Ohio State reporter calls Jeremiah Smith a ‘petulant child’ for behavior after loss
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Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith drew sharp criticism from veteran Buckeyes beat writer Jeremy Birmingham following Saturday's 41-28 defeat to Oregon at Ohio Stadium. Birmingham, who has covered the program for over a decade, argued on 97.1 The Fan that Smith, as a team captain and the face of the franchise, should not have displayed such visible frustration on the field, comparing his behavior to that of a petulant child.
The controversy stems from Smith's animated reaction toward the sideline late in the third quarter, when the Buckeyes trailed 31-14 after allowing Oregon to score 38 consecutive points. Although Smith finished the game with seven receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown, he had gone more than two full quarters without a catch, a usage issue that had already been raised by Fox analyst Joel Klatt after the previous week's loss to USC.
Head coach Ryan Day acknowledged the team's struggles by stating that accountability is now required, leaving questions about how the program will deploy its star player moving forward.
