The Maryland Terrapins are 5-4 so far in 2016. Barring a major catastrophe for fans of the Scarlet and Gray, the Big Ten’s preeminent coastal franchise is going to drop to 5-5 on the year. This scenario is certainly important to fans of both teams, and a blowout by Ohio State (or a failure to engineer one) could have major implications for next week’s playoff rankings. But this is less important than something related to the broader context of football, and our sporting culture at large. If you’ll indulge me: Ohio State linebacker Jerome Baker, besides being a fine football player, is by all accounts an exemplary human being. Since high school, he has worked actively among teammates and peers to bring issues of consent to the fore in the locker room. We live in a world in which being talented at something (that is, after all, only a game) can serve as a shield for all types of evil behavior, not least of which is sexual assault. Baker, a college sophomore, has demonstrated a keen understanding of football’s complicity in this horrifying social problem; more importantly, he has demonstrated a commitment to being part of the solution. This autumn,…
Continue Reading: Jerome Baker, Ohio State’s rush defense key to shutting down Maryland
