Cold weather arrives
2008 World AIDS Day
Canine Christmas
THE AUDIBLE | COMMENTARY
Recruits with questions find answers at Ohio State
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Penn State's Joe Paterno has shown no signs of being ready to retire after turning 81 in December, and Ohio State football fans probably are hoping the coaching icon sticks around until he's 102.
The Nittany Lions have been limping along the last few years, and the program probably will remain a shell of what it once was as long as Paterno refuses to turn in his whistle.
Extras
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel doesn't seem like a guy who engages in negative recruiting, but top prospects in Pennsylvania have come to view Penn State as an unstable situation given Paterno's year-to-year status, and Tressel is taking full advantage of it.
Having already landed megastar recruit Terrelle Pryor, the Buckeyes raided the Keystone State for two more blue-chip prospects this week: five-star linebacker Dorian Bell and four-star running back Jordan Hall, Pryor's former teammate.
And all three players gave Penn State only token consideration, which had to be galling for those calling for Paterno's ouster.
The Buckeyes' recruiting effort has gotten a bump from the weakened condition of Michigan, too. Not only will new coach Rich Rodriguez need time to establish his program, but the school also is just now getting around to giving its aging football facilities an upgrade, and both factors are giving OSU an edge over its archrival in the pursuit of Pennsylvania's best.
At some point, of course, Michigan will be back and Penn State will have a new regime. But the longer that takes, the better it is for the Buckeyes.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com
