Follow along inside with social media posts made by some of the high profile visitors Ohio State hosted over the weekend.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Though Ohio State lost to Virginia Tech on Saturday evening, the Buckeyes still seemingly had a very productive weekend on the recruiting trail after hosting a handful of the nation's most elite prospects. 

Among those who roamed the sideline before the game were five-star running back Damien Harris of Berea (Ky.) Madison Southern; Five-star defensive end Five-star cornerback Kevin Toliver II of Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian; Four-star running back Jordan Scarlett of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas; Four-star offensive lineman Matthew Burrell of Woodbridge (Va.) C.D. Hylton; Four-star junior defensive end Nick Bosa of St. Thomas Aquinas and others. 

Following are what some of those visitors said about their Ohio State trip on social media. 

Harris: 

Just met and had a conversation with @EddieGeorge2727 [?] [?] [?] Only at Ohio State! [?] [?]

— Damien Harris (@Damien_D1Harris) September 6, 2014

Feels good to finally be back in Columbus [?] [?]

— Damien Harris (@Damien_D1Harris) September 6, 2014

Bosa: 

#SwaggerNut Nick Bosa (@nbsmallerbear) and LeBron James (@KingJames) hanging out at #OhioState! #GoBucks #Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/Mz3oATqJWR

— OSU Overload (@OSUOverload) September 7, 2014

Buckeye nation show some love to @Famousscarlett ! Coming up to Columbus with me this weekend to check things out.

— Nick Bosa (@nbsmallerbear) September 5, 2014

@Famousscarlett cbus here we come! pic.twitter.com/em0Fwjbhhu

— Nick Bosa (@nbsmallerbear) September 5, 2014

Burrell: 

Official pics #GoBucks man pic.twitter.com/cX7cr0SvzS

— Matthew Burr€ll Jr! (@HeaftyLefty) September 8, 2014

Since the All-Star break, Cleveland's pitching staff has forged together a 2.82 ERA.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are five observations following the Indians' weekend sweep of the White Sox.

1. Offensive: Over their last 26 games, the Indians have scored only 86 runs, an average of 3.3 runs per contest. All season -- and for much of last year -- the Tribe offense has been feast or famine. Still, the Indians averaged 4.5 runs per game in the 115 affairs before the recent 26-game stretch. In those 26 games, the club has scored four runs or fewer in 20 of them, three runs or fewer in 17 of them and two runs or fewer in 10 of them.

And yet, the Indians are 17-8 in those 26 games, with the final decision pending on the execution of three outs against Kansas City on Sept. 22.

2. Sterling hurling: The Indians' starting pitching serves as the reason for the recent surge. (The bullpen has been dynamite all year, no question.) Carlos Carrasco's 8 2/3-inning gem on Sunday afternoon reduced the starting rotation's ERA to 1.84 in those 26 games. The fivesome of Carrasco, Corey Kluber, T.J. House, Danny Salazar and Trevor Bauer has combined for 168 strikeouts and only 40 walks in 161 2/3 innings.

Carrasco held Chicago scoreless on Sunday. Kluber allowed only an unearned run in his complete-game effort on Saturday night.

"All the guys are throwing the ball tremendously well and giving us a good opportunity to win," said closer Cody Allen.

3. Sterling hurling II: Since the All-Star break, Cleveland's pitching staff has forged together a 2.82 ERA, an unthinkable number back in the early parts of the summer, when Justin Masterson struggled to last five innings, Salazar was toiling in trouble at Triple-A and Kluber seemingly provided about the only chance the Indians had to win on any given day.

Now, it appears as though masterful pitching has become contagious. Is that possible?

"I hope so. I think we're going to need it," said manager Terry Francona. "It's been allowing us every day to have a chance to win. We scored seven runs this series [against Chicago], but we're coming away feeling pretty good. It's taken a little bit of a burden off the bullpen. You can just show up and you feel like you have a chance to win. That's what we need."

4. Sterling hurling III: The Indians held the White Sox without an earned run in consecutive games on Saturday and Sunday, the first time the club has accomplished that feat since July 27-28, 2013, when they pitched back-to-back shutouts against the Rangers. Cleveland permitted Chicago only one earned run all weekend.

Kluber tallied eight strikeouts without issuing a free pass on Saturday. Carrasco duplicated those numbers on Sunday. It marked the first time the Indians totaled eight or more strikeouts and zero walks in consecutive games since April 23-24, 1991.

In fact, had Carrasco registered the 27th and final out on Sunday, the Indians would have recorded consecutive complete games for the first time since 2010, when David Huff and Mitch Talbot -- of all people -- turned the trick.

5. Peaking: Following the weekend sweep, the Indians moved to seven games above the .500 mark (73-67), their new high-water mark of the season. They are 42-30 in games decided by two runs or fewer and 22-18 in one-run games. Last season, they finished 30-17 in one-run games.

Can this Browns team actually play professional tackle football in a respectable way? They did for one half of the opener, anyway.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- All losses really aren't the same. Some of them hurt more.

In Cleveland, we debate which was the worst – The Drive, the Fumble, Red Right 88? I'd say the Mesa because the Indians were on the brink of winning the whole thing, not a divisional or conference championship playoff game, but parsing pain is no way to alleviate it.

Quite frankly, to go all Marty Talk on you, winning ugly is seriously overrated unless it's a playoff game and losing, even with artistic panache and dramatic flourishes, means the end of the season in disappointment. Sunday, all that winning ugly stuff was exposed for the bilge it is.

Sports are entertainment vehicles, or should be. They're not war, despite trumped up analogies to it.

I'll take for excitement interest and –- Dare I say it? Could it be? Is it enjoyment makes me so giddy? – the 30-27 loss in the opener over, oh, the 6-3 victory over Seattle in 2011 or the 6-3 victory over the Bills in 2009 or a lot of other cookie-cutter games all played between the boundaries of boredom and predictability.

Momentum depends on the starting pitcher in baseball and on the way the game is being called in basketball, but I think it is almost synonymous with self-belief in football.

When you've been bullied as much as the Browns have been by the Steelers, getting off the canvas, down 24 points in a first half in which they simply weren't ready to play, and climbing back into a tie late in the game is validation of sorts.

This team actually might be able to play professional tackle football. That has been pretty doubtful for a while in Cleveland.

1. The most symbolic and degrading moment of the game came when the Steelers' Antonio Brown tried to hurdle punter Spencer Lanning and caught him -- Pow! Right in the kisser! (or at least in the facemask that protects same) – with a cleated foot.

It wasn't as horrific as the broadcasters said. Lanning wasn't injured, and a kick in the head can be the result of a diving header in soccer or even a rush into the 18-yard box to try to beat the goalkeeper to a cross.

But I am still not sure I ever  saw someone actually get kicked in the face in American football before, not even by thugs like Ndamukong Suh or James Harrison.

2. Back on momentum for a moment, what does it mean for Brian Hoyer? Increased job security – but only so far as he produces, probably. The Browns didn't draft the rookie whose nickname encompasses the whole sport, Johnny Football Manziel, to sit him down.

3. What was effective for Hoyer — the bootlegs and rollouts – should fit Manziel's game perfectly. There is nothing to the theory that Hoyer and Manziel are too dissimilar to run a single, integrated offense.

4. Steeler coach Mike Tomlin is on the hot seat in Pittsburgh after two straight .500 seasons, the slacker, and had he lost this game, with his offense and defense doing nothing the entire second half almost, the seat would have been bubbling with lava flows today.

5. As I have said before, you don't have to respect Ben Roethlisberger as a person, but as a football player, he could play on my team anytime.

6. For a time there, it seemed as though these Browns had stolen the idea of the Indians in "Major League," the seminal Cleveland baseball movie of 1989. (Don't miss the opening minutes, with the column photo of a Cleveland columnist with whom I am quite familiar – pause for demure blush -- debating in a fictitious column whether a Las Vegas showgirl can save the Tribe as team owner.)

In "Major League," a rag-tag bunch of castoffs and unknowns challenge (and in the Indians' case, beat) their longtime tormentors, the New York Yankees.

The Browns' unknowns came close against the Steelers.

7. Isaiah Crowell? Terrance West? Taylor Gabriel? All of you, come blow your horns.

You're going to have to make some noise with Ben Tate injured and Jordan Cameron, the tight end who provided the only excitement of the first half with a 47-yard catch-and-run, struggling with shoulder problems that have bothered him since training camp.

8. I'm suspicious of shoulder injuries, having seen what eventuated with Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller.

9. I smirked in a Tweet at halftime that I was waiting for GM Ray Farmer to reap that harvest of dynamism he saw in his wide outs. In the second half,  they actually started making plays, giving me a – wait for it -- harvest of shame.

10. Joe Haden looked helpless in coverage against Antonio Brown, the high kicker. And rookie Justin Gilbert, who surely deserves our patience and support, bless his heart, looked hopeless throughout the contest. He was the kid who unwittingly had the "Kick Me" sign taped to the back of his shirt.

11. Steelers receiver Markus Wheaton caught six passes for 97 yards in the game. He had six for 64 yards all of last season. I believe the only fitting comment on that is "D'oh!"

12. Sideline reporter Jenny Dell explained that Cleveland was a big part of the late Chuck Noll's life, with the Steelers honoring him his monogram on their helmets in a decal. She noted his last game as Steelers coach was against the Browns.

She did not note, at least in the segment I saw – I eschew pre-game shows as they impact in a negative manner my usual sedate and tranquil disposition – that Noll was from Cleveland (Benedictine High School) and played for the Browns as a famed "messenger guard."

13. The way the defense was playing, the Browns would have won if they could have downed the punt inside the 1-yard line instead of letting it cross the plane of the goal line late in the game.

The dog would've caught the rabbit, had he not stopped to relieve himself too.

14. I didn't like the screen pass on third-and-16 with the Browns backpedaling toward their own goal line on their last possession. Throw the ball downfield.

15. Did Troy Polamalu play? Just wondering.

16. Next up is the Saints, who unfortunately, lost in overtime in Atlanta. They'll need the game. So, of course, will the Browns. Coach Mike Pettine said "We're in the win business."

The thrill business was sure a nice change, though.

 

Time is running out to nominate an athlete for Players of the Week.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- We are happy to announce the return of Players of the Week for the 2014-15 school year. The weekly nomination deadline is Monday at noon so coaches need to act quick if they still have a ballot to submit.

We will have Players of the Week for every week in the regular season for all sports.

Here’s information on the nomination process for all sports: Nominations are only accepted it they are submitted by coaches. Coaches can nominate an athlete anytime between the end of all that week’s games and Monday at noon.

Go online to cleveland.com/potw to access the nomination form. Fill in all the blanks, especially the part on what the athlete did last week. Remember, the deadline is Monday at noon.

Look for the Players of the Week feature every Thursday on cleveland.com and every Friday in The Plain Dealer.

This was the most yards on the ground for a Browns team since 2010. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scribbles in my Cleveland Browns notebook after the Browns 30-27 loss at Pittsburgh:

1. One of the most encouraging parts of the Browns performance was the commitment to the running game. Despite falling behind 27-3 at the half, the Browns didn't abandon the run -- as they did so many times last season. In the first half, it was 11 passes to 11 rushing attempts. In the second half, it was 20 passes compared to 19 running plays.

2. The result was the run began to work as the Browns wore down the Steeler defense. They ran a lot out of the no-huddle offense in the second half. Ben Tate left the game in the second quarter with an injured knee. Tate had 41 yards in six carries, and looked very good. The Browns just continued to run the ball, using rookies Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell.

3. West had a very iffy preseason, but he rushed for 100 yards in his first pro game. And the Towson product did it on only 16 carries. Crowell came off the bench and scored on a 3-yard touchdown the first time he was handed the ball. He also scored from 15 yards out. It was exciting to see the two rookies perform with poise and determination -- and doing it in Pittsburgh.
 

4. Coach Mike Pettine said Crowell (the third-string back) was not in the game plan to play. But Tate's injury created an opportunity, and Crowell responded with 32 yards in five carries. Pettine praised Crowell's preparation.

5. The Browns 183 yards rushing (6.1 average) were their most yards on the ground in a game since 2010. Good for Kyle Shanahan, as the combination of three running backs and the new zone blocking system did pay off. No Browns rusher had more than 72 yards in a game last season.

6. There was a broken play where Brian Hoyer looked to hand the ball to Crowell on one side -- but the rookie wasn't there. Hoyer was tackled for a 4-yard loss. The quarterback said the broken play was his fault. Maybe it was, maybe not. But quickly taking responsibility for the mess was a veteran move. It's also why the other players appreciate Hoyer.

7. The New York Post and Sports Illustrated had reportering covering the Browns-Steelers game because it was Johnny Manziel's pro debut. Only he didn't play. He was announced as the backup quarterback, with there being a slight chance the Browns would use him in special situations. But they didn't. In fact, they didn't even consider it, according to Mike Pettine.

8. The Browns are not All About Johnny Manziel. At some point, the national media will begin to figure it out. In fact, Manziel sitting out the 30-27 loss to Pittsburgh shows how the the team has so much more to worry about and do than obsess about their rookie quarterback. This is Cleveland. The Browns invariably always go through at least two starting quarterbacks each season.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell stiff arms Browns safety Donte Whitner.John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer 

9. But right now, the Browns biggest problem -- at least for one Sunday -- was defense. That's right, the defense. They dressed 10 defensive backs, yet Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was 15-of-17 throwing passes to wide receivers. And those 15 completions went for 251 yards. First-round pick Justin Gilbert had a miserable day, and veteran Joe Haden was mediocre at best.

10. While the defense held the Steelers to only three points in the second half, it gave up 27 in the first half. The tackling for much of the afternoon was terrible. Paul Kruger was one of the exceptions. He had two sacks and five tackles.

11. Karlos Dansby picked off a pass. The inside linebacker had four interceptions last season in Arizona. Browns inside linebackers combined for only two a year ago.

12. I originally thought Pettine should have allowed Billy Cundiff attempt the 53-yard field goal late in the game. But Pettine has the stats on his side, deciding to punt instead. Heinz Field is a tough place to kick. The longest converted field goal on that surface is 52 yards by Jeff Reed in 2010. Cundiff's career long is 51 yards. Pettine hoped to pin the Steelers deep in their own territory. A missed field goal would have given Pittsburgh the ball on their own 30-yard line with 4:27 left and the score 27-27. They started on their own 20 after the punt.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (R) lost one of his favorite targets ( No. 84, Jordan Cameron) to a shoulder injury. John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer 

13. There should be concern about the condition of Jordan Cameron's shoulder. It bothered him during much of the preseason, and he left Sunday's game with it again. Without Cameron, the Browns had Jim Dray and Gary Barnidge at tight end. Both are mostly blockers. Last season, Cameron caught 17 passes in the two full games played by Hoyer.

14. One of the impressive aspects of Hoyer's 15-of-20 passing performance in the second half is that it happened without Josh Gordon (suspended), Cameron and Tate. He also didn't throw a pass to a running back. It could be time to work in  a few screen passes.

15. Andrew Hawkins caught six passes from Hoyer in the final two preseason games. He has emerged as Hoyer's favorite target, Hawkins caught eight passes in Pittsburgh. He has very good hands and a quick first step to help get open.

The Indians are 17-8 since Aug. 9.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians played the White Sox in the finale of a three-game series Sunday. Here is a capsule look from The Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff:

Game: 141.

Opponent: White Sox.

Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland.

Time of day: Afternoon.

Time elapsed: 2 hours, 36 minutes.

Attendance: 17,957.

Result: Indians 2, White Sox 0.

Records: Indians 74-67, White Sox 63-79.

Broom service: The Indians swept the series. They did so despite scoring seven runs.

The Indians won the season series, 10-9.

Francona's Fun Bunch: The Tribe is 17-8 since Aug. 9.

Scoreboard watch: The third-place Indians remained 5.0 games behind first-place Kansas City and 3.0 behind second-place Detroit in the AL Central. The Royals defeated the Yankees in the Boogie Down and the Tigers defeated San Francisco in Detroit.

The Indians pulled within 3.5 of Seattle for the second wild card. The Mariners lost at Texas.

Lots of goose eggs: The Indians notched their 12th shutout.

Cookie Express: Tribe right-hander Carlos Carrasco allowed four hits and struck out eight in 8 2/3 innings. He threw 74 of 103 pitches for strikes.

Since returning to the rotation Aug. 10, Carrasco is 4-0 with a 0.70 ERA in six starts. In 38 2/3 innings, he has given up three earned runs. He has given up 25 hits, walked four and struck out 42.

Carrasco began the season in the rotation but struggled for four starts. He went to the bullpen, performed superbly and built confidence. Now this.

Overall, Carrasco is 7-4 with a 2.69 ERA.

Carrasco overmatched the White Sox with a mid-to-high-90s fastball and wipeout breaking stuff. The White Sox swung and missed 21 times against him. They were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

Three-pitch save: Cody Allen relieved Carrasco with runners on first and second and two outs in the ninth. Allen got Indians nemesis Conor Gillaspie to pop a 1-1 curve to center.

Allen earned his 19th save.   

Dr. Smooth chronicles: Indians left fielder Michael Brantley went 2-for-3 with an RBI and walk.

With Michael Bourn on third and one out in the first, Brantley dug out an 89-mph fastball from White Sox righty Scott Carroll and poked it into center for a single.

Brantley ranks in the top 15 in the majors with 89 RBI. He finished 1-for-2 with runners in scoring position and is 49-for-135 (.363) this season.

The Indians' other run came on Carlos Santana's grounder with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth.

Finally: Carroll allowed two runs on seven hits in seven-plus innings. Once again, Tribe bats made him seem a lot better than he is (5-10, 4.92).

Yahoo! Sports reports NBA sources say Ferry referred to free-agent Luol Deng as having "a little African in him" during an organizational conference call in June.

Comments by Atlanta Hawks General Manager Danny Ferry, the former Cavaliers player and GM, could have been the trigger to an investigation that led to team co-owner Bruce Levenson losing his interest in the team, according to news reports.

Yahoo! Sports reports NBA sources say Ferry referred to free-agent Luol Deng as having "a little African in him" during an organizational conference call in June. According to WSB Channel 2 in Atlanta, Ferry said of Deng:

"He has a little African in him. Not in a bad way, but he's a guy who would have a nice store out front, but sell you counterfeit stuff out of the back."

Channel 2 reports Ferry completed the slur by describing Deng as "a two-faced liar and cheat."

Deng, who played 40 games for the Cavaliers last season after being traded to Cleveland by Chicago, was born in the Sudan. Deng became a free agent after the season and signed with the Miami Heat.

The investigation into Ferry's comments led to the discovery of an August 2012 email from Levenson to Ferry in which the owner said the team's fan base had too many African-Americans. 

"My theory is that the black crowd scared away the whites and there are simply not enough affluent black fans to build a significant season ticket base," Levenson said in the email. "Please don't get me wrong. There was nothing threatening going on in the arena back then. I never felt uncomfortable, but I think southern whites simply were not comfortable being in an arena or at a bar where they were in the minority."

On Sunday, Levenson announced he was selling his controlling interest in the Hawks because of the email.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. wrote a letter to Levenson in June asking that Ferry resign or be fired because of the comments.

Ferry reportedly will be disciplined by the team for the comments but will remain as GM.

Yahoo! Sports reports that Ferry met with the Hawks coaches and players Sunday to discuss his comments and offered an apology. Ferry also attempted to contact Deng and his agent, Ron Shade, on Monday, according to Yahoo! Sports. Ferry did not reach Deng but did talk to Shade.

"I have no reaction, but we've spoken," Shade told Yahoo.

Ferry was the GM of the Cavaliers from 2005 to 2010. He resigned in June 2010 and became the Hawks GM in 2012.

Brown, a rookie from little Pittsburg State, caught a short pass and then eluded tacklers into the end zone, capping an 11-play, 91-yard drive.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Carson Palmer threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to John Brown with 2:25 to play, and the Arizona Cardinals rallied to beat the San Diego Chargers 18-17 on Monday night.

Brown, a rookie from little Pittsburg State, caught a short pass and then eluded tacklers into the end zone, capping an 11-play, 91-yard drive.

Arizona trailed 17-6 after three quarters.

Jerry Attaochu blocked a punt and forced a fumble, setting up 10 Chargers points.

With his team trailing 6-3 at the half, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers went 6 for 6 for 82 yards on a drive to open the second half. His six-yard pass to Malcom Floyd for the TD put the Chargers ahead 10-6.

The video, shown to the AP Monday night, includes audio and is longer than the grainy TMZ Sports video released earlier that day.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Ray Rice and Janay Palmer can be heard shouting obscenities at each other, and she appears to spit in the face of the three-time Pro Bowl running back right before he throws a knockout punch in a video shown to The Associated Press by a law enforcement official.

The video, shown to the AP Monday night, includes audio and is longer than the grainy TMZ Sports video released earlier that day. After the TMZ video made its way around the Internet, the Baltimore Ravens cut Rice and the league suspended him indefinitely. Rice was originally suspended for two games and coaches and others had praised his behavior since the arrest for striking his then-fiancee in February.

The videos show Rice and Palmer in an elevator at an Atlantic City casino. Each hits the other before Rice knocks Palmer off her feet and into a railing. Months ago, a TMZ video showed Rice dragging Palmer, now his wife, from the elevator at the Revel casino, which closed on Sept. 2.

The higher-quality video shown to the AP shows Rice made no attempt to cover up the incident. After Palmer collapses, he drags her out of the elevator and is met by some hotel staff. One of them can be heard saying, "She's drunk, right?" And then, "No cops." But Rice didn't respond.

The video was shown to the AP on condition of anonymity because the official isn't authorized to release it.

Coach John Harbaugh said he met with Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, team president Dick Cass and general manager Ozzie Newsome after they saw the TMZ video, and they made the decision to let Rice go.

"It's something we saw for the first time today, all of us," Harbaugh said. "It changed things, of course. It made things a little bit different."

Here is a video report that shows the TMZ video that got Rice fired from the Ravens:



The action represented a complete reversal for the team, even though an Atlantic City police summons stated that Rice caused "bodily injury to Janay Palmer, specifically by striking her with his hand, rendering her unconscious."

The Ravens had used words like "respect" and "proud" in referring to Rice following his arrest.

When the NFL announced Rice's two-game suspension for domestic violence on July 24, Newsome said: "We respect the efforts Ray has made to become the best partner and father he can be. That night was not typical of the Ray Rice we know and respect. We believe that he will not let that one night define who he is, and he is determined to make sure something like this never happens again.

Asked Monday night if Rice misled him, Harbaugh said he didn't want to get into "all that."

"I don't think of it that way. Everything I said in terms of what I believe, I stand by," he said. "I believe that still, and I'll always believe those things, and (we'll) always stand in support of them as a couple, and that's not going to change."

Rice said in a news conference this summer that his actions that night were "inexcusable." But the Ravens never took action against him until after the second video was released.

The NFL, which has been working hard to promote the game to women, also took action after the explicit video was released. Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that, based on the new video evidence, Rice has been suspended indefinitely.

"We requested from law enforcement any and all information about the incident, including the video from inside the elevator," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Monday morning. "That video was not made available to us and no one in our office has seen it until today."

Rice's lawyer, Michael Diamondstein, declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press.

Rice, 27, stood to make $4 million this year.

"Obviously, any video that depicts an act of violence in that video is disturbing to watch. For our union, we have an unshakable position against any violence, certainly domestic violence included," NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said at the Seahawks' facility in Renton, Washington. "It will be a time for us now to catch up with everything else that has occurred today."

He had been charged with felony aggravated assault in the case, but in May he was accepted into a pretrial intervention program that allowed him to avoid jail time and could lead to the charge being purged from his record.

After Goodell drew criticism not being tough enough on Rice, he wrote a letter to all 32 NFL owners in August saying he "didn't get it right."

First-time offenders now face a six-game suspension.

Rice began his suspension Sunday, when the Ravens opened their season with a 23-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He was scheduled to return after Thursday night's game against Pittsburgh.

He leaves the Ravens as the second-leading rusher in franchise history, behind only Jamal Lewis. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Rice is the team's career leader in total yards from scrimmage (9,214) and is the only player in Ravens history to rush for 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons.

But those are mere numbers, and his actions in that elevator shed a new light on him.

"I'm not going to go into what he told us or anything or if it matches or if it doesn't," Ravens receiver Torrey Smith said. "That doesn't matter. What matters is what you see. It wasn't a pleasant site at all."

Rice hasn't spoken often to the media since his arrest, but on July 31 he said this is "something I have to live with the rest of my life."

He added: "I know that's not who I am as a man. ... I let so many people down because of 30 seconds of my life that I know I can't take back."

Though Ohio State is coming off a lost and facing issues that need to be repaired, the Buckeyes face a Kent State team on Saturday that Las Vegas thinks is a 26.5-point underdog.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State is coming off a 35-21 loss to Virginia Tech that exposed the Buckeyes' issues. Regardless of what those are, they likely aren't going to haunt them in their next game. 

That's because Ohio State is playing a Kent State team that doesn't match up athletically, and Las Vegas thinks the Buckeyes are 26.5 points better than the Golden Flashes. 

Ohio State is 1-1 against the spread this season after beating Navy 34-17 in the season opener in a game the Buckeyes were favored by 14.5 points. 

Last week, however, was the shocker in Vegas' eyes. 

The Buckeyes' record against the spread evened on Saturday after they suffered a 14-point loss to the Hokies despite being favored by 11.5 points. 

Kent State is 0-2 against the spread this season.

We'll provide full coverage for the Ohio State-Kent State game all week. Below are some must-read links from Monday: 

• Ohio State senior center Chad Lindsay, an Alabama transfer, to end football career with Buckeyes because of injury

• What does Ohio State have to fix first in the wake of loss to Virginia Tech? (Video)

• Why were Ohio State's coaches so surprised by what Virginia Tech did on both offense and defense?

• Penn State is back in the Big Ten title hunt: What it means for Ohio State and the rest of the conference

• Live updates from Ohio State Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer's news conference

Cleveland Browns fans wonder what happened at halftime Sunday and whether it can carry over to the home opener -- Bud Shaw's You Said It

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- You Said It is based on the premise that the only thing Cleveland sports fans need more than a championship is a sense of humor... 

YOU SAID IT

(The Expanded Midweek Edition)

Bud: At halftime did Mike Pettine tell his team to stop playing like a Brown and instead to try playing like a Seahawk -- Tony Supan, Beachwood

Not sure. I just know if the second half were the same as the first Pettine was prepared to borrow John McKay's famous post-game speech after a blowout loss: "All those who need showers, take them." 

Bud: Is Johnny Manziel going to trademark "juvenile punk" or did Merril Hoge beat him to it? -- Frank, Akron

Hoge's take made Boomer Esiason's criticism seem like a Valentine. And when Boomer talks about Johnny he sounds like he's passing a kidney stone.

Hi, Bud: Ben Roethlisberger is to a Browns' comeback as the anvil is to Wile E. Coyote.  Over and over again. How will it happen next time? -- Tom Kahl, Portland, Oregon

The days of Roethlisberger getting the best of the Browns late in the fourth quarter are over. Next comes overtime.

Bud: How or where do I send a "You said it" for you to consider publishing? – Lamar Lafong, Broadview Hts.

I'll have to get back to you on that.

Bud: Why is it that every time the Browns play in Heinz Field they think they have to play ketchup football – Doris

No offense but like a Travis Benjamin fair catch, I saw that coming a mile away.

Bud: Are you surprised Reuben Droughns gave Isaiah Crowell permission to wear #34? – Matt D. Brunswick

First-time You Said It winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection

Hey Bud: Any truth to the rumor that John and Jim Harbaugh were jurors in the O.J. Simpson murder trial? – Mike Sterba

If the T-shirt you just won fits, you must, um, wear it.

Bud: We had the 'Cloud' at Ohio in the 70's – OU Joe

 Repeat winners get bluntly denied.                             

Where was Ohio State's revamped pass defense against Virginia Tech? Co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash says his young defense is still working on it.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — It's exactly the type of play that this new version of the Ohio State defense was supposed to shut down this year.

Virginia Tech lines up for a third-and-17 from its own 4-yard line, quarterback Michael Brewer waits for the snap two-yards deep in his own end zone.

Hokies' receiver Isaiah Ford is split out wide to the left with Buckeyes' cornerback Eli Apple covering him — eight yards off the line of scrimmage.

Ford takes 10 long strides, Apple backs off with each one, never getting within three yards of his man until it's too late. Ford cuts his route off at the 21-yard line, heads toward the sideline and catches an 18-yard pass just beyond the first-down marker.

An ideal situation for the defense, the kind players and coordinators salivate over, undone by soft coverage. So is this what Ohio State's revamped pass defense is supposed to look like?

Not exactly.

"Eli was off instead of press, and that's what he was supposed to do with the particular call," co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash said. "It gets down to situations on third down. Third-and-5 is different than third-and-14, and you've gotta know where the sticks are, what the situation is. Yes he was too soft and went past the sticks, but that takes getting used to."

Ash was brought in by Urban Meyer to ensure that plays like that long third-down conversion, and others like it during Ohio State's 35-21 loss, don't happen. In their first real test to show that the pass defense was in fact improved, the Buckeyes instead at times looked like the same team that was torched in the passing game last season.

The numbers don't necessarily jump out — Brewer completed 23-of-36 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns. But it's plays like the one Apple allowed, or any of the five consecutive third downs the Hokies converted in the first quarter (four via the pass) that begs the question: Where was the improvement?

"That's a first-time player in his second game that has to understand the situation and what it calls for him to do," Ash said of Apple's blown coverage.

Translation: We're young, and it's going to take some time for these guys to learn the new defense.

The Hokies converted 9-of-17 third downs Saturday, seven of those conversions coming via the pass. Just one was thrown into tight coverage, the others to receivers with plenty of room to catch the ball.

Ash's new defense is supposed to be more aggressive, akin to the units he guided to top-20 finishes in pass defense as Wisconsin's defensive coordinator from 2011-12.

From the sound of it, this Buckeyes' defense isn't quite ready for the full brunt of Ash's system.

"We only ran about four coverages the whole game, probably not even that," safety Tyvis Powell said. "It was just breakdowns. Little breakdowns happen."

Asked if the Buckeyes were too soft with coverage in crucial points, Powell hesitated for a few seconds before giving an answer.

"I wouldn't say we were too soft," he said. "It's just the design of the plays, those mental errors. I'm not pointing fingers at anybody. Everybody made mistakes in the game and we've just gotta fix them. I think we're gonna get better from here on out and I don't think we have to worry about that again."

It wasn't all bad. The Buckeyes didn't get beat on a deep ball. Apple and Vonn Bell came away with interceptions, Apple's on a nice adjustment to an under-thrown deep pass on the Hokies' first drive of the game.

They were better against the pass in the second half, giving up just 61 yards through the air after the break, which maybe suggests it is just a matter of time before the defense figures things out.

But the intermediate throws and third-down conversions still gave the Buckeyes trouble. And it's going to take some more time for the defense to get where Meyer wants it to be.

"I want to get to the point at Ohio State where it's shut-down, lock-down defense, and let's keep it to seven points, and I think we can make that happen as we continue to grow this year," Meyer said. "There is still some new blood out there playing, and there were far too many mental mistakes."

Buckeye's Norah Barnes was an All-Ohioan in 2013, scoring 12 goals and adding 12 assists to help her team win the PAC Stars Division championship.

MEDINA, Ohio — Buckeye senior midfielder Norah Barnes enjoys playing under pressure.

That mentality was what made Barnes a second team Division II All-Ohio girls soccer selection and the Patriot Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Year in 2013. Barnes helped lead the Bucks to a PAC Stars Division Championship that season, scoring 12 goals and adding 12 assists.

So far, the Bucks are 3-0 against conference opponents, including a 3-0 win against Fairview on Saturday. Norah scored and so did her sister Sophia, who is a sophomore.

After this year, she will play college soccer at Notre Dame College.

Q: Where do you feel like you and your team are at this point in the season?

A: "I've been really happy with how we're playing. The only slipup I think we had was Wooster, because I think we should have beaten them. But that's given us a lot of motivation to get better. And we had such a tough preseason. The beginning of our season is always the roughest part of our schedule. It just has made us so much better and (helped us) be ready to play teams."

Q: Being an All-Ohio player last year, do you sense you have a target on your back?

A: "It kind of makes me rise to the occasion. I like playing under pressure. I like being that known player, and it gives other girls opportunities to step up and make an impact."

Q : Is there a rival or a team you play against that you look forward to more than any other?

A: "We have our season goals and we have a couple of teams. We just played Fairview. That was a big one. But in our conference, I think it's Wellington. It's another big one for us. That's just in our conference. But out of conference, Highland is huge for us as well as Archbishop Hoban and Wadsworth. Wadsworth, we're really excited to play this year."

Q: How special is it to be playing high school soccer with your sister?

A: "It's just really neat to watch her play, just to see how she's evolved. I would love to just get to play with her as a player, let alone being my sister. It's so much better."

Q: What would you say is the strength of your game?

A: "I'm very physical. Sometimes I get too aggressive. I would say I'm a strong player. But playing center mid, through balls are kind of my thing. My coaches have always said that I have good soccer intelligence. I know where people are at and I know how to play the game."

Q: Who is your favorite player and why?

A: "U.S. women's national team player Sydney Leroux. She's just such an aggressive player. She's just a player that makes things happen. She'll come into the game and change the whole set of it. I wish I had more of that in me."

Most of the Aggie faithful, along with the media, regarded Johnny Manziel as nothing more than a backup quarterback. Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury knew better. They could not wait to send their redshirt freshman quarterback into action in 2012.

This is the second of five excerpts from "Manziel Mania," by New York Times bestselling author Jim Dent. "Manziel Mania" is an e-book that can only be purchased at Amazon.com and is not available at bookstores. After purchase, click on the "free Kindle reading app" and choose your device – Kindle, computer, iPad or cell phone. Dent plans two more books, scheduled for November 2014 and February 2015, exploring Manziel's first season in the NFL with the Browns. Look for daily excerpts on cleveland.com through Friday and in print in Sunday's Plain Dealer.

Today:

-- Texas A&M coaches go on a mission to save their QB – for their team and from himself.

-- Johnny's summer: alcohol counseling and running bleachers in the heat.

-- A&M grants a reprieve – and the coaches make a stunning decision.

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin was at home early that morning in June 2012 when the story of Johnny Manziel, the fight and Manziel's arrest hit ESPN. Sumlin took one look at Manziel's mug shot and saw the glassy eyes, the extreme anger, and a kid with no shirt on – because it had been torn off during the fight.

Aggies offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury was lounging on a beach in Cabo San Lucas when Sumlin texted him the mug shot of Manziel.

Kingsbury remembers: "I said to myself, 'Oh my God, here we go.' ''

Few people knew that the two coaches had big plans for Johnny Football in 2012. They were quickly on the phone with each other.

"We've got to move fast,'' Sumlin said. "When are you coming home?''

Most of the Aggie faithful, along with the media, regarded Manziel as nothing more than a backup quarterback. Sumlin and Kingsbury knew better. They could not wait to send their redshirt freshman quarterback into action in 2012. They far preferred Manziel over Jameill Showers, who had outperformed Manziel during spring practices. Sumlin and Kingsbury believed that Manziel was a better fit for the up-tempo, no-huddle, spread offense known as the Air Raid. He had played in a similar offense for three years in high school. The Kerrville Tivy team was undersized and under-talented in the Manziel years – and managed to shoot the lights out against some of the biggest and toughest teams in the state - the likes of San Antonio Madison and Steele High of Cibolo.

Against top-ranked Madison as a senior, Manziel completed 41-of-75 (state record) passes for 503 yards with four touchdowns. Tivy prevailed 39-34. Against eventual state champ Steele High, he passed for 423 yards, rushed for 129 and accounted for six touchdowns in the 54-45 victory.

Steele High coach Mike Jinks could barely believe what he was seeing.

"We couldn't figure out how that kid kept beating us," Jinks said. "Our kids would come to the sideline and say, 'Coach, we can't catch him. He's too fast.' To see the looks on our guys' faces, it made me feel a little better. I knew it wasn't the coaches' fault that we couldn't catch him.''

As a senior, Manziel totaled 5,276 yards (440 per game) with 75 touchdowns – mind-boggling numbers on any level. He was named to the Parade All-American team and voted Athlete of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association. Still, he could not get the attention of University of Texas coach Mack Brown, his first choice. He committed to Oregon, then switched to A&M because it was much closer to home.

Going on offense to save Johnny

On June 30, 2012, Sumlin knew he would have to act fast to save Johnny from being suspended by the university. Formerly an all-military university, Texas A&M has remained a strict institution. Rules were made not to be broken.

On the day after his arrest, Manziel was called into Sumlin's office. The first African-American coach in the history of Texas A&M football was an affable but strong man. He was creative and highly intelligent. He wanted to see Johnny face the music for his drinking and fighting. But he also did not want to lose his favorite quarterback.

Peering across the desk, Sumlin said, "First and foremost, I want you to see an alcohol counselor. You can also call this person a therapist, a shrink or a psychiatrist. But you have to start going now. You have some drinking issues that need to be faced.''

Sumlin continued: "Second, we are going to do our own discipline here. You broke team rules. You went to jail. You are going to be punished. Are you ready for that?''

Manziel nodded.

"First, we are going to find out what forces you to drink,'' Sumlin said. "You know it's been a problem.''

"Yes sir,'' Manziel said. "That's pretty obvious.''

Sumlin's aim was to keep Johnny out of the bars and to find out what was troubling him. Why was the youngster drinking so much? Family members thought Johnny was suffering from depression. When he was redshirted the previous season, Johnny lapsed into a tailspin. Manziel had performed poorly during the 2012 spring game and his passes were often off-target.

Johnny had de-committed from the University of Oregon and coach Chip Kelly at the last minute. He could only imagine what might have been if he were running the Ducks' read-option offense. He had committed to the Oregon Ducks on his first trip to Eugene. Texas A&M coach Tom Rossley would not give up on Johnny coming to College Station. He continued to attend the Kerrville Tivy games. He told Paul and Michelle Manziel that their son would be a "legend someday,'' but that he should be a legend in Texas, not Oregon.

Johnny was sick about being red-shirted in 2011. He was equally depressed that summer of 2012 just before the slugfest in the Northgate District. He was second on the depth chart with the season only two months away. From the moment he could swing a plastic golf club at age 2, his parents praised him for his athletic gifts. Johnny gripped the club cross-handed, whipped it back around his neck, and lifted his left heel off the ground, a move made famous by Jack Nicklaus One afternoon, he knocked two straight plastic golf balls over the backyard fence at a distance of 100 feet.

By the time he reached Tyler Little League baseball, he was hitting so many home runs that they had to build 12-foot nets over the fence. At age 10, Johnny hit one over the net that broke a window of a house. By the seventh grade, he was taking one large step at the 50-yard line and throwing the ball over the crossbar, 60 yards away.

Now it would be up to Sumlin to get the kid back on track, and it would not be easy. Sumlin just hoped that an alcohol counselor would help. Sumlin had barred Johnny from the local bars and promised that if he drank again, he would be off the team.

Sumlin was pleased when Johnny started seeing an alcohol therapist once a week. The coach's game plan was working. Johnny seemed happier and more alert. He was dealing well with the punishment of running stadium steps each morning in the heat and humidity of Texas.

Sumlin knew how to attack a defense. He also knew how to defend his quarterback. His proactive approach began from the moment he learned that Johnny had been arrested. If he could get him into counseling, and punish him for his misdeeds, he thought the Dean of Student Life might show some mercy.

He was dead wrong.

A reprieve -- and an opportunity

On August 6, three days after the start of preseason workouts, Johnny was called into a meeting of Student Conduct Services. Texas A&M Dean Anne Reber explained the reason for the meeting: "When things hit the newspaper, TV or radio, and it comes to our attention, we need to act. Now we are looking at the university's reputation per se. We usually determine to reach out and touch those students.''

Manziel was nervous when he went into the meeting, but he never expected to hear the worst.

Afterward, he called Michelle and said, "Mom, they just gave me Conduction Probation. It means that I won't be playing this season and that I lose my football scholarship.''

"We were all shocked,'' Michelle Manziel told Texas Monthly.

Michelle Manziel's Plan B was to find a junior college where Johnny could play football for the 2012 season.

There was one last flicker of hope. A&M offered a chance to appeal.

On August 8, the Manziels met with Sumlin and Kingsbury to discuss a strategy. Sumlin had already written a letter to Reber explaining the alcohol counseling and the team-supervised discipline. He decided to write another letter explaining how Manziel had followed his program and was ready for a fresh start at A&M. He had already performed 20 hours of community service.

The appeal was filed on August 10. Four days later, Reber ruled that Manziel could play if he would add 20 more hours of community service and take extra classwork. Johnny Football was back.

The next day, Sumlin stunned the media when he announced that the previously suspended Manziel would be the starting quarterback.

"Johnny is the starter,'' Sumlin told the media. "He's going to play.''

Coming Wednesday on cleveland.com: A season for the ages ends with Johnny Football becoming Johnny Heisman.

Learn about Avon Lake's new athletic director, Nori Okuma, as he answers five questions about his career as a coach and a school administrator as well as his personal experiences with athletics.

AVON LAKE, Ohio -- Nori Okuma is in his first year as athletic director and assistant principal at Avon Lake.

Both roles are ones he is quite accustomed to. 

In 2007, he took a job as AD at North Ridgeville. He also coached the Rangers varsity baseball team from 2009-11 before transitioning to assistant principal for the 2012-13 school year. 

Prior to that, he spent nine years as a social studies teacher and an assistant coach in multiple sports at North Olmsted. 

He coached the Eagles baseball team for nine years, football for five and volleyball for four. He also spent one year as a head coach for the North Olmsted Middle School girls basketball team. 

Now Okuma is thrilled to be back in charge of athletics, something he missed more than he thought he would, in the same district he lives in. 

Q: What is your one of your fondest and earliest sports memories?

A:"I have quite a few, but getting the opportunity to tour Municipal Stadium with my tee ball team in 1981 really stands out. We got to walk on the field, go in the dugout and into the locker room where Cleveland Indians manager, at the time, Dave Garcia talked to us. To be honest, I can't remember what he said but I just remember being in awe of the fact that the guys who I watched play were in there getting ready at some point." 

Q:What sports did you play growing up? 

A: "I played baseball, football and basketball. Basketball was my favorite sport when I was young, but oddly enough, it was the one I was the least successful at. I always enjoyed it but as I got older it became clear that baseball was my favorite. I played it the longest and had the most success. I played for three years in high school but was cut my senior year but played football that year. My greatest highlight is I set the Lakewood High School record for longest pass reception (87 yards for a touchdown). I played baseball for a club team while I was at Bowling Green." 

Q: What made you want to get involved in athletics at an administrative level?

A: "During my time at North Olmsted I had the opportunity to work under some really good people. My short time there really perked my interest in watching kids compete at the high school level. They do it because they love it. As a coach, my philosophy was I wanted kids to become 1) a better person 2) helping them develop a true love of the game they are playing and 3) a better athlete in that particular sport. It is about educationally-based athletics."

Q: What is your favorite sports movie and why?

A: "The first one that comes to mind is 'Field of Dreams.' First of all, because it's a baseball movie and also with having a very close relationship with my dad and it having elements that relate to the father-son relationship. I also like the historical aspect of that one. My other favorite would have to be 'Remember the Titans' for many of the same reasons."

Q: Who are some of your favorite coaches of all time and why?

A: "My dad. I think probably what I've always looked for in coaches and athletes that I've tried to emulate are guys who had a strong sense of competitiveness and a strong sense of discipline. Those are the types of guys my dad always looked up to and I feel like I got that from him." 

Follow our new high school sports Twitter account @NEOvarsity and tag your high school sports Tweets and score updates with the #NEOVarsity hashtag. Contact high school sports reporter Robert Rozboril by email (rrozboril@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@rrozboril). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

By Monday's ninth inning, the Indians had Zach Walters in left, Tyler Holt in center, Jose Ramirez at short, Jesus Aguilar at first, Justin Sellers at second, J.B. Shuck at designated hitter and Chris Gimenez behind the plate.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- They say you never know what you have until its gone.

Danny Salazar said he didn't realize he had a 21-inning scoreless streak going. Now he knows. And now it's gone.

Here are five observations following the Indians' 12-3 shellacking at the hands of the Angels.

1. Day care: By Monday's ninth inning, the Indians had Zach Walters in left, Tyler Holt in center, Jose Ramirez at short, Jesus Aguilar at first, Justin Sellers at second, J.B. Shuck at designated hitter and Chris Gimenez behind the plate. None of those players were with the big league club on Opening Day. Such lineups and defensive alignments can take shape in September, when rosters expand to 40 players and teams either need the extra bodies or want to get a peek at younger kids.

Ramirez, 21, was two years old when Jason Giambi -- who started at DH on Monday -- made his major league debut.

2. The future: Of the young kids, Ramirez has earned the most playing time this summer. He has filled in nicely at shortstop for Asdrubal Cabrera, who was sent to Washington at the trade deadline. Since being recalled in late July, Ramirez is batting .275 (38-for-138). He has slowed in September, however. He owns a .188 average (6-for-32) in the month, though all of his base knocks came in a pair of three-hit games.

3. The future II: Walters wowed Tribe fans with a clutch power stroke upon his promotion to the big league roster in mid-August. He belted six home runs in a span of two weeks, but hasn't clubbed one since. He has posted a .171 average and .232 on-base percentage in 82 plate appearances, with 28 strikeouts. He has seen limited time at the corner outfield spots and at second base, though shortstop is his natural position.

4. The future III: Holt has appeared in 22 games for the Tribe and totes a .283 batting average and .340 on-base percentage. He doesn't hit for power -- only one extra-base hit, a double -- and has only three walks in 51 plate appearances, but he has covered plenty of ground in the outfield at all three positions.

Aguilar has totaled only 28 plate appearances with Cleveland. He has three hits -- al singles -- in 23 at-bats.

Roberto Perez appears primed to be Yan Gomes' backup for the foreseeable future. Always known for his defensive acumen and game-calling ability, he has held his own with his stick this season, with a .266 average with the Tribe and a .922 OPS at Triple-A Columbus.

5. Where everyone fits: The Indians have plenty of question marks for next season and beyond, given their glut of up-and-coming position players. It's a nice problem to have, but one complicated by inflexible, lucrative contracts (see: Bourn, Michael and Swisher, Nick). Michael Brantley is locked in as the club's left fielder (or center fielder, once Bourn's contract expires) for the next few years. Gomes is locked in behind the plate. Carlos Santana seems like a safe bet to stick at first base. Jason Kipnis will likely do the same at second, despite Ramirez's emergence and the impending arrival of Francisco Lindor in 2015. How soon will Giovanny Urshela push Lonnie Chisenhall at the hot corner? Could Chisenhall relocate to the outfield, a move manager Terry Francona has hinted at in the past? If Aguilar is ever going to become an everyday player -- and he doesn't have much left to contribute at Triple-A -- will he have to settle into the DH spot in Cleveland? What will the team do with Swisher, whom general manager Chris Antonetti said could play the outfield next season? Swisher will be coming off surgeries on both of his knees. Where will Walters play? Are the flashes of power enough to grant him a roster spot? What about James Ramsey, the outfielder acquired for Justin Masterson, who logged an .833 OPS in 28 games with Triple-A Columbus?

Of course, none of these decisions need to be made in September. And the Indians are thrilled that they are spending September fighting for a playoff berth, rather than making daily, nine-inning assessments on their young talent with an eye toward the following April. Still, it will be compelling to follow how the young kids factor in to the Tribe's plans next year and beyond, and in the meantime, they are contributing to the club's chase for October.

Get to know North Olmsted resident and St. Edward golfer Danny Zahn in this week's Varsity Timeout Q&A.

NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio – St. Edward junior golfer Danny Zahn has qualified to the Ohio High School Athletic Association state golf tournament with the Eagles each of the last two years and has his sights set on another trip to Columbus this season.

Zahn, a North Olmsted resident who attended St. Bernadette School in Westlake, finished tied for the lowest round (73) at the St. Ignatius Invitational last month at Red Tail Golf Club.

An active member of several student service organizations, Zahn is a leader both in the classroom and on the course, where he regularly checks in as one of the Eagles' top scorers.

Zahn spoke to the Northeast Ohio Media Group about developing his early love for the game of golf, making time for his family and the golfer he models himself after in this week’s Varsity Timeout Q&A.

Q: When did you first start golfing? How old were you when you got interested in the sport?

A: “When I was about two years old. My dad built a mini driving range for me in our back yard with a mat platform and a net. He's had me back there since I was 2. I actually strayed away from the game when I was 8 to play baseball. And then I found myself in eighth grade wanting to skip baseball practice to play in golf tournaments. That's when I realized golf was going to be my main sport.”

Q: What is it like playing in front of a big crowd at the OHSAA state golf tournament in Columbus?

A: “Last year we brought down a student bus with about 50 kids and they were all watching us play through on one hole. It was a whole different atmosphere. They were screaming. You always hear that at football games. I've never been exposed to that big of a crowd. Usually it's just my dad and my mom and my grandparents.”

Q: What do you do when you are away from the golf course?

A: “I'm a part of Student Ambassadors, Moreau Mentors and Campus Ministers at St. Edward. But I also focus a lot of time on my great grandparents. Me and my two younger sisters are getting to the age where it's hard to get over to the east side of Cleveland and see them. I've made that a main priority to go over there and take them out to lunch. I grew up over there because they would babysit me when my mom was working at Playhouse Square.”

Q: Who is a golfer you would like to model your game after?

A: “Definitely Jordan Spieth. He's a young golfer who just came out of the University of Texas and he's lighting it up on tour. He was second at The Masters and won the John Deere Classic. He's an unreal golfer for his age. Which goes to show that with hard work even at 20 years old you can make a name for yourself in golf.”

Q: What is your favorite golf course in the area and why?

A: “Lakewood Country Club. I've played it a few times with my friends who are members and in tournaments. It's a beautiful course that offers a challenge when it comes to placement of shots. I'm not into courses that are too tight and have trouble everywhere. But a little challenge here and there is fun.”

Q: What clubs are in your bag?

A: "A Ping driver. Ping and Taylor Made hybrids. Titleist irons Titleist wedges and a Scotty Cameron putter. When I need to make a shot, I use my 17-degree Ping hybrid. It's low-launching, so I can get out of trees with low punch shots, but I also can hit it 250 off the tee."

Q: What was your most memorable finish at a tournament?

A: "Last year winning districts at Pine Hills. St. Edward won as a team and we all played pretty well, but just to win a championship on that stage was incredible. We were favored, and it was cool to be in that spotlight."

Top four? The Big Ten isn't even in our top 10.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The SEC will have to settle for this for now - just two out of the four teams in our version of the College Football Playoff. At least the league has four teams in the top seven.

In week two, there was some movement from our 13-member committee, as Georgia made a delayed move into the top four when the Bulldogs were off but their week one win over Clemson finally received some credit. (Sometimes there's lag time before other voters figure out I'm right).

Look out for Texas A&M. I'm the only person ranking the Aggies first, but let this percolate for another week or two, and they should be in the top four as well.

Check back each week as our committee gives you a small taste of how the real 13-member committee might be thinking once they start their process in mid-October. In an attempt to better simulate the process, and the rogue behavior or USC AD and committee member Pat Haden, I'm going down to the sideline during Ohio State's game vs. Kent State on Saturday to yell at the refs.

By the way, here was my top 10: Texas A&M, Oregon, Georgia, Florida State, USC, LSU, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, Louisville.

About the First Four Poll: Each week during the college football season, our committee of 13 national experts will rank the teams competing for a spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff. These rankings will provide a look at how the contenders for the four playoff berths stack up in advance of the release of the first College Football Playoff rankings on Oct. 28 and provide an alternative perspective to those official rankings thereafter.

About the voters: We've assembled a baker's dozen of top college sports writers from coast to coast. They are: Nick Baumgardner, MLive.com; Ken Goe, The Oregonian; Jim Kleinpeter, NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune; Gary Laney, Advance Digital National Desk; Tom Layberger, Advance Digital National Desk; Doug Lesmerises, Northeast Ohio Media Group; Nick O'Malley, MassLive.com; Kevin Scarbinsky, Alabama Media Group; Keith Sergeant, NJ.com; Audrey Snyder, PennLive.com; Patrick Stevens, Syracuse.com; Jim Waggoner, Staten Island Advance; Brad Wilson, The Express-Times.

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The First Four

Oregon's Tony Washington exhorts the crowd during the game against the Michigan State Spartans in Eugene, Oregon Saturday. (AP Photo/Chris Pietsch)Chris Pietsch

1. Oregon (121 points), 2-0

Previous rank: No. 2

Last week: Def. Michigan State, 46-27. This week: vs. Wyoming.

Projected playoff position: vs. Alabama in the Rose Bowl

Oregon's dominating second-half performance against Michigan State was reminiscent of the way Georgia pulled away from Clemson in the second half in Week 1 and more impressive, considering the Spartans were a higher-ranked opponent.

Voters' take:

"Oregon proved its toughness in rallying to beat Michigan State. Marcus Mariota, too. I believe the Ducks are hungrier than Florida State and more confident." -- Jim Kleinpeter, NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune

"I'll edge Oregon up into the top four even if waxing a Big Ten power -- there's a contradiction in terms if there ever was one -- doesn't mean what it used to mean." -- Brad Wilson, The Express-Times

Nick O'Leary and Florida State ran roughshod over the Citadel.AP Photo/Steven Cannon

2. Florida State (109), 2-0

Previous rank: No. 1

Last week: Def. The Citadel, 47-12. This week: vs. Clemson, Sept. 20.

Projected playoff position: vs. Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Voters were evidently not impressed with the Seminoles' gimme win over The Citadel. FSU won't have to wait long for a chance to make a more meaningful impression, taking this weekend off before hosting Clemson.

Voters' take:

"Florida State has the longest win streak in (school) history going and their offense is spreading the ball around." -- Audrey Snyder, PennLive.com

"The off week prior to hosting Clemson comes at a good time for the 'Noles, who sustained multiple injuries along the offensive line against the admittedly questionable blocking tactics of The Citadel." -- Tom Layberger, Advance National Desk

Mark Richt and Georgia have a tough test against Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks this week.AP Photo/John Amis

3. Georgia (82), 1-0

Previous rank: No. 5

Last week: Idle. This week: at South Carolina.

Projected playoff position: vs. Florida State in the Sugar Bowl

Georgia moved up despite not playing last week, perhaps a sign that voters have grown to appreciate a win over Clemson that much more. Beating South Carolina would make the Bulldogs the first contender with two big, national wins.

Voters' take:

"Georgia isn't going anywhere." -- Doug Lesmerises, Northeast Ohio Media Group

"Georgia and Texas A&M are two teams I think are on the rise, and either squad could easily be viewed as a top four club right now. We'll see how each handles the rigors of the SEC." -- Nick Baumgardner, MLive.com

Alabama's takedown of Florida Atlantic didn't impress much. Neither will a rout of lowly Southern Miss.AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

4. Alabama (77), 2-0

Previous rank: No. 3

Last week: Def. Florida Atlantic, 41-0. This week: vs. Southern Mississippi.

Projected playoff position: vs. Oregon in the Rose Bowl

Alabama dropped after beating a cupcake that gives you no style points. FAU was also blown out by Nebraska, which struggled to beat FCS McNeese State over the weekend. Southern Miss will be a similarly weak opponent.

Voters' take:

"(Florida State) does have an 18-game winning streak, while Alabama hasn't settled on a quarterback." -- Nick O'Malley, MassLive.com, on how why he votes Florida State over Alabama on his ballot

"With a 10-point win over West Virginia and a dismantling of Florida Atlantic, Alabama is not in my top 10. Too many other teams have shown more so far. At Ole Miss on Oct. 4 will be very interesting." -- Doug Lesmerises, Northeast Ohio Media Group

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The Next Four

5. Oklahoma (68), 2-0

Previous rank: No. 4

Last week: Def. Tulsa, 52-7. This week: vs. Tennessee.

The Sooners have faced inferior opponents and, as a result, have dropped out of the top five. That may change this week with Tennessee, but that will depend on voters' perceptions of the relative strength of the Vols, who have not been an SEC contender for several years.

6. Texas A&M (67), 2-0

Previous rank: No. 7

Last week: Def. Lamar, 73-3. This week: vs. Rice.

While Oregon (7) and Florida State (5) have most of the first-place votes, A&M has the other. The Aggies' win at South Carolina to open the season is giving them some poll mileage, but in the middle of a three-game stretch of non-conference cupcakes, it'll be a while before they can make another impression.

7. Auburn (64), 2-0

Previous rank: No. 6

Last week: Def. San Jose State, 59-13. This week: at Kansas State, Sept. 18.

The Tigers dropped a spot while playing a second cupcake, but that won't be an issue much longer as the defending SEC champion prepares for a huge Thursday road game at Big 12 power Kansas State next week after sitting idle this week.

8. USC (50), 2-0

Previous rank: Not ranked

Last week: Def. Stanford, 13-10. This week: at Boston College.

Are the Trojans back? Maybe a win at Stanford marks their return to power. USC takes Michigan State's spot in the rankings.

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The Rest

Others receiving votes: LSU (28), Notre Dame (12), Baylor (11), Virginia Tech (11), UCLA (6), Michigan State (5), BYU (2), Louisville (1), Mississippi (1)

A look at Megan Screptock, who is starring for the Independence volleyball team

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Entering her final season as a high school volleyball player, Independence outside hitter Megan Screptock is ready to help take her team to higher levels.

While the team is not as experienced as it has been in the past, the Blue Devils are starting to put it together, as evidenced by a huge victory against Huron this past Saturday. Huron is currently ranked No. 4 in the Division III coaches poll, while the Blue Devils are ranked No. 13.

With such a young team, Screptock says it has been exciting as the team continues to get better throughout the season.

Q: As a senior on a young team, how have you approached this season differently compared to when you were an underclassman?

A: "We are a very young team, but we have continued to get better. I am a captain on the team, and I feel like I play a big role in making sure that we are ready to go. We are a very good defensive team, while last year we did more with our offense. We are young, so there may be some moments where we may get a little frustrated, but it is my job to help get the team excited and going again. It has definitely been an exciting time for me, and I love playing with this team."

Q: Volleyball is obviously a passion of yours with the effort that you put on the court, but when you're not playing, are you watching a lot of volleyball?

A: "I definitely like to watch volleyball as well, but I wouldn't say I am a die-hard fan. I really like going and watching former players that I played with at college, but I will also watch college and professional as well. I like to watch as a fan, but I am also always trying to get better and pick up on anything I think could be an asset to my game."

Q: When did you start playing volleyball and who has been the biggest influence on your career?

A:"I started playing in fourth grade with a CYO team with my church. My coach there said I should get involved and that i had talent, and I have played year round ever since sixth grade. I have given up other sports and really put all my focus into volleyball. I absolutely love it, and am so glad that I started playing back when I was younger."

Q: What is the most memorable moment of your volleyball career?

A: "Making it to regionals last year was amazing. It was something that we worked so hard to get to, and to accomplish it was so amazing. However, the win against Huron last week is equally as high on the list. They are a very good team ranked really high, but we were able to come out and get the victory. We can still keep improving and get better, but that game showed us how good we can really be."

Q: Favorite thing about volleyball?

A: "Being able to go out there and play with your friends. It has changed as former teammates have graduated and went on to play college volleyball, but being in the gym with my friends is something that I will not forget. It is such a great sport, and being able to see the improvement we are making is awesome."

Q: What are your goals for the season?

A: "To make an even deeper run this season. We want to win our conference and our rivalry games, but being in regionals was so awesome last season and I want all of our team to experience that. I would love to take it to build off what we did last year and go farther, but I ultimately want us to reach our full potential and let the results fall in place."

Follow our new high school sports Twitter account @NEOvarsity and tag your high school sports Tweets and score updates with the #NEOvarsity hashtag.

Contact high school sports reporter Mark Kern by email (mkern@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@Markkern11). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Learn more about Berea-Midpark boys soccer goalie Shane Bartek, who emulates his game after United States national goalie Tim Howard.

BEREA, Ohio – Berea-Midpark boys soccer goalie Shane Bartek is a soccer junkie.

The senior was a unanimous first-team All-Southwestern Conference selection as a junior, and has tallied more than 246 saves through his first three years of playing. 

Bartek aided the Titans to a 9-4-3 season last year and a first-place finish in the conference with a 5-1 record in conference play. He's also a team captain for Berea-Midpark (2-3-1).

Bartek took time after practice to answer a few questions about his season.

Q: How did you get started playing soccer?

A: "Soccer has always been something I’ve been passionate about . I don’t like to run, so I play goalie. It’s taken me pretty far."

Q: What's your favorite thing about playing goalie?

A: "The pressure I get. I have to use that as motivation and never let me team down. That drives me that so much rides on me."

Q: Are you an avid soccer fan? Who are your favorite teams or players?

A:  "I try to watch it when it’s on. My favorite teams are Manchester City and Chelsea. I try to emulate how I play after Tim Howard. I look at his positioning, how he's communicating. I watch film, anything I can to get better."

Q: Who has been your biggest influence on the field with your style of play?

A: "Mike Purtz (family friend) has been mentoring me through this process. He's a big motivation for me. He makes me want to take my game to next level and is kind of a brother figure for me. He's always checking up on me. He's kind of why I’ve been staying after practice working and watching film. He sort of came late into my life, but I'm really blessed he's in it."

Q: What's it like organizing the defense and being the last line of defense in a game?

A: "It’s mentally exhausting. You have to be on your game non-stop. One bad decision can cost you the game. You can either look like the hero or the bad guy. I try to always be talking and not let team get down."

Follow our new high school sports Twitter account @NEOvarsity and tag your high school sports Tweets and score updates with the #NEOvarsity hashtag.


Contact high school sports producer Cameron Moon by email (cmoon@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@MoonCameron20). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.