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Penn State scandal: Louis Freeh, former FBI director, named by university to oversee internal investigation

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Freeh says his inquiry into the child sex-abuse allegations against former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky will go as far back as 1975.

freeh-tomalis-frazier.jpgFormer FBI director Louis Freeh (left) answers questions as Ron Tomalis (center), vice chairman of the Penn State special committee, and committee chairman Ken Frazier (right) stand nearby during a news conference announcing that Freeh will lead an investigation into allegations against former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania -- Former FBI director Louis Freeh, tapped to lead Penn State's investigation into the child sex-abuse allegations against a former assistant football coach, said his inquiry will go as far back as 1975, a much longer period than a grand jury report issued earlier this month.

Freeh was named Monday to oversee the university board of trustees' internal investigation into the abuse allegations that ultimately led to the ouster of longtime football coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier.

Freeh said his goal was to conduct a comprehensive, fair and quick review. His team of former FBI agents, federal prosecutors and others has already begun the process of reading the grand jury report and looking at records.

"We will immediately report any evidence of criminality to law enforcement authorities," said Freeh, who has no connection to Penn State.

Penn State has faced criticism since announcing that its internal investigation would be led by two university trustees: Kenneth Frazier, the CEO of pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., Inc., and Ronald Tomalis, the state secretary of education.

Faculty members on Friday called for an independent investigation of how the university handled abuse allegations, and the faculty senate endorsed a resolution asking for an independent investigation.

In announcing Freeh's appointment, Frazier stressed the former FBI director's independence. Freeh will be empowered to investigate employees up to and including the board of trustees itself, Frazier said.

"No one is above scrutiny," Frazier said. "He has complete rein to follow any lead, to look into every corner of the university to get to the bottom of what happened and then to make recommendations that will help ensure that it never happens again."

Freeh said he had been assured there would be "no favoritism." He called that assurance "the main condition of my engagement."

Former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky is accused of molesting eight boys over a 15-year period beginning in the mid-1990s. Authorities say some assaults happened on campus and were reported to administrators but not to police.

Authorities say Sandusky, who retired from Penn State in 1999, met the children through The Second Mile, a youth charity that he started in 1977. By going back as far as 1975, Freeh's investigation would cover the entire time The Second Mile has existed and 24 of the 30 years that Sandusky worked at Penn State.

Amid the scandal, Penn State's trustees ousted Spanier and Paterno. The trustees said Spanier and Paterno failed to act after a graduate assistant claimed he saw Sandusky sexually abusing a young boy in a campus shower in 2002.

Paterno, who has the most wins of any major college football coach, has conceded he should have done more. Spanier has said he would have reported a crime if he had suspected one had been committed.

Sandusky has said he is innocent. He has acknowledged he showered with boys but said he never molested them.

Former school administrators Tim Curley and Gary Schultz are charged with not properly alerting authorities to suspected abuse and with perjury. They maintain their innocence.

Freeh founded an investigation firm, Freeh Group International Solutions, after leading the FBI from 1993 to 2001. He previously served six years as a special agent.

After his time at the FBI, Freeh also did work for credit card giant MBNA, which has business relationships with Penn State and its alumni association. But a spokeswoman for Freeh's investigation said in a statement that work would not compromise the probe.

Freeh has "no previous personal connection to Penn State" and had no role in negotiating MBNA's longstanding business deal with the school, the statement said.

Freeh's law firm was hired to look into the bribery case involving FIFA's presidential election. In a corruption scandal, soccer's governing body banned candidate Mohamed bin Hammam for life for bribing voters, banned 11 Caribbean soccer leaders and disciplined others.

Freeh said he spoke with Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly on Sunday night and was determined not to interfere with the ongoing criminal case. A spokesman for Kelly said she was aware of the Penn State trustees' special committee, but declined comment about it.

Gov. Tom Corbett called Freeh's selection "a good one," noting his familiarity with grand juries and the role of prosecutors.

Rod Erickson, Penn State's new president, also lauded the selection. He vowed complete cooperation and said Freeh's findings "will prompt immediate actions for which I will remain responsible."

Freeh will report to a special committee comprised of six university trustees; Dan Hagen, chair of the university's faculty senate; Rodney Hughes, a doctoral student in higher education at Penn State; and retired Air Force Col. and astronaut Guion Bluford, a 1964 Penn State graduate.

Officials also announced that anyone who has information related to the probe can contact investigators at a telephone hotline -- 855-290-3382 -- and a special email address, PSUhelp(at)freehgroup.com.

Meanwhile, Penn State police have referred a report of an indecent assault at an outdoor swimming pool building to the attorney general's office.

A police log noted the report referred to an incident that occurred sometime between June 1, 2000, and Aug. 30, 2000. The report was made to campus police Wednesday and was noted on Thursday's police log.

When asked if the report was related to allegations against Sandusky, Penn State police chief Tyrone Parham said Monday: "We can never describe anything related to a victim or suspect."

State open records laws do not require Penn State to release the full police report.

A state lawmaker who represents the State College area said he was sponsoring a bill that would reverse the exemption -- which currently applies to Penn State and three other universities that rely heavily on state funding but are independently run.

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff said a "more open climate" might prevent future scandals.


Cleveland Browns News and Notes following win over Jaguars (video)

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Cleveland Browns News and Notes following their 14 - 10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Cleveland Browns Stadium Sunday. Hosted by Plain Dealer Cleveland Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot. Watch video


The goal line stand by the Cleveland Browns defense as time expired highlighted their 14 - 10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Cleveland Browns Stadium Sunday.

Running back Chris Ogbonnaya had the best day of his career when he ran for over 100 yards and scored his first touchdown.

Quarterback Colt McCoy recovered from a red zone interception and led the team to a touchdown to Joshua Cribbs on the next drive.

Hosted by Plain Dealer Cleveland Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot.

To reach this Plain Dealer videographer: dandersen@plaind.com

On Twitter: @CLEvideos

Ohio State-Michigan offers a big stage for the biggest heroics: Bill Livingston

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"The Game" in the Big House -- the lore of the greatest rivalry in college football is just waiting for new memories to be made.

troy-smith-osu-mich-05-horiz-cc.jpgView full sizeA year before his Heisman Trophy, Troy Smith was the player for whom Michigan had no answer, as he led the Buckeyes to a comeback victory in Ann Arbor in 2005.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State-Michigan in the Big House is the perfect forum for a conference devoted to spectacle. The Big Ten promises players a big stage and a big life. Saturday, everyone in Ann Arbor will be living large.

This is our shared epic, both in The Heart of It All and Up North.

Woody Hayes spoke the very word "Michigan" only under duress, preferring the compass designation, "That School Up North." As in north to Alaska. Or, in this case, north to unfounded arrogance and ugly helmets.

Brady Hoke, the new Michigan coach, has had a transformative effect on a downtrodden program not seen since the early days of Bo Schembechler. Hoke calls Ohio State "Ohio," which means schedules possibly are being frantically re-worked in the Hocking Valley right now.

Linguistic snubs aside, most of the players at both schools come from within a 250-mile radius of each other and grew up with tales of Bo and Woody and the 10-Year War. No first names were needed. They were like Elvis.

"It's the greatest rivalry in college football," said Ohio State left tackle Mike Adams, "and we don't want to be the ones who break the streak."

The streak is seven straight victories on the field by the Buckeyes, although last year's was vacated by the player-ineligibility scandal, which cost coach Jim Tressel his job.

Asked what he was doing, what music he was listening to, what thoughts he was entertaining on Nov. 22, 2003, when Michigan last beat Ohio State, Adams said, "I was in the eighth grade, probably listening to Nelly."

"The Game" is definitely bigger than Nelly. Still, true to the music, "Hot in Here" will probably apply Saturday to the competitive nature of the teams, regardless of the weather. Michigan is favored by a touchdown.

"The Game" has never been played for some relic commemorating pioneer times, like the Little Brown Jug or the Old Oaken Bucket, much less for kitschy knick-knack like the Illibuck or Floyd of Rosedale trophies.



Ohio State-Michigan in November was the Run for the Roses, every bit as much as the horse race is in Kentucky in May. The prize was New Year's Day, away from the snow and short days, off to a Beach Boys world of eternal sunshine, where life was a bed of roses. Primitive football on the ground was the only way to seize it.

Those days are gone, and so might be the long reign of Ohio State. It has been 2,922 days, as of Tuesday, eight years exactly, since the last Michigan victory. Gone for sure is the Michigan disarray that was evident under Hoke's predecessor, Rich Rodriguez. So are Tressel and his pet former quarterback, Terrelle Pryor.

Michigan is out of the Big Ten title picture. But with its huge following and its electrifying quarterback, Denard Robinson, a.k.a. "Shoelace," Michigan is playing for one of the BCS bowl bids Ohio State had claimed for the previous six seasons.



Ohio State is even further out of contention, but the Buckeyes are bowl-eligible, if the sanction-scarred program gets the NCAA's OK. However, it will take quite an effort by Ohio State's answer to Robinson, Braxton Miller, to spring the upset. That would secure a bid to one of the less objectionable small bowls that pepper the end of the calendar year.

"The records don't matter, the past doesn't matter," said OSU defensive coordinator Jim Heacock.

Head coach Luke Fickell chimed in too with the usual talk of a "one-game season."

A blank slate is a nice idea, although it has traditionally been more applicable to Ohio State fans than those at Michigan. Wolverines fans don't care if Ohio State goes 11-and-1, as long as Michigan goes 12-and-0 and beats Ohio State. Buckeyes fans want to grind Michigan into maize -- the cornmeal, not the color.

Few Buckeye teams have been more in need of a do-over than this one, though. So the one-game season is an inspirational idea whose time has come this week. "The Game" magnifies some players, diminishes others, and leaves none who play in it unchanged.



This is "The Game" of Anthony Gonzalez's catch and Charles Woodson's end zone interception of Stanley Jackson, of Tom Klaban's field goals and Mike Lantry's misses, of Shawn Springs' slip and Tim Biakabutuka's 313 yards rushing, of Woody's try for two extra points and Bo's revenge the next year, of Desmond Howard's punt return and Heisman Trophy pose and Troy Smith's Heisman-clinching performance.

Like some of his teammates, Adams lost several games' worth of memories this season due to his own misdeeds. Saturday will be the fifth anniversary of the weekend that made him a Buckeye. That was in 2006, the third act of Troy Smith's Michigan trilogy, when Ohio State beat No. 2 Michigan, 42-39, one day after Schembechler's sudden death.

When the fans poured onto the field at the end of the game, Adams, who was being recruited by OSU, ran with the pack. "I saw fans tearing up chunks of the grass. I talked to Coach Tress and saw how much he cared. It was something I'll never forget," Adams said.

Win or lose, every player who walks onto the field Saturday can become part of the communal story. Because of Michigan's drought and Ohio State's turmoil, the memories made will have long expiration dates.

On Twitter: @LivyPD

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals: Who will win and by how much? Poll

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Bengals are 6-4, Browns are 4-6. Cincinnati won at Cleveland, 27-17, in the season opener.

pat-shurmur-colt-mccoy.jpgBrowns coach Pat Shurmur (second coach from left) and quarterback Colt McCoy (12) near the end of Cleveland's 27-17 Opening Day loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.



CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns are 4-6, and now things get really tough.



The Browns' wins are over four teams with a combined record of 10-30, or 10-26 not counting their losses to Cleveland.



Now, though, of the Browns' six remaining games, four are on the road, and five are against tough AFC North rivals Pittsburgh (7-3), Baltimore (7-3) and Cincinnati (6-4).



Cleveland plays the Steelers and Ravens twice each. The Browns play the Bengals in Cincinnati on Sunday. The teams met in the season opener, the Bengals posting a 27-17 win, as The Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi reported in his game story.



The Browns' game results this season: 27-17 loss to Cincinnati; 27-19 win at Indianapolis; 17-16 win over Miami; 31-13 loss to Tennessee; 24-17 loss at Oakland; 6-3 win over Seattle; 20-10 loss at San Francisco; 30-12 loss at Houston; 13-12 loss to St. Louis; 14-10 win over Jacksonville.



The Bengals' game results: 27-17 win at Cleveland; 24-22 loss at Denver; 13-8 loss to San Francisco; 23-20 win over Buffalo; 30-20 win at Jacksonville; 27-17 win over Indianapolis; 34-12 win at Seattle; 24-17 win at Tennessee; 24-17 loss to Pittsburgh; 31-24 loss at Baltimore.



The Browns-Bengals series began in 1970, the first season of the National Football League's merger with the American Football League. The teams have been in the same American Football Conference division ever since (except for 1996-98, when Cleveland didn't have a team after the original Browns' move to Baltimore): first the AFC Central, then, beginning in 2002, the AFC North.



The Bengals were founded by the late Paul Brown, who coached the Browns from their inception in 1946 through the 1962 season, when he was fired by owner Art Modell. Paul Brown's Bengals began play in the old AFL in 1968, and were coached by Brown through the 1975 campaign. Brown's son, Mike, is the Bengals' owner.



Cleveland.com's Browns History Database includes Plain Dealer game stories on every regular season and playoff game in Browns history, through 2010.



Links to every Plain Dealer Browns-Bengals game story are found on this page, then this page, then this page.



Given the history of things, the first regular season meeting between the teams was anticipated as one of the highlights of the 1970 NFL schedule. The game lived up to the hype. The Plain Dealer's Chuck Heaton wrote about the Browns' 30-27 win over the Bengals on Oct. 11, 1970 at Cleveland Stadium. (Some typos exist in the re-publication of the story. For instance, Browns' quarterback Bill Nelsen was 17 of 29 passing, not 17 of 19).




Cleveland Cavaliers lose video production director to WWE

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Jonny Greco and his staff have won three regional Emmys and three national industry-insider awards.

Cavaliers' 2010-11 pregame video opening at The Q



CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers are losing one of their most valuable game-night contributors, a highlight maker whose work is respected throughout the NBA.

Jonny Greco, the video production director renown for the team's pre-game introductions and spoofs, is leaving the organization to take a job with World Wrestling Entertainment. Greco, 32 and his staff have won three regional Emmys and three national industry-insider awards. Not a bad haul for someone who worked just seven seasons for The Q.

Although fans might not know his name or face, almost any regular to The Q for Cavaliers or Lake Erie Monsters games would recognize his scoreboard productions that included mock interventions for Boston Celtics fans and Candid Camera parodies featuring "Puff" Dog.

"Cleveland's game entertainment has been very strong over the past several years, and ... Jonny Greco has had a huge role in that success," NBA director of live programming Mike Chant said. "His creativity, technical knowledge, leadership, and passion for the Cavs was evident."

Greco said his decision was not NBA lockout-related. His wife, Amanda Greco, remains on staff as senior director of game presentation. In his new job, he will travel three days a week enhancing video for pro wrestling shows.

"People in creative positions don't sit still well," Greco said. "I'm just looking forward to a new challenge."

The work is truly a collaborative effort, he said, and Greco believes his staff will continue to produce quality shows. A.J. Johnson, a staff member for seven years, will replace Greco.

"This is such a strong, inspired group," Greco said. "There's no doubt they will take it to another level."

As AFC North gantlet arrives, Cleveland Browns finding signs of improvement

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The Browns have shown signs of life over the past few weeks that should give some hope for a daunting final stretch. Watch video

ogbonnaya-runs-jags-jg.jpgView full sizeWith 205 rushing yards in two games, Chris Ogbonnaya has solidified a role in the Browns backfield, regardless of the eventual return of Montario Hardesty and Peyton Hillis, says Pat Shurmur.

BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns have finally hit that rough patch in the schedule with five AFC North opponents over the final six weeks. But they've shown signs of life in at least four areas over the last few games that should help during this grueling stretch.

"Right now, we have divisional play and it's up to us to go out and choose if we want to go and take advantage of it or not," said cornerback Dimitri Patterson. "We have the opportunity and the power to kind of control our own future."

The final six games begin with a visit to Cincinnati (6-4) on Sunday, followed by Baltimore (7-3) at home, at Pittsburgh (7-3), at Arizona (3-7), at Baltimore and home against Pittsburgh.

"We've got another six games to go and it can go the right way or the wrong way," said linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. "These next few weeks are important."

With that in mind, here's what the Browns can be encouraged about:

1. Obie to the rescue: Suddenly, the Browns have a running game, courtesy of scrappy newcomer Chris Ogbonnaya, who was plucked off the Texans' practice squad Oct. 18. Ogbonnaya rushed for 115 yards on 21 carries against the Jaguars for a 5.5 average. It was the first 100-yard rushing performance by a Brown this season despite guys named Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty on the roster.

Ogbonnaya ripped off a 40-yard blast and earlier scored his first career touchdown.

"He hasn't been here that long, but he's a really smart guy," said left tackle Joe Thomas. "He's one of the smarter running backs I've been around because he understands the scheme and he gets better and stronger every week."

Over the past two weeks, Ogbonnaya has 205 rushing yards, at 5.125 per carry. He's improved so much in the month he's been here that coach Pat Shurmur has promised to play him when Hardesty and Hillis return.

"Chris has been very productive and he's done things for our team that will warrant him playing, at least some when our other guys come back," said Shurmur. "It's a good problem to have."

Shurmur said he's still being cautious with Hardesty (calf) for this week and is still hopeful that Hillis can return sometime this season from his pulled hamstring. In the meantime, Obie's been the man.

2. McCoy's getting it: The lights have been coming on for quarterback Colt McCoy over the past two weeks, as he's been efficient in the West Coast offense. Against the Rams and Jaguars, he's completed 72.5 percent of his passes, with ratings of 97.5 and 92.2. Those ratings came after McCoy was in the 70s or below six times this season. He's elevated his QB rating from 27th in the NFL (76.5) to 22nd (79.2).

"That's good," said Shurmur. "[McCoy and the receivers] are getting more and more comfortable with each other. The timing is important and the practices have been really efficient."

McCoy hit receivers in stride in back-to-back weeks for plays of 52 yards to Greg Little and 51 to Jordan Norwood. He's gutted it out through some really hard hits, including two to his shoulder against the Jaguars.

"I'm getting a strong appreciation for how tough he is," said Shurmur. "That's the cornerstone of what makes a good football player."

McCoy threw a red zone pick against the Jaguars, but came back with a TD pass to Josh Cribbs on the next drive.

"There's some areas where he's exerting himself more," said Shurmur. "Starting the year, Colt was a rookie. I see he's getting it."

3. O-line improving: The offensive line has taken plenty of heat for letting McCoy get hit, but it's been playing better and the offense in general has done a better job of picking up the blitz.

"Maybe three or four weeks ago they were saying, 'let's blitz him, blitz him, blitz him because they can't get the ball out or they're not getting the protection,'" said Thomas. "Whatever the problem is, they were getting home on some blitzes. So they kind of amped it up. We're starting to pick those up, so they have to back off."

It couldn't have come at a better time.

"We're going to play a team this week that's going to come after us, the Bengals," said Shurmur. "It's very, very important to block the blitz."

It's no secret young guards Shawn Lauvao and Jason Pinkston have had some growing pains, but Shurmur praised right guard Lauvao in particular for his performance against the Jaguars.

"I think he played his best game," said Shurmur. "If I had to single one guy out, it's probably Shawn Lauvao -- and again amongst the guys I thought that all played pretty well together."

The improved running game helped.

"That's given us a lot of confidence," said Lauvao.

4. How 'bout that defense? Thanks in no small part to Sunday's goal-line stand against the Jaguars, the defense has given up an average of 11.5 points over the past two games. Overall, they've climbed to seventh in scoring defense, at 19.3 -- the most important stat for a defense. They're also No. 5 in total defense and No. 1 against the pass.

"Defensively we've had resiliency all year," said Patterson. "And if the game's been put in our hands to win, we've shown up. We felt confident coming in that we can shut anybody out when we need to. We showed that again. It just shows our resiliency and our confidence and our mental toughness to the situation."

The Browns are eighth in red zone defense, allowing 12 TDs in 28 trips.

"A lot of teams don't just walk the ball in on us," said Jackson. "For some reason we tend to play a little bit better down there. If we're going to be a good team, when a play is up there to be made we have to make it and we did that [Sunday]."

But everyone knows what's looming.

"We've got a tough road ahead of us once we hit this division and we've got to continue to get better," said Jackson. "We've got to continue to work and it's not going to get any easier at this point."

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

Three CVC coaches leading their state semifinalists the right way: Tim Warsinskey's Take

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"We demand kids look at academics first," said a proud Aurora coach Bob Mihalik, including the football programs at Chagrin Falls and Kirtland as well. "When you're talking about three schools that are as good as they are academically, you have to do that."

iammarino-cfalls-horiz-jk.jpgView full sizeChagrin Falls' Mark Iammarino is one of three Chagrin Valley Conference coaches guiding teams into this week's state semifinals.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Chagrin Falls is one game away from its third consecutive state final, a feat just three public schools have accomplished.

Aurora is one victory shy of its second state final in four years.

After knocking on the regional final door three times in four years, Kirtland broke through last week and joins its Chagrin Valley Conference brethren in the state football semifinals this week.

The CVC has become Greater Cleveland's version of the Midwest Athletic Conference, which is home of Coldwater and Delphos St. John's and widely regarded as Ohio's best football league (20 state titles). The CVC trio's recent success -- a combined 28-8 playoff record, one state title and two runner-up finishes since 2008 -- is no surprise when considering the remarkably similar men leading each program, and the supportive districts they represent.

There's something a little bit different about Chagrin Falls' Mark Iammarino, Aurora's Bob Mihalik and Kirtland's Tiger LaVerde. It begins with their somewhat unusual day jobs -- for football coaches. Iammarino is a guidance counselor, Mihalik a ninth-grade English teacher and LaVerde teaches advance-placement calculus and advanced-placement statistics. All three schools are rated among the state's best academically.

"We all demand our kids do things the right way," said Mihalik, who guided Aurora to a 2008 state title. "We demand kids look at academics first. When you're talking about three schools that are as good as they are academically, you have to do that."

The coaches share positive, upbeat demeanors, especially with kids. They also have very similar football philosophies, which is reflected in their fundamentally sound, well-prepared and well-behaved teams.

"We demand kids do the little things the right way and we teach those things are important in life, not just football," Mihalik said of all three CVC teams.

Even with a 302-117 combined career record, none of the three coaches thinks he has figured out football. They remain in a constant cycle of learning and teaching.

"I know Bob and Tiger pretty well, and they really focus in the off-season on learning as much football as much as they can," said Iammarino, whose 40 wins in the last three seasons is the most in Ohio. "We believe our kids are strong academic kids and they can handle a lot, so we can do different things and be fairly complex."

The three coaches are fortunate to work in extremely supportive communities that vote for levies and bond issues, contribute to booster clubs, buy tickets and send their boys to public schools.

"These are great kids that come from great families who raised them to be disciplined, to behave and be enthusiastic," LaVerde said.

Playoffs require an added level of discipline, especially at Chagrin Falls this year. The Tigers are trying to deflect talk about winning a state title after losing two straight championship games. The only schools that have accomplished that feat are Cincinnati Moeller in 1982 and Mogadore in 2002.

"We really try to take every situation and apply that to life, and our message this year has been focusing on the task as hand, because when you come off the field, everyone wants to talk about the third one, even as early as last July," Iammarino said.

Iammarino said he's watched and learned how to prepare from consistent playoff performers such as Solon and St. Ignatius. But at this point, it is everyone else who now can learn from Iammarino, Mihalik and LaVerde. Theirs is the model public districts can follow by supporting their school systems, their athletic programs and finally, the coaches who've earned it.

On Twitter: @TimsTakePD

Cleveland State's D'Aundray Brown, Kent State's Michael Porrini are high-energy leaders

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Cleveland State's D'Aundray Brown and Kent State's Mike Porrini elevate their teammates -- and sometimes themselves -- above their limitations.

porrini-ksu-drives-vert-ap.jpgView full size"If I don't win, my team doesn't win, we get looked at as losers," says KSU's Michael Porrini. "I can't allow that to happen."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In basketball, they call certain qualities "intangibles," concepts such as team chemistry and basketball IQ.

But there is another on that list as well, perhaps above them all: "The will to win."

The players who have it, like Cleveland State's D'Aundray Brown and Kent State's Mike Porrini, can somehow elevate their teammates -- and sometimes themselves -- above their limitations.

When Cleveland State (3-0) travels to play at Kent State (2-0) Tuesday night, the difference over 40 minutes, or perhaps over one critical four-second stretch, could be the will to win like that regularly displayed by seniors Brown and Porrini.

"I love the game," the 6-4 Brown said as he gave his definition of the will to win. "I'm very passionate about that. I don't want to accept anything else but a win. I take losing personally. It's like going after a loose ball. It's something I have to have. There are people who would 'like to,' people who 'want to' and people who've 'got to.'"

Clearly, Brown puts himself in the last category, much the same as Porrini.

"That's all that goes through my mind," the 6-0 Porrini said. "Sometimes you feel you have to take a game over, but that does not have to mean offense. You can do it defensively, you can do it by making sure your teammates are in the best position to score.

"I believe my mentality allows me to be physical with the way I compete, whether it's practice or a game. I hate losing, and I can't settle for it. If I do lose, the only way to make me feel better is to go out the next game and win."

The nature of the game dictates there will be a winner and a loser. So when two players with a like mentality play against each other, they both know the stakes and the challenge ahead before tipoff. They see themselves across the midcourt line.

"My goal is to be the hardest-playing player on the floor," said Brown, a product of Youngstown. "If I feel someone is playing harder than me, I won't let that happen in the first place. You can identify it, but I try to match it."

Coaches admit that not everybody has the will to win at the extreme level that Brown and Porrini have. Players can summon the quality for a half, or a game, but to carry it for a season of ups and downs, wins and losses, aches and pains, is a rare gift. It's a gift that can be the difference between a bad team and a good team, or between good and great.

"Those are the kind of guys who make your program," CSU coach Gary Waters said.

csu-brown-practice-horiz-to.jpgView full size"My goal is to be the hardest-playing player on the floor," says D'Aundray Brown. "If I feel someone is playing harder than me, I won't let that happen in the first place."

"Quite often they are not your best players, per se," Kent coach Rob Senderoff said. "But if they can't shoot, when you need them to make a shot, they make a shot; maybe they can't jump, but when you need a rebound they get a rebound. And even when a guy has beaten them all game, when you need a stop, they get the stop."

It is a unique quality, and both players take pride in their ability to display their version of the will to win.

"This is not personal, this is my business," Porrini said. "Basketball at Kent State is my job. If I don't win, my team doesn't win, we get looked at as losers. I can't allow that to happen. When somebody lines up against me with the same mindset and goals, I turn it up another notch, just as I'm sure they do."


Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Wolverines: Who will win and by how much? Poll

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Buckeyes are 6-5, Wolverines are 9-2.

dan-herron2.jpgOhio State's Dan Herron running with the football last Nov. 27 against Michigan. Herron rushed for 175 yards and a touchdown as the Buckeyes routed the Wolverines, 37-7. The victory was vacated, however, as a result of Ohio State's memorabilia for tattoos/cash scandal.



CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio State's Buckeyes visit Michigan's Wolverines on Saturday.



The Plain Dealer's Bill Livingston writes about the Buckeyes-Wolverines rivalry, one of the most tradition-laden in college football. Plain Dealer Ohio State beat writer Doug Lesmerises leads Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage.



Also, Mlive.com, the website for a Plain Dealer sister newspaper, the Ann Arbor News, and for other Michigan newspapers, features in its Wolverines coverage the lead-up to Saturday's game.



Ohio State routed Michigan, 37-7, last Nov. 27 in Ohio Stadium, as Doug Lesmerises described in his game story. That would count as the Buckeyes' seventh straight win over Michigan. Ohio State, however, vacated all of its 12 wins (against one loss) from last season as a result of the memorabilia for tattoos/cash scandal.



The roles for the teams have switched over the last several months. Now, Michigan, 9-2 and ranked 17th in the nation, appears on its way back to national prominence, and a bid to a major bowl could be at stake for the Wolverines on Saturday. Brady Hoke, in his first season at the job, seems, for now, to be the long-term answer as the team's coach.



Meanwhile, the Buckeyes, who have played in three of the last nine national championship games -- winning one -- are in at least temporary reverse. They are 6-5, hamstrung this season by the scandal that led to the forced resignation of coach Jim Tressel, the premature departure of quarterback Terrelle Pryor and multiple-game suspensions for several key players.



Now, too, interim coach Luke Fickell works to keep the Buckeyes together amidst rumors that the university will hire Urban Meyer -- who led Florida to two national titles -- as the next coach.



Ohio State's game results this season: 42-0 win over Akron; 27-22 win over Toledo; 24-6 loss at Miami (Fla.); 37-17 win over Colorado; 10-7 loss to Michigan State; 34-27 loss at Nebraska; 17-7 win at Illinois; 33-29 win over Wisconsin; 34-20 win over Indiana; 26-23 loss at Purdue; 20-14 loss to Penn State.



Michigan's game results: 34-10 win over Western Michigan; 35-31 win over Notre Dame; 31-3 win over Eastern Michigan; 28-7 win over San Diego State; 58-0 win over Minnesota; 42-24 win at Northwestern; 28-14 loss at Michigan State; 36-14 win over Purdue; 16-14 loss at Iowa; 31-14 win at Illinois; 45-17 win over Nebraska.




ESPN keeping Urban Meyer out of broadcast booth in Ann Arbor: Ohio State Insider

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Urban Meyer won't broadcast Ohio State-Michigan on Saturday, while his regular broadcast partners will, as the former Florida coach says he'll have a decision to make if an OSU offer comes.

Coach Urban Meyer has deep roots in OhioView full sizeUrban Meyer won't be pointing at a television monitor in Ann Arbor on Saturday, as he'll be working in ESPN's studios in Connecticut instead of being with normal broadcast partners Dave Pasch and Chris Spielman.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Urban Meyer started the regular season with Ohio State, but he won't end it with the Buckeyes.

The former Florida coach creating a lot of OSU talk in recent days won't broadcast the Ohio State-Michigan game for ESPN/ABC on Saturday, though his regular broadcasting partners Dave Pasch and Chris Spielman will be on the call. Meyer did help broadcast the Buckeyes' opener this season against Akron.

"We felt the studio in Bristol was the best place for him given the many storylines and top matchups going on in college football this weekend," ESPN said in a statement. The game will be shown on WEWS Ch. 5 in Northeast Ohio.

OK. Or it could be that putting Meyer in the booth would just be too intriguing, or too awkward. There is mutual interest between Ohio State and Meyer about coaching the Buckeyes in 2012. In a story published in the Gainesville Sun on Monday, Meyer said he has not been offered the job.

"I'm in a good place right now mentally and physically. So if something happens with Ohio State, I'll have a decision to make. But there has been no interview. There has been no offer to make a decision about," Meyer told the paper. "If there is a decision to be made concerning Ohio State, there will be a lot that will go into it. But right now, there is no decision to be made."

New linebacker duo: What appears to be the Buckeyes' most effective linebacker duo could take field for the first time this season against Michigan. In last week's loss to Penn State, freshman Ryan Shazier made the first start of his career, filling in for senior Andrew Sweat, and led the Buckeyes with 15 tackles. Now, Sweat believes he'll be back after leaving the Purdue game two weeks ago with a concussion.

Sweat thinks he suffered his concussion on a hit in practice the Wednesday before that game, but didn't tell anyone about it. A minor hit in the first quarter against Purdue then brought the symptoms to light, as he walked unsteadily to the locker room, admitting it was a scary feeling to not know what was wrong. But he said Monday he feels much better than he did at this time last week.

"I expect to play, but ultimately that's up to the doctors," Sweat said.

If he does, it could be with Shazier, not instead of him. Sweat's needed experience in helping the defense get aligned and making sound plays, along with Shazier's speed and nose for the ball, look like the best combo to stop Michigan, with linebackers Storm Klein and Etienne Sabino spending more time on the bench. Both Shazier and Sweat are weakside linebackers, but Sweat could move to middle linebacker without a problem. Tyler Moeller would remain the star, or fifth defensive back, on the field instead of a true third linebacker.

"Ryan's an unbelievable playmaker and a special talent," Sweat said. "Obviously that's up to the coaches. But I'm fully capable of playing [the middle]. If the coaches think that's the best tandem to go on the field, then I'd be all for that."

Defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said the idea of playing Shazier and Sweat together had been gaining steam before Sweat's injury.

"Yeah, that's a good idea. We've talked about that. We talked about going that route before Andrew got hurt," Heacock said. "But it didn't work out that way."

Playing Shazier has been mentioned by the coaches all season. Finally, their hand was forced.

"[The delay was] probably a freshman just learning the system and [us] not really feeling like he was quite ready," Heacock said. "He was a little bit behind, but gradually we kept saying, 'He has to play more.' Obviously he's very talented."

Obviously, Shazier and Sweat are the best tandem to give the OSU defense its best shot.

Inexperience is a challenge still shadowing Ohio State's defense entering Michigan Week

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Jim Heacock's concerns from the preseason remain today. His fears about replacing seven senior starters from last season were realized.

simon-osu-sacks-wilson-horiz-mf.jpgView full sizeWhile John Simon has been steady throughout the 2011 season -- as Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson learned on this sack -- the same can't be said for the rest of an Ohio State defense that has lacked experience.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Play after play, Jim Heacock knows what he'll get from a player like John Simon. Not knowing what he'll get from the rest of his defense is what's driving the Ohio State defensive coordinator crazy this season.

Eleven games into the season, with Michigan remaining on Saturday, the coach with 41 years in the business isn't going to suddenly find the answers. Missed tackles and giving up third-down conversions have been continued issues.

Heacock's concerns from the preseason remain today. His fears about replacing seven senior starters from last season were realized. Add in a knee injury in the season opener that cost the Buckeyes senior defensive end Nathan Williams, and the defense lost more experience and confidence.

They've never gotten it back.

"We just don't have a real confident group right now," Heacock said Monday. "You're probably not going to when you have four or five freshmen out there and some young guys. When something goes wrong or it doesn't look real good at a particular time, they kind of panic a little bit.

"I think that's where if you had some of those guys we had last year, they would take care of it and be fine and everything would be all right."

A year ago, seven defenders had more than 20 career starts entering the Michigan game. Now it's just Simon, with 24. While off-season NCAA problems cost the Buckeyes Jim Tressel, their head coach and offensive game-planner; their starting quarterback in Terrelle Pryor; and a total of 21 missed games in suspensions for three other offensive starters (DeVier Posey, Dan Herron and Mike Adams), these defensive problems had nothing to do with that.

Graduation, injuries, the lack of development by a few players and a couple transfers have dropped the defense a notch below the level they've come to expect.

"They were great leaders, and they were players," Heacock said of those seniors. "There was a bunch of playmakers. To me, to be a good defense you better have seven or eight playmakers, guys who can go out and make that big play."

This season, that number has been more like four or five, if that. Simon has been among them, but Heacock has noticed offenses now gearing their blocking toward Simon the last several weeks to take him out of the game. Johnathan Hankins demands attention on the defensive line as well, but without another obvious pass rusher opposite Simon, like Williams would have been, there's not much the Buckeyes can do.

"Nate threw a wrench in things," Heacock said. "I think losing Nate Williams probably hurt us schematically as much as anybody, just because we had high hopes for him to be the opposite side of Johnny Simon."

Heacock said that Simon has been frustrated lately.

"Not so frustrated about the production, but frustrated about the way we're playing and he feels like he should do more to help it," he said. "He's very motivated. He wants to do it as good as it can be done. He's a little bit concerned."

"We definitely hold ourselves to a high standard. At Ohio State, the standard is winning," Simon said. "When you don't win for a little bit, it's disappointing. But no one is walking around with their heads down."

Heacock said Simon has responded by spending even more time at the football facility and even more time watching film.

"He's the hardest worker I've ever coached, period," Heacock said. "You can't work harder than he does. He's over here, he's in the weight room or he's in the video room or he's in class, I hope."

The problems with the defense aren't something that can just be worked out at this point in the year. Linebacker Andrew Sweat, one of two senior starters on the defense along with Tyler Moeller, thinks he'll be able to play against the Wolverines after sitting out with a concussion last week. That should help.

But there aren't a lot of other veteran defenders walking through the door.

Ohio State sleepwalks to lopsided basketball victory over North Florida, 85-50

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The No. 3-ranked Buckeyes looked dozy on defense in the first half of Monday night's game against North Florida.

sullinger-dunk-nofla-vert-ap.jpgView full sizeJared Sullinger had no challengers to prevent this second-half dunk against North Florida Monday night in Columbus. Sullinger led the Buckeyes with 27 points and 13 rebounds.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It is the week of the meek for the Ohio State men's basketball team -- three opponents in a five-day span who don't scare anyone except detail-obsessed coaches like Thad Matta.

North Florida, Virginia Military Institute and Valparaiso are no threat on the scoreboard, but they can create bad habits all over the court. Sure enough, the No. 3-ranked Buckeyes looked dozy on defense in the first half of Monday night's game against North Florida. The Ospreys got to the basket too easily, driving past OSU defenders who looked like they had wandered in from an NBA lockout charity game.

The Buckeyes raised the intensity just enough to earn an 85-50 win before 12,522 fans in Value City Arena.

They received a 27-point, 13-rebound effort from sophomore Jared Sullinger and converted 23 Osprey turnovers into easy baskets. Still, Matta was having to reinsert three starters, including Sullinger, midway through the second half to subdue an inferior opponent.

The Buckeyes improved to 4-0, while the Ospreys dropped to 1-4.

“We didn’t come out with any juice or energy,” Sullinger said. “We came out there expecting to win. It was like we walked out there and said, ‘Hey, we’re Ohio State, back down.’ This team wasn’t scared. They came out ready to play and it showed in the first half.”

OSU got by on its talent and the Ospreys' lack of it.

The Buckeyes need to be sharper in the next two games as they prepare for a showdown with Duke here on Nov. 29.

“This is a mental toughness week,” Sullinger said. “We're going game, practice, game, practice, game. We have to get better. If we get worse, it’s not a good sign for this basketball team.”

The Buckeyes didn’t do anything particularly well while nevertheless winning by 35 points. They eventually wore down the Ospreys and pounded the ball inside to Sullinger and DeShaun Thomas, who contributed 16 points and six rebounds. The Buckeyes finished with 44 points in the paint on a night they shot 4-of-17 from behind the 3-point arc.

“It was kind of clicking tonight,” Thomas said. “I moved without the ball well, playing off Sully and (William Buford) and knocking down shots.

“We want to be a great 3-point shooting team, but the inside game is working well right now.”

The Buckeyes have won 99 of their last 100 games against unranked opponents in Columbus. The Ospreys certainly fit that description. North Florida has never beaten an Associated Press Top-25 team, falling to 0-11. The Buckeyes seemed determine to play down to the level of their Atlantic Sun Conference foe in the first half.

The Ospreys stayed competitive in the first half by converting high-percentage shots and receiving 15 points from their bench. North Florida was in foul trouble throughout, drawing more whistles than a short skirt in front of a construction site. The Buckeyes finished 25-of-40 at the free-throw line.

The Buckeyes finished 25-of-40 at the free-throw line. They also scored 25 points from turnovers. The club’s perimeter defense might help it get through some rough patches early in the season as it works inexperienced players into the lineup.

The transition baskets helped them finish 28-of-60 from the field.

“Any team that wants to be good on this level has to turn turnovers into easy buckets,” said Lenzelle Smith Jr., who had five assists and three steals. “Your North Carolinas and Kentuckys are like that. When they get a turnover they are scoring at the other end.”

Can high-flying NE Ohio college hoops lure fans from the locked-out NBA? Terry Pluto

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With no NBA on the horizon and a trio of successful college teams looking for fans, will those who follow the Cavaliers try something different?

Gallery preview

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland State basketball coach Gary Waters wonders if you will buy in. He means you, the basketball fan who doesn't have the Cavaliers or any NBA team to watch thanks to the pro game's massive labor problems.

He also means you, the basketball fan looking for something different, a night out that won't require a second mortgage.

Rob Senderoff has the same invitation. The Kent State coach says it starts with Tuesday night's 7:30 game when his team hosts Cleveland State.

"Think about what has already happened this season," said Senderoff. "Cleveland State won at Vanderbilt. We won at West Virginia. It's not a league game, but it's a very big game for us. It's a local rivalry, and they are a very good team."

The Vikings' 3-0 record includes that early victory over Vanderbilt, then ranked seventh in the country, and a thriller at home against St. Bonaventure of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

As Langdon Daugherty emailed: "I watched the CSU/Bonaventure game and was thoroughly entertained and impressed with the high level of play. [CSU's] D'Aundray Brown and Andrew Nicholson [St. Bonaventure] are two players who may get a look from the NBA. ... Hopefully hoop fans will support this team while the pro league tries to figure out if they wanna play this year."

Only 3,073 were at Wolstein Center on Friday. The Vikings averaged 3,112 fans last season as they were 27-9 and featured Norris Cole, a first-round pick now with the Miami Heat -- whenever the NBA gets back to business.

Kent State had 3,175 fans for its home opener, a victory over Alcorn State. The Flashes were 25-12 last season and went to the National Invitation Tournament, as did Cleveland State.

Then there's Akron, which is 2-2 and plays at Cleveland State on Dec. 10. The Zips pulled an upset at Mississippi State last week. Of the three area schools, Akron has the most recent NCAA appearance, making the tournament last spring.

Northeast Ohio's Big Three

22SGLOCHOOPS.jpgView full size

Since 1999, Akron, Kent State and CSU have combined for eight NCAA appearances and 10 NIT spots. Waters started it when he led Kent State to its first-ever NCAA appearance in 1999. He did it again in 2001. An assistant at Kent State for seven years, Senderoff is the new head coach. He follows Waters, Stan Heath, Jim Christian and Geno Ford. They combined to win at least 20 games in 12 of 13 seasons, including five trips to the NCAA tournament.

Keith Dambrot changed Akron's program when he was hired seven years ago, and has won at least 20 games in the last six seasons -- with two trips to the NCAA tournament in the last three years.

Then there's Cleveland State, another Waters' revival. In five years, he has one trip to the NCAA and two NIT appearances.

"Basketball has never been better in this area for these schools," insisted Waters.

He's absolutely, positively right. Consider that Kent State never went to the NCAA tournament until he arrived in 1999; that Akron had one NCAA appearance (1986) before Dambrot was hired in 2005; that Cleveland State had only one NCAA appearance (1986) before Waters led the Vikings to the 2009 tournament.

This is the Golden Age of basketball for the Big Three.

"It's pretty amazing when you realize that none of the three schools has incredible resources or is in a high profile conference," said Senderoff.

Kent State and Akron are in the Mid-American Conference. CSU plays in the Horizon League, where Butler has been to the Final Four in the last two seasons. Making the NCAA tournament from these leagues is a challenge because they seldom receive more than one bid per season.

Yet all three schools have made it since 2008.

On my Facebook page, Ron Brown posted: "I went to Kent State and saw some awesome games between Kent State and Akron. The Flashes program really took off after Coach Waters came. ... This game is the first time Coach Waters returns [to Kent] since he left for Rutgers [in 2002]. Cleveland State and Kent State have been on the verge of being the next Gonzaga and Butler for some time."

The same can be said for Akron.

Finding talent close to home


Anton Grady is a Cleveland kid who attended Central Catholic, where he attracted attention from Xavier, Minnesota, Dayton, Louisville and others from major conferences.

But he picked Cleveland State. Part of the reason was his uncle, NBA guard Earl Boykins, played for Waters when he was an assistant at Eastern Michigan. Boykins believes Waters is exactly the kind of coach who can develop Grady as a player and student.

"But I also wanted to show we can have big-time basketball right here," said Grady. "Cleveland State has already been playing in big games, they just need some big crowds."

The 6-foot-8 Grady is averaging 8.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in his first three college games. He comes off the bench and has 10 blocks in 63 minutes.

"Getting Anton was huge for us," said Waters. "I like all the local kids, but you want one who is an impact player -- and Anton will be that for us."

The Vikings averaged 3,112 fans last season. The average Horizon League crowd is 3,541. Kent State's average was 3,464 while Akron was at 2,821. Across the MAC, the average attendance was 2,907.

Certain games do draw. Last season, Akron had a crowd of 5,019 when KSU came to town, and KSU packed in 6,327 for its home game with Akron. Cleveland State had 8,490 when Butler came to the Wolstein Center.

The competition has been the NBA and the major-college basketball on nightly television. The three schools also have a lot of computer students who aren't as attached to their alma mater as would be the case with a place such as Ohio State.

"I used to have CSU season tickets when [the Wolstein Center] opened in 1991 and kept them for years," emailed Randy Tolen. "Beautiful place to watch a game, incredible sight lines from any seat. But the product was SO bad I couldn't continue even though the seats were really cheap. But now, it's all about my man Gary Waters. ... I'm hoping it catches on and leaves the NBA in the dust."

If nothing else, the local teams have demonstrated they deserve more fan attention than they have received.

Cleveland Browns: Who starts at running back if everyone is healthy? Poll

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If everyone was healthy, which back would you start on Sunday?

peyton-hillis.jpgBrowns running back Peyton Hillis.

The Cleveland Browns don't have a running back controversy, but just for kicks, if everyone was healthy, who would you start at running back on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals?

Is it obvious the choice would be Peyton Hillis? He only rushed for over 1,110 yards last season, but Hillis has not been on the field much this season, and he may have played his last game with the Cleveland Browns. Plus, fair or not, Hillis' heart passion has been questioned.

There's Montario Hardesty. He was often injured in college and he's often injured in the pros. But since we're pretending everyone is healthy, Hardesty is averaging 3.3 yards per carry and he hasn't scored this season.

What about Chris Ogbonnaya? He was picked up late in the season and he was unimpressive in his first game (28 yards on 13 carries). Things, however, have changed in his last two starts.  After going for 90 yards on 19 carries (4.7 yards per carry) against St. Louis, he totaled 115 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown against Jacksonville.

So which back is your choice?

 









Talk sports with Terry Pluto today at 1 p.m.

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Get your questions ready and join Terry Pluto today at noon as he talks Cleveland sports. Can the Browns and Colt McCoy build off of Sunday's performance? Are the Indians doing the right thing in attempting to bring back Grady Sizemore? We'll answer those questions and more.

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

Get your questions ready and join Terry Pluto today at noon as he talks Cleveland sports.

Can the Browns and Colt McCoy build off of Sunday's performance? Are the Indians doing the right thing in attempting to bring back Grady Sizemore?

You can jump in the chat room and ask your questions as well as interact with other users and respond to Terry's remarks, or you can just listen. The chat will also be made available shortly after its completion in mp3 format.


Cleveland Browns A.M. Links: Browns make the grade; close was enough; meaningless games; AFC North battles

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Grades for the Cleveland Browns.

pat-shurmur-colt-mccoy.jpgBrowns coach Pat Shurmur.

Ohio.com reporter Nate Ulrich gives out his grades when it comes to the Cleveland Browns. And the Browns did well. 

Ulrich gives the offense a B (minus) and an A to the running backs. That's easy because Chris Ogbonnaya had 21 carries for 115 yards. And it was the first 100-yard rushing performance by a Browns player since Peyton Hillis ran for 108 yards in December of 2010.

Wide receivers: B. Rookie Greg Little led the team with five catches for 59 yards. Cribbs had three receptions for 20 yards, including the team’s lone touchdown catch. Jordan Norwood made the play of the game when he caught an 8-yard pass over the middle, then broke free and used a juke move on safety Chris Prosinski to turn it into a 51-yard gain. Norwood’s 43 yards after the catch helped set up Obonnaya’s 1-yard touchdown run. Mohamed Massaquoi came back after missing two of the previous three games with symptoms related to a concussion and added two catches for 19 yards.

The defense earned a grade of B (plus). The secondary played well. Cornerback Joe Haden dropped two interceptions in the third quarter, and cornerback Sheldon Brown dropped another in the fourth quarter.

Coach Pat Shurmur earned a B.

 

More Cleveland Browns

This time close was enough for the Browns (The News-Herald).

A meaning to meaningless games for the Browns (CantonRep.com)

The Cleveland Browns are ready for AFC North battles (Cleveland.com).

Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman says Browns will have to pay (Cincinnati.com)

Michigan Wolverines A.M. Links: Brady Hoke is serious; Ohio or Ohio State; QB Denard Robinson plans to feast on Buckeyes

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Michigan's seniors are especially focused on finally defeating the Buckeyes.

Denard Robinson.JPGMichigan quarterback Denard Robinson.

It's the here and now for Michigan's seniors when it comes to Ohio State, writes reporter Angelique Chengelis of The Detroit News.

"This is a special week because you play in the greatest rivalry there is in sport," Hoke said Monday of Saturday's game at Michigan Stadium. "When you get the chance to play in this game or coach in this game, it's always a fun week."

Hoke, however, said that while Michigan hasn't beaten Ohio State since 2003, the skid won't be a rallying point.

How big is the game, or better yet, how much does Michigan think about Ohio State? So much so that senior tight end Kevin Koger knows it has been 2,921 days since Michigan's last victory over the Buckeyes.

But the most important number for Michigan is 10 — as in the number of victories it will reach Saturday if it can knock off its rivals from Ohio.

"I wouldn't say the whole season rests on this game as far as if Michigan is back or if we're not," senior Ryan Van Bergen said. "We want to win 10 games. We're on the brink. We're going to do our best to win 10 games."

  

More on the Wolverines

What a difference a year makes (Detroit Free Press).

Michigan QB Denard Robinson plans to feast on Buckeyes (Detroit Free Press).

Ohio, not Ohio State for Michigan's coach.

Browns can be competitive in division games - Comment of the Day

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"They have played well against weaker teams. That's a start. You gain confidence and settle into your roles better. That includes the coach. Maybe they're not yet up to the challenge from the Ravens and Steelers, but all of their division rivals have weaknesses. The distance between good teams and bad teams in the NFL isn't that great. The Bengals game is totally winnable. Same with the Ravens at home. And Big Ben has a broken thumb. I'm thinking the Browns can be competitive. We'll see." - Dred

colt-mccoy-pocket-bengals.JPGView full sizeColt McCoy and the Browns take on the Bengals on Sunday.
In response to the story As AFC North gantlet arrives, Cleveland Browns finding signs of improvement, cleveland.com reader Dred thinks winning, even against bad teams, helps. This reader writes,

"They have played well against weaker teams. That's a start. You gain confidence and settle into your roles better. That includes the coach. Maybe they're not yet up to the challenge from the Ravens and Steelers, but all of their division rivals have weaknesses. The distance between good teams and bad teams in the NFL isn't that great. The Bengals game is totally winnable. Same with the Ravens at home. And Big Ben has a broken thumb. I'm thinking the Browns can be competitive. We'll see."

To respond to Dred's comment, go here.

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

Ohio State gets oral commitment from Cincinnati defensive end Adolphus Washington, ranked as Ohio's top recruit

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The Buckeyes now have 15 oral commits in the Class of 2012, all but one from Ohio.

AdolphusWashington.jpgAdolphus Washington

Defensive end Adolphus Washington, ranked as the No. 15 player in the Class of 2012 by Scout.com and the No. 74 player by Rivals.com, announced this morning that he will attend Ohio State.

In a news conference at Cincinnati Taft High School, Washington chose the Buckeyes, as expected, while teammate Dwayne Stanford, a four-star recruit, picked Oregon.

Washington is the 15th oral commitment in this class for Ohio State, with 14 of them from Ohio. The only out-of-stater is receiver Mike Thomas, a California native playing at Fork Union Academy in Virginia this season, along with former Glenville quarterback Cardale Jones. Jones also counts in this OSU class after originally giving an oral commitment to Ohio State last year then heading to the prep school.

Given the uncertainty around the OSU program, the Buckeyes have had trouble gaining interest from major out-of-state recruits. At a time like this, focusing on in-state players who grew up as Ohio State fans has been a priority. OSU coaches have said they've been selling the program and the school, not the staff, which may not be in place next season.

That has resulted in a class that looks, at this point, like it will be ranked among the top 20 or 25 in the nation, but not in the top five or top ten in what is generally viewed as a good year for Ohio State talent.

By Rivals.com rankings, Washington, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound pass rusher, is the sixth four-star OSU oral commit. Rival ranks eight other OSU pledges as three-star players and one as a two-star.

Scout.com ranks Washington as a five-star player.

    Rivals.com lists Washington as the No. 1 recruit in the state of Ohio. The Buckeyes have pledges from three others in the top 10 in running back Bri'onte Dunn (No. 4), running back Warren Ball (No. 7) and linebacker Josh Perry (No. 8). But they have missed on some other top Ohio recruits.

The rest of the top 10:

No. 2 Kyle Kalis (Michigan)

No. 3 Se'von Pittman (Michigan State)

No. 5 Joe Bolden (Michigan)

No. 6 Chris Wormley (Michigan)

No. 9 Kyle Dodson (Wisconsin)

No. 10 Greg McMullen (Nebraska)

When the Buckeyes name a permanent coach well before February's National Signing Day, they could make up some ground and flip some recruits currently committed elsewhere. Uncertainty is the enemy in recruiting, and Michigan, especially, has taken advantage of the Buckeyes' current situation to make recruiting inroads in Ohio under first-year coach and Ohio native Brady Hoke.

Ohio State Buckeyes P.M. Links: The magic formula in beating Michigan; inexperience is a challenge; one game season; recruit hopes he plays for Urban Meyer

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Will coach Luke Fickell have the magic formula to beat Michigan?

luke-fickell5.jpgLuke Fickell

Columbus Dispatch reporter Bob Hunter writes how if Jim Tressel possessed a magic formula for beating Michigan, you would think that Luke Fickell has it locked in.

If there is a secret, it apparently is going to remain that way. When Fickell was asked yesterday about those two coaches’ different methods of preparing for Michigan, he indicated that the game might have been “stressed” more under Tressel, but not much else.

“Everybody is going to point the finger from the time (Tressel) was here that there was more of an emphasis,” Fickell said. “It was talked about, it was stressed???…???”

Fickell, like Tressel, is an Ohio native. So is offensive coordinator Jim Bollman, writes Hunter. Bollman served on Tressel’s staff from start to finish, so he should know how Tressel beat Michigan as well as anybody.

“One of the things was the focus, the intensity, the concentration,” Bollman said. “To me, this is a game where it is easy to go overboard. One of my favorite old-time sayings is to play this game on the verge of a rage, and if you get into a rage, you may not play it very well. You have to remember it’s a football game.

 

Around the Horseshoe

Inexperience is a challenge for Ohio State's defense (Cleveland.com).

It's a one-game season for the Buckeyes (Toledo Blade).

Luke Fickell's first, and last hurrah (MansfieldNewsJournal.com).

Ohio State recruit hopes he plays for Urban Meyer (Cincinnati.com).

 

 

 

 

 

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