Ryan Day Radio Show: Ryan Day Wants to Win The Game For His Players, Says the Buckeyes Need to “Come Out of the Gate Fast” Against Michigan

The sixth-year head coach continued to use that imagery in his appearance on The Ryan Day Radio Show this week, describing how the Buckeyes will approach their battle with the Wolverines on Saturday.

"It's like going to war. You only pack what you need," he said. "You don't need all the other stuff in that backpack. You take what you need. What you use best – whatever weapons you use best – that's what you bring to war."

Day said he wants to win The Game for his players this weekend, especially Ohio State's seniors who have played their entire careers without winning a pair of Gold Pants. He also said that "situational football becomes critical" against Michigan, that Will Howard "wants to win this one in the worst way," and more.

After Day's appearance, linebackers coach James Laurinaitis and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles answered questions on the broadcast.

Ryan Day

On preparation for the Michigan game

• "It's a busy week. We got a lot going on here."
• "We build all the way to this game."
• "This is where we start every year."

On starting fast against Michigan

• "It's gonna be important to come out of the gate fast."
• "You got to maximize every single moment."
• Day said Ohio State wants a "fast start in this game." He wants the Buckeyes to execute well at the start of the game and continue doing that quarter after quarter.

On Carnell Tate

• "Carnell is a major weapon for us."
• "We're gonna need him to play good in this game."
• "Everybody is involved in this thing."

On the environment at Ohio Stadium for the Indiana game

• "The players fed off the crowd, but I also think the crowd fed off the players."
• "I know the crowd will bring it," Day said of the Michigan game.
• Day asked Ohio State fans to arrive early and be loud for all four quarters of the Buckeyes' game against the Wolverines.

On Ohio State celebrating Senior Day

• Day thanked Ohio State's seniors for their hard work over the years as Buckeyes.
• "A big day for everybody."
• Day said the Buckeyes needs to play with emotion but not let emotion play with them this weekend.
• Day said he doesn't "want to see any tears" from the seniors as they run out of the tunnel on Saturday.

On Will Howard

• "He wants to win this one in the worst way."
• "I have been very impressed with his leadership, with his intensity, with his competitiveness, with his positivity."
• "He's got an energy about him."

On TreVeyon Henderson

• "He's playing at his best now."
• "He has really made giant improvements, in my opinion, as a player in all three phases as a route runner, in protection and also running the football. You're seeing it now. I think he's become a strong, strong leader for us on offense as well."
• Day said Ohio State will lean on Henderson and Quinshon Judkins this weekend to run well and take care of the football.

On situational football in The Game

• "In this game, situational football becomes critical."
• "Our guys don't need to do anything extraordinary other than exactly what they've done at the highest level possible."
• Day said Ohio State built its foundation for this game in the offseason, in the preseason and the first 13 weeks of the regular season. "You trust the training up to this point... and then you play as hard as you can for your brother."
• Day said his message to the team on Sunday was, "If you've been in this game, then you know. If you haven't been in this game, you don't know. That's the only way I can put it." Day said it's important that those who have played in The Game lead the way this weekend.

On Emeka Egbuka, his touchdown vs. Indiana

• Day said Howard's touchdown pass to Egbuka was tipped before it reached Egbuka's hands. He complimented Egbuka for having enough concentration to still make the catch.
• "That was the exact look that we practiced all week."
• "We're gonna have to be good in the red area (against Michigan)."

On Ohio State finding balance offensively

• "This time of year, you gotta play and do what you know, but you also gotta have curveballs along the way. ... Trying to find that balance is critically important."
• "But only pack what you need in a game like this. It's like going to war. You only pack what you need. You don't need all the other stuff in that backpack. You take what you need. What you use best — whatever weapons you use best – that's what you bring to war."

On the weather for the Michigan game

• "It's the same for both teams."
• "I think it's gonna be around 20 degrees or so, and that's gonna be by far the coldest game we've played in all year, but you make adjustments."
• "You figure it out."
• "Both teams gotta play in it."

On Davison Igbinosun, his pass interference penalties

• "A couple of those were certainly very, very close."
• "We gotta do a better job in the backend."
• Day said Igbinosun has been working with Tim Walton to keep himself from committing pass interference penalties. "Nobody wants it to stop more than IGB. ... But we gotta be smart with those. Penalties will be critical. Those are all the hidden yards. I love the effort... but we certainly can't have penalties that get us derailed in this game."

On Ohio State's offensive line

• Day said Donovan Jackson and Josh Fryar have been excellent leaders after Ohio State lost Josh Simmons and Seth McLaughlin to season-ending injuries. "Those guys have been great."
• "Carson has stepped up when he's had to this year."
• "Tegra has gotta be solid in this game."
• "Austin has got a great opportunity now as a starter in this game."

On winning The Game for his players

• "I want to win it for them. That's what this is all about."
• "There are a lot of guys on this team that care about each other, coaches and players included."
• "That's all you can do is focus on what you can control."
• "You can feel that this team is close – the coaching staff is close, the team is close. We're counting on that to make a difference on Saturday."
• When asked if he wanted to make any more guarantees after Caleb Downs fulfilled his return touchdown guarantee from before the season, Day replied: "No more guarantees other than we're just gonna play our tails off as hard as we can, have a good week of practice and get after it on Saturday."

James Laurinaitis

On preparation for the Michigan game

• Laurinaitis said Ohio State's players understand what's at stake this weekend.
• Laurinaitis said Ohio State has to prepare as it has all season long before it faces Michigan. "You do the same stuff you've been doing. You just know that the physicality and intensity of the game... you have to go through that... it's just different."

On coaching the linebacker room before this game

• "Thankfully, for us, we have a very veteran room. When you're coaching guys like Cody Simon and Sonny Styles, who are complete pros, they get it. The intensity part is all there."
• Laurinaitis said he doesn't have to remind Simon and Styles how hard they need to play this weekend. "It's reminding them how important it is to run to the football."

On Cody Simon

• "Man, he's been playing really well." 
• "I just love how unselfish Cody Simon is."
• Laurinaitis said he's thankful Simon decided to come back for another season. He's always respected Simon, even when he was a graduate assistant at Notre Dame.

Jim Knowles

On Ohio State's defense starting fast

• "We'd like to do better early, that's for sure."
• "But I think you can see how we can adapt and adjust."
• "Ultimately, to win games, that's the most important things."

On mixing up looks for Ohio State's defense

• "We like to do that. We like to have a lot of disguise."
• "But, you know, we have good players, too. You don't want to put them out of position. ... We like to do it. We try to blend it in."
• "But ultimately, you have to have your feet set, and you gotta be ready to play physical and fast when it comes down to it."

On Ohio State's linebackers

• Knowles called Simon a "field general" for the defense.
• Knowles continues to see great strides out of Sonny Styles.
• Knowles complimented Arvell Reese at the end of his appearance. "He's had some good games as of late. He's still growing. I think he's gonna be a great one.