Post-Hangover News and Notes

Drew Thurman (11:26 am)

Happy New Year, Buckeye Nation! Hopefully you've gotten rid of your headache and can concentrate on a full slate of football action today.

The Big Ten has five huge match-ups, including three battles with SEC schools. While going 2-3 today seems very likely when the dust settles, it still should be a great day to sit on your couch and do nothing. Anyway, let's hit some headlines...

Ohio State is slow, pass it on.

It wouldn't be bowl season without someone knocking the speed of the Buckeyes and the entire Big Ten. You may remember Oregon players had several comments on the subject last year, and this year the Arkansas players are taking their shots as well. While I wasn't in attendance, the offensive players all seemed to be in agreement yesterday at their Sugar Bowl presser about having a speed advantage over OSU. You can their comments via Twitter here, here, and here. 

I'm personally fine with the Razorback players feeling so confident. Ohio State has consistently shown the last several seasons that they can run with anyone, and I expect the same in the Sugar Bowl. With that said, it is getting annoying that reporters keep feeding these types of questions to Ohio State's opponents. Seriously, it's an underhanded softball pitch. How else are they supposed to answer?   

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Fickell should be around for at least another year. After losing Darrell Hazell to Kent State, it appeared the Buckeyes could lose another quality assistant coach when the head coaching position opened at Miami (OH). There was a lot of speculation that Luke Fickell was a finalist for the coaching vacancy, which was left by Mike Haywood.

Well, yesterday the university announced that it's new head coach would be Don Tredwell, the MSU assistant coach who took over for Mark Dantonio after his heart attack. It's a pretty good turn of events for Miami, especially considering the latest news out concerning Haywood.

In other coaching news, Charlie Weis may be back! Just when it looked like college football would part ways with Weis forever, Will Muschamp decided to try and bring him back. According to multiple sources, Muschamp has contacted the Chiefs and is pursuing Weis as his offensive coordinator. 

"Muschamp contacted the Chiefs this week for permission to talk to Weis, with the full intention of hiring the Chiefs' offensive coordinator and former Notre Dame coach, sources said. A Florida source said Weis would continue to coach the Chiefs into the AFC playoffs. Another source reiterated that Weis is expected to accept the job."

I can't wait to see this experiment in Gainesville next season! 

Like X's and O's? Well, drink this in. It's a few days old, but I can't miss linking over to Along the Olentangy's Sugar Bowl Preview of the OSU defense versus the Arkansas offense. Ross and company always do a great job breaking things down, but this is some of their best work. Check it out...