COLUMBUS — Ohio State head coach Ryan Day met with reporters on Tuesday to recap the Buckeyes’ titanic win at Rutgers and preview Saturday’s upcoming battle against the Penn State Nittany Lions. We will provide live updates when the session gets underway around 12:00 pm. Please refresh for all of the latest updates.
+ For a game like this, it’s very difficult to spend a lot of time with recruits on their visits. But that’s okay because with games like this, guys are visiting to experience the stadium and this game. The recruiting staff is going to have their hands full. Day has a hard time talking with recruits and families before big games like this.
+ They have confidence in Garrett Wilson. He made a mistake, but he moved on.
+ Harry Miller operating as well as he is as the No. 2 center is unheard of as a true freshman.
+ Most of the offensive playbook is in. You look at it weekly, but so much of it is based on the guys you have. Teams change year after year, so you have to recognize what you do best. Part of the success of this offense is that they have answers, but they don’t want to have too many options because that can bog you down.
+ JK Dobbins’ confidence is in a good place. He’s competitive and looking forward to this week.
+ For so many reasons, this is the biggest one of the year, so they need the fans loud often and early. “Every time Penn State has the ball, we need them to be as loud as they can.”
+ Planning for this game takes a lot of hours and a lot of work. No stones unturned. PSU is strong and physical. They roll guys like OSU does.
+ When you are playing against teams as talented as you, you have to stress more than every single play matters more. A turnover like the muffed punt last week could be enough to lose the game.
+ The last two games against Penn State, they felt like they had good offensive plans, they just weren’t executing them well. They believed they still just had to stay the course and the execution would eventually come.
+ You can scheme and be talented, but running the ball still comes down to toughness.
+ James Franklin is a great coach and motivator. They have excellent coordinators who do a great job schematically creating players. They have talented players. Micah Parsons is as talented as there is in the conference.
+ Being up just three points against Wisconsin in the third quarter, the Buckeyes were tested and responded. That gives him faith that they will respond again.
+ “Our team knows what’s at stake.” This is a team where talent equates, so it goes back to fundamentals and toughness. “The team who is more prepared will win the game.”
+ Chase Young has been practicing but wasn’t involved in the game planning. He’s now back to normal with no pitch count.
+ The throwing the Buckeyes have done the last couple of weeks hasn’t had anything to do with preparing for Penn State, who has a stout run defense. It’s more about getting the passes in before the games get out of hand and getting guys enough reps to stay fresh.
+ KJ Hill has a great way of talking to quarterbacks with his body language and is great at getting open. The team knows how important he is. He leads by example.
+ Optimistic to get guys like Austin Mack and others back. They were probably overly-cautious last week in keeping guys out.
+ They don’t make the schedule so they don’t worry about it being backloaded. They just play the games.
+ Sean Clifford has a good combination of ability to escape and spatial awareness. He’s tough and a good leader.
+ Asked about class attendance and online classes, Day said they are aware of every class every player is enrolled in. It’s a weekly meeting and they are lengthy. Online classes bring benefits for sure and they are different than what many are used to who have gone through college years ago.
+ Justin Fields continues to improve in all areas, from protections to understanding down and distance to helping out in the running game.
+ There are guys who shine every week on scout team. “Those guys are just as important as everybody else.”
+ It’s easy to say enjoy the experience of this weekend and the pageantry, but you have to stay focused. Don’t get distracted because this is a special opportunity.
+ “I love these [seniors] with all my heart.” They deserve everything they get in terms of praise.
Thanks for posting these updates from the press conference. Sometimes I’m not in the mood or not able to watch them directly, so these recaps are awesome. I appreciate it.
I have been BUCKEYE fan for many years, even when you thought they were going Down Hill. But I Believe this Year is the year of the National Championship, just like 2014! The Buckeyes are like James Bond drinks, shaken but Not Stirred!
Penn State is in big trouble this weekend! With Chase Young back, the Buckeye defense is going to control the game. However, we all know that Michigan is next! I hope the Buckeyes realize how much “smack” talk the Wolverines are already doing. I heard one of their players has already guaranteed that Michigan would beat Ohio State. Well…Michigan has talked before, and we all know how that has turned out. Go Bucks…..Beat PSU and TTUN!!!