In the lead-up to last weekend’s highly anticipated showdown against Michigan, Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord downplayed the significance of the game, referring to it as “just a football game.”
“Obviously, the implications are huge. But like I said earlier, at the end of the day, it’s just a football game,” he said.
“I’m just doing everything I can to help my team win,” he explained. “I think there’s a lot of noise around it, I think there’s a lot of hype around it, and rightfully so. But I think the biggest thing is focusing in on what’s important, and that’s watching the film and doing the small things during the week that’ll give you the best chance to succeed.”
Naturally, many Buckeye supporters were furious with McCord’s comments … Of course, I’m sure he didn’t mean for his message to come out the way it did – but the optics were still poor.
Following Ohio State’s heartbreaking loss to Michigan, former Buckeyes linebacker Joshua Perry expressed his frustration with McCord’s perspective on the game.
“I do not want to hear another quarterback – C.J. Stroud said it, Kyle McCord said it – that says it’s just another game … It’s not. So stop saying that,” Perry stated.
Former Ohio State linebacker Joshua Perry: "I do not want to hear another quarterback…that says it's just another game. It's not. So stop saying it."
Perry was 4-0 against Michigan and won a national championship in 2014.
— The Silver Bulletin (@tSilverBulletin) November 28, 2023
Perry’s sentiments echoed those of other former Ohio State players who are growing increasingly frustrated with the program’s three-game losing streak against Michigan.
The loss not only marked a significant blow to Ohio State’s pride but also ended their hopes of making it to the College Football Playoff.
McCord was solid against the Wolverines, but his two interceptions (especially the last one) helped doom the Buckeyes.
#MICHIGAN WINS IT KYLE MCCORD INT TO LOSE THE GAME WOW pic.twitter.com/BEv38WiCRZ
— krazzie (@yoennalcides) November 25, 2023
You have to feel a little bad for him.
He’s young and will learn to be better with his words … After all, I’m sure he was just trying to prevent the rivalry from looming so large that it would affect his and the team’s preparations.
Fuck it
Make Joshua Perry the head coach https://t.co/uEsfTqd7mO
— The Victory Bell (@VictoryBellOSU) November 28, 2023
What do you make of the whole situation?
Are critics such as Perry blowing the whole thing out of proportion???