Ohio State’s Ryan Day ‘third base’ story, CFP expansion headline college football mailbag
The narrative that Ryan Day’s career began on third base discounts his achievements as an offensive coordinator and quarterback developer before he succeeded Urban Meyer as Ohio State’s coach. Day earned Chip Kelly’s respect while starring for him as New Hampshire’s record-breaking quarterback, then caught Meyer’s eye as a Florida graduate assistant. Within a coaching industry where nepo babies are unmissable, Day didn’t gain that shortcut.
But, even to the extent that “third base” narrative rings true by Day landing Ohio State as his first head coaching job, Day deserves praise for assembling an uber-talented team and bringing the Buckeyes across home plate for their first national championship in more than a decade.
Does Ryan Day get too much credit at Ohio State?
Gene writes: I think that Coach Day is given too much credit, except for raising money and recruiting. Having the best talent that money can buy, … he should win it all. … Doing the expected is reason for appreciation but not high praise.
My response: College football championships are won foremost through stockpiling talent and getting the stars to play together as a unit. Nick Saban had a mind for the game, sure, but he became the GOAT because nobody consistently attracted and united more talent than Saban’s Alabama. Then, Kirby Smart replicated Saban’s success as a recruiter, motivator and developer.
Day proved himself an ace recruiter, before and after NIL, and energizing NIL fundraising now is part of a coach’s duties. His persistent ability to magnetize talent made winning a national championship a matter of when, not if.
Day hired excellent coordinators and let them do what they do best while he effectively served as CEO. He kept the Buckeyes focused and motivated after another soul-sucking loss to Michigan. Yes, Day built an enviable amount of talent, but others (see: Alabama, Georgia) achieved less this season with talented rosters.
Day burnished his quarterback development résumé, too, while transfer Will Howard flourished in the postseason.
Discounting Day’s coaching abilities because he’s a skilled recruiter and he galvanizines NIL is like saying your mechanic gets too much credit, because all he does is fix your car. That’s the job.
Recruiting, fundraising, leadership and motivation are college football’s coaching pillars. Day became the coach Ohio State needed, because he assembled and inspired an unmatchable roster, much as Smart and Saban did during their national championship seasons.
