Written by David Regimbal

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“Telling Quotes” is a weekly recap of the Big Ten’s top stories using five quotes from around the conference (with a moderate Ohio State lean).

Ohio State fans had a boring summer.

It’s hard to get through the dog days of the offseason when there aren’t weekly updates to the growing witch hunt against your favorite school. It’s hard to stay engaged when day after day is filled by a deafening silence.

What noun are we taking and adding “-gate” to now? How many “tat” jokes does it take to get to the center of my grasp on sanity?

Unfortunately an uneventful summer has its drawbacks too. The offseason went back to being the uneventful nine months it used to be. But when the clock strikes noon this Saturday, it’ll all be over.

It’s finally game week. Let’s get going.

1. “Still don’t have any decision for you on [Fitzgerald Toussaint].” - Brady Hoke, Michigan head coach

Via MGoBlog

When starting Michigan running back Fitzgerald Toussaint was arrested for drunk driving last month, it was almost unanimously assumed he would be suspended for at least the first game of the season. That type of punishment is standard for any school, let alone a university that takes pride in holding itself to “a higher standard.”

That higher standard is apparently dependant on who Michigan’s next opponent is. If Hoke and the Wolverines were opening the season against Akron, there’s no doubt in my mind that Toussaint would be suspended. But with Michigan opening the season with a game everyone has been talking about all summer, Toussaint’s drunk driving incident becomes a situation where his clear-cut and deserved punishment is in question.

So next time you hear Brady Hoke say “this is Michigan” when referencing a higher standard, try not to rip your shoulder out of its socket making the wanking motion.

2. "Braxton has come a million miles. I think he's fairly comfortable. Our goal is to make him a quarterback that's very athletic." - Urban Meyer, Ohio State head coach

Via Brandon Castel

We all know how Urban feels about his sophomore quarterback. Earlier this month Meyer came out and said Miller was the most athletically gifted player he’s ever coached. Whether that’s coach-speak or not, you can tell that Meyer is happy with the progress Miller has made since January. And although Miller has probably worked his tail off to make that kind of progress, a lot of credit for the quarterback’s maturation belongs to Meyer and the coaching staff. Taking Miller from the cold, lifeless hands of Jim Bollman and teaching him actual football things was probably like teaching someone who is terrified of water how to swim.

3. "This year it's going to be totally different. It's keep scoring, and if they can't stop our scoring then... keep scoring." - Carlos Hyde, Ohio State running back

Via Lori Schmidt

Ohio State fans have sat through a lot of terribly boring football games over the last decade. With the exception of a few years, Tressel never made games more exciting than they had to be. But with Urban Meyer’s arrival, it’s probably safe to kiss those 17 point victories over MAC teams goodbye. Meyer never lets up -- his play-calling will stay the same in the first quarter as it does in the fourth regardless of what the scoreboard looks like. The only thing that’ll change throughout the game will be personnel in an effort to protect starters from needless injuries. Hyde’s comment here reflects that.

Make sure to save some of your applause for those second teamers in the fourth quarter this Saturday.

4. “We lost a lot of games last year... For guys like Sabino, Simon, you know those kind of guys, this is their legacy. They’re a part of that group and we don’t want them to be in that group. And that’s part of that angry thing.” Urban Meyer, Ohio State head coach

via Doug Lesmerises

Meyer’s tone changes whenever he’s asked about last year. If you watched any part of ESPN’s inside look at Ohio State’s practice, you know Meyer wants this year’s team to play with some anger. That’s a trademark for Meyer coached teams, but it’s even more important for him to install that kind of passion considering Ohio State’s postseason ban. Combine that with his affection for this senior class and you get a coach who wants to do right by the guys playing their last year in Columbus.

5. "Bri’onte Dunn has had a good, physical camp. With the ball in his hands, he’s really good." Stan Drayton, Ohio State running backs coach

Via Brandon Castel

When Urban Meyer released Ohio State’s week one depth chart, no one expected Bri’onte Dunn to crack the two-deep at running back. But with Dunn’s strong camp and Rod Smith struggling with consistency, the freshman from North Canton got the nod and will be Hyde’s primary backup this Saturday. Obviously he’ll be bumped back to the third team when Jordan Hall fully recovers from his offseason foot surgery (week three at the latest), but it’s nice to see Dunn back in the good graces of the coaching staff after his recent run in with the Alliance police department.

(Photo credit - Jim Davidson - TheOzone.net)

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