Mailbox: Did Ohio State football players' religious actions become 'tiresome'?

Mailbox: Did Ohio State football players’ religious actions become ‘tiresome’?

Posted by author February 16, 2025 Football

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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: “Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them. . .” − Matthew 6.

I don’t begrudge anyone their beliefs if those beliefs don’t hurt others. But it becomes tiresome to have those beliefs thrown in our faces so often, from the nonsensical T-shirts on Day One at the summer hotel to the scripture eye black and frequent kneeling and pointing up at whatever (the blimp maybe, or the clouds?) Your reporter Rob Oller certainly tipped his hand and allegiance on several occasions this past season while missing a great opportunity to feature some folks with other religions or even no religion. With a team, coaches and staff of a couple hundred and an athletic department of thousands, surely there must be some.

David Wright, Columbus

To David: It is a good idea to highlight the many religious beliefs among athletes. The reason the Christianity angle was so big this year for Ohio State football was that it was so prevalent. I have never seen a team as focused on the topic as this year’s Buckeyes. It was astounding, actually, and Rob correctly jumped on the angle that it was making some fans uncomfortable.

Hello Brian: RE: Your response to “HS” support of Ryan Day.

I, too, am a supporter of Ryan Day, and while having been disappointed and sometimes critical after the recent stint of Michigan losses, I have never been in the “fire the coach” camp. In fact, I would be surprised if a great many of the OSU fan base have ever held that position.

I am wondering if you believe that facts support your statement of a “large part of the fan base wants me (Ryan Day) fired” or do you wiggle out by inserting “If” in front of your statement? Can you produce a credible poll that was taken on the subject of firing Ryan Day showing a majority of fans wanting him fired after the 2024 Michigan loss? Please tell me that in your Mailbox piece in question you are not just repeating a “thought” often enough that it somehow now becomes “fact.”

I agree with your statement that Day is a “great and under-appreciated coach” and that many, if not a majority of the OSU fan base would agree as well … polled before or after the results of the 2024 Michigan game.

Dan Bare, Worthington

To Dan: A “large part” does not mean a majority. Though if there was a poll after the Michigan game, I’d bet the majority had Day gone. The many, many times I ran into fire-Day people, I simply asked, “And hire who?” The fire-Day people hadn’t thought that far ahead.

Dear Mr. White: In the Feb. 9 Mailbox, H.S. Orth wrote about Woody Hayes winning his first national championship in 1954. When the Buckeyes returned to Columbus from the Rose Bowl, a local car dealership offered Woody a brand new scarlet & gray Cadillac, free. Woody turned it down, explaining, “One year they give the coach a new car, the next year they give him a gallon of gas to get out of town.”

Robert B, Stevenson, Columbus

To the editor: Once again, a lot is being written about college football signing day “ranking.” With the portal and NIL money, the freshman who do well often decide to move to another team which has more potential and money to offer. Freshmen who do not start immediately often leave after their first year to go where they are promised a starting job. So everyone should slow down and take a deep breath instead of worrying about OSU ranking after the latest signing day.

Raymond D’Angelo, Westerville

To Brian: He is a national championship coach and then became a university president. And think how many men are better men because they learned a lot more than just football from Jim Tressel. Now he’s been nominated to be Ohio’s lieutenant governor. He is a true renaissance man who has handled curve balls in life as well as anyone could and has probably been the most respected person in Ohio for over 20 years. Normally when someone is successful in athletics and it is said that they could run for office and win, it is only hyperbole. But if Jim Tressel were to run for governor, he’d get my vote.

Dennis Singleton, Dayton

To Dennis: From an entertainment aspect, a Tressel vs. Ramaswamy primary would be one to behold.

Buy Ohio State books, posters, gear from CFP title win

To the editor: I would say that the Kansas City Chiefs have egg on their faces, but eggs are now too expensive to waste. The Chiefs had too many off-the-field distractions (hint: Taylor Swift and her reflected fame) and the Chiefs lost the eye of the tiger. I write this not because of Kansas City affection but Buckeye fear. The Buckeyes need to keep the hunger of the underdog, not the poisonous tranquility and satisfaction of notoriety, social media acclaim, NIL money and the chatter of friends and family. Nick Saban called those rat poison, and wealthy coach Day must remember the source of his wealth is winning and that he can’t rest on his laurels. I know the Buckeyes and coach Day will face challenges this upcoming football season, but they need to remember the Kansas City and Michigan debacles to learn how to win in 2025.

Michael Oser, Columbus

To Brian: Rob Oller’s column describing the ineptitude of the Cleveland Clowns missed the mark on one point. He noted that Myles Garrett did not want to go through another rebuild. Since the original Browns left for Baltimore, they have never had a rebuild. All They have done is add one bad quarterback after another with Deshaun Watson being the worst of the bunch – Johnny Manziel was bad but not a massage-ynist. The best of the bunch were Baker Mayfield, who matured and is doing OK in Tampa, and Joe Flacco. Jimmy Haslam should sell the team to someone who wants to build a winner. In the meantime, let Garrett go.

Ray D’Angelo, Westerville

To Mr. White: While I agree with most of Rob Oller’s takes on the Browns and Crew, I have a couple of my own that may be even more in the minority than his are most of the time. I’ll start by saying I’ve been a Browns fan for over 50 years (OK, boomer) and no real fan of team can just start rooting for another team as he suggests. I gave my now junior-in-college son an out when he was 12 years old when he asked for a Drew Brees jersey. He didn’t jump ship then (he just liked Drew Brees) and we still go to a training camp practice every year.

Second, I was talking with said son about Myles Garrett and we agree: trade him now and get some high picks while you can. There are too many holes in the roster due to the stupid Deshaun Watson trade. While we’ll lose one of the dominant edge rush threats ever, we won’t have to watch him crash down on the 50% of plays that aren’t a pass, lose containment and watch the other team run around the edge where he should have been for a big gain or a bootleg pass and pick up critical, soul-crushing third downs in a tight game.

Third, we’re in alignment: Jimmy Haslam’s track record blows as an owner, but remember this team did make the playoffs two of the past four years and until last year was respectable for four consecutive seasons. That doesn’t let Haslam off the hook, but the team was on the come until last year’s fiasco, which was on Stefanski for blowing up his offensive coaching staff.

Fourth, if Crew fans owned two stadiums, and one had 50,000 more seats and the best player in the world was on an opposing team, would he have the game in the 20,000-seater or the 70,000 one? Doesn’t this give more fans who wouldn’t be able to get a ticket an opportunity to see the game? Granted, they have to drive to Cleveland, but get over it already. Here’s a crying towel for all the Crew fans (and Mike Arace) who are blubbering about this. Also, Messi sat out the game Miami played at Crew stadium this past year, so maybe they should go after him as well for that missed opportunity.

Fifth, massage-ynist. Hilarious!

Tony Federer, Powell

To Tony: Regarding the Browns, I’ll just say they’re still a mess. As for the Crew, I disagree that it’s no problem that the Haslams are taking the prime home game away from local fans who have invested so much into the team for decades. It’s a slap in the supporters’ faces to make them drive to Cleveland to see Messi. Gone will be a home-field advantage. Gone will be the reward for building a great atmosphere. Into the Haslams’ pockets go even more money.

On the Columbus Crew, Blue Jackets

To Brian: I am concerned after reading of all the recent and past trades of Crew and Blue Jackets players. It seems as though the Columbus pro teams are just high-level farm teams for other cities. We often get good players, then develop them and then they move on to other teams. Why is that? Is Columbus just chopped liver, or what? Columbus is starting to seem like the last guy picked on the school playground teams that everybody feels sorry for. The guy nobody really wants but somebody gets stuck with.

Chet Ridenour Sr., Worthington

To Chet: The Crew was right in transferring Cucho Hernandez to a higher league. That’s how soccer works. He had earned that, and to keep him would have left them with an unhappy star. They did not want to lose Lucas Zelarayan, but MLS squeezed them on salary when they acquired Diego Rossi. And a championship ensued. As for the Blue Jackets, until they start winning they won’t be able to stop players from leaving in search of success.

On LeBron James

To Brian: We may agree Michael Jordan is the best NBA player until LeBron James. What more does LeBron need to do before we crown him the GOAT? Jordan enthusiasts would say win more rings since Michael has six and LeBron four. That and being a superior defensive player are categories in which Michael is better. However, Michael had both Scottie Pippen, a seven-time All-Star, and Dennis Rodman, who averaged over 15 rebounds a game for three seasons with Michael. Add in Phil Jackson, one of the best coaches in NBA history, it’s no surprise the Chicago Bulls were so successful. Clearly their leader, Jordan, was the beneficiary of superior athletes and coach during his tenure.LeBron is the all-time NBA leading scorer and the only player with over 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists. At age 40, he has scored 40 points twice. Perhaps the intangible value of making others around him so much better, distinguishes LeBron from virtually all other NBA players. Do you agree?

Bob Weiler

To Bob: I was in the Jordan camp for a long time, but LeBron just kept going and going and going and at a super high level. He did have a Wade to Jordan’s Pippen, but not nearly for as long. So, yes, I’m now on the James-is-the-greatest side of the argument.

On TV announcers

To Brian: I am amazed at the amount of time of hand wringing over whether certain college football television announcers have a bias toward one team or another and that fan bases cannot bear any criticism of a play or player, even if it was warranted. I have to agree with Dave Waller’s letter that Kirk Herbstreit talks too much and is afraid of a pregnant pause. I much prefer listening to the announcers of the English Premier League who toss in a good side of British humor with their commentary. Take a recent match where one announcer asked the other what the club, which was down 3-0 at the half, needed to do. He replied, “Don’t leave the dressing room.” You’d never hear that on a U.S. broadcast.

Mark Bennett, Columbus