Ohio Stadium game day menu is expanding

“Levy, the food and beverage supplier to Ohio Stadium, has announced some new food options for the new season. Lobster rolls and a new twist on chicken and waffles join traditional favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs and brats.”

- Chris Booker and Aaron Nester, Ohio State News

Fans can usually expect to find something new on the menu at Ohio Stadium each year. Last year was ribs, brisket and cheesesteak sandwiches. This year— because Ohio Stadium must one-up all the other stadiums— fans can now eat lobster while they watch football.

Local vendors “Wicked Lobstah” and “Chicky Chicky Waffle” will be located in section 19A. Wicked Lobstah, a food truck company, offers a variety of lobster rolls, including a spicy New Orleans roll stuffed with crab, lobster, and siracha. They also have an Alaskan roll, which is full of smoked salmon and cream cheese.

Chicky Chicky Waffle offers chicken tenders fried in waffle batter for a portable version of chicken and waffles, complete with a maple syrup dipping sauce.

An unlimited soda program will also be introduced to the Shoe this year. After buying a soft drink, fans can get free refills at stations around A, B, and C decks. In an effort to reduce waste, said soft drinks will not have straws, and instead will have “easy-sip” lids.

Other new additions include a grab-and-go concept where fans can grab pre-made food and drinks, as well as new alcoholic drinks like Bon & Viv spiked seltzer and Corona.

“Sources: The most recent offer in negotiations between holdout Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys came from the team. Elliott has been offered a contract making him one of the NFL’s 2 highest-paid RB. That would suggest team offering more than LeVeon Bell and less than Todd Gurley.”

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN

Doesn’t it seem like Zeke has made headlines every day since 2014? Say what you want about the NFL’s two-time leading rusher, he deserves to get paid the big(ger) bucks. Elliott has two years left in his rookie deal, and is expected to make a $3.9 million base salary this season and $9.1 million in 2020. However, he has been holding out this preseason in search of a new contract.

ESPN’s Ed Werder reported Thursday the Cowboy’s most recent offer would put Elliott behind the Los Angeles Rams’ Todd Gurley ($14.4 million average salary) and above the New York Jets’ Le’Veon Bell ($13.1 million). Considering the Cowboy’s standout running back is currently working out in Cabo while the team prepares for Saturday’s game against the Houston Texans, it’s likely Elliott is looking to top Gurley.

During a July interview with Dallas radio station 96.7 KTCK The Ticket, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said they’re “damn sure not going to be a market-setter”. This comment came just days after receiver Michael Thomas “set the market” after he agreed to a $100 million deal with the saints, making him the highest paid receiver in the league.

It’s likely Jones was making a statement for all of Dallas’ young guys seeking extensions, including quarterback Dak Prescott, receiver Amari Cooper, and cornerback Byron Jones. However, Elliott is the only one holding out.

The Cowboys open their 2019 regular season on Sunday, Sept. 8 against the Giants, and Elliott told the Cowboys he won’t be playing in 2019 without a new contract— a strategy that Le’Veon Bell set a precedent for.

So, unless Elliott sticks to his word, either Dallas is going to have the highest paid running back in the league this season, or Elliott will accept what presumably is an annual salary of $15 million.

The Ohio State men’s and women’s basketball Big Ten schedules were released Friday afternoon. The men begin on Dec. 7th with a home opener against Penn State and the women will open at Value City Arena vs. Purdue on Dec. 28th.

The Ohio State men’s basketball team will face Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan, Penn State, Maryland, Wisconsin and Nebraska both home and away. The only teams not coming to Columbus are Iowa, Michigan State and Northwestern. Illinois, Purdue and Rutgers will only face the Buckeyes in Columbus.

The 2019-20 season marks the third year with Chris Holtmann as head coach. Holtmann held a 25-9 overall record in 2017-18 and went 20-15 in 2018-19. He’s taken Ohio State to the second round of both the 2018 and 2019 NCAA Tournaments.

Game times and TV schedules have not yet been announced for the Ohio State 2019-20 men’s basketball season.

The Ohio State women’s team will face nine league opponents at home and nine on the road. After their conference home opener against Purdue, they’ll play Minnesota and Maryland (the defending Big Ten champs) on the road, and are back home against Michigan on Jan. 9th. The Buckeyes finish their Big Ten regular season at Purdue on Feb. 29th.

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