golden opportunity Monday evening inside the Fawcett Center because when Meyer was asked about his new (match) quarterback Braxton Miller, the coach's face lit up like a man who had truly found his soul mate.

URBAN MEYER HAS MADE A GOOD CHOICE COMING BACK TO OHIO STATE

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer
(AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)

COLUMBUS — It's officially official.

All the rumors, speculation and optimism surrounding the situation had come full circle as Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer entered his introductory press conference at the Fawcett Center on Monday evening.

With the ink on his six-year, $24 million contract still drying, there was a certain ora that gathered in the room when Meyer strolled in to take the stage as the face of Buckeye Nation. Sporting a smooth Buckeye tie and speaking with conviction and confidence, Meyer assured the college football world that Ohio State is back.

URBAN MEYER ANNOUNCED AS NEW HEAD COACH OF THE BUCKEYES

Urban Meyer was introduced as the new head football coach at Ohio State on Monday. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)

COLUMBUS — It's no longer speculation ... Urban Meyer is the new head football coach at The Ohio State University.

The former Florida head coach and ESPN college football analyst was introduced to the media on Monday evening in Columbus and the new Buckeyes' boss spoke about a number of topics during the press conference including coming back to his home state of Ohio, his days as a graduate assistant at OSU under Earle Bruce and why he decided to take a year away from coaching following last season.

"It's great to come back to my home state, where I was born, where I met my wife," Meyer said. "I began my college coaching career here at Ohio State in 1987 working for hall of fame coach Earle Bruce. My relationship with him is extremely close, second only to my father ...

MEYER TO BE ANNOUNCED AS NEW HEAD COACH AT 5:15 P.M. MONDAY

COLUMBUS — Ohio State will hold a press conference Monday at 5:15 p.m. announcing the hiring of new head football coach Urban Meyer, the university confirmed.

The Buckeye Times will be on hand to provide coverage.

MEYER WILL BE NAMED HEAD COACH MONDAY, TO MEET WITH TEAM TODAY

Urban Meyer
(AP)

COLUMBUS — Urban Meyer will be announced as the new head football coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes on Monday, an individual with inside knowledge of the situation told The Buckeye Times Sunday.

The former University of Florida head coach will meet with the team sometime today, according to the individual, and will be officially named as the new Buckeyes' mentor on Monday.

OHIO STATE'S REIGN OVER MICHIGAN COMES TO A HALT IN A 40-34 LOSS

Braxton Miller
TBT/Josh Stueve

ANN ARBOR, MI — The monkey has been surgically removed off the backs of the Michigan Wolverines, courtesy of Denard Robinson.

In the 108th meeting between the Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes, Robinson was flawless as the junior sliced up the Buckeye defense for 5 total touchdowns and 337 total yards (167 passing, 170 rushing). Robinson’s precision through the air — going 14-for-17 — helped push Michigan (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten) over the hump in its first victory over Ohio State (6-6, 3-5 Big Ten) since 2003, 40-34. 


The loss gives the Buckeyes their first non-winning season since 1999.

REGARDLESS OF RECORDS, 'THE GAME' SHOULD BE A CLASSIC

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Woody Hayes — the late, legendary Ohio State head football coach — always used to refer to rival Michigan as "that school up north."

Michigan first-year head coach Brady Hoke, in his own Hayes-like fashion, refuses to utter the words "Ohio State," choosing instead to refer to the Buckeyes as simply, "Ohio."

Does Hoke mistakingly think he's playing Ohio University? Or is he trying to make a statement in his first meeting as head coach against the hated Buckeyes?

MEYER TO BE NAMED OSU HEAD COACH, MAYBE AS EARLY AS SUNDAY

Urban Meyer (AP)

(Updated) COLUMBUS — Urban Meyer will be named the new head football coach at Ohio State — possibly as early as this Sunday — according to an individual with inside knowledge of the situation.

The individual stated via text message that the former University of Florida head coach has agreed in principle to become the new Buckeyes' mentor, and that the university will wait until sometime after its regular season finale Saturday at No. 15 Michigan to announce the news.

MICHIGAN WEEK: WOLVERINES FOUND THEIR 'MICHIGAN MAN' ... IN OHIO

Michigan head coach Brady Hoke
(AP Photo)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Former Michigan head football coach Rich Rodriguez never fully understood what it was like to be a 'Michigan Man.'

That's probably because he wasn't one.

Rodriguez — a native of West Virginia with zero ties to the program — tried to change the culture in Ann Arbor during his three seasons as the Wolverines' mentor. And what did it get him? A 15-22 overall record, three losses to rival Ohio State by an average margin of 25 points per game and a pink slip.