Mailbox: Is rude fan treatment of Ohio State football coach Ryan Day, family part of job?

Posted by author January 26, 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 Brian: I am a fan, but not a threatening type. I don’t condone any of that, at any time, anywhere. But it must be pointed out that Ryan Day made at least $11 million this year, and unless he is incredibly naive, that is unfortunately part of the deal. It’s the same in the pros, maybe even more so. Thanks to legalized betting, probably multiplied by 100. I assume the university provides some security, and part of that incredible salary can provide the rest.

I find it incredibly rich that a guy (Matt Hayes of USA Today) from the University of Florida would criticize any other college team’s fans. I have traveled to many OSU games, and Florida fans were as bad as it gets. Guys in their 20’s beating up guys in their 60’s. Guys hitting women, (yes, my wife was one). Ryan Day has a pay day that is beyond imagination to 99.97% of all other Americans. If he wants out, adios, but I hope he stays, because I happen to think he earned the money.

James Oxley

To James: Ohio State fans’ treatment of Day is absurd and embarrassing. As Day’s wife, Nina, told our Bill Rabinowitz this week, the coach and his family faced “unprecedented hate” after the Buckeyes lost to Michigan. She said the haters “told me multiple times to have Ryan follow in his father’s footsteps.” (Day’s father died by suicide when Ryan was 8). Their kids got death threats. The family needed armed guards a their home. “I think he, at times, second-guessed his decision to get into this and be in the spotlight that we’re in,” she said. My view: I don’t understand why Day would stay at Ohio State and put his family through all of this. The money and fame are not worth it. Ohio State fans should hope he stays, but who could blame him for leaving?

To Mr. White: Watching the natty Monday night, I was baffled that OSU cornerback Davison Igbinosun was allowed to play. There’s a difference between ignorance, not ever having learned what to do, and willful ignorance, having been taught and instructed how to act/play but not doing so. I thought I saw a crawl in the broadcast that said he was the most penalized player on the team [18 times], and his transgressions are always so egregious that major penalties affect the game. As they almost did in this one. Can you or one of your colleagues enlighten me?

Mike Howard, Westerville

To Mike: Igbinosun is a “handsy,” physical cornerback. If I were an opposing offensive coordinator, I’d target him six to eight times a game and watch the flags fly. Lucky for the Buckeyes, teams did not do that.

To the editor: I hate watching football games anymore. A team scores, they go to three minutes of commercials. The scoring team kicks off, they go to three minutes of commercials. Obsessive is the only word that comes to mind. I realize that money makes the games happen.

Another thing: Kirk Herbstreit talks way too much. Throw the Herbie clicker in the trash. It’s annoying.

Dave Waller, Grove City

Dear Brian: I just read a quote from the head coach of That Team Up North who was speaking about Ohio State’s CFP performance. He was quoted as saying, “For us, it’s all about winning that game, so … it’s not about what they did after. For us, it’s all about we won that game and continued on that momentum after that.” Thankfully, Ohio State didn’t let “that game” define its season. I think we can now say with confidence that not everything depends on beating that Team Up North. This season proved that. You think the Browns would care if they lost to the Steelers twice in the regular season if they won the Super Bowl?

Steve Roth, Westerville

Dear Editor: After reading the recent Dispatch article on OSU football coaches salaries, it makes one wonder. Does the university have a football team or does the football team have a university?

Chet Ridenour Sr., Worthington

To the editor: Time to assess how the committee fared with the inaugural 12-team playoff. Let’s see. No. 8 seed vs. No. 1, No. 8 favored by 2 ½. No. 8 vs. No. 5, No. 8 favored by 6 ½. No. 8 vs. No. 7, No. 8 favored by 9 ½. Did I mention the No. 8 seed won all three?

If I wanted to further embarrass them, I could also point out they chose to make Boise State a No. 3 seed and Arizona State a No. 4. I understand the committee is not going to be amused by all of this. However, it does illustrate there is a need to go back to the drawing board, perhaps seeding teams using the eye test, not a bunch of random numbers. In fairness, this was their first rodeo. Here’s hoping 2026 will result in a more logical playoff structure.

Rick Higgins, Columbus

To Rick: It was a great playoff, but I’m sure the committee learned a few things about seeding. Expect improvements next season.

To Brian: Woody Hayes gave us the admonition, “Nothing that comes easy in this world is worth a damn.” Easy, it was not. Buckeye players who stepped into the arena did stumble. But then they got back up and they tried again and ran a gantlet to achieve ultimate victory. Good for them. And congratulations also to Notre Dame and others who gave great effort and, to paraphrase TR, whose place will never be with those timid souls who would criticize them who never stepped into the arena to ever know neither victory nor defeat.

Dennis Singleton, Dayton

To Brian: The biggest accomplishment for Ohio State was beating four teams with a combined record of 50-5, all in a month. Think about that. In the shadows, an O-line held together by persevering through an enormous challenge: A packed Horseshoe in cold December, a Rose Bowl payback (pow!) and a two-play proclamation, (taking it) “to the house!” And beyond. Unstoppable thoroughbreds, now living the dream.

Larry Cheek, Dublin

To the editor: OSU greats like Spielman, Clarett, Tatum, George, coach Hayes, Craft, Lucas and now coach Day, Howard and Sawyer have one common trait. They are motivated by their hearts. They want to win and are driven by a unique commitment and competitive zeal. No matter their monetary award, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat starts and drives their internal motors, and that’s why they are all in my Buckeye Hall of Fame.

Michael Oser, Columbus

On Ohio State basketball

To the editor: Hey, I have a news flash for you at The Dispatch: Ohio State has a women’s basketball team. Nationally ranked. And very exciting to watch. Last season, they beat Iowa (Caitlin Clark, remember?) in overtime at the sold-out Schott. So why aren’t you reporting more about this amazing team? For the men’s recent loss to Indiana, I saw several articles leading up to game and then several articles and photo coverage postgame. More news: The men have lost several of their games and rank near the bottom of the Big Ten.

If you gave the same coverage to the women’s games, perhaps sports fans would be encouraged to follow and watch their games. At least, how about offering something more substantial than your brief postgame story reciting the box score with a quote or two from the coach. Final flash: Women’s sports (especially basketball) are a hot topic these days. Try to catch up and keep up.

Sandra Anderson, Dublin

To the editor: I’m an avid fan of Buckeye sports and stories. My frustration has centered around the limited amount of coverage by The Dispatch on all other sports besides football and men’s basketball, particularly Buckeye women’s basketball. This year and many years previously, the OSU women’s basketball team has been one of the national leaders as far as successful seasons and NCAA appearances. This year they have one loss and yet seldom see women’s basketball being the lead sports story in the statewide newspaper like The Dispatch, as you would see in other states , as an example, South Carolina.

Football and men’s basketball are covered thoroughly by Adam Jardy, and I appreciate and enjoy it, but would also enjoy increased coverage and stories on the women’s basketball program.

Than Johnson, Urbana

To Sandra, Than: Our Brianna Mac Kay provides far more and far better coverage of the Ohio State’s women than anybody. You can check it out on Dispatch.com, which has far more coverage than the print editions do.

To Brian: Ohio State’s home loss to Michigan State brings to mind the importance of home-court advantage in college basketball. Of course, Spartans coach Tom Izzo has decades of success; OSU’s Jake Diebler is in his first year. So the result was unfortunate but no surprise. In order to finish well in the conference, stats show that teams must win more than two-thirds of their home games. Nothing new to some fans. It’s the road record that ultimately separates the average teams from the best, winning before an opponent’s packed crowd.

Understandably, the hectic conference schedule makes it hard for even the better team in the contest to play consistently with intensity and execution. Blowouts, fatigue and injuries happen. But unpreparedness is no excuse – in any team sport. The game is about shooting percentage, stamina and talent. Making free throws is paramount. The win at Minnesota on Monday revealed that fact. Youngsters, start there.

Larry Cheek, Dublin

On the Los Angeles Dodgers

To Brian: Major League Baseball must intervene to rescue the present state of the game whereby the Los Angeles Dodgers have now unofficially adopted Japanese baseball as their current Triple-A farm system. The Dodgers’ recent signing of Japanese star pitcher Roki Sasaki, to go along with last years inking of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and fellow starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, have essentially coined L.A. as the official landing spot for Japan’s elite.

Combine this with the Dodgers’ recent acquisition of the two top relievers on the market in Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, and it becomes blatantly obvious that small- and mid-market franchises like the Reds, Guardians and Pirates can no longer hope to compete on a level playing field. The Dodgers’ strategy to defer significant percentages of these bloated salaries to backload the contracts and avoid annual luxury-tax penalties in the process will need to be immediately addressed with a cap-like approach to preserve what remains of any competitive balance in baseball.

Jonathan G Gurian, Columbus