Ohio State head coach Ryan Day will takes part in his weekly radio show Thursday at noon. He will be answering questions from hosts Paul Keels and Jim Lachey about his football team. Day will look back on the Michigan win and then look ahead to Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game against Wisconsin. We will have live updates throughout the hour, so refresh for the latest.
+ Justin Fields, JK Dobbins, and Chase Young all deserve to go to the Heisman ceremony.
+ It’s huge to always have fans travel to watch and support the Buckeyes. You can feel the presence in the cities before you get to the stadium.
+ There will be 15 early enrollees in the 2020 class and they only have one week to stop by and see them all this month.
+ Day won high school state championships in football, basketball, and baseball.
+ Very happy to be playing indoors finally. “It will be nice to play inside. Nice and clean.”
+ The 38-7 score against Wisconsin doesn’t really represent how tough that game was so there isn’t any concern about being overconfident. The players know how tough that game was.
+ They work hard on special teams. The coverage teams and the punt protection are huge. Last week they lost a possession with a muffed punt and that can’t happen this week. When field goals are on the line, those are points and games are decided by points, so they are very important.
+ Jonathan Taylor and JK Dobbins are both humbled, grounded young men. They are two of the most productive running backs in the last decade of college football. It’s fitting that they’re both playing in this game.
+ Wisconsin makes you defend the entire field with their speed sweep looks. They go more east/west than they did earlier in the year.
+ It was special hearing O-H-I-O in Michigan Stadium.
+ Amir Riep made big-time plays in the biggest game of the year. It can be hard during the season when you’re playing behind somebody and waiting for an opportunity, but all of the guys who had to play for Shaun Wade had been playing all season long.
+ Asked how they make Chase Young effective if Wisconsin does what Michigan did against him, Day said Michigan had some of the best tackles they saw all year. But his impact is felt in other areas. It hurt not having Shaun Wade in there, but they settled down when Amir Riep came in. Teams have tried to do different things to Young and they expect that to continue.
+ Day didn’t set many expectations for Justin Fields because he just didn’t know, but he’s been impressed by his toughness, poise, and leadership. “He’s got a huge, huge ceiling.”
+ The offensive line has brought an edge and toughness to the Buckeyes this year.
+ The offensive line has been great all year. They are physical and they communicate well. That combined with JK’s running has made the running game work very well. “You can tell this year that we really tried to establish the run game this year.”
+ You don’t get to enjoy the relief of beating Michigan very long. It lasted until they hit the border on the bus ride home because of this game this weekend. The Michigan rivalry is “a heavy burden because you’re not allowed to lose that game.”
+ Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave have taken to the receiver culture and have continued it. They are being led by a good group of seniors. “We’re going to need those guys in this game.”
+ The team is focused week to week, but they do take snapshots during byes and time off to let players know about what is coming. Being emotionally and mentally tough this time of year is key. You have to keep doing everything that got you to this point. “You just push. You push through. The finish line is right there.”
+ On Sunday they showed video of a track runner finishing a race who was pointing to the crowd and enjoying his lead and then he was overtaken and lost the race.
+ Wisconsin did a great job against the Buckeyes. “Of all the teams we played, they did the best job of stopping us.” Wisconsin won’t give you anything, you have to go out and win that game.
+ The key to refocusing on Wisconsin after the win over Michigan is the fact that they have been planning for this all season long. They have been preparing for three tough weeks in a row. “So the guys are ready.”
+ “The rivalry game is the game for players. It’s about players, not plays.” The offensive line did a great job of opening holes and JK Dobbins ran tough. The defense had some keep stops in the red zone in the first half.
+ Day said winning the Big Ten Coach of the Year is a team award and tells you how much work was done by everyone. “Hats off to those guys.”
+ Jim Lachey is 18-5 against Michigan as a color commentator.
+ On Sunday they showed video of a track runner finishing a race who was pointing to the crowd and enjoying his lead and then he was overtaken and lost the race.
====>Priceless! I hope “The Sound of Silence” was during that video.
As an outsider [CA] who became an insider [OH], Wyatt Davis has experience of great value to his brothers and those families he asks to consider Ohio State.
I remember talking to a LB on the team from CA at practice during the Cooper era… left to his own devices.
Perhaps he means that scheme will take you only so far…execution, hustle, and desire takes you to the win zone.
Tony and fellow readers, curious to hear what you think Day meant by,
“The rivalry game is the game for players. It’s about players, not plays.”
Especially interested to hear from anyone who heard this live, during the broadcast, in context.
If he means, win your one-on-ones, isn’t that key every week?
Thanks for opinions.
Buckeyeabroad, what I think Day means is the rivalry is more than X’s and O’s. The year-round emphasis on the rivalry shapes the kids’ mentality towards The Game. They are so focused and ready to face the challenge, that it’s not just about executing a game plan, it’s about fulfilling their purpose. It’s not about what plays the coaches call. It’s about the player as a person and what they’re willing to do to win The Game. That’s my opinion. Take it as you like.
Another thing he means, the players make the plays-the plays don’t make the players. As he’s said in the past, players make big time plays, in big time games.
I’m sure he’s glad he has the playmakers on his side.