Happy Friday, Eleven Warriors readers.
Today’s Skull Session features a lot of Ryan Day related content. I hope that works for all of you. If not, then I don’t know what to tell you.
Let’s have a nice Friday, okay?
TRIPLE DIGITS. On the banks of the Olentangy River in Columbus is the mecca of college football, also known as Ohio Stadium. For 100 years, the horseshoe has created countless memories for Ohio State sports, primarily of the football variety.
On October 1, the athletic department celebrated the stadium’s 100th anniversary during Ohio State’s matchup with Rutgers. However, today is the 100th birthday of the House that Harley built. The Buckeyes played their first game at the Shoe on October 7, 1922 when they posted a 5-0 victory over the Ohio Wesleyan.
At a press conference before the Rutgers game, Ryan Day was asked about his favorite memories at the Horseshoe. He recalled some moments from his years with the Ohio State program that he remembers fondly.
.@ryandaytime remember some of your favorite moments in #The shoe so far before Saturday’s Homecoming game and the stadium’s 100-year celebration. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/RmkaiDpQRJ
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) September 27, 2022
Long before Day’s comments, Jacob Benge from The Lantern I ask various Big Ten coaches about their memories of Ohio Stadium while at Big Ten Media Days in July. Here are some of the best answers:
Tom Allen, Indiana
Ohio State and Indiana recently played at the ‘Shoe during the pandemic-affected 2020 season during which games were held without fans.
Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen said Indiana “had a chance at the end to win that game,” adding that there are still future memories “that we’re trying to create” at Ohio Stadium.
“You just think about the tradition. You go in there and you meet all the greats that played there,” Allen said. “It’s one of the best stadiums in the whole country, so it’s great. I just have to find a way to beat them there.”
PJ Fleck, Minn.
Minnesota head coach PJ Fleck previously spent time on the coaching staff at Ohio State as a graduate assistant to (Jim) Tressel in 2006.
Fleck said the 2006 matchup between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Michigan, often dubbed the “Game of the Century,” brought back memories at Ohio Stadium.
“We were both undefeated, ranked one or two, at the Horseshoe. I was a bit of an old GA, so I didn’t really have a lot of responsibilities,” Fleck said. “That was one of the best experiences you could have because it was called ‘The Game’ for a reason, and it was a fantastic game back and forth.”
Jeff Brohm, Purdue
Boliermakers head coach Jeff Brohm said Ohio State has “tremendous fan support” in addition to their expectation of “going to win the national championship” every season. Brohm offered insight on how to play for a team like Ohio State, where expectations among the Buckeyes are high year after year.
“You know if you beat them, you’re going to have to make it all work out, so it’s a lot of fun,” said Brohm. “It’s a lot of fun to play those games. You really have nothing to lose, so you just throw some stuff in and see how it goes.”
Pat Fitzgerald, Northwest
Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald said he remembers when a running track lined the circumference of Ohio Stadium, which has been one of the changes the ‘Shoe has seen over the years.
Fitzgerald said he has been a part of Buckeye’s playing days at the ‘Shoe as a fan, calling it “the cathedral of college football.”
“I only think about the show, the fans. It still reminds you of, like, watching ‘Gladiator.’ It feels like one of those Roman coliseums when you get up close to it,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s not a good time to play because they’re outstanding, but it’s a great place to play.”
A huge Happy Birthday to Ohio Stadium. May it always be the most amazing place in college sports and may we all continue to watch games there for the rest of time.
BREAKING THE STIGMA. When it comes to mental health advocacy, few coaches in college football have gone a step further than Ryan Day. In recent years, the Ohio State head coach and his wife, Christina, have helped launch several initiatives to break mental health stigma and help those struggling with mental illness:
Day’s efforts have been magnified as the Big Ten develop their own student-athlete mental health initiative of the 14 member institutions, one that began in May 2020 after COVID-19 impacted the nation and led to a sharp decline in mental health worldwide.
On Thursday, the Big Ten’s official Twitter account tweeted an 85-second clip of Day explaining the reasons behind his goal to break the stigma of mental health and what he’s doing to make a difference in the field.
#Mental health and removing the stigma around mental illness is important to Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day. Here’s more on why
https://t.co/KJmGUX37rW pic.twitter.com/vWyXpY1Ovo
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) October 6, 2022
Kudos to Day and his family for their continued work in mental health advocacy. They encourage me (and I hope you too) to support me, learn more, and break the stigma surrounding mental illness in our society. I’m grateful to have people like that at Ohio State because, as Woody Hayes once said, you win with the people, and the Buckeyes are winning as long as they’re around.
RUINS OF MIAN. First, let me shout out to whoever came up with the name of this blurb. Every time I write about Miyan Williams in my Skull Sessions, I’ve seen it in the comments section, and she’s an absolute home run.
Second, we’ve talked extensively about Williams’ historic game against Rutgers on Saturday, but now you can hear it in his own words. The Ohio State football Twitter account posted a video Wednesday of Williams discussing the Buckeye Leaves he won in Week 5.
:
week 05 – @miyannnn3
#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/nG5k3y3663— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 5, 2022
I mean, How not to love this man? His personality meets and perhaps exceeds what he brings to the football field on a weekly basis. Just look at the smile on his face when he remembers his record performance against the Scarlet Knights.
Of the comments Williams made in the video, his comment on the 70-yard touchdown run was the best. That was his favorite move of the game “because no one thought I was that fast.” I don’t know about the others, but I didn’t think Williams was this fast, so his drive for 70 yards and the scoreboard was a real treat last weekend.
The best part of Williams’ performance is that he has seven more regular-season games plus whatever Ohio State plays after that to replicate it. Maybe November 26 would be better, but who’s to say?
COMPETITIVE EXCELLENCE. To close out a Skull Session with Ryan Day, I’ll share a clip from the Ryan’s Day Radio Show when the Ohio State football leader was asked how he treats the show on Friday nights on the road or in Columbus.
Day’s answer is great.
“We’re trying to be the best college football team in America” - @ryandaytime
Coach Day addresses another fan question about what he advises players to do the night before games. pic.twitter.com/RyfQspRlqD— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) October 6, 2022
Didn’t really answer the question. Actually, she didn’t answer the question at all. Day went off on a tangent about being the best soccer team in America. That tells me that Day always thinks about being the best and having the Buckeyes at the top of their game.
That’s what you expect from a football coach at Ohio State. Of course, every game matters, but there is something bigger at stake. The Buckeyes want to prove that they are the best show on FBS. That search continues Saturday against Michigan State.
SONG OF THE DAY. “Dream On” by Aerosmith.
COME TO THE POINT. Man charged with python smuggling in his pants at the US border…College football at 49? North Dakota lineman got things right… MLB crowds jump from ’21, still below pre-pandemic levels… Message in a bottle leads the man to portland writer search… Stunt rider does motorcycle wheelie without hands for 1,904 feet.
