Unverified Voracity Ohio Ohio Ohio OHIO Comment Count

Brian

cartoon[1]

On "Ohio" (not that OHIO). In 1995, Ohio sued OHIO(!!!) so they could use "Ohio" on shirts and stuff. Sweet Jesus that's a confusing sentence. A little clarity:

On Dec. 16, Ohio State University filed a petition with the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office to cancel Ohio University's trademark of "Ohio." The trademark, which was granted by the federal trademark office in 1995, applies to what is called a "secondary use" -- a use limited to university athletic events, entertainment and apparel.

In an op-ed run by The Dayton Daily News and The (Toledo) Blade, Ohio University Vice President for University Relations Adrie Nab said: "CNN, ESPN, the wire services, USA Today and most other national media refer in sports stories to Ohio University as 'Ohio,' just as they call Indiana University 'Indiana,' just as they call the University of Michigan 'Michigan.' The University of Michigan has a trademark for 'Michigan.' Indiana holds a trademark for 'Indiana.' Why shouldn't Ohio University hold a trademark for 'Ohio'?"

So call Ohio Ohio all you want. After all, Ohio tried to claim Ohio for its own, even taking it to the legal system when OHIO(!!!) wouldn't let them use "Ohio" for Ohio's desired purposes.

I'm going to lie down now and breathe into a paper bag.

LeVert visit. OHIO(!!!) decommit Caris Levert has scheduled some initial visits. There are three to Dayton, Purdue, and Michigan. "Xavier and maybe others" are also on the docket with a decision scheduled within a month. A Rivals dude claimed M, Purdue, and Iowa were LeVert's top three a couple days back.

Um… okay. An addendum to the BCS's anti-home-game arguments:

Where are people going to stay if Oregon hosts a semifinal game? In Portland?

Wherever they stay now? Also Portland is two hours away. I think people can deal. The BCS thinks this is an insurmountable logistical disaster.

Jason Kirk has some more details on the average capacity of a home semifinals, FWIW. Elsewhere, Dan Wetzel bombs the BCS boondoogle. This is a small portion of the money college football is burning by letting blazer-clad stripper enthusiasts run their postseason:

Major bowl games have the money. The most recent federal tax filings of Sugar Bowl Inc. show it ended its fiscal year with $34.2 million in assets, including $12.5 million in cash and $20.8 million in publicly traded securities. CEO Paul Hoolahan pocketed $593,718 in total compensation.

While financial numbers from this year aren't publicly available, the last time the Sugar Bowl "double hosted" – it's namesake game and the BCS title game – it did $34.1 million in revenue and turned an $11.6 million profit. Since the game enjoys a 501 (c) (3) non-profit status, that was all tax free.

The Sugar Bowl ran a 34% profit margin that year. I bet a dollar none of the four teams made out so well.

Compher impresses. I've been throwing links on the sidebar detailing the performances of Jacob Trouba and JT Compher at the U18 world championships that the USA just dominated to win their third-straight gold medal. Both impressed. Trouba was expected to, but as an underager no one really knew what to expect from Compher. They got a performance that belied his years:

J.T. Compher — The 1995-born center was a revelation in the tournament. His high-energy style, speed and grit make him a versatile threat. Not only does he possess the qualities of an energy-line type player, he also has offensive touch. Compher scored two goals, each coming in big games. He scored Team USA’s first goal in the semifinal against Canada and its third in the gold-medal game against Sweden. Compher has a good shot and decent enough puck skills, but he creates with his power and speed. His forechecking led to a few U.S. goals and his line with Frankie Vatrano and Matt Lane was probably Team USA’s most consistent in the tournament. It’s hard to believe Compher was an under-ager with the way he played this year. Draft eligible in 2013. Committed to the University of Michigan.

I still wish Michigan could pick up some of the little scoring dynamos Miami is bringing in. They had two in this tournament, one for 2012 and one 2013. Midgets with a mid-round NHL grade are a great opportunity to have a high-talent guy the NHL is willing to leave in college.

An odd path. Michigan fans were introduced to walk-on QB Alex Swieca when he came on late in the spring game. He's an interesting guy who took a path to Michigan football odder than anyone in recent memory:

With a passion for football that dates back to his early childhood, the Manhattan product started playing flag football in third grade and attended numerous tackle football camps as he got older. Growing up on the upper East Side, he had long desired to play collegiate football.

His aspiration to play tackle football was initially hindered when he entered the Frisch School, a Jewish day school in New Jersey that didn’t have a football team. Swieca decided to wrestle during his four years at Frisch, to quench his competitive drive. He continued to play football in recreational leagues, and attended camps during the summer.

After high school, Swieca deferred his enrollment to Michigan, opting to take a year to study in Israel. With the suggestion of his brother, Mike, Alex joined the Judean Rebels of the Israel Football League — a four-year-old amateur tackle football league in Israel that plays eight men on each side.

While taking academic courses during the day, Swieca traveled to Jerusalem twice a week for practice and traveled all over the country to play weekly Thursday night games.

He'd probably start at an ACC school with that Thursday night experience. Also I think the Judean Rebels should rename themselves the Judean People's Front as soon as possible.

NIT opponents, possibly. Other headliners in the Preseason NIT are Pitt, Kansas State, and Virginia. If that seems kind of weak, yeah. Michigan got a 4-seed last year, Kansas State an 8, Virginia a 10, and Pitt did not qualify for the tourney.

Despite losing Frank Martin, K-State does return almost everyone else, losing only a 6'7" guy who played 60% of KSU minutes. Virginia loses Mike Scott, a KPOY contender, and a starting guard. Pitt loses two starters as well. Pitt does have a strong recruiting class.

Even so, Michigan should be looking to win this thing.

JIM DELANY POWER RANKINGS.

1. Jim Delany again recounts the tale of the BTN's formation in which former ESPN CEO and notable failure Mark Shapiro taunts the B10 into action.

JIM DELANY FINGERBANG THREAT LEVEL: Shapiro sat across the table, smirking. Again. The little brat had just proposed a game show in which Big Ten coaches would perform Fear Factor-like stunts for the privilege of getting off ESPNU. "Take it," Shapiro said. "I can't guarantee this deal will be here tomorrow. You only have to wear the organ grinder outfit on gamedays."

Delany stares back blankly. Under the table, a fist with two raging fingers extended. The other hand soothingly caresses it. Soon, Delany thinks. Soon. Shapiro smirks. He has no other facial expression.

Yet.

Etc.: Brandon also shoots down the idea Michigan will return the Fab Five banners. Terry Richardson seems a bit more amenable to the idea of a redshirt these days. Witnesses seem to confirm the ballad of Josh Furman's lawyer. I'd guess he gets acquitted or whatever sticks is so minor it won't affect his availability this fall. UPDATE: Furman acquitted.

Zak Irvin scouting video.

Pulling guards are key for play action. Michigan did that plenty last year, but you kind of have to get a guy blocked to make it work.

Comments

Erik_in_Dayton

April 26th, 2012 at 12:20 PM ^

That's a disappointing roster of teams, IMO.  Michigan will at least get the chance to avenge  this year's loss to Virigina...Hopefully the Big Ten-ACC Challenge opponent is a top team (and not a someone like a decimated UNC, if they are in fact going to be decimated), otherwise Michigan's non-conference schedule next year isn't going to have any really marquee games.

MGoShoe

April 26th, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^

...of whether or not college towns have the infrastructure to support the throngs of media that would descend on a semifinal game, Andy Staples had this to say:

Hancock also tried to use the media as a reason campus sites aren't feasible. "Can Manhattan, Kan., take care of 1,200 media?" Hancock asked. "Where will people stay?" Well, Bill, I say this as a media member who routinely stays two hours from a game site because of outrageously priced or unavailable hotel rooms. In your hypothetical, there is this magical place called Kansas City. They have great barbecue there. You should know. You live there.

The entire piece is recommended for a well informed take on what's going on.

mGrowOld

April 26th, 2012 at 12:32 PM ^

This has probably been asked (and answered before) but when I first got active on the board you were one of the most prolific posters.  Then you left for an extended period of time and now you're back again.  Which is good btw because I always liked your comments.  

Two questions shoe.....why did you leave and what happended to make you come back?

M-Wolverine

April 26th, 2012 at 1:09 PM ^

Have they even gone to some of their bowls? How many people actually stay in Pasadena proper for the Rose Bowl? And do they know how long it takes to get there from most of LA on a game day? Heck, bigger bowls like the Cap 1 are in areas where no one wants to stay close to them.  And a lot of pro stadiums aren't any better equipped. Not many downtowns have been turned into entertainment centers like Indy.

TSWC

April 26th, 2012 at 8:05 PM ^

I've been to a few Rose Bowls and never stayed anywhere near Pasadena.

Also: Eugene and its surrounding towns have hotels. I went to the Oregon v ASU game last year and we got a room about 4 miles from the stadium without much trouble.

WolvinLA2

April 26th, 2012 at 1:00 PM ^

First of all - why are we concerned about the media?  They want to be there, they'll make it work.  It's not like if rooms are hard to come by, newspapers won't cover the national championship game.  And seriously, the Grand Rapids Press covers M games, and they have to drive 2 hours to do it, every time.  I'm sure 1,200 media members can figure out where to stay for a few nights. 

And it's not like these teams don't already play big home games.  When KSU is good, and Texas or Oklahoma come to town - where do the visiting fans stay?  For fans who can't find rooms in Manhattan and don't want to go all the way to KC, Topeka is less than an hour, and I bet they have hotels that aren't always booked in early January.

When USC had their huge game at Oregon last fall, I bet not everyone had to stay in Portland.  This is just ridiculous all around.  I almost wish the playoff would expand further than 4 teams just so they'd have to do home games.

TrppWlbrnID

April 26th, 2012 at 1:49 PM ^

at 6 or 8 pm, at least some time at night. it would not be a stretch to have a journalist fly in, get on a bus to the stadium and get back on the bus to the airport that night.

all this stuff is just smokescreen. the key is that along with the championship game, whoever is running this thing will have three games to auction off to the jerry joneses of the world and journalists and executives can make their travel plans 6 months in adavance instead of just a couple of weeks and be assured they end up in a posh box full of food and drinks. imagine that the home stadium scenario happened five years ago and the journalists and hoi-poloi end up squeezing into that leaky old press box with the drew sharpes of the world.

Erik_in_Dayton

April 26th, 2012 at 2:00 PM ^

This is all about being comfortable in the new money, lazy-ass way that sports executives have lived for the past fifty-odd years.  I lived in Kansas, and you can absolutely get to Manhattan from K.C. and back in a day, albeit a long day.  You can also stay in Topeka and Lawrence.  The problem, I think, is that you might not find a hotel that you can walk to from the stadium in which an aspiring local model serves you Asian fusion cuisine with Cajun french fries while you sit in a leather armchair and watch your own private television. 

NateVolk

April 26th, 2012 at 12:40 PM ^

Brian,

The heads of the Orange and Sugar Bowls called. They informed me that if you are going to bet that dollar that the bowls did better then the teams playing in them, they'll be happy to take the dollar and more than double it for you.  Doubling your money by being right is nothing compared to making it every year out of thin air with zero investment.

There will even be money left over for some discretionary nights out too. Just thought I'd pass that along.

Nate

M-Wolverine

April 26th, 2012 at 12:50 PM ^

But he does have this. There were a LOT of detractors out there on this whole BTN idea...and it's been nothing but a money-making machine. Maybe quite often a poorly run money-making machine, but one nonetheless.

baldurblue

April 26th, 2012 at 1:09 PM ^

I'm kind of amazed that the NCAA bends over for the bowls like they do.  The way I look at the situation, the bowl games have no inherent power, the power is in the NCAA and the schools, they bring the product.  If the NCAA and conferences decided to screw all the existing bowl games and create a new 16 team playoff, they could and the bowls would become completely useless.  What power do any of the big five bowls have if the NCAA decides to take the top 10 teams away and have them compete in a playoff?

To me, it looks like the power is all in the NCAA's hands if they wanted to take it.

seksdesk

April 26th, 2012 at 2:10 PM ^

Chaffinch brains. Jaguars' earlobes. Wolf nipple chips. Get 'em while their hot, their lovely. Dromedary pretzels, only half a dinar. Tuscany fried bats.

 

mgowill

April 26th, 2012 at 2:17 PM ^

So, if I understand this correctly -

Brady Hoke saying Ohio is bad.

Ohio State selling Ohio jerseys good.

Ohio State calling it Ohio Stadium good.

Ohio State spelling script Ohio good.

Ohio State fans spelling out Ohio good.

 

NoMoPincherBug

April 26th, 2012 at 3:48 PM ^

Great find on the Ohio trademark battle.  Hopefully the national media will pick up on that story, run it...and embarass them for trying to be something that they claim they are not trying to be.

"– it did $34.1 million in revenue and turned an $11.6 million profit. Since the game enjoys a 501 (c) (3) non-profit status, that was all tax free."

Well that is a pretty good PROFIT for a non-profit organization.  wtf

yoshfriedman

April 26th, 2012 at 11:53 PM ^

Is it weird that the brother of one of my roommates from study abroad was friends with him in high school?

Also as a guy who grew up playing as Michigan QB #13 in every version of NCAA Football ever, I find this oddly appropriate. What I wouldn't do to see him on the field at some point in the next four years. L'Chaim!