Glenville girls basketball coach Renee Wright has led the Tarblooders to an undefeated record in the Senate Athletic League and another appearance in the city championship game.

View full size Glenville girls basketball coach Renee Wright, pictured instructing her team during a win against Shaw last week, gives lessons to her players on and off the court. The longtime coach - she has led teams in the Senate Athletic League for 31 seasons - also talks with her players about dealing with boys, manners and how to dress, among other topics. John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer  

The voice. It was loud, clear and comforting.

"You are so beautiful...to me!" she sang.

The Glenville girls basketball coach stood at midcourt inside the Cleveland high school, her players sitting on the floor in a circle around her.

Wright, 51, sang as she does in the choir at the Cleveland Church of Christ, Citadel of Hope.

She sang with a voice that would make gospel stars such as Yolanda Adams smile.

She sang from the heart to her team that had just won the regular season Senate Athletic League title with an 11-0 record. The Tarblooders will take a 15-4 record into Friday's Senate city championship game against East Tech at 5:45 at John Adams. Glenville is the defending champ.

Next, the players stood up, locked arms in a circle. It was quiet for a moment. Then one player prayed. Then another. And another.

They swayed as their prayers were whispered.

When the prayer ended, Wright said, "You have conquered adversity...every other team in the Senate would love to be in your position."

She talked about how some of the players have "risen above" some difficult personal and family situations to come together.

"I am so proud of you," said Wright.

A family feeling

At this point, Wright asked some of her players to stand and speak.

Senior point guard Keesha Henderson talked about the "feeling of being in a family."

Wright listened and thought about how this 5-foot-4 willowy guard plays with such fire, how she maybe weighs 120 pounds but takes charges from players who are 200-pounders.

She thought about four years ago, how Henderson tried out for basketball and some people told Wright that Henderson wouldn't be easy to coach. Now, she was a team leader, averaging 13.6 points, 11.6 assists and 6.7 steals.

"Now, I look at Keesha and I see endurance," said Wright. "I see someone who has stopped with excuses and just goes hard."

Then Latrice Legion spoke.

Henderson and Legion are close friends.

Henderson sizzles on the court. Every emotion is flashed across her face. She oozes determination to show her game is bigger than her stature. It's like she drops a pint of sweat for every point she scores.

View full size Glenville sophomore Latrice Legion is among Greater Cleveland's leaders with game averages of 26.7 points and 15 rebounds. The 6-foot forward/center is being recruited by Division I college programs. Allison Carey, The Plain Dealer  

Legion is a solid 6-feet. She is a sophomore forward/center who seems to glide over the court. She's quiet, almost afraid to draw attention to herself. Legion also is one of the best players in the area, averaging 26.7 points and 15 rebounds.

She is attracting attention from Division I colleges. I talked to one coach from a mid-major who told me Legion "would be great for us, but she may go higher."

Back in the team huddle, Legion told the team she was "proud of everyone."

Wright thought about how Legion had to be encouraged to take honors classes, how she was fearful she'd fail.

"That's because I was held back in third grade because I couldn't read," said Legion. "Now, I'm glad my mother did it."

Legion has a 3.2 grade-point average.

She and Henderson have played together since sixth grade, often taking on some boys at Glenview Park near East 108th Street. Henderson still remembers how she had to "almost fight" to convince the boys to let her play. Now, they want her and Legion on their pickup teams.

A new attitude

Then Tiyana House spoke. The senior center averages 6.4 points and 11 rebounds per game.

"I love ya'll," she said. "I'm going to miss you so much."

House seems amazed she is part of the championship team.

"I had problems with authority," she said. "Especially adults. I'd get this attitude...being on this team has really helped me. It's all 'We' on this team. We learn to respect people."

In a recent game at East Tech, the coach was not pleased with House's effort.

"If you're going to pout, you can sit next to me," said Wright.

As Henderson explained, the coach gave House "The face." It's a stare that screams, "Shape up, or sit down."

House started to say something, stopped and nodded. Wright sent her back on the court.

The next speaker was Morelle McCane, a senior who plays very little.

Wright asked McCane about her grade point average -- it's 4.3 in honors programs.

"She also is a boxer," said Wright. "She was on the junior varsity last year. She has a few basketball skills. But she practices hard. She has a great smile. I want her attitude about school and work on this team. I want players with character."

McCane is preparing for a Golden Gloves fight in a few months. She goes to a gym on 117th Street to train after basketball practice.

"I want to do something positive with my life," she said. "Academics are important to me. I like sports. Boxing is fun."

Reach for more

Wright often tells her girls, "don't just settle for less."

She tells them that they need to be careful with boys, and "don't be afraid to say no."

She has talked to her players about manners, about hygiene, about how to dress and how to deal with adults.

Sophomore Ariez Sims is an honors student with a 3.4 grade-point average. She said Wright often talks about going to college, "and she pushes us hard in academics."

Wright said, "My ministry is to do more than coach these girls, it's to reach them on a personal level."

She talked about how she and her husband, Mark, had a son named Andrew, born Nov. 14, 1992. He died on Jan. 22, 1993, of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Her husband, a fireman, found Andrew and tried to revive him, but failed.

"It just happened," said Wright, who was coaching John Hay's team at the time. "He wasn't sick. There were no warnings..."

Wright said this tragedy helps her with some of her girls "who have been through some very hard things in their lives...I remember how the girls on my team at John Hay were there for me when we lost our son."

She said the girls on the team can be "there for each other."

A veteran coach

This is Wright's 31st season as a girls basketball head coach in the Senate. She has been at Glenville for 11 seasons. She also coached volleyball for 29 years.

"It's hard to believe, but I started coaching at 19," she said. "The varsity [basketball] job at my alma mater [John Hay] opened up. I was going to Dyke College. My pastor and some others told me to apply. I never thought I'd get it."

She did.

Wright is one of the women there from the early days of girls athletics.

View full size Girls basketball players from Glenville perform their pregame ritual of screaming "Ville" after the National Anthem before last week's game against Shaw. The Tarblooders will try to defend their city championship Friday in the Senate Athletic League tournament final against East Tech. John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer  

Her career record is 459-129 in basketball. Seven times, she has been named as the Senate's coach of the year. She also was the Senate volleyball coach of the year 11 seasons.

Glenville Athletic Director Andre Haynes calls Wright "a role model, she is as much a mother or aunt to her girls as she is a coach. She demands respect from her players. Her style is no-nonsense. She's tremendous."

Veteran Glenville football coach Ted Ginn Sr. said what he admires most is Wright "still has great love and passion for the kids. She knows all the Xs and Os, but the key to coaching today is relationships and reaching the kids. She understands young people."

Wright's assistant coach is Rashown Albert, a security guard at Ginn Academy. Six years ago, he was an assistant football coach at Glenville, when Wright asked him to help coach the girls. She wanted a positive male influence on her staff.

"Renee can be such a sweet person, but she also is very serious," said Albert. "The girls have instant respect for her."

Wright works in the school's special education department. She stopped coaching volleyball in 2011, and has considered stepping away from basketball in two years after her star, Legion, graduates. But she has become intrigued by 6-foot freshman center Lauren Nelson, a 10-point scorer on the varsity this season, and may delay stepping aside until Nelson graduates.

"Coaching sometimes wears out my body," Wright said, "but as long as my heart is still in it -- I'll probably stay."

The Browns have hired former Panthers running backs coach John Settle for the same position here.

John Settle has joined coach Rob Chudzinski's staff. Associated Press  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns coach Rob Chudzinski put the finishing touches on his first coaching staff Thursday with the addition of running backs coach John Settle, inside linebackers coach Ken Flajole and three others.

The final installment includes assistant strength and conditioning coaches Chris DiSanto and Derik Keyes, and special assistant to the head coach Steve Gera.

“The additions of Ken and John, as well as Chris, Derik and Steve, round out what I believe is an extremely strong group of coaches with diverse backgrounds, covering many years of experience at both the NFL and collegiate levels,” Chudzinski said in a release. “They are all outstanding teachers and leaders who will bring out the best in our players.''

Flajole, who spent 2012 as the Saints' secondary coach, brings 36 years of coaching experience to the Browns. Prior to joining the Saints, he spent three seasons (2009-11) as defensive coordinator with the Rams and six seasons as Panthers' linebackers coach (2003-08).

He's also coached with the Seahawks (1999-2002) and Packers (1998). In Seattle, he spent three seasons as secondary coach and one with the linebackers. In Green Bay, he was a defensive assistant.

“Ken is a highly regarded coach with an extensive resume in the NFL. He has achieved success as a position coach and coordinator in the league,'' said Chudzinski. "Like other members of our defensive staff, he has experience working in several different schemes, an attribute which will be valuable as we develop the Browns’ defense.''

Settle spent the past two seasons (2011-12) in the same capacity with the Carolina Panthers, where he worked under Chudzinski. He broke into the pro coaching ranks with the Browns in 1995, when he was an offensive assistant/special teams quality control coach. Browns Vice President/Player Personnel Mike Lombardi was on the staff when Settle was here in 1995. Settle then moved with the Browns to Baltimore, where he coached the Ravens in 1996 and 1997.

"I have been with John the last two years in Carolina, and know first-hand the type of coach that he is,'' Chudzinski said. "His players have always been productive and respond well to his teaching methods.”

In Settle’s first season with the Panthers, the team made NFL history as they became the first club to feature three 700-yard rushers. DeAngelo Williams (836), Jonathan Stewart (761) and Cam Newton (706) each reached the mark as the team also set a club record for average per rush attempt (5.4).

All told, the Panthers rushed for 2,408 yards in 2011, third-most in franchise history. Prior to his stint in Carolina, Settle spent five seasons (2006-10) in the same capacity at Wisconsin.

Settle started 29 of 46 games over six seasons, spending four years with the Falcons from 1987-90 and two with the Redskins from 1991-92. He was voted to the Pro Bowl following the 1988 season when he became the first undrafted player since 1970 to rush for 1,000 yards.

Settle, who replaces Gary Brown, takes over a group that includes Trent Richardson and Montario Hardesty. Richardson rushed for 950 yards and 11 TDs as a rookie.

DiSanto and Keyes will work under new strength coach Brad Roll, who has 19 years NFL experience. DiSanto spent the 2012 season as assistant strength coach at the University of California. Before that, he spent four seasons in that capacity with the Raiders. Keyes was assistant strength coach last season the Texans.

Gera spent the last six years (2007-12) as an offensive assistant the Chargers, where he worked under Norv Turner and Chudzinski. There, he assisted the coaching staff with scouting and film breakdown. Before that, he served four years in the Marine Corps, including two tours in Iraq.

Davis to Eagles: Former Browns linebackers coach Billy Davis, who spent the past two seasons here, has been hired as the Eagles defensive coordinator, according to Reuben Frank of CSN Philadelphia.

Armstrong in virtual tie with Te'o, but gets the nod because he has higher name recognition. Tiger Woods is third while James, another year removed from the "Decision," exits.

View full size Now that there's no doubt Lance Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs during his cycling career, he's raced to the top of the most-disliked American athlete standings. Associated Press  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Lance Armstrong is about where you'd figure, Manti Te'o has come from nowhere and LeBron James must be happy with his departure.

It's the race for America's most disliked athlete, reported on Forbes.com, a ranking "based on the latest public surveys from Nielsen Sports and market research firm E-Poll. Candidates were limited to those scoring a minimum of 10% public awareness."

Forbes includes a slideshow of the 10 American athletes who have the least positive appeal, according to the survey.

Tom Van Riper writes for Forbes:

Lance Armstrong had two decades of professional racing and seven Tour de France championships to his credit before he became America’s most disliked athlete. That happened, of course, when he acknowledged that he cheated through much of the ride. For Manti Te’o, it took little more than a day, following the revelation of a fake girlfriend, to join Armstrong at the top of the list.

The latest public surveys from Nielsen/E-Poll show Te’o and Armstrong in a virtual dead heat for the dubious title of America’s most disliked athlete (though we give the nod to Armstrong based on higher name recognition, which gives his score a bit more heft). Each appeals to just 15% of the public, according to Nielsen’s polling .....

Van Riper also writes:

Among the most disliked of 2012 who escaped the list this year are Kris Humphries, no doubt a one-shot wonder after his quickie marriage to Kim Kardashian landed him in the tabloids, and LeBron James, who shook off a lot of the negativity surrounding his “decision” thanks to an NBA title and an Olympic gold medal. Also dropping off: Plaxico Burress (gun bust), Ndamkong Suh (dirty play), and Terrell Owens (all-around pot stirrer), memories of whom are fading quickly.

Actor/comedian Guy Torry says Cleveland is No. 2 when it comes to his ranking of sports towns.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Unlike many national comedians, Guy Torry isn't one to pile on Cleveland for not winning a major sports title since 1964; nor will he pile on the city for losing LeBron James to the Miami Heat.

Torry, a huge sports fan who has season tickets to the Los Angeles Lakers, said in a recent interview that Cleveland is only behind his hometown of St. Louis when it comes to his favorite sports towns. Torry ranks St. Louis No. 1 and Cleveland No. 2.

Torry visited Dylan's Barber Salon last week during a break from his performances at the Improv.

In this "Talking Shop" interview with Branson Wright, Torry talked about his admiration of Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving; and his admiration of Cleveland sports fans who continue to support their teams despite a slim to no chance of competing for a title.

Branson Wright on Twitter: @BransonWright

Four Cleveland Browns Legends participate in Black History Event with local high school students.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -  As a junior at John Adams High School, most of John Franklin's experiences of overcoming racial barriers have been limited to textbooks and televised documentaries.

But Thursday's event at First Energy Stadium not only opened the eyes of Franklin and many of his peers in attendance, it also gave them the opportunity to rub shoulders with heroes from the past about lessons the students can use today.

About 100 high school students from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District joined former Cleveland Browns players Paul Wiggin, John Wooten, Greg Pruitt and Bobby Mitchell for a panel discussion called “Lessons From The Past: Overcoming Challenges of Racial Barriers” in celebration of Black History Month.

The event was moderated by Pro Football Hall of Fame President/Executive Director Steve Perry.

The Browns hosted a similar event last year.

With the exception of Pruitt, who played during the 1970s and early '80's, the other three legends played most of their career during the 1960s. Each man talked about his experiences with racism and how he dealt with some of those situations. They also spoke about how sports opened doors, and how they faced prejudice despite being a professional football player.

For example, Wiggin told a story about how Pro Football Hall of Famer Bobby Bell of the Kansas City Chiefs was an All-American in college at Minnesota, but was still denied having ice cream at a parlor that served whites only.

"I still find that kind of painful to hear," Wiggin said.

The players gave the students even more examples of how they continued to strive for excellence during this period of their lives. Mitchell, the first African-American to play for the Washington Redskins, faced many obstacles but he continued to strive for excellence.

Mitchell got his point across to the students in attendance.

"Bobby Mitchell said we're a day older every day," Franklin said. "Coming here makes me a day wiser. From what I heard today, it gives me an opportunity to go back into my community and help someone else become a day wiser and a day stronger. Telling someone you love them, or by giving them a lesson can make them stronger and feel better about themselves."

The wacky winter weather has local fishermen singing the blues, with the freeze-and-thaw conditions a problem on local lakes and rivers.

Eric Lindstrom of the Backpackers Shop in Sheffield floats his boat at the Cleveland Outdoor Adventure Show recently. Lindstrom says that kayaks are the wave of the future for local fishermen, especially the frugal ones. Mark Duncan, Associated Press  

GENERAL FISHING REPORT

The roller coaster ride continues this weekend for local fishermen, as the freeze-and-thaw winter weather returns.

Steelhead trout fishermen had found some success recently on area rivers and streams, but weekend rains and melting snow are threatening to blow out the waterways once again. Ice fishing on area ponds and lakes has been tenuous, at best, and will be downright dangerous before the end of the weekend.

RIVERS AND STREAMS

The Northeast Ohio rivers and streams were all low and slow on Thursday, and the steelhead trout fishing had begun to warm up, with fair catches in the Rocky, Vermilion and Chagrin rivers and Conneaut Creek. Wading fishermen have been catching trout from patches of open water on jigs tipped with larval baits, flies and spawn bags. A lot of shelf ice on some waterways had made the wading very difficult and sometimes risky.

With temperatures expected to rise above the freezing mark, rain and melting snow should kick water levels up all throughout Northeastern Ohio this weekend. For up-to-date flow charts of the Northeastern Ohio rivers, go to ohiosteelheaddrifters.com.

LAKE ERIE

The big waters of Lake Erie won't be safe this weekend because of thin ice, rain and wind. There had been some angling action along the west side of South Bass Island in Western Lake Erie, but conditions have been risky and could be dangerous in the coming days. The ice fishermen in that region are also reporting muddy water under the ice. Fishermen cutting holes in the ice in the marinas and bays east and west of Cleveland for steelhead trout and smelt could also see their fishing put on hold.

Ice fishermen thinking about heading to the Maumee Bay area should make other plans. The Coast Guard's Bristol Bay ice breaker pushed its way through the area on Thursday to escort a tug from the Detroit River to Toledo.

INLAND LAKES, RESERVOIRS

Hope for some open water on area ponds and lakes. Most big lakes are covered with thin ice, which is expected to deteriorate over the weekend.

If there is open water at the Cleveland Metroparks lakes, shoreline fishermen could catch a few trout. The best techniques are to dunk small lead-head jigs or bare hooks tipped with maggots, wax worms, salmon eggs or PowerBait and suspend the offering close the the lake bottom under a light float. Wallace Lake in Berea received the bulk of the rainbow trout stocked over the past month. Trout were also released in Shadow, Ranger, Judges and Ledge lakes.

DOG TRIALS

All-Breed Hunter's Trial
R & G Ventures, Hinckley

All-Age - Pointing: Jim Szajna, English pointer (EP), Sam; John Golob, German shorthaired pointer (GSP), Fat Albert; John Golob, GSP, Obama. Flushing: John Masseria, English springer spaniel (ESS), Coriander; Eric Lingler, Labrador retriever (Lab), Duke.

Open - Pointing: Terry Friedl, GSP, Allie; Art Jones, GSP, Ava; George Epling, GSP, Tess. Flushing: Howard Shanklin, Lab, Jack; John Kristof, golden retriever, Molly; Bob Rinehart, ESS, Tober.

Derby - Pointing: Terry Friedl, EP, Reba. Flushing: Bob Rinehart, ESS, Gracie.

Puppy - Pointing: Mike Epling, GSP, Kamber; Jesse Schultz, GSP, Mila; Tom Raiber, pudelpointer, Shadow. Flushing: No awards.

Johnny Townsend signed with Florida today.

This is punting. Ohio State must figure out who will do it for them in 2013. AP  

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Punter Johnny Townsend signed with Florida today, after spending months as an oral commitment to Ohio State's recruiting class.

Wednesday, Urban Meyer called Ohio State's punting situation “complicated” and it was. It's a little more clear now.

The Buckeyes don't have a punter. At least for now.

The Orlando Sentinel reported this afternoon that Townsend, who is from Orlando, chose to play closer to home with the Florida Gators. The report said that Townsend's father, Clay, said that an Ohio State offer was still on the table for his son.

There had been reasoned speculation that scholarship numbers for Ohio State may have played a role in the move. With 24 signed players in this recruiting class, ranked among the top four in the country, the Buckeyes are at 82 healthy players on the roster. There is some question about safety Jamie Wood, who had season-ending shoulder surgery last season, and appeared to be leaving the program because of repeated injuries. The count of 82 does not include Wood.

However, on a seating chart on the door of the OSU team room, Wood was listed as having a front-row seat among his teammates for meetings. Counting Wood gives the Buckeyes 83 players.

Ohio State is operating at 82 scholarships, down three because of NCAA sanctions. Meyer said losing those three spots was like a “toothache” and said the numbers crunch hurt. However, when I asked if the numbers had caused the Buckeyes to pull back any offers to oral commits, Meyer said no.

Ohio State must be at 82 players on the roster by the start of practice in August. It would not be unusual for a team to lose a player or two between winter workouts and the start of the next season. So the OSU numbers should not be an overriding concern. But the Big Ten does monitor scholarship numbers for its school and must be kept informed as to how schools plan to hit their number by the start of the next season.

The issue now for Ohio State is what to do on fourth down. As I wrote last night, the Buckeyes have a punting option on the roster in redshirt freshman Frank Epitropoulos, who was recruited as a receiver but was also a good punter in high school. But when I asked Meyer about that as an option, he said that he didn't know, because Epitropoulos has been hurt since he got to Columbus.

One Ohio State staff member offered an amusing solution on Wednesday: Braxton Miller, punter. The idea of teaching Miller to punt just a little bit would certainly put opponents on their heels as he went back to punt. Give him a little room, and the punt would be called off and he'd be off running.

There's also a percolating football idea out there that the punt in football is overrated and actually counter-productive. Putting Ohio State at the front of the no-punt movement would be quite a thing.

Of course, that won't happen. No matter how good the offense might look, Ohio State will have to punt. The Buckeyes did it 62 times last season with senior Ben Buchanan, tied for the third-fewest in the Big Ten.

So Ohio State will get a punter. Either kicker Drew Basil will do it, Epitropoulos will do it or a walk-on currently on the roster or yet to join the team will do it. Putting out a call for preferred walk-ons wanting a shot to be the starting punter for a top five team in the country would certainly draw some interest.

But the Buckeyes will have to come up with something.

Ohio wildlife officials have taken a new direction in white-tailed deer management, proposing major changes in deer hunting seasons, bag limits and hunting hours for Buckeye sportsmen.

Ohio has become one of the premier states in the country for hunting trophy white-tailed deer. This big buck was tagged by Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns.  

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Ohio Division of Wildlife is moving into a new era of white-tailed deer management with proposals this week that would make major changes in deer seasons, bag limits and hunting hours around the Buckeye State.

The changes proposed to the Ohio Wildlife Council at its meeting on Wednesday include:

• Changing from deer zones to county-by-county deer bag limits.
• The elimination of the traditional early muzzleloading rifle season at three public hunting areas in southeast Ohio; and establishing an early-season statewide antlerless-only muzzleloading rifle deer weekend.
• Elimination of the bonus deer gun season weekend held two weeks after the regular deer gun season.
• An extension of the deer hunting day for gun hunters to 30 minutes after sunset, the same as for bow hunters.
• Elimination of urban deer zones.

The proposed 2013-14 deer seasons are:

• Deer archery, Sept. 28-Feb. 2.
• Statewide antlerless deer muzzleloading rifle, Oct. 12-13.
• Youth deer gun, Nov. 16-17.
• Deer gun, Dec. 2-8.
• Statewide deer muzzleloading rifle, Jan. 4-7.

The switch to county-by-county bag limits shouldn't mean much for most hunters. The proposal allows a season bag limit of four deer in 57 of Ohio's 88 counties. Surprisingly, some of the 23 counties with a season bag  limit of three deer are in Southeastern Ohio, the state's most productive hunting area. In eight northwest and western counties, the bag limit would be two deer per year.

The head of Ohio's deer management, Mike Tonkovich, said the season bag limits in the southeastern Ohio counties were lower because they were closer to meeting his deer management goals. Last year, hunters in that region had a season bag limit of six deer.

"Six deer is simply unrealistic," said Tonkovich. "Few hunters harvest more than three deer in a year, and the vast majority take one or sometimes two deer."

What won't change is Ohio's season bag limit of one antlered deer, or buck. The $15 antlerless deer permits would be good all season for controlled hunts, but expire everywhere else the day before the gun season begins.

Hunters must buy a $24 either-sex deer permit before purchasing an antlerless permit. Deer killed in special controlled hunts sanctioned by the wildlife agency could boost the season bag limit to as many as nine deer.

Archery hunters would be allowed to kill only antlerless deer during the proposed two-day, early-season statewide muzzleloader deer hunt.

Chief Scott Zody of the Division of Wildlife said the goal of county-by-county deer management is to reduce the size of Ohio's deer herd.

"We'll have quantity as well as a quality deer herd," he said in a Thursday conference call. While many hunters favored the extra December weekend of deer gun hunting, Zody said the harvest had dropped from 24,000 in 2006, when the special season began, to about 14,000 in 2012.

"We're taking a gamble, but we think the deer harvest during the bonus (gun) weekend will shift to the early antlerless only muzzleloader season," said Zody, "That's a win for us and for our management goals."

The urban deer zones being eliminated were developed to encourage hunters to kill deer in metropolitan and suburban areas, where deer were flourishing. All of Ohio's metropolitan areas, except for Montgomery County in southwest Ohio, would have a season bag limit of three antlerless deer and one buck. That includes all of the local counties, including Cuyahoga, Lake, Medina, Geauga and Lorain.

The major changes are sure to have hunters squabbling. Complaints will be heard at the Division of Wildlife's district open houses on March 2; and the Statewide Fish and Game Hearing in Columbus on March 7. The Ohio Wildlife Council rules on the proposals at its April 17 meeting in Columbus.

Free senior license: State Rep. Nick Barborak, a Democrat from Lisbon, has introduced legislation to give every Ohio sportsman who is 65 or older free fishing, hunting and trapping licenses, deer and turkey permits and Ohio duck stamps.

While seniors might agree it's a good idea, there's little doubt state wildlife officials are dismayed. Ohio already sells seniors a $10 fishing or hunting license, much less than a regular $19 license; and $10 deer and turkey tags that normally go for $24.

Ohio would not only lose license income, but also federal excise taxes.

The number crunchers say the loss in license revenue would climb from almost $2 million this year to more than $6 million by 2020 as the population continues to age. More importantly, many millions in federal excise taxes on fishing and hunting gear are given back to Ohio. The amount depends primarily on the number of fishing and hunting licenses sold. While free licenses are a nice gesture, they make no economic sense.

Columbus show on: The Columbus Sports, Vacation & Boat show is on through Sunday at the Ohio Expo Center, and expect lots of boats to be on display. The show is now owned by the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association, the Northern Ohio boating group, and it has fishing and boating in the spotlight.

Cincinnati bass star Joe Thomas is on stage today at 3, 5, and 7 p.m. On Saturday, walleye pros Matt Davis of Marion and Dan Gies of Huron (11, 3, 5 p.m.) and Sandusky's Travis Hartman (7 p.m.) are also on stage, with a Kids Clinic at 1 p.m. Hartman is back on Sunday (noon), followed by Oregonia walleye expert Larry Rhoads II at 2 p.m.

Admission is $8. Show hours are: today, 2-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

On today's PD Sports Insider, Bud Shaw, Paul Hoynes and cleveland.com's Glenn Moore were joined by Mary Kay Cabot and Steve Wyche from the NFL Network, to talk Browns. Also, Hoynsie talked Tribe and Spring Training. Watch video

 

- Will Brandon Weeden be the QB next season?

- Surprised Tom Heckert hasn't landed a job?

Stay tuned for the next show Thursday, February 14 at 12:30 p.m.

Be sure to like PD Sports Insider on Facebook

About the show: PD Sports Insider airs live every Thursday at noon. Co-hosted by The Plain Dealer's Bud Shaw, Dennis Manoloff and cleveland.com's Glenn Moore, the show features a timely and lively debate of the biggest sports topics of the day and gives readers a chance to interact directly with PD sportswriters and columnists.

Viewers have to the opportunity to ask questions and post comments in a live chat room during the show. They can also their video questions during the week.
Fans who miss the live show can watch the archive, available a few hours later.

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio - Walsh Jesuit soccer standout Sandra Yu has been named as Gatorade's Ohio player of the year for the second straight season. Yu, also The Plain Dealer's player of the year, becomes a finalist for the national award, which will be announced in May.

Walsh Jesuit senior midfielder Sandra Yu has been named as Gatorade's Ohio player of the year for the second straight season.

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio - Walsh Jesuit soccer standout Sandra Yu has been named as Gatorade's Ohio player of the year for the second straight season.

Yu, also The Plain Dealer's player of the year, becomes a finalist for the national award, which will be announced in May.

A senior midfielder headed to Notre Dame, Yu led the Warriors to a 22-0-2 record and the Division II state championship in the fall. She tallied 16 goals and 20 assists, including a goal and an assist in a 5-0 win over Columbus St. Francis DeSales in the state final.

The award recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and character. Yu has a 4.19 grade-point average and has volunteered at assisted living facilities, with the Salvation Army and as a youth soccer mentor and coach.

Boys basketball Note: Varsity games start at 7:30 unless noted.

Boys basketball

Note: Varsity games start at 7:30 unless noted.

AKRON CITY SERIES

Buchtel at Akron North, 7

Ellet at Akron Garfield, 7

Kenmore at Akron East, 7

CHAGRIN VALLEY CONFERENCE

Chagrin Division

Kenston at Aurora

Perry at Harvey

West Geauga at Orange

Metro Division

Hawken at Cuyahoga Heights

Independence at #10 Richmond Heights

Wickliffe at #11 Beachwood

Valley Division

Berkshire at Cardinal

Fairport at Kirtland

LAKE ERIE LEAGUE

Euclid at Shaw, 7

Lorain at #8 Cleveland Heights

Warrensville Heights at Warren G. Harding

NORTH COAST LEAGUE

Blue Division

#21 Archbishop Hoban at Benedictine

Padua at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin

White Division

#9 Cleveland Central Catholic at #4 Villa Angela-St. Joseph

Holy Name at Trinity

St. Peter Chanel at Warren John F. Kennedy

NORTHEAST OHIO CONFERENCE

Lake Division

#25 Elyria at Valley Forge

Normandy at Mayfield

#13 North Royalton at Parma

River Division

#18 Brush at #16 Twinsburg

#19 Hudson at Cuyahoga Falls

Solon at Stow-Munroe Falls

Valley Division

#6 Garfield Heights at #23 Brunswick

#1 Mentor at Medina

#5 Shaker Heights at Strongsville

PATRIOT ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Stars Division

Brookside at Buckeye

Wellington at Firelands

Stripes Division

Clearview at Columbia

Oberlin at Fairview

PORTAGE TRAIL CONFERENCE

County Division

Rootstown at Woodridge

Southeast at Garrettsville Garfield

Waterloo at East Canton

Windham at Mogadore

Metro Division

Norton at Crestwood

Ravenna at Coventry

Springfield at Kent Roosevelt

Streetsboro at Field

PREMIER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Eastlake North at Madison

Geneva at University School

Riverside at Lakeside

Willoughby South at Chardon

PRINCIPALS ATHLETIC CONF.

Manchester at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy

SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE

Amherst Steele at Olmsted Falls

Avon Lake at Midpark

Berea at #14 Brecksville-Broadview Heights

Westlake at North Olmsted

SUBURBAN LEAGUE

Cloverleaf at #17 Green

Highland at #12 Nordonia

Revere at Copley

Tallmadge at Wadsworth

WEST SHORE CONFERENCE

Bay at Avon

Lakewood at Elyria Catholic

NONLEAGUE

#3 St. Ignatius at #2 St. Edward

Girls basketball

Note: Varsity games start at 7:30 unless noted.

SENATE ATHLETIC LEAGUE

Glenville at East Tech, 5:45

NONLEAGUE

#17 Lake Ridge Academy at Temple Christian

St. Peter Chanel at Cornerstone Christian

Hockey

BARON CUP TOURNAMENT

At John M. Coyne Recreation Center

BARON CUP II

#8 Solon vs. #4 Kent Roosevelt, 5:30

#2 Orange vs. #6 CVCA, 8

Terry Francona wants his veteran starters on the Indians to pitch more innings so his young starters can develop in the big leagues in 2013.

View full size Indians manager Terry Francona is counting on Indians veterans Ubaldo Jimenez (during the 2012 season), Justin Masterson and newcomer Brett Myers to take the pressure off the team's younger starters. Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer  

(Editor's note: One in a series of Indians previews prior to the start of training camp on Sunday. Previously, the bullpen, the outfield, the infield, AL Central preview.)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There's one word for the Indians' starting pitching last season: terrible.

The cure? Manager Terry Francona says it starts with getting more and better innings from his experienced starters. Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez and Brett Myers should be listening right now.

Masterson and Jimenez combined to pitch 383 innings last year, 206 1/3 by Masterson and 176 2/3 by Jimenez. It's an acceptable workload, but unfortunately most of those innings were bad ones. Masterson and Jimenez combined to lose 32 games and post a 5.15 ERA.

Myers pitched strictly in relief last season for Houston and the White Sox, but he's made 249 starts in the big leagues. As recently as 2011, the 32-year-old right-hander made 33 starts and pitched 216 innings for Houston. It's the main reason the Indians signed him to a one-year, $7 million deal in January.

"If we can get innings from the top of the staff, it will give us a chance to develop some of our younger starters," said Francona. "We're in this to win, but we're also trying to develop pitchers at the major-league level."

What Francona is talking about is protection. At the winter meetings, he made a point of saying the Indians needed more veterans on their 25-man roster. Veterans who know what it's like to be caught in the cross hairs of a big moment. It's one of the reasons lefty Scott Kazmir was invited to camp on a minor-league deal.

"Sometimes you ask young guys to do too much too quick," said Francona. "That's not development. That's getting beat up, especially with pitchers. If you can back those guys up and take a little pressure off them, that can certainly help their development."

Behind Masterson, Jimenez and Myers, the Indians will be counting on young starters to fill out the rest of the rotation. GM Chris Antonetti said Zach McAllister has the edge for the fourth spot going into spring training. After that comes Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer and David Huff. Kazmir will get a chance as well.

With camp opening Sunday in Goodyear, Ariz., Francona said the fifth spot is "wide open."

"The hope is that one of those guys will jump up right away and take the job," he said.

Here's a look at how the rotation rated statistically in the American League last year.

View full size Justin Masterson struggled throughout the 2012 season, as his ERA rose from 3.21 in 2011 to 4.93. Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer  

Tribe starters pitched 913 2/3 innings, third fewest in the league. They lost the most games with 76, allowed the most hits with 1,026, and allowed the highest on-base percentage at .351. They posted the second-highest ERA at 5.25, walked the second-most batters at 351, allowed the second-highest batting average against at .284, and struck out the second-fewest batters with 621. No wonder the Tribe is on its fourth pitching coach since 2010.

Now for a look at the Tribe starters and potential starters for 2013:

RHP Justin Masterson

2012 stats: He went 11-15 with a 4.93 ERA in 34 starts and pitched over 200 innings for the second straight season. Lefties hit .296 (135-for-456) and righties .232 (77-for-332) against the side-arming right-hander.

Comment: Masterson underwent surgery on his left shoulder after the 2011 season. He never complained about it last year, but it might have played a part in how inconsistent he was.

RHP Ubaldo Jimenez

2012 stats: He went 9-17 with a 5.40 ERA while leading the AL in losses, wild pitches with 16 and stolen bases against with 32. He also issued the second-most walks with 95. In short, he was a train wreck.

Comment: New pitching coach Mickey Callaway made two visits to the Dominican Republic during the off-season to work with Jimenez.

RHP Brett Myers

2012 stats: He went 3-8 with 19 saves and 3.31 ERA; 0-4 with 19 saves and 3.52 ERA in 35 appearances with Houston and 3-4 with a 3.12 ERA in 35 appearances with Chicago. Myers doesn't think he'll have a problem moving back to the rotation because he did the same thing in 2008 after saving 21 games for the Phillies in 2007.

Comment: If Myers can avoid a Derek Lowe-like fade, circa 2012, and give the Indians between 180 and 200 innings, they'll celebrate.

RHP Zach McAllister

2012 stats: He went 6-8 with a 4.24 ERA in 22 starts covering 125 1/3 innings. Struck out 110, walked 38, but was stung by 19 homers.

Comment: He's one of the young starters who could have used some veteran protection last year.

View full size An All-Star with Tampa Bay in 2006 and 2008, Scott Kazmir returns to the big leagues after a year's absence in order to chase a spot in the Indians' rotation. AP file  

LHP Scott Kazmir

2012 stats: Pitched in the independent Atlantic League last year. He last pitched in the big leagues in 2011, appearing in one game for the Angels.

Comment: Edwin Rodriguez, one of the Indians minor-league managers, managed Kazmir in Puerto Rico this winter and said his velocity is back.

RHP Corey Kluber

2012 stats: He went 2-5 with a 5.14 ERA in 12 starts after going 11-7 with a 3.59 ERA in 21 starts at Class AAA Columbus. Kluber made his first six starts with the Indians last season in August, their worst month in franchise history. The Indians went 5-24, Kluber went 0-3.

Comment: He's recovering from right knee surgery, but should be ready to compete for a job in spring training.

RHP Carlos Carrasco

2012 stats: He spent last season on the disabled list while recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. During his rehab late last year, he was frequently clocked in the high 90s.

Comment: If Carrasco doesn't make the rotation out of spring training, he'll be in it quickly as long he can stay healthy.

RHP Trevor Bauer

2012 stats: Arizona's No.1 pick in 2011 went 1-2 with a 6.06 ERA in four starts last year with the D-backs. In the minors, he went 12-2 with a 2.41 ERA at Class AA Mobile and Class AAA Reno.

Comment: He probably needs more time at Class AAA, but this is a guy the Indians have coveted since his UCLA days. They'll put up with his quirks as long as he pitches well.

LHP David Huff

2012 stats: He went 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA in six appearances, including four starts, after going 7-6 with a 4.97 ERA in 24 games, including 22 starts, at Class AAA Columbus.

Comment: It seems like Huff is in the competition for the fifth spot in the rotation every spring. This time he's out of options and could be tested in the bullpen.

Calgary native says there's four months of good summer in his hometown -- honest.

View full size Fishing has always been a pleasant diversion for Monsters winger Mike Connolly. Monsters photo  

CLEVELAND, Ohio – A quick conversation with the Monsters' recently-acquired front-liner.

Born: July 3, 1989, Calgary, Alberta. Ht/Wt: 5-11, 175. Shoots: Left. Acquired: Trade from San Jose, February 2012.

Q: What was it like growing up in Calgary?

A: In the winter, we had a lake nearby. There were thick sheets of ice and we played hockey all day, every day.

Q: What is a misconception about Calgary, at least from the American side?

A: Our winters are cold -- I'll give you freezing cold for maybe six months. But we get four months of summer. I'm not saying it's super-nice, but there's no snow on the ground.

Q: Coolest wild animals you saw growing up?

A: Grizzly bears, black bears.

Q: What did you do for fun other than hockey?

A: My dad and I fished. We went to British Columbia to do most of it.

Q: Best catch?

A: A 185-pound halibut. I caught it on my first fishing trip. I think I was 13; at the time, it was bigger than I was.

Q: I heard that you like to golf. Highlight of your career on the links?

A: I wish I could say a hole-in-one, but I can't. I've come close a couple of times. I enjoy the social aspect of the game, relaxing with friends and family. You usually do it in nice weather, so you can't complain.

Q: Were you always a forward?

A: No. I actually played defense when I was younger. I guess I was one of the faster guys growing up, so one of the coaches put me on forward, and it's been forward ever since.

Q: Have you always been a lefty?

A: Yes. I think my dad tried to convert me to right, especially for golf, because it's a lot easier to get righty clubs. Growing up, there was the whole Wayne Gretzky thing -- he's a lefty, so everyone else wanted to be one.

Q: As a standout at Minnesota-Duluth, you won the NCAA championship in 2011. Describe.

A: We beat Michigan in overtime, 3-2. We played in St. Paul, Minn., in the Wild's home rink. Going against Michigan, we had the crowd in our favor, and when we scored that goal in OT ... I can't even describe the feeling. The noise was unbelievable.

Q: Where were you when Kyle Schmidt scored the title-winner?

A: I was on the bench. I had a perfect view, then it was a struggle to get over the boards, fighting with everyone else to get on the ice. It was pure excitement, pure joy, especially because it was our first championship.

Q: You had a terrific season in 2010-11. What was your greatest individual achievement?

A: I had one game against the Golden Gophers of Minnesota where I scored five goals. It's funny: Minnesota's goalie was Kent Patterson; now he's with us in Cleveland.

Q: Funny for you.

A: I haven't brought it up yet, but, now that you reminded me of the scenario, I might need to.

Q: Wildest thing you ever witnessed on the ice as player or spectator?

A: I've seen some good stuff, but the best is what I saw on YouTube -- the bench-clearing brawl between Rockford and Grand Rapids last month. It was incredible. A fight would break out, and after a few minutes, another fight would break out. It seemed like it would never end. I'm sure everyone in the hockey world has seen it.

Rockford vs. Grand Rapids: The brawl

Q: Any NHL player you watch closely?

A: He doesn't play anymore, but Steve Yzerman was my hero growing up. I liked him for the way he played the game, the way he conducted himself. Nowadays, there are so many good players -- take your pick.

Q: Favorite junk food?

A: Skittles.

Q: Any particular flavor?

A: I like them all. We were over at (teammate) Bryan Lerg's place for the Super Bowl, and he had a gumball machine full of Skittles. It may or may not have ended up back at my place.

Q: Best hockey advice received as kid?

A: If you're going to play this game for a long time, you have to really love it.

Q: Smartest person you've ever met?

A: Mike Moore, my teammate last season in Worcester. He went to Princeton and knew about aerospace engineering. He'd tell us about time travel, speed of light, things like that. He'd need to dumb it down three or four times before we'd understand it. Very smart kid and great guy.

Buckeyes recruiting class ranked at the top or near. Success brings pressure, especially to compete with SEC teams that have been winning titles. New Wolverine not shy about Buckeyes loyalty, though he'll want to defeat them. More Ohio State story links.

View full size Coach Urban Meyer is very happy with Ohio State's 2013 recruiting class. John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer  

And while Buckeyes fans will have to wait until at least spring practice to get some more insight into the team, they don't have to wait long for another big Buckeyes basketball game.

Ohio State's cagers (17-3, 7-3 in the Big Ten), ranked 10th in the nation, play the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers on Sunday afternoon in Columbus. Indiana is 20-2, 8-1 going into its game tonight at Illinois.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage includes Doug Lesmerises' story that seven Buckeyes from last year's 12-0 team have been invited to the NFL Combine, and that Ohio State could have eight players picked in the NFL draft; Lesmerises' story that the Buckeyes have a punting problem after a player changed his mind on them; Lesmerises' National Signing Day notes, leading off with coach Urban Meyer's stated desire to recruit more players from Ohio; Bill Livingston's column that Meyer is obviously quite happy with OSU's recruiting class; Lesmerises' story that some observers rank Ohio State's group of recruits as the best in the nation; and more.

Zac Jackson writes for FoxSportsOhio.com:

The Buckeyes secured three more high-level commitments on Wednesday, and in the process claimed Scout.com's No. 1 ranking of 2013 recruiting classes. A 24-man class includes four five-star prospects and 17 four-star prospects.

The guys who said they were coming faxed in their letters of intent early Wednesday, and Meyer pointed out several were already on campus. Scoring Florida wide receiver James Clark was at least a mild surprise, strengthening a strong finish that included flipping multi-purpose back Dontre Wilson from Oregon and securing a late afternoon commitment from running back Ezekiel Elliot, who recently visited his home-state school Missouri.

National acclaim comes because it's a national class — 11 Ohio natives and players from nine different states signed on Wednesday — and because it's a very gifted one. Meyer filled some holes, too, specifically at linebacker and with the kind of explosive perimeter players last year's offense lacked.

With the strong recruiting class, there's pressure on Ohio State to compete with the SEC teams which have been winning national titles -- though Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer says, "We have one rival," referring to Michigan. (By Marla Ridenour, Akron Beacon Journal)

Cornerback Reon Dawson of Trotwood-Madison (Ohio) High School signs with Michigan but says, “Until I die, I’m gonna be a Buckeye fan even though I’m going (to Michigan). When we play (OSU) I’m gonna still bring my ‘A’ game. But, I love Ohio State.” (By Marc F. Pendleton, Dayton Daily News)

Reon Dawson signs with Michigan, but says he will always be an Ohio State fan. (By James Jahnke, Detroit Free Press)

Ohio State's No. 1 in recruiting the class of 2013 high school seniors. The top 25 schools, and more. (By Josh Helmholdt, Rivals.com)

Ohio State finishes first in the 2013 recruiting competition. A list of the top 25 schools. (By Scott Kennedy, Scout.com)

Alabama and coach Nick Saban, and Ohio State and coach Urban Meyer, put together the top recruiting classes. (By Stewart Mandel, Sports Illustrated SI.com)

How the 12 Big Ten teams did in meeting their recruiting needs. (By Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett, ESPN.com)

Comments on all 24 players who signed with Ohio State. (By Tony Gerdeman, the-ozone.net)

Thoughts on Buckeyes' recruiting for the Class of 2013. (By Michael Chung, the-ozone.net)

Ohio State's staff, able to work for a full year on the recruiting trail, bring in a top class. (By Doug Harris, Dayton Daily News)

Ohio State brings in a load of talent (with videos). (By John Kampf, News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal)

Some observations by defensive coordinator Luke Fickell following National Signing Day. (By Brandon Castel, the-ozone.net)
  
.....Basketball.....

Buckeyes scoring leader Deshaun Thomas didn't get many looks in the late going of Ohio State's 76-74 overtime loss at Michigan on Tuesday night. (By Bob Baptist, Columbus Dispatch via Akron Beacon Journal)

An Ohio State-Indiana note under "I Can't Wait To See..." in the college basketball "Weekend Watch." (ESPN.com)

The Plain Dealers Dennis Manoloff, Paul Hoynes, WTAM/1100 AM's Nick Camino and The Elyria-Chronicole Telegram Chris Assenheimer previewed the upcoming season during a special Cleveland Indians Season Preview Roundtable. Watch video

 

Spring Training 2013 is right around the corner.

Cavs have bounced back from a 5-23 start, with 33 games left on their schedule.

View full size The Cavaliers, with solid play from players such as (gold uniforms, left to right) Tristan Thompson, Marreese Speights and Kyrie Irving, have won five of their last seven games. Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers have won 15 games and lost 34 going into their 50th game of the season, tonight at home against the Orlando Magic.

A look at the Cavaliers' schedule shows that they have made some progress.

They lost 23 of their first 28 games. Since then, they have a respectable 10-11 record. Going into tonight's game, they have won two straight; five of their last seven; six of their last nine.

A primary objective of this season continues to be the development of the team's four first-round picks in the last two drafts: point guard Kyrie Irving and power forward Tristan Thompson in the 2011 draft; guard Dion Waiters and center Tyler Zeller in last June's draft.

The four players are all starters. Zeller took over in the pivot when veteran star Anderson Varejao was sidelined with a right quad injury that required surgery. Varejao's season was then ended when a blood clot was found in his right lung.

Last month, the Cavaliers improved their bench in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies.

How do you think the Cavaliers will close out their 82-game schedule this season?

Smith said he would be open to playing three OSU home games at night, and Meyer wants more night games to help recruiting.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – When Urban Meyer lays it on the table, as he did Thursday with some comments about raising the level of recruiting in the Big Ten that have received a lot of attention (here and here and here and here), his boss doesn't mind. In fact, Ohio State athletic Gene Smith kind of likes it.

“It's refreshing,” Smith told The Plain Dealer on Friday. “That's one of the refreshing things about Urban. He's candid. He puts it all out there and he shares his thoughts and feelings. He's highly principled and highly accountable, so I think that helps all of us.

“We talk a lot about things and we're on the same page about a lot of different things. So he really does a good job of communicating internally and externally what he feels. So I embrace it, I encourage it. I share with him all the time, let's make sure he and I talk, and we do about different issues, and we deal with it from there.”

Meyer's words Thursday came on The Bishop & Rothman Show on 97.1 The Fan in Columbus, but they were spurred by what Meyer first said Wednesday. He wants more night games at Ohio Stadium, primarily because it creates a better recruiting atmosphere. He especially doesn't like noon kickoffs, because it makes it difficult for recruits to get there for the game.

And improving recruiting is what matters for the whole Big Ten.

“Well, it’s not only important, it’s essential,” Meyer said on the show. “It has to happen. And I don’t know enough about what goes on in the other programs. I know I have a lot of respect for the tradition and their historical success they’ve had, but we do need to as a conference keep pushing that envelope to be better.

“When you see 11 of the SEC teams are in the Top 25 in recruiting, that’s something we need to continue to work on and improve.”

There were 11 of 14 SEC teams in the top 25 of the Rivals.com recruiting rankings after National Signing Day on Wednesday. The Big Ten had three of their 12, with Ohio State at No. 2, Michigan at No. 5 and Nebraska at No. 17.

So Meyer said he wants to talk recruiting at the league's meetings on Monday. There are also other things on the table, like the number of conference games to play in football. Smith said last week he thinks the league will certainly increase it from eight to nine, and he could imagine it even going to 10.

There could also be a discussion about when to play those games. Smith is open to to playing more at night. Currently, Big Ten teams can't play more than three night games a year, and the Buckeyes often end up playing two on the road and one at home.

Smith would like to flip that, and play two night games at home and one on the road. He would also be open to three home night games, “if it's the right contest and time of year,” Smith said.

But while Meyer acknowledged he knows there are other things to worry about when it comes to game times, he's only thinking about recruiting. That's his job as the football coach. Smith has the other groups to consider when it comes to night games.

“Recruiting is one of the elements, but there's a balance to take into consideration,” Smith said, naming the opponent, the time of year, the effect on local businesses and the other activities that might be around the game, like homecoming or the alumni band reunion.

The Buckeyes had just one home night game last year, against Nebraska, and the atmosphere was great, by far the best recruiting opportunity of the season, according to Meyer. Smith also mentioned the atmosphere for the night home game against Texas in 2005.

“But they all might not be that way,” Smith said.

Smith imagines that more night games could be ahead after the league's TV deal expires after the 2015-16 academic year. With Rutgers and Maryland joining the Big Ten for the 2014-15 season, Smith said he expects television to request more night games.

“Television is always asking for more prime-time games,” Smiths said.

The Big Ten currently has a rule prohibiting night games in November. Smith can imagine that going by the wayside. “I would guess that will come back on the table,” he said. “So then we'll have to vet that and see what we come up with.”

At the very least, Meyer would like fewer noon starts and more at 3:30. Of the Buckeyes' eight home games last season, six started at noon, an unusually high number. The only exceptions were Illinois at 3:30 and Nebraska at 8. But Smith said all those decisions about noon or 3:30 are dictated by TV.

“If we had our preference, we'd play later in the day,” Smith said.

The Buckeyes will express their preferences. But as Smith said, the intention is to make the Big Ten better.

“Urban and I haven't specifically talked about tactics with recruiting or any of those things, but certainly all of us get better when the conference is stronger, and that's a conversation we've had, but that's not a new conversation,” Smith said. “We need every school in the conference to be as competitive as possible.”

If decision is for change, it should come from Chudzinski and Turner.

Cleveland quarterback Brandon Weeden: Push him or push him out? Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Are the Browns looking to push Brandon Weeden or push Brandon Weeden out?

That's not the split-hair difference between "hybrid" and "multifront."

It's the most important distinction facing the latest new, and allegedly improved, regime in Berea -- one promising smart decisions arrived at by "consensus."

Right on cue, here comes a test to the notion of football democracy fresh off watching another division opponent win a Super Bowl -- once again with a franchise quarterback more tender in years when the confetti fell than Weeden's draft age in 2011.

Joe Flacco is 28. Weeden will be 30 in October. Ben Roethlisberger, who turns 31 next month, had two Super Bowls by age 27.

If consensus sounds good in theory but not entirely functional in practice, don't worry. Organizations, especially new ones, love to promote the notion of harmony. All for one. One for all. They may even believe it possible.

Sounds great, until the GM goes along with his head coach's choice of a pass rusher instead of a run stopper on draft day, and Haloti Ngata snorts fire in the middle of a nasty Ravens defense for the next decade.

In reality, Joe Banner holds the hammer.

Now, if he starts wielding it in matters of talent evaluation, that's the reason to really worry.

It's not much of a stretch to think of Banner and Mike Lombardi as being like-minded -- at least at the outset -- and anxious to assert themselves. And not only because each has alternately praised the other's worth in sizing up talent (uh-oh).

Lombardi lived in Banner's ear, even before the ownership change became official. His hiring was a foregone conclusion.

So for some time now, neither has come close to speaking glowingly of Weeden. Not that he gave them much reason to shower superlatives upon him. But the absence of commitment suggests change a-comin'.

Any organization that has failed so miserably in developing quarterbacks better be sure about giving up on yet another one.

Which is why the second opinion and third opinion -- that of head coach Rob Chudzinski and offensive coordinator Norv Turner -- should get first and foremost consideration.

Pushing Weeden means bringing in a veteran backup to challenge him in training camp. Pushing him out means bringing in Alex Smith, the deposed San Francisco starter.

Smith's acquisition would come one of two ways. The Browns would trade for him to make sure he's theirs, or wait until he becomes a free agent, whereupon they'd have to outbid other suitors.

Either way -- giving up talent to get him or giving him a multiyear contract at serious money -- Smith would come to town as the ordained starter. Weeden then goes from fast-tracked No. 1 in 2011 to inexperienced, cobwebbed, 30-year-old backup.

That makes sense if you think Smith is your Flacco, your Roethlisberger. Until 2011, he was known mostly as an underachiever. If we're using the Ravens' Super Bowl QB scale, he'd be closer to game-manager Trent Dilfer than Flacco.

As with Dilfer, Smith's team replaced him as starter after reaching great heights. Dilfer wasn't brought back after the Ravens' first Super Bowl. Niners head coach Jim Harbaugh gave the job to Colin Kaepernick after an injury to Smith.

Is Smith better than Weeden? Absolutely.

Is he better than Weeden can become?

The attraction to Smith is that he's a finished product, and we haven't seen one of those around here for a long time. Is that enough?

I'd like to see Weeden in Norv Turner's offense.

Turner should know. He coached Smith. It's his vertical offense that Weeden would be asked to direct in a sometimes harsh climate.

The last quarterback the Browns committed to developing was Tim Couch, but that doubled as a commitment to having him beaten to a pulp behind porous offensive lines.

If they're going to give up on Weeden after one year in a misfit offense, you'd feel a lot better about the decision if Chudzinski and Turner are the ones demanding change.

If not, give Weeden another year of development. That might not qualify as consensus. It would just be smart.

R.T. Stewart's book, "Poachers Were My Prey," provides a unique look at illegal hunting and fishing around Ohio during his 20 years of undercover work.

It's that time of year when a roaring fire and a good outdoor book are a welcome winter escape for anglers and hunters. D'Arcy Egan, The Plain Dealer  

CLEVELAND, Ohio - At the top of the annual winter reading list are a couple of books by local authors.

They are interesting, but each troubling in their own way. That's something rarely said about books of the outdoor genre.

I was anxious to read "Poachers Were My Prey, Eighteen Years an as Undercover Wildlife Officer" (Black Squirrel Books, 202 pp., $19.95). Over almost two decades I had written for The Plain Dealer about many of the undercover cases by now-retired Ohio Division of Wildlife investigator R.T. Stewart, who collaborated with veteran outdoor writer W.H. Chip Gross to tell his tales. 

Stewart was chasing what he always called "the bad guys." I found the actions of the surprisingly large number poachers quite unnerving, as well as the facade Stewart created to bust the wildlife law breakers. It meant Stewart joined in on poaching excursions, including drinking, fishing and playing cards with the good ol' boys.

The cases were all close to home, and Buckeye fishermen and hunters will be fascinated by the inside information. They should also be disgusted. Stewart describes many nights of joining "bad guys" to spotlight deer and shoot large-antlered bucks and does after dark. The out-of-season killing of deer, turkey, ducks, geese and raccoons is a common thread.

Stewart leaves little doubt very dangerous poachers are among us, and far more than we realize. It always seemed that if there was one bad apple Stewart befriended as an undercover wildlife cop, a few more were nearby, ready to fall from the poaching tree.

Stewart went undercover for weeks and months - sometimes for more than a year - at great expense to the Ohio Division of Wildlife. The courts seldom meted out punishment to fit the wildlife crimes.

Lake Erie fishermen will be amazed by the Conneaut Harbor bust of sport anglers who were more than eager to illegally sell yellow perch. It seemed almost everyone in town was in on the game. Finding perch fillets for sale was not difficult for Stewart, even while he bided his time at the local Moose Lodge, buying drinks and making friends with wildlife agency cash.

Cleveland author Craig J. Heimbuch's "And Now We Shall Do Manly Things" chronicles a somewhat humorous, year-long effort to become a hunter (Harper Collins, 326 pp, $15.99). It is a very timid attempt at achieving manliness, and overloaded with angst.

A journalist and city boy, Heimbuch gets a taste of the outdoors by visiting L.L. Bean, the trendy Maine outdoor shop, where he proposes to his wife. Work and a new family consume him until out of the blue, Heimbuch's father gives him a venerable over-and-under shotgun - a gun his father had used to kill more than his share of game birds.

Heimbuch begins a stumbling, bumbling and sometimes humorous journey to being a manly hunter, with the immediate goal of joining his Minnesota relatives to hunt pheasants. He badly wants to be an outdoorsy guy. Heimbuch outfits himself L.L. Bean-style, and even heads to the Maine outfitter's school to learn to shoot clay targets. He envies TV hunter and wild game chef Steven Rinella.

At long last, Heimbuch finally succeeds, killing a ruffed grouse and a pheasant. But even then, he's still a long ways from competent, asking himself if he should shoot the pheasant on the ground or wait for it to fly, which a real sportsman would.

Heimbuch shot it on the ground.
 
Some other good outdoor books for a cold winter's night

The hunting seasons have ended, and Mother Nature keeps messing up the winter fishing, making a good outdoor book a fine option at this time of year. Here are some new books that won't disappoint.

"No Shortage of Good Days" (Simon & Schuster, 210 pp., $24) is a collection of 20 essays by John Gierach, one of the best when it comes to bringing the heart and soul of fly fishing to anglers everywhere. Fly fishermen will find Gierach's latest book to be a great read, and non-anglers will discover the lure of a mountain stream through Gierach's special vision and brand of humor.

John Nagy does a superb job of creating "Steelheader's Journal" (Great Lakes Publishing, 190 pp., $39.95). It is designed for fishermen who want to keep track of their success, and jot down the critical components, by filling out the Tributary Log Information pages. Nagy adds just enough fishing information, from fishing knots to a pre-fishing check list and even inspiring quotes.

Tom Cross has fished all over Ohio for many years, so it's a natural the southern Ohio outdoor writer compiled "Fishing Ohio: An Angler's Guide to Over 200 Fishing Spots in the Buckeye State" (The Lyons Press, 362 pp, $18.95). The angling locations range from Euclid Creek, a tiny steelhead trout stream just east of Cleveland, to the sprawling Ohio River. It's not a particularly in-depth look at each fishing hole, but it's enough to wet an angler's whistle.

Richard Louv became a favorite author after he wrote the international bestseller, "Last Child in the Woods," a warning that our kids suffered from nature-deficit disorder. Next up, and a must read, is "The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age" (Algonquin Books, 330 pp., $14.95). Louv paints a very convincing picture of how experiencing the wonders of nature can make us smarter and healthier. It's a swift kick in the pants for people who can't find the time to enjoy the outdoors, and for parents who fail to take their children to the wild places that will help them flourish.

Boys basketball Note: Varsity games start at 7:30 unless noted.

Boys basketball

Note: Varsity games start at 7:30 unless noted.

CHAGRIN VALLEY CONFERENCE

Valley Division

Cardinal at Fairport, 6:30

LAKE ERIE LEAGUE

Bedford at #24 Maple Heights, 2

NONLEAGUE

Canton McKinley at Shaw

Christian Community at Open Door

Clearview at Lorain

East Tech at Start, 8

John Marshall at Holy Name

Kent Roosevelt at Aurora, 1

Lake Ridge Academy at Cornerstone Christian

Madison Comprehensive at Cloverleaf

Mansfield Senior at #7 St. Vincent-St. Mary

Martin Luther King Jr. at #22 Barberton

New London at Black River

#13 North Royalton at #14 Brecksville-Broadview Heights

Padua at Normandy

Riverside at Harvey

Western Reserve Academy at Kiski School, 6:30

Girls basketball

Note: Varsity games start at 7:30 unless noted.

CHAGRIN VALLEY CONFERENCE

Chagrin Division

West Geauga at #20 Kenston, 6:30

Metro Division

#25 Beachwood at #21 Cuyahoga Heights, 1:30

Wickliffe at Hawken, 5

Valley Division

Cardinal at Berkshire, 6:30

Kirtland at Newbury, 2:30

LAKE ERIE LEAGUE

Euclid at Shaw, 3

Lorain at Cleveland Heights

Maple Heights at Bedford, 2

Warrensville Heights at Warren G. Harding, 2

NORTH COAST LEAGUE

Blue Division

#7 Archbishop Hoban at Beaumont, 2:30

#12 Walsh Jesuit at Lake Catholic

NORTHEAST OHIO CONFERENCE

Lake Division

Brush at Garfield Heights, 1:30

Cuyahoga Falls at Valley Forge, 2

Normandy at Parma, 2:30

River Division

Elyria at North Royalton, 2:30

Valley Division

#4 Hudson at #1 Twinsburg

#14 Mentor at #5 Solon, 4

PATRIOT ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Stars Division

Black River at Buckeye

Firelands at Brookside, 2:30

Stripes Division

Brooklyn at Columbia

Fairview at Clearview

PORTAGE TRAIL CONFERENCE

County Division

Ravenna at Waterloo

Metro Division

Lutheran West at Oberlin

Crossover

Mogadore at Springfield, 2:30

#24 Southeast at Crestwood

PREMIER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Eastlake North at Willoughby South, 1

Madison at Chardon, 2:30

NONLEAGUE

Akron Garfield at Field, 2:30

Akron North at Highland, 2:30

Barberton at Revere, 2:30

Buchtel at #17 Lake Ridge Academy, 2:30

Christian Community at Open Door Christian

East Tech at Cleveland Central Catholic

Fairless at Green, 2:30

#2 Hathaway Brown vs. Notre Dame Academy at Bowling Green State University, 3

John Marshall at Berea, 1

Lake Center Christian School at Lutheran East, 2:30

#23 Lakewood at #6 Magnificat, 2

Laurel at Western Reserve Academy, 3:30

#22 Manchester at Marlington, 1:30

Massillon Washington at Akron East, 2:30

#10 Midpark at Clyde, 1:30

Midview at Avon Lake, 2:30

Newton Falls at Garrettsville Garfield, 2:30

Norwayne at Cloverleaf, 1:30

Olmsted Falls at Avon, 2:30

Rootstown at Our Lady of the Elms, 2:30

St. Thomas Aquinas at Coventry, 2:30

Streetsboro at Alliance, 12:30

#3 Wadsworth at Berlin Hiland

Wrestling

OHSAA DUAL TEAM TOURNAMENT

State quarterfinals

At St. John Arena (Columbus)

DIVISION I

#1 St. Edward vs. #8 Pickerington Central, 11 a.m.

#5 Oregon Clay vs. #4 Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 11 a.m.

#3 Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller vs. #6 Centerville, 1:15 p.m.

#7 Marysville vs. #2 Massillon Perry, 1:15 p.m.

DIVISION II

#1 St. Paris Graham vs. #8 The Plains Athens, 11 a.m.

#5 Toledo Central Catholic vs. #4 Lexington, 11 a.m.

#3 Uhrichsville Claymont vs. #6 Perry, 1:15 p.m.

#7 Hamilton Ross vs. #2 Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, 1:15

DIVISION III

#1 Delta vs. #8 Keystone, 11 a.m.

#5 Upper Sandusky vs. #4 Versailles, 11 a.m.

#3 Amanda-Clearcreek vs. #6 Johnstown Northridge, 1:15 p.m.

#7 Blanchester vs. #2 Tuslaw, 1:15 p.m.

Note: Semifinal matches will begin at 3:30 p.m. and finals matches will begin at 8 p.m.

Hockey

BARON CUP SEMIFINALS

At John M. Coyne Recreation Center

BARON CUP I

#1 St. Ignatius vs. #4 University School, 5:30

#7 Holy Name vs. #3 Shaker Heights, 8

BARON CUP III

#1 Mayfield vs. #4 Midview, 1

#2 North Canton Hoover vs. #6 Parma, 3