Ohio sports stories beyond the scoreboard
Ohio sports are the backdrop. The human story is the point.
Stories about athletes, coaches and fans dealing with pressure, failure, recovery, identity, mental health and life beyond the scoreboard.
Pop-Up Stories
Pop-Up Stories
Occasional stories about sports and the people behind the game.
- The Forgotten Truth About the Land Grant Trophy
College football fans have marveled at the Penn State-Michigan State trophy for more than 30 years. But along the way, they forgot about the Piqua, Ohio, company and workers who actually built it.
Game Day Desk
What happened. What mattered. What we can take from it. What comes next.
Ohio sports game stories, analysis and mental-health reflections that look beyond the final score.
- ALCS Preview: Guardians Look to Continue Magical October Run Against Tampa Bay Rays
After surviving three elimination games against Chicago, Cleveland faces a rested Tampa Bay team with four wins separating the Guardians from the World Series.
- A 29-Point Win With Plenty to Fix
Ohio State beats Maryland 45-16 on a rainy homecoming afternoon, but eight penalties, two turnovers and shaky pass protection leave the Buckeyes plenty to fix before Indiana.
Overcomers · a featured pair
More than the stat sheet.
One story about the overcomer. One sister story about the mindset that keeps showing up when the numbers leave something out.
- Ken Fritz: More Than the Gator Bowl
Ken Fritz was more than the Buckeye who held back Woody Hayes. A year later, he captained an undefeated Ohio State regular season and became an All-American.
- Ken Fritz: The Strength in Restraint
The mental health companion to Ken Fritz's Ohio State story explores restraint, anger and why the strongest response can be to pause.
History desk · Buckeye archives
This Week in Buckeyes History
Ohio State history revisited through the people, turning points and lessons that still matter.
- Jermale Hines: Finding Another Way to Win
Jermale Hines’ pick-six helped Ohio State beat Wisconsin on Oct. 10, 2009. When the original plan wasn’t working, the Buckeyes found another way, a reminder to think in terms of problems and solutions.
Profile / athlete identity
Whatever Happened To...?
Not every athlete became a star. But their stories are still really cool.
- Marcus Williams: Don’t Ever Give Up
Ironton walk-on Marcus Williams earned a starting role at Ohio State, carried Shane Jones’ example with him and built a life of service after football.
The Playbook
The Playbook
Practical mental-health lessons through sports: pressure, failure, confidence, identity and recovery.
- Just Think!
Just Think! is a Scarletude mental-health story about automatic thoughts, attitude, anxiety, and practical questions that can help you slow down before you react.
- Real Men Don't Stuff Their Emotions
Real Men Don't Stuff Their Emotions examines male mental health, emotional honesty, pride, and the cost of treating vulnerability as weakness.
- Stop Acting Like a 7-Year-Old
Stop Acting Like a 7-Year-Old offers practical anger-management steps for Ohio State fans and anyone learning to pause, breathe, forecast consequences, and respond.
- Failure is a Courageous Man's Lesson
Failure is a Courageous Man's Lesson is a Scarletude reflection on fear, failure, and the lesson Ohio State found after its 2024 loss.
- Rise Up!
Rise Up! tells Tyler “Tank” Whaley’s Ohio State story of self-belief, persistence, and the courage to pursue a goal others said was out of reach.
- Stop Listening to Lies
Stop Listening to Lies is a Scarletude reflection on Harry Miller, depression, asking for help, and learning to challenge the stories mental illness tells us.
Walk-On Writers
Walk-On Writer Stories
Scarletude introductions to third-party writing. Read the original pieces at their source.
- My Flight With Maurice Clarett
A Scarletude introduction to Joe Lapos's account of meeting Maurice Clarett on the flight home after Ohio State's 2003 national championship. Read the original at JoeSportico.
- A Reason To Forgive
A Scarletude introduction to Joe Lapos's reflection on brokenness, judgment, and forgiveness. Read the original story at JoeSportico.
Meet the founder
Billy Bruce, founder, writer, and therapist
A writer and therapist who believes sports can teach valuable lessons about life.
Billy Bruce founded Scarletude to make room for the stories beneath the scoreboard. He is also a licensed professional clinical counselor in Ohio who works virtually with veterans and adults facing anxiety, trauma, addiction, relationship challenges, and major life stress.