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Ohio State fans keep piling on The Magazine's Bruce Feldman for last week's online column spanking Ohio State coach John Cooper. Bruce also spars with espnmag.com users over his latest piece ranking the top freshmen.
From: Douglas Todd I'm sorry I can't agree with your column on John Cooper, as your story was a little different than the actual game. The backup quarterback threw a 9-yard sideline completion on a 4th and 6 play, not a throw downfield as your column suggested. Yes, Sam Maldonado did score on the next play, but that is not the whole story. Sam Maldonado gave up a chance to redshirt this season by playing in this game, because he wanted so badly to play against Penn State. When he finally got his chance to play, he played in a game where a player got injured. Please don't demean Sam's efforts by calling this classless. He may never score another touchdown in his entire career, so this could be his crowning acheivement at OSU. If you want to make a difference, condemn the NCAA rules committee for allowing the game to continue. If you are so concerned with class, have a rule made to stop games in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach so that players cannot be injured. On 9/16, Florida State scored the last three touchdowns in their game against North Carolina, after UNC closed the gap to 43-14 with their last score. Final score 63-14 in favor of Florida State. Any thoughts?
Douglas L. Todd Hey Douglas, I just thought that was a particularly delicate and unusual situation ... and I really don't mind anyone running up the score. I just took exception to the situation. that's all. The Maldonado thing is interesting. Some coaches (Gary Barnett for one) are re-thinking redshirting freshmen because star prospects ultimately may leave school with time left and they may need that redshirt year if they do get hurt...Cooper's lost more guys jumping to the NFL than anyone so I wouldn't be surprised if that played into it.
Thanks for writing,
From: Michael & Mary Ellen Zurface So Coach Cooper has no class! The OSU play calling late games has been questionable. Interesting observations from the cheap seats. First, I have seen a lot of hand wringing over the injury situation/continuation of play in the OSU-PSU game. Football is a violent sport -- injuries happen -- we all wish the best to Adam T for a complete recovery. Coach Cooper, his staff, and many members of the OSU football team visited Adam and his family while in the hospital in Columbus. Why not report that fact too? Adam T's family holds no grudges against Coach Cooper -- why do you? Perhaps the game should have ended late in the 3rd quarter -- it was actually over then. Then the injury never would have happened. Let me clue you in to the basic facts -- football is played for 60 minutes (more if there is overtime). When you step on the field, somebody is going to get whipped. Either you give the whipping or you take it -- simple as that. Your opponent's job is to stop you. There is no mercy rule in football that I know of. You play until time expires. You don't like the rules -- get them changed. Have you written about the injury situation in the UT-LSU game? That game continued -- the outcome was still undecided -- is that the parameter? If the game is still on the line, continue even after a serious injury? How do teams score 50, 60, or 70 points in a game? Are they running up the score? Are you not allowed to pass in the late stages of a game with your 2nd/3rd team playing? Get a life. Play hard, respect your opponent, and whip his butt every chance you get. Don't taunt, act like you have been in the endzone before, and congratulate your opponent after the game -- regardless of the outcome. That's what sports (and life in general) is all about! That sir, is class!!!!!!!!!
American by birth, Buckeye by choice, Hi. I actually filed that article on last Tuesday, before it came out that Cooper visited the hospital ... but you are right, it was a good gesture. Again, I don't mind running up the score...I just took issue with the situation that preceded it.
Thanks for taking the time to write,
From: Andy Hoaglin I don't feel your comments were too far off-base on Ohio State's Cooper. The Big Ten has always been known for being a more conservative conference that was known for it's inability to run the scores up on teams. I feel the Big Ten has always had the attitude of winning, but winning with class. That is the most important thing. I agree with you, Cooper showed NO CLASS. Don't let the comments from the Ohio State fans get to you, they're just displaying their pent-up frustrations with their team and coach's inability to take them to the National Championship or beat a team when it really matters. They have to take it out on someone. You're trying to explain things to fans who thought Woody Hayes had class. Whatever. Keep up the good work. I forgot to mention ... please make sure this makes the comment section for the BUCKEYE fans to read.
Thanks, Andy ... are you a Michigan grad?
From: Paul West Might want to check out the Auburn Tigers true and redshirt freshmen. Auburn was supposed to have terrible defense because all four defensive linemen graduated. Check out the D-Line with DeMarco McNeil, Marcus Johnson, Spencer Johnson, Reggie Torbor, and Marcus White. No one is exceptional except maybe McNeil but combined they have exceeded all expectations and more. Also linebacker Dontarrious Thomas and whip/rover Roshard Gilyard. Also might want to see what Robert Johnson, the true freshman tight end, is doing this year. Give the unassuming Tigers a shot. Hey Paul, I know McNeil has shed the lbs. and really turned into a rising star there. I just figured the two DTs at FSU are having an even bigger impact. I also thought a lot about Robert Johnson because I talked to coach Mazzone, Auburn's OC a few weeks ago and he raved about the big guy's potential and said even though he's coached three all-America TEs before, Johnson could be better than any of them. But, that aside Johnson only has had seven catches to this point, but you are correct, the Tigers young guys do deserve watching.
Thanks,
From: Chad Fuqua Bruce, I read your take on K-State last weekend ... and bottom line, why don't you hurry and take that off of the Web. You must be embarrassed. The powerhouse did not lose. In fact they lived up to their 5th-place ranking. For the last eight years, Bill Snyder has loaded up with a good team. Not being able to beat Nebraska consistently is nothing to be ashamed of. Nebraska is one of the top teams in the country year in and year out. But this year, K-State is the better team of the two, and KSU will have NU at home. Why don't you jump off of the SEC, Big 10, or ACC bandwagon, I'm sure it is one of them, all you media guys can't help yourselves, and finally get on board with the team that has produced at a high level for years. As for the "soft schedule", why don't you report the real news story? Snyder has tried, and finally succeeded in getting a big name school to play 1 & 1. USC, it's scheduled in SoCal next year. Snyder has tried to lure a Big 10 school ever since Minnesota refused to re-sign a contract in 1993. Michigan, among others, have refused to play in Manhattan. Kansas State was one of the 5 most successful programs in the 1990's. There is no excuse for Big 10 teams to hide from them ... Unless of course they don't think they can win! Congratulations on your journalism skills on the east and west coasts. I hope you'll try using them here in the midwest someday. Hey Chad, As I told one other K-State fan, I am no longer taking the Wildcats for granted ... no more "soft sked," no more Beasley bashing, nothing. Bruce
From: Paul You hypocrite! Did you watch the Tennessee loss to LSU on Saturday? A player was badly hurt in the last minute of regulation of that game -- with the full extent of his injury unknown. That game went into overtime. Did you expect those teams to quit playing THAT game? Do I see you writing about the lack of class by Coaches Fulmer and Saban? And WHY NOT? The only difference from the OSU-PSU was the outcome of the UT-LSU game was on the line ... that's why not. Evidently YOU THINK it is justified to have a "lack of class" if the outcome of the game is still in doubt. Hey Paul, One game was over and one was not ... I know that's a dicey distinction, but I do think there is a big difference.
Thanks for writing, Got a question or comment for Bruce? To e-mail him, click here.
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