Kirk Herbstreit was one of the many personalities who took the opportunity to send a clear message about Ryan Day and Ohio State’s victory in the National Championship against Notre Dame, securing a 34-23 win and marking the Buckeyes’ return to the ranks of college football’s elite.
Herbstreit, who has closely followed Day’s journey, expressed admiration for how the head coach has handled the pressure of leading Ohio State. “I hear the stories behind the curtain, I know what he and his wife and his family go through. It’s really, it’s tough. It’s tough to be a coach at a premium school where you’re expected to win every game,” Herbstreit said.
Day’s ability to lead with grace amidst the constant scrutiny is something to admire. Throughout the season, Day faced harsh criticism, both from media and fans, but his ability to keep his team focused and ready to compete was evident in the CFP win. Herbstreit noted, “He handled it with such class,” referencing the way Day managed the challenges and remained a steady.
Others, like Nick Saban, also voiced their support for Ryan Day before the game, clarifying that the hate he had to endure throughout the season was ridiculous, especially after a loss that almost led to his firing due to the overwhelming amount of negative messages he received.
Ross Bjork Also Supports Ryan Day
Ohio State Buckeyes athletic director Ross Bjork also had to speak out firmly regarding the unfair criticism Day had been receiving throughout the year. “There’s no way he should go through the stuff, especially his family,” he said. He mentioned that it’s more acceptable to criticize the sports side of things, but the personal attacks should be kept out. “It’s one thing to criticize play calling, but the personal stuff is uncalled for.”
The First Major Title for the Buckeyes With Day
Bjork also made sure to remind everyone what kind of head coach Day is, stating, “And what I hope that people really take away from this is we have the best coach in the country.” It’s worth noting that Day won the CFP title without winning the conference title first. The Buckeyes finished 6th in the Big Ten standings, but still managed to secure a spot in the CFP.
