What Ohio State interim head coach Ryan Day said in first media appearance

It’s been a month since any of Ohio State’s coaches have spoken to the media. Since B1G Media Days in July, the program has kept reporters away from the staff as head coach Urban Meyer was being investigated.

That silence was broken on Monday as interim coach Ryan Day and defensive coordinator Greg Schiano met with reporters prior to the Buckeyes’ season opener against Oregon State on Saturday.

As you might have guessed, there were plenty of questions the media had for Day, about how the players have stayed focused, his new temporary role, and this week’s matchup against the Beavers.

Here were some of the highlights from Day’s press conference:

On being named the interim head coach:

"I’ve been taking it day by day.” – Ryan Day.

— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) August 27, 2018

Day on balancing all his responsibilities: "If you saw me at scrimmage, I'm not sure I balanced it all that well. At times it's felt like i've been drinking through a fire hose. But every day it becomes more normal."

— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) August 27, 2018

"My goal in this thing is not to replace coach," Ryan Day said.

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 27, 2018

On the support he’s received from his staff:

Day: "What Greg Schiano and Kevin Wilson have done for me is something I won't forget."

— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) August 27, 2018

Day said he has leaned on Schiano and Wilson "a lot. It has to be the best staff in America."

— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) August 27, 2018

Day said he's relied a lot upon the guidance of his fellow staff members, particularly offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Kevin Wilson, defensive coordinator Greg Schiano and defensive line coach Larry Johnson.

— Andrew Lind (@AndrewMLind) August 27, 2018

On Dwayne Haskins and the quarterback competition:

"Dwayne will start on Saturday and he is the starter, but the plan is for Tate to play," Ryan Day said.

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 27, 2018

Day on QB competition: "Tate made some great progress". Said he really made a push last two weeks and the plan is to play him on Saturday, though Haskins is the starter.

— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) August 27, 2018

Ryan Day on Dwayne Haskins: "Dwayne's done a great job. Along with a lot of other guys, his leadership had to step up, and he's done that."

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 27, 2018

On the Urban Meyer investigation and the adversity the team has faced:

“Our culture is strong. The culture leads.” – Day said team, especially captains, has led way over last few weeks.

— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) August 27, 2018

Ohio State acting coach Ryan Day says the Buckeyes have talked about the "adversity" they face this season. can reveal character. I"f we are an average team, the adversity will crush us," Day said.
"We can actually get better from it."

— Dan Murphy (@DanMurphyESPN) August 27, 2018

"Over the past few weeks, our team has gotten stronger." – Ryan Day

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 27, 2018

Day said two motivations of the team are the brother among the team and the tradition of Ohio State. "The blood runs thick with the scarlet and gray."

— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) August 27, 2018