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Ohio State football should not feel bad about not taking a knee against Indiana | Oller

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Ohio State football should not feel bad about not taking a knee against Indiana | Oller


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.

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“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.”

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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.

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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. 

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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.    

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Ex-husband arrested in deaths of Ohio dentist and his wife | CNN

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Ex-husband arrested in deaths of Ohio dentist and his wife | CNN


The ex-husband of Monique Tepe has been arrested in connection with the killings of the mother and her husband Spencer Tepe, a respected dentist, in their Ohio home last week, Columbus police said Saturday.

Michael David McKee, 39, who court records identify as Monique Tepe’s ex-husband, is in custody in Winnebago County, Illinois, according to inmate records with the sheriff’s office.

McKee is scheduled to appear in court Monday, records show. He was arrested on two counts of murder in the killings on Saturday, an incident report shows, and was taken into custody “without incident” in Rockford, Illinois, police said.

Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, were found dead with apparent gunshot wounds on December 30 in their house in Columbus. The couple’s two children, ages 4 and 1, were also inside but were not physically harmed, police said.

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The arrest marks a major development in the case after the suspect in the couple’s killings remained on the loose for more than 10 days, during which police released scant details on the investigation.

Police said Saturday they will release further information “as appropriate” to avoid compromising the “active and ongoing case progress” and urged people to contact them with any information related to the tragedy.

Authorities did not find any obvious signs of forced entry or any firearm at the scene, CNN affiliate WSYX reported.

Colleagues in Spencer Tepe’s dental practice called 911 after he uncharacteristically didn’t show up to work. One of Tepe’s friends went to the couple’s house, peered inside and saw a gruesome scene next to a bed, according to emergency dispatch audio.

“There’s … there’s a body,” the friend told 911. “Our friend wasn’t answering his phone. We just did a wellness check. We just came here. And he appears dead.”

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Asked if Tepe had been ill, the friend responded, “No, no. I was just with him yesterday.”

The couple’s two children and dog are now in the care of relatives, the Tepes’ brother-in-law said.



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Ohio high school girls basketball scores: Friday, Jan. 9, 2026

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Ohio high school girls basketball scores: Friday, Jan. 9, 2026


CLEVELAND, Ohio — OHSAA girls basketball scores from Friday in Ohio, as provided by The Associated Press.

Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, Mich. 43, Notre Dame Academy 35

Baltimore Liberty Union 47, Cols. Hamilton Twp. 34

Berlin Center Western Reserve 68, N. Jackson Jackson-Milton 46

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Blanchester 40, Bethel-Tate 37

Chagrin Falls 37, Burton Berkshire 32

Circleville 62, Amanda-Clearcreek 40

Cle. Hay 88, Cle. Glenville 2

Cols. Centennial 78, Columbus International 50

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Cols. Linden-McKinley 54, Cols. Whetstone 28

Cols. Walnut Ridge 73, Cols. Marion-Franklin 12

Delaware Buckeye Valley 50, CSG 43

Delta 48, Bryan 44

Dublin Coffman 47, Cols. Upper Arlington 39

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Hilliard Darby 43, Thomas Worthington 32

Johnstown 47, Johnstown Northridge 41

Mason 54, Cin. Colerain 32

Newark 56, Ashville Teays Valley 42

Oak Harbor 52, Millbury Lake 31

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Ohio Deaf 50, Ky. School for the Deaf, Ky. 9

Pemberville Eastwood 65, Rossford 35

Pickerington North 41, New Albany 33

Springboro 66, Centerville 33

Stryker 54, Montpelier 20

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W. Chester Lakota W. 76, Fairfield 24

Wauseon 55, Swanton 13

Western Reserve Academy 65, Lawrenceville School, N.J. 33

Westerville Cent. 57, Grove City Cent. Crossing 20

Worthington Christian 57, Tree of Life 16

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Zanesville 58, Newark Licking Valley 40



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Ohio State students hone academic, business skills through study abroad programs

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Ohio State students hone academic, business skills through study abroad programs


Students across various majors at The Ohio State University recently gathered at the Fisher College of Business to discuss how study abroad opportunities have helped them hone skills that will benefit their studies and chosen career paths.

Fisher’s Office of Global Business and its Office of Advancement hosted the inaugural Global Experience Luncheon. The event was held at the Blackwell Inn on the Columbus campus.

The luncheon brought together alumni who have donated to study abroad programs with students who have participated in them, said Dominic DiCamillo, senior director of the Office of Global Business.

“We were excited to partner with Advancement for the first time to facilitate this type of personal connection. The families that have created these endowments, oftentimes, they hoped it would have some sort of positive impact,” he said. “This is the first time for them to hear firsthand from the students who recently participated.”

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Xin Lin, a third-year finance student, shared her experiences studying abroad in Hamburg, Germany, and Chiang Mai, Thailand. While in Germany in summer 2024, Lin completed the Fisher Freshman Global Lab with Professor Michael Knemeyer and studied at the Kühne Logistics University.

During Lin’s semester in Germany, her cohort toured the facilities of several international companies, including the Mercedes-Benz auto manufacturer, Seven Senders logistics enterprise, and Jack Wolfskin outdoor apparel.

“This was my first time being in Europe,” she said. “It was a really eye-opening experience and taught me to be curious about exploring other cultures, which is why I made the decision to study abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand.”

This past summer in Chiang Mai, Lin completed the competitive Fisher Global Consulting: Nonprofit program, which is funded by an endowment established by Chris Connor, a 1978 Ohio State alumnus, and his wife, Sara. The participating students, called Connor Scholars, gain firsthand insights into the cultures and business practices of countries in developing regions worldwide.

“We were there for two weeks working on the sustainability and the marketing for the local elephant foundation, as well as to support the villagers,” she said. “And my team and I, we worked on the sustainability curriculum for the local school.”

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Lin said participating in study abroad programs sharpened her decision-making and problem-solving skills.

“Leveraging these experiences has strengthened my understanding of international business and macroeconomics,” she said. “Most importantly, it is the growth mindset and the endless learning that these experiences have taught me, and I’m really excited to be carrying these values into my future career and my academic journey.”

Jacob Brodson, a fourth-year marketing major, said participating in the Fisher Global Marketing Lab in Taiwan this past summer was “a transformational, life-changing trip.”

Jacob Brodson (center) said he met more than 25 Ohio State alumni in Taiwan.“If you can go to someplace that’s so fundamentally different from what we experience here on a day-to-day basis, you should absolutely take the opportunity to,” he said. “And Taiwan is that opportunity.”

Brodson said studying marketing and visiting 10 companies in Taiwan gave him a broader perspective on business practices in different countries.

“We went to TSMC, which is the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. That’s the 10th largest company in the world that you probably have never heard of, but they make all the phone and computer chips that are in your cellphones,” he said. “It was an unbelievable experience to see that.”

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Brodson and his classmates also toured a Kenda Tire facility.

“They actually do a lot of marketing at Ohio State sporting events because their U.S. headquarters is out in Reynoldsburg,” Brodson said. “We got to see their entire manufacturing plant in Taiwan.”

Brodson said he was pleasantly surprised to discover a Buckeye community overseas. He met more than 25 Ohio State alumni throughout Taiwan.

“We are halfway across the world and yet the most beautiful thing is that there are still reminders of home. We’re halfway across the country and there are still Buckeyes there,” he said. “That is one of the coolest things – seeing the Ohio State alumni and the fact that this Buckeye tradition transcends countries.”

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