Category: Football

Reflections From Super Bowl XLVII

The last six weeks have been a bit of a blur.

I’ve had plenty of late nights and early mornings, working at an exhausting pace to cover the Baltimore Ravens run to Super Bowl XLVII. It’s been the most exciting and rewarding time of my professional career, and the experience was something that I hope to never forget.

I’ve now had a little time to decompress – to wean my system off of a constant stream of caffeine and drain all the New Orleans fried food out of my veins – and to appreciate the unique perspective I had throughout the ride to the most watched Super Bowl ever.

I truly had a front row seat for sports history.

February 18, 2013 | Baltimore Ravens, Football, Game coverage, NFL, Sports

The Draft Interviews

A few weeks ago I was able to get my first taste of the NFL Draft as a member of the Ravens.

It was one of the most memorable and enjoyable weekends I’ve had since joining the team about six months ago. We worked long hours in a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment, but that’s part of the fun for anyone who wants to enter the sports media business.

May 9, 2012 | Baltimore Ravens, Football, NFL

NFL’s slippery slope: Pryor decision protects league’s free farm system

One of the longstanding–but mostly unspoken–relationships in professional sports is between the NFL and NCAA. They’re separate entities, but the NFL reaps the benefits of college football providing a free farm system capped off with made-for-TV draft.

The NFL knows its has a cozy deal–one that the other professional leagues wish they could match–and the league showed on Thursday that it will do everything possible to protect that partnership.

August 19, 2011 | Commentary, Football, NCAA, Sports

Robiskie looks primed for breakout season

Twenty minutes after practice and Brian Robiskie is still on the field.

Most of his teammates have headed to the locker room, but Robiskie is busy signing autographs. As Robiskie casually jogs over to the sidelines, fans cheer, clap and shout.

August 6, 2010 | Football, News, WEWS

Reflections on the last four years of covering Ohio sports

Sometimes it’s easy to overlook the recent success of Ohio sports. People have grown accustomed to the championships, post-season runs and individual accolades, almost to the extent that we take them for granted.

Bobcats fans have been spoiled lately.

The past four years have truly been a golden era for Ohio Athletics. With post-season berths, national attention and individuals going on to play professionally, the Bobcats have enjoyed team and individual success on an unprecedented level for Ohio athletics.

June 9, 2010 | Athens News, Baseball, Basketball, Commentary, Football

OU star receiver boosts draft stock during bowl practices

Taylor Price knew he had to deliver.

As he traveled to the Senior Bowl last week in Mobile, Ala., the former Bobcat wide receiver had his future job on the line. The week of practice worked somewhat like a job interview, but instead of sitting behind a desk answering questions, Price had to prove himself to legions of NFL scouts who wanted to see if he could make it at the next level.

January 31, 2010 | Athens News, Football

Coach Solich delivers on promise

As time winded down during Ohio’s 35-17 victory over Temple Friday afternoon, some players snuck back to the Gatorade coolers to engage in the all-too familiar football tradition. They grabbed the bucket and waited for just the right moment.

Everybody knew what was coming.

November 29, 2009 | Athens News, Commentary, Football, Game coverage

Ohio back makes the most of playing time

Chris Garrett took the handoff and could see the hole in Bowling Green’s secondary. Once he broke through the line, he knew he had nobody stopping his path to the end zone, and Ohio’s senior running back scurried for a 37-yard touchdown for the Bobcats first rushing score of the season.
Finally.

October 9, 2009 | Athens News, Football

‘Cats need to deliver for Solich this year

Five years ago, Ohio surprised the college football world when it brought prestige — a coach named Frank Solich — to the mid-major program toiling in the cellar of the Mid-American Conference.

The highly touted former Nebraska coach came to Athens with expectations greater than any of his predecessors, and Solich was supposed to be the man who finally changed the losing culture of Ohio football.

September 3, 2009 | Athens News, Commentary, Football

‘Cats try, but can’t overcome epidemic of miscues

On a day when Ohio had seven fumbles, two unsuccessful field-goal attempts, two botched extra points, two personal-foul penalties and one interception, the Bobcats still only trailed Buffalo by seven points in the fourth quarter.

Despite the mistakes, the Bobcats looked like they might have a chance at the victory.

October 29, 2008 | Athens News, Football, Game coverage