Taking a knee to the privates typically hurts more than not taking a knee to the artificial turf, but in Indiana, Las Vegas and some parts of Buckeye Nation, “kneelgate” blew up loud and long over the weekend, causing pain, disdain and a “What’s the big deal?’’ refrain.

To refresh: Ohio State led Indiana 31-15 Saturday when Buckeyes tailback TreVeyon Henderson broke off a 39-yard run with 1:11 left in the game. If Henderson had scored, instead of intentionally sliding to a stop at the 1-yard line, the points margin would have ballooned to 23 points “organically,” the issue of what to do next would be moot and controversy would have been avoided. 

Instead, after Henderson gave himself up so that OSU could take more time off the clock by running a few more plays, coach Ryan Day approved back-to-back quarterback sneaks instead of having Will Howard take a knee in a standard expression of sportsmanship. 

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Howard was stopped for no gain on first-and-goal, but scored on second down with 35 seconds left. 

Uh-oh. A lot of Indiana fans took umbrage with Day’s decision – IU coach Curt Cignetti shrugged it off as OSU’s coach doing what he thought the team needed at the moment – while Ohio State fans were mixed, with a majority supporting Day’s decision. Those with no skin in the game either scratched their head when OSU scored, given their view on traditional run-out-the-clock protocols, or reasoned, “Isn’t the point of playing the game to score points?”

Then there are the gamblers, who I contend are the biggest source of the kerfuffle, like rabble rousers fanning flames of discontent among a simmering crowd. The over/under was 52.5 points, so bettors who wagered the teams would combine to score under that total were at first happy/thrilled/ecstatic when Henderson slid down short of the goal line, then equally disappointed/angry/outraged when OSU opted to run a QB sneak that bumped the points total to 53.

“Ryan Day cost me a lot of money,” a friend muttered Sunday into my mostly unsympathetic ear.

I promise you similar harrumphing could be heard across the country. And the harangues had nothing to do with sportsmanship and everything to do with selfish gain or “unfair” loss. Forgive me if I don’t play my sad trombone for these poor unfortunates. 

Likewise, I’m not playing “What a shame” on my air violin for Indiana fans miffed by Day’s decision. I understand the frustration, but the overreaction is ridiculous. Put it this way: A lot of those crying foul over OSU scoring seven more points, as if some violent crime had been committed, saw nothing wrong with Cignetti saying Ohio State and Michigan “suck” when he addressed fans at an IU basketball game in December. I can hear it now: “Aw shucks, coach was just trying to pump up the crowd and build a more intimidating culture.”

My take? I found Cignetti’s “insult” more funny than offensive, but if you’re going to call out an opponent for sucking, you better prepare to have the putdown put down your throat when that opponent gets a chance. 

After Saturday’s game, Day said he wanted to put an “exclamation point on the win.” Left unsaid: “Our honor defend, we will fight to the end … .” Day sent a message not to mess with the Buckeyes. Was it a case of faux toughness on display? Perhaps, but when your team has been labeled as soft for four years, you tend to take it personally. Given a chance to do something about it, you act. 

I value sportsmanship, and push come to shove would have preferred Howard take a knee, but I won’t get bent out of shape about it. For one thing, the Associated Press and College Football Playoff ranking systems factor scoring margin into their thinking. For another, this was a game between two top-five teams, not OSU vs. Olentangy Liberty. The quality of the opponent doesn’t completely release a coach from pouring on points, but it does factor into the circumstances.  

Indiana wants to be taken seriously as a national contender? Great, then stop whining. Or stop Ohio State at the goal line. 

Jameis Winston brings joy and fun to football

After 40 years of writing about sports, it is easier to become jaded by the coaches and athletes who play the games, which is why I am delighted by Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston.

Winston’s enthusiasm for football and excitement about his faith, mixed with a dynamic personality, makes him my newest favorite athlete. 

The 30-year-old man-child is part preacher, part circus clown (not in a creepy way) and part cheerleader. He also is good enough to start, although admittedly that is a fairly low bar, considering who he plays for. 

Winston has had his share of issues, both at Florida State, where in 2013 he won the Heisman Trophy, and at New Orleans, where last season he sabotaged his coach’s instructions during a game. But his joie de vivre is so intoxicating that it’s hard not to root for him. 

Winston mic’d up during games is a must-listen, and his pregame and postgame interviews are as heartfelt as they are hilarious. 

What resonates most about him, though, is his gratitude for being able to play a game that millions of fans would love to suit up and try. Winston’s attitude is refreshing, especially when compared to Deshaun Watson, whose dour disposition as a Browns quarterback leaves a lot to be desired. 

Winston is not having a spectacular season filling in for the injured Watson – 62.2 completion percentage, 1,266 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions – but given a choice I’ll take him over Watson. Any guy willing to make snow angels on the field, like Winston did after Thursday’s 24-19 win against Pittsburgh, is OK by me.

Listening in

“I think 120 is a beautiful number, I think it’s very competitive. I think a cut is an integral part of our sport and I think it would be really cool to play Signature Events at 120 players over the 72. With eight tournaments, that’s 400 more playing opportunities.” – PGA Tour player Maverick McNealy after winning the RSM Classic Sunday, commenting on the recent decision by the tour to reduce field sizes.

Off-topic

I try to live by this travel rule: Don’t spend more time driving than hours awake at the travel destination. But sometimes it comes close. Like Thanksgiving week. My 15-hour drive to and from North Carolina, with stops, is only about two hours shorter than the time I’ll spend at the family farm near Chapel Hill. But seeing in-laws and my adult children – coming in from Oakland, Chicago and Brooklyn, New York – is well worth it.    

roller@dispatch.com

@rollerCD

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A federal judge denied a request to dismiss a gun charge against an illegal immigrant in Ohio who had been in the U.S. for more than 15 years, rejecting the man’s argument that he has a right to bear arms.

Carlos Serrano-Restrepo was charged earlier this year and was subsequently indicted for possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the U.S., according to WSYX.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives began investigating and watching Serrano-Restrepo after he purchased at least 22 firearms, and claimed to be a U.S. citizen on the firearms forms.

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Agents conducted a search of his home and seized roughly 170 firearms, tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition and smoke/marine markers.

Serrano-Restrepo said some of the guns were purchased for self-defense.

Photos that agents took at his home revealed he kept firearms in gun safes. Some handguns were also mounted in holsters on the wall of a closet.

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Agents conducted a search of the suspect’s home and seized roughly 170 firearms, tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition and smoke/marine markers. (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives)

The suspect’s lawyer submitted a motion to dismiss the charge on the argument that he has the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment.

The judge denied his motion to dismiss the charge on Thursday, writing in his opinion that “disarming unlawful immigrants like Mr. Serrano-Restrepo who have not sworn allegiance to the United States comports with the Nation’s history and tradition of firearm regulations.”

“Mr. Serrano-Restrepo’s as-applied challenge lacks merit,” the judge continued. “The swearing of an oath of allegiance occurs through the naturalization process, not through his asylum application or his years of living in the United States.”

A judge denied Carlos Serrano-Restrepo’s motion to dismiss a gun charge. (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives)

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His trial is scheduled for Jan. 21, 2025.

Serrano-Restrepo moved from Arizona to Orient, Ohio, in 2022. He told the court he last unlawfully entered the U.S. in 2008. 

He also owns a business that remediates fire and flooding damage.

Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes were able to take care of business against the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday. Now, they are set to prepare for the massive rivalry matchup against the Michigan Wolverines to end the regular season.

Ohio State has been unable to beat Michigan for the last three years. In order to get a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game, they’ll need to snap that losing streak.

At this point in the year, the Buckeyes absolutely look like a national championship favorite. However, there is one weakness that is worth monitoring.

David Pollack, a former star college football linebacker and a current analyst, spoke out about the one weakness that he sees with Ohio State.

“I don’t see a lot of gamewreckers,” Pollack said. “But I don’t see a lot of weaknesses, except at the cornerback spot. I’ve got to address the cornerback spot as a weakness. I’ve seen enough to know. There are enough penalties back there, enough flags, enough big plays that it’s not a strength.”

All season long, the Buckeyes’ cornerbacks have underperformed. Denzel Burke has looked nothing like the expected first-round pick talent that he was being hyped up to be. Davison Igbinosun has been heavily penalized and has struggled as well.

Going up against other elite national championship contenders will be a tough task with a struggling secondary.

Outside of the cornerback position, everything else seems to look solid. If they can fix the issues and get better production out of it, they would be a much more complete contender.

Thankfully, the talent is there for them to improve. Both Burke and Igbinosun are talented players who have simply struggled this season. They are more than capable of turning things around.

All of that being said, the stage has been set for Ohio State and Michigan. On paper, the Buckeyes should be able to dominate the game, but rivalry games can get tricky. It will be interesting to see what ends up happening.