Coach Day just went 11-1. As many are calling for, even IF he were to be fired and let’s say we brought in Fickell.. what standard are we setting at Ohio State? Two losses to TTUN and you are done? There is so much fundamentally wrong with this OSU team that it can’t be fixed in a year. If Fickell or whoever else loses their first game to TTUN, which they most likely would just because of the current trajectories of each team, are we suddenly ready to call for a new coach if the HC were to lose again? Who would want to come coach here if the standard was so high that you would get fired at 11-1? 

Unlike a lot of strong emotional reactions, I actually felt very calm after the game. It was almost like I felt it was expected because of OSU’s poor play against lesser opponents all season and I also had tempered expectations after last year’s results. When the game ended, I think I just came to more of an understanding of who Day is and what our ceiling is while we are under his leadership. I have been a longtime defender of Day, and I still love his personality, but today’s game gave me that realization that I do not believe Coach Day is the “future” at OSU, nor does he have “it”. I think Day is an upstanding guy and solid coach. He has a likable personality that will attract recruits to OSU. But he lives off outtalenting opponents and isn’t going to outcoach opposing teams in big games when it matters and the talent level equals out. He was in over his head with a first time HC gig being at OSU. These two losses to TTUN weren’t close games, they were thorough ass kickings. But he will get the benefit of the doubt for another year because of recruiting successes he has had, but in time, that too will fizzle out if we continue to not be able to reach the conference championship or the playoff. He has the ability to be successful in the Big Ten, but there was some validity to Harbaugh’s “third base” comments and he is not going to regularly beat Harbaugh with the type of team he runs.

But the question is, is everyone okay with 11-1 seasons and losing to TTUN? Coach Day, playing in the Big Ten, can give us that most seasons. Are we going to be so reactionary and call for a firing when another HC loses to TTUN? As much as it sucks losing to TTUN, there isn’t as much room for improvement from 11-1 as there is going the OTHER way. One wrong hire and we can very easily fall into mediocrity.