Urban Meyer did a lot of small things that sometimes went unnoticed by fans (at least, in the grand scheme of things).
With a new coach comes large changes, but with a new coach also comes small changes. Ryan Day comes into Columbus with three games under his belt as a head coach, all last year while Meyer was serving his university-given suspension for how he handled the Zach Smith situation.
Now, Day has the program to himself and it is his to run as he pleases. With that, he is going to make some small changes that could pay big dividends in the end.
We will start with the off-field changes.
It seems as though he has already started that. While Meyer was known as "robotic" sometimes and not exactly a "player's coach," treating the program like a corporation a lot of the time, Day has strived to create a "family" atmosphere early in his tenure.
Ryan Day said renovations to his office at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center include couches, a fireplace and a television because he wants players to feel comfortable coming in there and hanging out.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) July 18, 2019
Now, you may say "who wouldn't want a couch, a fireplace, and a television in their office?" and you'd be right to say that. Most people would want that in their office. But what seems like a small thing could be big. And recruits (and their parents) already took notice of this.
Felt like I was in his living room when I was in there talking to him
— Gee Scott (@GeeScottSr) July 18, 2019
On the recruiting trail, and even when the players already sign their letter of intent and arrive on campus, you need to make them feel comfortable. And any way that you can do that is a good way.
Another way Day is doing that is by making a commitment to breaking the stigmas surrounding mental health, creating the Ryan and Christina Day Fund for Pediatric and Adolescent Mental Wellness at Nationwide Children's Hospital and personally committing $100,000 to the fund.
Ryan Day says he realizes that mental illness is no less of an illness than cancer is, but it is still stigmatized. He wants to do his part to erase that stigma. That includes both the charity work he announced today, and he will make his players' mental health a priority.
— News Radio 610 WTVN (@610wtvnnews) June 5, 2019
On the field, there are changes to be made as well. Ohio State was known as a run-first offense with Meyer a majority of the times, in part due to the types of players that he recruited/played: Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett were run-first quarterbacks, and when you have a running back that is as talented as Ezekiel Elliott, you don't waste it.
Day has been clear that he is recruiting pro-style quarterbacks. Ohio State's 2020 commit, Jack Miller, and 2021 pledge, Kyle McCord, are both four-star pro-style quarterbacks.
Now, that part isn't exactly subtle, but the part that is comes from the supporting cast: Day and Ohio State will now try to compliment a pass-first offense, rather than a run-first offense, which means you will see different types of players being recruited. Eventually, this will lead to a big shift on the field, one that you saw glimpses of last year with Dwayne Haskins.
Changes have also been made on the defensive side of the ball. With new coordinators come new schemes, and you'll see a lot of subtle changes on the defensive side of the ball, including the "bullet" position, a hybrid between a safety and a linebacker.
Now, as Day looks to continue putting his own stamp on the program, I have to make one final plea to Ryan Day: NO MORE "It's Time For War" before the Michigan game. CHANGE IT UP!
