Surviving Ohio State
Streaming now on HBO Mac
When I sat down to watch Surviving Ohio State, I thought I knew the basic gist of the story: former Ohio State wrestlers had come forward with allegations of sexual abuse and harassment by a team doctor. I knew the doctor was assigned to the athletic department. I knew Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) had been an assistant coach to many of the victims. And I knew that when the story broke, Jordan focused solely on insisting he did not know about the abuse.
I had no idea how big this story is, or how much bigger it should be in our national conversation.
Based on the 2020 Sports Illustrated story by Jon Wertheim and with expert storytelling by director Eva Orner (she also directed the excellent Bikram doc for Netflix) and editor Charles Olivier, this film keeps the survivors front and center. With sincere compassion and sharp clarity, it shows how institutional power can trap victims and protect abusers.
The scale of the criminal abuse is staggering: thousands of young male victims. I couldn’t help but think of my kids, who are at the same age now.
This isn’t just a recommendation. I believe this film should be required viewing for every university administrator and athletic coach, and necessary viewing for every parent. If you’re sending your kid off to sports camp or college, watch it together.
