Bizarre 11W delight at getting Alabama center McLaughlin

Submitted by MMBbones on January 6th, 2024 at 12:38 PM

This probably ties in with the Hinzman post below, but seems separately interesting.

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2024/01/144610/former-alabama-center-seth-mclaughlin-transfers-to-ohio-state#comments

I'm not one to argue McLauglin gave M the win, but I definitely appreciate his contributions to the cause.

But the delight in the comments at having him go to Ohio seem delusional beyond words:

"BOOM - there it is / this is a start of a banner filled day"

"He hates Michigan so much, he joined the good guys for the 100 Ryan is going to hang on them later this year."

"The foundation is being set for success - this is a huge commit for our Buckeyes"

"In my mind I hope he chose us solely for the purpose of getting revenge on those cheating bastards lol  "

And these comments are mega-upvoted.

Granted, maybe, MGoBlog is a fair representation of our fanbase and 11W is dominated by their fringe lunatics, but...wow. 

And maybe McLaughlin will snap so well in the snake pit next year that it will somehow be the difference that costs M the game. If so, I apologize for this post.

 

Derek

January 6th, 2024 at 12:54 PM ^

Too many layers, I guess: my implication was that he's joining OSU as a saboteur. I don't think he's going to become a good center this offseason, so we should expect him to perform similarly in November against a better version of his tormentors. Why sign up for that experience? Because he embraces them.

Bo Harbaugh

January 6th, 2024 at 2:04 PM ^

OSU down so bad right now.  How do I know?....sound like our fanbase prior to the past 3 seasons of success.

1) Call rival "cheaters" every time you lose, even though all of CFB engaging in same behavior

2) Call rival "classless" after losing

3) Celebrate every recruiting "victory"

4) Highlight of the year is rooting for your rival to lose after you've crapped your season away

 

The only difference is OSU fanbase and staff are so broken that they need delusion and conspiracy to make it through the day. After 20 years of losing to them, we eventually accepted that they were just the better program.

The dissonance here is incredible and I'm loving it and all the Ryan Day apologism.  Any outsider without an agenda can see the obvious, as teams are a reflection of their coach...

Harbaugh is built for this, he's weird and corny and abrasive- but is a hell of a coach that forces his toughness and work ethic onto his teams. 

Day is a soft character who believes games are won simply with recruiting stars and a creative playbook. His team and fanbase is soft and full of excuses just like him.

Robbie Moore

January 6th, 2024 at 2:58 PM ^

As a head coach I prefer former tough guy players who are proven leaders of men. Like Harbaugh, Dan Campbell and DeMeco Ryans. Unlike, say, Ryan Day. Not the the highly analytic nerds or the mega recruiters can’t succeed. I believe, however, that tough guy leaders of men give me a much better chance at success.

By the way, the next head coach of Ohio State will be Mike Vrabel.

S.D. Jones

January 6th, 2024 at 3:08 PM ^

There was an Urban quote on 11W recently that was the subject of a whole thread sticky with Bucknut juice: something like "Show me a guy who chokes his opponent after losing a game of checkers. I want him on my team."

Just gross. I would want the guy who loses, slaps his knee, says "same time tomorrow" then plays Checkers Simulator for the next 23 hrs. But hey, I'm not Urban. 

lhglrkwg

January 6th, 2024 at 12:45 PM ^

I am quaking in my boots at the moves OSU is making this offseason. What hope do we have for next season when this is what Day is doing for them

  • A lateral move at QB
  • Adding the worst center I've ever watched

It's been a good run guys

Romeo50

January 6th, 2024 at 12:45 PM ^

Seems like ridden out on a rail would land him in Syracuse but expecting lessons learned from the "We don't come to play school" crowd is hardly surprising. I am sure the fanbase will be forgiving.

maquih

January 6th, 2024 at 12:47 PM ^

He clearly had some psychological problem snapping the ball, which a change of scenery could certainly help.  

But yeah, it's grasping at straws to think a mediocre center is going to change anything for them.

MMBbones

January 6th, 2024 at 1:50 PM ^

Fair point. But back in M engineering school, we were graded against the curve. 

Aside from asserting, probably correctly, that M has no peers, is there a better way to confirm the Michigan difference than belittling all pretenders to the throne?

1VaBlue1

January 6th, 2024 at 12:50 PM ^

Chef's kiss...

I mean, maybe he's there to play guard?  Bit small for that, though, isn't he?  I think he's 305, or somewhere in that neighborhood.  Standing next to me, that guy would be a giant MONSTER of a man.  But next Keegan or Zinter?  Laughably small...

Perkis-Size Me

January 6th, 2024 at 12:55 PM ^

Ooooh look at me I’m shaking in my little space boots…..

I know what I watched from that guy. His bad snaps, at this point, are a feature of his game, not a bug. If Nick Saban couldn’t coach that out of him, who can? Either way, Mason Graham is looking forward to reintroducing himself next year. 

If OSU wants to get stoked about a lateral move at QB and one of the worst centers I’ve seen in some time, then freaking go for it.