By Chris Marler
I’m so happy for Ohio State for so many reasons.
I’ve always said we are a nation of haters. By that, I mean we claim to love long-term stories and the fables of the American Dream—rags-to-riches success stories. However, in today’s culture of social media overreaction, instant criticism, and guilty-until-proven-innocent takes, few teams have endured scrutiny quite like Ohio State.
They lost to Oregon by one point on the road and we called them overrated.
They lost to 6-5 Michigan and fans called for Ryan Day’s job.
There’s no better example of being the victim of social media’s slander and unfair, fictional truth than Ryan Day and Ohio State. We scoffed at their assumptive NIL salary and spending because they lost two games by four total points.
People have scrutinized and criticized Ryan Day as a head coach because he’s lost 10 games. Never mind that seven of those losses were to College Football Playoff teams. Never mind that three of them were to eventual National Champions. Forget all of that—as long as we can get those off, right?
The best part of this Ohio State team is the story of what they had to overcome. The worst part is how their story will be rewritten on social media and after the fact, instead of just giving them their flowers.
They became a punchline when they lost, largely due to the assumption—unproven—that their $20 million roster was bought and paid for.
Now, a proverbial and emotionally charged asterisk will be attached to this title due to the same unproven assumption of a $20 million roster.
College football is imperfect and flawed—but not as much as its own fans. This is a great story, something to cheer for. Good for Ohio State, bad for cynicism, and even worse for the haters.
