Skull Session: Life in the 11W Slack, Cade Stover Makes His Mom Proud and Ohio

When the Big Ten announced its record-breaking media rights deal with Fox, CBS and NBC on Thursday morning, my co-worker and Eleven Warriors senior editor Johnny Ginter sent three separate messages in the company Slack.

9:59 a.m.: SEVEN

9:59 a.m.: BILLION

9:59 a.m.: DOLLARS

At 10:22 a.m., deputy editor and lead football writer Dan Hope sent an update that Sports Business Journal valued the agreement at $8.05 billion over seven years. Johnny replied again with three messages.

10:29 a.m.: EIGHT

10:29 a.m.: BILLION

10:29 a.m.: DOLLARS

That was precisely my reaction to the news on Thursday. Fox, CBS and NBC backed up the Brinks truck for this deal, and the Big Ten got paid.

With the approval of the conference’s member schools, commissioner Kevin Warren changed the future viewing experience for fans of Big Ten teams – what they’ll watch, how they’ll watch and where they’ll watch. We’ll find out in 2023 whether those changes actually make watching Big Ten football better for fans, but we already know the conference will reap the financial rewards.

Anyways, let’s get to the good stuff and have a great Friday, shall we?

 WAIT – ONE MORE THING. OK, I lied. Sorry, I’m not sorry. This video from CBS is too good, and I need to ensure everyone watches it. If you’ve seen the clip already, watch it again and take it all in.

Hello, @B1Gfootball.
Hit the music. pic.twitter.com/PbMHPql1Cz

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) August 18, 2022

It’s beautiful. Get ready to hear that music a lot next fall.

 O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN! Ohio State’s six captains are C.J. Stroud, Kam Babb, Tyler Friday, Tommy Eichenberg, Kourt Williams and Cade Stover. The final name mentioned has endured a lot of change during his Buckeye career, including several position switches between linebacker and tight end. 

Regardless of where Stover has played for Ohio State, he’s always been a leader, and that’s evident in how the team’s coaches speak of him and his impact in the locker room. Take this video, for example, where tight ends coach and offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson calls Stover’s mother to break the news that he had been named a captain.

.@cstov8 is officially a Buckeye Captain. Here’s the call when @OSUCoachKDub delivered the news:#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/EkohEEdZSD

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 18, 2022

“This is going to be a special, special year,” Wilson said in the video. “He’s not only making plays, but he’s making a lot of plays behind the scenes. The way he works and the connection with our players – he’s just a special man and a special talent.”

When asked what becoming a team captain meant to him, Stover said he feels blessed and honored to be held in such high esteem by his teammates, whom he considers brothers on and off the field.

“It means a lot,” Stover said on Monday. “I really got no words. I love this team. I love the people around me.”

Cheers to Stover for what was seemingly a tremendous off-season. May Ohio State actually use the tight end more than they ever this season, and may Stover reap…