The Big Ten preseason luncheon is in Chicago this week. It's another one of those remember what you were doing days for me. Eight years ago Coach Tressel was in his first year and at the luncheon; when his turn came to talk, he gave his infamous It's Not About The Ball speech. The Ozone reported that when he was done, you could hear a pin drop in the room. They printed his speech in it's entirety.

I remember so well because it certainly wasn't about the ball that day for the Davis family. Jenny was undergoing cancer surgery, and as I rose early that morning and alone in the darkness, reading the text of that speech game me great comfort and strength for what we were about to go through.

The eight years since have been good to us. Jenny remains cancer free.

They have been good to the Buckeyes too. Five Big Ten Championships and a National Championship. At that time, Coach T was an unknown commodity to many of us, but that speech was a portent of things to come. In the years since, he has shown he can win, but more importantly, he has walked the talk of "It's Not About the Ball". Wish I could be in that room to hear him this year. Bet you a thousand to one that when he speaks, he talks about his visit to the troops, maybe even throwing in a Pay Forward.

And when he does, you know Woody will be looking down and smiling.