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Ryan Day explains decision to move Senior Day to season-opener, away from Michigan game
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Ohio State is making a unique change in how it honors its senior class this season, and part of the reason for the decision stems from The Game.
While meeting with media members Saturday, Ryan Day elaborated on the Buckeyes’ choice to hold their Senior Day festivities during the team’s season-opener against Ball State on Saturday, Sept. 5.
The vast majority of college football programs honor their graduating players during the final home game of the season, but with arch rivals Michigan coming to town on Nov. 28, Day wanted to remove some distractions where he could.
“We had long conversations about it, and the traditions here at Ohio State are significant and something we respect,” Day said. “But when we look at all the things that go on that weekend, there’s some things that we thought about. And the first thing was: we want to keep that game, as much of it, on the game. There’s already enough distractions, so this was just one more thing that we could move.”
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Day also cited the ability to fully focus on the rest of the season as another reason why he and the OSU administration decided to open with Senior Day festivities.
“And we also looked at, with the way that college football is now, why don’t be just recognize all the seniors at the beginning of the year?” Day said. “Let them know how much we appreciate everything they’ve done, and then kinda move on with the season. And so we brought it to the seniors, and they all nodded quickly and said it was a great idea.”
The Buckeyes’ opener against Ball State will kick off at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 5, with the game being broadcast by the Big Ten Network.
That clash with Michigan has already been set for a noon ET kickoff on Saturday, Nov. 28.
Parker is currently the sports editor for Gulf Coast Media in Foley, Alabama. He's a graduate from Mizzou who has experience covering the Tiger football and basketball beats for SB Nation, and he's worked for a variety of sports news outlets in the past.