What game?

Scout.com has posted a few photos from this afternoon's cameo. Here, with Dublin Coffman's Mike Adams:

Per traveling reporter Paul Germain and the Newark Advocate, the previously mentioned commits that Pryor was with were J.B. Shugarts, Mike Adams, Michael Brewster and Jake Stoneburner.

Pryor and the gang evidently vacated their premium seats before things got ugly on the court and hopefully went somewhere more intimate to discuss their prosperous future together.

Paul, who is just begging for a pay raise or at least a reimbursement to cover all his text messages today, says to expect some "exclusive" information from local reporter Jeff Hogan, who appeared to grab the recruit for a minute of face-time. Contradicting reports, however, say that Pryor avoided making any comments to reporters.

Silver Bullet Points

But the good news is...

Will lil' Animal follow in Malcolm's footsteps?

I love when I'm wrong, which is almost always.

Brian Robiskie and Malcolm Jenkins announced that they will be returning for their senior season at Ohio St. Yes, Vernon Gholston is moving on to seemingly greener pastures, but getting Jenkins for another year is a real steal. Says the all-conference DB during a Mike Doss-like revelation:

"What's important to me is accomplishing more. I want to win the Thorpe. I want to be a first-team All-American," Jenkins said. "I want to win a national championship. I want to experience a senior season. You can't put a price tag on that. To be paid to play football is just a benefit. I'm not ready to transition to the next stage of my life yet."

Goal setting, optimism, a big picture perspective...these are things one looks for in a leader of a program in dire need of direction and a new identity. If James Laurinaitis (still a big 'if') and Marcus Freeman (crossing my fingers) were to forgo the draft, the 2008 defense will return 9 starters from this year's top-ranked squad.

A farewell to arms

Robo, while less of a "steal" considering his probable draft position, will begin his final season at the top of the Biletnikoff watch list and be surrounded by offensive weapons like Wells, Saine, Hartline, Ray Small and newcomers DeVier Posey ( 5-star receiver) and Lamaar Thomas (a speedster likened to Florida's Percy Harvin.)

• If you're ready to ease back into college football, CFN is a good place to start. The site has somehow found the only sports writers in America that DON'T employ Ohio St. and the Big Ten as verbal whipping boys. This Q&A section addresses the constant push to merge the SEC with the NFC Central and here you can find an unbiased, rational defense for the beleaguered conference.
  

• Will Pete Carroll finally return to the NFL? And, if so, how much of an advantage does that give the Buckeyes over USC in next fall's match-up? The Vegas oddsmakers are standing by.
  

• Purdue's Joe Tiller, on the other hand, is waiting until his welcome is good and worn out before he leaves.

• Some guy in Michigan to Pryor: "UM sucks; stick with the Bucks."

• Finally, I'd like to extend a delayed thank you to our traveling reporters and friends, Paul, Josh and JR for making Buckeye Nation a better place to be. You bore witness to scenes that will haunt your nightmares for years to come and lived to tell the story. For these model Americans it's back to selling dreams at unbeatable interest rates...until next season...
  

The Road to The Championship

Gameday:

The temptress that is New Orleans did her best to distract us from the reason we came down here, but even hand grenades and hurricanes couldn't stop the Old Columbus Town reporters from bringing you coverage on the ground. It's gameday, the game we've been preparing for since September, since last January to be honest. The debate of whether or not we belong here is moot now, all that matters is that we show up. The opportunity that this game provides is like something out of an Ashton Kucher movie. Imagine, the biggest regret you have in your life, and you have a chance to do it over. Laurinitis, Wells, Gohlston and the rest of the crew have been given a mulligan and I promise they will take advantage of it.

Ohio State fans are outnumbered down here, as expected, but every person that made the trip knows what's at stake. The itinerary today consists solely of football. There is a "Varsity Club South" set up near the stadium where Buckeye fans have been going to pasture. We'll spend the morning down there trying to sell an extra game ticket. Maybe we'll give it away.

We have to give a quick shout out to the women who made this little road trip possible. Lauren and Jennifer played key roles in this excursion, allowing their men to spend a few days in hedonism. Paul of course has no female to answer to; this allows his focus to rest singularly on the Buckeyes.

This will be our last post before the game. Hopefully we'll come back to Cbus tomorrow with some hardware.

Go Bucks.

-Paul, Josh and JR, 10:25 AM CST

That's some nice work there, boys. I think I know the Ashton Kutcher movie of which you speak. It's called Cheaper by The Dozen and co-stars Steve Martin, Hilary Duff and that girl from Coyote Ugly who is supposedly a former OU Pi Phi.

Sounds like plenty of 'strategery' was done last night. As far as that extra ticket is concerned, I know a handsome fellow who is ready to jump on the next flight direct flight to the Superdome (I hear the LAX-Superdome seats are cheap).

Will good fortune give us another report tomorrow? Perhaps from the "victory lap" home?

Stay tuned...

The Road to The Championship

The crew has landed on Bourbon St.! The above photo, sent by Josh just minutes ago, proves that our roving reporters were indeed headed to the promised land and not Daytona Beach for a weekend of fun in the sun as some of you speculated.

The fellow left of center in the red shirt is clearly an LSU fan, staring at our friends as if to engage them in a battle of wits, or possible a dance-off, which Paul is famous for in the Southern region. Easy fellas!

You can bet fans from both teams are out on the town tonight, shaking off those pre-game jitters. No word as to what Paul, Josh and JR will get into now that they are safe in New Orleans. From what I hear, the place isn't really a party town.

Stay tuned...

The Road to The Championship

Paul, Josh and JR taking a breather and waxing philosophical outside of one of those kooky southern emporiums.

The smell continues to worsen as we cruise towards the Mississippi delta but nothing can stop these brave reporters from reaching our destination.

We are currently making good time traveling south down I-65 as Paul Germain is bobbing and weaving through the plentiful highway of pick up trucks. Josh Miller as taken over the role of navigator while JR Thompson heads up our security detail. The glares have become more threatening the further south that we have traveled. It doesn't help that Paul and Josh bellowed out a series of "OH""IO" chants disrupting the game of pool that was taking place at the Truck Stop / McDonald's / Nail Salon / Laundry mat / Tire Center.

As far as the upcoming show down is concerned, our sources in New Orleans indicate that the team is upbeat and so are we as we continue to head in hostile territory. The 2002 National Championship game is on loop in the rear entertainment system while we eat up white lines heading to the "Big Easy". This team of roving reporters is confident that Tressel and his silver bullets are not doomed to make the same mistakes of a year ago.

Over the next 72 hours sleep will take a back seat as we honor our commitment to the readers of Old Columbus Town to provide the best coverage possible that three cars sales people can provide. You won't be getting the cream puff predictions like you hear from Corso and Herbie. We will scour Bourbon Street, the Superdome and everything in between to be your eyes and ears in the Bayou.

Big thanks to Dave for putting together a great place for Buckeye fans to call home. Sorry for dumbing it up!

Paul, Josh, and JR, 3:38PM EST

Well done boys! Deep into enemy territory and still not afraid to wear your colors. I'm not in the least bit embarrassed to say that I've been living vicariously through you and wish these sore eyes could see what awaits you on Bourbon St, or should I say "South High St."

Stay tuned...

The Road to The Championship

Truck stops, blue colored grass, CDs under $20:Paul and the crew can only be one place...

Coming to you from the heart of SEC country, Tennesee where everyone drives a pick up truck. We are making great time although we had an extended "pit stop" in a Kentucky truck stop.

We played a little "dear slayer" arcade game, appropriately, and browsed the huge selection of country music.

-Paul, Josh, and JR, 1:53 AM EST

Careful now boys, once you cross that Mason-Dixon line there's no turning back and certainly none of them fancy mp3 whozamawhatchits so stock up on your road tunes now. While our brave travelers navigate the evening pavement, barreling towards an early morning arrival in New Orleans, let's take a gander at what SEC country is all about, courtesy of Pat Forde at ESPN.com.

The Road to The Championship

Nothing says trouble like three hungry Ohio St. fans, a shiny red (dare I say scarlet?) pick-up truck, Mardi Gras beads and a home-made road trip sign (is there another kind?) "The Road to The Championship" first finds Paul, center, with his two comrades just moments before they left Columbus earlier this afternoon.

No word as to their current whereabouts but Old Columbus Town imagines this motley crew is just a few Toby Keith away jams from joining the sea of scarlet and gray that continues to descend upon New Orleans.

Stay tuned...