Mailbox: Fire Ryan Day! No, extend his contract! And is his beard the problem?
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: Fire Ryan Day! Fire Jim Knowles! Fire Brian Hartline! Fire Larry Johnson! Heck, fire the whole coaching staff. The Buckeyes are 2-0 and have only outscored their opponents 58-10. This is totally unacceptable! In fact, get rid of the whole team. They are experiencing some early season struggles and are acting like 18- to 22-year-olds! No way they are working as hard as the critical fans (aka experts) in the stands! Get rid of Kyle McCord. He is acting like he has not started for two consecutive years at Ohio State. This team should be crushing everybody by a score of 70-3, including Penn State, Michigan, Alabama and Georgia on the way to a national championship, which they should be winning every single year, like it used to be! Nothing but perfection is acceptable! (Apparently.)
On behalf of all the loyal "fans" of OSU football.
Timothy Morbitzer, N. Manchester, Ind.
To the editor: It will never happen again. OSU fans have embraced Ryan Day in the past. He has let them down every year he has been (their) coach. He needs to find a new college to coach. Two years ago, he fired every coach as if none of the problems were because of him. He was the head coach! All problems ultimately stemmed from him. I can't wait till he is gone!
Kathryn Johnson
To all the Day-watchers out there: The thought of firing Ryan Day is ludicrous based on his record and the status Ohio State football has on the national landscape. Yes, he has run into some good Michigan teams that he could have beaten, but there are plenty of top-tier programs that would take OSU's problems in a heartbeat. The bigger question is why Day puts up with the constant doubters when NFL teams would scoop him up quickly. Then what? (Here come the Fickell, Vrabel, etc., letters ...)
To the editor: I’m a fan, love the coach and team this year. I’m not irrational about how this season is progressing. My belief is they are a bunch of kids trying to learn and be the best, and I’m OK with that. Ryan Day once said in an interview he tries to do the same thing before every game and wear the same colors for each game as well. He compared himself to Woody in that regard. It is my belief that there is a difference in his game-day routine or life in general. He grew a beard. That’s right. When he was with Urban and then as head coach and beating TTUN, he was clean-shaven. Do the research. Watch videos of past games. You will see what I’m saying.
As you can see, I’m superstitious (very).
Rick Angelotti
To Rick: Then how do you explain a clean-shaven Day losing to Oregon in 2021?
To Brian: Kyle McCord must remain in the driver's seat for OSU to be successful. Come hell or high water, the team must keep its hand on the proverbial plow following their "charger" to reap any number of close wins this year. The flashiness may be subdued. Adversity will arise. Undoubtedly, McCord isn't going to relinquish that long-awaited opportunity to lead the offense despite the temporary (but needed) substitution breaks. The fact that he's waited two years behind C.J. Stroud, learning useful patience in the process, makes the honor all the more precious. His determination to reach personal goals will have to rise above the (over)expectations of thousands, faithfully undergirded by the support of his family and teammates. But comparing him to his predecessors is something like the "apples to oranges" cliche. Let's face it, McCord's path will be long - any loss and criticism will foster maturity - and it's good he's a junior. Any younger and he might not possess a quietly emerging confidence, possibly losing out to someone with more talent. Coach Day wants as clear choice. I agree with Rob Oller's verdict: McCord is Ohio State's main man. Fortunately, the Buckeyes have had three games to get in sync before the battle accelerates.
Devin Brown, on the other hand, should accept his role as the backup, learning from his soon-to-be mentor/tutor, giving Kyle all the focus while maintaining an attitude of humility. Brown's turn to play is certain - fewer reps/game may come - and he must be ready to fill in respectably. That outlook models a character others will hopefully copy. Easier said than done. Particularly in this arena of competition.
Larry Cheek, Dublin
To Brian: Notre Dame has its embellished legend of Rudy, but Ohio State has a much more compelling story and no one even knows his name. I would ask The Dispatch to change that. His name was Jack Gibbs. Jack was an undersized, seldom-used senior in 1954. He was from modest means and worked a full-time night job while a full-time student and on the football team. Injuries forced Jack into the game, I mean THE game. The visitors held a 7-0 lead and controlled the game until an interception by Jack turned the game around, propelling the Buckeyes to victory before also winning in Pasadena to secure Woody's first national championship.
Jack's story was only beginning when he graduated summa cum laude. He worked tirelessly for the children of Columbus as an educator/administrator until he passed way too soon at 51 and, from all I know, he was everything I respect and admire in a person. Many would be deserving of a statue outside Ohio Stadium. But if one were to go up and I was to select who it would be, it would not be Archie or Woody or Chic or any of those other guys. It would be Jack Gibbs.
Dennis Singleton, Dayton
To the editor: Ryan Day is overpaid yet should be given a retention bonus immediately. That may sound oxymoronic or just moronic but two things can be true at the same time. Alabama will be looking to replace Nick Saban given his age and recent proclivities to lose statement games, and who better to replace him than coach Day, the acclaimed quarterback whisperer? So if OSU wants to commit to coach Day for the next decade, do it now so Day can hang up on the Crimson Tide if they call.
Michael Oser, Columbus
On hazing in sports
To the editor: This letter pertains to all the recent concerns about hazing in the sports environment. My firsthand experience with hazing occurred during my freshman year prior to spring football practices. In order for all the players who were awarded their varsity letters during the fall seasons, they were encouraged to take part in an "initiation" process to join the Block "C" organization. This entailed being paraded around campus in the back of a windowless trailer with temps in the 100s while being stuck with cattle prods, having their jockstraps filled with Atomic Balm analgesics and forced to chew tobacco and chug copious amounts of whiskey. To top the day off, they then had to dive for quarters in the scum pond outside the biggest coed dorm while all the Southern belles watched from their rooms gleefully.
When they returned to our dorm covered in mud and their own (vomit), reeking of their own urine and feces, I decided that if I ever lettered I would not submit myself to this degradation and torture. So the following year when I received my first letter, I informed the upperclassmen that I would gladly join their elite club but would not allow myself to be the subject of their abuse. After being called everything, including a "damn Yankee," I at least kept my self-esteem and dignity and in time earned their respect.
My advice to all young people is to not succumb to peer pressure and that just "everyone else does it" is not always a good idea.
Randy Yoakum, South Carolina Class of '71
To Randy: Hazing is stupid and you are very smart. More kids should follow your lead. If not, there will be a whole bunch of Northwestern situations arising soon.
On women in wrestling
To whom it may concern: I previously emailed re: a couple of the positive experiences my 15-year-old daughter, Abbey, and I have had while attending men’s wrestling meets at the Covelli Center (Nebraska & Michigan State). As a state-ranked high school girls wrestler, Abbey was genuinely engaged and impressed by the facilities and commitment to excellence displayed by wrestlers, coaches and staff. Correspondingly, many of her female team members were equally impressed by their experiences.
Discernibly and unmistakably, Ohio State advertises very strongly for diversity, equity, and inclusion. This message resonates from the Covelli Center, Ohio Stadium, and radio advertisements from the current athletic director. However, I can’t help but wonder whether this message is legitimate, as words without actions are akin to a bird without wings.
The silence I have received from the university on the topic of adding a women’s wrestling program is the exact opposite of what has been broadcasted and/or endorsed. As the university’s actions don’t live up to its words, it’s clear to me that Ohio State has nothing to say.
No response is a response. As there are now at least 43 sanctioned states for high school girls wrestling, Ohio State refuses to even consider adding a collegiate women’s program. Why is this the case? Too many sports? You can’t afford to provide more opportunities for women? As an ‘03 alum, I am severely disappointed.
What you do as a university makes a difference. We need to stop waiting for others to lead. Ohio State is already equipped with everything it needs to manifest its own greatness. Evidently, so is Iowa.
Matt Enders
More from the Mailbox:
Ohio State football fans need to lighten up and appreciate Ryan Day
If Quinn Ewers stayed at Ohio State, would things be better at QB for Buckeyes?
Does Ohio State football need to hire a search party to find a quarterback?
Jeers for having to watch Ohio State football on Peacock; and more on Rapinoe
Great Aaron Owens tribute; Joe Roberts' Ohio State Hall of Fame delay a 'disgrace'
What's wrong with keeping the Ohio State-Michigan football game at season's end?
Want Ohio State football to beat Michigan? Add Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel to staff
Was Pat Fitzgerald firing at Northwestern a rush to judgment?
Are critics of Columbus Blue Jackets coach Mike Babcock out of line?
Ear-splitting noise levels taking the joy out of attending sporting events
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mailbox: Fire Ryan Day! No, extend him! And is his beard the problem?
