Mailbox: Reader calls for 'no trash talk' truce between Ohio State, Michigan football fans
Have more comments, questions? Reach out to me at bwhite1@dispatch.com. Letters are lightly edited for clarity.
On Ohio State football
To the editor: I am a senior citizen who resents publishing gloating from “fans” who are not supportive of OSU. I can tell each one that I have never gloated about winning, even though throughout the period from 2001 to 2020 OSU was very dominant. I was always very happy that they won, but that should be the end of it. When I am north of Toledo, I do not even speak of OSU or write letters to the editor of the Detroit Free Press gloating about an OSU win. I also notice that when I am up in that that state, I see zero OSU bumper stickers, etc., and that is the way it should be. I have been to every Major League Baseball stadium and have kept my mouth shut, even though the Indians or Reds were playing that home team. This is called “sportsmanship” and is something missing in today’s games. This trash talking is what created anger and hatred, and it has no place here.
Thomas W. Billing
To the editor: I love Comedy Hour! To wit, responses from the Franz Kabelkas of the world saying that TTUN "cheated" their way to victory in 2021 and 2022. Mr. Kabelka must not have watched UM's domination of the line of scrimmage in 2021. When some of the more ignorant Buckeye faithful attribute the 22-point Wolverine victory in Columbus in 2022 to cheating, such alleged malfeasance must have ranked among the most effective of all time.
I implore the Dispatch to keep such comments coming! After all, our late-night comedians are certainly not the second coming of Carson or Letterman.
Rick Roeder
Dear Editor: I thought the LA Dodgers were having the best offseason in sports, but Ohio State may have just grabbed that title. They'll need it, with extra playoff games and new Big Ten member Oregon added to the 2024 schedule. I'd be surprised if some updated preseason polls don't give Ohio State the top ranking over Georgia.Adam Silbert, New York
To Adam: We'll see next season which was a better haul: Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto or Caleb Downs, Quinshon Judkins, Will Howard, Julian Sayin, Seth McLaughlin plus the returns of JT Tuimoloau, Emeka Egbuka, Denzel Burke, Jack Sawyer, TreVeyon Henderson and Donovan Jackson.
On Ohio State basketball
To the editor: Great game by the (OSU women's basketball) Buckeyes, sending the Hawkeyes home with a defeat. Bad finish, though, when that fan ran into Caitlin Clark, putting her on the floor. Then, the fan scoots and melds into the crowd. Did not stop to offer assistance, no "how are you?", no apology. Really bad form. Not the way Buckeyes are supposed to behave. Poor sportsmanship.
Now, Gene Smith did the "cleanup on aisle 6," because he's a real gentleman. Good on him. I'd like to see that fan identified and suggest that she offer an apology to one of college basketball's greatest players.
Steve Harrold, Athens, Georgia
On college football
To Brian: I was curious about the larger bowl picture – issues in and out of the college football playoffs. Primarily, how would teams fare without star QBs (e.g. LSU's Daniels, USC's Williams, Oklahoma's Gabriel), those who sat out along with other NFL-bound players or transfers. Little effect there. But it's obvious an experienced QB, one that's healthy and productive, is strategically important for a team to deserve a major bowl invitation. Otherwise, their defense might eventually wear down. Florida State and the Buckeyes (late) could only endure (no offense) until the final :00. Secondly, the portal business would be better for all with one window for free agency. From what I've read, it's a coaching headache. (I'll let staff like Rob Oller delve into it more thoroughly). The injury fear is over-emphasized – no doubt a possibility and a personal concern – but it's much greater (and more likely) at the professional level. Lastly, one obscure fact: Bowl distinctions have faded. The Rose Bowl was a Big Ten vs. Pac-10/12 lock from 1947 (apart from the BCS) until 2014, when Ohio State won the first national playoff championship.
Next season initiates the "new" CFP. This 12-team spectacle could become its own casualty, demanding more of colleges, prolonging the regular season to more of an NFL schedule. And if your star QB is injured during the playoff, what then, committee? Further, the NCAA should try new rules aiming to reduce injury/hits to quarterbacks, mainly protection in the pocket. The NFL doesn't seem to care: 16 starters/teams sidelined this season, 54 different starters total. Last season, 68, a record. Why does this continue?
Larry Cheek, Dublin
More from the Mailbox:
Ohio State football fans aren't going to let Michigan's boasting go unanswered
Hail to the Victors! Michigan football fans have their say to Ohio State fans
Readers come to defense of former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord
Syracuse football fan thanks Ohio State's Ryan Day for the gift of Kyle McCord
Will Ohio State football fans watch Kyle McCord become another Joe Burrow?
Some are supportive, but plenty of Ohio State football fans are angry at Ryan Day
Big Ten was unfair to Jim Harbaugh, and Dispatch coverage couldn't be more biased
Readers have opinions on Michigan football cheating and want Jim Harbaugh fired
Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mailbox: Reader calls for truce between Ohio State, Michigan fans
