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If Braxton Miller’s announcement this week is anything other than that he is returning to Ohio State to compete for the starting quarterback job, it will be surprising.
There has been a lot of speculation that Miller might transfer or decide to play a different position.
Before he first injured his throwing shoulder in the Orange Bowl against Clemson in January 2014, Miller thought he was ready, or at least almost ready, to play quarterback in the NFL. If he is finally healthy, why would he all of a sudden decide to play another position without even throwing another pass in a game?
And before his second shoulder injury last August, Miller was indisputably the No. 1 quarterback at Ohio State.
Other people might think J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones are better quarterbacks than he is. And they might be right. But do you really think Miller believes OSU has two quarterbacks better than he is and thinks he ought to transfer?
Never underestimate the self confidence of an athlete, especially one who has succeeded spectacularly at every level.
Of course, it could be argued that having that sort of confidence would make Miller believe he could transfer or change positions and be a huge success right away. But it just seems like staying put is more probable.
OVERREACTION TO HARBAUGH: Jim Harbaugh’s interview with Colin Cowherd on ESPN Radio last week, which Cowherd cut off after 5 ½ minutes when the Michigan football coach gave boring non-answers to his questions, will have no effect on recruiting, contrary to what some people have suggested. Absolutely none.
Bob Knight came off as pretty crazy when he was Indiana’s basketball coach and kids still wanted to play for him. When Jim Tressel didn’t want to answer a question, he talked in circles about nothing. It didn’t seem to hurt his recruiting.
Cowherd suggested Harbaugh’s Bill Belichick imitation would help Urban Meyer in head-to-head recruiting against Harbaugh. That probably overestimates the number of high school kids who are even aware Cowherd has a show. And as for them hearing it on social media, that’s overrated, too.
It’s possible much of the anticipation of a recruiting edge for Meyer was a little wishful thinking by Ohio State fans.
CITY GOLF SUCCESSFUL BUT WET: It’s too early to tell if this year’s tweaks to the format of the Lima City Men’s Golf Championship will have long-lasting effects, but they appear to have been a positive this year.
Participation was up, especially in the championship flight. Whether shortening the tournament by a day or just word of mouth encouragement among players had the most to do with that could be debated.
But the main goal of the changes was to get more players in the tournament and stop the downward trend in the size of the field. Whatever the reason, the desired result was achieved.
In an era when many of the stories about amateur golf are about how participation is declining, it was nice to see an upturn.
LUEBKE UPDATE: Former Ohio State and Marion Local pitcher Cory Luebke will continue his rehab work at Class AAA El Paso, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
The San Diego Padres lefthander has made six one-inning rehab appearances – three at Class AA San Antonio and three at Class A Lake Elsinore.
He has missed the last two seasons after having two Tommy John surgeries.
The Padres say there is no timetable for his return to the major leagues and also that it is not clear if he will be used as a reliever or as a starter.
Luebke had a 10-12 record with a 3.25 earned run average in three seasons with the Padres as both a starter and a reliever before his injury.
OSU BASKETBALL COMMITMENT: Westerville South power forward Kaleb Wesson, a 6-foot, 8-inch, 270-pound junior, has verbally committed to Ohio State.
He is the son of Keith Wesson, who played for OSU in the 1980s.
