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Terry Pluto talks Cavaliers, Indians and Browns - Podcast

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Do the Cavaliers have any pieces on this roster that are part of the future? When will the Browns find their offensive coordinator? We talk about that with Terry Pluto, award-winning sports columnist for The Plain Dealer.

Terry Pluto use this new head shotTerry Pluto tackles your questions live every Tuesday at noon.

Note: Terry will be speaking tonight at the Perry Library (get directions) at 7 p.m.

Do the Cavaliers have any pieces on this roster that are part of the future? When will the Browns find their offensive coordinator?

We talk about that with Terry Pluto, award-winning sports columnist for The Plain Dealer.

In his weekly chat on cleveland.com, Terry Pluto tackled these questions:

- Do you trust Chris Grant to get this draft right?

- Can the Cavaleirs afford to draft in order to fill a need or do they just need to take the best player available?

- Will Matt LaPorta live up to expectations for the Indians in 2011?

- What do you think of Dick Jauron as defensive coordinator?

plus a whole lot more!

Click on play to listen to the chat or download the MP3 version to listen on-the-go!




Pittsburgh Steelers' ownership was right to stick with Ben Roethlisberger, columnist says

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"Roethlisberger looked the Rooneys in the eyes and promised to be a changed, better person. From what I can tell, he has kept his word," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ron Cook writes of QB who was accused of sexual assault last March.

ben-roethlisberger.jpgBen Roethlisberger before the Steelers' AFC title win over the Jets.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's going to take more than help the Pittsburgh Steelers win games for Ben Roethlisberger to restore his reputation as a person.

Winning is something that Roethlisberger, the quarterback, does quite well. In just his seventh NFL season, the former Miami (Ohio) star has helped Pittsburgh win two Super Bowls, and he and the Steelers will play in another one on Feb. 6 against the Green Bay Packers.

Roethlisberger was suspended by the NFL for the first four games of this season after being accused of sexual assault. It wasn't the first time his conduct has been questioned in the last few years.

Ron Cook writes for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the Steelers' owners, the Rooney family, made the right decision by sticking with Roethlisberger -- and not just because Roethlisberger is a "franchise quarterback:"

But it also was right because Roethlisberger looked the Rooneys in the eyes and promised to be a changed, better person. From what I can tell, he has kept his word. He has lived up to their trust. Good for him. Good for them. Good for the team.

"I'm proud of the way he picked himself up and acted like the man he really is," team president Art Rooney II said Sunday night after the Steelers hung on to beat the New York Jets in the AFC championship game.

That doesn't mean it was easy to stand with Roethlisberger in those troubling days after the allegations from an incident in a college bar bathroom. Rooney acknowledged the "hits" the organization had to take as a result even though Roethlisberger wasn't charged with any crime. Rooney was not a happy man when he met with the media for the first time in April. "I have made it clear to Ben that his conduct in this incident did not live up to our standard. ... We intend to allow Ben the opportunity to prove to us he is the teammate and citizen we all believe he is capable of being. ... We've told him it's going to be a long journey back and he's going to have to be up to meeting the challenge."

Asked Sunday night if the franchise considered trading Roethlisberger, as many speculated, Rooney shook his head. "You go through a lot of different thoughts at times like that. But, at the end of the day, I knew Ben and I knew his parents. I just believed that if he got back to being the type of person he really is deep down inside, he is still the type of person we want to be around. He hasn't disappointed us."

Ohio State Buckeyes A.M. Links: Recruiting news; Return to OSU;

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In recruiting news, Ohio State is not looking too bad. ESPN's Jamie Newberg writes how it's business as usual in Columbus, because coach Jim Tressel has recruited another top 10 class that leads the Big Ten. The Buckeyes have a fine a recruiting class coming in with players like quarterback Braxton Miller and corner Doran Grant of St. Vincent-St. Mary. But...

marvinfong.jpgCoach Jim Tressel

In recruiting news, Ohio State is not looking too bad. ESPN's Jamie Newberg writes how it's business as usual in Columbus, because coach Jim Tressel has recruited another top 10 class that leads the Big Ten.

The Buckeyes have a fine a recruiting class coming in with players like quarterback Braxton Miller and corner Doran Grant of St. Vincent-St. Mary.

But the Buckeyes could add another gem.

Don't be surprised if: It's a big close for the Buckeyes. In state, they could potentially land three teammates from Cleveland Glenville in defensive end Andre Sturdivant, offensive lineman Aundrey Walker and quarterback Cardale Jones. Of course, all eyes on are ESPNU 150 linebacker Curtis Grant (Richmond, Va./Hermitage). Ohio State is a major player for his services.

 

Return to OSU

Ken Gordon from The Columbus Dispatch and Doug Lesmerises of The Cleveland Plain Dealer write about former OSU linebacker Anthony Schlegel is back. After a one year stint as a linebacker with the New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals and time in the UFL, Schlegel has returned to Ohio State an an assistant strength coach, writes Gordon.

In recent years, he played in the United Football League while operating his own training company in his native Texas.

"I was doing summer camps and taking kids through (NFL) combine-type drills," said Schlegel, who said he had about 85 clients.

  

 

 Speaking

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel will be in Toledo in March as the keynote speaker when the area chapter of the National Football Foundation holds its 49th Annual Scholar Athlete Awards Banquet at the Stranahan's Great Hall in March.

In The Toledo Blade:

Tressel, who recently completed his 10th season as coach of the Buckeyes with a win over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl, last spoke to the group early in 2003, following Ohio State's double-overtime win over Miami that gave the Buckeyes the 2002 national championship.

"It's a great thing for our chapter to be able to get coach Tressel back here for the banquet," NFF member Bob Eberly said. "He commands the respect of the many Ohio State fans in the area, and anyone who loves college football has to appreciate what he's done over the course of his career."

 

Mack should have been voted in to Pro Bowl - Browns Comment of the Day

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"Mack deserved to be in the Pro Bowl before any of the other centers who were picked before him. If the Browns were a winning team, he would have made it as the No. 1." - lra064

alex-mack-camp.JPGView full sizeThe Browns hit paydirt with their top pick in 2009, center Alex Mack.

In response to the story Cleveland Browns' Alex Mack named to AFC Pro Bowl squad; Joe Thomas earns third All-Pro nod, cleveland.com reader lra064 thinks Mack shouldn't have needed injuries to get to Hawaii. This reader writes,

"Mack deserved to be in the Pro Bowl before any of the other centers who were picked before him. If the Browns were a winning team, he would have made it as the No. 1."

To respond to lra064's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Cleveland Browns' Eric Steinbach, Lawrence Vickers deserved Pro Bowl spots, says Mary Kay Cabot (SBTV)

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PD Browns reporter also provides insight into team's search for an offensive coordinator. Watch video


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Welcome to today's edition of Starting Blocks TV, our Web video show about what's happening in Cleveland sports. Today's show is hosted by Bill "The Cheesehead" Lubinger and Branson Wright. Chuck Yarborough is on vacation in lovely Belize, and writes to say hi in a blog post.


We apologize for the delay in posting because of video server issues.


Today's guest on SBTV is Plain Dealer Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot. She says she would like to see the Pro Bowl moved back so it is played the week after the Super Bowl, so all the best players can play. Again this year, the game will be played the Sunday before the Super Bowl. What do you think? Vote in today's Starting Blocks poll.


Mary Kay also talks about the Browns' search for an offensive coordinator; and what Browns players deserved Pro Bowl consideration besides offensive linemen Alex Mack and Joe Thomas.


SBTV will return Wednesday with Plain Dealer Ohio State reporter Doug Lesmerises talking about the Buckeye men's basketball team, who take their No. 1 ranking into a key Big Ten game tonight against Purdue.

Emotion from Gibson a welcome sight - Cavaliers Comment of the Day

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"I was wrong about Gibson. After he missed that shot I saw a man who was truly devastated. He gives his heart and soul to this team and, for that, he should be applauded. I know what people will say - he's a pro athlete; they should always give a 100% - but most athletes don't. It's nice to see he cares so much." - Just1championship

Cavaliers lose to Nets, 103-101View full sizeDaniel Gibson had a chance to win the game Monday night against New Jersey.

In response to the story Cleveland Cavaliers can't close the deal, extend road slump to 21 in last-second loss to New Jersey, cleveland.com reader Just1championship was happy to at least see some emotion from the Cavaliers. This reader writes,

"I was wrong about Gibson. After he missed that shot I saw a man who was truly devastated. He gives his heart and soul to this team and, for that, he should be applauded. I know what people will say - he's a pro athlete; they should always give a 100% - but most athletes don't. It's nice to see he cares so much."

To respond to Just1championship's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Dallas Cowboys all ready like former Browns coordinator Rob Ryan

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Cowboys happy with Rob Ryan.

Cleveland Browns 2010 Training Camp, Day 10 Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones notices what Cleveland Browns fans knew all along when it comes to defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

Jones tells The Dallas Morning News that he likes Ryan's demeanor.

"He's outstanding with his demeanor around football,'' Jones said.  "I think it's a positive for players and I think it's a positive for the people on his staff and around the team, just his personality his demeanor and the fact he literally has grown up around football and spent a lot of time around pro football, all of that is very positive.''

Jones was especially impressed that Ryan did so much with so little as defensive coordinator with the Browns and Oakland Raiders.

 "I've been impressed with how he (Ryan) has done with what he's had to work with, where he's been,'' Jones said. ``Sometimes those stats don't tell it all one way or the other on how your defense is ranked unless you get in and look at what the circumstances are and I know Jason did that and spent a lot of time.'"

 

 

P.M. Cleveland Cavaliers links: First of Cavs' 8 wins was in season opener against tonight's foe, Boston Celtics

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Win helped Cavs to respectable 7-9 start. They're 1-27 since.

anderson-varejao-ray-allen.jpgAnderson Varejao (17), now out for the season with an ankle injury, happily runs downcourt after making a key play in the Cavs' season-opening win over Boston. Celtics guard Ray Allen is in the background.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- On a 17-game losing streak and having lost 27 of their last 28, the Cleveland Cavaliers have little going for them heading into tonight's game against the host Boston Celtics.

In a sense, or a stretch, the Cavs don't even own the element of surprise. It seems so long ago, but the Cavaliers defeated the Celtics, 95-87, in the Oct. 27 season opener in Cleveland.

The Cavs got solid efforts that night from Anderson Varejao, who is out for the season with a torn ankle tendon, and Anthony Parker, who is questionable tonight with a troublesome back.

Cleveland point guard Mo Williams was sidelined for the opener with an injury and is out again with an injured hip.

The Celtics got even with the Cavaliers on Nov. 30, with a 106-87 win in Cleveland.

The Cavs are 8-36; the Celtics, 33-10.

Frank Dell'Apa writes about Cavaliers vs. Celtics for the Boston Globe:

As for the possibility of overlooking the Cavaliers, Rivers said: “If we do, then we’ll lose. I don’t think our team does that. I think we come out and we assume wins and sometimes they don’t happen. You have to go out and earn them.

“The way to get up is look up at the banners and think about home court, that’s what should motivate you. You’re going to lose games on certain nights that you should win. That’s going to happen. But it just can’t happen too many times.’’

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage includes Mary Schmitt Boyer's game story on the Cavs' difficult 103-101 loss to the Nets in New Jersey on Monday night, and columnist Terry Pluto's podcast.

No Shaq

Bob Finnan looks at tonight's game for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

Finnan writes:

The Celtics are expected to start Turkish phenom Semih Erden (who?) at center against the Cavs. Do you think it's going to matter?

Starter Shaquille O'Neal is out with a hip injury.

The Cavs could welcome back swingman Anthony Parker for tonight's game. He's missed seven of the previous eight games with a strained lower back. He'll likely come off the bench if he's going to play. He's listed as questionable.

The Cavs will likely keep Christian Eyenga in the starting lineup at "3," even though he has no offensive game. He plays extremely hard and has a little bit of a mean streak in him.

Dunks and stuffs

About floppers, including Anderson Varejao, by Zach Lowe for The Point Forward feature on Sports Illustrated's SI.com.

Cavaliers-Celtics game notes, on NBA.com/cavaliers.

Cavaliers vs. Celtics game preview, by Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal. 

Cavaliers-Nets game story, by Dave Hutchinson for The Star Ledger and NJ.com.

Video of Cavs coach Byron Scott talking about the loss to the Nets, on FoxSportsOhio.com.

Cavaliers-Nets post-game quotes, on NBA.com/cavaliers.

Nets 103, Cavs 101, game story by Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Cleveland Cavaliers Team Report, on USAToday.com.

 

 

 


P.M. Cleveland Indians links: Grady Sizemore one of baseball's top players trying to make a comeback

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Indians need him to regain his three-time all-star form after knee surgery. Also, Travis Hafner's contract; links to Tribe prospects, etc.

grady-sizemore.jpgA comeback by Grady Sizemore would add power and speed to the Indians lineup.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians this season will rely, to a large degree, on players trying to establish themselves as legitimate, long-term big leaguers.

Yet, most of the impact on any team's would-be success is generated by the veterans.

Center fielder Grady Sizemore, although just 28, fits into that category for the Tribe. And though Sizemore has made three all-star teams and won two Gold Gloves, he is a major question mark.

Cameron Zick writes for Sports Illustrated's SI.com that Sizemore is one of MLB's top hitters trying to come back from an injury:

But after being limited to just 109 games because of injury in 2009, Sizemore played only 33 games in 2010 before an awkward slide in May forced him to undergo season-ending microfracture surgery on his left knee. He has been cleared to resume modified baseball activities but the recovery for that type of surgery surgery is long and tenuous. The Indians are hopeful he can be healthy by Opening Day, but as eager as they are for their 28-year-old star to be back in their lineup, he needs the regain his stroke at the plate just as badly. He was batting just .211/.271/.289 with no home runs at the time of his injury and has an $8.5 million club option for 2012 that will put Cleveland in a precarious position to either trade Sizemore or let him become a free agent if he doesn't return to form.

(Note: The .211/.271/.289 refers to batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage)

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Indians coverage includes beat writer Paul Hoynes' report on the television and radio schedule for spring training and the regular season; columnist Terry Pluto's podcast

Pronk's pay

Besides Sizemore, another Indians veteran who hopes to near his former production is designated hitter Travis Hafner.

Hafner, hampered by shoulder problems in recent seasons, has not provided the power he once did. In fact, Bob Nightengale writes for USAToday.com that Hafner owns one of baseball's "most immovable contracts:"

Gone is his power, gone is his value. Hafner, who has averaged 11 homers and 41 RBI the past three years, is still owed $26 million over the next two years, with the Indians holding a $2.7 million buyout for 2013.

Full counts

Phil Wood of MASNsports.com -- part of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network -- reports that a big league scout has told him that the Indians and Washington Nationals have had "conversations" about Indians starting pitcher Fausto Carmona and Sizemore.

The "MLB Facts & Rumors" blog on CBSSports.com mentions the MASNsports.com speculation, writing, "Keep in mind that this is just talk."

Indians Prospect Insider has begun its countdown of the top 50 prospects in the Indians organization. Tony Lastoria writes a profile of No. 47, switch-hitting infielder Jorge Martinez.

The progress of pitcher Alex White, the Indians' first pick in the 2009 draft, by Stephanie Storm of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Jordan Bastian of MLB.com answers readers' questions about the Indians.

The chances of young infielder Jason Kipnis making the Indians' big league roster out of spring training, by Stephanie Storm of the Akron Beacon Journal.  

 

 


 

Time is never on the side of Ohio State basketball and Thad Matta: Bill Livingston

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Ohio State tried to beat Purdue -- and the clock -- Tuesday night in a critical Big Ten men's basketball game.

osu-matta-vert-ap.jpgView full sizeNo college coach has done a better job of immediately melding a collection of talent into a winning basketball team than Ohio State's Thad Matta, who seldom has the luxury of seeing his best players mature while still wearing the scarlet and gray.

COLUMBUS -- The clock is always ticking for Thad Matta, the Ohio State basketball coach.

It was not just counting down the hours of the long day that preceded the 9 p.m. tipoff Tuesday night against Purdue, but the days left in this season. Twenty games down. Twenty, should the Buckeyes reach the Big Ten Tournament finals and then the national championship game, to go.

How many practices to force-feed Matta's system to a team that is mostly seniors or freshmen, innocence and experience? He is thankful he has great senior leaders, because good freshmen are always going to play at Ohio State. They have to learn on the run.

His top six players are from Ohio, giving the Buckeyes a cozy, home-bred feeling, as if team meals were held at Bob Evans. It recalls the all-Ohio starting five for the Buckeyes' only national championship team in 1960, the Jerry Lucas-John Havlicek-Bobby Knight team. All of those players got their degrees.

Things have changed now.

How long will Matta have prized recruit Jared Sullinger, the 6-8, 280-pound power forward/center who might be the nation's best player?

With time, Sullinger's game would flourish even more. Sullinger has such a smooth, soft stroke at the foul line, several of his makes using up most of the rim before falling in Saturday at Illinois, that he only has to refine the skill.

"We see it in practice. You'll see it next year when handling and shooting more farther from the basket, expanding his game," said Matta, smiling sadly.

The wistful smile was because Sullinger is almost sure to be OSU's fourth big man who is one, done and NBA-bound in the springtime. First, Greg Oden, next Kosta Koufos, then B.J. Mullens. Now Sullinger.

"Oden played with a cast on [his right wrist]," Matta said. "He couldn't extend his wrist all the way to the normal shooting position. The night of the national championship game, he couldn't bend it the way he would bend it to shoot a true jump shot. I don't think we ever saw the real Greg Oden at Ohio State."

The only thing basketball people saw of him that lasted was the fragility. The wounded big man took Ohio State to the last game of the season in 2006-07, where the Florida mini-dynasty barred the way. His NBA career has been wrecked by injuries.

Still, Matta chases the glamorous big men on the recruiting services' watch list.

"Size is obviously important. As far back as grade school, a team would look to the biggest kid," Matta said.

Matta, who grew up in the Illinois border town of Hoopeston, a 40-minute drive from the Purdue campus, knows geography is strength. "We've been blessed to have great players in the bread basket of recruiting," he said.

The other player in his rotation, freshman Deshaun Thomas, is from Indiana, as were Mike Conley and Oden -- who were the backbone of OSU's national runner-up team in 2006-07.

Such success has given Matta the pejorative tag of a "recruiter," not a coach. It is a lie, and Matta is proving it this season. He has become very good in end of game situations. Except for a blowout of Iowa last week, the Buckeyes' five previous Big Ten games had been decided by a total of 20 points.

Matta has a mid-major background (player and coach at Butler, then coach at Xavier), but wants to win big and that means he has to win now.

"There is a huge premium on making our players better in the off-season," Matta said. "It doesn't make for an enjoyable off-season [for the coaches], that's for sure."

He didn't even know what he had with Sullinger at the collegiate level until October practice began. Then he made Sullinger the focus of the offense. Some coaches have the luxury of less-coveted players who return to become upperclassmen. They can merely tweak their team's system. With Matta, it's more like a full body massage.

Tuesday, Matta sends Sullinger out to duel the multi-faceted Purdue junior JaJuan Johnson. Another freshman, point guard Aaron Craft, the first true point guard he has had since Conley, is also critical for OSU's success.

Matta will watch intently, his jaws likely pumping his trademark lucky stick of chewing gum, knowing the great season will end before Sullinger really begins, knowing glory is fleeting.

Follow Bill Livingston on Facebook

P.M. Cleveland Browns links: Building defensive front 7 a big challenge for the Browns

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Age, free agency and injuries, let alone a talent shortage, make the front seven a big problem area. Also, special teams coach hired; prospects at the Senior Bowl, etc.

matt-roth.jpgMatt Roth (53), here tackling Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew, could become a free agent, but might be one linebacker the Browns would like to keep.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns, coming off consecutive 5-11 seasons -- which, by the way, followed a 4-12 campaign in 2008 -- certainly have a lot of work ahead to upgrade the talent level at numerous positions.

Coach Pat Shurmur and defensive coordinator Dick Jauron, both new to the Browns, and a pair of one-year Cleveland veterans -- team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert -- face quite a challenge in buidling the Browns' defensive front seven.

Dave Kolonich of the Orange and Brown Report on Scout.com writes about the Browns' situation on the defensive line and at linebacker.

First, part of his outlook for the defensive line:

Along the front line, injuries again short-circuited veteran Robaire Smith’s season. Smith suffered a serious back injury early in the season, which hurt the team’s run defense. Across the line, Kenyon Coleman played on a shaky knee for most of the season, while Shaun Rogers was largely invisible. The only consistent performance found along the defensive line was the play of Ahtyba Rubin. However, thanks to the limited depth around him, Rubin fell apart in December.

Behind Rubin and the veteran starters on the depth chart are a collection of unknown players such as Travis Ivey, Ko Quaye, Brian Sanford, Jayme Mitchell and the scrappy, yet underwhelming Brian Schaefering.

And, Kolonich writes, the problems are similar at linebacker:

A midseason injury to Scott Fujita significantly contributed to the defense’s second-half decline in 2010 – particularly against the rush. Fujita’s injury forced Matt Roth into more of a run defense role, which hampered the team’s pass rush. While Chris Gocong played well inside, his veteran counterparts – including Eric Barton and David Bowens – could not be counted on to play significant roles.

Moving beyond the 2010 starters, the rest of the linebacking corps includes situational pass rusher Marcus Benard and a host of special teams players, including Jason Trusnik, Titus Brown, Eric Alexander and Blake Costanzo. Former starter D’Qwell Jackson and 2009 draft pick Kaluka Maiava both ended the season on injured reserve.

Looking ahead to 2011 and a move towards a 4-3 alignment, it’s possible that only Rubin and Fujita are locks to return to the starting lineup. Gocong and Roth are both free agents, while Smith, Coleman, Barton and Bowens will likely not be part of the new regime’s plans. Perhaps the same can be said for Rogers, who is still owed a sizeable chunk of money for next season.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Mary Kay Cabot's story that the Browns have hired Chris Tabor as their special teams coordinator;  her report on All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition for offensive left tackle Joe Thomas, and the Pro Bowl, too, for center Alex Mack; her comments about the Browns on Starting Blocks TV; columnist Terry Pluto's podcast

Post patterns

A review of the 2010 Browns at linebacker, by Matt Florjancic for clevelandbrowns.com.

The Browns own the sixth pick in the first round of the draft, barring a trade, and a load of other picks. They're certainly watching what's happening at the Senior Bowl practices this week. Chris Bunting of the National Football Post makes some observations about players at today's practice. 

The South team at the Senior Bowl features some talented offensive linemen, by Chad Reuter of CBSSports.com.

The Browns hire Chris Tabor as their special teams coordinator, by Jeff Schudel for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

Recognition for Joe Thomas and Alex Mack, by Scott Petrak for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette.

 

 

 


 

Sympathetic friends appreciated, but not necessary, says Byron Scott: Cavaliers Insider

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Boston coach Doc Rivers can offer Byron Scott sympathy, advice about losing.

scott-vocal-vert-cc.jpgView full sizeByron Scott isn't planning on letting the losses get him down this season. "I come to practice every day that we've got another chance, another to get better as a basketball team. We've got another chance to win a basketball game. That's how I look at it."

BOSTON, Mass. -- Doc Rivers has been where Byron Scott is now -- losing.

"I'm an expert at it," the Celtics coach said before Tuesday night's game against the Cavs at TD Garden.

Although his career coaching record is 484-390, Rivers did lose 58 games in 2006-07. Friends often offered their advice and sympathy.

"I know exactly what people say," he said. "People called me."

Which was why he hesitated before contacting Scott, although he went ahead and called anyway.

"I laughed with him and told him, 'I know you don't want these calls because I got them and I was starting to get [ticked] off at people calling me,'" Rivers said. "I was, like, 'Leave me alone. I just want to do my job.'

"But that's what you say. You try as much as you can not to talk about basketball. You talk about other stuff. But it's tough. It is. But he's like I was -- just focused on the next game and improving some of the guys. That's your job as a coach."

With his team poised to break the franchise record for consecutive road losses (21) and on the verge of the franchise mark for consecutive losses in a season (19), Scott has gotten quite a few calls of a similar nature.

"They tell me to hang in there," Scott said. "If they don't call, they text. I text them back and tell them, 'Don't worry. I'm going to do that.'

"I've always been a very positive person. It's nothing new to me. I have been through this before, so I think that makes it a little bit easier for me to deal with. It doesn't make it easier when you're losing, period. But being through it before, I do know it makes it easier to deal with. If I hadn't been through this, it would make it really, really hard for me to go through this right now."

Scott said he continues to be positive and never goes to practice with his head down. "I refuse to do that," he said. "I come to practice every day that we've got another chance, another to get better as a basketball team. We've got another chance to win a basketball game. That's how I look at it."

Hot shot: Scott was not known as a 3-point shooter in his career. He finished with 775. But he's a fan of Ray Allen, who came into Tuesday's game needing 23 3-pointers to tie Reggie Miller's NBA record of 2,560. Allen is currently shooting 45.1 percent on 3-pointers, the best of his career. He has only made more than 40 percent five times in his career; his best was 43.4 percent in Milwaukee in 2001-02.

"I think Ray is one of the all-time greats," Scott said. "His longevity is a tribute to him and how he takes care of his body during the off-season and his work ethic. I always thought of him as a great player but he's surpassed everything I thought he would as a player.

"He's kind of up there in age, but he really hasn't seemed to slow down. Every night you've got to be aware of where he is on the basketball floor. He moves without the ball. He knows how to play the game very well, and that's why he's been so successful."

Miller recently said he thought no one would break the record after Allen, and Scott agreed.

"If Ray breaks it, it's not going to be broken -- not in my lifetime," Scott said.

Tait recovering: The Cavaliers announced during Tuesday's game that radio voice Joe Tait has entered a local rehabilitation facility to continue his recovery from recent cardiac surgery.

Tait, who left the team during the preseason when he was hospitalized with pneumonia, was released from the Cleveland Clinic Tuesday afternoon, and will undergo an "intensive rehabilitation period" before going home, the team said in a press release.

Cavs vs. Celtics: Mary Schmitt Boyer's in-game blog

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In-game updates from Boston as the Cavalier play their fourth game in five days.

gibson-celtics-2010-opener-horiz-jg.jpgView full sizeCan Daniel Gibson and the Cavaliers bounce back from Monday's disappointment in New Jersey against the formidable Celtics?

BOSTON, Mass. -- Notes and observations from the Cavs game against the Celtics on Tuesday night at TD Garden:

Halftime update: Celtics 67, Cavs 45. Things fell apart in the second quarter, with just 19 points on 36.4 percent (8 of 22) shooting while the Celtics scored 33.

Boston outrebounded Cleveland in the period. 16-9, en route to a 13-4 advantage in second-chance points.

Paul Pierce had another seven points for a total of 24 in the first half. Manny Harris was the only Cavalier with more than one field goal in the second quarter. He had two.

First quarter update: Celtics 34, Cavs 26. The Cavs returned to the Garden for the first time since losing Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals last spring, and held their own against the Celtics for the better part of the first 12 minutes -- or at least until Paul Pierce went on a scoring binge, scoring the Celtics last 13 points of the period, including a 19-footer at the buzzer. He had 17 points in the quarter.

Anthony Parker returned for the Cavs after missing the last two games with his sore back, while Kendrick Perkins got a standing ovation when he entered the Celtics lineup for the first time this season. He injured his right knee during the NBA Finals last June and needed surgery.

Cavs starters: F Christian Eyenga, F Antawn Jamison, C J.J. Hickson, G Daniel Gibson, G Ramon Sessions.

Celtics starters: F Paul Pierce, F Kevin Garnett, C Semih Erden, G Ray Allen, G Rajon Rondo.

Injuries: Anthony Parker (low back strain), Leon Powe (right knee surgery), Anderson Varejao (torn tendon, right foot) and Mo Williams (left hip flexor strain) are out for Cavs. Shaquille O'Neal (sore right hip), Delonte West (broken right wrist) and Jermaine O'Neal (sore left knee) are out for Celtics.

Inactives: Powe, Varejao and Williams for Cavs. Avery Bradley, J. O'Neal and West for Cavs.

Officials: Mike Callahan, John Goble and Scott Twardoski.

Three things to watch

1. How will the Cavs respond after Monday night's tough loss at New Jersey, and what will they have left in their fourth game in five nights?

2. Given the perimeter defense, how many 3-pointers will Ray Allen hit?

3. Worst thing for the Cavs was Boston's loss at Washington on Saturday, followed by three days off. If the Celtics come out primed to make up for that, this has the potential to be Laker-like.

Youngstown's Heacock added to KSU football staff: NE Ohio College Newswatch

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Former head coach of the Penguins will be defensive coordinator for the Golden Flashes.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- New Kent State football coach Darrell Hazell has hired Jon Heacock as defensive coordinator/cornerbacks coach; Chris Bache as recruiting coordinator/offensive line coach; Jafar Williams as running backs coach, and Doug Davis as strength and conditioning coach.

Heacock brings eight years of head coaching experience at Youngstown State (2001-09). He took over the reins at YSU when current Ohio State coach Jim Tressel left for Columbus, compiling a record of 60-44 with the Penguins while earning Gateway Conference Coach of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons (2005 and 2006).

His tenure was highlighted by a 2006 run to the national semifinals that saw YSU finish 11-3. As an assistant on Tressell's staff (1990-96 and 2000), Heacock was part of three Division I-AA national titles.

Bache was assistant head coach and offensive line coach at Adrian (Mich.) College.

Williams was the special teams-quality control assistant for Northwestern in 2010.

Davis spent the past four years as a strength assistant at Ohio State.

Hazell previously named Brian Rock as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach; former OSU linebacker Marcus Freeman as linebackers coach; and Thad Jemison as receivers coach.

Hazell was named Kent State's 20th head coach on Dec. 20 after spending the past seven seasons at Ohio State. He inherits a squad that went 5-7 overall and 4-4 in the Mid-American Conference in 2010.

Honored: Three Baldwin-Wallace athletes -- track All-American Kevin Phipps, All-American diver Julie Pinter (Brecksville-Broadview Heights) and senior 197-pound wrestler Tristan Stoll -- are Ohio Athletic Conference players of the week in their respective sports. Phipps (shot put, 35-pound weight throw) led B-W to the team title at the B-W Mid-January Meet. Pinter set the B-W school-record in the 3-meter optional diving event Saturday at Ohio Northern. Stoll had a 4-0 record at the Thiel (Pa.) Mel Berry Duals last Saturday in Greenville, Pa. ... Sophomore quarterback Ryan O'Rourke (Avon) and senior linebacker Ryan Kish (Amherst Steele) are this year's Baldwin-Wallace Ray E. Watts Most Valuable Offensive and Defensive Players, respectively. ... B-W midfielder Jeff Grater (Stow) and midfielder Pat Brennan (Walsh Jesuit) were named to the Ohio College Soccer Association Academic All-Ohio team. ... Chowan student-athlete Allie Kolezynski (Strongsville) has been voted to a position on the NCAA's National Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Kolezynski, a junior member of the Chowan softball team, has maintained a 3.98 grade-point average. She helped the Hawks softball team to a 2010 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association CIAA Championship. Chowan is in Murfreesboro, N.C.

Cleveland Browns hire former Bears assistant Chris Tabor as special teams coordinator

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New special teams coach doesn't have much experience, but comes highly recommended.

tabor-mug-bears.jpgView full sizeNew Browns special teams coach Chris Tabor worked with the dynamic Chicago return game.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Chris Tabor has only three years' NFL experience, but the Browns' new special teams coordinator comes highly recommended from a colleague of new coach Pat Shurmur and General Manager Tom Heckert.

Tabor spent the past three seasons as an assistant under Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub, who worked with Shurmur and Heckert in Philadelphia from 2001-03.

"I'm very happy for Chris. We all are in the Bears organization," Toub said in a Browns release. "I'm very proud of him. He's a great coach. We're all going to miss him. The coaches, players and staff loved him here. Cleveland's players are going to really like him and respond well to him. He brings a lot to the Browns organization."

Late in the 2010 season, when it became apparent that Tabor would receive other opportunities, Toub told the Chicago Tribune that he understood exactly why.

"He is so ready," Toub said. "I've been in that role, same as him three years as an assistant when I was in Philly. This is his third year and I know how he feels. He's needs to get his own spot. He has the system. He can motivate. He's a great teacher. The guys respect him. It's time."

Tabor, who has worked with Devin Hester -- the NFL's all-time leader in combined kick returns with 14 -- impressed the Browns' new coach.

"I believe that Chris is one of the up-and-coming special teams coaches in this league," Shurmur said in the release. "He's smart, enthusiastic and has a true passion for this area of the game.

"In Chris' three years with the Bears, they consistently boasted one of the best special teams groups in the league, in just about every facet. Having faced them in 2008 and 2009, I know what a challenge it was to go up against their unit. He'll be a valuable addition to our coaching staff."

Tabor has the daunting task of replacing Brad Seely, who took the same position with the 49ers. In 2009, the Browns ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in eight special-team categories.

Tabor goes from working with Hester to Josh Cribbs. Although he's coming off a down year because of a foot injury, Cribbs holds the NFL career record with eight kickoff returns for touchdowns.

During Tabor's three years in Chicago, the Bears ranked in the top five in nine different special-team categories. Over the last three years, Chicago leads the NFL in total return yards (6,570) and kickoff return yards (5,415) and posted the second-best kickoff return average (25.1).

Also during Tabor's tenure, the Bears tied for fifth in the league in punts inside the 20 and tied for seventh in field goal percentage.

Tabor also has helped shape some of the NFL's other top return specialists. In 2008, Danieal Manning led in kickoff return average (29.7). In 2009, Johnny Knox finished second in kickoff return average (29.0) and earned a Pro Bowl selection.

Shurmur now has two of his three coordinator positions filled, with defensive coordinator Dick Jauron being hired last week.


Any questions? No. 1 Ohio State puts on a show in ripping No. 12 Purdue, 87-64

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Buckeyes start fast and never let up in dominating their Big Ten rival in prime time.

osu-sullinger-vert-purdue-ap.jpgView full sizeJared Sullinger helped get the Buckeyes out to a quick start Tuesday with this jumper over Purdue's Travis Carroll in the first half. Sullinger finished with 17 points as Ohio State had six players in double figures.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Aaron Craft was spinning in the lane and crossing over defenders out top, while David Lighty flew to the rim and scooped in a right-handed layup, as Jared Sullinger found open teammates out of double teams and the Buckeyes made two-thirds of their 3-pointers.

“They were ready to play; they were ready to roll,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “They just stole our spirit.”

The Buckeyes didn’t let up after that. While moving to 21-0 and 8-0 in the Big Ten with an 87-64 dismantling of No. 12 Purdue (17-4, 6-2), Ohio State answered every question anyone may have asked about their schedule, their depth or their ability to put together a complete game.

“I think it was a loud answer to those questions,” freshman big man Sullinger said.

After one of the many sequences that ended with another play for the highlights, the crowd of 17,556 at Value City Arena rose -- no, jumped -- to its feet as Sullinger, the freshman big man who made another case for national player of the year not with his stats but with his all-around game, pounded his chest with his right fist and screamed, "Let's Go!"

This was the Buckeyes when they go.

Ohio State was already a unanimous No. 1 in the AP poll and had all but two first-place votes in the coaches poll coming into the game, yet this legitimized what everyone thought.

“Where they have us right now, we’re being judged. But I think there’s still a lot of basketball to be played,” OSU coach Thad Matta said. “[But] I’ve never looked at a stat sheet and seen 21-0 before.”

This will linger. If and when that first loss comes for Ohio State, and when the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee gets together in Indianapolis in March, whatever else the Buckeyes do in the next two months, they’ll always have, “Remember that near-perfect game when they blew out Purdue?”

“We played defense and we had our offense connected for the first time. We had both clicking,” Sullinger said. “It was a wonderful game for us. I think this is the best game we’ve played, period.”

When two good teams play -- and there's no doubt that Purdue, led by 22 points from JaJuan Johnson and 16 from E'Twaun Moore, is a good team -- the trailing squad always makes a run. That's the nature of the game. Teams on the road often get shocked, then they adjust.

Purdue did that, but maybe for a minute or two.

Then the Buckeyes were back to their best.

It was across the board. Purdue eventually got its two stars going after slow starts, but the Buckeyes spent 40 minutes with five players running as one. Look at the numbers.

• William Buford, 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including five of six on 3-pointers.

• Sullinger, 17 points and seven rebounds.

• Jon Diebler, 13 points, eight rebounds, six assists, 3 of 5 on 3-pointers.

• Craft, 11 points, six assists, six rebounds.

• Lighty, 10 points, three rebounds, three assists.

• Freshman Deshaun Thomas, 13 points, six rebounds.

• Dallas Lauderdale, four points on 2-of-2 shooting, with some good early defense on Johnson to force him into a slow start.

Following up an impressive road win at Illinois on Saturday, Ohio State couldn't have done anything better against the second-place team in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes now have a two-game lead in the league race, and they have something else more important.

They have the knowledge of what they look like at their best. The rest of college basketball knows it now as well.

“As long as we play defense and we continue to execute on offense,“ Sullinger said, “we can be a pretty special team."

22 skidoo: Cleveland Cavaliers set franchise mark for consecutive road losses as Celtics breeze, 112-95

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Cleveland has the worst record in the league at 8-37 and can tie the franchise record for consecutive losses in one season on Friday against Denver.

Gallery preview

BOSTON, Mass. -- It's a team record that nobody wants to own, and it's certainly one the Cavaliers don't want to discuss.

Tuesday's 112-97 loss to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden was the Cavs 22nd straight on the road, breaking the team record of 21 they set from Jan. 13-April 14, 2003.

"I just look at it game-by-game," coach Byron Scott said after his team's 18th straight loss, their 28th in 29 games. "I don't care about that crap, to be honest with you. I care about our guys getting better. That's what we're trying to do. I thought for the most part we represented ourselves OK. We could have done some things a little bit better, but we did OK."

Cleveland has the worst record in the league at 8-37 and can tie the franchise record for consecutive losses in one season on Friday against Denver. The team also shares the NBA record for consecutive losses with Denver -- 24 -- spread over two seasons for the Cavs.

But they don't want to talk about that either.

"That goes in one ear and out the other with me," said Antawn Jamison, who had 11 points and seven rebounds Tuesday. "I've been a part of not-too-positive things. It doesn't bother me at all.

"It bothers me to the point that we're doing it, but as far as letting it affect the way I play or the way I think about it, no. Thinking about it or letting it dwell doesn't help the psyche at all. That's something we don't need. The biggest thing for us is to go out there and compete and don't worry about what's being said in the news.

"You can't worry about what's being said. People are not going to feel sorry for us. We've just got to move on and try to compete and try to make some positive things come out of this situation."

That, of course, is easier said than done. The devastating loss to Miami on Dec. 2 in LeBron James' return to Cleveland may have ripped the heart out of the Cavaliers, but their current troubles actually started with a 106-87 home loss to the Celtics two nights earlier. So perhaps it was inevitable that the Cavs should set the road loss record against those same Celtics.

This was the first trip back here since losing Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals last spring, and things didn't go a whole lot better last night.

Paul Pierce had 24 points, 17 in the first quarter, to lead the Celtics to a league-best 34-10 record, including a league-best 22-3 at home. Manny Harris had 14 points, Ramon Sessions had 14 points and seven assists and J.J. Hickson had 12 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and four blocks for the Cavs.

Anthony Parker, who missed the last two games and nine of the last 10 with his bad back, contributed three points and two assists in 14 minutes. But his return was trumped by that of Kendrick Perkins for the Celtics, who was playing for the first time this season after hurting his right knee during the NBA Finals last June and having surgery.

Perkins got a standing ovation when he returned with 8:02 left in the first period and finished with seven points and six assists in 17 minutes. The lift he provided was more emotional than physical, as the Celtics outscored the Cavs in the second quarter, 33-19, leading by as many as 24 points.

"I thought the second quarter, obviously, was the quarter," Scott said. "They came out and pretty much hit everything and did pretty much what they wanted. That was the deciding factor."

After watching the Celtics dominate for eight straight quarters, the real question is how the Cleveland ever beat Boston on opening night. But that has an easy answer. The aging Celtics were coming off an emotional victory over visiting Miami the previous night.

If only all the questions about the Cavaliers could be answered so easily.

Cleveland Browns should take WR A.J. Green or DE Robert Quinn with sixth overall pick -- Mel Kiper Jr.

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ESPN analyst said he has no concern about taking a wide receiver that high in the first round of the draft.

ajgreen-georgia-vert-ap.jpgCould the Browns select A.J. Green with the No. 6 pick in April's NFL Draft?

CLEVELAND -- ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. thinks he's got the Browns' top draft candidates at No. 6 nailed down.

 "I think it's pretty easy to project the Cleveland Browns in terms of what they need and what will be there," Kiper said on a conference call today. "A.J. Green and Robert Quinn would be the two candidates."

 Green is the draft's top-rated receiver from Georgia. He's 6-4 and 212 pounds and Kiper said he could play in any offensive style.

 Quinn, a 6-5, 268-pound defensive end from North Carolina, is one of the many highly rated defensive linemen in the coming draft. Quinn, a junior, missed the 2010 season after being declared "permanently ineligible" for accepting improper benefits.

 Kiper officially lists Green as his choice for the Browns in his first mock draft.

 "He's an angular kid, beats you vertically, a good route runner," Kiper said. "He took hits in traffic and didn't give up the football. I don't see any major hole in his game. I think Green translates pretty much to any offense with the skill level he has."

 Kiper doesn't buy the theory that wide receivers shouldn't be taken so high in the first round.

 "I look back at Larry Fitzgerald. Would you have been shy about taking him? Would you have been shy about taking Andre Johnson? I don't think so," he said. "There's been other examples of guys going pretty early that have done very very well. I don't shy away from it.

 "You look at the sixth pick, it's not the first, second or third pick. A.J. Green is worthy of being one of the top guys. He's no. 3 on my board. Julio Jones (of Alabama) I have at 10. It's not like you're taking him No. 1 overall or No. 2. So I don't see the fear at six."

 Kiper said if the Browns consider a pass rusher to fit into their expected new, 4-3 defensive front a greater need, Quinn would be the guy.

 Quinn was expected to be one of the top three players chosen in the draft until he was ruled ineligible for the 2010 season for accepting about $5,600 in agent-related benefits and travel accomodations.

 "f you feel you have to get that pass rusher, Robert Quinn could be a tremendous pass rusher in the NFL," Kiper said. "This kid was unbelievable two years ago. He's gonna be a freakish workout guy. You might feel this kid can be an unbelievable guy.

 "He would've been a first, second or third pick had he played this year. You can make an argument for Quinn, no question."

 Kiper said a "no-brainer" would be Clemson defensive end DaQuan Bowers, but he expected him to be taken before the Browns' pick at No. 6.

P.M. Ohio State links: Blowout win over Purdue draws raves from around the country

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Buckeyes' offensive versatility and consistent defensive excellence give them the look of a classic No. 1 team.

david-lighty.jpgOhio State's David Lighty drives to the basket against Purdue.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The college basketball nation expected a competitive, entertaining game when No. 12 Purdue visited the country's first-ranked team, Ohio State, on Tuesday night.

What the fans saw instead was a virtual tipoff-to-buzzer blowout for OSU -- an 87-64 win that made the Buckeyes 21-0, 8-0 in the Big Ten.

Jeff Goodman writes for FoxSports.com that Ohio State is somewhat similar to Florida's 2006 and 2007 national championship teams:

Each had an unselfish stud inside: Ohio State boasting Sullinger and Florida with Al Horford. Corey Brewer was Florida’s versatile glue guy while Ohio State has David Lighty.

You want dead-eye shooters? How about the Buckeyes' Jon Diebler and Florida’s Lee Humphrey.

Pure floor leaders? Try Florida's Taurean Green and Ohio State's frosh Aaron Craft.

The one difference is the Gators had energetic big man Joakim Noah while Ohio State rounds out its top five with talented scoring wing William Buford.

“I’d say it’s a good comparison,” said Lighty, who was a freshman on Ohio State’s team in 2007 that lost to the Gators in the national title game. “But the difference is they got it done and won two championships. It’s about what we do.”

The other similarity is chemistry.

“It’s awesome,” said former Buckeyes star and NBA guard Michael Redd, who has attended most of the games and dozens of practices this season while rehabbing in Columbus. “There’s something special about this team. They don’t have any weaknesses and they play so well together.”

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage includes beat writer Doug Lesmerises' Buckeyes-Purdue game story; Bill Livingston's column on OSU coach Thad Matta; Lesmerises' visit to Starting Blocks TV, to talk about the Buckeyes.

Also, Lesmerises reports that Ohio State's football team is expected this week to hire Stan Drayton as its receivers coach. Drayton is a Cleveland John Marshall High School graduate and was Florida's running backs coach last season.

Tough cover

Ohio State's defensive play has been superb all season. Matt Jones writes about it for CBSSports.com, but first, he describes the Buckeyes' offense:

While much has been written about Jared Sullinger’s domination inside, it is Ohio State’s secondary options that make it difficult to contain. Double team Sullinger and you risk William Buford and Jon Diebler crushing your spirits from three point land. Extend your defense to the arc and you are vulnerable to Deshaun Thomas cutting to the rim. Play straight up defense and Aaron Craft drops a dime that leads to an easy lay-up. No defensive strategy has been able to shut down the Buckeye attack and it isn’t even clear which is most effective.

 

Buckeyes banter

What was expected to be a tight game was over almost immediately, by Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star.

Ohio State's romp erases any doubt that the Buckeyes are the nation's best team, by Dana O'Neil for ESPN.com.

The Buckeyes pose so many problems for their opponents, by Jeff Washburn for Sports Illustrated's SI.com.

Don't yet compare this team to the Buckeyes' juggernauts of Jerry Lucas and John Havlicek, cautions Bob Hunter of the Columbus Dispatch.

Ohio State-Purdue game story, by Jeff Washburn of the Indianapolis Star.

The Buckeyes prove they're as good as their ranking, by Bob Baptist of the Columbus Dispatch.

Ohio State-Purdue game story, by Bob Finnan for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

Purdue gets a reality check, by Andy Katz of ESPN.com.

 

 

 

Orange football standout Nate Terhune selects Kent State University

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Orange, Ohio - Orange defensive end Nate Terhune thought he was going to have a difficult time picking his college. "I did until I got down to Kent State," he said. "There's a real close bond between the players and the new coaching staff. It's all one team and they're bringing everyone in as a family. I think they're...

Orange defensive end Nate Terhune gave Kent State an oral commitment after also considering Ball State, Northern Illinois and Cincinnati. - (Courtesy of Kent State University)

Orange, Ohio - Orange defensive end Nate Terhune thought he was going to have a difficult time picking his college.

"I did until I got down to Kent State," he said. "There's a real close bond between the players and the new coaching staff. It's all one team and they're bringing everyone in as a family. I think they're headed in the right direction."

Terhune (6-4, 230) gave Kent an oral commitment after also considering Ball State, Northern Illinois and Cincinnati. Division II Wooster also was interested. Nate's brother, Dan, was a second-team All-American as a junior for Wooster last fall.

Terhune is a solid pass rusher who had 118 tackles, 79 assists, 16 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. He knocked down 13 passes and blocked five kicks/punts. A highlight was a 21-tackle, three-sack game against Chagrin Falls.

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