Charlie Becker had every reason to be frustrated after Indiana’s heartbreaking 19-15 loss to Ohio State on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
Instead, the Hoosiers wide receiver asked Buckeyes coach Ryan Day to offer a sincere apology.
Becker went viral after Indiana beat Ohio State in last year’s Big Ten Championship game. During the trophy presentation, he joined in the famous OHIO chant, flashing the traditional “OH” before ending with an “FU” to the Buckeye fans.
The moment clearly left Becker with regrets. After Saturday’s loss, he made a point to find Day and clear the air.
“That was unusual for me,” Becker told Day, surrounded by a sea of Ohio State players. “I’ve thought about this a lot, and I feel sorry for you and Ohio State.”
Day appeared to appreciate the gesture, giving Becker a friendly slap on the helmet as the Indiana receiver walked away.
The apology took on added significance given Becker’s deep ties to Ohio State. His father, Dave, played linebacker for the Buckeyes in 1995, and Charlie grew up in Ohio State as a fan of the program.
“We had Ohio State posters. You name it, we had it.” Becker told ESPN this week. “Every Saturday, we’d be sitting, watching Ohio State play ball, kicking everybody’s ass. That was a dream: to play for them or play against them.”
Becker turned in a standout performance against his boyhood team on Saturday, hauling in a career-high nine catches for a loss of 165 yards.
It was a memorable statistical performance for Becker. In the end, he made sure the final impression he left on the Buckeyes was a better one.
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