Everyone remember the embrace that Ryan Day and Chip Kelly had at the end of the Penn State game? When I first saw this on TV, I had wondered if this was Ryan Day just excited about the win (coming off the bad Nebraska win), or if a lot of this had to do with him being overjoyed that we were able to play bully ball with Penn State and run the ball at them 11 straight plays on the last drive and they couldn't stop it. It was just a chef's kiss to the win.
Ryan Day and Chip Kelly embrace
What a scene for Ohio State pic.twitter.com/x2hzGMQuAS
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) November 2, 2024
When I saw this, I was extremely happy for him thinking he may have finally figured out his toughness issue, being able to bully a top 5 team by the end of a game, but I was also worried he was going to take this straight to Michigan.
(We were also down a couple guys on the o-line and this is the game that showed where that shift on the left side really seemed to work. This is also before McLaughlin went down)
To further add to this, Ohio State had been preaching the "toughness" mantra all season, even before the season, almost as if they were out to prove a point.
We heard it from James Laurinaitis in the offseason:
Talent doesnt win National Championshipswe have to be the toughest team
-James Laurinaitis pic.twitter.com/Qess40QwlC
— Woody (@woodyVSworld) June 24, 2024
I know there was another coach or player who brought this up before the season, but it is escaping me.
I just hate that they completely went away from what was working for them all season just to try and prove a point.