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Editor: How much is enough? While Ohio's unemployment rate is at more than 10 percent, it was disgusting to find that Gene Smith is getting a 20 percent salary increase and now is guaranteed at least $1 million a year. His current contract is in effect until June 30, 2016, so why the increase now?
The average salary of an athletic director in the Big Ten is about $441,000, so we can assume that Smith is twice as good as the other 10 athletic directors. "It's about the market (value) for me," Smith said.
Every year, the price of football tickets increases to make up the deficit in the athletic budget. This year, the parking fee increased 50 percent, to $15, and programs from $7 to $10. It appears to me that everyone associated with OSU athletics is making lots of money except the athletes.
I would like to remind President Gee that everyone is replaceable, including himself.
-- Joe Oliver, Westerville
Joe: In the name of accuracy, the ticket-price increase was to pad the athletic department's rainy-day fund, not balance the budget. To your larger point, it was no accident that the university did all of this maneuvering on the sly in June and July. Necessary or not -- and clearly, Gordon Gee felt it was necessary -- awarding big raises in these economic times is a big gulp of sour soda.
Editor: Congratulations to M.L. Schmidt (Mailbox, last Sunday) for saying what a great many real football fans and players are thinking, feeling and saying! Shame on the universities, their presidents, the ADs and coaches for the high-priced sham they foist on the fans for an ego-satisfying thrill and the fact that they are actually selling their souls on the cheap.
Shame on the media for adding to this travesty. Shame also on people like Steve Harper (Mailbox, last Sunday) for saying the end justifies the means. True fans are embarrassed by teams bullying the have-nots and the Little Sisters of the Poor.
-- Jack Warner, Delaware
Jack: It's a perfect storm that's not going anywhere until there's a college football playoff. Administrators want 12-game seasons for the dough, but power-conference coaches want nonconference walkovers to protect their BCS chances. So floggings are inevitable. If you want scheduling equity, watch the NFL.
Mr. Stein: I read with interest the debate on NCAA football schedules in (last Sunday's) Mailbox. The answer -- well, pre-Nebraska -- is simple: Big Ten teams need to play everybody in the conference every year. That's 10 games. They could then schedule one tough or marquee opponent for an 11th game and take care of one smaller, in-state school for a tidy 12-game season.
This would have put value back into the Big Ten race because the champion would truly have beaten everybody. Remember, in 2002 the Buckeyes were co-Big Ten champions with Iowa. Does anybody really think the Hawkeyes would have stood a chance that year?
Instead, we have Nebraska and two divisions when the answer was right there all along except for love of the almighty buck. Pity.
-- Jim Brochowski
Galloway
Jim: Here's hoping the Big Ten adopts a nine-game schedule soon. But I would argue that there's no reason that one league (say, the Big Ten) should face more tough outs than another (say, the SEC). Teams down South like mismatches as much as they like hush puppies.
Ray: When the Big Ten Network arrives on a college campus to broadcast an event, it should find students who have some idea of how to call a game.
Is it really newsworthy that there are three "Jims" on the Buckeye staff? Does the field really get wider the closer you get to the end zone? And my favorite question from Eric Collins to Chris Martin from last week: "I ask you, would it be better to make a positive play, or not make a mistake?"
I did not hear the answer because when he asked the question, I threw my remote through the screen. Now I'm in need of a TV.
-- Tom Sullivan, Hilliard
Tom: You must be careful not to take out your anger on the television, no matter the level of inanity. Tempers and TV don't mix -- I still remember a childhood buddy busting his antenna when Levi Jackson of Michigan State went 88 against the Buckeyes in '74. In fact, I may have just caused him to curse.
Ray: Despite a gallant comeback try, the U.S. Ryder Cup team managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. It's true that players must perform, but they also must be led. I'm sure Corey Pavin is a nice guy. But as the U.S. captain, he was a failure. He had all the passion of Alan Greenspan on Zoloft. He watches Stewart Cink run in a 30-footer and looks like he's waiting for his laundry to come out of the dryer.
On the other side of that coin was Colin Montgomerie. He was everywhere -- with a slap on the back for good performances and reassurance when one of his players fell short of the mark (which was not often).
The only passion displayed by the U.S. team came from rookies Jeff Overton and Bubba Watson. The rest looked like attendees at a Calvin Coolidge family reunion. Bottom line? The Euros -- and their captain -- wanted it more.
-- Larry Cole, Dublin
Larry: I think we can assume Pavin's run is done -- unless they need a rain-gear specialist in 2012 in Chicago. Bring back Zinger.
Write me at 34 S. 3rd St., Columbus, 43215, or e-mail sports@dispatch.com Please include your hometown and telephone number.
Ray Stein is sports editor of The Dispatch.
rstein@dispatch.com
