FICKELL TALKS SUSPENDED PLAYERS; MICHIGAN QB READY FOR PRO-STYLE

DeVier Posey
TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

CHICAGO — Many people are pointing to Ohio State's Oct. 8 tilt at Nebraska as the first game to circle on this year's football calendar. Apologies to Miami, Fla. and Michigan State.

Not only will the battle with Nebraska be the first Big Ten game ever played at Lincoln, as well as being televised nationally in primetime, it will also be the first contest the Buckeyes' four suspended players — DeVier Posey, Dan Herron, Mike Adams and Solomon Thomas — will be eligible to participate.

As you noticed, the end of the previous statement said "eligible to participate," not "will participate."

MICHIGAN STATE COACH DANTONIO ON TRESSEL: HE'S 'A TRAGIC HERO'

Mark Dantonio

CHICAGO — Michigan State head football coach Mark Dantonio, who was an assistant for former Ohio State mentor Jim Tressel during their BCS championship campaign in 2002, had some heartfelt felt words for his former boss on Thursday afternoon in Chicago.

When asked about all that went down in the Tattoo-gate scandal in Columbus, which cost Tressel his job as head coach of the Buckeyes in May, Dantonio didn't hold back from paying his respects ...

JON NEWSOME DONE AT OHIO STATE

Jon Newsome
TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

CHICAGO — Ohio State junior linebacker Jon Newsome will no longer be a member of the Ohio State football team, the university announced Thursday.

Newsome, who recorded 15 tackles in 2010, was held out of spring practices for academic reasons.

The native of Cleveland was thought to be a possible starter this season at weakside linebacker.

FICKELL: NO TIME FOR EMOTIONS; MILLER MAY START THIS FALL

Luke Fickell

CHICAGO — Ohio State interim head football coach Luke Fickell addressed reporters at the 2011 Big Ten Media Days in Chicago on Thursday afternoon, and hit on a number of topics ranging from the quarterback battle entering camp next month, to his and the team's overall mindset following a whirlwind off-season that saw a head coach and starting quarterback get booted out of Columbus.

Fickell stated that he really hasn't had time to sit down and process the situation emotionally.

BIG TEN MEDIA DAYS: BREWSTER, SIMON SELECTED TO WATCH LIST

Mike Brewster
TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

CHICAGO — Ohio State senior center Michael Brewster and junior defensive lineman John Simon were named to the inaugural Big Ten Leaders Division Players to Watch list, selected by the media on Thursday in Chicago.

Brewster and Simon joined Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase, Indiana receiver DaMario Belcher, Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti and Wisconsin running backs James White and Montee Ball.

SANZENBACHER SIGNS WITH CHICAGO

Dane Sanzenbacher
TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

CHICAGO — Former Ohio State wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher will play for the Chicago Bears.

The Buckeyes' 2010 most valuable player — who went undrafted in April — signed with the Bears on Tuesday morning, just a day after the NFL ended its four and a half month lockout.

Sanzenbacher, who signed for less money to play with the Bears — according to his agent Joe Flanagan — feels he has an opportunity to shine in Mike Martz's offense which is led by veteran quarterback Jay Cutler.

Sanzenbacher led the Buckeyes last season in receptions (55), receiving yards (948) and receiving touchdowns (11).

BUCKEYES HAVE QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERED GOING INTO 2011

Luke Fickell
TBT/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

Now that the NFL lockout has been lifted and the pros are ready to get back at it in the coming days, you can probably guess what I am dying to discuss in this column, right?

Yep, your prognostication is correct — Ohio State football! 

(Please excuse me if I misled you there. I've been watching ESPN and reading Sports Illustrated a lot recently and I think it's beginning to affect me in an unsavory way)

The Buckeyes are about to start fall camp in a couple weeks so it's as good a time as any to discuss some burning questions, regarding Ohio State football ...

BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TICKETS GO ON SALE SATURDAY

INDIANAPOLIS — Tickets for the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game will go on sale to the general public on Saturday, July 30 at 10 a.m. ET. The 2011 Big Ten Football Championship Game will begin at 8:17 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and will be televised by FOX Sports.

IT'S JUST A THEORY ... ESPN DOES HAVE MOTIVE TO KILL OHIO STATE

ESPN is suing The Ohio State University for withholding e-mail transcripts between former head football coach Jim Tressel and Jeannette (Pa.) businessman Ted Sarniak (former quarterback Terrelle Pryor's hometown mentor), claiming that the school is held by law to release any matters of public record.

VRABEL NAMED NEW BUCKEYES LB COACH MONDAY, RETIRES FROM NFL

Mike Vrabel

(AP/Andy King)

COLUMBUS — When Ohio State named Luke Fickell as its head football coach on May 30, he left a huge void for the Buckeyes at the linebacker coaching spot.

On Monday morning, Fickell filled the position in a huge way.

Former Buckeye star and three-time Super Bowl champion linebacker, Mike Vrabel, accepted the opening with Ohio State on Monday, while also announcing his retirement from the NFL after 14 outstanding years of playing service.

BUCKEYES VACATE 2010 WINS, INCLUDING 2011 SUGAR BOWL

Photo by The Buckeye Times/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

COLUMBUS — Ohio State will vacate all of its wins from the 2010 football season — including their 31-26 victory over Arkansas in January's Sugar Bowl — according to the university's formal response to the NCAA's Notice of Allegations, submitted on Friday.

The university will also self-impose a two-year NCAA probation on its football program beginning in 2011. The probation means heightened punishments for those who commit violations in the future.

BUCKEYE FOOTBALL PLAYERS AREN'T CRYING OVER THEIR UGLY BREAKUP

Photo by The Buckeye Times/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell

COLUMBUS — Have you ever been broken up with by a girlfriend and thought that the world, as you know it, would be no more?

That you might as well stand on the roof of a skyscraper during a lightning storm, sporting nothing but chicken wire and metal golf spikes, while wielding a 3-iron to the heavens?

Well, the Ohio State football team doesn't believe in that approach when it comes to dealing with ugly breakups. Apparently, there's a "no crying" policy at the Woody Hayes compound.