Cowboy76
06-24-2008, 08:54 PM
Since a little reminder pops up that I have not posted in a while, I thought I would pass this along.
Just happened to make it to the Altus caravan. The steaks were AWESOME! My compliments to the cooks(I had a few beers with a couple of them so I got my steak custom cooked). Keynote men of interest who were there from OSU were Dave Hunziker, Craig Clemons, Mike Holder, Travis Ford and Tim Beckman. Ford was charismatic in his presentation and will provide a fresh breath of leadership to the program. He seems no nonsense on the court but more like a big brother off the court. He commented on Eaton's weight situation. They weigh him everyday. He started at 240, dropped to 227, back up to 236, down to 230 and then up again after a Sunday off. Ford said "that's it. Starting right now, every time you come in heavier than the day before, your workout routine doubles for that day." Byron has been losing about a pound a day since then. Ford really likes Paige and expects him to play a LOT. He has Paige working on quickness. He did not make a whole lot of comment about other players unless asked. Of course, a question about TH came up and he expects him to return.
He did nt make any promises about the upcoming season but said that his goal is to make OSU the type of program that can "choose" who it wants to come play for us. In other words, top players will want to come here and we can cherry pick the best.
Beckman went over each position group very thoroughly. Sounds like we will be much better in the DL thanks to more depth and better coaching. Two other OSU dignitaries also told me in private that Spencer was a BIG upgrade. Beckamn said the LB's were pretty bad last year and he took them as his special assignment for that reason. He did not sugar coat it. He said we need more talent at this position. He thinks Booker will contribute immediately. He also said Lemon has an NFL body but is just very green at the psoition. He really thinks the secondary will be improved. Young talent there but has tremendous upside. In private, he said OSU has only one player that could have started at Ohio State the last year he was there although he thinks our young defensive ends will be that good in a year or two. He said to expect an even better infusion of defensive talent next year.
After the meeting, I had to yank his chain. I ask him why defensive coordinators were so charitable. At first he thought I was refering just to OSU but when I told him that offensive coordinators are always talking about how they want to just take what the defense gives them, he got a chuckle. I told him to not give them NOTHIN'!!! He is very energetic and WILL get the job done.
All of the OSU dignitaries spurned the comfort of the air conditioning(it was 97 degrees when we got there) to come outside and talk with the guys cooking the steaks. I thought that was pretty cool.
Just happened to make it to the Altus caravan. The steaks were AWESOME! My compliments to the cooks(I had a few beers with a couple of them so I got my steak custom cooked). Keynote men of interest who were there from OSU were Dave Hunziker, Craig Clemons, Mike Holder, Travis Ford and Tim Beckman. Ford was charismatic in his presentation and will provide a fresh breath of leadership to the program. He seems no nonsense on the court but more like a big brother off the court. He commented on Eaton's weight situation. They weigh him everyday. He started at 240, dropped to 227, back up to 236, down to 230 and then up again after a Sunday off. Ford said "that's it. Starting right now, every time you come in heavier than the day before, your workout routine doubles for that day." Byron has been losing about a pound a day since then. Ford really likes Paige and expects him to play a LOT. He has Paige working on quickness. He did not make a whole lot of comment about other players unless asked. Of course, a question about TH came up and he expects him to return.
He did nt make any promises about the upcoming season but said that his goal is to make OSU the type of program that can "choose" who it wants to come play for us. In other words, top players will want to come here and we can cherry pick the best.
Beckman went over each position group very thoroughly. Sounds like we will be much better in the DL thanks to more depth and better coaching. Two other OSU dignitaries also told me in private that Spencer was a BIG upgrade. Beckamn said the LB's were pretty bad last year and he took them as his special assignment for that reason. He did not sugar coat it. He said we need more talent at this position. He thinks Booker will contribute immediately. He also said Lemon has an NFL body but is just very green at the psoition. He really thinks the secondary will be improved. Young talent there but has tremendous upside. In private, he said OSU has only one player that could have started at Ohio State the last year he was there although he thinks our young defensive ends will be that good in a year or two. He said to expect an even better infusion of defensive talent next year.
After the meeting, I had to yank his chain. I ask him why defensive coordinators were so charitable. At first he thought I was refering just to OSU but when I told him that offensive coordinators are always talking about how they want to just take what the defense gives them, he got a chuckle. I told him to not give them NOTHIN'!!! He is very energetic and WILL get the job done.
All of the OSU dignitaries spurned the comfort of the air conditioning(it was 97 degrees when we got there) to come outside and talk with the guys cooking the steaks. I thought that was pretty cool.