Scarlet Sunrise: Ohio State football is just one short week away

Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise! Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Ohio State football, recruiting, basketball and more.

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No more Saturdays without Ohio State football

August 24 marks the last Saturday of the 2019 Ohio State offseason. In exactly one week, the Buckeyes will take the field against Florida Atlantic and Lane Kiffin. That game will mark the official beginning of the Ryan Day era, although Day did get a three-game test run while Urban Meyer served a suspension at the beginning of the 2018 season.

For fans who need their college football fix sooner, there are actually two “Week 0” games being played on August 24. Florida and Miami (Fla.) play in Orlando at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and Arizona visits Hawaii at 10:30 p.m. on CBSSports Network.

Game day changes include on-field DJ

Ohio State released a list of changes to its game day experience. Here are some of the more prominent items on the list provided by the university:

Bottomless soda – All soda this year will be served in souvenir cups with self-serve refill stations on A Deck or revisit a concession stand on all other levels for a free refill.

DJ on the field level – A DJ will be on the field level both pregame and during the game playing everyone’s favorites to enhance the game day environment.

Stadium improvements – A number of projects have been completed throughout the stadium which include concession stand renovations, seatback chair installation, C-Deck portable urinal installation, replacement of carpeting, and installation of new LED boards, speakers, televisions and directional signage.

Wi-Fi (increased) – Texting with friends and family and posting on social media inside Ohio Stadium is about to become a reality as the project to improve high density wireless connectivity is expected to be completed in time for the season opener vs. Florida Atlantic. Information on wireless networks to use at Ohio Stadium will be shared next week.

Jeff Hafley talks recruiting success

New assistant Jeff Hafley has been a prolific recruiter since being hired by Ryan Day this past offseason. When he met with the media this week, Hafley shared the reasons for his recruiting success.

“I did it for years. I did it for ten years,” Hafley said. “I just kind of got right back into it. You just be yourself, be honest. Keep it real and show them what you can do for them, show what the university can do for them.

“Don’t lie to them and don’t sell them on things that aren’t true. And at the end of the day, if they want to come here, let’s go. And if they don’t? Then hey, you know, go somewhere else.”

Although it sounds simple, it’s working wonders so far for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State hoops B1G schedule set

The Big Ten released the conference schedule for the 2019-20 men’s basketball season on Friday. The two December games come against Penn State and Minnesota, giving the Buckeyes a chance to get off to a good start in Big Ten play.

The Buckeyes will face a tough ending stretch, with games against Michigan and at Michigan State over the final week of the regular season. Check out the full conference slate below.

December
7-Sat.                   Penn State
15-Sun.                at Minnesota

January
3-Fri.                     Wisconsin
7-Tues.                 at Maryland
11-Sat.                 at Indiana
14-Tues.              Nebraska
18-Sat.                 at Penn State
23-Thurs.            Minnesota
26-Sun.                at Northwestern

February
1-Sat.                   Indiana
4-Tues.                 at Michigan
9-Sun.                   at Wisconsin
12-Wed.              Rutgers
15-Sat.                 Purdue
20-Thurs.             at Iowa
23-Sun.                Maryland
27-Thurs.             at Nebraska

March
1-Sun.                  Michigan
5-Thurs.               Illinois
8-Sun.                   at Michigan State

Counting down

• Ohio State vs. Florida Atlantic (season opener): 7 days
• Ohio State at Michigan: 98 days

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