Remembering 41-14.

About 11 years ago, I was walking through the now-defunct Long's Bookstore in Columbus, Ohio, looking for a black Ohio State Buckeyes hat to wear to a game.

I walked past the bargain bin and did a double take. I just laid my eyes upon the perfect hat.

Black. Ohio State logo. The little plastic rip-and-tear head size tag. And, let's not forget the price tag...$5.99. Like I said, perfect.

I pulled out my credit card and bought three.

(In hindsight, I wished I would've bought more.)

The first hat was lost around 1998 by a solo gigantic wave during a drunken, night excursion at Hunting Island, South Carolina.

The second one was pitched into the trash after Ohio State defeated Miami in the BCS National Championship in 2002.

The third one is now a nasty shade of brown from the wear and tear of five continuous years of blood, sweat and tears. And although I still wear it proudly, I'll be the first to tell you that it's seen its last days.

That's why I finally broke down and told my wife-to-be that if Ohio State wins the National Championship tonight, I'm going to finally pitch my old hat into the trash and begin my search for a new, black Ohio State hat to wear triumphantly into my 40's.

Hell, I may even buy three and start the whole process again.

The hat is one of many reasons that I've got that bittersweet taste in my mouth as I count down the hours to tonight's game.

To be honest, I really haven't touched base too much on the Buckeyes making it to the National Championship game since it was announced in early December.

For one, I thought the Bucks postseason game was going to be played out against USC in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.

Maybe I'm still shocked. Maybe I'm hesitant to say anything at all.

Maybe I'm thinking about 41-14.

Yep I think that's it.

41-14. Ech.

Word around the campfire was that OSU Coach Jim Tressel had the Ohio State video guys make DVD's for the Ohio State players to take home and watch. You can see a snippet of it right here.

Word around the campfire was that the players were dead silent as they watched the DVD together the first time during a team meeting.

"Ouch. Point taken, coach!"

In a funny anectdotal story written by Tim May in today's Columbus Dispatch, LSU Head Coach Les Miles said his team was going to watch the movie 300 to get psyched up for the game.

May wrote:

As for the Buckeyes, senior right tackle and co-captain Kirk Barton was asked yesterday what movie he and his teammates might take in on the eve of the game.

"Film," he said.

Which film?

"Game film," he said.

Well played sir. Well played.

In any event, I'll be at The Winking Lizard in Peninsula drinking beer, eating wings and rooting on the Buckeyes with my good friend (and fellow, former OSU scoreboard operator) Eric.

Oh yeah, my brown Ohio State hat will there too.

Hopefully, playing it's final swan song on top of my head.

LLLLLoyd, sorry to see ya go.

Well, even before Ohio State's 14-3 win over Michigan at the Big House on Saturday, I heard murmurs and rumors that Lloyd Carr was going to step down as head coach of the Maize and Blue.

Although his scowl will be missed, I can't see him staying away from a football field for too long. In a year or two, I wouldn't be surprised to see him heading onto the NFL as an assistant coach or even coaching a lower-tier Division 1 WAC or MAC college team.

I was going to write a big send off, but Columbus Dispatch Sport Reporter Bob Hunter said it all in a poignant Carr column, which ran today. Check it out right here.

However, I will say this - the guy definitely left many a Ohio State fan dejected in the 90's. All of those Michigan wins still sting like they happened yesterday. I mean, whenever anyone utters the word 'Biakabatuka' - I still feel a singe crawl up the back of my spine. And, for that, I know Carr's angry grimace will be remembered by Buckeye Nation everywhere.

Now I'm curious to see who they hire as Jim Tressel's Megatron.

Go Bucks!

Nuff Said....

For This Sports Fan, It's Rocktoberfest.

Here are some miscellaneous thoughts concerning all the miscellaneous sports debris swirling around in my head. In copywriter bullet points, of course:

EIMER NOTE: I've included Monday updates in RED.

• Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees
  Now I'm not a real major league baseball fan, but I do tend to perk up when the postseason rolls around. In case you missed the Indians 12-3 win over the Yankees last night, you'll have a chance to catch them again on TBS tonight (5 p.m), Sunday, Monday and - probably - Wednesday. I think it's great to see the underdog Indians in the AL playoffs against the three biggest salary teams in baseball (Red Sox, Yankees and Angels). In a sense, this year's team reminds me of that 2001-2002 New England Patriots squad that came out of nowhere to win the SuperBowl. Can't wait to see how the Yankees fans treat Cleveland on Sunday especially if the Tribe is up 2-0. EIMER NOTE: Well, I didn't think the Indians would go 3-0. I knew the Yankees had to win at least one to keep Torre on the staff. Although, if the Yanks don't make it to the World Series this year, I would bet on Steinbrenner showing Torre the door. How about that Game 2! Awesome.
  
• Ohio State at Purdue. (8 p.m., Saturday)
  Last year at this time, my girlfriend and I had these great plans to hop aboard one of those charter buses, drink some beer and head out to the Ohio State/Purdue game that's taking place at 8 p.m. in West Lafayette on Saturday. She graduated from Purdue (with a master's at Ohio State). I'm an Ohio State alum. Suffice to say, she was excited to hook up with old friends and I was excited for a little Buckeyes football on the road. As they say, if you want to make God laugh, chart out a plan. By December of last year, she was knocked up, again. Now, ten months later, we'll be watching the game at home with our 2-week old son and 16-month old daughter, while her two siblings (with spouses in tow) will be traveling out to Indiana to visit little sister (a Purdue freshman) and going to the soldout game compliments of dad. I'm not going to dwell on this, because I've got a great son who's healthy,wealthy and wise not to mention...Eh, fuck it. Yeah, I'm a little bummed, but I'll get over it. That said, I'm really looking forward to this game between two undefeated Big Ten teams. In short, Purdue (5-0) is a bit cocky, but has not been proven. Ohio State (5-0), on the other, hand beat Washington and, well, um that's but. But, 23-year-old junior Boeckman is becoming a great leader and quarterback so I'm picking them to win a loud stadium. And it's a night game to boot, which is a little scary for OSU fans. Remember what happened at Penn State a couple years back? Let's hope there's not a Gold Out. Or even better, a Black Out. Did I ever mention that Tracy and I should be at that fucking game? EIMER NOTE: To be honest, I was hoping for a little bit of a closer game. But, hey with Stanford knocking off USC, the Bucks moved up to No. 3 in the polls. In all honesty, I can see Ohio State playing California in a BCS bowl at the end of the year, which could end up being the championship game. Once again, Michigan stands in the way.
  
• Florida vs. LSU (8 p.m. Saturday)
  If you have that little utility button on your remote control that can put a small screen up on your television, I suggest you put this game up the same time you're watching the Buckeyes/Purdue game. After Florida's stinging loss last week to Auburn on a last-second field goal, I'm pretty sure the Gators are a little pissed and want a little payback. On the other hand, LSU is coming off a modest win against a creampuff Tulane team last week. Don't know about you, but I see an upset special chugging down the track. EIMER NOTE: Hey, it was a great game to watch. I honestly thought Tebow and the Gators had the momentum to knock these guys off. Turns out I was wrong. Oh well. Bye, Bye Gators.
  
• Michigan Wolverines
  Remember that Wolverines post I had a couple weeks ago? You don't? Well here it is. I just knew Mike Hart, Chad Henne, Lloyd Carr and Mario Manningham wouldn't sit idly by and watch their season get flushed down the toilet. The ship has been righted and Hart looks unstoppable. But, after they roll over Eastern Michigan this week, they've got some strong Big Ten matchups waiting in the wings against Purdue, Wisconsin and the Buckeyes. Keep your eye on the Wolverines/Badgers game on November 11. Mark my words, that game will tell the tale of the whole Big Ten championship. EIMER NOTE: With the Wisconsin loss scratch the last remark. Instead, I'll be keeping track on how Illinois is doing from now on. I thought the Illini's Penn State win was a fluke. Looks like Ron Zook has the underdog Illini believing they can do anything. Michigan's schedule just got a bit more interesting with Purdue next week followed by a road trip to Illinois on Oct. 20.
  
• Cleveland Browns
  I'll admit I'm privy to the Steelers. But living in Northeast Ohio, you can't help but get excited that this team is finally winning some games. Even some big games. Okay they got blown out by the Steelers in game one, which was inevitable. But to have some strong wins against division rivals the Ravens and the Bengals not to mention an almost-win on the road against Oakland. Well, it's just nice to see that this team is starting to get their shit together. What did it take? 8 years. Concerning this week's game at New England: The Patriots don't care about the Browns. They're looking to next week's matchup against the Cowboys. I honestly think this game will be close and I look for Anderson to chalk up some big passing numbers and, of course, a couple of picks. EIMER NOTE: Well I was wrong here as well. New England is just making the NFL look too easy. If there was an interstellar football game against aliens from different galaxies , I would pick these guys to represent our planet. That's how good I think the Patriots are. Like I said, next week's game against the Cowboys will tell the tale.
  
• Lebron James
  He's wearing the Yankees hat. He's performing on Saturday Night Live. He's best buds with Jay-Z, who happens to be part owner of the New Jersey Nets. It's also stipulated in his Nike contract that he'll make even more money if he plays for a West or East coast team. That said, be on the lookout for this guy in a Knicks or Nets jersey by the time he's 30. What? You really thought he was going to stay in Cleveland forever? Pffffft. EIMER NOTE: Nothing new on this one. He's leaving Cleveland in seven years if not sooner.
  
• All-Steroid Olympics
  If the regular Olympics and an all-steroid Olympics were broadcasting the same exact event at the same exact time on different channels, which one would you watch? I would have to go with the steroid Olympics. Just imagine all the anger. I betcha it would make one helluva highlight reel as well. Plus, Bob Costas could do those intimate athlete spotlights on how the profiled track star got into steroids, what types of steroids they use, and lets not forget before and after pictures and family soundbytes.
  
• Bend It Over Like Beckham
  Okay. Okay. After thinking about it for a couple months, I'm pretty sure I would bang Posh Spice Beckham for one night. And only one night. Then the next morning, around 6 a.m., I would kick her to the curb. But not until after we ate a Grand Slam Breakfast at Denny's. Then she'd be history.

The Big Ten Network Bend Over.

This whole Big Ten Cable Network/Ohio State Buckeyes football-thing is a bit unnerving.

The Big Ten commissioner is putting it upon us - the Ohio State football fans - to call our local cable providers and demand that they put the Big Ten network on our cable box so we can watch the first two Ohio State football games of 2007.

"Hey, it's not my problem," he's saying to the press. "Your cable company doesn't offer the Big Ten Network, so you have to do something about it, not me."

Otherwise you have four options: listen to it on the radio, go to a bar, head over to someone's house with DirectTV (or Insight Cable I just found out) or simply buy a ticket to the game.

It doesn't take a chemical engineer to know what all this is about...Dead Presidents. Dead Green Presidents. And no, not George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. The big ones.

This is the same thing that happened with the Ohio State/Indiana game last year, which was broadcast on ESPNU. Sure, a couple people bitched, but the cable companies balked. Good for them I say. You know what I did during that particular ass-whopping? I went to a bar and hung out with a good friend that I hadn't seen in a while. It was pretty fun.

And you know the SEC, PAC-10 and other NCAA conferences are keeping a close eye on the outcome of this situation. The greedy bastards.

Let's be honest. The only reason you want the Big Ten network is for the first two football games.

"No way, Eimer! I want the Big Ten network for Ohio State basketball games as well."

Oh really? So you want to watch some shitty, early-season Ohio State basketball games that will be played in a half-filled arena?

"Uh nooooo. I also want it to watch other Big Ten and Ohio State sports as well. And let's not forget about the great Big Ten news coverage that will be coming in."

Hmmmm, is that so? Let's say it's a weekday night and you're flipping through your 600 channels and accidentally flip to some OSU men's volleyball game on the Big Ten channel. So, you're telling me that you're going to jump out of your seat and scream...

"Fuck Lost. Fuck Survivor. Fuck Battlestar Galactica and Fuck The Office. This is the programming I want to watch tonight!"

Unless you have a relative or a friend of an athlete that's playing in a second-tier Big Ten sport (e.g. lacrosse, soccer, track and field etc.) or you're a scout for an upcoming game - you're not going to watch it.

You may think you're going to. You may even check out one play. Only one. Just to say you watched it. But, trust me when I say this. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WATCH THE BIG TEN NETWORK.

Never. Ever. Ever.

Okay, okay, you may watch 20 minutes of Big Ten Synchronized Swimming, but that's it. (I mean who doesn't want to watch girls with beautiful legs swimming around a pool?)

You know who I feel like? Mel Gibson in Ransom. But, in this case, my 'son' is the OSU Buckeyes football team and the 'kidnappers' are the Big Ten network.

You know what? I'm going on national television (i.e. this blog) to thumb my nose to the greedy kidnappers and say "Give me back my son."

But you still have a chance to do the right thing," Gibson character said to the kidnappers in the movie. "If you don't, well, then, God be with you, because nobody else on this Earth will be."

Fuck the Big Ten Network. And Fuck the higher bill for having this stupid network on our cable.

I'll be at the Winking Lizard in Peninsula, Ohio, watching the first two Buckeye football games. See you there.

Football Bucks #2 in the past decade.

This past week, I've been counting down the top NCAA football teams of the past decade on ESPN.com.

Fifteen college football experts and analysts ranked all 119 Division I-A programs, taking into account record, traditions, recruiting, facilities, coaches, attendance and support, among other criteria. It's a fairly big task, but I think they pretty much hit it on the nose.

Plus, you gotta love the retro-Donkey Kong graphics on the lead-in page.

Count 'em down right here.

I'm not surprised that Ohio State is second. Check out their win percentage. It's insane. Even higher than USCs win%.

One surprise, to me, is Boise State at #19? Who would have thought that?

Another cool thing is that five Big Ten teams made the top 25: Iowa, Penn State, The Buckeyes, Michigan and Wisconsin. Purdue was 33rd.

Nice representation. Easy conference my ass.