Some Ohio State football fans are not happy with one of the local outlets that covers the program on Wednesday.
On Monday, President Donald Trump hosted the Ohio State program at the White House to celebrate the Buckeyes winning the national championship. On Wednesday morning, The Columbus Dispatch ran a letter to the editor from local resident Jonathan G. Gurian regarding the visit.
The letter, published under a subhead stating “Ohio State University football players, coaches are disgraceful,” criticized head coach Ryan Day, his colleagues and players for their decision to go to the Oval Office.
How do coaches and players explain to their wives and daughters that they took this opportunity to commemorate their championship while supporting the current occupant of the White House, a confessed misogynist?
How do non-white players explain to those who stand up for racial equality that they decided to swallow pride and principle in exchange for notoriety with their perceived support of a known racist (see Unite the Right Rally, Charlottesville, Va. 08/11/17).
A contingent of OSU fans online are angry over the paper’s decision to run the piece, arguing that it should have been ignored.
“Even though this is a letter to the editor from some jerk, Jonathan G Gurian, the Columbus Dispatch should have trash canned this op article from a person filled with hate instead of giving him a ‘voice,'” one fan said. “The OSU Buckeye players deserve better. I’m embarrassed by the so-called fans that have crapped on the players and the program for visiting the White House and meeting the President of the United States. Grow up, get a life, and please find a different team to ‘support.’ Us real Buckeye fans don’t want you!!”
“Not all opinions are worth sharing @DispatchAlerts,” a second person said.
“I will never understand making a White House visit political. I don’t care who’s in office, if I am offered a VIP tour of the White House, I’m taking it,” a third fan added.
“An embarrassment to the city, the university, and the country,” another OSU fan account said.
“100% agree. The Dispatch is complete trash,” a fifth person responded.
By all accounts, the Buckeyes enjoyed their time with Trump and his vice president, Ohio native and OSU alum J.D. Vance.
“To be here surrounded by our players, staff, [and] university leadership is a moment we’ll never forget,” Day said. “Traveling to D.C. was the easy part. Earning the right to be here was the hard one.”
Ohio State is the third championship team to visit the White House during the early stages of Trump’s second term, joining the Florida Panthers and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Related: Photo Shows How Ohio State Players Reacted To President Trump