Readers: Support Holtmann, believe officials are biased
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 basketball
To Brian: Stay with Chris Holtmann, university and fans. He's driving a proven 6-year-old sports car (20+ wins in five of those seasons) that at times can zoom past other schools, finely tuned. But just as often, it seems, a connection slips and the performance is sluggish. Add to it the weight of a demanding schedule in typical conference play. He got us to the Big Dance four times (no tournament in 2020). Do you want to start over? Holtmann is not Matta. Things are different. The pool of coaching experience is much less now. He's got his own energy, integrity and style that continues to bear fruit — results we may not see on the court, since coaching ultimately builds character and ideally, leaders. But that sports car will come out ahead in years to come, better equipped — a skilled driver leading his crew — whatever their spot in the pack.
Larry Cheek, Dublin
To Larry: The university has spoken, as athletic director Gene Smith told our Adam Jardy that Holtmann is “our coach of the future.” We'll see what the fans have to say if the team's misery continues.
On officiating bias
To the editor: I know referees are only human and miss calls, but an Ohio conspiracy of bad calls is much too commonplace. They missed the blatant foul against Buckeye Lebron which caused the Lakers to lose a game. They missed numerous calls against Georgia which would've given the football Buckeyes a shot at the title. And they missed too many calls that would have allowed the Bengals to beat the Chiefs. Ohio has been homered three times too many. Either the referees should be neutral or just stay off the field and let the games begin.
Michael N. Oser, Columbus
To the editor: After the game, the Cincinnati mayor and some Bengals apologized for their remarks. Did the NFL say anything about the ridiculous officiating in the AFC championship game?
Bob Stevenson, Columbus
On Ohio State football
To Mr. White: You're a very good writer. However, I can't defend Ryan Day's six losses any more than I could try and defend Jim Harbaugh's 0-6 record in bowl games. Why? Because Ryan Day's six losses are the biggest games he's coached. Zero wins in playoff games (Alabama, Clemson, Georgia), Oregon at home, and now back-to-back losses to “the team up north.”
Not to mention, you or I may very well have been able to coach this talent to the games he has won. (Let's face it, the Big 10 is not that great). And his best season and only win vs. Michigan was clearly Urban Meyer's team. And Jim Tressel, you could've bet your life savings on him to have beat Georgia. No way is Tressel passing on second-and-1, third-and-1 at midfield, which resulted in a punt for Ryan Day after two dumb pass-play calls. The game could have been put away on that drive. Not to mention fourth-and-inches, another pass play call that resulted in illegal procedure. Nope, Tressel and Urban are under center doing a QB sneak there. The biggest blunder was clock management. Snapping the ball a dozen times in the fourth quarter with 15-20 seconds left. Say what you will about Jim Tressel, but Georgia never sees the ball with 2:39 to go in the game if he's coaching.
Sorry, the six losses and especially the Georgia game all fall on Ryan Day. Pete Espo
Editor’s note: Day is 1-3 in the playoffs with a 49-28 win against Clemson in the 2021 Sugar Bowl.
On Denny Kellington and Damar Hamlin
To the editor: Re: “‘A real hero': Buffalo Bills trainer Denny Kellington has master's degree from Ohio State” (Jan. 6): The word hero is overused in sports to the point where it is often meaningless. Denny Kellington, the Buffalo Bills assistant athletic trainer who administered CPR to Bills safety Damar Hamlin during the Monday Night Football game between Buffalo and the Cincinnati Bengals, is — like Roberto Clemente and Joe Delaney — an exception, reminding us of the real meaning of the word.
Ohio State has much to be proud of this year, including the Buckeyes football team that reached college football's national semifinals and lost a heartbreaker to Georgia. But the Bucks' success pales in comparison to the pride Ohio State should take in having helped prepare Kellington, who earned a master's at Ohio State, to help save Hamlin's life.
Stephen A. Silver, San Francisco