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Ohio State players have high expectations for Ryan Day
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Replicating the kind of success Urban Meyer had in his seven seasons at Columbus is nearly impossible. The head coach won three B1G titles, a national championship, won at least 11 games every season and was a perfect 7-0 against Michigan.
It’s hard to do much better than that.
But if anyone can live up to that kind of expectation, it’s Ryan Day. Well, at least according to a few Buckeye stars.
“I think he’s going to be a legendary coach like Coach Meyer,” J.K. Dobbins told Letterman Row on Saturday. “He’s a winner. he’s driven. He’s an energetic coach as well. I just think he has all the tools to be a great coach.”
There’s plenty of excitement surrounding Ohio State’s decision to hire Day, particularly because of the offensive success the Buckeyes experienced this fall. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins led the nation with 4,580 passing yards and 47 touchdown passes, leading one of the country’s most explosive units.
Ohio State also went 3-0 with Day serving as the interim head coach during Meyer’s suspension. That brief stretch put the offensive coordinator on the list for several athletic directors looking to change directions with their football programs.
“I feel like there’s not going to be a drop-off,” K.J. Hill said. “You just see [Meyer] teaching him the ropes, kind of. Coach Day walks around with him at practice and they’re always talking. He’s showing him how it’s going to be. What to do, everything like that. Coach Meyer is doing a good job with him.”
Day’s duties as head coach will begin immediately following the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, though he’s already been out on the recruiting trail. But in just a few days, the program will officially have a new leader.
The goals, however, are going to be the same. Dobbins knows that his new head coach has the same aspirations as Meyer.
“[Day] is all about being great.”
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB