Why is this news?: Urban turns 50, Braxton a B1G villain? New Ohio State president talks

"Meyer is the 24th football coach at Ohio State, but he's just the fifth to turn 50 on the job."

- Doug Lesmerises

If you hadn't already heard, today Urban Meyer turned 50 years old. While AARP honored Meyer, Doug Lesmerises took a look at Urban Meyer and how he stacks up with other Ohio State coaches that reached the same age. Actually there haven't been very many that have hit 50 years old while heading the Buckeyes. Aside from Meyer, Francis Schmidt, Woody Hayes, Earle Bruce, and Jim Tressel all hit 50 years old during their tenure, and John Cooper reached that age before taking the head job in Columbus.

The good news for Buckeye fans is that all of the previous five that celebrated their 50th birthday in Columbus had five years or more in their head coaching tenure at Ohio State, but many of us are hoping that Meyer will be closer to the 16 years that Woody Hayes coached the Buckeyes after turning 50. At least for now Urban and his family are on vacation not only enjoying his 50th birthday, but also his 25th wedding anniversary that he shares with his wife Shelley.

"Miller has been the king of comebacks during his Buckeye career, leading six game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime, the most among any FBS player. Knock him if you'd like for lack of a Big Ten title, but his best could be still to come."

- Adam Rittenberg

Earlier today ESPN's Big Ten blog released their list of possible Big Ten villains for the 2014 season, and Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller made the list. While this list wasn't meant to insinuate that Miller is a bad guy by any means, it more is trying to predict who the rest of the Big Ten might hate on the field. Miller is an easy candidate for the list because of his past successes in conference, along with the expectations this year for not only himself, but for the whole Ohio State football team. With the announcement of yet another night game this year for the Buckeyes, fans of opposing schools will possibly get their chance to be frazzled by Miller's play in primetime a lot this fall.

Joining Miller on the list was Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany (who ended up topping the list), new Penn State head coach James Franklin, Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, and Michigan defensive back Jabril Peppers. While Buckeye fans need no reason to look at any Wolverine player as a villain, it was a surprise to see Peppers on the list since he hasn't stepped foot on the field in a college football game yet. Rittenberg must have been feeling a little birthday love for Urban Meyer, as he left the coach as one of the "villains on deck".

"I think maybe we haven't gotten enough credit in the myriad of other things we do, so this may be a chance to focus on some of those areas as well."

- Ohio State President Michael Drake

On Wednesday new Ohio State President Michael Drake spoke to reporters in his office for the first time since officially taking the position just over a week ago. Drake is hoping that Ohio State can use the successes of the athletic department to bring attention to some of the areas of the university that get less attention, but still do tremendous work. What Drake sounds like he is looking forward to trying to accomplish on the job is to improve not only the educational experience for students, but also the teaching experience for the educators.

Another area that Drake is hoping that will keep students coming to Ohio State is by keeping it affordable. While the Board of Trustees announced in June that out-of-state tuition would increase by five percent, in-state tuition would remain the same for this year at least. Before coming to Ohio State, Drake had been the Chancellor at UC-Irvine since 2005.

"I tell people there are two ways to look at life. Yeah, lost my legs...isn't that horrible, such a tragedy. Then there's hey, I'm supposed to be dead, but I'm not."

- Blake Haxton

in 2009 Upper Arlington native Blake Haxton said he went from perfectly healthy to nearly dead in just two days after he contracted a flesh eating disease. After more than 20 operations at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center doctors needed to amputate his legs to save his life. On Monday The Ohio State University graduate and current law school student won the U.S. Para-rowing arms and shoulders men's single sculls title at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, New Jersey.

Now Haxton will move on to the World Championships in Amsterdam at the end of August. To get ready to represent the United States overseas, Haxton is training twice a day, six days a week. Along with competing in the World Championships, Haxton is hoping to be a part of the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, as well as graduating from law school.

STICK TO SPORTS

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• While most of Northeast Ohio is eagerly anticipating the LeBron decision, somebody in the area has nearly 125 million other reasons to be happy.
• Former Ohio State Buckeye Jim Stillwagon is suing the Delaware Police Department after being cleared of road rage charges.