Ohio State Football: Little experience in FBS no problem for these coaches

Many are taking a wait and see position on the Ohio State football team due to Ryan Day’s lack of experience coaching at the FBS level. They shouldn’t.

Some think the Ohio State football program will take a step back since Ryan Day has never been a head coach in the FBS for a full season, just the three games filling in for Urban Meyer last season. But that just puts him in good company with Buckeye coaches who have won national championships.

First let’s look at the first coach who won the title.

Paul Brown never coached in college before taking over the helm at Ohio State in 1941. But he was a star high school coach who’s Massillon teams won 5 state championships between 1935 and 1940 which is how he landed the job.

Coach Brown led the Buckeyes to a national championship in his second year. However, with WWII heating up he moved on to coach Great Lakes Bluejackets during the 1944 season.

Of course afterwards he went on to a Hall of Fame career coaching the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jim Tressel won four national titles at Division 1-AA Youngstown State before being named head coach of the Buckeyes. Coach Tressel also won a national title his second year.

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Coach Day also has another thing in common with these outstanding coaches, as well as with Urban Meyer. He had a connection to Ohio State before taking over as the head coach.

Paul Brown tried out for the football team as a freshman but didn’t make it. He then moved on to play for Miami, OH.

Coach Tressel was an assistant under Earle Bruce. Urban Meyer was a GA under coach Bruce as well.

So no need for concern with Ryan Day having limited head coaching experience in the FBS with only three games under his belt. That’s more than two championship coaches had before taking over the helm.

With being part of the Ohio State football program for two years and being mentored by Urban Meyer, coach Day knows what Buckeye fans expect. And he totally understands what the most important game on the schedule is. I have a feeling he will do just fine.