Midweek Mierda: Big Ten Media Days

Ray Small going the wrong way? A quick peek at the 2008 Ohio State media guide yields a weird uncertainty Mr. Ray Small. Small appears with the walkons and not the rest of the scholarship players. Instead, he has been herded onto a page with 10 other guys, no bio info, and a host of lesser celebrated players like K.C. Christian and Joe Gantz, along with Eugene Clifford, who we know is gone.

Tressel’s response to Small’s oddly placed appearance: "I didn't know that," Tressel said. "I haven't pored over the media guide yet, but is his status in question? No." That’s coachspeak for “You’ll be lucky to see him play this season.”

Now what for Ray? First, Small received a numerical demotion from No. 4 to No. 82, and now this. He is going to be lucky to a stripe on his helmet by the time August 30 rolls around.

Eugene Clifford makes an unprecedented second straight appearance in MM. This time he is free of the shackles formerly known as a scholarship. Once Tressel got off the book circuit, he had a chance to cut E.C. loose. Judging by the comments we received, not many of you are surprised or disappointed that Clifford is no longer donning the Scarlet and Gray.

The Dispatch indicated that he is most interested in transferring to Tennessee State in Nashville, which is in the FCS, meaning Clifford would be eligible to play this fall.

We wish him luck, and strongly advise him to avoid local bars, The Ten Commandments and Noah’s Ark.

In speaking about Clifford, Tressel did not directly state whether Clifford is transferring, as the above link says.

"I really can't say anything about Eugene just in case he ends up somewhere else and they need to talk about it," Tressel said. "He's in the midst of some situation and we'll know for sure what everyone is doing, Eugene and the rest, when we report to camp."

But when asked if he expected Clifford to be part of the team come camp, Tressel said, "Probably not."