Skull Session: Ohio State's Culture Has Led to Recruiting Success, Gene Smith Has No Plans to Retire and Archie Griffin is One of a Kind

Welcome to the Skull Session.

Drink lots of water today.

earn everything. pic.twitter.com/MjywWepg0N
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) July 3, 2023

Let's have a good Wednesday, shall we?

OHIO STATE'S CULTURE. Whenever Ryan Day has appeared in the media this offseason – with Chris Holtmann on More Than Coach Speak, J.D. PicKell of On3, Heather Dinich and Greg McElroy of ESPN, or with Archie Griffin on "Tradition Talk" – the Ohio State head coach has carried one word with him from conversation to conversation: Culture.

Culture is why Day believes Ohio State will be successful in 2023 and the future, as recruits – such as five-stars Jeremiah Smith, Mylan Graham, Air Noland and Justin Scott – have noticed the kind of program Day, his staff and players have created in his first four years as leader of the program.

From McElroy's Always College Football podcast:

"When you come to Ohio State, you have to think big. Ohio State is big. The possibilities are big. The opportunity is big. It’s exciting to be part of a program like you said that recruits nationally, that has the biggest fan base in college football, but also has a culture that guys like being in the facility every day, like coming into the Woody and competing at the highest level. ... We develop at a high level, certainly. We have our team goals, but it’s OK to have personal goals, too. And we celebrate the development of our players, certainly the ones that go on to to go on to the NFL and then not only get drafted at a high level, but also do well once they’re there. A lot of recruits and families come in to Columbus, and they’re surprised by what a great town it is. Over 2 million people – it's bursting at the seams. The plans are that probably there’s going to be close to 3 million people [that will come] here in the next 10 years. Between the city of Columbus, the projection of the program, and then our culture here, folks are really excited about recruiting and that’s why it’s going so well."

And from Eleven Warriors' coverage of Ohio State's "Tradition Talk" series, where Day explained to Griffin why he chose to coach for the Buckeyes in 2017:

"Competing at the highest level," Day said of why he came to Columbus. "It doesn't get any bigger than Ohio State – to chase that one percent, the stakes are high and you are relevant. It means everything is on the line. If you are the ultimate competitor, that is what attracts you. That adrenaline rush of playing in these kinds of environments and being around that.

"The other part of it is that you don't have to compromise at Ohio State to be the best in the world at what you do. I've learned the kind of recruits we attract and the people here. There is a great feeling of support here. They love the Buckeyes. ... But if I had to say the first reason I came here was to be the best in the world at what you do, and there's no better stage than Ohio State."

...

"We have a lot of work to be done. We have a lot of goals to be accomplished this year. But the culture right now – where our team is at, the leadership and the kind of folks who are in the program right now – it's a good group, a special group. When you get around these players, coaches and staff, we have something special going. I am excited about this season, but as we know, we are measured by that rivalry game and winning it all, winning championships. We are embracing that. We have had a great offseason. We've worked hard."

Day understands that culture matters. And that's rare in the transfer portal and name, image and likeness era. As one of college football's top programs, it would have been easy for the Buckeyes to fall off a cliff, culturally speaking, and follow suit with other schools that have sold their souls for a chance at success (see: Miami (FL), Texas A&M, Oregon, etc.).

Still, culture only matters to Ohio State fans if it leads to regular-season wins, conference championships and, most importantly, College Football Playoff titles. Day has accomplished the first two feats after four seasons, but the third has eluded him. But with his culture-first mindset, it will come around eventually – hopefully sooner rather than later.

"I'M HEALTHY. I'M HAVING FUN." Gene Smith has been Ohio State's athletic director since 2005 and is the third-longest tenured AD in the nation, according to a recent report from The Athletic. And even at 67 years old, Smith has no plans to retire from his position soon.

In a recent Q&A with The Columbus Dispatch, Smith talked with Bill Rabinowitz and Joey Kaufman about Ohio State's rivalry with Michigan, the future of St. John Arena, the current landscape of NIL and other topics. Among those questions, Rabinowitz and Kaufman asked Smith point blank, "Do you think about retirement?"

Here was Smith's answer:

A: I'm healthy. I'm having fun. I enjoy what I do. When you look back at this year, there are so many exemplars you feel good about it. I want to chase some things. We're so close to winning the Director's Cup (annual all-sports award for the top athletic department). We ended up third this year. We’ve been second three times since I’ve been here. When you look at the academics, the performance of our kids is unbelievable. We had 191 graduates in May, and 95% of them already had jobs. Forty-one percent are going to graduate school. Our goal was to get to 95% (graduation). We finally got there. So they know before they walk across the stage what they’re going to do. Those things drive me, though most people don’t know that. I had a call with (former wide receiver) DeVier Posey. I just had a call with Cris Carter. I got a call with Sevyn Banks. It's just helping. I love that stuff. I don’t know when I’m going to retire. I have no clue. CEOs I’m blessed to work with who are retired told me I’ll know. There’s a time for leadership. They’ve told me you’ll know when it’s time for new leadership. Certainly, health and family stuff may take you away, but they also say you’ll know. Who knows? They may tell me it’s time.

First, I have to mention the Sevyn Banks shout-out. Incredible stuff.

But in all seriousness, Smith has been good for Ohio State in his 18 years as athletic director for the Buckeyes. In that time, he has helped improve the school's academic profile, overseen the construction of the Covelli Center, Ty Tucker Tennis Center, Schumaker Complex and Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium, among other venues, and advocated for Ohio State on several national committees.

That said, Smith – as far as I am concerned – has earned the right to walk away when he sees fit. It doesn't look like that will happen for a long time, and that's fine by me.

OH, ARCHIE. Earlier in the Skull Session, I included Day and Griffin's appearances in the latest episode of the Buckeyes' "Tradition Talk" series. Looking back on the conversation between the Ohio State head coach and college football legend, I am in awe of how Griffin's explained his decision to attend Ohio State in 1972.

"First, the fact that I received a quality education here was very important because that's what I came to school to do. Football was a vehicle I used to receive the college education that I wanted," Griffin said. "Also, the opportunity to play in Ohio Stadium was tremendous. I'll never forget the first time walking out on that field and seeing the 86,000 people there. It was an awesome, awesome feeling. During my time, we never lost a game in Ohio Stadium. To me, that is something I am most proud of. We went four years without losing in that stadium... or to 'That Team Up North,' we didn't lose to them."

Let me repeat Griffin's words: "Football was a vehicle I used to receive the college education that I wanted."

Griffin, a running back who collected 5,939 yards and 27 touchdowns at Ohio State and is college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner, said football was a vehicle to receive the education he wanted. In the most Archie Griffin way possible, he talks about his achievements, which also include two Walter Camp Awards, two Sporting News Player of the Year honors and two UPI Player of the Year accolades, as if they were all side quests to his academic endeavors.

That's incredible.

They don't make 'em like Archie Griffin anymore. He is one of a kind.

NOTRE DAME IN SHAMBLES. In Pete Sampson's latest article for The Athletic, the Notre Dame beat reporter fielded a question from "Nick B." who asked if the Irish faithful should be concerned about an Ohio State takeover in Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 23.

The short answer to that question is, "Yes. Yes, you should." But Sampson had a more drawn-out answer than that. Here is what he wrote in response to Nick's frazzled question:

Q: Do you have any worries about an Ohio State takeover of Notre Dame Stadium à la 2017 Georgia? And if so, does the athletic department have a plan to try to limit it? I have my fears — the Ohio State fan base travels very well, it’s not a far trip from Columbus and many in Ohio have an appreciation for Notre Dame’s place in CFB lore even if they don’t root for it. Plus, bright red colors that will make it look even more pronounced on TV. — Nick B.

A: That’s a story I plan to pursue in more detail in September, but the athletic department absolutely has concerns about the stadium turning red on Sept. 23. I would describe the approach to a takeover being one more of a damage limitation than solving the problem outright. The inability for Ohio State fans to buy tickets directly from Notre Dame or even ticket brokers to really get them could be an important step. Tickets for Ohio State were never made available to the general public, which was a priority.

I did talk to athletic director Jack Swarbrick about it last week during a one-on-one interview. He’s not in charge of the solution to keep the red out, per se, but he’s made it a priority. Here’s a small part of what he said about the issue.

“Part of it is the one-off (schedule agreement), part of it is the color as silly as that sounds. It is what it is. But I’m hoping that the steps we are taking and the enthusiasm around this team will hold it down,” Swarbrick said. “But believe me, we talk about it constantly. We strategize, we talk to our ticket partners about strategies we might use. It’s not about accepting it.”

Not that Swarbrick came out and said this, but the Georgia experience should have been embarrassing for Notre Dame and Notre Dame’s fan base. Ultimately, it was Notre Dame fans who sold their tickets to Georgia fans, not that Notre Dame’s ticket office made those tickets too available to Georgia fans. I was told recruits were taken aback by the scene and one family even asked Brian Kelly about it and what it said about Notre Dame’s fan support.

Oh, I love this.

Notre Dame has seemingly pulled out all the stops to "keep the ~~red~~ scarlet out" of its stadium in two months. A "Green Out" for the fans, green uniforms for the team, an announcement that the matchup will be a sellout with mostly Irish fans in attendance – all that good stuff. But let's be honest. None of that will matter.

Ohio State travels better than any program in America. It is a Buckeye Nation, after all. When Sept. 23 arrives, South Bend, Indiana, will be crawling with Ohio State fans wearing scarlet. Before kickoff, Buckeye fans inside Notre Dame Stadium will roar an "O-H-I-O" chant. And after kickoff, there will be more cheers for an Ohio State third-down stop than a Notre Dame touchdown. That's how it will go. That's how it always goes.

I can't wait for Ohio State to face Notre Dame in Week 4. It will be the Buckeyes' first true test of the 2023 season. There, we will see what Day and Co. are made of, and they'll do it in front of a ton of Ohio State fans who traveled to The Crossroads of America.

SONG OF THE DAY. "Fine By Me" by Andy Grammer.