Ryan Day can't coach the team this weekend or be physically present at practice, but he still took the time to provide some final updates before the Buckeyes head to East Lansing to take on Michigan State.
On his weekly radio show appearance with 97.1 The Fan, Day gave some insight on how he's been coaching the team virtually, discussed what he'll do during the game this week, and talked about some of the frustrations of this season, while previewing this week's game against the Spartans.
Day was also joined by offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and acting head coach Larry Johnson for the latter half of the radio show.
Ryan Day
On not being able to be with the team
- "It's been a tough week. It's certainly been a frustrating week.”
- "We're trying to do the best we can."
- Day said he's still helping coach practice and can get video in almost real-time.
- "We're having our normal staff meeting at the normal time."
- "Certainly not the same as being there, but we're trying to do the best we can."
On the players who did test positive
- "We haven't had anybody who's needed to be hospitalized or need any type of medical treatment."
- Day said some of the players have symptoms but none are severe.
- "For the most part, guys are resting comfortably.
On what he will do during the game
- "I'll be watching and communicating up until game time."
- Day said once the game starts, he has to let the coaches coach and the players play.
- "It will probably be the hardest three hours of my life."
On the positive tests
- "It was a tough weekend."
- "Things kind of happened fast and furious."
- Day said there was concern about being able to play this week, but the tests came back good.
On the response from the players
- "The players getting ready for a game and then all of the sudden having the game taken away – that hurts."
- Day praised the leadership of the team.
- "I don't think they're getting nearly enough credit for doing that."
- "The leadership these guys have shown being down players, being down some staff..."
On the offense
- "Every year, you find out what your team can do well, in all phases."
- Day said they're starting to figure out how the offensive players work together.
- Day mentioned that they're starting to figure out how to work with Master Teague's skillset.
On Michigan State
- "I think they're a team that's getting stronger as the year goes on."
- Day said the first couple of games, it looked like Michigan State was trying to learn a new system.
- "They're playing really good defense."
- Day called the Spartan defense "technically sound football players" who don't give up big plays.
- "They're dangerous this time of year."
- "If we don't play really, really well and take care of the ball, we'll be in a dog fight into the fourth quarter."
What was the most challenging thing about having to pause practice and cancel a game?
- "Probably just another disappointment to our team."
- "To say it's just okay and we'll get over it just isn't fair."
- "When those games are taken away, it's hard to create that momentum again."
On the difficulties of this season
- "Going through this time, it reveals exactly who you are. It exposes your character."
- Day said it's been great to see players just continue to push forward.
- "I'll just tell you right now, we have a strong team."
On coaching duties
- "Larry will be the head coach. Ultimately he'll have the final decisions."
- Day said Kevin Wilson will also have some input.
- "At the end of the day, Larry will have the final say."
- Day said Kerry Coombs will still coordinate the defense and Kevin Wilson will still run the offense.
- Day said Kevin Wilson will be down on the field "for a lot of reasons" and will not be in the box.
On wearing the white uniforms this week
- Day said the players wanted to wear the all-whites this week, so they will.
- "They didn't want to waste the opportunity to wear the white ones."
- "It'll be cold Saturday, so maybe that will be the right opportunity to pull them out."
What has changed in Michigan State?
- "I just think guys are more comfortable in their scheme."
- "When you're doing something new, it just takes time."
- "The more they play, the more comfortable they are in these new things."
Kevin Wilson
On the tough season
- "That's kind of been the whole year – from not knowing what Zoom was to being burnt out on it."
- Wilson said "life doesn't always go the way you think it's going to go."
- Wilson said the key is to stay positive.
On coaching from the sideline instead of the press box
- "Thanks for reminding me of that. I gotta get my foot warmers, I guess."
- "I think to be able to look at Justin in his eyes and get a feel for what he likes or doesn't like."
- "I think that was important to Ryan, to be down there."
- Wilson said it is a little calmer in the press box and the view isn't as good, so he'll have to get some insight from the coaches in the box.
On Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson
- "No doubt. Chris is one of the best I've ever been around, the way he's maturing and trying to lead the offense."
- "He's a great player, and one of our great leaders," Wilson continued on Olave.
- "Garrett has an outstanding skillset," Wilson said on Garrett Wilson
- “He's still working on consistency to become what I think can be a really high-end, elite player, but his skill set's really good,” Wilson said of Garrett Wilson
On the tight ends
- "Sometimes in the progression, maybe we're third or fourth in the progression."
- Wilson notes that the tight ends never get stats.
- "In my opinion, when the tight end group is good, it really balances the offense."
- "It's the best group I've ever coached. I'm proud of those guys."
Larry Johnson
On having coaches around him
- "That was the mindset in the beginning – it's not going to be just me."
- "We're not just going to make one decision. They'll be collective decisions."
- "I feel really good going into the game, because we have a very experienced coaching staff.”
- "It will be all of us trying to get a win in East Lansing."
On Jonathon Cooper
- "He's a very powerful guy."
- "He's having a great season. You want to see that from your fifth-year player."
- "He's practiced well every single day, and he's playing that way as well."
- "My hat's off to him."
