Ohio State HC Ryan Day spoke with reporters in Columbus on Tuesday to preview The Game. His undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes will travel to Ann Arbor this weekend with hopes of snapping a two-game losing streak against Michigan.
Here is what Ryan Day said about the Wolverines and the rivalry. For a full video of his remarks, check out our colleagues over at Bucknuts:
On Ohio State keeping its composure in a big rivalry game:
I think that’s important. You have to play with emotion; you can’t let emotion play with you. I think that’s important. You have your emotions in check, which isn’t easy in a game like this, because we all know the magnitude of it all. But it’s something that we identified in the offseason and we’ll talk about this week.
On the Ohio State run game’s evolvement throughout the year:
Gonna keep getting tested, but I feel like we’ve made some progress in different areas. I think, certainly, Trey [Treveyon Henderson] coming back has made a big impact on that but everybody is involved with it. It’s balanced. But I think identifying each week what’s worked for us and what hasn’t and fixing those things — just over time, getting better. I think the infusion of Trey has certainly helped.
On when he first grasped the magnitude of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry:
I just think every year you just learn more and more. This will be my sixth time in The Game. You learn quickly when you’re here, but each year you learn more and it has more of a significant impact on you as a person. I think all of our guys, when they come here — whether it’s a coach or a player — they’re here for one reason, to win that game. Every year that you’re here, you learn that more and more. But shoot: My youngest daughter doesn’t know any place other than Ohio. This means the world to me and my family.
On what he remembers about recruiting J.J. McCarthy, and why the Buckeyes ultimately chose Kyle McCord:
There’s all kinds of things that lead into recruiting. J.J. was always great. He was very respectful. He was a very competitive player, and got a lot of respect for him as a player and as a person. During the recruiting cycle, you spend time with different people and different folks, and you learn about people. Again, all my interactions with he and his family were very classy.
On if the Michigan game this year is personal for him
Not that it’s easy, but the only thing that matters is this game, is this team, is preparing. The rest of it doesn’t matter, so that’s what we have to do. We have got to stay disciplined enough to focus on that. And it goes back to the conversation about emotion, letting emotion of the game or everything get in the way — we can’t do that. And every year you learn more and more about this game and the preparation for it. We’re not gonna let any of that stuff get in our way in terms of distractions. We’re just gonna focus on this team, this season and preparing the best we possibly can.
On if there has been a loss of respect in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, and his reaction to that sentiment:
I was taught that the way you respect the rivalry is to work it every day. Whether it’s in the weight room, whether it’s game planning, talking to your players, periods in practice during the spring, periods in practice in the preseason, and that’s it. We do. We respect the rivalry, and certainly excited to play here on Saturday.
On the importance of establishing the run game against Michigan:
It’s extremely important. Yeah. There’s a lot of things that are important, but that’s certainly extremely high on the list.
On executing in the red zone against Michigan:
Well first off, they haven’t had very many snaps down there, so there’s not a ton to go off of. But every yard is worth two or three down there, and you gotta do a great job of execution. The field gets smaller. We call it the 12th defender is that end line, and so you’ve just got to operate in a smaller area. And so you’ve got to be efficient. But that’ll be another situation that’ll be huge in the game — those four-point plays where you’re either kicking field goals or scoring touchdowns on both sides of the ball.
On if he respects Jim Harbaugh and his staff:
With everything going on, and the things that are out there, we’ve just kind of stayed away from all the distractions. We have. And just focused on our team. And I think our guys have done a good job of it.
When you talk to our guys, I’ve talked to them a couple times about what’s gone on this season and going into The Game. But they’re focused on this game, they’re focused on this season, they’re focused on their preparation, and we’re just going to continue on that.
On if he has talked to the Buckeyes about handling the Michigan Stadium tunnel:
We’ve had conversations already. Folks have been talking about it here for a couple weeks and putting some good plans together to make sure we can focus on what matters, and that’s getting on the field and playing football.
On if he thinks the importance of The Game will decrease as the college football world changes next year:
I’m sure there’ll always be just as much on the line when these two teams play. Certainly, it’ll be different, but I don’t think it’ll change anything just on the format. It’s always gonna be this way. The format certainly will change next year, but I don’t think the rivalry will ever be anything less than it is right now.
On his confidence in the Ohio State offensive line:
You’re seeing improvement every week. You’re seeing a group that works together. You’re seeing progressions individually and as a unit. They’re gonna do a great job today of getting out there on Tuesday practice and working at their craft and preparing to go play at a high level and then go compete for four quarters. Week in and week out, we come in and we talk about the progress in different areas, and I think you’ve seen it in that area. I think their confidence is as high as it’s been all season.
On expectations for the Ohio State defense given the last two Michigan games:
Same thing: Adjustments need to be made, not just this year, but the year before as well. Here we are. We gotta go put it on the field. But I think you’re gonna see a confident group going out there.
On Michigan and Ohio State both being relatively untested this late in the year:
I feel like we’ve been tested at different times this year.