Ohio State players are earning praise after participating in a pregame prayer prior to the start of the Cotton Bowl. The team was getting ready to play against the University of Texas at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas when nearly every player for Ohio State took a knee on the field to pray prior to the game. Former Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, Fred McClure, led the prayer for the team after a moment of silence was observed for those suffering during the LA wildfires and the victims of the New Orleans terrorist attack. “Loving father, we seek your blessings today for all those gathered here and especially for those on the field as we come together to celebrate the 89th Cotton Bowl Classic, we lift up the young men representing the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns. Keep them safe from injury and harm. Instill within them a deep respect for one another, and reward them or their perseverance,” he said.
Ohio State has been known for acts of faith throughout the year, including several members of the team being involved in a “Come to Jesus” Gospel event on campus. ESPN aired the prayer on its station, seemingly as a way to make amends for not airing the National Anthem during the Sugar Bowl, which had been postponed one day after Shamsud Din Jabbar drove a Ford F-150 into crowds celebrating the New year in the New Orleans’ French Quarter, resulting in the death of 15 people. The emotional performance of the National Anthem was met with cheers of “USA” but the moment was not shared during the broadcast, sparking outrage from ESPN viewers across the nation. “Wow. ESPN didn’t air the national anthem or the moment of silence for the New Orleans terror attack victims…and they continue to label the terror attack a ‘truck attack’ on screen,” wrote Clay Travis, founder of the sports commentary site Outkick.
After ESPN aired Ohio State’s prayer, Travis noted it was most likely due to backlash. “ESPN got so crushed for not airing the moment of silence for the New Orleans terror attack victims at the Sugar Bowl that they are now airing the pregame prayer tonight,” he wrote. “I’ve legit never seen this on TV before.” Ohio State took the win 28-14, advancing themselves to the National Championship on Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.