It’s not very often that I pop-off about something without knowing the facts but every couple of weeks I bring you my insights from the hip. Feel free to come back at me with both barrels or at the very least agree with me! Let’s hit things hard with the current state of the B1G in football.
From the Hip
What in the wide, wide world of sports is going on here? I am not one of those people that thumps his chest about the conference. I am not a believer that the strength of conference will help the Buckeyes as a whole because when they have been one of the better two teams they played for the title and as recent as the very first CFP showed us they can take care of business.
Did the 59-0 drubbing of the number two team in the conference hurt the Buckeyes in 2014? No! It was the only reason they got into the playoff and Alabama and Oregon has been regretting TCU or Baylor(Speaking of conference strength or lack there of) not being in ever since. The Buckeyes took care of business to get there just like Sparty(Sparty No!) did last season. Conference strength had nothing to do with them getting crushed! The general consensus even after the loss to them was the Buckeyes were the only team that could beat Alabama.
So, let’s pick up in current day and all the foaming at the mouth about the four teams in the top ten of the top 25 from the B1G. All the SEC homers that are proud of the conference strength have been subjected to the same thing. Having four of all of their teams compete year in and year out for the top spot in the conference and almost trying to figure out ways to have two of them make the CFP gets tiring.
I don’t want the same thing for the Buckeyes or the conference because it’s a joke. Does anyone in the fandom world realize that outside those in the top ten the next team receiving votes are the Hawkeyes and it’s only 3 votes? Where are the rest of the teams from the powerful B1G that everyone is depicting? I will tell you where, they are in the basement of the conference where they always are.
I will say this, Indiana has been making big strides since Kevin Wilson’s arrival and they have almost arrived to make the big four a big five but they aren’t quite there. Nobody else in the conference reloads like the Buckeyes, Badgers, Weasels and Spartans. They have to wait and hope that they are developing a great senior class to compete. Hopefully people will come to their senses and realize having those four atop the rankings does not make the B1G a strong conference numbers wise.
It simply makes those four teams part of the elite that is in the top 25 each week. Should be a good battle down the stretch to see who gets in, will it be our Buckeyes?
Straight Shooter
I am not into politics, despise this time of year where all of the dirt about candidate A is all that candidate B cares about. I am always happy to see it end and in the process have a new President. I am a voter but have to be honest and say that I haven’t always voted. Most years I am a straight Republican and don’t have much of a defense for it only to say that I cut my political teeth during one of my heroes runs in President Ronald Reagan.
I won’t ever really vote the straight ticket because the candidates are so different and have their own platforms which I believe just get recycled every election. What I try to base my decision on is their morals and personality. When they have neither, which is the case in the Presidential election this year, I struggle to vote for either.
That’s really what life boils down to for us humans isn’t it? Make the right choices/decisions in life, try to be a good person and treat people as you would like to be treated. I have to admit I don’t always hit my mark and have had my bad times for sure, but I can tell the difference between right and wrong and this election season is very difficult.
Hopefully the rest of America isn’t flipping a coin come November and the election, but I have a feeling that I may be doing the same!
Charity Spotlight
I have become pretty good friends with one of te Buckeye Women’s assistants over the years in Patrick Klein. He played high school basketball just across the river from me in Belpre, Ohio in his almost claim to fame during his teams run for a title is if they had won in the semi-final, he would have gotten Lebron James to guard in the title game.
Patrick has always been a heavily involved person in the community and a lot of that comes from excellent upbringing and wonderful parents he has. After taking a different path than he expected to get where he is, he has used his position to help grow his own efforts to epic proportions.
I am proud to call him a friend, proud of what he has accomplished and will always support his efforts with his foundation. Maybe you can do the same because he is an Ohio State Buckeye?!
The iBelieve Foundation history is breif but can definitely use your help.
From the iBelieve web site
History
The iBELIEVE sign developed by students and staff at the first iBELIEVE West Virginia summer camp in 2012.
The iBELIEVE Foundation was created in 2011 to help provide more opportunities for Appalachian youth. Today, iBELIEVE provides thousands of students per year educational and learning opportunities to grow their 21st Century Skills and build a network of student-leaders across the region.
Originally, iBELIEVE started out as just a summer camp opportunity for just 36 student-leaders. But the growth of the organization through the donations of many corporations and individuals have allowed the addition of year round programming. This programming focuses on getting Appalachian schools involved in developmental programs for their students. In 2016, iBELIEVE partnered with the Ohio Association of Student Councils to unify their summer camp programming for Appalachian students, Columbus Public students, and outside student leaders.
Thanks to the partnership of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO), iBELIEVE has been able to hold a 501(c)3 status as a “field of interest fund” through their organization. FAO continues to serve as iBELIEVE’s back office and money managers as iBELIEVE moves to their own 501(c)3 status in 2016.
There mission statement is simple . . ,
Mission
The iBELIEVE Foundation strives to provide opportunities to Appalachian youth for the development of 21st Century Skills such as leadership, communication, and problem solving. Ultimately, our ambitious goal is to increase collegiate attendance and retention in the Appalachian communities of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
How you can help a high school student attend a summer conference, click the link and do your part!
