Ohio State football: A new Day at OSU

Although the title of this article, It’s a new Day at OSU, is in obvious reference to Ryan Day, it can be interpreted in two different ways.

I say it is a new Day at the Ohio State football program because Ryan Day is showing a much different, tougher mindset this offseason compared to last. He did not like what he saw during the 2021 season and has really cleaned house and revamped his coaching staff.

The Buckeye boss stood pat after 2020 ended in a blowout loss to Alabama in the national championship game and it turned out to be an obvious mistake. A defense that wasn’t all that good got worse this past season.

I don’t think I’m going that far out on a limb here when I say I think Day regretted early in the schedule that he did not make necessary changes to the defensive staff. To me, this is a very encouraging sign from him. He is showing he is not going to hang onto a guy because he likes or has a past relationship with him. Day’s actions are telling me he is willing to do whatever is necessary to his staff to put Ohio State in a position to win a championship.

I’m pretty certain you can also say it is a new day at OSU. After having their toughness questioned, I don’t doubt for a second the offseason workout program will have a far different feel to it this year. According to many former Buckeyes, strength and conditioning guru Mickey Marotti is the person responsible for instilling physical and mental toughness in the team.

When a Michigan assistant coach called the Buckeyes soft, the gauntlet was thrown down in front of him. Marotti is old school and not the type to brush off a comment like that from anyone, much less that bunch from Ann Arbor. I fully expect the Ohio State football program to be far more focused and physical than what we saw this past season. I don’t think Marotti will allow it to be any other way.

Change can be scary, but it can also be exciting. I’m very excited about the changes Ryan Day has made to his program and think you’re going to see a different product when the season opens against Notre Dame in early September.