I wanted to start this topic because it has obviously become an issue to this years OSU team. Fans are not happy with the play of the team thus far and they are letting them hear it in some "not so tactful ways" on social media.
I've read the article from the guys at 11W and many of those fans are truly idiots, however the players should not get hooked by the "trolls" and respond to their immature takes. They should use it as motivation to get better at their craft and play to their potential.
The players shouldn't get a free pass from criticism as well. These are NOT HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, these are adults playing sports on a national level. Cardale Jones spent a large portion of the offseason building his twitter followers whether it be taking shots at Joakim Noah during a Cavs game or confessing his love to Ronda Rousey. He built up the buzz and asked for the sports world to keep an eye on him. Now that he is not playing to the level that many of us and the rest of the college football world expected we are suppose to keep our criticism to ourselves. I mean I guess it's not right because as Annie Apple has been tweeting they are "just kids." Many of their former teammates and opponents who are just a year or two older (or the same age for seniors) are playing this sport professionally. If they don't play well they lose their job.
For the record I am not condoning personal (non sports related) attacks at a player or wishing any type of harm on them. That stuff is for the birds, but if someone tweets at a player and says something along the lines of "you really stunk it up today" how is that more of an attack than hearing it from a national sports personality. In fact Kenny Rhoda who is a tv/radio personality in northeast Ohio tweeted "who has stunk more Eli Apple, Jalin Marshall, Cardale Jones." He didn't even post their twitter handles but Eli's mom came flying to his defense saying that Kenny was a terrible person for "berating and harassing the kids." If the professional writers who follow OSU want the fans to stop criticizing the play of the team then how about they stick up for the team against other writers like Clay Travis who doesn't even believe the Buckeyes are a top 10 team. Is it ok for him because there's some unwritten code that writers let each other troll for attention to get people to read their column?
Bottom line this team looks unmotivated right now and if a few fans on social media telling them they stink will help light some fire under their butts then I have zero issues with it. If they don't wanna hear it then make their twitter private and don't get hooked.
I've read the article from the guys at 11W and many of those fans are truly idiots, however the players should not get hooked by the "trolls" and respond to their immature takes. They should use it as motivation to get better at their craft and play to their potential.
The players shouldn't get a free pass from criticism as well. These are NOT HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, these are adults playing sports on a national level. Cardale Jones spent a large portion of the offseason building his twitter followers whether it be taking shots at Joakim Noah during a Cavs game or confessing his love to Ronda Rousey. He built up the buzz and asked for the sports world to keep an eye on him. Now that he is not playing to the level that many of us and the rest of the college football world expected we are suppose to keep our criticism to ourselves. I mean I guess it's not right because as Annie Apple has been tweeting they are "just kids." Many of their former teammates and opponents who are just a year or two older (or the same age for seniors) are playing this sport professionally. If they don't play well they lose their job.
For the record I am not condoning personal (non sports related) attacks at a player or wishing any type of harm on them. That stuff is for the birds, but if someone tweets at a player and says something along the lines of "you really stunk it up today" how is that more of an attack than hearing it from a national sports personality. In fact Kenny Rhoda who is a tv/radio personality in northeast Ohio tweeted "who has stunk more Eli Apple, Jalin Marshall, Cardale Jones." He didn't even post their twitter handles but Eli's mom came flying to his defense saying that Kenny was a terrible person for "berating and harassing the kids." If the professional writers who follow OSU want the fans to stop criticizing the play of the team then how about they stick up for the team against other writers like Clay Travis who doesn't even believe the Buckeyes are a top 10 team. Is it ok for him because there's some unwritten code that writers let each other troll for attention to get people to read their column?
Bottom line this team looks unmotivated right now and if a few fans on social media telling them they stink will help light some fire under their butts then I have zero issues with it. If they don't wanna hear it then make their twitter private and don't get hooked.
