(Dick-Rod’s emotional response to allegations of NCAA violations when they first surfaced this past August. Unrelated: Very, very subtle fart from a media member at the 1:28 mark… turn up your volume)

As if hearing roars of “O-H-I-O” circling the Big House last November wasn’t shameful enough, the stench has gotten even worse from up north…

News broke today that, despite adamant and emotional denial from head coach Rich Rodriguez last August, the Michigan football program was in fact out of compliance with NCAA practice time rules. This is kind of like when I found out Santa wasn’t real the year after I asked my folks about his existence skeptically. They could have just gave it to me straight that first go ’round, then I wouldn’t have wasted my entire 94′ trying to get off the “Naughty” list.

For whatever reason “Dick Rod” comes off as a natural villain. Maybe it’s his perversion of the English language, as demonstrated in the above video at the 1:31 mark:

“A coach of ours would work with these guys any hours they wanna’ work with. He’ll go to church with them on Sunday. Our staff will do anything that our players want for us to do to help them achieve their goals.”

Yeah coach, I’m sure that’s what the NCAA investigators found… Guys like Jonas Mouton sharing communion and saying their prayers with good ol’ coach Robinson on Sundays.

Now that the cat is out of the bag Rodriguez has admitted to making “mistakes” in overseeing his staff, though despite the mistakes, crocodile tears, and attempt at using God for political leverage, incoming athletic director David Brandon has said that Rich will remain head coach of the Wolverines this coming season.

Somewhere in Columbus a couple dudes in scarlett and gray are banging their glasses together with a smile.

Do you know who the all-time leading tackler in Ohio State history is?  If you claim to bleed scarlet and gray you better… In four years Marcus Marek tallied 572 tackles - more than any other player in the history of Ohio State Football (click here for a list of OSU football records). He was an All-American and four-year starter (79′-82′) at linebacker under Earle Bruce. Marek was also the first Buckeye in program history to lead the team in tackles three consecutive years (garnering All-Big Ten honors in each season), a feat that’s been duplicated only once. But, his statistics and accolades are only part of the story. What makes Marcus Marek truly the greatest Buckeye linebacker of all time is that he was at his best against those no-good Wolverines. Chris Spielman once said of Marek:

“…there was no linebacker who played as well as Marcus Marek did in the Michigan games. To me, that was Marcus’ signature. Not that he wasn’t good in the other games, but he was exceptional in the Michigan games.”

Mr. Spielman was preaching the truth. In Marek’s four years as a Buckeye Ohio State bested the Wolverines on three occasions. On senior-day in his final game against Michigan Marek proved he’d saved his best for last, leading the Buckeyes to a 24-14 win with 21 tackles and a crucial interception that led to the game-icing score.

After his illustrious career as a Buckeye, Marek went on to be drafted by the Boston Breakers of the USFL, one of the only legitimate leagues to challenge the NFL. The USFL headlined other football greats such as Herschel Walker, Jim Kelly and Steve Young. During his rookie season, Marek made the All-League Team with four interceptions, three fumble recoveries and one score. He continued to have professional success until the league went under in 85′.

Today Marek lives in New England with his family. He comes back every year for at least 2-3 Buckeye home games and still bleeds scarlet and gray. He’ll be the guy with the grizzly beard and way more man-points than you, so if you’re lucky enough to run into him at a Buckeye tailgate be sure to shake his hand and thank him because he’s one of the all-time Buckeye greats.

The “Grandaddy of them all” was one for the ages… at least in Columbus. The conservative, old school style of Ohio State proved to be too much for Oregon today with the Buckeyes pulling out the victory 26-17. The Buckeye defense smothered Jeremiah Masoli and the Ducks high-octane offense. Oft criticized Buckeye quarterback, Terrelle Pryor, carried Ohio State’s offense on his back to victory. Pryor threw for a season high 266 yards and rushed for an additional 72 yards. Pryor’s stats were impressive, but his poise and improvisation in the clutch are what set the Buckeyes apart today. Pryor was named the games MVP and the sophomore quarterback will enter the 2010 season with the confidence that he can win the big game.

Earlier in the day Florida State sent off legendary head coach Bobby Bowden with his 389th career win. The Seminoles knocked off No. 18 West Virginia, 33-21, in the final game of Bowden’s storied 44-year career as a head coach. We’re going to miss Bowden, but we’re glad he left the game a winner because that’s what he is.

In the final BCS game of the night the Florida Gators embarrassed the Cincinnati Bearcats 51-24. This was one of the least-entertaining Sugar Bowls in recent memory as Tim Tebow and the Florida offense dismantled the Bearcats defense. Tebow padded his career stats with a career day completing 31 of 35 pass attempts for 488 yards and three touchdowns. Tebow also ran for 51 yards and a touchdown. Not too many were surprised that the Bearcats were outclassed by the Gators, but they didn’t expect #4 Cincinnati to lay down like they did.

There is more bowl action tomorrow and the rest of the week capped off with the BCS Championship game on Thursday January 7th pitting the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Texas Longhorns. A great Alabama defense vs. veteran quarterback, Colt McCoy, should make for a great finale to the 2009 college football season.

1) Texas

2) Georgia

3) Notre Dame

4) Florida

5) Ohio State

6) USC

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

Apparently der Fuhrer is a huge Buckeye’s fan and an avid sports-gambler. We hope for the sake of the SS the Bucks pull out a win this Saturday at home against Iowa. And it’s probably best they cover too.