An Ohio State reporter isn't walking back his harsh critique of star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith—even after catching heat for calling the junior a “petulant child” on the sidelines during the Buckeyes' 41-28 loss to Oregon.
Jeremy Birmingham, co-host of 97.1 The Fan's “Austin & Birm” show, addressed the backlash head-on this week, making it clear that while he might regret his choice of words, he stands firmly behind his underlying point.
“I'm not going to back down from that,” Birmingham said, per Awful Announcing. “It is what it is. I know there's a lot of negativity swirling around a comment I made about Jeremiah Smith and how I felt he responded in a moment when the rest of the team was gathered, and he was not. I probably should have used better terms or been a little more in-depth in explaining my point.”
Birmingham's initial criticism came after Ohio State's second straight loss without quarterback Julian Sayin. Smith, the nation's most dynamic playmaker, was visibly frustrated on the sideline as the Buckeyes sputtered. Birmingham described Smith as “stomping down the field like a petulant child,” a phrase that ignited a firestorm among fans and media alike.
But Birmingham isn't sorry for the sentiment. He explained that his issue is with leadership, not talent. “My opinion is that if your team captain and your best leader is not leading at the moment that the team needs it, that's a bad look,” he said. “And I'm not going to apologize for that point.”
He did, however, acknowledge that his wording was off-base. “That's probably the wrong term. It is the wrong term,” Birmingham admitted. “He's entitled to being frustrated. As a leader, I just don't think that's the productive way to handle it on the field.”
Birmingham also praised Smith's overall character, calling him “exemplary across the board” since he arrived in Columbus. And despite Ohio State's recent struggles, Smith remains a Heisman Trophy frontrunner with 1,200 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in nine games.
“He's the best player in college football,” Birmingham declared. “He is someone who I've said is the best player in Ohio State football history. I said two weeks ago, they should just give him the Heisman now.”
The reporter's refusal to apologize comes amid a turbulent stretch for the Buckeyes, who have now dropped two consecutive games and are facing mounting criticism. Head coach Ryan Day is under fire, with some comparing the scrutiny to Trump-style criticism after the shocking collapse. Day has already shaken up his staff in an effort to right the ship.
Smith, for his part, has fired back at the “petulant child” label, defending his sideline demeanor and expressing his own frustration with the narrative. The back-and-forth has only added fuel to the fire surrounding a program that began the season with national title aspirations.
As for Birmingham, he's content to let his opinion stand—even if it cost him some goodwill. “I get why he was upset,” he said. “I just think there's a better way as a leader to get that point across. And I should have done a better job at getting my point across and saying it in a more cogent way.”
But don't expect an apology tour. Birmingham is sticking to his guns, and in the pressure cooker of Ohio State football, that's a stance that won't soon be forgotten.
