Readers say OSU coaches’ pay adds to pain of Michigan loss
Unfortunately, we don’t have room in the print edition for all of the great reader feedback we’re getting. For more of the letters, go to Dispatch.com. Have more comments, questions? Reach out to me at bwhite1@dispatch.com.
On Ohio State football
Dear editor: Reading of the OSU football coaches’ bonuses made me wonder: If the OSU vs. Michigan game is so important to OSU and its fan base, shouldn’t any bonus given to the coaching staff be reflected in the outcome of “The Game”? Since the coaching staff forgot to show up for this year’s “big game,” shouldn’t there be an adjustment made with a significant reduction in their bonus?
Chet Ridenour, Worthington
To the editor: I have a colleague in Oklahoma City who I had told we were taking a collection for a one-way ticket back to Oklahoma for our defensive coordinator and was told, “Don’t bother, we don’t want him back!” I have followed the Buckeyes since watching Hopalong Cassidy and was never so embarrassed as I was last week. This is the first time I haven’t wanted to play in the (playoff) or any bowl game; just don’t want to suffer again. Is it possible the university can cancel that $2 million deal?
Bob Van Horn
To Bob: I’m guessing your colleague is in the minority in Stillwater, as Knowles turned that defense around in impressive fashion. He also upped the rankings of Ohio State’s defense in every category. His crew had a bad day vs. Michigan, but I’m sure that won’t cancel his big contract.
To the editor: Ryan Day needs to lose the beard! It brings nothing but bad luck!
LA Cook, Sugar Grove
To Mr. White: Mr. Oller wrote what could be considered a disparaging remark about the Ohio State football team in a column after its loss to Michigan. He wrote: “The OSU program simply is not designed to excel in the trenches. Or in the secondary. Instead, it is constructed to perform as a rousing circus act.”
My reaction as a die-hard Buckeyes fan of 37 years: Ouch! The truth sometimes hurts.
Keith Robinson, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee
To the editor: After the latest Daybacle, is it time for Urban renewal at OSU?
Brent Dewees
To the editor: Beautiful day. Homefield advantage. No Excuses.
Carol Britt
To the editor: I wonder how many minutes and games Archie Griffin missed in his OSU career. He averaged at least 20 carries per game for four years. I’m not familiar with the injuries of the many other great running backs at OSU, i.e. George, Byars, Hyde. Why are our running backs missing so many minutes and games? Is it, nutrition, over training, field turf, player speed, helicopter mommies or what?
Dan Cutillo
To Dan: With Treveyon Henderson, I believe there is just some bad luck with a foot injury that won’t heal. It’s tough to shake off a hurt foot when it’s your job to run fast.
On Ohio State basketball
To Brian: It appears Ohio State basketball will again run an offensive scheme this year that all too often resembles guys in a pickup basketball game with players just passing the ball around for a while before one tosses up a long shot or goes one-on-one. I remember a time when teams looked to be five players and one ball moving in a synchronized manner for a high percentage shot, but I guess that’s so 20th century now.
Dennis Singleton, Dayton
To Dennis: It’s not easy to put together a team with so many new faces, and that’s why Chris Holtmann has used so many lineups in the early part of the season. It’s going to be rough going for a while with this team, and there could be some ugly games. But next season looks like it could be something special.
On the Blue Jackets
To the editor: For the first time in 22 years as a season ticket holder, I left the CBJ game after the first period. After losing to Pittsburgh for the seventh straight time the night before, the 6-0 first period in the Buffalo game was too much to take. They embarrassed themselves, the fans and the city of Columbus on national TV. This is Jarmo
Kekalainen’s fault! He has taken a young upcoming team and turned it into his NHL Finnish team. He traded away guys who played defense for defensemen who can shoot but can’t play defense and leave our goalies out to dry. He overpaid the Scandinavian players and played hardball with the Canadian and Russian players, who end up leaving or being traded. He hired a coaching staff who are great people but would be better coaching in Cleveland. Their offense to dump, check and pass the puck rather than shoot at the opponent’s goalie has wasted two elite scorers and hindered our young guns’ growth. Time to send Jarmo back to Finland or to the golf course!
William Fulcher, Columbus
On women’s sports
To the editor: I certainly enjoy reading numerous articles of Ohio State men’s sports accomplishments but would also appreciate more in-depth articles on Ohio State women’s sports. If you click on “Women Sports” in Buckeyextra, you find almost nothing on successes of women’s team sports. The Ohio State women’s basketball team is fourth in the nation with an outstanding early season and almost no coverage or side stories?
Than Johnson, Urbana
To Than: While you are correct that the navigation in Buckeyextra is broken (and soon to be fixed), I disagree that we have not had good coverage of the OSU women’s basketball, volleyball and hockey teams. These stories by Bailey Johnson, Colin Gay and Bill Rabinowitz have been displayed prominently in our print editions and online.
On Ohio State track and field
To the sports editor: I was shocked to learn the Ohio State athletic department has for years had one person coach both the women’s and men’s track teams. The individual coaching both teams recently retired. With the opportunity to hire individual coaches for each team, the athletic department continued the practice of one coach for both. I personally believe this is inadequate and unfair for the athletes of both teams. It also detracts from the ability to recruit star Ohio track athletes. I like Gene Smith, but this is a mistake. You can find $150,000 in an athletic budget of over $110 million to hire one additional track coach.
Duke Thomas, Columbus