Tressels, Fickells, Urbans, Days, Johnsons and Days,

"You're not allowed to have a bad day at Ohio State. Any of us. That's the way it goes. On your bad days, you have to be at least average – at the very least – if not better than that. On your average days, you have to be good. On your good days, you have to be great."

I've been thinking about this quote Ryan Day gave a couple weeks ago after the Wisconsin game.  It might be one of the most insightful quotes from an Ohio State head coach in a long time.  

Could you imagine if this were the standard you were held to as a college-aged, young adult still learning and growing?  

Also, could you imagine if this were the standard you were held to as an inexperienced first-time head coach?

I think I get it now.  

There is a related quote that I also find interesting.  CJ Stroud's mom shared that CJ was receiving death threats while playing at Ohio State.  A media member asked CJ if he paid attention to these threats.

"I don't really look, but people have the, I'll say, audacity to call me and tell me what people say. So I do hear it. It is what it is. It comes with the nature of the beast. You can't accept the good and not accept the bad."

Could you imagine giving everything you had to reach your goal only to fall short, and then receiving death threats for your imperfection?  

It's all starting to make sense.

I don't know if you've had a chance to watch CJ play this season for Houston.  If you haven't, do yourself a favor and catch one of his games - it's like watching greatness unfold.  

It's very possible CJ has less outside pressure playing in the NFL than he did while at Ohio State.  I bet he did not get death threats after the Texans lost to the Panthers a few weeks ago.  The perfection expectations as Ohio State QB prepared him well.  CJ is not performing like an overwhelmed rookie because he's already had the weight of the world on his shoulders, and learned to work through it before taking his first NFL snap.  He's well aware he can't have a bad day.

At first, I just enjoyed Ryan Day's emotional post-game interview following the Buckeye's last-second victory at Notre Dame earlier this season.  Coach Day challenged statements Lou Holtz (and many others) made about the toughness of his team.  I liked seeing some fire from a typically stoic coach, the deep pride he showed for his program and love for his players. 

But, now I think I understand it.    
 
I easily forget that Ryan Day is still learning too.  This is only his fifth season as a head coach of any team.  Coach Day's path to leading a football program was unexpectedly accelerated when school-commissioned investigators found that Urban Meyer mishandled serious allegations about an assistant coach on his staff and was forced to retire.  

We are watching Ryan Day learn how to be a head coach in real-time and handle the extreme pressure leading Ohio State specifically.  It's extremely sad that the path for Coach Day includes death threats for those he deeply cares about...that's about as tough as it gets.  He can't have a bad day. His program is reflecting that mental toughness in the way CJ Stroud is thriving in the NFL...and the focus the 2023 Buckeyes show as they keep fighting through the challenges of a difficult schedule, new starters at key positions, mounting injuries, outside distractions and critics. 

I'm excited to watch it all come together as we get to the final chapters with a team that may not be perfect, but is tested and becoming stronger. 
 

Touchdowns:  Marvin Harrison Jr., Marvin, Marvin, TreVeyon, Cade, Jordan Hancock

OSU 42 Minnesota 3

Go Bucks!  Beat Minnesota!  Harry Miller for Heisman!

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