‘I guess we just have to eat it’: Why all the rah-rah Michigan personalities on TV bother Ohio State football fans
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Four straight losses to Michigan in The Game has Ohio State trying to play catchup. But that’s not the only place the Buckeyes have fallen behind.
They’re also being beaten in the rivalry’s war of words, where the Scrabble board looks a lot like the scoreboard in recent years.
FOX’s Dave Portnoy and Charles Woodson, and ESPN’s Desmond Howard are the loudest mouthpieces making it clear they bleed maize and blue.
But during the most passionate, emotional chapter of the most passionate, emotional rivalry in our country’s most passionate, emotional sport, there’s a Portnoy-sized hole on Ohio State’s side of the Buckeye-Wolverine culture war.
How come no one speaks for Ohio State?
Cleveland.com columnist Jimmy Watkins dove into this issue recently. Now it’s time to hear from fans.
Dozens of Buckeye fans who texted us said that they are bothered by it. Here’s some of what they had to say when they responded by Buckeye Talk Subtext — along with some nominees for a former Buckeye who could stand up for the program on TV:
(Some responses have been edited for clarity.)
Why it bothers Ohio State fans
Hey Jimmy! I would say it didn’t annoy me until Fox hired Portnoy. Fox saw how he talked about OSU and Ryan Day specifically. For years he had been calling him “cryin Ryan”. He created Barstool and is a UM fan so it’s whatever.
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It does bother me. I’ll feel like it’s in the OSU guys’ contract to not show favoritism. We need guy to (quiet) down the very *ichigan forward voices.
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I think the only reason it bothers me is because it’s so blatant. OSU is the best team in the nation, don’t make it so dang obvious. I also hate that it’s only Ohio state. Where’s the commentators continuously trashing Bama, Oregon, Georgia, or another big time program?
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It bothers me that the Ohio state guys play it neutral (at best they play neutral). Herbstreit for example is more pro-SEC than anti Ohio state (I hope that makes sense). The Michigan guys being pro-Michigan is honestly what they are supposed to do. I might not like them, but I do respect them being for their school. College sports are great because your team/school should always be your team. If anything I’m more let down by the Ohio state guys not being more bias in favor of the buckeyes.
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it does bother me, but more in the “annoying little brother throwing a tantrum” type of way.
i like that the OSU alumni represented in the media play neutral roles because that’s what’s professionalism looks like… something michigan only wishes they could achieve as effectively and elegantly as we do.
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Portnoy is such a clown, impossible to take him seriously. He’s like a cartoon villain, not real so he can’t be threatening. Of people who were actually paid to be analysts, no one, not even Desmond antagonizing CJ, will ever be worse than Mark May was.
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Yes. I think it is an insult to Coach Meyer to have hired Portnoy. It’s unprofessional. Desmond Howard was very unprofessional, unsportsmanlike … When he did not shake CJ’s hand at (Heisman) event. I know it makes for more clicks or ratings — but it perpetuates unsportsmanlike conduct. College football is NOT professional wrestling
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I’ve been disappointed in the OSU folks. I understand it’s part of being in media and being professional. Less so Herbie because of his role as lead analyst for the sport. How he cried at the title game. That was okay. Hawk, Urban – I don’t understand why they don’t. It’s disappointing.
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It bothers me because dave portnoy is too over the top, made me stop watching big noon kickoff and go back to gameday. Not sure how they can be so pro Michigan and (anti) OSU but all the OSU guys stay neutral.
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I’m more annoyed that Michigan has so many vs the fact we don’t. I don’t want to hear about how someone is so biased to osu so I don’t mind them being more neutral.
As much as Desmond has been annoying (I really didn’t like his comments to stroud at the Heisman) at least he has some room to talk. Portnoy just seems like a troll and even if he wasn’t Michigan seems like he (would) be annoying.
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Yes, it really bothers me. Desmond Howard is bad enough but at least he played for Michigan against Ohio State. Desmond is not as bad as … Dave Portnoy, who has no credibility whatsoever. No other school has to endure that kind of prejudice or vitriol as OSU does from those two.
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Yes it bothers me, however, I understand Coach Day doesn’t want them to openly have someone doing the Mouth Piece gig. He wants to show that we know we are the best as our results prove it to the world.
I do miss it, and I am tired of all the cheap shots they bring.
The worst thing we can say is, “you cheated, you were caught red-handed and have openly admitted it.” “And, You will forever be known as the greatest football cheaters in history.”
Enough said.
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It is very obvious, yes. Every week with Des on game day, his commentary always what it is. It all makes Ryan Day’s words hit home. Ohio against the world.
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Yes it’s irritating. All those MI guys have big mouths and are cocky and grate on you. What do we have. Herbie who is the biggest wuss ever. And at times he will even put down OSU just to look like he is not biased. It is so obvious. The MI guys would NEVER do that.
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It bothers me more that the TTUN personalities besides Jake Butt and Charles Woodson do nothing but antagonize. Woodson is openly a TTUN fan but he is somewhat neutral on the spectrum. Your job is to be an analyst not a fan. You can be … but there is a line.
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Yes it matters. It sucks not having our Lunatic Fringe representation in media.
Who should speak for Ohio State?
There’s a lot of Buckeye personalities … however one with a bright personality and speaks his mind would be Cardale Jones in my opinion who could fill the void.
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If I had (a) vote it would be Cardale Jones
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If there was one person that isn’t already mainstream who could be that person for the Buckeyes; I don’t think he exists. Mark Titus was the closest, but he’s more basketball focused and now that he’s at Barstool I don’t think the older population of Buckeye fans know how to listen to him.
A good person would be Evan Spencer, he’s really well spoken and respected by Ohio State fans, but I don’t think he’s much of a media personality that could become mainstream. So I guess we just have to eat it honestly and deal with Michigan having a strong showing in the media.
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That’s a great question because I don’t want it to be someone annoying. Eddie would’ve been perfect. Of people in media now – Elevate Ty Powell. Make it him.
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If it had to be anyone, I’d say Herbie. That is a class act right there. But, no, we don’t need it.
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Urban is better but he is just a nice guy and doesn’t want to make waves. Maybe Anthony Schlegel could balance this maybe?
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I hate Portnoy but I gotta say all the talent is at Barstool! Tate Moore or Big Ev would be great!!
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There are several people at Barstool who are Buckeyes that are very Buckeyes bias. Mark Titus, Big Ev, and Ohio’s Tate are the three there that come to mind. They just aren’t mainstream guys (ESPN & Fox) Herbsteit used to be the guy but he’s turned into a company man instead of an Ohio State guy.
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IMO Urban is pro-OSU and has been across his stints at Fox. But he does it well, because he presents his feelings within the context of X’s and O’s. To me, he fills that void well.
