Scarlet and Game
Fansided

Ohio State Football: Couldn’t agree more with Jim Harbaugh

By Charlie Lockhart

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes watches the action during the second half of the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes watches the action during the second half of the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is right on the money.

Since I have followed the Ohio State football program for nearly 50 years, it may be hard for anyone to believe I would ever agree with Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh on anything. But I do on this matter, and I am in good company because Urban Meyer is on his side as well.

The issue is how visiting teams are treated by some in the Big Ten. While most member universities treat visitors well, apparently some don’t and they should.

In his weekly press conference, Jim Harbaugh had many things to say about the situation. He had a few complaints about his experience when Michigan went on the road to play Purdue last Saturday.

The Wolverine head coach said the dressing room was hot and poorly ventilated. It also had few bathroom stalls with no privacy.

But what concerns me the most is the perceived lack of concern for injured players on the visiting team.

Here is what coach Harbaugh said concerning that situation as reported by Isaiah Hole of 247 Sports.

"“(It’s) mainly, the health and safety of the players,” Harbaugh continued. “Very small space for a training room that had nothing in it. This is no different than the facility I think I saw when I was there in 1986. I’m not putting this on Purdue. This is league-wide. It needs to be addressed by the league. It needs to be addressed by the commissioner. We’re going to lead the way. We’re going to look at what we have. There needs to be a way to X-ray a player at the stadium. There needs to be a minimum standard of care for the players.“Injured players that could not get an X-ray. Taken to a student health center in a van.We needed a brace for a player, and there wasn’t one at the facility we were taken to."

There is absolutely no reason for these kinds of complaints to be leveled at any Big Ten university, The conference is awash with money after the TV contracts it has signed recently.

More from Scarlet and Game

I get that universities have to upgrade older stadiums, and put luxury boxes in to bring in more revenue. But some of the money from those TV contracts can be put to making accommodations for visiting teams more acceptable. A class program like Ohio State does just that.

And when it comes to the health of a player, anything less than top flight care is unacceptable. I don’t care if it is a guy who plays for the home team or is a bitter rival’s player.

The perception of Big Ten football has improved in the last few years and is the conference is now recognized as one of the best in college football. Now the Big Ten would be well served if it builds on that new-found respect by showing respect to teams invading their home turf.

I know that gamesmanship is terrific for college football, and some schools try to make it extremely difficult for visiting teams when they come to town. And a large cheering crowd will always give the home team an edge.

Next: No. 11 Buckeyes looking at a cake-walk vs. Rutgers

But when it comes to common decency, and especially the health of the young men playing the game, it should be an even playing field. Jim Harbaugh is spot on here.

Home/Ohio State Football