Happy Friday, Eleven Warriors readers.
Today's Skull Session features a lot of Ryan Day-related content. I hope that works for you all. If not, then I don't know what to tell you.
Let's have a good Friday, shall we?
TRIPLE DIGITS. Off the banks of the Olentangy River in Columbus sits the mecca of college football, also known as Ohio Stadium. For 100 years, the Horseshoe has created countless memories for Ohio State sports, primarily of the football variety.
On Oct. 1, the athletic department celebrated the centennial anniversary of the stadium during Ohio State's matchup with Rutgers. However, today is the actual 100th birthday of the House That Harley Built. The Buckeyes played their first-ever game at the Shoe on Oct. 7, 1922 when they earned a 5-0 win over Ohio Wesleyan.
At a press conference before the Rutgers game, Ryan Day was asked about his favorite memories in the Horseshoe. He recalled a few moments through his years with the Ohio State program that he remembers fondly.
.@ryandaytime recalls some of his favorite moments at #TheShoe so far ahead of Saturday's Homecoming game and 100-year celebration of the stadium. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/RmkaiDpQRJ
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) September 27, 2022
Long before Day's comments, Jacob Benge of The Lantern asked several Big Ten coaches about their memories of Ohio Stadium while at Big Ten Media Days in July. Here are some of the best answers:
Tom Allen, Indiana
Ohio State and Indiana most recently played in the 'Shoe during the pandemic-impacted season in 2020 during which games were held without fans.
Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen said Indiana "had a chance at the end to win that game," and added there are still future memories "we're trying to create" at Ohio Stadium.
"You just think tradition. You walk in there and you know all the greats that played there," Allen said. "It's one of the great stadiums in the whole country, so it's pretty cool. Just got to find a way to beat them there."
P.J. Fleck, Minnesota
Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck previously spent time on Ohio State's coaching staff as a graduate assistant under (Jim) Tressel in 2006.
Fleck said the 2006 matchup between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Michigan, often labled as the 'Game of the Century,' brought back his memories in Ohio Stadium.
"We were both undefeated, ranked one or two, at the Horseshoe. I was a little old GA, so I didn't really have a lot of responsibilities," Fleck said. "That was one of the greatest experiences you could have because it was called 'The Game' for a reasons, and it was such a fantastic back-and-forth game."
Jeff Brohm, Purdue
Boliermakers headcoach Jeff Brohm said Ohio State has "tremendous fan support" in addition to its expectation to "go win the national championship" each season. Brohm offered insight into playing a team like Ohio State where expectations among the Buckeyes are high year in and year out.
"You know if you beat them, you're going to have to have everything go the right way, so it's a lot of fun," Brohm said. "It's a lot of fun playing those games You really have nothing to lose, so you just kind of throw some things out there and see how it goes."
Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald said he remembers when a running track lined the circumference of Ohio Stadium, which has been among the changes the 'Shoe has seen over the years.
Fitzgerald said he's been a part of Buckeye game days at the 'Shoe as a fan and called it "the cathedral of college football."
"I just think of the pageantry, the fans. It kind of reminds you still of, like, to watch 'Gladiator.' Kind of one of those Roman colosseums-type feels as you pull up to it," Fitzgerald said. "Not a great time to play because they're outstanding, but it's a great place to play."
A huge Happy Birthday to Ohio Stadium. May it always be the most incredible venue in college sports, and may we all continue to watch games there for the rest of time.
BREAKING THE STIGMA. Regarding mental health advocacy, few coaches in college football have stepped up more than Ryan Day. In recent years, the Ohio State head coach and his wife, Christina, have helped launch several initiatives to break the stigma of mental health and help those who struggle with mental illness:
- The Ryan and Christina Day Fund for Pediatric and Adolescent Mental Wellness at Nationwide Children's
- The Nina and Ryan Day Resilience Fund at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Day's efforts have been magnified as the Big Ten develops its own mental health initiative for student-athletes of the 14 member institutions – one that started in May 2020 after COVID-19 impacted the nation and led to a steep decline in mental health worldwide.
On Thursday, the Big Ten’s official Twitter account tweeted an 85-second clip of Day explaining the reasons behind his goal to break the stigma of mental health and what he's doing to make a difference in that field.
#MentalHealth and eliminating the stigma around mental illness is important to Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day. Here's more about his why
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) October 6, 2022
https://t.co/KJmGUX37rW pic.twitter.com/vWyXpY1Ovo
Cheers to Day and his family for their continued work in mental health advocacy. They encourage me (and hopefully you also) to lean in, learn more and break the stigma surrounding mental illness in our society. I am thankful to have people like that at Ohio State because – as Woody Hayes once said – you win with people, and the Buckeyes are winning as long as they are around.
MIYAN RUINS. First, let me shout out whoever came up with the name for this blurb. Whenever I write about Miyan Williams in my Skull Sessions, I've seen it in the comments section, and it's an absolute home run.
Second, we’ve talked at length about Williams' historic game against Rutgers on Saturday, but now, you can hear about it in his own words. The Ohio State football Twitter account released a video Wednesday of Williams discussing the Buckeye Leaves he earned in Week 5.
:
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 5, 2022
week 05 - @Miyannnn3
#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/nG5k3y3663
I mean, how could you not love this man? His personality meets and perhaps exceeds what he brings to the football field weekly. Just look at his smile as he recalls his record-tying performance against the Scarlet Knights.
Of the comments Williams made in the video, his commentary on the 70-yard touchdown run was the best. That was his favorite play of the game “because everybody didn't think I was that fast.” I don't know about everyone else, but I didn't think Williams was that fast, so his breakthrough for 70 yards and the score was a real treat last weekend.
The best part about Williams' performance is he has seven more regular-season games plus whatever Ohio State plays after that to replicate it. Perhaps it would be best served for Nov. 26, but who is to say?
COMPETITIVE EXCELLENCE. To close a Ryan Day-heavy Skull Session, I'll share a clip from the Ryan Day Radio Show when the Ohio State football lead man was asked how the program treats Friday nights on the road or in Columbus.
Day's answer is pretty cool.
"We're trying to be the best college football team in America" - @ryandaytime
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) October 6, 2022
Coach Day addresses another fan question about what he advises players to do the night before games. pic.twitter.com/RyfQspRlqD
He didn't really answer the question. Actually, he didn't answer the question at all. Day went on a tangent about being the best football team in America. That tells me that Day consistently thinks of being the best and having the Buckeyes on top of their game.
That's what you want from a football coach at Ohio State. Of course, every game matters, but there's something bigger at stake. The Buckeyes are out to prove that they are the best program in the FBS. That quest continues on Saturday against Michigan State.
SONG OF THE DAY. “Dream On” by Aerosmith.
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