Ohio State has released its national championship highlight video
I’m not sure what took Ohio State nearly two months to release its official national championship highlight video, but it was worth the wait. The Buckeyes regularly crank out great video content, and this is no different.
Basically, there’s nothing Urban Meyer’s program doesn’t do and do well.
(via CFT)
Brent Brennan to Gary Andersen: “Are you trying to put together the best group you can or not?”
Brent Brennan was in a precarious position. His old boss, Mike Riley, had left for Nebraska and left the rest of his staff in limbo. The new boss, Gary Andersen, was getting his old band back together.
Brennan had an interview with Andersen for his old job, but he was up against two other coaches. Andersen wanted to talk with the other candidates first before making a decision.
“I said, ‘How do you know they’re better than me?'” Brennan told Gina Mizell of the Oregonian. “And (Andersen) smiled and was like, ‘I like that.’ I was like, ‘Well they’re not (better), so are you trying to put together the best group you can or not?’
“He just kept laughing. I just went for it. I was like, ‘What do I have to lose?'”
In reality, Brennan had proven his worth before to Andersen before he was even hired, recruiting for Oregon State, making the new staff aware of recruiting inroads the previous staff had established, and breaking down film of the returning players.
“I didn’t know what choice I had,” Brennan said. “What, I’d go home and just sit on my (butt) and not do anything? I just felt silly doing that.”
So he got to work preparing for 2015 whether his new boss was aware of his plans or not.
The FootballScoop Spring Tour
Next week we’re rolling out on the annual Spring Tour. Yes, that means @OT_Software and myself popping up at 10 or so of your favorite programs.
You might recall a few years back we traversed the Pac-12…and then we did Notre Dame & a good slug of the Big Ten programs. There are stories…for days. Always a great time visiting programs with Mike from OT.
This year, we’re leaving Monday, heading up to Oklahoma first and then making way across the great state of Texas. Some of our stops will include Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Tulsa, Texas, Baylor, SMU, TCU, Texas A&M & Houston; but there will be others. Follow along the next two weeks on Twitter & on the site as we visit with coaches & support staff here there and everywhere and help tell their stories. Should be a great ride.
Michigan native @Coach_Samz did the Big Ten tour last time. This year, he’s snowed in and will remain up in Michigan with the keys to the site.
FootballScoop’s resident Texan, @Zach_Barnett will hitch a ride this year, serving as backseat driver / navigator / trip scribe.
We’ll have pictures, stories and some video from each program with visit.
If anyone has any food, drink or other required stops along our path, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We’re going to have some fun. Hope you guys enjoy following along.
Where are your players hanging out on social media? Probably not Twitter
On Wednesday we heard from a recruiting director that Twitter is no longer the preferred social media outlet of today’s high school and college athlete. Today the athletes themselves have confirmed it.
Our friends at Fieldhouse Media conducted a survey of 927 college athletes (80 percent of whom participate in Division I) on the lay of the land – as it stands this second – on social media for today’s young person. What they said? Among the Big Four platforms – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat – the typical college athlete is least likely to possess a Twitter account and least likely use Twitter as his or her primary social medium.
Social Platform Presence
94% are on Facebook
89% are on Snapchat
81% are on Instagram
73% are on TwitterMost Used Social Media Platform
33% said Instagram
29% said Facebook
21% said Snapchat
13% said TwitterArizona’s Matt Dudek told us yesterday Twitter is still the preferred outlet for recruiters, and we agree. Facebook has been taken over by the aunt you see twice a year, Snapchat is still viewed as the Wild West of social media, and Instagram requires a photo to be sent in any private conversation. Twitter isn’t perfect, but it’s the simplest, cleanest outlet for disseminating information. Today’s athletes, apparently, don’t agree.
Some other fun stuff:
43% spend more than an hour a day on social media
3% have posted to social media during a game
22% have responded to hateful tweets from fans
20% have tweeted something inappropriate
45% say they’ve received no social media trainingIt’s an interesting survey. Check it out.
“It comes down to you”: Inside the dream (and nightmare) of kickers
Back in the 2012 Fiesta Bowl, all eyes were on Stanford kicker Jordan Williamson as he lined up for a field goal at the end of regulation against Oklahoma State with the score tied at 38 a piece.
The first attempt came from the middle of the field and the 35-yard attempt would have won the game…but it sailed wide left. Then, in overtime, Williamson had a shot at redemption with a 43-yard try, but he missed that as well.
Oklahoma State went on to kick the game winning field goal in overtime to win 38-35, and when an emotional Williamson got to the locker room and pulled out his phone, he had over 100 texts and nearly 2,000 Facebook friend requests (mostly from Oklahoma State fans) along with countless Facebook messages that said everything from “I hope they pull your scholarship” and “I hope you die,” to “I hope the team ties you up in the locker room and beats you,” in much more colorful language
In the video below, Williamson says that after returning to campus he didn’t go to class for two weeks, and opted to stay secluded in his room trying to sleep the day away and later turning to alcohol to numb his pain. When he did eventually venture out of he tried to fly under the radar by not wearing any Stanford gear, for fear of being recognized.
The turning point for him was months down the road, during November of the 2012 regular season against #2 ranked Oregon up in Eugene. After missing a pivotal 42-yard field goal in regulation that would have sent the Cardinal to the Pac-12 title game, Williamson jogged off the field and looked at David Shaw who told him, in the simplest of terms, “You need to grow up and start making those kicks.”
Instead of being upset at the straightforward approach from his head coach, Williamson realized he was right, and returned the the field in overtime tied at 14 for another field goal attempt…and nailed this one
This video chronicles the story of Williamson’s mindset and journey from lining up for the game winner in that Fiesta Bowl, to the implications it had on his life in the months afterwards, and finally to his return to the field and legendary status after nailing that kick in OT against the Ducks.
It’s not just kickers, this is a great reminder that there are players, people, and coaches behind some of the biggest tragedies and triumphs in college football, and sports in general.
Ohio State has released its national championship highlight video
I’m not sure what took Ohio State nearly two months to release its official national championship highlight video, but it was worth the wait. The Buckeyes regularly crank out...
