Have more comments, questions? Reach out to me at bwhite1@dispatch.com. Letters are lightly edited for clarity.

On Ohio State basketball

To the editor: I have such an empty feeling. It feels like I lost someone. The best few weeks in sports. I sit on the sidelines left out of the dance. I watched Michigan yesterday, a team that won only eight games last year. Their bigs dominated. What a turnaround. BIG BUCKS bring BIG BUCKS, I hope.

Marty Osmond

To the editor: SHAME ON YOU! What a terrible title for the hard playing, very successful OSU women’s basketball team. They played their hearts out but did not win the Tennessee game. But they did amass a tremendous record of 26-7 against many great teams. With that record they were given a No. 4 seed in their bracket. And they won their first game. Give them credit. Find a better title that doesn’t suggest they were losers.

Maybe … Came up a little short … OSU women put together a great season.

Next time do a little more thinking about how readers will react to the title of an article.

Pete Kienle, Powell

To Pete: I thought the headlines on Mike Arace’s column were fair for a team that was upset at home for the second year in a row. In print, it was “Diminishing returns: OSU runs out of gas, again falls in second round in tournament.” On Dispatch.com, the headline was “Buckeyes can’t find their way from Columbus to Sweet 16.” It was a fine season by the Buckeyes, but a disappointing ending.

On Michigan

To Brian: What do Voldemort, MacBeth and Michigan have in common?

Harry Potter’s nemesis was Lord Voldemort, an evil wizard so powerful and frightening that it was dangerous to even say the name out loud. Instead, everyone referred to him as “He Who Must Not Be Named.”

In the theatre world, “Macbeth” is considered a play so powerful and strange that it is thought to be unlucky to say the name out loud and is therefore called only “The Scottish Play.”

Here in Buckeye Nation, and especially, I imagine, even more so within in the football program, Michigan is referred to as “That Team Up North (TTUN).” Is this because Michigan is a team so powerful and frightful that it is unlucky or dangerous to say the name out loud? Maybe not intentionally.

This irrational fear to name something actually has a formal name: The Voldemort Effect. (Google it!) Well, Harry’s triumph over Voldemort began with saying the name out loud, and we know that “Macbeth” is regularly performed successfully on stages worldwide, with most characters speaking the name “Macbeth” out loud. So, what about Ohio State and Michigan?

Perhaps this irrational reluctance to say the name has become a psychological stumbling block leading to unlikely losses by OSU teams that were more talented than Michigan. It certainly seems like something negative is playing with their heads.

As spring training gears up, I have a suggestion for coach Day: Get it out of your head – SAY THE NAME!

Harry Campbell, Columbus

Buy Ohio State books, posters, gear from CFP title win

On politics in sports letters to the editor

Hi Brian: You state politics should not be in the sports section, but the sports section of The Columbus Dispatch publishes columns by Nancy Armour that contain criticisms of the president of the United States. Is criticizing our president not political? 

Bob Jacobs

To Bob: Actually, I never said politics should not be in the sports section. I said, and I quote myself in last week’s Mailbox, “All sports discussions are best without any political accusations, leaning or segmentation.” Also, in my personal life, I get up and walk away from any sports discussion that delves into politics. In fact, I get up and walk away from any discussion of any sort that delves into politics. It didn’t used to be that way, but now it’s a key to a happier life.

More from the Mailbox

Was Ohio State right to skip the men’s basketball postseason?

Why can’t Ohio State basketball reach football’s elite status?

What’s wrong with Ohio State football players promoting religious beliefs?

Did Ohio State football players’ religious actions become ‘tiresome’?

Ohio State football’s Ryan Day might be more like Woody Hayes than you think

 Is Knowles just a ‘gunslinger’, or is there more to his departure?

Is rude fan treatment of Ohio State football coach Ryan Day, family part of job?

Dispatch’s Ohio State football ‘best plays’ bracket guilty of recency bias

Rob Oller needs to have more appreciation for Ohio State football QB Will Howard

As some traditional powers falter, Ohio State football rolls on

Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft.

During Jeff Hafley’s first season as defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, the pass rush did disappearing acts in big games far too often.

The Packers dismissed defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich and replaced him with DeMarcus Covington, who spent this past season as the defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots.

A player who appeared at his best on the big stage was Ohio State’s JT Tuimoloau—the Buckeye defensive end checks in at No. 31 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

Tuimoloau played a vital role in Ohio State’s run to a National Championship. During the final six games, he recorded 11.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 23 pressures and 18 run stops.

“He was a key part to the nation’s No. 1 defense last season,” Stefan Krajisnik, an Ohio State reporter for Cleveland.com, said. ‘Playing with Jack Sawyer opposite him on the defensive line, Tuimoloau made life miserable for opposing tackles and quarterbacks. His talent has been evident for a while, highlighted by a 2022 game at Penn State in which he collected two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two interceptions. In 2024, though, you saw how good he could be when talent was paired with consistency.”

Standing at 6-4, 265 pounds, with long arms, Tuimoloau looks like he was sent from central casting. He’s a ready-made run defender. With his long arms, he’s able to lock out and keep himself detached. The Ohio State Edge rusher has powerful hands to deconstruct blocks. He’s strong at the point of attack and sets a firm edge. With his power, he’s able to forklift blockers out of the way to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. He finished this past season with 22 tackles for loss and 39 run stops.

“He has good patience,” Krajisnik said. “There aren’t many edge rushers in this draft with more experience than Tuimoloau. That’s apparent in the run game.”

Tuimoloau’s pass rush plan is predicated on power and then more power. He keeps his feet moving at contact and uses a long-arm move to collapse the integrity of the pocket. He has a devastating bull rush and a powerful cross-chop. He’s not somebody that’s going to win with his first-step quickness or athleticism. He’s very detailed in his approach. His backup plan has a backup plan. Over the past three seasons, he recorded 21 sacks and 120 pressures.

Fit with the Packers

Brian Gutekunst made it crystal clear during the NFL Scouting Combine that they need the defensive line to create more chaos if they are going to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

“We need to affect the quarterback more in our front four, with just four players,” Gutekunst said. “I’m excited about the guys we have in the room, we’ll see if we add to it, but that’s gotta get better if we’re going to accomplish our goals we want to accomplish in this season.”

Tuimoloua has a knack for getting after the quarterback and his strong finish during his final season with the Buckeyes is proof that he may not have the quickest first-step or the most explosive, but he has a veteran-like pass rush plan that’s predicated on power and violence. On top of what he brings as a pass rusher, Tuimoloau is a pro-ready run defender.

“Tuimoloau is a former five-star prospect who consistently displayed talent late in his career, and there still feels like there’s untapped potential,” Krajisnik said. “Like many of Ohio State’s 2025 prospects, experience can’t be taught. He’s seen so many different offenses and so many different players.”

Tuimoloau is a well-rounded defensive end. If he’s still on the board when the Packers are on the clock with the 54th overall pick, it would not be shocking to see the Buckeye defender teaming with a former Wolverine and Hawkeye at 1265 Lombardi Avenue.

School funding plan hurts public students

As a Columbus resident, I care about my community. 

The Columbus City Schools district serves 45,000 students; 50% are economically disadvantaged. Without amendments, House Bill 96 would cut state basic aid for Columbus public school students by $45 million and more for special education services. Funding is inadequate; the proposed budget makes this worse.

Unfunded state mandates like transportation policies and charter schools make it harder to improve Ohio’s public schools.

In violation of the Ohio Constitution, HB 96 shifts greater burden to local taxpayers.

Legislators should amend HB 96 to achieve the Fair School Funding Plan. The current budget bill cuts foundation-formula-based funding for public schools by $103.4 million and increases state funding for private school vouchers by $265.4 million over the next biennium. As many as 359 districts will lose funding. Prioritizing private schools over public schools harms 1.5 million public-school students and favors unaccountable private schools that currently enroll 181,000 students.

Phase in the Fair School Funding Plan using up-to-date cost estimates. Amend HB 96 to make school funding fair for all students.

Cheryl Roller, President, League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus

Columbus City Council choices underwhelming

The current choices for candidates to the Columbus City Council are beyond disappointing. If this is the look that the Democratic Party is seeking, I’m no longer a willing participant of the party. They seem to be seeking the role to expand their resume, not to be a public servant. Very unfortunate for a state that has evolved to become “red.”

Emily Prieto, Columbus

Broadband, but for who?

The Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program is getting an overhaul, and it’s looking like a raw deal — especially for rural residents. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick wants to prioritize “lowest cost” internet access. That sounds great on paper, but in reality, it’s a mess. What’s worse, these changes open the door for Elon Musk’s Starlink to swoop in as a government vendor. 

States have already spent time and money crafting plans based on the original BEAD guidelines, which focused on fiber-optic infrastructure — the gold standard for fast, reliable internet. Thanks to President Donald Trump’s executive order, states might have to scrap their plans and start over. That could mean delays of a year or more before anyone even sees a benefit. In the meantime, rural residents will be stuck waiting — again.

And what do they get for their patience? Maybe satellite internet, which is no match for fiber when it comes to speed, reliability and longevity. Critics are calling this move “penny wise, pound foolish,” and they’re not wrong. Satellites have short lifespans, limited capacity and require constant replacements. Fiber, on the other hand, is built to last and creates real jobs in rural communities — good, union jobs that don’t disappear after the system’s installed. 

Sure, satellites might look cheaper upfront, but in the long run, rural residents could end up with worse service and higher costs. Meanwhile, Elon Musk gets a shiny new revenue stream. If this is what “streamlining” looks like, we don’t want it.

Barbara Kaplan, Peninsula