[wadc45]

First and last time I respond to a post such as this, but since my new Illini friends have not come to my support (you know who you are ) I feel a little forced to defend myself (being one the founders of this site and a senior moderator at BP):

Well if you read the crap being posted on Bucknuts and Buckeyeplanet it makes it sound like Ohio State is just waiting to see if Whitner passes academically and then, and only then, will they offer.

I plead ignorance because I have never said anything remotely like that nor have I suggested that he would "settle" for Illinois if an OSU offer did not materialize...I did suggest many months ago that I thought Illinois would be a good fit because they were an early offer of his (among the 50+ offers he received) and he clearly favored Illinois for a large part of the Summer and Fall. I clearly stated in my post in this thread just yesterday that I would be surprised if he signed with either school. I cannot speak for the rest of the Buckeye fanbase but was rather trying to engage you in converation after you alluded to the fact that I or any other member of BP was intentionally leaking misinformation. I also attempted to discuss this matter directly with you via PMs but you obviously would rather air the dirty laundry.

Ohio State is taking the guys like Rowell that we turned down.

Sure...Illinois passed on Rowell like OSU passed on the likes of Ashante Williams, Whitney Mercilus and Justin Staples this year. You seem to forget that Rowell was one of the most highly touted juniors at the Army combine this time last year and still had an offer from Illinois and made an official visit to Champaign before choosing OSU. But I guess the Illinois staff only offered him and had him on an official to get Cordale Scott, right?

Count how many 2008 OSU verbals had offers from Illinois and how many 2008 Illinois verbals had offers from OSU and get back to me.

If you want to look at 'reality,' it is Ohio State that looks a little thin at defensive tackle and it looks like they are getting desperate because they haven't been able to recruit guys like Brent, McCray, Liuget and Ellis the last few years.

Returning DTs with playing experience: Nader Abdallah, Todd Denlinger, Dexter Larimore, Robert Rose, Doug Worthington
'08-'09 verbals at DT: Garrett Goebel, Shawntel Rowell, Johnny Simon

I fail to see how the OSU program looks a "little thin" at DT. But that is your opinion and you are certainly entitled to it.

Looks like Zook will be going head-to-head with Tressel for almost ALL of our and their big recruits.

Possibly a handful...hardly "ALL". I will admit OSU stands little chance for athletes such as Kraig Appleton and Craig Drummond. Kids that Illinois and OSU will likely battle for include Marcus Hall and Chris Watt. The majority of the '09 verbals for both schools will be made up of kids who either had an offer from one or the other. So far in '09 OSU has won one battle (Johnny Simon) and Illinois has won the other (Melvin Fellows).

And I think anyone who has a grasp of reality away from Buckeyeland realizes who is going to end up on top of that battle.

Luckily my conversations with Illinois fans up until this point have been insightful and constructive...obviously this conversation is headed down a different path. It's ironic that even the more informed Illinois posters in this forum agree that he would have made a great addition to either program...but then again you have probably seen more live games and film of Dawawn than the rest of us.

I certainly cannot defend the whole of the OSU fanbase...but I can also tell when someone is wearing O&B colored glasses. I understand where you have taken exception with Bucknuts (especially in the case of Lamaar Thomas' announcement)...but if you have a problem with BuckeyePlanet, we can always fix that.