M-Borg vs. THE Flavortown U Thread, Orig. by Buckeye Paul, absconded w/by talent.

[WM Wolverine]

Dodson & Pittman were always Ohio's to lose, they lost them for a bit with the Tressel mess but having an established coach brought in helped bring them back to where they always wanted to be... Dunn was always a Buckeye too and never decommitted, felt he would stay a Buckeye unless sanctions were heavy until recently. Rumors are they are barely going to even get a slap on the wrist...

Schutt was an easy switch after losing out on his first couple choices; ND #1 & M #2 both filled up at DT before he wanted to commit. IMO he's overrated a bit but M took at least one SDE/DT I'd trade for him. Ditto for Pittman, I'd love to have him at the expense of one of the running backs...

Spence would be a huge addition though again, at the expense of a program that could be hit with LOIC..

Most of the above Ohio would've had anyway if not for the mess Tressel made and it looks like not much if going to be made of it by the NCAA.

[iam416]

There's some interesting backstory to Dodson, Pittman and Dymonte Thomas. Bollman sort of F'd up recruiting all of them. Without going the details, he was sort of a prick to Dodson -- and that caused Pittman to have some real concerns. Thomas wanted to come down to OSU and watch a few spring practices and maybe attend the Spring Game. Bollman told him he'd have to come to camp first, which displays a stunning ignorance of the talent in the state.

So, I'm not sure that they would have ever got Dodson back. I think Pittman probably would have comitted if Tressel could have smoothed things over. We'll see about Thomas.

As for this year, the following players have taken (or will take) OVs:

Joel Caleb (OV taken -- rumor is he wanted to commit, but UFM asked him to wait)
Jordan Diamond (OV taken -- OSU had zero chance prior to UFM)
Noah Spence (OV this weekend -- zero chance prior to UFM, even with scandal)
Cyrus Jones (OV this weekend -- zero chhance prior to UFM)
Jameis Winston (OV in January -- really liked OSU, but losing Tressel hurt)
Stefon Diggs (OV -- at least he says he will -- in January -- zero chance prior to UFM)
Camren Williams (OV earlier this week -- PSU scandal driven)

There are others that may crop up, too. But that list of OVs is insane. And if they take their OVs, they'll have real shot. Spence, I think, is in. And I keep hearing that Winston is deadly serious about OSU.

As for Dunn, from what I've read, he was M prior to UFM coming on-board.

UFM's biggest problem, at the moment, isn't his lack of staff. It's the shitass recruiting the previous staff did. There are probably 3-4 kids UFM would love to jettison. He may get a gift this weekend if Southward takes an OV to Florida (invoking the M rule re Pharoah Brown). I think UFM would gladly swap out Southward for Caleb.

[iam416]

Cyrus Jones, obviously, will be going to Alabama. The Nick put the squeeze on him.

Noah Spence, however, will be a Buckeye. He rounds out a nice little DL class.

[geo weidl]

Looks as if gee's job is secure.


Ohio State President E. Gordon

Gee Gets a $160,000 Pay Bump

December 12, 2011 | 11:00 AM

By Molly Bloom


Ohio State University?s Board of Trustees approved a 2 percent raise for university President E. Gordon Gee on Friday plus additional compensation. From the OSU Lantern:

Gee?s compensation is to include:
? A 2 percent increase of his salary of $16,363, which is based on an evaluation. The increase would make his total salary $834,530 in 2012.
? A performance-based compensation bonus of $143,179, which is a bonus equivalent to 17.5 percent of his base salary.
? A deferred compensation of $225,000 annually. He?s also eligible to receive a retirement plan credited up to $616,635 and benefits of $100,500. However, Gee can only receive these amounts after a completion of term, according to a Board of Trustees report.

Part ? less than a third ? of Gee?s compensation comes from donor-funded accounts rather than public tax dollars.

Gee told WOSU?s Ann Fisher last week, before the board vote, that he doesn?t make excuses for the size of his paycheck. Gee said:

I am blessed to have a great job and I?m very well compensated. In fact, I?m the highest compensated public university president in the country.
I?ve been at it a long time. I run a huge operation. I don?t make any excuses for that. I believe I earn that pay every day.
And I have enormous responsibilities. I make decisions that are billion-dollar decisions almost every day.

[iam416]

Of course it is. The BoT loves Gee and he does a great job of raising money for the school. As long as he's not discussing athletics of any sort -- which should be 100% of the time -- he's good.

[stevemacie]

Fickell to Pitt?

Help wanted: Pitt opens coaching interviews with Fickell, Cristobal
Friday, December 16, 2011
By Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pitt has started the process of finding its next coach, interviewing Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell Thursday and Florida International coach Mario Cristobal today.



Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11350...#ixzz1gkZ7ECsR

[iam416]

no.

[Optimus Prime]

If Fickell has any integrity he will take the job if offered but also i'd like him to stay on Meyer's staff as DC
because it will remain a less than ideal arrangement. I suspect Meyer would love to clean house.

[lineygoblue]

I think it would be a good job for Fickell. He knows the area of western PA and eastern OlieO where the bulk of his recruiting would come from. He has HC experience, such as it was, and he did a good job with OlieO under the circumstances. He's youthful, and has a lot of passion for the game, which would translate over to the kids he's trying to recruit. He deserves better than to be Meyer's second banana.

He couldn't be any worse than Porn Stache ...

[iam416]

OP is correct re UFM wanting to clean house. Liney is correct re Pitt being a great opportunity. Nonetheless, I think Pitt will find someone else.

[Optimus Prime]

"Co-DC's" but Fickell gets to wear the hat?

Meyer is may be many things but stupid is not one of them. I am afraid Luke will be thrown under the C-Bus again within a year, take the Pitt job if you get the opportunity.

[iam416]

Your concern for Coach Fickell is touching.

[Optimus Prime]

'Tis the Season.....

Hard to Top...

Jim Tressel hogtied, scarlet bow on his head and a pink slip in his pocket under my Tree followed by the Knights of Columbus, savior St. Luke's 6-6 record, yes Christmas came early for Team OP.

[geo weidl]

sounds as if pitt has offered fickell the HC job.

[lineygoblue]

He should take it. He deserves a better job than he has now. OlieO crapped all over him by the way they left him twisting in the wind in their courtship of Meyer.

Its like, "ok,,we know we put you in this bad spot with all this, and we know you did a pretty good job given the circumstances, but back you go to your assistant position, while we bring in the guy we really want" ....

Fickell deserves better. Not sure that Pitt is "better" overall, but its better than what he has now.