Mailbox: Ryan Day, CJ Stroud get lifetime passes for Kamryn Babb's emotional Ohio State TD

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On Ohio State football

To the editor: As far as I'm concerned, coach Day and C.J. Stroud get a lifetime pass for whatever, for life. The two of them gave a gift to Kamryn Babb, and all of Buckeye Nation, that we will never forget.

Woody started Buckeye Nation by making sure the team always took care of its own, no matter how long they lived. That belief was adopted by we fans, making Buckeye Nation one of the largest loyal fan groups in the world. When you can yell out "O-H" in a bar in Cape Coast, Ghana, and have someone respond "I-O," you know how big it is.

To say Kamryn has had a rough go of it would be a monster understatement. His belief in Jesus is what got him through. The thanks he gave in the end zone is an image that is indelibly etched in my mind. The joy of a team of brothers, on the field, rejoicing with him is the second image I have to remember. There also was the loud sound of tears falling from the eyes of Buckeye Nation all around the world which was deafening.

Thank you. Go Bucks.

Phyllis Sage

To Phyllis: That indeed was a moving and unexpected moment. One only had to see the sideline reaction from teammates to see show much Babb means to the entire program.

To the editor: Comparisons of Ryan Day to Woody Hayes are difficult to do, as Woody reigned in totally different era when men weren't allowed to express their love, respect and support with hugs. It might be why he instituted the Buckeye helmet stickers, a tradition still being practiced by Ryan.

Rebecca Mullenix

To the editor: OSU is going to be victorious over the team up north this year 24-16.  It is as simple as A, B, C.

A is if for attitude and ability. Football is a game of emotion and unity, and the Bucks have a togetherness of purpose unlike some prior Buckeye teams. These Bucks have overcome adversity, injuries and bad weather. OSU plays as a team, not individual prima donnas, and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The Buckeyes have ability that is off the charts up and down the roster.

B is for Kamryn Babb.  He tore his ACL in both legs yet came back to help his team, and the Buckeyes gleamed with pride over his determination to fight back. The OSU sidelines was awash with happiness in the success of Babb and his first career touchdown against Indiana. All for one and one for all is the motto for this year's Buckeyes.

C is for C.J., the coach, and the crowd. CJ is special, and he has the ability to put OSU on his back and legs and propel the team to victory. Coach Day is a great coach and has earned his inflated play and knows how to react to the emotions of the big game. Also, if coach Day falters at all, the ghost of coach Hayes along with over 100,000 screaming fans who remember the defeat of last year will cheer the Buckeyes to kick the butts of the maize and blue.

Call me a cockeyed optimist, but revenge is going to be very sweet this year.

Michael N. Oser, Columbus

To Brian: Knowing my fondness for Big Ten expansion, I wanted to share the new divisions I'm proposing for 2023.

First, I'm sending Rutgers west. If they don't fit there, they can play in the Bottom Ten (ESPN). Purdue comes east and Indiana can now add rugby club players inside the red zone.

That brings me to the newbies from the Pac-12 (or 10?), USC and UCLA, logically added to the West. They'll enjoy the mid-November climes of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska. Otherwise, they can join New Mexico and Hawaii in the Mountain West, to thaw out.

Finally, West Virginia enters the fray in the Big Ten East. This new proximity will save the school traveling expenses incurred in the Big 12. (I'm also releasing Maryland and acquiring Pitt). My ledger is now showing three teams added to the West, two to the East. One more school is needed there, possibly Notre Dame or Appalachian State - someone (please!) who can compete with OSU and Michigan.

Larry Cheek, Dublin

To Brian: Interacting with fans of the opposing team is a fun part of college football. Giving them a little jazz is fine as long as it is all in good fun and respectful. Nebraska fans have a well-deserved reputation for being very gracious while a couple of other schools in the conference, not so much. While we hope opposing fans leave Columbus disappointed on Saturday, I also hope they leave with the sense that OSU fans are all class.

Dennis Singleton, Dayton

On Ohio State basketball

To Brian: It appears Ohio State basketball will again run an offensive scheme this year that all too often resembles guys in a pickup basketball game with players just passing the ball around for a while before one tosses up a long shot or goes one-on-one. I remember a time when teams looked to be five players and one ball moving in a synchronized manner for a high percentage shot, but I guess that's so 20th century now. 

Dennis Singleton, Dayton

To Dennis: It's not easy to put together a team with so many new faces, and that's why Chris Holtmann has used so many lineups in the early part of the season. It's going to be rough going for a while with this team, and there could be some ugly games. But next season looks like it could be something special.

To the editor: OSU basketball has a tough venue in The Schott until the Big Ten rolls into town. Why can’t concession stands operate like ticket prices? Bad game: hot dogs 2 for 1 sale. How about half-price beers? Even though I love the team, these yawners lack incentives for me to make the drive down to an empty field house.

Martin Osmond

To Brian: After playing a home basketball game in front of 10,000 empty seats, maybe OSU should consider occasional games vs. lower profile teams being played back in St. John Arena, where some of us would have preferred they still played anyway. 

Dennis Singleton, Dayton

To Dennis: I think that's a good idea, and I think OSU should be worried about its basketball following. With no Duke game on the schedule this year to lock in season-ticket holders to games against lesser opponents, Value City Arena could be one of the worst home-court advantages in the Big Ten.

On great photography

To the editor: I must comment on the wonderful picture by Kyle Robertson headlining The Dispatch on Nov. 10 over the headline “TORTS STORIES.”

The central figure is then Blue Jackets’ coach John Tortorella exhorting his troupes. With their backs to the camera are Pierre Luc Dubois, Cam Atkinson and Zach Werenski. Sitting down on either side of Tortorella are Boone Jenner and Nick Foligno. Finally, looking on from the upper right portion of the picture is current Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen.

Not only does this picture show the fire and intensity of coach Tortorella, it pictures many of the key individuals during John’s time here in Columbus. They say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”  This one captures an era.

 Joe Barmess, Pataskala

To Joe: So nice of you to acknowledge Kyle's great work. The photo staff at The Dispatch is among the best anywhere, with a superb attitude to match its great talent. I'm lucky to work with such great professionals.

On Big Ten coverage

Gentlemen and Ladies: This is in regard to the lack of Big Ten sports reporting in The Columbus Dispatch. Reporting on the Buckeyes deserves a grade of 10 and then some. As far as Big Ten sports reporting, that's a 0. I say this because I'm an MSU grad and a Spartan. There are a couple hundred MSU grads living in central Ohio plus grads from other Big Ten schools who would like to read about Big Ten sports news. MSU hasn't had a stellar season playing Big Ten teams, losing to Minnesota, Maryland, OSU and Michigan but they beat Wisconsin, Illinois and Rutgers. If they win one more, they could be bowl eligible. But no coverage on any of these wins. Also, how about the 26th ranked MSU's basketball team beating fourth-ranked Kentucky Tuesday night? Not a word in today's Dispatch.

You did mention Indiana's football team this week but only because they are playing OSU. Maybe that's why so many Dispatch subscribers are dropping their delivery. So maybe you guys and gals should dust off your resumes because The Dispatch might not be around much longer. Remember, OSU is a Big Ten school and Columbus is a Big Ten town.

C. Dean Marolf, Columbus

To C. Dean: Every newspaper would love to have the resources to cover every team of interest in its area. Unfortunately, that's not reality. But thanks for the grade of 10 for our OSU coverage. I'm hoping it's on a scale of 10, not 100.

On high school football

To the editor: Letter writer Andrew Egloff attributes the expansion of the high school football playoffs to an "everyone gets a trophy" attitude. Football is the sport least guilty of this attitude. It has long been, and continues to be, the only high school sport in which all teams don’t automatically qualify for the postseason. The initial decision was not driven by such an attitude, but was made in the COVID season of 2020 in which teams played a varying number of games made the traditional computer rankings less meaningful in determining playoff qualification. Continuing with the expansion is a money grab on the part of the OHSAA, who will claim that it’s a great "experience" for the student-athletes.  Nonsense, of course, but that’s what they’ll tell you.

Carl Coles

On music at games

To the editor: Competing in sports is hard enough, so why do we subject our valiant athletes to lubricated fans belting out easy-listening-FM standards like “Hang On, Sloopy,” “Sweet Caroline” and, at U.K. soccer matches, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic “Carousel"?  (BTW, in weather-challenged England, any forecast suggesting “At the end of the storm, there’s a golden sky” would surely be dismissed as meteorological rubbish.)

And how long before some state legislature decrees all high school games shall conclude with a fan chorus of “Feelings”?  Enough.  Help me curb this mellow musical mishmash by restoring “Who Let the Dogs Out?” and Todd Rundgren’s “Bang the Drum All Day” to their rightful #1 and #1A spots in the Great American Sports Songbook.

Jon Armstrong, Columbus

On Ohio State track and field

To the sports editor: I was shocked to learn the Ohio State athletic department has for years had one person coach both the women's and men's track teams. The individual coaching both teams recently retired. With the opportunity to hire individual coaches for each team, the athletic department continued the practice of one coach for both. I personally believe this is inadequate and unfair for the athletes of both teams. It also detracts from the ability to recruit star Ohio track athletes. I like Gene Smith, but this is a mistake. You can find $150,000 in an athletic budget of over $110 million to hire one additional track coach.

Duke Thomas, Columbus

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ryan Day, CJ Stroud get praise for Kamryn Babb's emotional TD: Letters