Mailbox: What did they say? Readers are upset about the OSU-Notre Dame telecast
Have more comments, questions? Reach out to me at bwhite1@dispatch.com
On the TV telecast of the Ohio State, Notre Dame game
To the editor: My wife and I, as always, watched the (Ohio State) game. However, the commentating was a huge disappointment. If we heard 30% of their conversations, we were lucky. The stadium noise was like in the booth with them. We couldn’t hear the penalties. We saw the yellow posted flag. The cameramen used to replay the illegal play, but now they show some sideline shots etc. of no interest.
ABC and Channel 6 executives/producers should have to listen to a game at home. They would put the commentators in a sound-proof booth so the millions of home viewers could enjoy the full experience. I asked family, neighbors and friends their opinion, and they all concurred. Someone please help!
John A. Backus, Pickerington
To the editor: Saturday’s OSU/Notre Dame matchup was certainly an excellent game. Unfortunately ABCs telecast was of poor audio quality. It was a constant battle between the announcers and the bands. I was unable to hear the commentators over the background music. It sounded like Herbstreit was sitting in the horn section. I hope that the network is able to resolve this glitch before the next game.
William Cotton, Blacklick
To the editor: Responding to letter-writer Don Slobodien's wish: "I hope technology will someday allow us to turn off all announcers and just listen to the crowd noise of sporting events." Well, Don, that someday is today! ABC/ESPN has granted your wish by doing just that with their airings of Saturday prime-time college football, most notably the OSU/Notre Dame game. Their highly skilled audio engineers, most likely interns, manage to consistently drown out announcers Fowler, Herbstreit and Rowe with crowd noise and band music at levels beyond annoying throughout the entire broadcast. It was interesting to note that during the OSU/Notre Dame game, the Irish band received the most air time, perhaps in retaliation for not getting a cut of the Big 10 broadcast contract.
Mike Tomesek, Westerville OH
To the editor: I was smart enough to turn off the volume so not have to listen to Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler jabber all night. And there are so many games on, that each one has bad broadcasters
Jeff Kurtz, Hilliard
To John, William, Mike, Jeff and all of John's family, neighbors and friends: I believe you all, but I'm feeling I must have missed something, as I remember no problems while watching the game. I'm usually quite critical of telecasts, but I recall Herbstreit offering some quick, insightful analysis on a few occasions. And I heard them fine. The only glitch I noted is when they were talking about Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was on the field playing, they twice panned to a helmet-less C.J. Hicks, the Buckeyes' other No. 11, standing on the sideline.
On Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud
To the editor: Thank you, Bill Rabinowitz, for the recent profile of OSU quarterback C.J. Stroud. It gave us a full picture of a very young man under enormous pressure to, yes, just be himself in the face of expectations of an entire Buckeye Nation. We all need reminders to understand more about others outside of our own limited knowledge, judgments and prejudices. It elevates us when we have empathy and I thank The Dispatch for contributing that to us.Susan B. West, Athens
To the editor: Bill Rabinowitz's insightful article on C.J. Stroud was awesome. Journalism at it's best. What a great story of C.J. dealing with his dad's ups and downs, his siblings and his wonderful mom. He is special. Would be phenomenal to see him lead his team to a national championship and win the Heisman.
Mick Newman
To Susan and Mick: Yes, Bill did a wonderful job with that story. It's even more impressive when you know that access to Ohio State football players is quite limited. Conveying their life stories in depth really takes some effort.
On Ohio State coaching salaries
To the editor: Congratulations to associate OSU basketball coach Jake Diebler on his new salary of $500,000 per year. He now makes more than our governor, Ohio Supreme Court chief justice and Columbus chief of police combined. If this helps in recruiting Bronny, maybe he is worth it. At least it shows what our society values most.
Michael Oser, Columbus
To Michael: I have a hunch that if Gov. DeWine helps land LeBron's kid with the Buckeyes, even a few Democrats might vote to give him a pay raise.
On sports and politics
Hey, Brian: In response to your reply to the guy who candidly compared Deshaun Watson to Trump and your reply was to hope Trump's name in your sports section would never happen, well, it did appear in a Michael Arace article when he blasted Columbus’ own son, Jack Nicklaus, for not agreeing with his politics.
I’m sure if any of The Dispatch writers want to keep their jobs they don’t dare mention support of any Republican candidate. Maybe he is so ate up with hate that he forgets that Jack and his wife Barbara are responsible for several million dollars going to Children's Hospital and other central Ohio charities.
The one-sided position of your paper disgusted me enough to cancel my subscription. I wrote Mr. Arace twice to ask him to stick with writing about sports. Gods bless and God help America!
Bruce Perry, Pickerington
On college football
To Brian White: The Rose Bowl following the 1968 season was the 10th game Ohio State played that year. That's it, 10. Now a team playing for a championship could be playing its 17th game. That seems an awful lot to me while the words amateur and student seem to keep being diminished in the concept of amateur student-athlete.
Dennis Singleton, Dayton
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Leave Deshaun Watson alone. No, ban him from NFL. Readers have a lot to say
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Readers say Big Ten should add entire Pac-12. And Notre Dame. And Boston College
Ohio State is now a pro football team; school's NIL dealings don't feel right
PGA vs. LIV Golf dispute is maddening, confusing; Where's the Crew's defense?
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Ohio State coach Ryan Day should pay players himself, or give his cash to charity
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OSU-Notre Dame telecast slammed: Letters to sports editor
