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Ohio State fans weren't too pleased with The Magazine's Bruce Feldman and his comments about John Cooper in his latest Blitz package. Here, Bruce beats back the onslaught of negative feedback.
From: Roland Robbins I am disappointed that ESPN would print the trash you wrote. I often wonder what motivates a personal attack such as yours and what good comes of it. Clearly it was John Cooper you were after, otherwise you would have presented a more factual and balanced account of what happened. Roland Roland, The point I was trying to make was, after a guy has been down and attended to for 10 minutes, and there's just one minute left in a blowout, why throw? I've only dealt with John Cooper a few times, so I have no personal feelings towards him at all. I thought it added insult to injury. I wrote the article on Tuesday morning and wasn't aware of Cooper's visit [to injured Penn State CB Adam Taliaferro] that apparently happened Wednesday. But either way, I still think it was the wrong thing to do.
Thanks for writing,
From: Fred Smith Coach John Cooper classless? Hmmmm!! You have not heard of Saint Bobby, coach at Florida State? I cannot imagine that a sportswriter would overlook Spurrier, Bowden and coaches at Nebraska, Kansas State, etc. After following football for 60 years, I haven't heard of any coach saying to a third and fourth stringer, "Son, just go in and lie down 'til the game's over." Joe Paterno against Rutgers several years ago had his third string QB throw a pass on the last play of the game, running up a one-sided game score. So print for us those coaches who do tell their players to take it easy. Fred Hey Fred, I do think Spurrier gets bashed pretty hard for running it up -- and apparently he doesn't mind. My point wasn't so much that Cooper threw, but that he threw after the guy was down on the field for 10 minutes and left on a stretcher. I recall that Paterno-Rutgers incident too. But I checked with someone about it and they said the explanation was that backup QB Mike McQueary audibled to a pass and Paterno ripped him for it. If the situation was reversed, wouldn't think you JoePa was out of line?
Thanks for writing,
From: Brian Weikel Mr. Feldman, I've cancelled my subscription to ESPN The Magazine because of your recent article pertaining to the OSU-PSU game on espn.com. I'll not go into details with respect to the article for I'm assured my Buckeye brethren have pointed out our view rather well. I have a simple question: Are you a journalist or a columnist in the editorial section? Choose one and remove yourself from the other category. Dr. Brian Weikel Hi Dr. Weikel, I'm sorry you cancelled on my account. I think I'm more of a writer and not a columnist, but I saw something that I thought was wrong and I have the forum to voice that. If JoePa had done the same after a kid was carted off after being down for 10 minutes, wouldn't you have thought he was wrong too? As for the columnist vs. journalist point, I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. Thanks for writing. Bruce
From: Jim Keane The biggest disappointment in the country in college football journalism this year is you. Don't discard my comments because I'm from Columbus. I'm not even sure that I agree with what Cooper did (passing on 4th down), but to bash him in the manner in which you did is tasteless and totally uncalled for. You owe John Cooper an apology. Who the hell do you think you are, and what's your point anyway? Are you mad that Cooper "ran up the score?" If so, I expect to see similar articles from you regarding K-State, FSU, and others who do it routinely. If you're mad that Cooper continued to play after the tragic injury to the Penn St. player, I can understand your empathy. BUT, it does not translate to a lack of class by Cooper. He may have made a mistake by continuing to play, but I assure you that what he did was not meant to rub anything in PSU's face, but instead to coach his own team as he thought was best. Do you really think it would be good for these kids' psyches (both PSU and OSU) to stop the game on such a tragic note? I personally think it was good for both teams to run a couple of plays after the injury, and as far as you or anyone else knows, maybe that's what Cooper was thinking as well. Does that translate into "classless"? NO. What you wrote does. By the way, did you know that John Cooper and several members of the OSU team visited with Adam Taliaferro in the hospital on several occasions, and that his parents publicly thanked Cooper and the OSU family for their support? How about reporting that?
Respectfully, Hey Jim, I wrote this Tuesday, before they visited the hospital. And you're right, it was a good gesture. But my point was after the kid is down for 10 minutes and then carted off, it was pretty serious. After that, I figured they should've just downed the ball and taken the 40-point win. Honestly, if JoePa had done that, don't you think people around Columbus would've been really ticked off?
Thanks for writing,
From: Jeff Blum Dear Bruce: I really enjoyed reading your article about John Cooper on espn.go.com. I think Ohio State fans are the only people in America who are defending their classless, clueless coach. Ask the Cooper Apologists to consider how they would feel if the injured player was their son or brother or significant other. How would the Buckeyes expect an opposing team to conduct themselves after such a devastating injury to one of their own? You said it well, and I commend you.
Best regards, Thanks Jeff,
I think I hit a nerve with OSU fans. Thanks for writing.
From: Mark Irvin Mr. Feldman, I would love to hear your reply to the following questions: 1. If the Bucks are up by 40 pts in the first quarter and the injury occurs, should the Bucks take a knee for three quarters or continue to play the game? 2. In the events that took place, do you think PSU would have taken a knee if we had the ball? My opinion is JoePa has too much respect for the game to give up. You see, as long as you are playing the game, you play the game. 3. As for unbiased reporting, let me hear your comments concerning FSU, K-State, Nebraska, and Florida running up scores. Poor PSU beat OSU 62-14 in '94 and Ki-Jana Carter scored point No. 56 off a pass in the 4th quarter. Please forward that article you wrote about the classless act of JoePa running up the score. I would be very interested to compare your consistency. 4. I asked for your opinions on other schools not because we want to mirror them but to set the record straight as to your agenda. Obviously, you are trying to embarrass our school our coach and our football program. But guess what? This program will be great long after you and those of your ilk who have hidden agendas. Please feel free to reply. I am very interested in your rebuttal.
Thanks for your time, Mark, 1. No. Obviously the game is still in doubt. 2. Can't say for sure, but if that's the case, no team would have kneeled down late in a blowout. 3. I grew up a fan of Schlichter and Doug Donley and that team 20 years back, and I've never been accused of supporting K-State or Nebraska. 4. Honestly, I have no hidden agenda. Fact is, I'm glad Bellisari has emerged this season and I'm sure OSU will be fine no matter who the coach is there.
Thanks,
From: brian kaman Mr. Feldman, I am writing in response to your article on the Ohio State - Penn State game. I think that you are way off base in this article. Coach Cooper and Ohio State were not running up the score on Penn State as you claim. If you ever played sports in your life you know that these were third- and fourth-string kids on the field trying to prove their abilities to the coaching staffs, fans and teammates. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. I have always enjoyed reading ESPN The Magazine, but I will no longer be a subscriber. You should be writing for Sports Illustrated or some other second-rate magazine, because you are a horrible journalist. It is a total shame that ESPN would employ you. Brian Kaman Hey Brian, I have played and I know that 3rd and 4th stringers usually prove more about their abilities in practice than in 42-6 games. But I'm sure ESPN is glad you think SI is second rate. Bruce Got a question or comment for Bruce? To e-mail him, click here.
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