The 2008 class of the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame has been announced. Among the honorees are former Buckeyes Herb Williams, Jim Cleamons, Allan Hornyak, Frank Howard, Neil Johnston, Arnie Risen, Larry Siegfried, and Ohio State Coaches Tippy Dye and Harold Olsen.

Other honorees include Wittenberg University coaching legend Ray Mears, Wittenberg standout Al Thrasher, Former University of Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins, former Ohio career scoring record holder Rex Leach, longtime official Jim Desmond and Central State University’s 1965 and 1968 NAIA national championship teams.

The Hall of Fame honors former players at the prep, college and pro levels, as well as coaches at all levels, male and female.

Selections are made by a panel of Ohio college All-Americans, NBA Hall of Fame players and Ohio high school and college coaches.

These great players and coaches will be inducted on May 17, 2008. For more information or to get tickets to this event go to www.ohiohoopzone.com

Popularity: 36% [?]

Justin Zwick- former Ohio State Football Quarterback- was on a national championship team, but now he will be in the booth broadcasting two state championship games.

Zwick will be teamed up with Cleveland Indians broadcaster Matt Underwood as part of Sports Time Ohio’s coverage of the state football championship games this weekend in Stark County.

Zwick will broadcast Friday’s 3:00pm Division III state title game between Licking Valley and Big Walnut and then Saturday’s 3:00pm Division IV game between Cardinal Mooney and Coldwater.

For more information on Zwick’s on air plans see this article from IndeOnline.com

Popularity: 27% [?]

This morning we received the sad news that Buckeye legend Bill Willis had passed away.

Bill was truly one of the best football players to play for Ohio State. That’s one of the reasons his number was retired just a few weeks ago at halftime of the Wisconsin game.

But to focus solely on his playing ability overlooks the fact that Bill was a trailblazer and one of the courageous men who broke the color barrier both in the Big Ten and National Football League.

Bill was one of the first African Americans to play in the Big Ten and he was a force on the offensive and defensive lines. I know that Bill received some rough treatment in those days, but he answered that treatment not with his own insults, but with hard and fair play. Anyone who insulted Bill was sure to encounter a devastating block or tackle from him in good time.

After leading Ohio State to the 1942 national championship, Bill went on to a successful career with the Cleveland Browns in the NFL. Again, he dealt with racism on a regular basis, but handled the slights with the type of dignity and honor you’d expect from a man of his ilk.

Bill was a Buckeye through and through. His contributions to football and society will be truly missed. The Ohio State alumni family sends deepest condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.

Popularity: 33% [?]

Recently, Bill Willis was in the news as a victim of theft, when his 1942 Ohio State National Championship Ring was stolen, and then he made headlines again when Ohio State retired his number (99) at halftime of the Wisconsin game on November 3rd of this year.

Football Legend, Bill Willis died on Tuesday evening November 27th, 2007 at the age of 86.

His Ohio State National Championship ring was returned to his family just hours before he died at Grant Medical Center.

Please see these news articles about Bill’s life and his recent passing.

Columbus Dispatch
Dayton Daily News
Columbus Dispatch - Commentary
Columbus Dispatch
Columbus Dispatch - Quotes
Canton Repository
Toledo Blade

Popularity: 22% [?]

There are currently forty-seven former Ohio State football players on rosters in the National Football League. Each week we will provide updates about how these former Buckeyes performed in the previous week’s action with the help of OhioStateBuckeyes.com

Baltmore Ravens - 14, at San Diego Chargers - 32
Smith, Troy (QB): Did Not Play

Buffalo Bills - 14, at Jacksonville Jaguars - 36
Whitner, Donte (S): 4 tkl
Youboty, Ashton (CB): 1 tkl

Cincinnati Bengals - 35, vs. Tennessee Titans - 6
Schlegel, Anthony (LB): 1 ast
Stepanovich, Alex (C): Did Not Play

Cleveland Browns - 27, vs. Houston Texans - 17
Bentley, LeCharles (C): Physically Unable to Perform
Fraser, Simon (DE): 1 tkl

Indianapolis Colts - 31, at Atlanta Falcons - 13
Gonzalez, Anthony (WR): 6 rec for 105 yds
Hall, Roy (WR): Injured Reserve
Pitcock, Quinn (DT): 4 tkl

Miami Dolphins - 0, at Pittsburgh Steelers - 3
Ginn, Jr., Ted (WR): 3 rec for 35 yds, 1 KO return for 23 yds

New England Patriots - 31, vs. Philadelphia Eagles - 28
Vrabel, Mike (LB): 5 tkl and 1 ast

New York Jets - 3, at Dallas Cowboys - 34
Clarke, Adrien (G): Starting G
Mangold, Nick (C): Starting C
Nugent, Mike (PK): 1/1 FG (40)

Oakland Raiders - 20, at Kansas City Chiefs - 17
Richardson, Jay (DE): 4 tkl

Pittsburgh Steelers - 3, vs. Miami Dolphins - 0
Holmes, Santonio (WR): Not Active

San Diego Chargers - 32, vs. Baltimore Ravens - 14
Olivea, Shane (OT): Starting T
Wilhelm, Matt (LB): 3 tkl and 1 ast

Tennessee Titans - 6, at Cincinnati Bengals - 35
Hartsock, Ben (TE): 1 rec for 27 yds
Nickey, Donnie (DB): Substitute S

Arizona Cardinals - 31, vs. San Francisco 49ers - 37
Bailey, Rodney (DE): 1 ast

Atlanta Falcons - 13, vs. Indianapolis Colts - 31
Datish, Doug (C): Injured Reserve
Jenkins, Michael (WR): 1 rec for 9 yds

Carolina Panthers - 6, vs. New Orleans Saints - 31
Carter, Drew (WR): 3 rec for 41 yds, 1 Misc tkl
Diggs, Na’il (LB): 3 tkl
Gamble, Chris (CB): Not Active
Salley, Nate (S): Injured Reserve
Goings, Nick (RB): Injured Reserve

Dallas Cowboys - 34, vs. New York Jets - 3
Carpenter, Bobby (LB): 1 ast on ST
Glenn, Terry (WR): Did Not Play

Detroit Lions - 26, vs. Green Bay Packers - 37
Furrey, Mike (WR):

Green Bay Packers - 37, at Detroit Lions - 26
Hawk, A.J. (LB): 5 ast
Pickett, Ryan (DT): 2 tkl and 1 ast
Walter, Tyson (OL): Injured Reserve

Minnesota Vikings - 41, at New York Giants - 17
Doss, Mike (DB): Not Active
Scott, Darrion (DE): Injured Reserve
Winfield, Antoine (CB): Not Active

New Orleans Saints - 31, at Carolina Panthers - 6
Houser, Kevin (FB): Starting LS
Smith, Will (DE): 1 tkl, 1 PD, and 1 FR

St. Louis Rams - 19, vs. Seattle Seahawks - 24
Pace, Orlando (T): Injured Reserve
Pittman, Antonio (RB): 5 rush for 11 yds

San Francisco 49ers - 37, at Arizona Cardinals - 31
Clements, Nate (CB/PR): 8 tkl and 2 ast, 1 FF and 1 PD

Seattle Seahawks - 24, at St. Louis Rams - 19
Sims, Rob (OL): Starting G

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 19, vs. Washington Redskins - 13
Allen, Will (S): 1 FR on ST
Galloway, Joey (WR): 2 rec for 21 yds

Washington Redskins - 13, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 19
Springs, Shawn (CB): 3 tkl, 1 ast, 1 PD

In Season Transactions:
Anderson, Tim (DT): Cut by the Buffalo Bills (10/20/2007)
Boston, David (WR): Released/injury settlement by Tampa Bay Buccaneers (09/12/2007)

Popularity: 20% [?]

Monday, Nov. 26 - No. 15 Wrestling takes the home mat for the first time vs. Rutgers at 7 p.m. in St. John Arena. (Release)

Tuesday, Nov. 27 – Fifth-seeded men’s soccer plays host to Louisville in the second round of the NCAA tournament at 5 p.m. in Jesse Owens Mem. Stadium. (Release)

Wednesday, Nov. 28 – Men’s basketball takes on No. 1 North Carolina at 9 p.m. in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Value City Arena.

Thursday, Nov. 29 – Visit OhioStateBuckeyes.com to chat with a member of the swimming team to preview the OSU Invitational this weekend at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion.

Friday, Nov. 30 – Men’s and women’s swimming hosts the OSU Invitational at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion.

Saturday, Dec. 1 – The OSU Invitational continues at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion.

Sunday, Dec. 2 – Women’s basketball welcomes Ole Miss to Value City Arena at 1 p.m. Ole Miss made the Elite 8 of the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

Popularity: 23% [?]

Monday, Nov. 19 – Field hockey’s Yesenia Luces was named First Team All-American, becoming only the second Buckeye to earn multiple first team All-America awards. Linda Haussener garnered Second Team All-America honors by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. (Release)

Tuesday, Nov. 20 – Nationally ranked men’s swimming and diving remained perfect by sailing to a 147-82 win over Cleveland State at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. (Recap)

Wednesday, Nov. 21 – Women’s Volleyball closed out the home season with a loss to No. 1 Penn State at St. John Arena. (Recap)

Thursday, Nov. 22 – Men’s basketball prepped for the 2007 NIT final with a practice at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Release)

Friday, Nov. 23 – Tessa Bonhomme of women’s hockey tallied an assist vs. St. Cloud State to claim the Ohio State record for defenseman scoring. (Recap)

Saturday, Nov. 24 – Women’s hockey defeated St. Cloud State, 4-1, for head coach Jackie Barto’s 200th career victory. (Recap)

Sunday, Nov. 25 – Men’s basketball returned to historic St. John Arena and defeated VMI, 90-57, behind Kosta Koufos and his first career double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Jamar Butler also set the Ohio State record for career 3-point makes. (Recap)

Popularity: 22% [?]

Here’s a hypothetical question for you.

Would you rather No. 1 Missouri lose Saturday’s Big 12 Championship Game, allowing Ohio State to play for the national championship — or would you rather see the Buckeyes play in the Rose Bowl (and all the tradition and pageantry it offers) where they have played only once in 22 years?

OK, let me go one step further.

What if I told you that this is Jan. 8, 2008, and the Buckeyes just lost the BCS Championship Game to West Virginia the night before?

Now, let me ask you again, would you have rather they had gone to the Rose Bowl?

This is a real dilemma and I must admit, I am torn.

If they would be facing a different opponent in New Orleans, I would call this a no-brainer. We should want national championships. And we should want to take on all-comers to play for them.

But the Mountaineers, who surely will trample Pitt this Saturday, pose a real problem for the Buckeyes. They run the same offensive system in which Illinois made Ohio State’s defense look silly. And they run it better and faster!

I don’t know what happened to the Buckeyes’ defense when it comes to the trendy zone-read option, but Florida used it effectively in the 41-14 embarrassment in last season’s title game and the Illini converted third down after third down to control the ball and thus, upset Ohio State three weeks ago.

A few years ago, Ohio State defended this offense very well — but then again, Northwestern and Indiana were the teams in the Big Ten using it. Neither has the athletes of Florida, Illinois and especially, West Virginia.

(At the same time, I have absolutely no doubt that Ohio State would run the ball almost at will against West Virginia’s defense, but that is for another blog).

Just as the Buckeyes are still paying for that Jan. 8 debacle against Florida as far as image and respect go (why else do you think they are ranked No. 3 today while one-loss Missouri and one-loss West Virginia are ranked higher?), another convincing loss in the BCS title game for the second consecutive year would be devastating.

It would have a carry-over effect like we’ve never seen before, not so much on the players, but on how the program is perceived across the nation.

I really don’t know who to root for in this Big 12 Championship Game. Part of me wants to see the Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl, where I think they match up very well with likely opponent USC, even though the Trojans are now healthy.

And part of me wants them to play for it all.

Again, that undoubtedly could be the worst scenario of them all.

The bottom line is this: If they get the chance to play for it all in New Orleans, they MUST win it all.

Popularity: 31% [?]

William J Jeckell, otherwise known as “Buckeye Bill”, was an Ohio State University Football fan who proudly displayed in his yard a former piece of the Ohio Stadium sod set with goal posts that he only manicured by hand, never mowed.

Mr. Jeckell dies on November 19 at the Mount Healthy Christian Home. The Greenhills resident was 95 years old.

For more information on how Buckeye Bill supported the Buckeyes throughout his life, see this article from Cincinnati.com.

Popularity: 21% [?]

There are currently forty-seven former Ohio State football players on rosters in the National Football League. Each week we will provide updates about how these former Buckeyes performed in the previous week’s action with the help of OhioStateBuckeyes.com

Baltmore Ravens - 30, vs. Cleveland Browns - 33
Smith, Troy (QB): Did Not Play

Buffalo Bills - 10, vs. New England Patriots - 56
Whitner, Donte (S): 3 tkl and 1 FF
Youboty, Ashton (CB): Substitute CB

Cincinnati Bengals - 27, vs. Arizona Cardinals - 35
Schlegel, Anthony (LB): 1 tkl and 1 ast
Stepanovich, Alex (C): Substitute C

Cleveland Browns - 33, at Baltmore Ravens - 30
Bentley, LeCharles (C): Physically Unable to Perform
Fraser, Simon (DE): 4 tkl

Indianapolis Colts - 13, vs. Kansas City Chiefs - 10
Gonzalez, Anthony (WR): Did Not Play
Hall, Roy (WR): Injured Reserve
Pitcock, Quinn (DT): 1 ast

Miami Dolphins - 7, at Philadelphia Eagles - 17
Ginn, Jr., Ted (WR): 4 rec for 52 yds, 2 KR for 52 yds, 3 PR for 99 yds and 1 TD

New England Patriots - 56, at Buffalo Bills - 10
Vrabel, Mike (LB): 2 tkl and 1 ast

New York Jets - 19, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers - 16
Clarke, Adrien (G): Starting G
Mangold, Nick (C): Starting C
Nugent, Mike (PK): 4/4 FG (25,19,28,38), 1/1 PA

Oakland Raiders - 22, at Minnesota Vikings - 29
Richardson, Jay (DE): 1 tkl

Pittsburgh Steelers - 16, at New York Jets - 19
Holmes, Santonio (WR): 5 rec for 75 yds and 1 TD

San Diego Chargers - 17, at Jacksonville Jaguars - 24
Olivea, Shane (OT): Starting T
Wilhelm, Matt (LB): 6 tkl and 1 ast

Tennessee Titans - 20, at Denver Broncos - 34
Hartsock, Ben (TE): Starting TE
Nickey, Donnie (DB): Substitute DB

Arizona Cardinals - 35, at Cincinnati Bengals - 27
Bailey, Rodney (DE): 1 ast

Atlanta Falcons - 7, vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 31
Datish, Doug (C): Injured Reserve
Jenkins, Michael (WR): 9 rec for 73 yds

Carolina Panthers - 17, at Green Bay Packers - 31
Carter, Drew (WR): 5 rec for 132 yds and 1 TD
Diggs, Na’il (LB): 1 ast
Gamble, Chris (CB): 4 tkl
Salley, Nate (S): Injured Reserve
Goings, Nick (RB): Injured Reserve

Dallas Cowboys - 28, vs. Washington Redskins - 23
Carpenter, Bobby (LB): 1 ast on ST
Glenn, Terry (WR): Not Active

Detroit Lions - 10, vs. New York Giants - 16
Furrey, Mike (WR): 5 rec for 64 yards

Green Bay Packers - 31, vs. Carolina Panthers - 17
Hawk, A.J. (LB): 5 tkl and 3 ast, 1 PD
Pickett, Ryan (DT): 3 tkl and 1 ast
Walter, Tyson (OL): Injured Reserve

Minnesota Vikings - 29, vs. Oakland Raiders - 22
Doss, Mike (DB): 1 ast on ST
Scott, Darrion (DE): Injured Reserve
Winfield, Antoine (CB): 1 tkl

New Orleans Saints - 10, at Houston Texans - 23
Houser, Kevin (FB): Starting LS
Smith, Will (DE): 2 tkl and 1 ast, 1 PD and 1 FR

St. Louis Rams - 13, vs. San Francisco 49ers - 9
Pace, Orlando (T): Injured Reserve
Pittman, Antonio (RB): 3 rush for (-2) yds

San Francisco 49ers - 9, vs. St. Louis Rams - 13
Clements, Nate (CB): 8 tkl and 2 PD

Seattle Seahawks - 30, vs. Chicago Bears - 23
Sims, Rob (OL): Starting G

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 31, at Atlanta Falcons - 7
Allen, Will (S): 2 tkl, 1 tkl on ST
Galloway, Joey (WR): 2 rec for 63 yds and 1 TD

Washington Redskins - 23, at Dallas Cowboys - 28
Springs, Shawn (CB): 6 tkl and 1 ast

In Season Transactions:
Anderson, Tim (DT): Cut by the Buffalo Bills (10/20/2007)
Boston, David (WR): Released/injury settlement by Tampa Bay Buccaneers (09/12/2007)

Popularity: 27% [?]