Ohio State Football: Buckeyes impact goes beyond the gridiron

The Ohio State football program has become elite over the past eight years thanks to the leadership and impact of Urban Meyer and Ryan Day.

Having grown up in Columbus, Ohio for most of my life and having since moved away, I often get asked the question: why do you follow the Ohio State football program so closely?

The obvious answer resides in the upbringing of every Ohio-born child, you’re christened into Buckeye fandom the day you’re born in the great state of Ohio.

Ohio State is a blue blood college football program and also now a highly respected academic institution. Buckeye Nation is one of, if not the largest fan base in the world as Ohio State is a global brand.

With the booming evolution of social media, the fans can now feel connected to the football program via posted pictures and videos. Throughout Urban Meyer’s tenure, we were blessed to be able to hear sound bites from a man who not only influenced his players and coaches, but also impacted the fans.

First and foremost through his book, “Above the Line,” which is a phenomenal read that takes you through the 2014 Championship season from the lens of the locker room, and goes through the core values, culture and principles that made that improbable season possible. Wrapped inside those pages, pictures and videos are life lessons that apply far beyond the gridiron in various aspects of life.

Urban Meyer turned the culture at Ohio State into something that transcended the entire state and nation. His coaching career was like a seven-year movie with layers upon layers of great moments with very few lows sprinkled in just to prove that no one is perfect. One thing that always stood out, though, was his inspiring and relentless pursuit of becoming elite.

Meyer was awfully close to it, however, as he was 83-9, but did achieve it in the most important area. He finished 7-0 against That Team Up North. Though Meyer seemed like he was in a constant chase of becoming elite, it was clear he was elite. His obsession with greatness exuded from the program and fell onto the fan base.

Whether by speech or hype video sound bites, Meyer was impacting more people than he knew. When those who didn’t get the privilege to play for him still felt his distant leadership as an instrumental role in their success just by listening and paying attention to him and the program. That speaks volumes of Meyer’s caliber of leadership.

Meyer didn’t just win over 90 percent of his games or never lose to That Team Up North or just win a National Championship or multiple Big Ten Championships and bowl games. He transformed the Ohio State football program into a living legacy that fueled the whole state and anywhere else those in Buckeye Nation reside.

Obviously on a different level, but he made the fans feel just as important a part of the program as the players. It’s more than sports, it’s a lifestyle where you constantly learn invaluable lessons while emotionally investing in a sports team. And upon his retirement, he helped groom and select current Ohio State coach Ryan Day who is carrying out the legacy Meyer built through his own leadership style, speeches, and actions.

Meyer has dubbed Day as elite on numerous occasions via interviews or television segments and his judgment is still keen. Day seems to have elevated Ohio State to an even higher level as he continues to stand on Meyer’s foundation and infrastructure.

So when people ask, “why Ohio State?” These are all my thoughts after hearing that question. The culture is second to none, the program as a whole is elite, the fans feel like a major part of the program even more so than just cheering at games, and the leadership impact of Urban Meyer and Ryan Day stretches beyond the doors of the locker room. This is why Ohio State.