Game week is finally underway at Ohio State, and Ryan Day made his first comments of game week on the Buckeye Roundtable show on Monday night.
A quick roundup of what Day had to say during his weekly appearance on 97.1 The Fan and the Ohio State IMG Sports Network:
- What are you most eager to find out about your football team on Saturday afternoon? “You're going to either look like a champ or look like a chump when you step into that stadium based on your preparation, so that's the focus right now. It's just all about our preparation for Nebraska and making sure that we're ready to go.”
- Day said Monday “was a huge ball security day” as the Buckeyes practiced on a cold, rainy evening.
- “It'll be different,” Day said of playing without fans or many of the other usual gameday elements this season. “We just have to adapt better than our opponent. Is it perfect, is it what we want? No, but it's a season.” He said Ohio State will feel the presence of Buckeye Nation even though fans won't physically be at Ohio Stadium.
- On his coaching staff: “I think we have the best staff in America ... couldn't be prouder of the staff and the way they've handled themselves over this time.” Said the staff has been loyal and compassionate throughout the process, and they've set a great example for the players with how they've taken the protocols seriously and balanced football with the health of their families.
- Day said this whole process has not been easy on the coaches' families, but he gives a lot of credit to the coaches' wives for how well they've handled it.
- Day said he has “nothing but a ton of respect” for Nebraska coach Scott Frost. They were both assistant coaches for Chip Kelly, so they've known each other for a long time. “They're going to come in here and be ready to go.”
- Day said the nerves of anxiety of preparing for a game have really started to kick in, but “that's the best part of college football ... a lot of riding on this game, and a lot of consequences. That's the way you want it.”
