The Oral History of Eleven Warriors: 10 Years on the Wild Ride of the Largest College Sports Team Site on the Internet

I, for one, am happy to see the oral history in writing.

Thank you to all for creating and contributing to 11 Warriors, you make Loving the Buckeyes fun.

Go Buckeyes
Beat Michigan

This is great. I've read snippets on how the site has come to be, ventured through the archives, and have seen much in the near four years I've been aboard.

But it's great to read some first hand perspective, in detail, on the humble beginnings to what this community has become today.

I was born in Ohio. Was fortunate to spend my first seven years there before my father took an opportunity and moved our family away. But I was fortunate still to have come from a large family, and have enough Ohio State influence in my blood to nurture my blossoming Buckeye fandom into adulthood.

Love Johnny's notes on November 18, 2011...and the Bob Hunter comment(s). Because it's right around that time I tired of Buckeyextra, and first became aware of Eleven Warriors. Took me a year to sign up, probably another six months to truly participate, but the rest is history.

I was going to be a great Buckeye fan in this lifetime no matter what, but this community allows that to be in the fullest. I love fall Saturdays, but I get to express that all year around here.

So very proud. Thanks to all who have played a part over the years, and still pushing strong. Happy 10th 11W...Go Buckeyes.

I joined in 2012 primarily because of the excitement with Urban's hire and his first recruiting class. Found out about it through Bucknuts in a 30 day trial membership and have been telling friends and sharing your articles on FB ever since. Congrats on 10 years and thank you!

Cheers ladies and gentlemen.  I'd be far more productive without this site.

I wish I found this site earlier, found this great site out through bleacher report using 11w as a source and haven't looked back.

TL;DR /s

Congratulations guys, it's great to see some background into the development of the best damn site in the land.

Lots to be proud of .... congratulations to all involved!

Been following recruiting since Katzenmoyer and by far the best site.

31,419 Community members, that is pretty close to average attendance to a Ranch Dressing home football game. 

"Purdue announced an average attendance of 35,269 for seven home games against Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Southern Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Northwestern."

Should Ranch Dressing ever schedule 11 Warriors I think we can take them. 

I love being part of this Community(family).  I'm proud of 11 Warriors success and this little history lesson was absolutely fantastic!  Thank you. Woody said it best and 11 Warriors proves it...

"You Win with People!"

The Founders, Staff, and many Members of this site are creative, cool, and good people.

Go Bucks.

Thanks 11W staff and community for being my daily "water cooler". Toast to the next 10 years!

This history is brining back some pretty awesome memories of the site.

Congratulations on ten years and thanks for the trip down memory lane. 11W is beyond awesome! Keep up the great work. Go Bucks! 

Thank you all for allowing us a glimpse into the history of 11W!!! There is not a day I do not start without reading the Skull Session - The articles are refreshing and more than "brutally honest". Something I think is refreshing in today's homeristic society.

Thanks to all of you, those past, present and into the future for the work you have done and will continue to do.

GO BUCKEYES!!!!

Class of 86'

Love this site and community!

Kudos.  Job well done.

Congratulations on ten successful years.  You all have worked through a tremendous amount of difficulties and it was wonderful reading about how everything came together.  I wish every one of you continued success - Keep up the great work and the next ten years will go by faster than you would ever believe.  God bless.

Now that I've finished reading, I've gotta say this is great. From the time I was a lurker without a username, to the time I joined, to now, it's crazy how much has changed. This site has grown so much and I'm glad to help contribute to the success. I was pulling my hair out after the NC when I couldn't get on the site. Hell, I was just trying to relive highlights after having recorded the game and running around my house cheering like a crazy person. 12W truly has made a difference.
There's a reason one of my multiple computer screens at the office is dedicated solely to having 11W up all day long.
Great work Jason. You've assembled a phenomenal team. Cheers to all and happy 10 years!

Good read fellas. I had never heard/seen a full on 11W history. 

I stumbled upon the site an the outset of TatGate. I was googling around for information and came upon 11W. I read through the whole saga, the Tressel exit and up to when Urban was in rumor. Gray boxes were bad then and they came a plenty. I joined the commentariat as it looked like Urban was a lock and the momentum has swung back to good. There were skullys written by someone different everyday. Chris, Sarah, Elika, etc. If I remember correctly DJ was around, went away, then eventually came back to take over full time Skully duty. Anyhow, my internet name changed due to an weird title and the work servers I was logging in on...more on that if you'd like. But it came at the time of 9Route outing so I just quietly started over. Anyhow, there has been lots of evolution here and all had been good and well managed.  Easily the best Buckeye site out there.  

This is just a testament to what makes Eleven Warriors different from the rest. The originality and passion of the founders and writers here just continue to put 11W on top. It's not bland content sharing, its writers who genuinely care about creating material for their readers, which is a rare and fantastic thing. Congrats on an amazing 10 years, and hopefully many more to come!!

So you have the “Walrus,” “Bert,” “El Guapo,” the “Bosa Shrug,” that shirt and many others that have originated at Eleven Warriors.

Why doesn't 11W sell shirts with these themes?  The Bosa shrug is a simple one and I'm willing to bet Bosa wouldn't mind a collaboration.  

happy B day 11W and thank you for all you do.  

That was fantastic! I am SO glad 11W sat down & did this. It will be must reading in the future for newbies who come to 11W & fall in love with it like I did.

RESPECT THE BASEMENT!!!

Happy 10th Birthday. Really appreciate all the hard work and effort that everyone puts into the site.  It provides a great respite from day to day life.  Here's to many more milestones to come.  

Maybe for the 15 year anniversary Jason will splurge and take you somewhere other than Montreal. /s

Wow this was awesome. This is truly a special place. Really proud of 11W.

Amazing. Thanks for the perspective. Very heart warming to hear about your love for Ohio State and the struggles you overcame to be the best fan site out there. All of your writers have a unique voice, which is missed in today's click bait market. Thanks to you all.

Bring back Good Shizzy

...my days always start by scooping cat shit out of a box and reading internet comments.

DJ bringing the fire. It's #content like this that gets my behind out of bed in the morning, ready to read a piping hot Skull Session.  

I've been a member since October 12, 2011 but had been a lurker since sometime that summer. Those were some wild times. Eleven Warriors helped me (and everyone else around the site in those days) cope with the fallout from Tatgate etc. You could say it was our safe space, away from the hordes of comments on other sites, and even the "journalists". Thanks so much for all that you do (staff AND members), this is a great community.

So many great memories. I really love my internet friends.

Thanks for all you guys do. This is an incredible site and covers so much about the university I love. This is literally the only website I check daily... and by daily I mean multiple times a day. Thanks again!

Go Bucks!!!

"From a little nut grew a mighty Buckeye."

Great read, Crew.

GO BUCKS!

Happy Birthday, boys! So much covered, yet so much poignancy is this exchange:

JASON: What was the atmosphere like at the Schott?

JOHNNY: It was awful. It was like the wake for a funeral.

I appreciate the look under your proverbial skirt. This history clears up some old inside jokes, and provides tremendous insight to the perseverance and vision to comply with an array of ridiculous requests demands, in order to maintain media status with Ohio State, and become the legitimate outlet you were meant to be. 

I really respected your craft before, but now I am really thankful that the 12W has taken root like it has. Ramzy nailed the 12W differentiation. It speaks to the selflessness of the the entire community.

When people are willing to pay for something in order for it to be free, that says something. You've trapped lightning in a bottle, guys. 

Great read! I have been an avid reader for a few years. I appreciate the quality content each and everyday. Each morning starts with a cup of coffee and DJs Skull Session. Keep it up guys! 

Happy birthday fellas! I love this site and community; one day I'll get back home and meet ya'll.

"Pryor arm-punt"

Lololol that's the perfect description and my favorite line from this ABSOLUTE Masterpiece!! Thank you fellas, all of you for this. I have read every day for almost 2 years (slow to the party, I know), but I'm thankful I found you. I'm a loyal 11Wer, and I appreciate all the trials and tribulations endured to provide all of us with the content we enjoy today.

Thanks to all the writers and fine folks here at 11w's for such a great site.  It simply doesn't get any better.  Absolutely love the history lesson.  Take a bow people, you deserve it.

Nice read. I had to do it three parts to finish, but, a damn nice read. 

I'm little surprised this was in Montreal and not somehow built around a FluffHead show. 

Awesome article on the history of 11W.  I don't spend that much time on the internet but 11W is a must EVERY time on online.  Follow you on twitter too so I just check twitter and most of your articles are posted there. You guys are the best following Buckeye recruiting, how the recruits have played and if they are injured, who got offered recently, an absolute MUST for any real Buckeye fan. 

I hate to hear the 11Dubcast had to be downsized last year. I work alot of weekends but if I don't work the weekend of this years Dubcast I'll be in the house.  And one last thing that 85 YTTHOTS ishirt is epic. Nothing says 11W like 85 YTTHOTS!! Love the website and keep doing what you're already doing!!

Happy Birthday 11W!  Lurked for years and signed up in 2013, a true Buckeye fan paradise....

Thank you for all that you do every day, can't imagine being a fan of this team and not living on this site. 

Here's to another 10 years of outstanding community, content, and laughs!

Great read, happy birthday to 11W. Love the site, thanks for all you do.

DJ: The other thing I remember about that game is my days always start by scooping cat shit out of a box and reading internet comments. That's how it starts. Every day.

I remember waking up and seeing a video from an Alabama fan cussing me out and telling me to suck on his “Alabama nutsack.” He called me a “Chump-ass yankee.”

This is just too funny for words. ROTFLMAO.

You guys really spoil us.  Here's to another 10 years...

A UGE Game week thank you, a comprehensive 11W history will help me pass the final countdown to Saturday. In all seriousness, the content is excellent, comments are entertaining and being away in an SEC & FSU hotbed 11W brings my Buckeyes a little closer each day. 

Thanks to all, and congratulations...  Your site really is tops in my book...  The first place I turn every morning...

Here's to your next 10 years!

Go Bucks!  (Oh sh_t, I probably just violated some university trademark-  )

This was a fantastic read. Happy to be a part of something so high quality, and focused on one of my biggest passions. You realize over time that this isn't an easy thing to accomplish. Happy Birthday 11w

My wife calls 11W my mistress because how I can't seem to read any other site while the phone is in my hands. Happy 10th Bday guys and it was the excitement of Urban coming to the good guys that got me reading this great site, and there is not a day of regret since.

Notice that Jason stopped mentioning how much the site made after 2009 or so. And now he's flying the staff up to Montreal, on a private jet no doubt, to celebrate ten years of 11W. Now I know where my site dues go.

Aslo,

But Ohio State didn't like the fact that we were using the name “Brutus” so we had to change the name of the event a few years later.

Come at me Ohio State. I'm not scared.

My morning has now been officially wasted but well worth it. Great read on the history of THE BEST site for Buckeye fans.

The troll header photo is great. Sling that shade my dudes.

What a fantastic way to capture the history of 11W.  Thank you for the time, energy, and dare I say, emotion that went into this article.  What you all have built here is impressive to say the least.  Thanks for giving us an outlet for our fanaticism.

We would launch a site refresh a month later and I can remember people asking why it was heavy on the color black instead of scarlet and the reason for that was because Ohio State had pummeled us and we were trying to avoid any trouble.

I think tOSU may owe you some royalties for those black jerseys last season. By my reckoning, you were first. /s

I remember Buckeye planet. Vaguely. 

really glad that jason included the two best pictures of me ever taken

Just think how many more comments and forum topics there would be if Calpoppy had never became a MOD.  

But in all seriousness, congrats on 10 years, guys.  A lot of very smart people have made this site what it is and one I have to check daily.  For most of us there is no such thing as too much Buckeye info and 11W is like a shot straight to the jugular.  Looking forward to 10 more.

So, I just spent a solid hour reading this... completely worth it. This is a true success story and I appreciate all of those who have made this site the best damn college football blog in the land. 

Johnny: I wanted to have a creative outlet and I'm not like, you know, I can't sing.

My life story.

It doesn't seem like it has been that long. I had moved to Nashville on Christmas day 2006 to work at Dell. I started reading Men of the Scarlet and Grayand then found 11W. Eventually this was the only OSU site I got any info from.

I joined because Jeff Beck (who grew up in Chillicothe around the same time as me) came through Los Angeles and I caught him on his computer looking at this site. After he left LA I started coming here every couple of days back in 2011 and the every day during the shitstorm in April and May. I finally made the jump to create an account later that year and to assist with the Respect the Basement fundraiser. I thought it was a great opportunity and turns out I was right.

Thank you 11W for all of the content over the past 5 years.

I've been around here since '08. Thanks for the walk down Memory Lane and happy birthday gents.

I came for the scandle and stayed for the content. I can't imagine what I would have done with the countless hours I've spent on this site the last six years. 

Happy 10th and to many, many more. 

All are incredibly talented but Ramzy's writing really drew me to the site. It was a very 'common man w/ wit' perspective that reminded me about a lot of conversations I had/still have with friends about OSU sports and sport in general. One element of the site that is quite unique in my opinion is that there seems to be very little divide between site staff and readers. Its very much a family type environment on the site where, even in heated whiskey-fueled arguments, respect is given across the board. Its one of the only, if not the only site for fans by fans. Very much a, as Ray Zalinsky once said, "I make car parts for the American working man, because thats who I am and thats who I care about" type of vibe when visiting the site. 

Great write up!  Was waiting for mention of "gray boxes" "bucksfan changes icon" and Mindy Drayer diagraming the Carlos Hyde incident.

How did I not know 11W does Buckeye Battle Cry Season Preview Magazines??? I have like 5 of em! Love this site, found it after the 2013 loss to MSU when I wanted a news source who knew how I felt and wouldn't praise the crap out of Sparty in a game we gave them. Been hooked ever since. Eleven Warriors forever!

Love this site. First thing I read in the morning and what I shut my laptop to in the evening. Thanks for always giving me something good to read about my favorite college athletics. Here's to the next 10!!! 

Go Buckeyes  

Been an avid reader since 2006 as a sophomore in college, I want to sincerely thank you guys. The writers, the site, and the community you've created have played a huge role in making it so much fun being a Buckeye.

Go Bucks

Thanks for an incredible decade, guys. I started reading this site in 2008, which was the first year that I really followed the nitty gritty of OSU football, and you guys have been my constant companion since. 11W is my alarm clock--I look foward to reading DJ's Skully before I crawl out of bed and brush my teeth, and I can always count on the site to be the first with reliable coverage of breaking news.

Rwading this article made me incredibly nostalgic because I recall so many of those events. Godspeed and look forward to another ten years of the Best Damn Sports Blog in the Land!

Thanks for the trip down memory lane.  This site and the handful of other Big 10 Bloggers site provided me a great resource for thus Buckeye after graduating in Spring '06 and moving into SEC country.  The background and context to what was going on behind the scenes was awesome.

Thanks a ton for the hard work and years of great reading. In the name of Warren G. Harding bring back the $10,000,000 presidential parlay. I miss the hell out of it. 

And by the way, I live in Fairbanks, smack dab in the middle of Alaska. And half a mile from my house is the Harding car, which is the train car that housed the legend himself during his ill fated trip north. Hallowed ground is everywhere. 

Happy Birthday and congrats on an amazing 10 years!

This is a great look behind the curtain. The writing is on par with the best of the best, sports and otherwise. I cannot begin my day without the Skully (save for Sunday's, the Lord's day of rest!). I first heard of 11W over on Buckeyeplanet. I've been an avid reader (lurker) for years. Not sure why it took me so long to create an account.

JASON: Matt was clutch.

I was just glad to help and now glad to make a small appearance in the 11W Oral History! The Black Saturday Banger was a blast for a good cause. Hoping we can do more in the future!

I joined in 2011 and I think by far my favorite articles outside of the skull sessions were the presidential parlays. I get why you guys took them down, but I was so fascinated by the creativity from those articles. #neverforgetparlays

And then every Ohio State fan hated Meyer because he destroyed Tressel.

In my household, my son hated Tim Tebow but not Meyer for some reason.  We already knew that Ohio State was actually Meyer's dream job and rumor was that he has a picture of The Horsehoe in his office.  Also, myself, my son, and my dad watched the OSU-Michigan game together on TV.  It was the last game I ever saw along with my dad before he passed.  I will cherish that memory.

This is a great post.  I'm going to work my way through it slowly and savor it.  Thanks for doing it.  

Looking forward to an even better decade!

So what you're saying is, my "Because we couldn't go for three" T shirt from the Dry Goods years ago before the static from OSU came down is now a collector's item???

I came over from Buckeye Commentary in 2008. My first account was "I heart Brolle".

I'm proud to be a member for most of the history of this sight. Through the rough years of 2011 and the best in 2014.

I was hooked on 11W the night of the ND-Alabama BCS Championship. I had started reading 11W towards the end of that season, but I just read the main stories.  That night, I clicked on what must have the "Open Thread" for that game, and laughed until I cried so many times that it made a horrible game enjoyable.

Happy 10th, 11W!! I wish I would have found you sooner than I did.

Thanks for all that you do. The variety and quality of content sets 11W apart from the majority of sports sites on the Internet. Even ESPN.com looks bare bones in comparison.

I love all the interesting angles, from recruiting to Dr. Earl. Keep up the great work!

Happy 10 years! Thanks for taking the time to document the story - such an enjoyable read. It's so neat to see this level of success while maintaining in large part because of such solid business, journalistic, and interpersonal values.

With many sites treating their "customers" as faceless, page-clicks, crafting articles with the hopes to make even one person's Wednesday afternoon a little less shitty epitomizes what differentiates you from the rest. From your integrity in breaking stories to the decency with which you treat the recruiting process, you guys "get it."

This site has been my work break stress-reliever and even an uplifting "constant" during life's difficult times. Thank you for all you do - 11W is truly is a special place.

Thanks BuckNut1994.

We owe what we've become to more people than we can probably mention, but we wanted to thank the following for their support, help and kindness through the years: Grant Edgell, Matt Gutridge, Matt Finkes, Jim Lachey, Nicholas Jervey, Beau Bishop, Mark Titus, ...

I was a little short on words above. Little daunting to actually put down into words how world class this website and staff is. I can say beyond a doubt I am the most informed Buckeye fan no matter what room I walk into. (Aside from an 11W function). Thank You.
I don't do social media. No Facebook. No Twitter. No Instagram. No Tumblr. No imgur. No nothing. The ONLY place I will ever sign up to is here. The Best.

Best sports website, not just for Ohio State, but for any team on the planet.
Found this site on the CBSSports.com message boards of the OSU-TTUN game in 2012, when someone posted the link to here, saying that "If you're a Buckeye fan, and don't want to read the spewed ignorance of Michigan fans, then go to Eleven Warriors", and I clicked the link mere seconds before the comment was removed.
Thanks dearly to all those who make us readers laugh, applaud, and customize gifs for ten years running.
Long live 11W!

Congratulations and Happy Birthday!

I  don't recall when I found the site, but it won out over the others for sheer quality.  

I've learned a lot about the game, and The Game, really appreciate the site and the staff and (most of) the other members.

Go Bucks and long live 11Warriors!

I've been on 11w for a looooong time. I remember getting an email from Jason or Chris about a commenter mock draft? Or something else? Who knows. Got the chance to meet most of the guys after one of the spring games at an 11W get together at a bar in the Short North.

I love DJ's style. Unless I'm remembering incorrectly he took a bit of a hiatus as a writer on the site. Behind the scenes story of that would have been interesting.

Thanks for all of your effort and passion over the years. 11w is a great place.

I joined the signed up for the site on the first day that it became available in 2010. I remember stumbling upon the site for the first time in 2006, while I was a high schooler. I have been a regular reader ever since then. Thanks for the last ten years, everyone! 

The mention of SB Nation offering to buy 11W touched on my only real fear with our community - that some big media conglomerate comes along and buys the site and alters it beyond recognition. I know money talks, especially an obscene amount of money, but I really pray this site remains as it is for a long time to come. My day wouldn't be the same and neither would my viewing of OSU athletics. At least for me.

Great read! I really enjoyed reading the history (even though I was interrupted by "mommy" 839 times). I love this site - both the articles and the community. Happy Birthday 11W!

Love how inclusive and welcoming the whole community here has been, I look forward to meeting many of you over pints here in the near future!

Loved loved reading this. Here's to another 10 years with the 11W brotherhood!

Great read.  I started coming to 11W during the Pryor recruitment and have never stopped. I remember as a grad student at USF deciding to donate to respect the basement and sweating that $20. 

I was a huge Ohio State fan before I discovered 11w, but it's thanks to all of your efforts that I now have a daily outlet for my fanaticism. Thank you for all the content and for creating this amazing community! 

Great job on the backstory. I've only been around since 2011, so great to read what happened before that.

I am so glad that I get to support such an awesome site as 11W!

What the 11W crew has created is so much more than another sports blog. Through the forums, at a particularly difficult time, I made a post about a personally difficult situation. I was recovering from a seemingly endless run of surgeries (I was at 16 or 17 at the time, I think) and had moved in by myself to care for 2 terminally ill parents, one of whom didn't know who I was any more.

My parents had been scammed of their life savings, and I was trying to care for them physically and financially, while balancing my own health and marriage at the same time. Dark days. I wasn't sure there was light at the end, and was even less sure I wanted to even find out.

I was alone with bad health and the impending death of parents who could no longer care for their most basic daily needs; bathing, feeding, bathroom needs included, 24 hours a day - 7 days a week. I felt alone, until that post. The outpouring of support from members of the 11W community kept me going. Offerings of personal emails for direct contact, and general encouragement helped me regain a focus and perspective that helped me through. 

My parents have since passed, I have only one more planned surgery on the horizon, and life is regaining a more positive focus.  Had the collection of individuals I heard from on 11W at that time not been there, I'm not sure I would have made it through. 11W is more than a sports site. It's a gathering place for some of the finest people humanity has to offer.  For that I give Jason and the gang my heartfelt thanks.

Yeah, I was facing the same issue with tOSU over the use of Scarlet and Gray so I had to come up with a creative workaround ...

Great read, an Ohio / Buckeye sports success story that is truly inspirational.  Love people with confidence yet self effacing, a rare combination, and who strive for excellence while having fun ... just a really neat situation.

Next decade up!

Has it been 10 years already?  Congratulations on a big milestone and good luck in the next 10.

11W is quite simply the best sports site I've ever frequented, period.

Really dig the content, intelligence and humor that's found here daily. Quality staff & commentariat will keep me coming back for another 10.

Oh yeah, TTUN still sucks.

I followed Ramzy to this site. His Bucknuts columns were my favorite. Love his humor. Plus BN was becoming increasingly a pay site, and I'm too cheap to pay for this stuff. I have turned many people on to this site since. 

I moved to Florida right before The Game 2006... I read the Dispatch online for all of my Buckeye related content pre-game and post-game. One day (maybe 2007 season, not really sure), I was notified that I had viewed my 5 free articles for the month and would have to subscribe to read more. After some hastily written emails to the editors of the Dispatch, I discovered 11W and have never looked back. Thank You, Jason (and everyone else) for making it easy for so many of us no longer in Ohio to stay connected to the team and the school we love.

I remember being a broke college students in the mid-2000s looking at sites like Bucknuts and thinking, "Man, I can't afford this premium content!" Little did I know 11W would come along and be the source of all things OSU. You all have built a fabulous site and a great community. You've nailed comments, recruiting coverage is great, you aren't homers (the post-VT debacle, Bollman, etc. made that clear), and DJ's unwavering faith in the 2015 playoffs is legendary. Bravo, gentlemen.

Oh, and it looks like the White Reggie Bush basically stopped growing at some point in his Pop Warner days. He's 5'6 / 160 and plays for Chadron State. Glad the Bucks held off on him.

This is amazing.  I joined the site in late 2012 after my cousin had told me about a site online that offered great Ohio State football content, whether it be recruiting or coverage of games.  When I joined, I think I was already spoiled, I had spent the most of the 2000's on AOL dial-up and geocites.  As a college kid, to come to 11W and see how great things were visually and then the content on top of that, just wow.  It's been fun to be around for so long and see the site and community grow over the 4 years I've been here, and I'm glad to be a 12th Warrior and help to keep providing the same - better- content for everyone.

Also, VIco, shout out to your parents living in Wooster and the Buehler's reference.

This was an awesome read. I have loved checking out 11W and taking a break from may day for several years now. Without a doubt, it is the best site that I frequent. I'm so grateful for the content that you guys put together and love how you embrace members/commenters ability and desire to contribute and discuss. 11W maintains that user friendliness while still looking as professional, if not even more so, than virtually any other place one can look online.

Thanks for the last 10 years, and here's to 50 more! O-H!

The only problem with this entire piece is that you guys met in Montreal to have this talk.   How unamerican is that?  I know English is not DJ's strongest but why go to the French speaking part of Canada to talk about the history of this great site.  This conversation should have taken place in some where awesome like Detroit. Other than that this was great.  

I love this site and come here daily.  I started coming here during the Tatgate fiasco and you guys put into words all of the frustration I felt with everything going on with the program. Thank you for all your hard work and 10 more years of greatness.

I have no idea how long ago I started "lurking," but it was many, many moons ago. Even as a profile-having contributer to the community, I still lurk more than I engage. But I can say with absolute sincerity that this website is far and away the best thing I've encountered on these here internets. 

Congrats on all the success, and here's to much, much more! #LongLiveTheBasement!!

RAMZY: Sounds like Barstool Sports back then.

 This is very accurate I had been following Barstool since I was in high school, and I remember first stumbling on 11W during that March 07 tournament run with the game previews, didn't start posting till spring of 13, spent most of my time reading the amazing free content, thanks 11w for all you do for me, I spend my 1st 30 minutes at work on 11W everyday.

This was awesome to read.  Thank you all for your hard work and keeping the BEST sports website I have ever been able to read. daily. while at work...ok i should go.

Fantastic article. Like a scrapbook of my 30s.

Surprised @Birm gate didn't get more play in the article. That was the 11W equivalent of 9/11.

Great article. I applaud your commitment to building the site into what it is today... the best buckeye site on the web.

Here's to many more years of continued success!

JASON: I think I may have been The B1G List's biggest fan.

Bring back the B1G List!  This was one of the things that convinced me that 11W was mandatory daily reading even in the depths of the offseason.

Cheers to the next 10 years mates!  

dupe :)

I turned off my adblocker for this site.  That's a big deal.

Cool write up.

Mark Titus signed some compression shorts, continuing the tradition of him donating signed worn clothing.

For what it's worth, these are safely tucked away in my closet...

I sat here and read a really long conversation between a few guys I don't actually know doing a historic decade-long run down of a sports website.

I don't know how or why, but kudos on a great 10 years.

I think the proudest moment for 11 warriors should be the night they saved that man's life who was contemplating suicide. That stands out as the crowning achievement to me.

Finally finished reading this over the course of 2 days, and must say it was quite interesting. I have always been curious how 11W ascended to it's current status of THE source for all things Buckeye football (and a lot more). Hearing you guys tell the story is really cool...thanks for sharing. 

Happy Birthday and keep up the great tradition of excellence you have all established!

And of course...Go Bucks!

What a fun, fascinating read.  Thanks for putting it together, fellas - both the article and the site.

11W 4 Life! 

Congrats on hitting the 10 year mark. Youre by far the Best Damn Site In The Land

I love all of you twisted, sick, degenerate people!  Keep up the great work.

Well, that wasted away most of the work day. It is awesome to see the history of something that we each have a teeny, tiny part in overall. Thanks for putting together a place like 11W which excels because of content, especially compared to the majority of the internet.

RAMZY: Eleven Warriors was the informed response to a media that was trying its hardest to create more interest and programming for the Tressel/Ohio State scandal narrative. 

Like others, this is when I found 11w - while seeking that "informed response" entirely absent elsewhere. I came for the balanced analysis, stayed for the thoughtful writing and coverage I couldn't find anywhere else. Thanks to everyone who played a role in the evolution of this site into what it is today - and I look forward to what's ahead as well.

This is great. Was a blast to be a part of such a talented and hard-working staff. Big thanks to Vico for giving me my start in Ohio State blogging, to Grand Maester Jason and the Small Council for bringing me aboard here, and to Johnny for being a great Dubcast partner during my time here. 

11W gave me the opportunity to talk to amazing people like Chris Spielman, Doug Donley, Dennis Hopson, Scottie Graham, Joe Germaine and others, and to bring their words to you, the readers. Doing the Debriefing was a blast, and it forced me to weigh the proper amount of humor with the right amount of respect when selecting each week's "Jim Tressel's Least Favorite Moment." The FlashBuck series gave me a chance to spotlight some of my favorite Buckeyes, and the Q&A series was a lot of fun, even if I never did land the big fish I tried so hard for so long to reel in - Antoine Winfield (sorry, Jason!). 

Here's to the next 10 years!

Much appreciation for Ohio's greatest website. All the work this site has done is just unbelievable, I started coming to this website in 2009 during the winter quarter because of a friend in my freshman dorm. It took me a bunch of years to actually sign up for the site- I would just read all the articles and enjoy the comments people left. This site is my favorite and I am grateful for all the hard work everyone from the beginning has done to help make 11W what it is today. Keep up the good work and let's hope the servers never crash again. Go Bucks!

This site is light years better than CBS sports & their troll infested comment boards.  I wish I would have found it sooner.

Best site in the business. Makes football season better (Didnt know that was possible!)  I cant wait for another year of Walt Keys Posters!!!

Wow, so apparently this is my first comment in 2016. I've been away too long! But I'm back, at least for today.

I remember when Keith was winding it down over at Buckeye Commentary, I would read Ramzy every Monday morning, linked from MGoBlog's forum's actually. And then 11W came along. I still have my original sticker you guys sent me and I put on my law school laptop. I'm past my 5 year law school reunion now. 

I remember my username flashed in the B-roll for the piece 10TV did on you guys and I claimed I was famous on here after that.

I also still have my books that I won in a contest for the March Madness pool how many ever years ago.

10 years flies by. Congrats guys, keep up the good work, you're making a big difference in many lives.

This was awesome, loved the round table talk on the Oral history.  If I wasn't always throwing my own keg rager (reliving the glory days) I'd love to make it to one of the 11W Tailgates..... 

Thank you guys for all that you do and for all that you have given to the fans. I definitely see you as THE source for Ohio State news and it keeps me up to date living away from The Great State of Ohio. Plus there have been many days when you have helped work to suck less. Thanks!

I know I'm late to this party, but I've been here longer than many people and less than others.  I first joined honestly to get this sticker from Jason.  It still sits on my pen caddy at work and has through all these years. 

 I really appreciate what you guys do.  As specifically for DJ, I'm particularly glad that you took that break.  Before that I really couldn't stand you and stayed away from the site because of it.  When you came back you were a different persona which I now love and one of the main reasons I still check in weekly even though life is busy and I don't have the time to devote to this glorious time suck is for the Skull Session. Your interesting links are worth the price of admission alone. I will say that I too miss the Presidential Parlay....it was a fine piece of fictitious writing that I was amused by. 

Keep up the great work gents! 

RAMZY: Fun fact: Tim's first day was the day Braxton Miller injured his shoulder and was lost for the season.

Were there a few other Staff "first days" where something dramatic happened on the same day? D.J.'s first Skully away on vacation and Matta retires...

Hey 11W writers and mods - can we update this? It's been 5+ years, and there's lots more to add to the history - podcasts, etc.