Sports editor's mailbox: Michigan didn't beat Ohio State by holding; look at Georgia game
Have more comments, questions? Reach out to me at bwhite1@dispatch.com.
On Ohio State-Michigan
To the editor: I just have to comment on the recent letters from Robb Price and Robert Oyster regarding Michigan's offensive line. If Michigan's line holds so much, how was Georgia able to record four sacks and seven tackles for loss and stop Michigan's powerful running game? Too bad the great John Madden passed away before the Michigan vs Georgia game. Do you think if Madden was still alive and healthy enough to watch the game, he would have changed his mind on who the greatest offensive line he ever saw? Ask Aidan Hutchison.
Don't even get me started on Alabama's offensive line. If you don't believe me, ask Luke Fickell.
Tommy Hahlen, Dublin
![Alabama linebacker Henry To'o To'o (10) enjoys the victory after the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal game at the 86th Cotton Bowl in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Alabama defeated Cincinnati 27-6 to advance to the national championship game. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]
College Football Playoffs Alabama Vs Cincinnati](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/9Pbqyblqxf6bobUgW5sXKA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0Nw--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-columbus-dispatch/4479c0c2c6f3d347e5151c392aac034f)
On College Football Playoff
Dear Mr. White: So the fans are clamoring for a 12-team College Football Playoff, eh? To review the bidding, this year’s marque No. 1 vs. No. 12 first-round tilt would have ended up roughly Alabama 63, BYU 7; and the No. 2 vs. No. 11 clash would have come up pure Michigan: a Spartans v. Wolverines rematch — good for the state up north, bad for the remaining 49.
As the weeks plod on, mediocre to good quarterbacks will get hurt, giving way to transfer-portal-eyeing backups and “projects,” and the four-game grind to the summit can only increase the number of NIL-enriched opt-outs.
But the bottom line is: Do we really think the CFP organizers can scrounge up a dozen worthy teams when, to date, they’ve never been able to find four?
Jon Armstrong, Columbus
To Jon: You're correct about the No. 1 vs. No. 12 matchup being lopsided, but there would be plenty of interest in all of the others. I'm in favor of an eight-team playoff that should eliminate lopsided games.
On Kirk Herbstreit
To the editor: For my money, Kirk Herbstreit is the best football analyst on TV. However, commenting on OSU in the second quarter of the Rose Bowl game when Utah was gashing the Buckeyes, he made what has to be the dumbest statement of his TV career, something close to: "I don't think missing five defensive starters is the problem."
Nelson French, Columbus
To Nelson: Not to be a Herbstreit apologist, which I'm not, but I believe he was saying the Ohio State defense had issues even at full strength. The Oregon and Michigan games showed that.
On bowl advertising
To Brian: Saturday at noon (Jan. 1), I settled into my favorite chair, in front of my big-screen TV, in my favorite room (aka man cave) to spend the entire day getting my fill of college football. The teams didn't disappoint. All competed fiercely. But there was more on-screen competition between a green gecko lizard, a marching band and a couple of NFL quarterbacks wanting to make sure they got a better deal than I got.
They were all competing for my insurance business! They each kept running the same play over and over, and like any good defense I knew what was coming every time. They were all losing yardage with me.
Seems like if they really wanted my insurance business they would stop spending money on TV ads and just lower the insurance premiums they want me to pay. I would see that as a touchdown!
Well, by halftime of the Sugar Bowl I was having trouble staying awake. I took care of that with a six-pack of Dr. Pepper.
Mark Palmer, Bexley
On sports on TV
To the editor: Wow, what a great day. I get to watch the Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl. NOT! That's not until my wife gives me an early birthday present by signing up for a trial subscription to a cable network so we can watch the game.
It is a crying shame that this is the norm. And what about all of those folks who are not fortunate enough to be able to pay for cable? College football is big, big money, but it should not be an elitist's game, let alone buying a ticket for the live action.
Yeah, I'm considered an old guy (i.e. 63), but I'm not old thinking. I know my way around computers, cell phones, the latest apps and trends. I also know painting a piece of #$@* black and calling it a bowling ball doesn't make it a bowling ball. It's high time that our money-mongering society puts their fellow sports fans on equal ground. Let's go back to the good ol' days and enjoy what progress has prevented. Give me four channels and forget pay-to-play cable.
William H Brumfield, Columbus
More from The Mailbox
College football players who skip bowl games are cheating their teams, fans
Yes, Urban Meyer is fit to teach class on leadership, character; Is Harbaugh lying?
Lessons from Urban Meyer, and it was Ohio State that was holding at Michigan
Is Quinn Ewers the new Curt Flood? Did refs let Michigan get away with holding?
Ohio State lost to Michigan in football, and people aren't happy
On OSU's hard-to-watch defense, overrated Cincinnati and, yes, Ryan Day's salary
Ryan Day needs to call more run plays; and, of course, more mail on Day's salary
'Garbage officiating' in Penn State game; and more on Ryan Day's salary
Ryan Day's salary (cont.), weird head-butting, high school playoff inequality
More Urban Meyer, plus how many professors you could hire with Ryan Day's salary
Plenty of backlash for Urban Meyer, and non-Daves weigh in on stadium noise
Media, and social media, equally to blame in Urban Meyer mess
Empathy for K'Vaughan Pope, plus more debate about loud music
Too much 'ear-splitting' music at Ohio State games?
Enough about Ryan Day's beard; what about local colleges?
Shohei Ohtani vs. Babe Ruth? Table that discussion for 20 years
OHSAA gets it right with expanded playoffs; Cleveland baseball got it wrong
Does it make any sense to sit maskless in a packed Ohio Stadium?
Ohio State opener was a horrible mess, from ticketing to Kerry Coombs and beyond
Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters to the editor: Where was Michigan holding against Georgia?
