CLEVELAND, Ohio - Many high school athletes in sports not named football are headed to NCAA Division I programs next season. Coaches or athletic directors should send an email to rrozboril@cleveland.com with additional college signings not included below or in a list earlier this school year. Also see a roundup of recent non-Division I signings/oral commitments.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Many high school athletes in sports not named football are headed to NCAA Division I programs next season. Coaches or athletic directors should send an email to rrozboril@cleveland.com with additional college signings not included below or in a list earlier this school year.

Also see a roundup of recent non-Division I signings/oral commitments.

Baseball 

Kade McClure, Mentor: McClure has know for quite awhile that he was bound for Louisville. The college offered the Cardinals' ace pitcher a scholarship before he even began his junior year. He's already drawn speculation that he may have a real Major League potential. The 6-foot-7, 205-pound left-hander has a fastball that is consistently around the 90 mph mark and has made significant strides in developing his breaking pitches as well. McClure finished his junior season with a 10-1 record, a 0.88 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 71 and 2/3 innings. 

Caleb Potter, Mentor: The 6-3, 210-pound right-handed hitter batted .338 for the Cardinals last season and knocked in 13 RBI. Potter has also made his mark on the basketball court for Mentor but decided he had a brighter future in baseball at West Virginia, which is where he will continue his career.

Golf

Joey Krecic, St. Edward: After helping the Eagles to a 10th place finish at the state tournament, during which Krecic placed 17th individually, he has signed with Cleveland State. He tied for medalist honors at the sectional tournament, hitting all 18 greens in regulation en route to a two-under-par 70, the first under-par round at St. Edward in 10 years. 

Blake Prince, St. Edward: The four-year letter-winner will be continuing his golf career at Cleveland State. Prince earned first team All-Eastern District honors and was an Eastern District Co-Player of the Year as a junior when the Eagles placed sixth in the state. He earned Player of the Year honors in 2011 and 2012 and played on the Kenny Novak Ohio PGA Jr. Tour this past summer. 

Gymnastics

Michaela Romito, Brecksville: Romito helped the Bees win the 2013 OHSAA state gymnastics championship for the 10th consecutive season. She had the top score in the floor exercise routine in the competition. Romito will sign a letter of intent to attend Kent State. Her teammate, sophomore Alecia Farina, is orally committed to Maryland.

Soccer

Alexis Carpenter, Westlake: Carpenter plans to continue her soccer career will be at Miami of Ohio. The Demons posted a 9-4-5 record last season and made the district finals with Carpenter helping to lead the way. 

Colin Eedy, Mentor: With 10 goals and seven assists this past season, Eedy was a crucial part of the Cardinals boys soccer team that made it to the Division I state final and posted an 18-1-4 record for the season. Eedy will play his college career at Cleveland State. 

Payton Lewis, Mentor: Lewis helped lead the Cardinals girls soccer team to a 9-8-1 record and an appearance in the Division I regional semifinals last season. She will continue her athletic career at Cleveland State. 

Anne Morgan, Brecksville: Morgan played a key role in the Bees' defense as the Brecksville girls soccer team advanced to the second round of the Division I playoffs this past fall. She will continue her playing career at Navy. 

Nikki Zeilmann, North Royalton: As goaltender for the Bears, Zeilmann was the last defense against would-be scorers for the North Royalton girls soccer team. She helped the team make it to the district semifinals last season. She will continue her soccer career at Akron. 

Track/cross country

Maddie Britton, Bay: The All-Ohio runner racked up several honors during her high school career and plans to continue to run both track and cross country at Xavier. In cross country, she is a two-time West Shore Conference Champion, two-time WSC Most Valuable Runner, two-time district champion and won first team All-Ohio honors as a senior when she also placed ninth at the state meet. She also holds the school record in the 5K. In track and field, she was a district champion in the 3,200 and placed fourth in the 2-mile at state. She holds the school record in the 3,200.

Sher Champe, Amherst: With her fifth-place finish at state in the 400 meters (55.75), which also set a school record, Champe played a key role in helping the Comets girls track and field team to a third-place finish at state last year. She also was part of the 4x200 relay (1:41.40) and the 4x400 relay (4:52.94) teams that also set school records. She will continue her career at Iowa next year. 

John Maurins, Mentor: The 5-11, 190-pound Cardinals standout will take his impressive shot put and discus abilities to Wake Forest next season. Maurins took third place in shot put during last year's state tournament with a throw of 59 feet, 5.25 inches. 

Max Seipel, Avon Lake: The Shoreman track and field standout will enter Ohio State as a preferred walk-on, where he will look to continue his running career after high school.

Stephanie Ferrante, Chardon:  After qualifying for the Division I state meet in three events last season, Ferrante has signed to continue her track and field career at Oklahoma State. At state, she finished second in the 400 (54.76), third in the 200 (24.23) and fourth in the 100 (12.30). 

A total of 64 players from around the Buckeye state landed at Mid-American Conference schools in football recruiting.

AKRON, Ohio -- Kent State and Akron trolled the state for key high school football recruits announced Wednesday on national signing day and linemen were the order of the day for both teams.

Akron finished last season at 5-7, 4-4, while Kent was 4-8, 3-5. Both teams lost seniors on the offensive and defensive lines.

Of Akron's 13 players signed, five were from Ohio and six are linemen, including massive Kyle Ritz, a 6-5, 295-pound offensive lineman from Willoughby South High School.

Head coach Terry Bowden said one reason for the low number, beyond the number of transfers from last spring, was a quirk in the recruiting rules that allowed the Zips to land extra players as walk-ons last August, sign them to scholarships in September, but not count them until 2014.

"Franshon Bickley (wide receiver) was one, and there were a few others,'' Bowden said.

Another plus, according to Bowden, is there is now a lot of area recruiting being done by players on the team.

"We're seeing a lot of local guys now calling each other and saying, 'let's go to Akron,' '' Bowden said.

The Zips were able to land two players from nearby St. Vincent-St. Mary, and just as impressive, the Zips landed 6-4, 276-pound defensive end Anthony Clark out of Buchtel High.

"We think he is a real steal,'' said Bowden, who also called Clark and Ritz, "physically, very solid, rocked-up guys. They are not soft."

The Zips also dipped into the junior college ranks, signing an offensive lineman and a cornerback.

Of Kent State's 20 players signed, 15 are from the Buckeye state. Overall, counting the two local MAC schools plus Miami, Ohio University, Bowling Green and Toledo, there were 64 players from Ohio that signed national letters of intent, including Benedictine athlete Matt Merimee at Miami, Cleveland Heights offensive lineman DeAngelo Ware at Bowling Green, and Mentor defensive lineman Kent Berger with OU.

At Kent, head coach Paul Haynes particularly wanted to fortify his defensive line, and landed three defensive tackles, two from Ohio.

"We would have been happy with one of these three guys, but we got them all,'' the second-year head coach said. "What I like in particular is, all three of these kids are super strong."

Bedford's Jon Cunningham, 6-0, 265, is indicative of the three tackles. He's a multi-sport athlete (wrestling/football) who said after looks from just about every school in the MAC, and Michigan State, he chose the Golden Flashes.

"I went with who wanted me the most,'' Cunningham said. "My bench is 355 (pounds) right now; I squat 605 and I leg press 800. I'm ready if they say I'm ready. If I have to redshirt, I'm OK with that too."

One of the other defensive tackles is Kalil Morris, 6-3, 280 out of Columbus. Like Cunningham, he is a two-sport athlete (basketball). The third defensive tackle is Zack Singer, 6-3, 290, from Las Vegas, who played and started at nationally-ranked Bishop Gorman, which played in four straight state titles and finished in the last four Top 25 national rankings.

He is a three-sport (baseball, wrestling) athlete. Overall, players in this Kent football class also played baseball, basketball, lacrosse, wrestling, soccer and track.

"I like guys like that,'' Haynes said. "First, it shows they like to stay busy, not lazy. And second its shows they are versatile.''

Perhaps the player with the most potential versatility is Aurora quarterback George Bollas, at 6-3, 205. He led his team to the state playoffs as a junior and a senior as a quarterback. But he has the size not only for that position, but tight end, safety, linebacker and fullback.

"He can be a lot of things, and I know a lot of bigger schools evaluated him like that,'' Haynes said. "We're going to start him out at quarterback, but it's clear there are a lot of positions where he could be."

Kelli Stack, Ted Ligety, Shani Davis and Mikaela Shiffrin should help the U.S. challenge its record haul of 37 medals won in 2010.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The U.S. is sending 230 athletes – the largest delegation ever – to the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, with the hope of at least matching its record 37 medals (nine gold) won at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

Here are 10 athletes to watch who could make that medal haul happen:

1. Kelli Stack, women's hockey: Stack had major knee surgery 13 months ago and head coach Katey Stone said last week she has never seen Stack play better. A healthy Stack could be the difference between another silver medal and the U.S. finally beating

View full sizeKelli Stack USA Hockey

Canada for gold. The Americans last won gold in 1998, the year women's hockey was introduced to the Olympics.

2. Ted Ligety, Alpine skiing: There's fast, and there's Ted Ligety fast. His ability to adjust to different courses and conditions makes him a favorite in the combined (slalom and downhill), which he won in 2006, and giant slalom, which he has won 20 times on the World Cup circuit. A third medal in either downhill or slalom also is a possibility.

3. Shani Davis, long track speedskating: If Shaun White doesn't become the first American to three-peat on Feb. 11 in the halfpipe, look for Davis to pull it off in the 1,000 meters Feb. 18. Davis won the event in 2006 and 2010. He also has won back-to-back Olympic silver medals in the 1,500, and he holds the world record in both events.

4. Kikkan Randall, cross country skiing: No American has ever won an Olympic gold medal in cross country skiing and Randall, 31, is lined up to be the first in her specialty, the 1.2-kilometer free sprint. She also leads the U.S. classic sprint relay team that is the reigning world champion.

5. Shaun White, halfpipe: Will he triple or won't he? White pulled out of slopestyle Wednesday to concentrate on halfpipe. That raised speculation White is worried about both his health and his likely attempt to land the first triple cork, a trick he might need to beat Yuri “iPod” Podladchikov, Greg Bretz, and X Games champ Danny Davis. The triple could be White's folly, or his triumph.

6. Mikaela Shiffrin, Alpine skiing: She's 18 and she's out of Lindsey Vonn's shadow since Vonn is out with a knee injury. Shiffrin is the reigning slalom world champion and current World Cup leader, though she had a rare poor second run last week in Slovenia that cost her a gold medal in her final tuneup.

7. Steve Holcomb, bobsled driver: He revealed in his recent autobiography “Now I See” that he was driving nearly blind with Akron's Brock Kreitzberg as his brakeman in 2006, and that he suffers from depression. He has received treatment for both conditions and appears on track to repeat as gold medalist in the four-man and contend in the two-man.

8. Nick Goepper, ski slopestyle: What's not to like about a guy who grew up inventing ways to ski in his back yard in Lawrenceburg, Ind., across the river from Ohio? He's coming off an X Games victory and the only other athlete who appeared to have a chance to beat him in the new Olympic event, Pittsburgh's Tom Walisch, didn't make the team.

View full sizeBode Miller AP

9. Bode Miller, U.S. Alpine skiing. Yes, he's an ancient skier with creaky bones, but the 36-year-old looks at a mountain like no one else and sees lines on a course that for other skiers simply do not exist. In a sport that rewards risk takers, he more often than not wins in spectacular fashion, or crashes the same way. He owns a U.S. Alpine record five Olympic medals, including gold, silver and bronze in 2010.

10. Elana Myers, U.S. bobsled driver: She won bronze as a push athlete in 2010 and has moved to the front of the sled. She's a terrific combination of powerful pusher and natural driver. Ranked second in the two man with pusher Aja Evans, there's a confident determination about Meyers that makes her impossible to bet against.

The Cavaliers look to break a five-game losing streak as they face the Los Angeles Lakers tonight at Quicken Loans Arena. The Los Angeles comes to town sporting an identical 16-32 record as the Cavs. The Lakers have lost seven straight games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers look to break a five-game losing streak as they face the Los Angeles Lakers tonight at Quicken Loans Arena. The Los Angeles comes to town sporting an identical 16-32 record as the Cavs. The Lakers have lost seven straight games.

Get updates from The Plain Dealer on Twitter @PDCavsInsider and post your comments during the game below.

Tweets by @PDcavsinsider

Check out all the developments as high school stars commit to their colleges.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Yeah, the weather is frightful, but this was a delightful day for many Northeast Ohio football players, their families, fans and the supporters of college football, as National Signing Day officially connected athlete with college.

Today's blog offered the latest information as it became available. Thanks for participating. Watch for more Ohio State posts tonight in the Buckeyes blog, as well as more high school stories in the high school blog here.

On Thursday, we'll also roll out archives of the best video segments from Thursday's live show. Don't miss one posted today of five Shaker Heights players coming to the Northeast Ohio Media Group office to sign and fax their letters live on camera Wednesday morning.

4:39 p.m.: St. Edward defensive back Shaun Crawford visited cleveland.com's day-long video coverage of National Signing Day and was given the opportunity to provide some wriggle room from his early verbal commitment to Michigan in 2015.

He wasn't particularly interested, immediately picking up a maize cap and putting it on his head.

Quote of the day by @Crawf_4 (class of 2015) on OSU offer "Ohio St. Was too late. I'm a Michigan Man all the way." #NSDcle

— Joe Noga (@JoeNogaCLE) February 5, 2014

4:30 p.m.: It's entirely possible that the following quote from new Penn State coach James Franklin is taken somewhat out of context. However, it's too good not to mention.

"We like to recruit guys with massive heads, long arms and big feet."

So there.

4:13 p.m.: Cleveland.com's Nathaniel Cline recaps the day's recruiting news from St. Vincent-St. Mary:

"St. Vincent-St. Mary called off school Wednesday due to snow but that couldn't stop officials from opening the doors to celebrate seniors signing on to play at the college level. Signing were football players Dante Booker Jr., Parris Campbell Jr., Newman Williams, Travonte Junius and Aaron Bushner."

4:04 p.m.: Another cautionary tale to calm the inflated expectations of National Signing Day is a post from BTN.com -- the Big Ten Network -- that lists the biggest recruiting busts of each conference program in recent years.

Here's a couple of the site's suggestions:

"Ohio State: Dorian Bell, LB, Monroeville, Pa. (Monroeville), 2009.

"He played four anonymous seasons in Evanston. He just didn’t have the heart for it. Custis contributed little during his tenure. Check out this resume: redshirted in 2009, played in two games in 2010, played in one game in 2011 and 2012. Not what you’d expect from one of the 25 best defensive ends in America, according to Rivals.com."

3:56 p.m.: With most of the day's excitement winding down (although there will be more this week as the local schools which closed today have their celebrations), here's the latest list of D-I signees from Northeast Ohio.

3:25 p.m.: You're in a football-mad state, and have a national profile that nearly gained a second national title in three years -- but you remain a distinct No. 2 to your in-state rival. So it's not only bad for Auburn to lose a prized recruit at the last moment Wednesday, but doubly painful when Rashaan Evans announces for Alabama.

Especially when the Tigers were so certain of his status that they published a page of information on Evans on the Auburn football website.

"The webpage has been taken down," reported the website AwfulAnnouncing.com. "Auburn’s sports information director Kirk Sampson tweeted that the website did not post the bio and that it was hidden by code. But it clearly wasn’t hidden by anything. We all saw it, and nothing ever really goes away on the Internet."

3:16 p.m.: Who knew that Urban Meyer looks at recruiting rankings in exactly the same way as fans? No qualifiers about needing to coach the kids up or wait to see what happens in three years...

Meyer is disappointed OSU doesn't have the No. 1 class in the country. "As long as they're keeping score, we're going to try to win."

— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) February 5, 2014

There's more from his press conference today, especially this item on the need for his young linebackers to deliver as quickly as possible.

"Meyer said that the linebacker position is going through "an overhaul" now with the additions of Kyle Berger, Raekwon McMillan, Sam Hubbard and Dante Booker. 'They have to play for us in addition to the players on our roster," Meyer said. "There are no redshirt plans for those guys, and we thought about it during the recruiting process. We wanted mature players.'"

2:53 p.m.: What a great day to be a football player at Cleveland Heights, as cleveland.com's Bill Landis makes clear.

"Cleveland Heights football coach Jeff Rotsky has been a busy man these past few days, but it’s the least he and his coaching staff can do. After demanding so much from his players during the summer and this past season, it’s the players’ turn to reap the benefits of what Rotsky and his staff can do for them.

“'We were waiting for this year for a long time,” Rotsky said Tuesday in his office. 'We knew this group was special in a lot of ways. ... My philosophy is I ask a tremendous amount of them, and for that they deserve for me to go to the wall and work my tail off to get them to school.'”

2:42 p.m.: The 2014 football matchup between Akron and Eastern Michigan next fall hasn't yet been scheduled, and certainly a number of freshmen on both teams who are signees today will be red-shirted. But Zips fans still could have a chance at seeing unquestionably the best name in college football when the Eagles arrive.

Eastern Michigan landed a first-team All-Name team player: Southfield's Lion King Conway http://t.co/BdiACKPQoz

— Kyle Austin (@kylebaustin) February 5, 2014

As it turns out, it gets even better.

Also, EMU athletics informs me that Lion King Conaway has legally changed his name to simply Lion King

— Kyle Austin (@kylebaustin) February 5, 2014

Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba!

2:26 p.m.: We have an updated list of local athletes who will be playing for NCAA Division II, III, NAIA or junior college programs.

Plus we've added a recruiting snapshot for Hudson kicker Pierce Royster, who signed a letter of intent with Ohio University.

2:16 p.m.: Cleveland.com's Tim Bielik has video coverage of the signing action at Glenville, which as usual included plenty of scarlet and gray focus.

"(Erick) Smith and (Marshon) Lattimore were two of 11 Glenville players who will play college football next season. Devine Redding will go to one of OSU's conference rivals, signing with Indiana. Quan Robinson and Erik Simpson each signed with Kent State. They all helped the Tarblooders reach the state championship game for only the second time in school history, where they fell to Loveland in the Division II title game."

Barring a change of heart by Malik McDowell, #OhioState will finish No. 3 in the Rivals team rankings for the 2014 class #Buckeyes

— Marc Givler (@MarcGivlerBG) February 5, 2014

1:48 p.m.: Zac Ellis of SI.com has early winners and losers (of course, this is more and more like the collegiate version of the NFL draft), and one of the losers will warm a Buckeye's heart.

"Michigan: One of coach Brady Hoke's biggest targets was five-star defensive end Malik McDowell, the top-rated player in the state of Michigan. But the coveted defender committed to rival Michigan State. The saga might not be over, as McDowell's National Letter of Intent reportedly isn't signed, but this is a blow to Hoke after already missing out on the country's top overall player, Da'Shawn Hand."

Meanwhile, the Buckeyes deal a blow to their Big Ten conqueror with a late signing.

Defensive end Darius Slade signs with Ohio State, becoming the 23rd member of the 2014 class. http://t.co/knEIZWocOC

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) February 5, 2014

Slade had been a Michigan State recruit until the final days, as reported by Ari Wasserman.

1 p.m.: Reporter Joe Noga has put together a collection of reactions from local athletes as they sign their letters of intent. Check it out here.

12:45 p.m.: The cleveland.com prep staff takes a quick look at the top local recruits coming up in 2015.

"(Benedictine LB/RB Jerome) Baker is rated a 4-star player and the No. 1 athlete in the country for the Class of 2015 by Rivals.com. Has offers from Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State, among others."

12:14 p.m.: This is the day when the controlled visages of college football CEOs melt in the presence of a new collection of 18 year olds.

Meyer said he acted like a 12-year-old when he got the phone call from Jamarco Jones last night. "We needed him."

— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) February 5, 2014

11:53 a.m.: With the Buckeyes out of the way, one of Northeast Ohio's MAC teams is finalizing its talent acquisition.

Glenville CB, Kent State football commit Erik Simpson's recruiting snapshot: National Signing Day 2014 (video) http://t.co/V9eE39Wyes

— cleveland.com HSteam (@CleveHSsports) February 5, 2014

11:50 a.m.: This is a story because Ohio State was involved, but it's also a cautionary tale on how what figures to be a jubilant day for the nation's top athletes can turn into something else, entirely.

Malik McDowell chose Michigan State over Michigan, Ohio State and Florida State, but making the announcement hasn't ended some family strife, according to the Detroit News.

"McDowell’s father, Greg McDowell, said he supports his son’s decision but has concerns. He would rather have his son go to Ohio State but ultimately left the decision to him. McDowell’s mother, Joya Crowe, did not attend Wednesday’s news conference at Southfield High. Greg McDowell said Crowe wanted their son to choose U-M, Ohio State or Florida State."

Which makes the following not exactly the biggest surprise. "It" is the national letter of intent.

@MarcGivlerBG he was asked in interview on detnews if it would be sent in today, he said no. fyi.

— gC (@Blue_gC_Blood) February 5, 2014

11:37 a.m.: Sometimes, a school can become a recruiting monster simply on the momentum provided by a handful of nationally-publicized players.

Or perhaps just one publicized player. One really well-publicized player.

Top-100 recruits from 2006-12: Texas 53, Texas A&M 9... From 2013-14: Texas A&M 9, Texas 3.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 5, 2014

11:30 a.m.: St. Edward and Mentor have both postponed their signing ceremonies. Mentor to Friday, St. Edward to Thursday.

11:19 a.m.: Doug Lesmerises has a quick wrapup on the OSU class, and the challenge of "playing defense" in the final days of the recruiting season.

"While trying to sway players who hold off on their decisions is a major task for coaches, a lot of recruiting is playing defense. It's getting that original pledge and then working to make sure it turns into a signature on National Signing Day.

"Ohio State couldn't stop the pass late last season, but in recruiting, Ohio State's defense worked. The Buckeyes have announced receiving National Letters of Intent from all 22 pledges in this class. Seven members had enrolled in school in January, so Ohio State was waiting on 15 letters Wednesday. Kyle Berger of St. Ignatius was the last to get his fax in and complete the class on Wednesday morning."

11:13 a.m.: ESPN analyst and former OSU QB Kirk Herbstreit is enjoying what he's seeing of signing day -- and not just the Buckeyes.

“@rodt22: do u like these kids attitudes better than in previous years?” Absolutely, great group. Classy kids so far. #humble #appreciative

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) February 5, 2014

11:01 a.m.: Some ceremonies have been a bit delayed, but Glenville and other schools are all getting their celebrations on.

Glenville coach Ted Ginn, Sr. speaking at the Senate signing ceremony. #nsdcle pic.twitter.com/u5Rp1y9mlu

— Tim Bielik (@bielik_tim) February 5, 2014

Fun moment for Glenville's Devine Redding. Signs with Indiana on his birthday. #nsdcle pic.twitter.com/fYihHLh0Yj

— Tim Bielik (@bielik_tim) February 5, 2014

10:59 a.m.: Apparently one doesn't even have to have a son signing today to get a bit emotional.

Having a mom moment... tearing up as Shaker Hts. kids send letters of intent. J. Henderson going to Tennessee. #nsd pic.twitter.com/1jSS0O8S4P

— Denise Polverine (@denisep) February 5, 2014

10:51 a.m.: Then again, perhaps the Buckeyes are still working on one more player, according to NJ.com:

"The Darius Slade recruiting saga took another turn on National Signing Day. The highly touted Montclair defensive end will not sign a National Letter of Intent with Michigan State on Wednesday, and is planning a visit to Ohio State the weekend of Feb. 15, Montclair coach John Fiore told The Star-Ledger.

"Slade, who previously was committed to Nebraska before flipping to Michigan State, is enticed by the idea of playing for assistant coach Larry Johnson at Ohio State. Slade has known Johnson since he was in middle school, and his cousins played for him while he coached at Penn State."

There's more on the Slade chase from Ari Wasserman of cleveland.com

"As a senior, Slade was a big contributor on the defensive side of the ball. He posted 67 tackles, 23.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries for a Montclair, a defense that allowed only 96 points in 12 games while posting four shutouts."

10:37 a.m.: OK, Buckeye coaches, time to take a nap.

All 22 #Buckeyes in with @K_Bergs and @jjones_73 signing #NLI http://t.co/Ev6Wwhl5IW

— Alex Gleitman (@alexgleitman) February 5, 2014

10:34 a.m.: Jamarco Jones' LOI has arrived in Columbus -- and his mother documented the challenge of getting the letter to the high school fax machine as snow in Chicago made the family's trip to De La Salle High School a little more difficult.

And we are stuck! #SigningDay pic.twitter.com/yd0mwwP13h

— Mz. Jones (@MzUJones) February 5, 2014

To all the guys out there signing with THE Ohio state university today- welcome to the family and enjoying the best 4-5 years of your life

— Zach Boren (@ZBoren44) February 5, 2014

10:25 a.m.: It's the weather and the accompanying issues that have slowed Kyle Berger's LOI to the Buckeyes, not any indecision.

Kyle Berger is going to be in http://t.co/0oU9FnN1ck's studios talking about his commitment. Wouldn't worry about his NLOI.

— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) February 5, 2014

LB Kyle Berger, one of two with paperwork still to submit. RT @K_Bergs Having some technical difficulties #GoBucks

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) February 5, 2014

10:14 a.m.: Everyone has an opinion, but this comes from Scout.com's Bill Greene.

UPDATED TEAM RANKINGS: 1-Bama 2-Vols 3-Noles 4-Buckeyes 5-Irish 6-A&M 7-LSU 8-Gators 9-MIami 10-Auburn

— Bill Greene (@BillBankGreene) February 5, 2014

With McDowell off the board the full attention of the #OhioState staff turns to New Jersey DE Darius Slade http://t.co/FXtE3syHZo #Buckeyes

— Marc Givler (@MarcGivlerBG) February 5, 2014

10:07 a.m.: Considering that we're still in the fax era on signing day, guess there shouldn't be that much surprise that weather is also playing a factor in getting the Ohio State class wrapped up.

Ohio State is now just waiting on paperwork from LB Kyle Berger and OL Jamarco Jones. Heavy snow in Cleveland and Chicago today.

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) February 5, 2014

9:56 a.m.: The only suspense in Ohio State's signing class ends with a loss -- Southfield 5-star defensive end Malik McDowell chooses Michigan State. That decision disappoints his parents, who were very public about not liking the recruiting experience with the Spartans, worrying that friends would be able to influence him in a negative manner by going to a school close to home.

The Buckeyes and Florida State were McDowell's two out-of-state options, but he chose to be a Spartan.

Malik McDowell is headed to Michigan State. Good for him for making the decision for himself and not his parents.

— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) February 5, 2014

Happy for Malik McDowell. Go chase your dreams young man. WITH both parents in 100% support roles. #ScoutNSD

— Bill Greene (@BillBankGreene) February 5, 2014

#MSU commit Malik McDowell: "I took a lot of input from my family. I listened to what they said but I still had to make my own decision."

— Rob Ogden (@Rob_Ogden) February 5, 2014

9:48 a.m.: Signing ceremony beginning at Southfield High School in Michigan, with Malik McDowell's decision coming last.

9:42 a.m.: Urban Meyer is very happy with his new talent. Which will be news when there's a coach who says "well, we tried, but it just wasn't in the cards for us this year."

Urban Meyer, appearing on ESPNU, raved about his early enrollees. Said Raekwon McMillan looks like a junior already. pic.twitter.com/kFEeumQF9S

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) February 5, 2014

Live video show every 30 mins. Will feature many local HS players. #shaker will sign live around 10:30 HERE #nsdcle http://t.co/zDpUITik6D

— cleveland.com HSteam (@CleveHSsports) February 5, 2014

9:40 a.m.: Cleveland.com's Ari Wasserman with the inside story on one of the Buckeyes' top recruits, Parris Campbell.

How @PCampbell21 , in only one game, won over Urban Meyer http://t.co/2928KvAY5w

— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) February 5, 2014

9:37 a.m.: You have to have a sense of humor about all the breathless announcements nationally ... and that's definitely the case with the website "Crystal Ball Run," which offers this challenge for fans sure that they know how good their alma mater is doing today.

"Below are a list of 25 names. They are either college football recruits or... members of the British House of Commons. Who doesn't love watching that on C-SPAN? Many of the college football recruits come from the Rivals Top 250 itself, so if you're a true recruiting afficionado, you should have no problem with this quiz."

1) Leonard Fournette 2) John Smith 3) Richard Bacon 4) Solomon Thomas 5) William Cash 6) Zaycoven Henderson 7) Nigel Evans 8) Damian Prince 9) Fabian Hamilton 10) Olajuwon Tucker 11) Jonathan Lord 12) Nick Chubb 13) Guy Opperman 14) Jacob Rees-Mogg 15) Dylan Sumner-Gardner 16) Thaddeus Snodgrass 17) Chris Skidmore 18) Justice Hansen 19) Chuka Umunna 20) David Davies 21) Gerald Willis III 22) David Cornwell 23) John Woodcock 24) Wonderful Terry 25) David Cameron

Answers can be found right here.

9:27 a.m.: Some words of wisdom from veteran football writer Pat Forde of Yahoo!, who also is a proud father of a college athlete.

"Last year on signing day, I listened to Vanderbilt football coach James Franklin get on the phone and personally tell all of his signees the same thing: “The work starts now.” As special as this day is, it’s a launching pad, not a landing spot. You have not arrived. You’re just getting started.

"Dive in with unrestrained enthusiasm. Prepare to learn more than you’ve ever learned and work more than you’ve ever worked and – hopefully – have more fun than you’ve ever had. And a lot of those experiences will have nothing to do with football."

9:23 a.m.: Snow and freezing rain won't prevent some talented footballers from sharing their big day ...

Shaker Heights football sending 7 seniors to Division I schools and they will sign live on... http://t.co/zDxUqo6wKw

— cleveland.com HSteam (@CleveHSsports) February 5, 2014

9:20 a.m.: When it comes down to it, about the only real suspense for the Buckeyes is whether they'll get a talented defensive lineman who is battling his parents a bit on where he'll play for the next four years.

"The mother of five-star defensive lineman Malik McDowell reportedly doesn't want him to attend Michigan State after she had a bad experience on her son's recent visit to East Lansing.

"The 6-foot-6, 292-pound five-star defensive lineman from Southfield, Mich., is ranked as the No. 26 prospect in the nation by Rivals.com. Will he end up at MSU, Ohio State or even Florida State? He is expected to announce his college choice at 9:30 a.m."

@MarcGivlerBG One of my kids just asked what a "facts" machine was. #old

— Ken Halford (@khalfo88) February 5, 2014

9:15 a.m.: A couple of national college football writers have some fun at the expense of today's developments.

@jppalmCBS How can you hate on National Fax Machine Day? 15 years after technological obsolescence, still a factor!

— Andy Glockner (@AndyGlockner) February 5, 2014

7 early enrollees. 11 NLIs in today. OSU is waiting on: Dante Booker, Parris Campbell, Jamarco Jones, Kyle Berger and maybe Malik McDowell.

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) February 5, 2014

8:56 a.m.: With the Buckeyes building a class ranked by all services as Top 10 worthy (some as high as second behind Alabama), some kudos to a coach who isn't in Columbus any longer.

OSU fans. Don't forget this guy. Was important in building this highly-ranked class. Vrabel was huge. #ScoutNSD pic.twitter.com/fJugUA7RKf

— Bill Greene (@BillBankGreene) February 5, 2014

8:53 a.m.: With the weather putting a crimp on some signing celebrations, we're happy to share players' excitement on this blog. So ...

Send us your pictures from National Signing Day 2014 http://t.co/igILaYHkf0

— cleveland.com HSteam (@CleveHSsports) February 5, 2014

8:45 a.m.: The smiles have officially begun, regardless of the weather.

Congratulations to Kardell Jackson (Ashland) & Matt Sommers (Kent St) on their official football signings today. pic.twitter.com/P0Cy7jT4uy

— Roosevelt Athletics (@rriderathletics) February 5, 2014

Also, hundreds of thousands remain without power due to winter storm; five-day-old Wisconsin baby missing from home; East Tennessee couple charged with killing five-year-old girl; deceased Florida sex offender prime suspect in disappearance of college student; Ukrainian president urged to quell standoff; and Syrian rebels claim to have seized part of a prison facility outside Aleppo.

National news:

The Senate failed to move forward on a three-month extension of assistance for the long-term unemployed today, leaving it unlikely that Congress would approve the measure soon and dealing a setback to President Obama's economic agenda. (New York Times)

House Speaker John Boehner has suggested another long delay in immigration reform is imminent because President Obama can't be trusted to enforce existing laws. (CBS News)

Hundreds of thousands of people spent a second chilly day without electricity today as utility crews from as far away as Canada and Arkansas scrambled to restore power lost when a heavy coating of ice took down trees and limbs in the mid-Atlantic. (Associated Press)

Authorities in southern Wisconsin are searching for a 5-day-old boy whose mother said she awoke to find him missing from his bassinette about 4:30 a.m. today. (Reuters)

An East Tennessee couple is charged with murder in the death of the man's 5-year-old daughter after an autopsy revealed the girl died from being forced to drink more than 2 liters of grape soda and water. (Associated Press)

Florida detectives have identified a serial killer and sex offender who died in prison last year as their prime suspect in the 1989 disappearance of a University of Florida student. (Associated Press)

A lawyer representing the 16-year-old Texas boy who killed four people and critically injured two others while driving drunk lashed out today at the media for their focus on the use of "affluenza" to describe the boy's privileged upbringing. (CNN News)

Emotions are running high in a crowded hearing today for a bill that would expand background checks for gun sales in Oregon. (USA Today)

Speaking from the pulpit of the Rev. Martin Luther King's former church, his daughter, Rev. Bernice King, said she no longer wishes to be lumped together in the public mind with her brothers, Martin Luther King III and Dexter King. (USA Today)

The U.S. government warned American and foreign airlines that terrorists could try to place explosives disguised as toothpaste on Russia-bound flights. (Associated Press)

An alliance of Syrian rebels claimed today to have seized part of a major regime prison facility outside the country's commercial capital of Aleppo and freed some prisoners amid intense clashes. (Financial Times)

Thousands of women in Iraq are being illegally detained and many are subjected to torture and abuse, Human Rights Watch said today in a scathing report on the Iraqi justice system. (Time.com)

The first formal meeting between Pakistan's government and a Taliban-nominated team has been held in Islamabad. (BBC News)

Taliban fighters in Afghanistan have released video purportedly showing a captured dog soldier believed by Pentagon officials to be a British military service pup captured during a raid last December. (Fox News)

Shanahan believes that he learned a lot from his time with the Redskins' young quarterback, and he feels Griffin learned a lot from him, too.

BEREA, Ohio -- In his introductory press conference Thursday, Browns new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan defended his relationship with Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III.

It's been widely reported that Shanahan and his father Mike Shanahan, the former Redskins head coach, were fired after this season in part because of friction with Griffin III. Griffin lit it up as a rookie in 2012 but struggled last season while coming off surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn lateral collateral ligament.

The No. 2 overall pick in 2012 of Baylor, whom the Browns pursued heavily that year, tumbled from No. 3 in the NFL with a 102.4 rating as a rookie to No. 22 in 2013.

"Robert and I had two years together,'' said Shanahan, 34. "We did a lot of real good things together. I’m very proud of that first year. I think he arguably had one of the best years in NFL history for a rookie quarterback and I enjoyed coaching him.

"It challenged me because I had to do some things that I hadn’t done before, so I had to look at tape in a different way and try to put some different things in. I think that improved myself. I’m able to see the game a little differently. I was able to do some things with Robert that I hadn’t been able to do with other quarterbacks, and it was really fun to do.''

Shanahan admitted that Griffin's injury, suffered in the 2012 wildcard loss to the Seahawks, presented some challenges last season.

"Robert and I always had a great relationship,'' said Shanahan. "I enjoyed coaching him. Anytime you go through a 3-13 season, it is a challenge. It’s a challenge on your relationship. It’s a challenge with everybody in the building. You’ve got to deal with a lot of stuff, a lot of negativity, and the thing I learned going through that, especially with a high-profile guy, there’s a lot more stuff that comes out.

"The thing that I always did with him and that we did with each other is when stuff would come out, we’d address it. We’d get into our room. We’d talk about it and make sure we felt good about it, and I think Robert and I through a very tough time, we managed to keep our relationship through the year.

"I’m not going to say it was easy. Nothing’s easy when you go through something like that. But I do believe going through it, Robert and I in the long run, it’ll make both of us better. It’s something that is a challenge, and I do believe going through that, as hard as it was, will help me. I think when it’s all said and done and Robert and I look back on it, I’m really appreciative of some of the stuff he did for me, and I really believe he’ll be appreciative of some of the stuff I did for him.”

Shanahan said he learned how to handle a high-profile rookie quarterback and will draw on the experience in the event the Browns draft one high.

"Anytime you bring a rookie in and you start him right away, you gotta find out what they do good,'' said Shanahan. "You've got to make sure you put them in a situation to be successful, don’t ask too much of them. Usually if you spend a high pick on a guy, there’s some stuff that they do pretty good. You gotta really figure out what that is by studying college tape. You gotta figure out and anticipate how the NFL is gonna play that stuff when you put that in your scheme.

"And you don’t want to put too much pressure on him. Make it loose for him, make it stuff he’s confident in doing and he’s done in his career prior, really what’s made him successful. You let him focus on that early. You try to build him and prepare him and how defenses are gonna adapt to him and what he’s eventually gonna have to grow to build his portfolio so he can face everything and have sustained success in this league. But I think the most important thing is asking them to do what they’re great at and then working and improving on other aspects of their game.''

Shanahan will be heavily involved in scouting the rookie quarterbacks, including Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, reportedly a top target of the Browns.

"I’m gonna evaluate everybody,'' he said. "That’s my job, to do that. I’m gonna do that as best I can and give an honest opinion. And then you hope you work hard, you look at a lot of tape, you give them your true, honest opinion, then the people who make those decisions decide off that. There are lots of ways you can win in this game. There are lots of ways to move the ball, lots of ways to score touchdowns. Everybody does it differently.

"I’ve been a coordinator six years and I’ve played with seven different quarterbacks. Each guy has been a little bit different. I’ve had some real athletic guys, I’ve had some non athletic guys. The main thing is you've got be able to adjust. You've got to put in a scheme that is flexible.

"You gotta do what your quarterback’s best at. If your quarterback is good at what you’re doing, then you've got a chance to succeed. You've got to figure out the best way to do that. You don’t need a certain type of quarterback, you just want a good quarterback. You've got to figure out who the best guy is and go with the best one possible and figure out how to let him play the way he plays.''

Kiner played one season for the Cleveland Indians in 1955.

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. - Ralph Kiner, who slugged his way to the baseball Hall of Fame and then enjoyed a half-century career as a popular broadcaster, died Thursday. He was 91.

The baseball Hall of Fame said Kiner died at his home in Rancho Mirage with his family at his side.

Kiner played one season with the Cleveland Indians, in 1955 when he was 32. That year, he batted .243 with 18 home runs and 54 RBI.

During his 10-year career, he hit 369 home runs, mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made his debut in 1946 and his power quickly became the talk of baseball - he won or tied for the National League lead in homers in each of his first seven seasons.

When he retired, Kiner was sixth on the career home run list. Several years later, he joined the broadcast crew of the New York Mets for their expansion season in 1962 and became a permanent fixture - the home TV booth at Shea Stadium was named in his honor.

In this Aug. 23, 1980 file photo, Hall of Famers from left, Roger Maris, Duke Snider, Willie Mays and Ralph Kiner, pose for pictures before the annual New York Mets Old Timers Day at Shea Stadium in New York. Kiner has died at age 91.AP

"Kiner's Korner" was a delight for players and fans alike, where stars would join Kiner for postgame chats. Known for malaprops - he once even forgot his own name on air - he took the occasional slips in stride.

Kiner had a stroke about a decade ago but remained an occasional part of the Mets' announcing crew. He worked a handful of games last season, his 52th year of calling their games.

"As one of baseball's most prolific power hitters for a decade, Ralph struck fear into the hearts of the best pitchers of baseball's Golden Era despite his easygoing nature, disarming humility and movie-star smile," Hall President Jeff Idelson said in a statement.

"His engaging personality and profound knowledge of the game turned him into a living room companion for millions of New York Mets fans who adored his game broadcasts and later `Kiner's Korner' for more than half a century," he said. "He was as comfortable hanging out in Palm Springs with his friend Bob Hope as he was hitting in front of Hank Greenberg at Forbes Field."

Watch Mary Kay Cabot's and Tom Reed's discussion of the coordinators introduced Thursday by the Cleveland Browns: Kyle Shanahan, Jim O'Neil and Chris Tabor.

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns beat writers Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed discuss Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor who were all introduced at a news conference Thursday.

Topics include: Shanahan getting out on his own after coaching under his father, Mike, in Washington for four years.  the chemistry between O'Neal and head coach Mike Pettine being together for the last five years.  The success of Pettine's defense in Buffalo.  The success of quarterbacks and running backs under Shanahan in Washington and Houston.

On Twitter: @CLEvideos

The Cavaliers owner said "no one's happy," after the Cavaliers have started this season 16-33, and that's part of the reason Chris Grant was fired.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – Since Dan Gilbert purchased majority ownership of the Cavaliers in 2005, he has faced turmoil and controversy.

But this, watching his promising team go 16-33 and the Thursday firing of general manager Chris Grant because of the lack of results, has been the worst.

"This is the most challenging time in almost nine years we've owned this franchise," Gilbert said Thursday afternoon. "We are not happy, no one's happy."

Gilbert said he dismissed Grant because the Cavaliers needed an "environmental and cultural change," although he said he loves the team that Grant has assembled and Mike Brown, the coach he hired.

"This coaching staff and this team can succeed," Gilbert said. "There's no reason why they can't. Obviously there's challenges, we've all seen. I believe in them. I believe these players and this coaching staff can figure it out with a positive outcome."

Gilbert stopped short of promising Brown's job is secure in his first season of his second stint with the Cavaliers. But he did reiterate that Brown only has been here for less than one season.

"We're going to see Mike Brown succeed this year," Gilbert said. "I think he will be able to do good things in the next 30 games or so. I think this team is going to be able to do good things."

Gilbert said he will continue to push his team to be aggressive in pursuit of players at the Feb. 20 trade deadline – with acting general manager David Griffin leading the franchise.

"We are going to keep going," Gilbert said. "We're not going to quit. We're not going to stop. I'm sure we'll continue to make some mistakes because nobody makes perfect decisions. But our resolve is unlimited."

Key moves and moments of Chris Grant's tenure as GM of the Cavaliers.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- A look at key moves and moments in the career of Chris Grant as general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers:

July 2005 – Joined the team as vice president of basketball operations/assistant general manager to Danny Ferry.

June 4, 2010 – Named general manager after Ferry is dismissed.

July 2, 2010 — Hired Byron Scott as head coach.

July 9, 2010 – LeBron James announces he is leaving the Cavaliers to sign with Miami as a free agent.

June 26, 2011 – Kyrie Irving selected No. 1 overall by Cavaliers. Tristan Thompson is the No. 4 pick.

June 30, 2011 – Traded J.J. Hickson to Sacramento for Omri Casspi and a 2012 first-round pick.

June 29, 2012 – Dion Waiters selected No. 4 overall. Traded 24th, 33rd and 34th picks in draft to Dallas for No. 17 pick Tyler Zeller.

Aug. 8, 2012 — Signed free agent C.J. Miles.

Jan. 22, 2013 – Traded Jon Leuer and Josh Selby to Memphis for Marreese Speights, Wayne Ellington and 2015 first round pick (top-five protected).

April 18, 2013 — Fired head coach Byron Scott.

April 24, 2013 — Hired Mike Brown as head coach.

June 28, 2013 – Selected Anthony Bennett as the No. 1 overall pick.

July 12, 2013 — Signed free agent Jarrett Jack.

July 19, 2013 – Signed free agent Andrew Bynum.

Jan. 7, 2014 – Tradeed Bynum, a future first-round pick, two future second-round picks and the option to swap first-round picks in 2015 to Chicago Bulls for Luol Deng.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As the opening rounds of the Baron Cup and Cleveland Cup tournaments are being completed, it's time to take a look at where some of the best hockey teams in Northeast Ohio stand.  BARON CUP I

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As the opening rounds of the Baron Cup and Cleveland Cup tournaments are being completed, it's time to take a look at where some of the best hockey teams in Northeast Ohio stand. 

BARON CUP I

Rocky River pushed past Solon to win the opening round of Baron Cup play, 8-0, on Wednesday. PJ Sperli recorded a hat trick for the Pirates and Cam Heider scored twice in the matchup. Rocky River goalie Ryan Kostelnik stopped all 10 shots that came his way. For Solon, goalkeeper Frank Nagy saved 31 of 39 shots on goal that the Pirates fired at him. Solon held the No. 8 seed coming into the game.

No. 1 seed Rocky River will move on to face Mentor in the semifinals on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in Brooklyn. 

No. 4 Mentor defeated No. 5 Brecksville, 5-3, on Wednesday. Tyler Cox and Matt Madison both netted a pair of goals for the Cardinals. Jake Kivett tallied two for the Bees. 

The first round action continues as No. 2 Shaker Heights takes on No. 7 Kent Roosevelt tonight at 6:30 p.m. followed by No. 3 Hudson taking on No. 6 Kenston at 8:30 p.m. 

Note: All Baron Cup games are played at the Brooklyn Recreation Center. 

BARON CUP II

No. 1 seed Avon won a close game against Benedictine, 2-0, on Monday to advance to the semifinals on Friday at 5:30 p.m. Neil Novotny and Alex Provenza provided the scoring for the Eagles. Avon goalie Joe Sefchik saved 23 of 23 shots he faced. Bengals goalkeeper Joe Houser kept his team in the game, saving 36 of 38 shots. 

Read Todd Shapiro's story about the game on the Chronicle-Telegram's website. 

No. 5 North Canton Hoover worked hard for a 3-2 upset of No. 4 Orange on Monday to earn the right to advance to the semifinals against Avon. Zach Lawson scored two for the Vikings to lead his team to victory. Eli Newman and Evan Raupp each scored one for the Lions. 

No. 2 Cleveland Heights defeated No. 7 Midview, 3-1, on Tuesday. Conor Lewis scored a pair of goals to lead the Tigers while goalie Trent Swain saved 22 of 23 shots that came his way. Kyle Kudela scored the Middles' only goal in the second period. 

The Tigers will go on to face No. 3 Western Reserve Academy in the semifinals on Friday at 5:30 p.m. WRA shutout No. 6 Mayfield, 4-0, on Tuesday to earn the right to advance to face Cleveland Heights on Friday at 8 p.m. Robbie Markwell and Sam LaFontaine each scored twice in the Pionners' winning effort against the Wildcats. 

Read the game story by Jon Behm of the Morning Journal here. 

BARON CUP III

The offensive attack of No. 1 West Geauga proved too much for No. 8 Garfield Heights on Monday as the Grizzilies shutout the Bulldogs, 13-0. West Geauga will move on to face No. 4 Olmsted Falls in the semifinals on Saturday at 1 p.m. 

Olmsted Falls beat No. 5 Twinsburg, 4-1, on Tuesday. Zach Sadowski scored a pair for the Bulldogs and Zach Snyder saved 23 of 22 shots on goal by the Tigers. Dylan Aoki scored Twinsburg's only goal of the contest. 

No. 2 Parma shutout No. 7 Nordonia, 7-0, on Wednesday. Joe Gallo and Patrick Kirk each tallied two goals for the Redmen. Knights goalie Jordan Post did about all he could for his team, saving 64 of the 71 shots Parma fired at him. 

The Redmen will either face No. 3 Brush or No. 6 Normandy in the semifinals at 3 p.m. on Saturday. 

GREAT LAKES HOCKEY LEAGUE TOURNAMENT - CLEVELAND CUP

University School finished the regular season strong and earned a share of the top spot in the GLHL and the No. 1 seed heading into the inaugural edition of the Cleveland Cup tournament. 

The Preppers defeated No. 8 Padua, 6-1, in the opening round of tournament play on Wednesday at OBM Arena in Strongsville. The Bruins only trailed by one after the first period and tied the game on a power play goal by Jimmy Szpak early in the second. However, US got a pair of scores from both Evan Krueger and Ryan Gorbett to power the Preppers to victory. 

US will face the winner of tonight's game between No. 4 Holy Name and No. 5 Lake Catholic in the semifinals on Satuday at 4 p.m. in Strongsville. 

Walsh Jesuit, which finished tied with US for first place in the GLHL, entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed.

Walsh Jesuit earns share of Great Lakes Hockey League regular season title http://t.co/QwRAOUGhiP

— Todd Walsh News (@TWalshNews) February 4, 2014

The Warriors squeaked out a slim margin of victory against No. 7 St. Edward on Wednesday, winning by only a 1-0 count. Chris Gaul netted Walsh's only goal of the game. Warriors goalkeeper Jamie Studer stopped 41 of 41 shots he faced from the Eagles. 

Walsh will take on the winner of tonight's matchup between No. 3 St. Ignatius and No. 6 Gilmour in Strongsville. The time is still to be determined. 

Padua and St. Edward will play the losers of the two aforementioned games consolation rounds in Strongsville on Saturday with the Bruins playing at 10 a.m. and the Eagles at 1 p.m. 

For a full tournament bracket for the Cleveland Cup, click this link. 

New Browns head coach Mike Pettine announced his first coaching staff Thursday. Now starts the hard work of not only evaluating talent but of convincing players this latest change will finally lead to success on the field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Browns hired Rob Chudzinski last year in part because he could deliver Norv Turner.

A year later, Mike Pettine got the job for different reasons.

Spend time around Pettine, you see how he could win the interview. He’s not trying to sell you anything. But you come away believing he just might have something you need. It’s also obvious the Browns made an allowance for Pettine’s longer odds to wow them with a dream staff so late in the coaching search.

Pettine knew going into the interview process that a candidate's proposed staff can be "a deal breaker." That was reportedly one of the issues with Ken Whisenhunt’s candidacy a year ago.

In hiring Pettine to replace Chudzinski, the Browns obviously opted for a different head coaching personality on the opposite side of the ball. The processes might’ve looked like mirror images: two candidates who’d never been head coaches before and who weren’t interviewing with anyone else. Both emerging as candidates after the search was well underway. But there are also distinct differences.

The Browns had to put more trust in Pettine and by extension his ability to deliver on the kind of coaching staff he introduced Thursday -- offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil, most prominently. They had to put faith in him to work from behind time-wise. And in his belief that he could assemble a staff heavy on chemistry and less on what he calls “the fantasy football” approach to hiring coaches.

Whether the Browns bought into Pettine because January was slipping away, or because they re-evaluated staff building after Turner and Ray Horton failed to stop the avalanche of losses a year ago, who knows? Either way, they're putting even more trust in this rookie head coach than they put in the last one.

“Talk is cheap,” Pettine said Thursday when reminded he’s delivering the same optimistic message Chud delivered a year ago. “My father taught me that a long time ago.”

He knows he’ll have to win with the staff he put together and without control of the roster. And that he’d be well served to do it sooner than later.

Pettine said Thursday he delivered what he talked about in his interviews, at least on the defensive side of the ball. O’Neil was his linebacker coach in Buffalo. Pettine knew which defensive coaches he could target.

The offensive staff was more difficult to project. Pettine says Shanahan was on his list but certainly the Browns didn’t hire Pettine based on his chances of bringing Shanahan to town. In a radio interview Thursday, O’Neil likened Pettine landing Shanahan to hitting the “jackpot.”

I know what you’re thinking. Yes, Turner was supposedly a bigger jackpot just a year ago. But this hiring at least speaks to Pettine’s open-minded approach.

He didn’t know Shanahan well but liked the fact Shanahan has worked with distinctly different quarterbacks – Matt Schaub in Houston and Robert Griffin III in Washington the past two years – and had success with both. Shanahan fit the job description experience-wise – six years as an offensive coordinator – and in versatility. He doesn’t fall in love with the pass to the detriment of the run.

“In Northeast Ohio, your offense has to be all-weather,” Pettine said.

One distinct difference under Pettine is the lack of labels attached to philosophies. Turner and Chudzinski brought “the vertical passing game” a year after Pat Shurmur’s “West Coast Offense." The catch-phrase when Ray Horton was hired was “hybrid defense.”

O’Neil and Pettine bring a similar belief in multiple fronts. But Shanahan has coached offense differently, depending on personnel.

From both sides of the ball comes the message that the systems will be tailored to fit players. That’s at least somewhat refreshing after so many regimes have come in looking to overhaul the roster to fit their blueprint. Two years later, it’s rinse and repeat.

Will this be the end of the carousel? Anyone pretending to know that for sure can only convince me if they can prove they picked Seattle to win, 43-8, in the Super Bowl.

All I know is Pettine looks and speaks like a head coach right out of Central Casting. (Sorry, Chud, and you, too, Denis Leary.) Hiring O’Neill should mean built-in harmony on defense. Shanahan’s experience and versatility make him a good hire late in the process.

Pettine felt the need to hire some assistant coaches before hiring Shanahan. That wasn’t his preferred route but he feared “losing some good coaches” to other teams. He kept some spots open for Shanahan to fill out.

Will it work? Pettine isn’t making any grand promises. No talk of changing the culture. No promise to “redefine the history books,” as assistant GM Ray Farmer strangely suggested (How about going 7-7 first?).

Pettine got a late start. He put together a staff he thinks will work well together and be creative.

As is so often the case in the months before September and after December, a Browns head coach couldn't sound more convincing.

The proposed Ohio deer hunting regulations for next season won't noticeably change any of the hunting dates, but could allow certain rifles to be legal in the deer woods for the first time and limit the use of low-priced antlerless deer permits.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The proposed Ohio deer hunting regulations for next season won’t noticeably change any of the hunting dates, but could allow certain center-fire rifles to be legal in the deer woods for the first time and limit the use of low-priced antlerless deer permits.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife wants to continue county-by-county deer regulations for the second year, rather than traditional deer zones, proposing a season bag limit of three deer in 68 of Ohio’s 88 counties. Five counties would have a two-deer limit. Northeastern Ohio counties, as well as counties in the Columbus, Cincinnati, Youngstown and Toledo areas, would have liberal four-deer per season limit. Many of those counties were in the Urban Deer Zones discontinued last season. A map of counties and proposed deer bag limits are at cleveland.com/outdoors.

The 2014-2015 deer hunting seasons proposed to the Ohio Wildlife Council on Wednesday night are: Archery, Sept. 27-Feb. 1; Antlerless Muzzleloader, Oct. 11-12; Youth Gun Season, Nov. 22-23; Gun Season, Dec. 1-7; and Statewide Muzzleloader Season for bucks and does, Jan. 2-5.

The discounted $15 antlerless deer permits, or doe tags, that now expire when the gun season arrives would not be valid this year in 27 counties, many in deer-rich southeastern Ohio. In the rest of Ohio, only one of the discount permits could be used to tag a doe. To kill extra does or a single buck next season would require a $24 either-sex deer permit.

Ohio has long banned all but muzzleloading rifles in the deer woods. That could change with a proposal to allow rifles during the deer gun season that shoot a wide number of straight-walled pistol cartridges, many already allowed for handgun deer hunting.

Chief Scott Zody said the Buckeye Firearms Association prompted the rifle proposal, and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation has endorsed it. The OFBF has long campaigned for a reduced deer population in Ohio to limit crop damage.

The proposed regulations follow a major 13 percent slump in the Ohio deer harvest last season. While many hunting days during the youth, gun and muzzleloading rifle seasons were hampered by cold and snow, the ODOW experts don’t expect the deer harvest to rebound in 2014-15.

Zody said the liberal deer regulations of recent years, including bringing down season bag limits from a high of six deer to a maximum of four deer, have worked very well.

“Many counties are at or near goals, and several other counties are close. I feel very good about where we are today with the deer population on both a statewide and a county-by-county basis.

“We anticipate next year’s harvest to be about the same (as the 2013-14 total of 191,459 deer),” said Zody. He has not considered hunting license and deer permit sales may go down, too. “These are not monetary decisions we’re making, but deer management decisions. We could lose revenue.”

“Prior to the season, we thought there would be about a 5 percent to 10 percent reduction in the deer harvest,” said Ohio deer management supervisor Mike Tonkovich. “It finished lower than expected, down 13 percent, but that is well within our comfort parameters.”

Crowds, cameras on Erie: It’s been decades since fishermen have enjoyed such thick ice and great walleye fishing around Western Lake Erie. It seems the word is spreading quickly, with anglers arriving from all over the Midwest to try their luck.

The premier trophy walleye being caught hasn’t escaped notice of the many fishing shows on television. The latest to make an appearance is Wisconsin’s Keith Kavajecz, filming segments with Lorain pro Ronnie Rhodes for next year’s The Next Bite show on NBC Sports. Clips of the ice fishing action on Lake Erie can be seen right now on The Next Bite TV on Facebook.

Coming right up: The popular Columbia Game Club Flea Market is Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Medina County Fairgrounds. ... The late Gus Ferencak and Del Shamp and Chuck Weber are being honored Sunday at an All-Breed Hunter’s Trial at the Columbia Game Club’s grounds in Sullivan. ... Carl Bachtel’s 4th annual Wingfoot Lake Charity Ice Fishing Tournament is Feb. 22, with registration to begin at 6:30 a.m.

Steelhead tactics, techniques: The Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders are holding the 6th annual OCBS Steelhead Workshop that is free and open to the public on Feb. 20. The steelheading session is 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the AMPOL Club, 4737 Pearl Rd., Cleveland.

Bass fishing secrets: Tournament bass fishing pro Frank Scalish of Cleveland Heights is sharing angling secrets for catching trophy bass at a special clinic Feb. 23 at The Rodmakers Shop in Strongsville. The free session is from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Reservations are needed. Call 440-572-0400.

Team USA opens group play at the Sochi Winter Olympics against much-improved Finland on Saturday at 3 a.m. (EST). The game will be broadcast live on NBCSN.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Olympians like to say the worst place is fourth place. No one ever remembers who placed fourth, and there is no medal.

U.S. hockey players Kelli Stack and Brianne McLaughlin aren't big fans of second place, either.

“Nothing hurts more than to get a silver medal put around your neck when it could have been gold,'' Stack said recently about the 2010 medal she and Team USA received at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

“We all remember what that feels like,'' McLaughlin said. “We're all proud of the fact we won a silver medal, but you lose to win that silver in hockey, and it's a weird feeling. In that moment, it's extremely disappointing. I know that now more than ever.''

Four years later, the hurt is plain to see, and so are the lessons the Americans say they have learned from a team that had perhaps too much fun winning a silver medal. Team USA coaches and players say they are much more serious and focused than the 2010 team, which lost to Canada, 2-0, in the gold medal game.

“It burns in your heart every single day,'' said team captain Meghan Duggan. “You don't ever want to feel that again.''

The U.S. has been on a mission to beat Canada and win the Olympic gold medal ever since. Team USA opens group play at the Sochi Winter Olympics against much-improved Finland on Saturday at 3 a.m. (EST). The game will be broadcast live on NBCSN.

“I want to win gold so badly. It's pretty much the only reason why I'm still playing,'' Stack said.

View full sizeKelli Stack (left) of Brooklyn Heights and Brianne McLaughlin (right) of Sheffield Village say Team USA has a much more serious and mature approach heading into its Winter Olympics opener against Finland on Saturday.USA Hockey / Nancie Battaglia

Stack and McLaughlin, both 26 years old, are Greater Clevelanders playing in their second Olympics. Stack is from Brooklyn Heights and the starting center. McLaughlin is from Sheffield Village and is the backup goalie.

Neither player is happy with how the 2010 team handled the Olympics.

“We ran around like crazy and lived it up at the Olympics,'' McLaughlin said. “I think the entire team is more prepared this time around, and a lot of that is what we learned from last time.

"We had a blast winning a silver medal. It will be twice as much fun winning gold. We can win a gold medal and really enjoy it afterward.''

Stack and McLaughlin promised the attitude in Sochi will be much more businesslike. They don't want to lose the momentum they have against Canada. The U.S. beat Canada for the World Championship last April, a tournament Stack missed while recovering from knee surgery. Team USA ended 2013 with four straight victories against Canada to conclude a 10-game exhibition tour. The final win, 3-2, came in front of 17,000 fans in Toronto. Stack had a goal and two assists in that game.

“We're more focused. We know what we want to do and we know we're capable of doing it,'' said Stack, who bumped into Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. “Last time (in Vancouver), we didn't have confidence at all. We lost to Canada basically every time we played before the Olympics. This time, we've done really well the last two months. We're in a really good place. We know what we have to do to beat them, and that's a comforting feeling.''

Unlike men's hockey, the top four seeded teams are together in the Group A and face each other in the preliminary round. The top two teams after the preliminary round receive a bye to the semifinals, and the Nos. 3 and 4 teams in Group A play in the quarterfinals.

The U.S. can't afford to look past No. 3 seed Finland, which upset the U.S. in the Four Nations Cup last November, 3-2. Finland features a pair of Ohio State graduates, 32-year-old defenseman Emma (Laaksonen) Terho and 23-year-old forward Minttu Tuominen.

The U.S. plays Switzerland on Monday at 5 a.m., followed by Canada Wednesday at 3 a.m.

“Finland and Russia will be good,'' Stack said. “Sweden typically is better during an Olympic year, but they've kind of fallen off in last few years, and Switzerland has a good goalie.''

The Fly Fishing Film Tour and Columbia Game Club Flea Market are the highlights of this week's Outdoor Calendar.

North Olmsted ice fisherman Tom Hurst caught a trophy 28-inch walleye while out on the Western Lake Erie ice this week with guide Bob Hughey. Hurst hooked the hungry fish on a jigging spoon tipped with an emerald shiner minnow.

Feb. 7: F3T Fly Fishing Film Tour 2014, Cleveland Museum of Natural History Trout Club, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval, Cleveland. Reception at 6 p.m., movie at 7:30 p.m. For information visit call Amos Crowley (440-564-5255) or visit www.cmnh.org. Tickets $15 at Orvis in Woodmere, Backpackers Shop in Sheffield, and museum online store at www.cmnh.org. Tickets $20 at the door.

Feb. 8: Columbia Game Club Flea Market, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Medina County Fairgrounds, Medina. Admission $5. Women and children 16 and under are free. For exhibit space, information call Joe Najm, 440-845-6363.

Feb. 8: Northeast Ohio Ducks Unlimited 50 Gun Super Raffle, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m., The Middlefield Market, 15848 Nauvoo Rd., Middlefield. Admission $20. Call Tim Cline, 440-749-5182.

Feb. 9: Gus Ferencak Memorial and Del Shamp/Chuck Weber Classic All-Breed Hunter’s Trial, 8 a.m., Columbia Game Club, 237 Route 224 (2.4 miles west of Route 301), Sullivan Township. Entries close Thursday. Call Frank Reznik, 330-723-1679.

Feb. 9: Turkey Shoot at the South Cuyahoga Sportsmen’s Association, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Breakfast begins at 6 a.m., shoot begins at 9 a.m. Visit www.scsasportsmen.com.

Feb. 10: SCSA Youth Indoor Archery, basic archery instruction with emphasis on safety and basic archery techniques for boys and girls 6 to 15 years of age, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the South Cuyahoga Sportsmen’s Association, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Sessions now full. To be put on a waiting list contact Patrick Martelon, 330-324-2705.

Feb. 14-17: 5th annual Coyote Open held by the Maple Country Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. Coyotes can be harvested by any legal means. Contest open from sunrise on Feb. 14 to sunset on Feb. 17. Final weigh-in time at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 17 at the Hambden Country Inn, 13960 Rt. 166, Hambden, Ohio. Entry $10. Pre-registration mandatory. visit www.maplecountrynwtf.com or call Bill Trump (440-983-7203), Tony Bitner (440-221-9786), Adam Hollobaugh (440-313-7406) or Matt McDermott (330-221-3063).

Feb. 16: All-Breed Hunter’s Trial, 8 a.m., South Cuyahoga Sportsmen’s Association, 5370 Erhart Rd. (south of West Smith Rd.), Chatham Township. Entries close Thursday. Call Mike Kristof, 216-663-6427.

Feb. 16: Turkey Shoot at the South Cuyahoga Sportsmen’s Association, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Breakfast begins at 6 a.m., shoot begins at 9 a.m. Visit www.scsasportsmen.com.

Feb. 17: SCSA Youth Indoor Archery, basic archery instruction with emphasis on safety and basic archery techniques for boys and girls 6 to 15 years of age, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the South Cuyahoga Sportsmen’s Association, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Sessions now full. To be put on a waiting list contact Patrick Martelon, 330-324-2705.

Feb. 19: Fly Tying for Beginners Class, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Ohio Division of Wildlife District 3, 912 Portage Lakes Dr., Akron. Materials and equipment will be provided. Create a dry fly, woolly bugger, pheasant-tail nymph and bead-head nymph with Aaron Brown. Pre-registration needed. Call Ken Fry, 330-245-3030.

Feb. 20: 6th annual OCBS Steelhead Workshop, free and open to the public, Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders, 7:30-9:30 p.m., AMPOL Club Hall 4737 Pearl Rd. Cleveland. Topics include center pin, fly and spey rod fishing, egg curing. For information visit www.ohiosteelheaders.com.

Feb. 21-23: The League of Ohio Sportsmen’s 106th annual meeting and convention, NorthPointe Hotel & Conference Center, Lewis Center. For information visit www.leagueofohiosportsmen.org.

Feb. 22: 4th annual Wingfoot Lake Charity Ice Tournament, Wingfoot Lake, Suffield. Registration opens at 6:30 p.m. Tournament benefits the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank. For information, contact Carl Bachtel, cbachtel@wkyc.com.

Feb. 22: Western Reserve Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited annual banquet, E.O.U.V., 8636 Pekin Rd., Novelty. For tickets or information call 440-335-0183, Dennis Malloy (330-507-9489) or visit www.whitetailsunlimited.com.

Feb. 22: Sandusky River 2nd Amendment Dinner, Whitetails Unlimited, American Legion Post 121, 2000 Buckland Ave., Fremont. Tickets $40, couples $30. Call Keith Kralik, 419-202-9544, Dennis Malloy (330-507-9489) or visit www.whitetailsunlimited.com. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m.

Feb. 23: Tournament bass fishing with pro angler Frank Scalish, The Rodmakers Shop, Strongsville. The free session is from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., with reservations required. Call 440-572-0400.

Feb. 23: All-Breed Hunter’s Trial, 8 a.m., Wayne Coon Hunters Association, 4900 Secrest Rd., Wooster. Entries close Thursday at 7 p.m. Call Ron Burkey, 330-988-3987.

Feb. 23: Turkey Shoot at the South Cuyahoga Sportsmen’s Association, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Breakfast begins at 6 a.m., shoot begins at 9 a.m. Visit www.scsasportsmen.com.

Feb. 24: SCSA Youth Indoor Archery, basic archery instruction with emphasis on safety and basic archery techniques for boys and girls 6 to 15 years of age, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the South Cuyahoga Sportsmen’s Association, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Sessions now full. To be put on a waiting list contact Patrick Martelon, 330-324-2705.

Feb. 28-March 1: 17th annual Earlybird Sports Show, 307 Hostettler Rd., Orrville.

March 1: A 2014 Ohio fishing and hunting license now required.

Feb. 28-March 2: Niles Sportsman’s Show, Eastwood Expo Center, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Rd., Niles (located behind Eastwood Mall on Route 422). Show hours: Friday, noon-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission $6, kids 12 and under free. For information call 300-544-8951 or email JHenFFR@aol.com.

March 1: Lake Erie walleye daily bag limit is reduced from 6 to 4 fish per day. For details, visit www.wildohio.com or call 1-800-WILDLIFE.

March 1: All About Coyotes Seminar, Ohio Division of Wildlife at The Bath Church, 3980 W. Bath Rd., Bath. Free public program, reservations needed. Call the DOW at 33-644-2293. Free community breakfast before the 8:30-9:30 a.m. presentation on coyote biology, ecology, population trends and current status.

March 2: Dec. 29: All-Breed Hunter’s Trial, Pinecrest Shooting Preserve, 8 a.m., 1035 Derussey Road, New London. Entry deadline is Thursday at 7 p.m. Call Tim Reznik, 440-236-9131.

March 3: SCSA Youth Indoor Archery, basic archery instruction with emphasis on safety and basic archery techniques for boys and girls 6 to 15 years of age, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the South Cuyahoga Sportsmen’s Association, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Sessions now full. To be put on a waiting list contact Patrick Martelon, 330-324-2705.

March 8: Annual banquet of the Ohio Chapter of Safari Club International, Michauds Towne & Country, 16808 Pearl Rd., Strongsville. Dinner, raffles, games and the return of the Duck Drop. Tickets $50. Contact Paul Potemski (216-695-3800, paul@twendesafarissa.com) or visit www.ohiosafarichapter.com or www.twendesafarissa.com.

March 8: Annual banquet for the Lake Erie Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Harpersfield Community Center, 5604 Cork-Cold Springs Rd., Harpersfield. Call Joshua Laurenty, 440-862-7895.

March 8: Annual banquet for the Sippo Valley Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Knights of Columbus Hall, 988 Cherry St., Massillon. Contact David Zwick, 330-484-5114, dzwick@sbcglobal.net.

March 8-9: Ohio Decoy Collectors and Carvers Association's annual Decoy and Wildlife Art Show, Strongsville Holiday Inn, 15471 Royalton Rd., Strongsville. Visit www.odcca.net. Weekend pass $5.

March 9: All-Breed Hunter’s Trial, 8 a.m., R & G Ventures at Cuyahoga Coon Hunters Association, West 130th St. at Sleepy Hollow Rd., Hinckley. Entries close Thursday. Call John Rizzo, 440-338-6578.

March 10: SCSA Youth Indoor Archery, basic archery instruction with emphasis on safety and basic archery techniques for boys and girls 6 to 15 years of age, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the South Cuyahoga Sportsmen’s Association, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Sessions now full. To be put on a waiting list contact Patrick Martelon, 330-324-2705.

March 11: Managing Conflicts with Canada Geese Seminar, 6-8 p.m., Ohio Division of Wildlife, 912 Portage Lakes Dr., Akron. Canda goose conflict management, biology, ecology and population trends. Free. Pre-registration required. Contact Laura Graber (330-245-3008, Laura.Graber@dnr,state.oh.us.

March 14-16: Ohio Deer & Turkey Expo, Bricker Building, Ohio Expo Center, Ohio State Fairgrounds, 717 East 17th St., Columbus. Show hours: Friday, 2-9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission $14; two-day pass, $22; hunter education graduate 12-18 years old, $10; first-year hunter, free; ages 6-11, $4; five and under, free. For more information visit www.deerinfo.com/ohio.

March 15: Whitetails Unlimited Central Ohio Deer Camp Tour 2014, Crowne Plaza North, Columbus. Featured are dinner, raffles, exhibits, games and Travis “T-Bone” Turner of Michael Waddell’s Bone Collector television show. For tickets visit www.whitetailsunlimited.com or call Joel Reynolds (614-205-1037), Jim Schlater (937-403-5811), WU (1-800-274-5471) or area director Denny Malloy, 330-507-9489. Tickets $35, which includes a WU Deer Camp shirt. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m.

March 16: All-Breed Hunter’s Trial, 8 a.m., Columbia Game Club, 237 Route 224 (2.4 miles west of Route 301), Sullivan Township. Regular trial and youth trial. Entries close Thursday. Call Frank Reznik, 330-723-1679.

March 16: Youth Fishing Program Workshop to teach volunteers to become certified Passport to Fishing instructors with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., ODOW District 3 Headquarters, 912 Portage Lakes Dr., Akron. Free, with pre-registration required. All participants required to have a background check. Volunteers will learn to teach the basics of fishing and how to run a four-station fishing program. To pre-register contact Ken Fry, 330-245-3030.

March 17: SCSA Youth Indoor Archery, basic archery instruction with emphasis on safety and basic archery techniques for boys and girls 6 to 15 years of age, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the South Cuyahoga Sportsmen’s Association, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Sessions now full. To be put on a waiting list contact Patrick Martelon, 330-324-2705.

March 19: The Trout Club of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History dinner meeting featuring a fly fishing presentation by Clark Smyth of Rock Creek Anglers, Saddlestring, Wyo. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m., program at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $35. Contact Karen Menn (216-231-4600 Ext. 3278) or visit www.cmnh.org.

March 21-23: Bowhunting Supershow, Columbus Convention Center, Columbus. Show hours: Friday, noon-9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission $15, $20 for the weekend. NRA members free. For exhibitor, show information contact bowshowcontact@gmail.com.

March 22: Annual banquet and gourmet game dinner of the Medina County Chapter of Pheasants Forever at South Cuyahoga Sportsmen’s Association, 5370 Erhart Rd., Chatham Twp. Admission $65, couples $95, includes membership in Pheasants Forever. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. Call Dave Clements (330-722-5241) or Jim Helms (440-346-3316). Ticket deadline is March 15.

March 22: 53rd annual Ohio Huskie Muskie Club Awards Banquet, Prime 93, 4215 Manchester Rd., Akron. Exhibits, vendors and raffles at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and awards. Swap meet open from noon-5:30 p.m. Admission $30, $15 for 12 and under. Send fee before March 13 to: OHMC, 10327 N.Bramblewood, Perrysburg, Ohio 43551.

March 23: All-Breed Hunter’s Trial, 8 a.m., South Cuyahoga Sportsmen’s Association, 5370 Erhart Rd. (south of West Smith Rd.), Chatham Township. Regular trial and youth trial. Entries close Thursday. Call Mike Kristof, 216-663-6427.

March 24: SCSA Youth Indoor Archery, basic archery instruction with emphasis on safety and basic archery techniques for boys and girls 6 to 15 years of age, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the South Cuyahoga Sportsmen’s Association, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Sessions now full. To be put on a waiting list contact Patrick Martelon, 330-324-2705.

March 27: Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders meeting, 7:30 p.m., Firehouse Pub & Grille 2768 Stark Dr., Willoughby Hills.

March 28: Whitetails Unlimited Big Buckeye Deer Camp, Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center, 7033 Glenn Hwy., Cambridge. Featured are a buffet dinner, raffles, exhibits, games and Travis “T-Bone” Turner of Michael Waddell’s Bone Collector television show. For tickets visit www.whitetailsunlimited.com or call Chris Fausett (740-680-2119), WU (1-800-274-5471) or area director Denny Malloy, 330-507-9489. Tickets $30, which includes a WU Deer Camp shirt. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m.

March 28: Annual banquet for the Thundering Toms of Trumbull County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Garden Brook Banquet Hall, 4820 Warren Rd., Cortland. Contact Richard White, 330-240-2415, drwhite96@aol.com.

March 29: Annual banquet for the Portage County Callers Chapter of the National Wild turkey Federation, VFW, 6000 New Milford Rd., Ravenna. Contact Michael Bedilion, 330-281-7815, turk835@neo.rr.com.

March 29: 14th annual Shreve Spring Migration Sensation, Shreve Elementary School, 598 N. Market St., Shreve. Fee $15, $20 for family. Registration opens at 7 a.m. Workshops, wildlife and wetlands displays, family programs and self-guided tours. Visit www.ShreveMigration.org.

March 31: SCSA Youth Indoor Archery, basic archery instruction with emphasis on safety and basic archery techniques for boys and girls 6 to 15 years of age, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the South Cuyahoga Sportsmen’s Association, 19300 Ridge Rd., North Royalton. Sessions now full. To be put on a waiting list contact Patrick Martelon, 330-324-2705.

April 3: 8th annual banquet for the Lakeshore Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Port Clinton Elks Lodge, 231 Buckeye Blvd., Port Clinton. Contact Jim Frattaroli, 419-967-0149, jbfratt@aol.com.

April 5: 47th annual Invitational Winner’s Trial of the All-Breed Hunter’s Trial Circuit, 8 a.m., Wayne Coon Hunters Association, 4900 Secrest Rd., Wooster. Entries closed. Open to the public.

April 5: The 36th annual banquet of the Trout Club of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval, Cleveland. Tickets $80, $150 per couple. Silent and live auctions, raffles and dinner. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner, live auction and raffle at 7:30 p.m. Contact Karen Menn (216-231-4600 Ext. 3278) or visit www.cmnh.org.

April 5: Lake Erie Walleye Trail Tournament on Lake Erie at Magee East Marina & Campground. Two-angler teams. Sponsored by the Western Basin Sportfishing Association. For information visit www.wbsa.us or contact Joe Yingling, 419-621-4751, joe.yingling@yahoo.com.

April 5: 5th annual Vance Outdoors Buckeye Lake Open Bass Tournament, Liebs Island Ramp, Buckeye Lake. Contact Ron Groves (rgroves@vanceoutdoors.com, 740-928-9474.

April 10: Annual banquet for the Northcoast Limbhangers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, North Olmsted Party Center, 29227 Lorain Rd., North Olmsted. Contact Shawn Dicket, 216-433-0565, sdickey@nwtf.net.

April 11: Annual banquet for the Huron River Fantails Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Elks Lodge 285, 120 E. Adams St., Sandusky. Contact Doug Johnston, 419-684-7158, dougmjmarcia@att.net.

April 12: Doug Hanes Memorial Ice Breaker Bass Tournament, Moundwood Ramp, Indian Lake. Contact Bill Cochensparger (bluegillbill@woh.rr.com, 419-201-9031)

April 13: Great Lakes Largemouth Series Open Bass Tournament, Cullen Park Boat Launch, 4526 Summit St., Toledo. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact Craig Burwell (birdie2277@yahoo.com, 419-701-8440).

April 16: Youth Fishing Program Workshop to teach volunteers to become certified Passport to Fishing instructors with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., ODOW District 3 Headquarters, 912 Portage Lakes Dr., Akron. Free, with pre-registration required. All participants required to have a background check. Volunteers will learn to teach the basics of fishing and how to run a four-station fishing program. To pre-register contact Ken Fry, 330-245-3030.

April 17: Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders meeting featuring Dave Dyer on fishing Indiana’s Trail Creek and Lake Michigan for Skamania trout in spring and early summer. Meeting from 7:30-9 p.m. at Ampol Club Hall, 4737 Pearl Rd., Cleveland. Visit www.ohiosteelheaders.com.

April 19: Ohio Mega Bass Tournament Trail, Buckeye Lake. For information visit www.ombtt.com.

April 19-20, 2014: Youth wild turkey hunting spring season. For information visit www.wildohio.com or call 1-800-WILDLIFE.

April 21: Spring wild turkey hunting season opens through May 18, 2014. For information visit www.wildohio.com or call 1-800-WILDLIFE.

April 24-May 19: Walleye Spring Fling fishing derby, Ohio waters of Lake Erie. Entry $25. Derby begins at 12:01 a.m. on April 24 and ends at 8 a.m. on May 19. Sign-up session April 19 from 1-3 p.m. at Shine’s Bait & Tackle, Cleveland. Awards party on May 23 from 6-9 p.m. at Elmwood Park Cabin, 600 Elmwood Rd., Rocky River. For information call Frank Murphy, 440-221-2822, visit www.lakeeriefishingderby.com or email lakeeriefishingderby@gmail.com.

April 25: Hunters Night Out banquet held by the Tinkers Creek Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited, Days Inn, Richfield. Featured are dinner, raffles, exhibits, games and Travis “T-Bone” Turner of Michael Waddell’s Bone Collector television show. For tickets visit www.whitetailsunlimited.com or call WU (1-800-274-5471) or area director Denny Malloy, 330-507-9489.

April 27: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Central Lake Erie Division, Ottawa County Launch Ramp, West Harbor, Catawba Island. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact David Hoheisel (david@h2hsales.com. 614-361-5548.

April 27: Team Bass Xtreme/Central Ohio Division, Buckeye Lake. For information visit www.TeamBassExtreme.com.

May 2-4: Catawba Island Boat Show, Catawba Island Club, Catawba Island. For information visit lemta.com.

May 2-4: Lake and Trails Fishing Camp, FFA Camp Muskingum on Leesville Lake, Carrollton. Registration opens Feb. 15 for youngsters 9 and older. An adult must accompany youth attendees. For information or to sign up visit www.lakeandtrails.org or call Karen Metzger, 330-725-8747.

May 3: Mosquito Creek 60 Gun Raffle, Mosquito Creek Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited, Yankee Lake Ballroom, 1814 Rt. 7, Brookfield. For information, tickets contact Denny Malloy, 330-507-9489.

May 3: Lake Erie Walleye Trail Tournament on Lake Erie at Lakevue Marina, Lakeside. Two-angler teams. Sponsored by the Western Basin Sportfishing Association. For information visit www.wbsa.us or contact Joe Yingling, 419-621-4751, joe.yingling@yahoo.com.

May 4-June 28: Lake Erie FishCrazy Spring Walleye Derby. Visit www.lakeeriewalleyederby.com for rules. Entry $50, $10 for one-day entry. Weekly, monthly and overall winners.

May 10: Ohio Mega Bass Tournament Trail, Grand Lake St. Marys. For information visit www.ombtt.com.

May 17: Lake Erie Walleye Trail Tournament on Lake Erie at Sandusky. Two-angler teams. Sponsored by the Western Basin Sportfishing Association. For information visit www.wbsa.us or contact Joe Yingling, 419-621-4751, joe.yingling@yahoo.com.

May 17: Walmart Bass Fishing League/Buckeye Division, Grand Lake St. Marys. For entries, information visit www.flwoutdoors.com.

June 7: Youth Fishing Program Workshop to teach volunteers to become certified Passport to Fishing instructors with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., ODOW District 3 Headquarters, 912 Portage Lakes Dr., Akron. Free, with pre-registration required. All participants required to have a background check. Volunteers will learn to teach the basics of fishing and how to run a four-station fishing program. To pre-register contact Ken Fry, 330-245-3030.

June 7: Ohio Mega Bass Tournament Trail, Indian Lake. For information visit www.ombtt.com.

June 7-8: Championship of the Lake Erie Walleye Trail Tournament on Lake Erie at Huron Public Launch Ramps, Huron. Two-angler teams. Sponsored by the Western Basin Sportfishing Association. For information visit www.wbsa.us or contact Joe Yingling, 419-621-4751, joe.yingling@yahoo.com.

June 8: Team Bass Xtreme/Central Ohio Division, Alum Creek Lake. For information visit www.TeamBassExtreme.com.

June 28: Walmart Bass Fishing League/Buckeye Division, Tanner’s Creek on the Ohio River. For entries, information visit www.flwoutdoors.com.

June 29: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Central Lake Erie Division, Ottawa County Launch Ramp, West Harbor, Catawba Island. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact David Hoheisel (david@h2hsales.com. 614-361-5548.

June 29: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Presque Isle Division, Marina Ramp, Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or call Aaron Gast, 814-314-9847.

June 29: Ohio Mega Bass Tournament Trail, Alum Creek Reservoir. For information visit www.ombtt.com.

July 6: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Mentor Lagoons Division, Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve and Boat Ramp, Mentor Lagoons, Mentor. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact Joel Prince (jcprince193@gmail.com, 330-936-6434).

July 6: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Toledo Division, Cullen Park Boat Launch, 4526 Summit St., Toledo. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact Craig Burwell (birdie2277@yahoo.com, 419-701-8440).

July 13: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Central Lake Erie Division, Ottawa County Launch Ramp, West Harbor, Catawba Island. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact David Hoheisel (david@h2hsales.com. 614-361-5548.

July 13: Team Bass Xtreme/Central Ohio Division, O’Shaughnessy Reservoir. For information visit www.TeamBassExtreme.com.

July 19: Walmart Bass Fishing League/Buckeye Division, Ohio River at Maysville. For entries, information visit www.flwoutdoors.com.

July 20: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Toledo Division, Cullen Park Boat Launch, 4526 Summit St., Toledo. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact Craig Burwell (birdie2277@yahoo.com, 419-701-8440).

July 20: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Presque Isle Division, Marina Ramp, Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or call Aaron Gast, 814-314-9847.

July 26: Ohio Mega Bass Tournament Trail, Indian Lake. For information visit www.ombtt.com.

July 27: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Central Lake Erie Division, Ottawa County Launch Ramp, West Harbor, Catawba Island. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact David Hoheisel (david@h2hsales.com. 614-361-5548.

Aug. 3: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/ Mentor Lagoons Division, Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve and Boat Ramp, Mentor Lagoons, Mentor. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact Joel Prince (jcprince193@gmail.com, 330-936-6434).

Aug. 7: Annual banquet for the Medina County Strutters Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Buffalo Creek Retreat, 8708 Hubbard Valley Rd., Seville. Contact Bill Suliks, 330-635-0878, bsuliks@aol.com.

Aug. 9: Walmart Bass Fishing League/Buckeye Division, Tanner’s Creek on the Ohio River. For entries, information visit www.flwoutdoors.com.

Aug. 10: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Central Lake Erie Division, Ottawa County Launch Ramp, West Harbor, Catawba Island. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact David Hoheisel (david@h2hsales.com. 614-361-5548.

Aug. 10: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Presque Isle Division, Marina Ramp, Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or call Aaron Gast, 814-314-9847.

Aug. 17: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/ Mentor Lagoons Division, Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve and Boat Ramp, Mentor Lagoons, Mentor. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact Joel Prince (jcprince193@gmail.com, 330-936-6434).

Aug. 17: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Toledo Division, Cullen Park Boat Launch, 4526 Summit St., Toledo. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact Craig Burwell (birdie2277@yahoo.com, 419-701-8440).

Aug. 24: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Central Lake Erie Division, Ottawa County Launch Ramp, West Harbor, Catawba Island. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact David Hoheisel (david@h2hsales.com. 614-361-5548.

Aug. 31: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Toledo Division, Cullen Park Boat Launch, 4526 Summit St., Toledo. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact Craig Burwell (birdie2277@yahoo.com, 419-701-8440).

Sept. 6-7: Walmart Bass Fishing League/Buckeye Division, Indian Lake. For entries, information visit www.flwoutdoors.com.

Sept. 7: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Central Lake Erie Division, Ottawa County Launch Ramp, West Harbor, Catawba Island. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact David Hoheisel (david@h2hsales.com. 614-361-5548.

Sept. 7: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Presque Isle Division, Marina Ramp, Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or call Aaron Gast, 814-314-9847.

Sept. 9: Youth Fishing Program Workshop to teach volunteers to become certified Passport to Fishing instructors with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., ODOW District 3 Headquarters, 912 Portage Lakes Dr., Akron. Free, with pre-registration required. All participants required to have a background check. Volunteers will learn to teach the basics of fishing and how to run a four-station fishing program. To pre-register contact Ken Fry, 330-245-3030.

Sept. 11-14: North American In-Water Boat Show, Cedar Point Marina, Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky. For information visit lemta.com.

Sept. 14: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/ Mentor Lagoons Division, Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve and Boat Ramp, Mentor Lagoons, Mentor. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact Joel Prince (jcprince193@gmail.com, 330-936-6434).

Sept. 14: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Toledo Division, Cullen Park Boat Launch, 4526 Summit St., Toledo. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact Craig Burwell (birdie2277@yahoo.com, 419-701-8440).

Sept. 21: Great Lakes Largemouth Series/Central Lake Erie Division, Ottawa County Launch Ramp, West Harbor, Catawba Island. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact David Hoheisel (david@h2hsales.com. 614-361-5548.

Sept. 21: Great Lakes Largemouth Series, Marina Ramp, Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pa. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or call Aaron Gast, 814-314-9847.

Sept. 27: Ohio Mega Bass Tournament Trail, Delaware Lake. For information visit www.ombtt.com.

Sept. 26-28: Masters Walleye Circuit qualifying tournament, two-angler teams, Lake Erie at Huron, Ohio. For information, entries visit www.masterswalleyecircuit.com. MWC Championship to be held Oct. 8-11 at Devils Lake, N.D.

Oct. 11-12: Championship of the Great Lakes Largemouth Series, Ottawa County Launch Ramp, West Harbor, Catawba Island. Two-angler team event. For information, entries visit www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com or contact David Hoheisel (david@h2hsales.com. 614-361-5548.

Oct.16-18: Walmart Bass Fishing League/Buckeye Division Regional Championship, Kentucky Lake. For entries, information visit www.flwoutdoors.com.

Nov. 6: Youth Fishing Program Workshop to teach volunteers to become certified Passport to Fishing instructors with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., ODOW District 3 Headquarters, 912 Portage Lakes Dr., Akron. Free, with pre-registration required. All participants required to have a background check. Volunteers will learn to teach the basics of fishing and how to run a four-station fishing program. To pre-register contact Ken Fry, 330-245-3030.

HUNTING SEASONS

SMALL GAME HUNTING SEASONS

Cottontail rabbit: Nov. 1-Feb. 28, 2014

TRAPPING SEASONS

Mink and muskrat: Nov. 10-Feb. 28, 2014

Mink, muskrat, raccoon, opossum, skunk and weasel (Erie, Ottawa and Sandusky counties, and Lucas County east of the Maumee River): Nov. 10-March 15, 2014

Beaver: Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2014

River otter: Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2014

Crow: June 7-March 8, 2014; June 6, 2014-March 7, 2015 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday only)

Youth spring wild turkey: April 19-20, 2014

Spring wild turkey: April 21-May 18, 2014

Coyote and wild boar: No closed season

Groundhog: Closed only during deer gun season.

END OUTDOORS CALENDAR

Watch Cleveland Browns new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan talk about coaching with his father and the quarterback position in his offense.

BEREA, Ohio -- Kyle Shanahan was introduced by Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine as his offensive coordinator Thursday.

Shanahan has been a coordinator in the NFL for six years, the last four in Washington with his father, Mike.  The previous two years were with Houston.

In four of his six seasons, Shanahan's offense has ranked in the top 10.

In 2012, Shanahan helped lead the Redskins win the NFC East title with rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III who set several NFL rookie records.  That year they became the first team in NFL history to pass for 3,400 yards and rush for 2,700 yards in the same season.

Shanahan joins new defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor on Pettine's staff.

On Twitter: @CLEvideos

It seems odd for Dan Gilbert to praise the Cavs talent, yet to fire the man (Chris Grant) who put together the roster.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Something is missing.

That's what I kept thinking while listening to Dan Gilbert's press conference to announce the firing of General Manager Chris Grant. Gilbert talked about how "no one is happy" about the season. He spoke several times about the need for "cultural and environment change."

The Cavs are on a six-game losing streak. They are 16-33, only slightly better than their 15-34 record at this time a year ago, when they were playing for more lottery balls -- not a spot in the postseason. Usually when that happens, you fire the coach. Or the coach and the general manager.

I can't ever recall a general manager being fired during a season -- and the coach retained. But that seems to be the case, as Gilbert indicated that he's keeping Mike Brown -- at least for now.

"This coaching staff and this team can succeed," said Gilbert. "There's no reason why they can't … I believe these players and this coaching staff can figure it out with a positive outcome."

He also said the team "had a lot of talent." If that's the case, he fired the guy who put together the talent (Grant) but is keeping the guy who can't seem to convince them to play even close to their potential?

Why would he say that? In fact, I asked a question along those lines, but Gilbert either didn't understand my point -- or ignored it. He talked about Grant being with the Cavs for 8 1/2 years, nearly four as general manager. But Brown has been here for only about a half-season.

"We're going to see Mike Brown succeed this year," he said. "I think he will be able to do good things in the next 30 games or so. I think this team is going to be able to do good things."

Why would anyone believe that?

I asked him how he thought Brown has performed as coach. Gilbert evaded the question by saying that "Mike's not happy … no one is happy with how the performance has gone."

In my mind, if you are going to fire Grant, you may as well fire Brown. That's because the team's collapse may be even more of a reflection on Brown than Grant.

The Cavs returned from a West Coast trip with a 3-2 record. Grant had just traded for Luol Deng, and the team seemed to be moving in the right direction with the veteran small forward in the lineup.

Since then, they are 1-8. And in that span, they are allowing 105 points per game -- so much for the players responding to Brown's demands for defense. Over and over, Brown talks about the lack of effort. Instead of coming together and embracing what the coach is preaching, they seem to be rebelling more than ever.

This is not to excuse some of Grant's poor decisions when it comes to drafting, etc. But it seems hard to separate Brown from Grant when handing out blame for this collapse. And I truly believe the team should have given Byron Scott one more season with this upgraded roster -- and I believe they would be better shape right now.

Yes, it was Grant who pushed Gilbert to hire Brown.

Remember, it was Gilbert who fired Brown after the 2010 playoffs. So Gilbert had to admit he made a mistake when he rehired Brown. The owner even praised Grant for turning the Andrew Bynum signing into a deal for Luol Deng, the small forward that the Cavs have needed ever since LeBron James left in the summer of 2010.

With the trade deadline looming in two weeks, assistant general manager David Griffin has been promoted to interim general manager. Obviously, Gilbert didn't want Grant making any more trades -- although trades have been the strongest part of Grant's tenure.

It seems pointless for the Cavs to retain Brown, unless the plan is for Griffin to become the GM next season -- and Griffin wants to keep Brown as coach.

The only thing that make sense is that perhaps another move is coming. Maybe Gilbert is talking to a big-name coach such as Lionel Hollins, George Karl or Stan Van Gundy. So maybe we only know part of the story.

Because on the surface, this move of firing Grant and keeping Brown doesn't make much sense.

The final winter stockings of rainbow trout were released in Shadow, Judge and Ledge lakes by the Cleveland Metroparks on Thursday. Trophy walleye are luring crowds of anglers to Western Lake Erie. The inland lakes all have good ice for catching bluegill and crappie.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The final winter stockings of rainbow trout were released in Shadow, Judge and Ledge lakes by the Cleveland Metroparks on Thursday. Trophy walleye are luring crowds of anglers to Western Lake Erie. The inland lakes all have good ice for catching bluegill and crappie.

LAKES AND RESERVOIRS

The winter rainbow trout stockings are complete around the Cleveland Metroparks. Give the new arrivals a few days to become acclimated to their new waters, said aquatic biologist Mike Durkalec.

The rainbow trout released on Thursday afternoon were poured into Shadow Lake in Solon and Ledge and Judge lakes in the Hinckley area. Last Friday, Wallace Lake and Ranger lakes were stocked. Those trout are just starting to bite, now that they’ve settled in and are getting hungry.

The top lures for the trout have been small jigging spoons such as the Acme Kastmaster, Swedish Pimple and Little Cleo, as well as tiny ice jigs tipped with waxworms, maggots or Berkley PowerBait. Some anglers are working jigging Rapala lures and blade baits.

The Portage Lakes have been a good spot for bluegill, redear sunfish and crappie. Top spots for a mixed bag of panfish have included the north end of East Reservoir and Turkeyfoot Reservoir.

Mosquito Reservoir had been slow to wake up, but some walleye and crappie are now being caught along the buoy line on the north side of the lake in about 8 feet of water. Pymatuning Reservoir’s walleye are still scattered, but few and crappie have been caught.

Spencer and Findlay lakes have been good spots for bluegill, while Wellington Upground Reservoir and Oberlin Reservoir have been just fair this winter.

LAKE ERIE

The thick ice around Western Lake Erie has already assured anglers that this will be a bonus winter of ice fishing. The walleye have been hitting jigging spoons, Jigging Rapalas and blade baits tipped with emerald shiner minnows. Excellent numbers of trophy walleye have been reported. The best action has been very early or late in the day.

Lake Erie fishermen will see the daily walleye bag limit shrink from six to four fish on March 1. The walleye size limit is 15 inches.

The golden triangle between South Bass, Green and Rattlesnake islands is still producing good catches. Many Ohio mainland anglers are heading north on the ice from Crane Creek State Park and the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area. A large crowd of fishermen have been on the ice both west and northwest of Catawba Island. The Mouse Island area at the tip of Catawba Island should be avoided, with strong Lake Erie current often eroding the ice in that area. A Ranger Rover went through the ice last weekend, and both passengers were rescued.

RIVERS AND STREAMS

Steelhead trout fishermen have few patches of open water to fish on the Northeast Ohio rivers. Some anglers are cutting holes in the ice in the lower stretches of the Rocky River and ice fishing for the big trout.

FISHING TOURNAMENTS

Mosquito Lake Ice Fishing Tournament (Mosquito Lake): 1. Travis Orient and Rob Klein, 15 fish, 9.47 pounds; 2. Robert McGaughy and David McGaughy, 8 fish, 2.77 pounds; 3. John Farvell and Jeff Shaw, 15 fish, 2.57 pounds.

O'Neil was hoping his former employer, the Buffalo Bills, would draft the edge rusher last season.

BEREA, Ohio – Jim O’Neil won’t need to bribe Browns executives with confectionery treats for the opportunity to coach Barkevious Mingo.

His wife’s cupcakes, however, might be one way to put a few pounds on an outside linebacker who didn’t carry his weight as the No. 6 overall draft choice a year ago.

One of the best stories from Thursday’s news conference to introduce the Browns’ new coordinators was offered by O’Neil and confirmed by head coach Mike Pettine, who both worked for the Buffalo Bills last season.

In hopes the Bills would select the edge rusher with the No. 8 pick, O’Neil had his wife Stacy bake multi-colored cupcakes with Mingo’s name on them. They were given to Bills’ decision makers on draft night.

The Browns foiled plans by taking the outside linebacker two spots earlier. The Bills eventually traded down to No. 16 and chose quarterback E.J. Manuel.

“The cupcake story is absolutely true,” Pettine said.

The new coach and defensive coordinator made their mark a year ago in part by getting the most from Bills defenders who underperformed in 2012. The Browns hope they can do the same with the likes of Mingo and fellow edge rusher Paul Kruger, who are coming off disappointing years.

O’Neil, who served as Bills linebackers coach, didn’t mask his affinity for Mingo’s potential. The lean linebacker finished with 42 tackles and five sacks.

“I’m looking forward to working with him, I really am,” O’Neil said. “ He flashes some on tape. He did a lot of good things. He’s obviously a young player, he’s got some things to work on but we’re excited as a defensive staff to get him back here and start working with him.”

The Bills, using a hybrid defensive front, set a franchise record a season ago with 57 sacks – 17 more than the Browns. Cleveland's top three edge rushers -- Mingo, Jabaal Sheard and Kruger – combined for just 14.5 sacks.

Kruger, the Browns’ top free agent signing in 2013, produced 4.5 sacks. In fairness, he was among league leaders for outside linebackers with 39 quarterback hurries.

“I think he’s a very good football player,” O’Neil said. “As a whole we tend to put a lot of stock in just sacks, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. A lot of guys could be getting doubled. If they’re a very good pass rusher, they could be dictating line slides. They could be getting chipped from running backs which opens the door for other guys to make plays along the defensive line or guys that are blitzing.”

A season ago, the Bills' defense finished 10th in total defense and led the league in opponent completion percentage (55.3), finishing second in interceptions (23) and third in opponent quarterback rating (74.9). The were 20th in scoring defense.

“The stat nobody talks about is (whether the rusher) is making the quarterback throw the ball out of rhythm or not on time,” O’Neil said. “Is he hitting the quarterback? Is he causing production? Just because (Kruger) had only 4.5 sacks doesn’t mean he didn’t have a good year.”

Pettine received high marks for his ability to get career years from Bills outside linebacker Jerry Hughes (10 sacks) and defensive backs Leodis McKelvin and Aaron Williams.

Can Pettine, who will make the defensive calls this season, and O’Neil do the same with Mingo? The outside linebacker managed just two sacks in his final 12 games.

“If a guy shows he can do it, that means he’s capable of it,” Pettine said. “We’ve got to remove those barriers of what’s keeping him from doing it every play. I think a lot of the guys in studying them, there’s a lot of room for improvement. That’s what the defensive staff is going through right now, assessing ‘What do these guys do well?’”

Pettine said the staff will “push” Mingo to add weight to his 6-foot-4, 240-pound frame. The outside linebacker conceded it was one of his off-season goals to help him shed blockers at the point of attack.

Mingo was one of the 30 draft prospects the Bills hosted last year. O’Neil went to dinner with him and really took a liking to the LSU product.

Bills Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd, a pending free agent, told the Buffalo News one of Pettine’s strengths was putting defenders in a position to make plays. The head coach is confident O’Neil will do the same.

The two men have spent the past five seasons coaching together and both played for Pettine’s father, Mike Sr., years apart at Central Bucks West High in suburban Philadelphia.

“That gave (O’Neil) instant credibility with me because that meant to me he had thick skin,” Pettine said of playing for his demanding dad. “If he could handle playing for him, it meant he could handle just about anything I could throw at him. Don’t let his baby face fool you.”

O’Neil has 13 years coaching experience. He joined the New York Jets' staff in 2009 under Pettine, who was Rex Ryan’s defensive coordinator, and followed him to Buffalo last season. The 35-year-old assistant has earned Pettine’s trust.

“We did every game plan together in New York (and) we did every game plan together in Buffalo,” Pettine said. “He was with me when I built call sheets. We talked about that he and I spend so much time together, it was very similar to the situation that I had with Rex. I was Rex’s right-hand guy for those four years . . .

“It’s one of those things, we see the game the same. But Jim’s not afraid to tell the emperor he’s not wearing any clothes. He and I have had some heated arguments, but at the end of the day I know a lot of times he’s right.”

A year later, the Browns hope O’Neil is still right about Mingo.