People aren’t happy about Ohio State’s loss to Michigan, and they’re venting
Editor’s note: 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
To the editor: After a long Saturday (Nov. 27) of college football, I went to worship at a local Lutheran congregation. I was a little surprised and offended when I saw that the sanctuary was dressed in blue. Are your kidding me? Were these people mocking OSU at their great loss up north this year? Ah, then I realized it was the first Sunday in Advent and blue — the color of hope — has been the liturgical color of this season for most Lutherans. Then again, some congregations have kept the color purple for Advent — the color of repentance. How appropriate are both colors on this weekend? We live with the hope that next year OSU will beat Michigan and, in addition, both sides need to repent of how vicious we can be toward each other over a game of football.
F. Allan Debelak, Columbus
To F. Allan: In addition to submitting a candidate for the Letter of the Year, you bring a peace that, judging by many of the other angry emails I get, is much needed.
To the editor: When you have momentum going into halftime, and when you have the best receivers in the country, why do you come out in the third quarter and run the ball three times? Does anyone at OSU teach corners to locate the ball? To paraphrase
Woody, when a pass is on the way to an enemy receiver, three things can happen, and one of them is bad. Why do would-be tacklers dive at the feet of the opposing runner? When you leave your feet, you are pretty much stuck there. And the runner can also jump over you. Mike Howard, Westerville
To the editor: Inquiring minds, at least this one, would like to know why the Buckeyes don’t use a two-back offense when they are in the red zone or it is third-and-2 or 3. Also, why not try some runs outside the tackle? The team had three very good backs. In the red zone, it would force the linebackers to play closer to the line, giving the receivers more room. On third down the defense wouldn’t be able to key on the single back. A few more runs outside the tackles would, again, force the defenses to consider more possibilities.
James M. Mulcahy, Grand Island, N.Y.
To the editor: I have a response to the question “Where does OSU go after rare loss to Michigan?” on the front page of the sports section in The Dispatch. I would suggest a plan for seeking humility and reality rather than continuing on their pompous and arrogant path.
Humility in realizing they are not THE only university in Ohio, and they are not top dog in football, even in their own conference. I fully appreciate how proud OSU fans are of their football team. However, their hypothesis that they are superior to other football programs has, once again, been proven false.
I watch a lot of college football and sometimes pro as well, and no other former college players or current players refer to their school as THE anything. What’s that all about?
Douglas Cook, Lewis Center
On Jim Harbaugh
Dear Sir: Before you rip on Jim Harbaugh
for being ungracious, you might be well served to recall Ryan Day’s famous “Hang a hundred on ‘em” comment and you should probably take a peek at his postgame presser (Nov. 27). His message to the media was all about how his team had a bad day. The reality is that (Ohio State) got manhandled on both sides of the ball. They were overmatched and got embarrassed. Ryan Day couldn’t bring himself to say anything close to a tip of the hat to Michigan for that painful reality.
Gene Smith has a long-standing tradition of hiring low-character guys to coach the (Ohio State) football team: Tressel, Meyer and now poor little Ryan. Even Woody couldn’t help from punching that Clemson linebacker in the throat. And let’s not forget all of the high-character guys they recruit; Schlichter, Pryor, Clarett. The list goes on.
So taking pot shots at Harbaugh might be red meat for your readers, but it makes you a hypocritical hack to the rest of the world.
Joe Fohey
On print deadlines
To the editor: Just read your response to letters complaining about your print coverage of the OSU basketball games in Florida. Last I heard, print journalism is scrambling to stay afloat. The core of your subscribers (does) not want to have to resort to the internet or social media to get coverage of their teams. Reading the morning paper is a ritual for me. Also, half-page photos of Wolverine players will not endear you to Buckeye fans. Not to mention frequent articles printed from Detroit papers. Keep it up, Pugsley, and (you) will be back with the Pigs Knuckle Gazette where you belong.
John Dawson, Dublin
To John: Is the Gazette hiring? Asking for a friend.