From: jjn@cbjjn.cb.att.com (Jeff Nappi)
Subject: Re: Ohio State game thoughts
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 14:50:33 GMT

In article <1992Oct12.194624.23174@cbnews.cb.att.com>, ddn@cbnews.cb.att.com (david.d.nason) writes:
|> In article <DOEL.92Oct12124419@bbq.bae.bellcore.com> doel@bae.bellcore.com (Michael Doel) writes:
|> >
|> >2. The boo-birds were out at the end of the game again.  Despite the second
|> >loss in a row, this was uncalled for IMO.  Ohio State fans do have a right
|> >to expect nothing short of excellence out of their team.  But there's a
|> >difference in my mind between booing a team for uninspired play and booing
|> >because of a loss.  I don't think anyone can fault the effort or heart of
|> >the team on Saturday.  The crowd's (unfortunately predictable) response can
|> >only hurt this team even more.
|> >
|> 
|> Actually, the boo-birds began their booing on the first fumble with the
|> 96-yd return.  There was more on the first missed FG and the second fumble.  
|> Of course, most of it came after the last missed FG and as the team left the
|> field.  Personally, I don't think booing *anybody*, Cooper included, does
|> any good and I think it makes Ohio State's fans look bad.  It is
|> particularly irritating when fans boo because a pure-freshman fumbles the
|> ball.
|> 
|> My friend whom I went to the game with, turned to me at one point while
|> the booing was going on and said, "Well I wonder what Rashard thinks of
|> this?".  He was referring to Rashard Griffith, the 7-1 kid from Chicago
|> who was at the game being courted by Randy Ayers.  I don't know, but
|> frankly I think it's embarrassing.
|> 
|> david
|> 
Were the fans booing this particular game or 5+ years of frustration. I
don't like the booing either though I will admit to doing some myself.
I have been a Buckeye fan for along time and its really disappointing to
see where this program has gone. I am know fool in thinking Ohio State
should win every game or College Football is the same as it was when
Woody coached, but I do expect Ohio State to compete SOMETIME in a five
year span for a Rose Bowl birth. There is also great tradition at Ohio
State and beating Michigan is the heart and soul of this tradition. We
have not beaten Michigan in a long, long time, is this acceptable are
we really de-emphazing football at TheOSU. Jimmy Crum, "the so-called Dean
of Central Ohio Sports", called for Coopers resignation. I agree to 
some extent with his commentary, I just don't aggree with the timing. Cooper
should be allowed to finish out the season and then a evaluation done
on whether or not we should keep him. Personally I don't like Cooper
because he does not have a clue to what Ohio State tradition is and he
is one of the most pathetic motivators I have seen.

Booing your home team is not the end of the world, one of the greatest
fears I have is apathy towards the Ohio State football program. I am
starting to see postings from Ohio state fans that losing to the Illinois
and Wisconsins of the world is acceptable, that parity has reached the Big
Ten, WRONG!!! If parity has reached the Big Ten then someone better tell
Michigan and for that matter Penn State. Ohio State has talent, there defense
has played superb and there offense has shown signs of being unstopable, this
is why I would like to see Cooper given a chance to finish out the season.
He may be on the verge of turning things around, I doubt it, but I loved to
have him prove me wrong.

As far as Randy Ayers losing recruits from "booing", I doubt it! College kids
want to play for winning teams. Randy Ayers has put a winning product on the
court and is a class act. If this kid wants to play for Ohio State he will
sign, I doubt very much booing will cause him to reconsider.


GO BUCKS!!
-- 
Jeff Nappi
Columbus Bell Labs
jjn@cbjjn.att.com
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college