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What Ryan Day, Nick Saban said in final press conference before Ohio State-Alabama meet for national championship
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We’re one day away from the national championship. On Monday night, No. 3 Ohio State (7-0) will take on No. 1 Alabama (12-0) to compete for a title.
On Sunday morning, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and Alabama head coach Nick Saban met with reporters for the final time before the two teams meet in Miami on Monday night. While emotions are running high leading up to the biggest game of the season, the two head coaches aren’t providing any bulletin board material for the other team.
The two head coaches were both available at the same time on Sunday morning to preview Monday night’s clash. The Buckeyes got to the title game by defeating Clemson 49-28 in the Sugar Bowl and Alabama beat Notre Dame 31-14 in the Rose Bowl.
Here’s what the two head coaches had to say ahead of Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game:
Nick Saban opens with a statement thanking the #CFBPlayoff organizers, and complimenting the Buckeyes for a great season during a very challenging year for everyone in college football.
— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) January 10, 2021
Ryan Day calls it an honor to be in the #CFBPlayoff National Championship Game and says it will be a great challenge to go up against one of the greatest coaches and programs in college football history.
— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) January 10, 2021
Day says that when you look back in August when their season got canceled, it just emphasizes how chaotic this year has been, and how strong their guys have been.
"At some point we're going to sit back and go through all this stuff."
— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) January 10, 2021
Day says their 2018 recruiting class has really stepped up this season. He says the seniors have been "tremendous" and go down as "one of the more successful groups to go through" and now some of the younger guys are stepping up and making an impact.
— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) January 10, 2021
"You can't be patient, you have to push to get on the field" and a lot of the 2018 class has done that, and as a result, had an opportunity to play in this game.
— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) January 10, 2021
Saban says DB Malachi Moore is pretty questionable for the game. DL Labryan Ray is more likely to play.
— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) January 10, 2021
Saban and Day both say they don't have any superstitions about the coin toss. They have strategies for what they'll do if they win, but let the players call it on their own.
— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) January 10, 2021
Day says regardless of what happens Monday night, you take the next couple weeks to reflect on the season. You can't worry about that now. It would be a distraction.
— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) January 10, 2021
Saban says WR Jaylen Waddle has been practicing, and will be a game-time decision. They'll have to see how he's feeling during pregame warmups, and then make a decision then.
— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) January 10, 2021
Day says it all just comes down to executing your job and being accountable to the guy next to you. The more you prepare, the more you'll be ready to do your job.
They can't get caught up in the hoopla, they have to prepare to be able to play as fast as they can on Monday.
— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) January 10, 2021
Day says Alabama's defense is well-coached and has a powerful front. They have to take things one play at a time, and see how things play out.
The Tide is "as talented an offense and plays as clean" as any he's seen.
— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) January 10, 2021
Ryan Day says the Buckeyes didn't just talk about “getting to the national championship, it's winning the national championship.”
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) January 10, 2021
On Jaylen Waddle, Nick Saban said it will be a “game-time decision” whether he feels like he can contribute and play well.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) January 10, 2021
Ryan Day on Alabama: “They're as talented on offense and play as clean as I've seen.”
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) January 10, 2021
Nick Saban: “Trey Sermon is a really, really good player. Ohio State has a really good offensive scheme.”
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) January 10, 2021
Ryan Day on Alabama running back Najee Harris: “Probably the most versatile guy we'll see all year.”
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) January 10, 2021
Day says "the art of coaching college football is adjusting your scheme to utilize the personnel you have at that moment."
They recruit the best players they can, and then adjust the scheme to capitalize on that. There are certain principles that don't change, but they evolve.
— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) January 10, 2021
Saban says their team has shown a lot of maturity throughout the season. Before the season, they told their team that consistency and performance were going to be key to playing well this season, given all that's happening right now.
— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) January 10, 2021
Nick Saban: "I think our coaching staff has done a really good job working with our players. Sark is the one guy that has shown great maturity, I think, in how he handled his situation. … I have no complaints at all with the way our coaches have handled the situation."
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) January 10, 2021
Nick Saban: "The personality of this team has been really good all year in terms of their buy-in and how they've tried to establish those qualities that make them a good team, and I'm very proud of what this group has been able to accomplish."
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) January 10, 2021
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