With campus shut down due to the coronavirus outbreak, Ohio State football coach Ryan Day and basketball coach Chris Holtmann both took to Twitter from their family homes on Wednesday to share advice and encouragement with the community.
Day advised listeners to “take this very, very seriously,” thanked medical professionals for their efforts to combat the coronavirus and encouraged the community to support each other during a trying time.
“I just wanted to give a message to everybody to let them know that we're in this thing together,” Day said. “Although a lot of us and our loved ones are going to be affected by this physically, mentally and financially, we are in this thing together. And times like this, this is when we need to come together even more.
“Even though we may be in isolation or quarantined, Buckeye Nation is strong and we're going to get through this together.”
Fight!! pic.twitter.com/tOkmZms9aY
— Ryan Day (@ryandaytime) March 18, 2020
Holtmann, joined by his daughter Nora, encouraged Ohio State fans to practice social distancing, wash their hands and find ways to help those who are most vulnerable, while he also thanked the medical community for their efforts.
Although we must keep our distance lets all work as one!
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) March 18, 2020
Be Safe. Be Kind. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/eqBhc2ouom
Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith also shared a message with the community on Tuesday evening, in which he shared updates on what Ohio State is doing to combat the coronavirus outbreak and to keep their student-athletes and staff as safe as possible.
Message from @OSU_AD
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) March 17, 2020
All steps are being put into place to assure we are protecting the health and well-being of those we serve and help as many people as we can.
Be Safe. Be Kind. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/y1FdlH2yFc
“What's been most important to us is the health and well-being of everyone that we have the blessing to work with each day,” Smith said. “We've been trying to implement tactics and strategies and policies and procedures to make sure that our students at the university and our student-athletes are safe.
“Please be patient with us. I want to thank you again for your support. We're going to do everything that we can to be part of our society in a positive ways, and make sure that we protect as many people as we can during this unbelievable challenge.”
