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Ohio State football fans need to find some joy

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8 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Ohio State football fans need to find some joy

Have extra feedback, questions? Attain out to me at [email protected]. Letters are frivolously edited for readability.

On Ohio State soccer

To Brian: Mike Arace’s column concerning the insanity, madness or psychosis of many OSU followers about their obsession with beating Michigan yearly was wonderful. He unnoticed the numerous hours spent by college students, OSU employees and these followers to cross out the letter “M” for all signage on campus and surrounding neighborhoods. I labored with an OSU alum who was unable to sleep or eat a lot for a number of days earlier than the Michigan recreation. If OSU misplaced the sport, he would name in sick for a pair of days as a result of he couldn’t get out mattress. Throughout soccer bowl video games, he would need each Large Ten crew to win their recreation besides Michigan. It’s really unhappy that so many individuals make investments a lot of themselves in a recreation that has no impression on their life, their household or something that actually issues within the nice scheme of life. If Ryan Day actually believes that shedding to Michigan is nearly the worst factor to occur in his life, he ought to discover one other job that may convey him pleasure and peace.

Raymond D’Angelo

To Raymond: Extra pleasure and peace is required lots round these components, the place there seemingly is the “best” and “worst” and nothing in between. It is effective to criticize Day, and by no means was it extra deserved than after the offensive recreation plan vs. Michigan, however hearth him with the document he has? It is effective to dislike shedding, however to be unable to get off the bed? Actuality test, please.

To the editor: Fights appear to comply with TTUN. I consider they’ve been concerned in three postgame fracases prior to now three years. Maybe those that keep can be fracasers.

RP Schleichert

To the editor: Coach Day is paid solely $10 million per yr, and it isn’t contingent on beating Michigan. Are you able to think about what Day could be paid if he really beat Michigan often? Fort Knox would run out gold if he ever defeats Michigan.

Michael Oser, Columbus

Expensive sports activities editor: I assist Ryan Day and consider, on steadiness, that he’s been a superb coach who has earned and continues to obtain the love of followers and gamers alike. It’s straightforward for a lot of to neglect that Day was robbed of two playoff wins by unconscionably horrible officiating that modified the results of each video games. And it carries weight that he’s an individual of character. It’s onerous to think about him getting a lap dance at a bar, and his loyalty to gamers is reciprocated. First-round picks proceed to postpone their NFL careers to play for Day, and the most effective recruits select to be Buckeyes.

Which makes the drop-off at quarterback slightly baffling. Folks have been fast to sentence Kyle McCord and his indifferent perspective when he proved to be a merely good quarterback. Followers appear to be rather more forgiving with Will Howard and his completely satisfied, can-do perspective, however a superb perspective doesn’t choose up first downs towards elite defenses. We have been spoiled by 5 years of really elite quarterback play with Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud, however the defenses weren’t fairly as much as snuff. Now we’ve had an elite protection for 2 seasons, with the present iteration clearly the most effective within the nation, however the play at quarterback will not be. Howard missed open receivers a number of instances towards Michigan, and whereas eight interceptions on the season will not be unhealthy, his breakdowns have come on the worst moments when superior quarterback play is required most. Michigan, who has an elite protection, offered out to cease the run, daring Howard to beat them. He failed. The play calling was understandably criticized, however it regarded to me just like the coaches didn’t belief Howard to make the throws that wanted to be made to get first downs and win the sport.

And backing up Howard is Devin Brown. Most have been clamoring to see Julian Sayin all season lengthy, however when it regarded like Howard could be out, followers began groaning on the prospect of Brown popping out to provide one other sub-elite efficiency. When Alabama’s Jalen Hurts wasn’t getting it achieved within the 2018 nationwide championship towards Georgia, Nick Saban despatched out Tua Tagovailoa to win the sport. Now each guys begin within the NFL. Will Day have the braveness to make such a call sooner or later, and can he have elite guys on the sideline to make it occur? I hope the reply to each is sure. Folks root for good guys, they usually respect loyalty. However success on the highest degree is decided by beating the opposite groups at that degree.

Bob Younger, Columbus

To Brian: Anybody who examine Ryan Day’s provide to supply a constitution flight for Buckeyes announcer and Iowa soccer dad Jim Lachey to return residence for The Recreation needs to be touched. They noticed a facet of the OSU coach that is not often been seen. Certain, he might afford to rearrange it himself or whether or not the college chipped in. It is the thought, you already know.

However Day rose above his season-ending loss. Michigan’s Sherrone Moore will remorse the flag-planting concept, crowing they “personal” the Buckeyes – a extreme lack of teaching humility. Hopefully, he’ll be chastened – a name from his former boss? He is forgetting the overwhelming dominance by Ohio State from 2001 to 2020.

Day has earned my respect along with his beneficiant concern for others like Lachey. But not even a CFP championship (2022) might veil the heartache of rivalry losses. Particularly, a reverberating thud in Ohio Stadium. Might it by no means occur once more.

Larry Cheek, Dublin

On the Blue Jackets

To the editor: OK, so it wasn’t going to be a playoff yr anyway. We went out and obtained a brand new coach as a result of we did not like the best way the crew was being managed on the ice. We employed a brand new basic supervisor as a result of we did not just like the outcomes from the earlier rebuilding plan. We proceed to guide the league in missed video games resulting from accidents to key gamers.

Possibly it is time to check out the people who find themselves in control of the energy and conditioning program and make an identical change. It is a bodily recreation and accidents are inevitable, however it makes you query why we proceed to guide the league in that class.

Tom Cole, Etna

On highschool soccer

To the Editor: I learn with eager curiosity the Mailbag letter by Joe Motil this week expressing concern relating to how state champions at the moment are acknowledged. Particularly, Joe cited the 1966 Watterson soccer crew that was topped state champions after their resounding victory over Higher Arlington 32-0 within the season finale.

I used to be an assistant coach for UA on the sidelines on the time and witnessed firsthand that drubbing of the Golden Bears. We have been outplayed and outcoached as Watterson vaulted from No. 4 to No. 1 within the ultimate state ballot outcomes, correctly claiming the state championship title.

However the next yr the Golden Bears returned the favor and defeated the then-state champions 32-2 on the outdated North Excessive Stadium. That vaulted UA atop the polls for his or her first state championship in 1967. The Bears repeated an undefeated season in 1968 with one other championship and once more in 1969 with a 3rd consecutive undefeated title.

Paradoxically, UA was undefeated a fourth consecutive yr in 1970, however the state ballot title was awarded to an undefeated Massillon Washington crew. I do know that the OHSAA all the time works for the advantage of scholar athletes, coaches, directors and colleges. The present playoff system supplies equity to all ranges of groups in all sports activities, each girls and boys. However it appears to me that each one state titles, nevertheless earned, ought to be correctly acknowledged.

Tom Rutan, former president of the OHSAA State Board of Management

To Brian: Ohio’s two AFC North groups are in a well-recognized scenario, taking part in cellar dwellers to the hated Steelers and Ravens. A drastic treatment is required to avoid wasting our state from perpetual infamy. What to do? Nicely, the Bengals have a superb offense however awful protection. Cleveland has the other downside. Clearly a state takeover is required. For Gov. DeWine it might be a legacy-builder that dwarfs the Intel challenge. The mechanics could be easy: The 2 crew house owners would meet in impartial Columbus for a coin toss. The loser could be required to swap its greatest unit for the opposite crew’s worst. Higher to have not less than one contender than none. The one downside I can see is that the Browns would little question lose the toss.

Kevin F Duffy, Columbus

On faculty soccer

To Brian: Marshall soccer loved a really profitable season profitable their convention championship and accepted a pleasant bowl bid earlier than their coach then abandons ship for a greater provide and 25 gamers comply with by getting into the switch portal forcing the varsity to say no their bowl alternative. Gamers now routinely choose out of bowl video games individually though they accepted NIL cash from those that anticipated them to play all the season. There’s obtained to be a greater method.

Dennis Singleton Dayton