Ohio State reporter doubles down on Jeremiah Smith criticism, but regrets choice of words

Criticism after Oregon loss

After Ohio State lost 41-28 to Oregon on Saturday, Birmingham criticized Smith’s visible frustration on 97.1 The Fan’s Snap Judgments. He said Smith had been stomping down the field while the rest of the team gathered.

Birmingham called the star receiver a “petulant child,” a remark that drew criticism. He later acknowledged that the phrase was the wrong choice.

Birmingham stands by point

On the Austin & Birm show on 97.1 The Fan, Birmingham said he could have explained his view more clearly. He maintained that a captain and the team’s best leader should lead when teammates need it.

He said he would not back away from that criticism, while recognizing that Smith was entitled to feel frustrated. Birmingham argued that showing frustration in that way on the field was not productive for a leader.

Praise for Smith remains

Birmingham also praised Smith’s three years with the program, describing his performance as “exemplary across the board.” He called Smith the best player in college football and said he had previously called him the best player in Ohio State football history. Birmingham said two weeks earlier that Ohio State should give Smith the Heisman, predicting his statistics would be extraordinary. He also said his criticism was not instructive for young players and would not help Luke Fahey.