The Best Ohio State News/Writing Of August 28

It's Tuesday afternoon. They say Wednesday is the hump day, but you're feeling it even earlier than normal. Your only goal? Wait for your boss to bolt so you can fire up Google Reader or add some links to Pocket for the subway ride home. Who knows, maybe mentally you're already totally checked out. Either way, there were some solid Ohio State reads to take in in the last day or so, and they sure beat following up on those cold calls.

ON TRADITIONS

The venerable Doug Lesmerises revisits some good news from yesterday's presser: the traditions you've grown fond of aren't going anywhere. Meyer himself admitted he'd need protection at all times if they were. While Ohio State's latest head coach hopes to implement some new practices of his own, he still seeks to do right by those that came before him.

Cleveland Plain Dealer Doug Lesmerises "Ohio State coach Urban Meyer will keep game-day traditions and add one of his own"

So the past will be Meyer's tool, for bad and for good. Though he said the Buckeyes didn't have it when he was a graduate assistant in 1986 and 1987, he will retain the pregame walk that sends the players from the team hotel to St. John Arena for a short appearance at the Skull Session pep rally, and then on to Ohio Stadium, walking a path with fans on either side. And as Jim Tressel did, he plans to sing "Carmen Ohio" after games with the players.

"If he were to come in and revamp a lot of stuff, it would have taken some getting used to," Linsley said. "But the fact he's been so open to everything, I think that was one of the bigger things. That he was excited to embrace all the traditions, it really shows how much enthusiasm he really has."

ON TRANSITION

While much has been made about how dramatic of a departure Urban Meyer's offense and system will be from Jim Tressel's, the core principles of what drives the Buckeyes overall won't be all that different. The pace may be quicker, sure, but many of the things that worked before will still be ever-present.

Cleveland Plain Dealer Bill Livingston Ohio State prepares for a new era, but Urban Meyer's brand of Buckeyes football won't be as different from Jim Tressel's as you might think

In the team meeting room of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, behind a screen that had been pulled down for use in film study, is a board on which is written Meyer's victory formula: "1. Play great defense. 2. No turnovers. 3. Score in the red zone. 4. Win the kicking game."

"How do you play great defense? No turnovers," said Meyer, meaning control field position.

Like Tressel, Meyer spends a lot of time with the quarterbacks. Tressel's quarterbacking mantra was: "1. Avoid turnovers. 2. Make plays. 3. Make good decisions."

ON CHANGE

Ohio State's rabid fan base aren't the only ones running head on into the warm embrace of something new and somewhat unfamiliar. The Buckeyes' coaches and players must also deal with something fresh but something not entirely unlike their previous experiences on and off the gridiron.

Columbus Dispatch Tim May College football: Buckeyes eager to begin new era

"We didn't feel like there was a strong resistance in changing the culture of how we were going to play football on offense," Warinner said. "I think the kids embraced it. I think they understood the success that coach Meyer has had and how his offensive system has worked well everywhere he's been."

More than that, he said, the players thought "maybe based on the previous year, change was needed and it was time, and let's all dive in feet first and go."

ON EVOLUTION

Travis Howard seemed last season to be the cautionary tale of too much too soon for a player who hadn't earned high accolades yet but was getting large amounts of premature hype none the less. This season, the once and former "Howard Island" may be set to prove that no man is an island, but a defensive back can be.

Fox Sports Ohio Zac Jackson Buckeyes' Howard taking a leap

Earlier this month, new Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said cornerback Bradley Roby had gone from being "bored" to a player who's reaching his potential.

Now, Meyer has similar praise for his other starting cornerback.

As the Buckeyes prepare for Saturday's season opener vs. Miami-Ohio, Meyer put Travis Howard among a handful of players he said used training camp to take the biggest jump. The change in Howard, Meyer said, is "monumental."

Have any great reads you've come across you'd like to see included in tomorrow's edition? Send them along to @lukezim or e-mail me below.