Ohio State coach Ryan Day addresses K'Vaughan Pope situation after Akron game
Ohio State defeated Akron 59-7 on Saturday night, but it wasn’t without some off-the-field drama.
Senior linebacker K’Vaughan Pope abruptly left the sideline just before the first half of Ohio State’s game vs. the Zips. He got into a heated altercation before having to be escorted off the field.
He later fired off multiple tweets showing his frustration and seemingly indicated that he was leaving the program.
After the game, coach Ryan Day said he didn’t have enough details on the situation yet.
Day on K'Vaughan Pope: "I'm going to get the details before I say anything."
Sports Betting in Big Ten Country
Sports betting in Ohio is officially launching on January 1, 2023.
Pre-registration is now available at FanDuel Ohio for an extra $100 bonus. Take advantage now.
21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) September 26, 2021
However, he did say he believes that Pope’s outburst was a reflection of his frustration with playing time.
Day said he doesn't believe the Pope incident is indicative of a larger problem with the team. Said he believes it stems from playing time and the frustration that kicks in when players don't get it.
— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) September 26, 2021
Day did not commit to whether or not Pope would be a member of the Buckeyes moving forward.
Day, asked directly whether Pope is still a member of the Ohio State team, reiterates that he has to review everything since the game just ended.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 26, 2021
Ohio State dominated Akron from start to finish on Saturday night, as true freshman quarterback Kyle McCord made his first career start and threw 2 touchdowns.
The Buckeyes travel to Rutgers in Week 5.