Tuesday January 3, 2012 year: 132 No. 1
the student voice of
The Ohio State University
www.thelantern.com
thelantern
Gators take bite out of Buckeyes
sports
PAT BRENNAN Sports editor brennan.164@osu.edu
Meyer under fire
1B
As Urban Meyer assumes role as OSU’s football coach, some Gator fans shared mixed opinions of their former coach.
[ a+e ]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators’ defense and special teams play was more than the Ohio State football team could contend with in the 2012 Gator Bowl. Florida redshirt sophomore wide receiver Andre Debose scored on a 99-yard kickoff return and the Gators’ defense forced two turnovers and scored on a blocked punt to win the bowl game, 24-17. “We didn’t get the job done,” OSU coach Luke Fickell said after the game. “Special teams … is obviously the glaring thing. The story of the game is going to be the big plays and most of them happened on special teams.” OSU finished the season with a 6-7 record, the Buckeyes’ first losing record since 1988. Monday’s game was tied at seven in the first half after Florida redshirt senior quarterback John Brantley and OSU freshman quarterback Braxton Miller completed touchdown passes to Florida redshirt senior Deonte Thompson and OSU senior wide receiver DeVier Posey, respectively. Brantley finished the game 12-of-16 passing for 129 yards with an interception while Miller, the 2011 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, was 18-of-24 passing for 162 yards and two touchdowns. The 7-7 tie was short-lived, as Debose ran untouched for a 99-yard score on the ensuing kickoff. The kick return, which was the third of Debose’s career, broke a 29-year-old Gator Bowl record for the longest kick return. “When two good teams play each other, special teams is usually the difference,” said redshirt senior linebacker Tyler Moeller after the game. “They had a good kickoff return and they had a blocked punt for a touchdown. That was the difference.” An OSU field goal narrowed the gap to 14-10, but Florida struck another blow on special teams soon after play resumed. A punt by OSU redshirt junior punter Ben Buchanan was blocked by redshirt senior halfback Chris Rainey, and returned for a touchdown by freshman Graham Stewart to extend the Gators’ advantage to 21-10.
CODY COUSINO / Photo editor
OSU senior wide receiver DeVier Posey (8) fumbles the ball in the 3rd quarter of OSU’s game against Florida in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2, 2012. OSU lost, 24-17.
5A Gee receives raise, more than $140K bonus continued as OSU on 3A
From housewives to Ripley’s OUAB announced its Winter Quarter lineup, featuring Spike Lee, Bethenny Frankel and other big names.
campus
Campus crimes over break
2A
Ohio State’s Board of Trustees approved a $16,363 pay raise for President E. Gordon Gee when they met Dec. 9 for their quarterly meeting. The Board of Trustees evaluated Gee’s performance from July 2010 to June 2011. Gee received a positive evaluation from the Board for his “recruitment of top talent, providing exceptional educational opportunities for students, increasing level of research and teaching output, constant advocacy for the University, and solidified relations with the State,” according to the report to the Board of Trustees. Gee’s allotted compensation was based on his past year’s performance, the president’s current ranking among other university presidents, OSU’s economic condition, Ohio’s economic situation and compensation increases among all university
faculty and staff, said Janet Reid, chair of the Compensation and Talent Development Working Group. For Gee’s work, the Board motioned and approved Gee’s 2 percent pay raise increase of $16,363, making his salary $834,530 for 2012. Gee will also receive a performance-based compensation bonus of $143,179, E. GORDON GEE a bonus equivalent to 17.5 percent of his base salary, Reid said. Ohio tax dollars or student tuition will not pay the bonus, Reid said. The Academic Excellence Fund, a fund to assist recruitment for academic leaders and funded by private donations, and other private funding sources will pay the bonus. Reid said Gee has earned the bonus and increase based on his achievements and leadership.
“Ohio State University is an outstanding institution because of Dr. Gee’s leadership. He’s truly a visionary leader who adeptly handles the breadth, complexity and demands of the job,” Reid said. However, Gee plans to donate the $143,197 and the 2 percent raise to the E. Gordon Gee Scholarship Fund, Shelly Hoffman, assistant vice president of media relations, said in an email. Last year, Gee donated his raise and bonus to his scholarship fund as well. Despite positive remarks from the Board, Gee also received constructive feedback. According to the report, the Board said Gee must improve in four areas: strategic planning, forming senior leaders into a more effective team, strengthening internal and external communications and the NCAA and OSU football program. Some students have said they think Gee’s raise was justified.
continued as Raise on 3A
Expert predicts rainy, mild Ohio winter
weather high 25 low 21
THOMAS BRADLEY Campus editor bradley.321@osu.edu
AM snow
W TH F SA
MARY POSANI Senior Lantern reporter posani.3@osu.edu
39/28
partly cloudy
42/34
mostly cloudy
51/40
mostly sunny
47/37
mostly cloudy www.weather.com
While all of winter break might have disappointed many hopeful “White Christmas” optimists, the day before Winter Quarter brought the first accumulation of snow in central Ohio. The National Weather Service reported half an inch of snow in December in Columbus, but it was nothing that accumulated at any point in time. Jeff Rogers, professor of atmospheric sciences at Ohio State, said the little amount of snowfall avoided a record low. “That avoided setting a record of an all time low, which was 2/10ths of an inch of snow in 1910, we came pretty close to an all time low of snow in December,” Rogers said. A light dusting on the streets and a thin white layer of snow in the grass has Ohio preparing for the upcoming winter season. The Ohio Department of Transportation announced Monday morning that 53 snowplows would be working to keep the streets clear. The working trucks also ensured the roads were salted and ready in case of cold weather.
continued as Snow on 3A
THOMAS BRADLEY / Campus editor
OSU’s Oval on Jan. 2, 2012, accumulated small amounts of snow, which is the 1st accumulation of snow of the season.
1A