Ohio State football: Did Ryan Day send a message in 2020?

The Ohio State football team played great in 2020. Even so, Ryan Day was sending a message about how great they truly need to be.

When you hear talk of a coach or team sending a message, it usually pertains to something that was said or a dominating performance in a game. Sometimes the message is not quite overt.  When I was thinking back to Ohio State’s season, a question occurred to me. Did Ryan Day quietly send a message in 2020?

Day displayed an ability to do something that not a lot of coaches are capable of. It is a very underrated quality, but the amount it can help a program is immeasurable. Ryan Day sent a message letting everyone know his team will be properly focused in any situation. Whether it is an off-the-field situation like COVID, playing a much weaker opponent, or facing adversity in a game, Ryan Day’s team will be focused on the task at hand.

The COVID situation was the real test last year. Nearly every week there were questions about which players would not be available and if the game would even be played. Each week, Day had his team ready to play. When a starter was out, the backup stepped in and performed so well you didn’t notice a drop-off.

The Michigan State game is the best example of Day having his team focused regardless of the situation. That game could have been a disaster. The Buckeyes were missing 23 players, including three starters on the offensive line, and were without their head coach. Due to a positive COVID test, Day was relegated to watching from home as veteran defensive line coach Larry Johnson took over for him.

OSU was also playing a much weaker opponent on the road. Visions of the Purdue debacle danced through the back of many Ohio State football fans’ minds. We should have known better. The Buckeyes jumped on the Spartans early and throttled them on the way to an easy 52-12 win. You can watch those highlights here.

There were signs of this type of thing from Day a few years ago. Remember that Saturday night game in Dallas against TCU? Day was in his third game filling in for the suspended Urban Meyer. The Buckeyes lost the best player in college football (Nick Bosa) to an injury and were trailing in the third quarter.

Day held the team together, made adjustments, and led them to a twelve-point win. When speculation began on a replacement for Meyer, Day’s was the only name that came to my mind and it was because I was so impressed with how he handled that situation.

I think Day has let the conference know his team will be focused and mentally prepared each week, and there aren’t going to be any more games like that embarrassing loss to Purdue. A team is a reflection of its coach. It is obvious Day does not underestimate any opponent. That’s good news for Ohio State football fans.