Why is this news?: Ohio State leads in Gameday, now a rowing school

"The offensive line, we've got a lot of work to do."

-Urban Meyer

One of the biggest question marks heading into the 2014 season is how an unseasoned Buckeye offensive line will hold up against the stiff competition of the B1G. Ohio State lost four multi-year starters in those spots to the NFL this month. The new crop of linemen have been hard at work under the tutelage of coach Ed Warinner.

Expected to lead the unit in 2014 are Taylor Decker, the line's only returning starter, and Pat Elflein, who showed a lot of upside filling in for Marcus Hall in 2013's game against Michigan. Decker will move from right tackle to left tackle this season.

Meyer and Warinner have a lot of potential depth to work with, especially with Meyer's refusal to redshirt incoming freshmen like Jamarco and Marcelys Jones. "I looked them right in the eye and told them, 'You're not redshirting. You're playing'," Meyer told the Dispatch's Bill Rabinowitz. According to the coaches, they are not in a hurry to cement their starting rotation on the offensive line--it could come as late as 10 days before the opener against Navy on August 30th.

"I have an empty spot in my stomach now without him."

-Tommy Hoerauf, senior baseball player at Thomas Worthington, on former coach Stephen Gussler

A vigil for the former baseball coach of the Thomas Worthington Cardinals drew hundreds of people on Wednesday evening. Stephen Gussler, who coached the Cardinals for 16 seasons, passed away on Tuesday after a long battle with cancer.

Gussler recorded 262 wins in those 16 seasons, and truly saved the best for last--in 2012, Gussler was voted All-Metro Coach of the Year after leading Thomas Worthington to its first district championship in more than thirty years. The following season saw the Cardinals improve to 24-7, claiming conference and district championships. Gussler was named Division I State Coach of the Year after that.

In reading the quotes about Gussler from his former players and assistants, a common theme emerges: He is cited as being a mentor as well as a coach, as a man both caring and inspirational. The Cardinals went 22-7 this season under new coach Anthony Leahy.

"With its 15th consecutive appearance at the NCAA championships, Ohio State is one of only five programs in the nation to achieve such a feat."

-NCAA Rowing Championship Preview

The Ohio State Women's Rowing Team are looking to repeat as national champions this weekend. The team took home individual titles in the first varsity 4 and second varsity 8 last season to go along with their first-overall finish in the championship races.

This morning, the first varsity 8 and second varsity 8 both won their heats to advance to the semifinals, which will be run tomorrow. The first varsity 4 fell victim to debris on the course, losing a skeg (basically a fin attached to the keel for stability). The boat didn't initially qualify, but will be granted a second opportunity in this afternoon's repechange, or second-chance race.

Last season's OSU championship was the first-ever NCAA women's rowing title to be won by a B1G team. It was also the first in program history.

"This might be a surprise considering many Ohio State fans feel that there's a conspiracy against them."

-Reva Friedel, Awful Announcing

The surprise? ESPN's College Gameday has visited Ohio State more than any other school. The Buckeyes top the list with 13 Gameday visits, the last of which happened back in 2010. In that game, OSU took it to Penn State to the tune of 38-14.

Michigan is the only other B1G school in the top 10, with 11 Gameday visits (really can't believe Rutgers didn't make the list). Michigan wasn't playing Ohio State the last time it hosted, either. The list also notes that Nebraska, somewhat surprisingly, has only hosted 6 visits from the esteemed show, despite its dedicated and far-reaching fanbase.

Other notables from the list include Florida, USC, and Florida State. Gameday has announced that this season it will travel to a school where it has never been. OSU remains a strong favorite to host a taping this season.

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