The crowd’s initial “I-O” response to Keenan Bailey’s “O-H” at Saturday’s Skull Session wasn’t loud enough for the Ohio State tight ends coach’s liking.
“That might have been good enough for August or September, but it’s November in Columbus, Ohio,” Bailey said before prompting a louder “I-O” response with his second “O-H.”
As the Ohio Stadium environment has drawn scrutiny this season for not being as loud as it should be with 100,000+ people in the stands, Bailey implored Ohio State fans to change that during Saturday’s game against Purdue.
“Why don’t we make the Shoe the hardest place to play in college football in November?” Bailey said. “Don’t wait ’til third down to stand up, don‘t wait ’til the first touchdown to get loud. From the first snap today against Purdue, until the end of the month, until the last snap against that team up north, we need to feel you in November.”
Bailey was one of three speakers at Saturday’s Skull Session at St. John Arena along with tight end Gee Scott Jr. and head coach Ryan Day. Both Bailey and Scott promised that Ohio State fans will see a fast, violent and physical team on the field against the Boilermakers.
“It’s about us. It doesn’t matter who’s on the other side of the field,” Scott said. “I can’t promise you guys an exact score, but I can promise you one thing: You’re getting ready to witness the fastest, most violent and most dominant team in college football.”
Bailey said “the challenge all week has been simple: To be your very best in November when it matters most.” Day said the Buckeyes are driven to dominate the month after starting November with a road win over Penn State last weekend.
“We want to be playing our best in November. We want to be undefeated in November. We want to be undefeated at home. And we gotta be different. But you know what? Being a Buckeye is different,” Day said. “This team right here is different, and they understand what it means to be a Buckeye ... They have loyalty. They have toughness. They have work ethic. They have resilience. They have perseverance. And they have pride.”
