Ryan Day has gone all in on true freshman quarterback Luke Fahey running the offense in Julian Sayin's ongoing injury absence due to a throwing-shoulder issue.
Sayin may not return this season or ever. As long as he's out, Day has assured that Fahey will be the backup moving forward.
After scolding the team for not helping out more after a 30-18 loss to USC this past weekend, Day revealed how he was talking to players all week and trying to understand what they saw in an effort to improve things for Fahey against Oregon this coming weekend.
"Like we said, going into it, we all got to help this guy out, and I don't think we did," Day said of Fahey. "I thought he had the right approach. It was not all perfect. There were certainly things that happened operationally that, for a young quarterback, it was a lot on him, and he was working through it. There were some misthrows, but we expected all that to happen. He also made a lot of plays. He also had command of the huddle. He also showed some grit out there and toughness.
"And so, I go to the players, the offensive line, I go to the wide receivers. And just say, 'Man, what was it like in there?' And I mean, they were very positive about his approach out there. And I think you saw him extend some plays. I thought you saw him make some plays. He kept playing all the way to the end. I thought his attitude was good on the sideline, even though we couldn't quite get in on some of these red zone opportunities. "
Ryan Day needs to be right about Luke Fahey over Tavien St. Clair
Day is making it clear that doing everything possible to enable Fahey to lead the team to victory is his only post-Sayin injury play. It's part of an aggressive effort to maximize the offense. At times, it comes off as desperate.
All season, he's had to battle with his running backs to motivate them, mainly Bo Jackson and Isaiah West. Day was more complimentary of Ja'Kobi Jackson than of Bo or West before the Florida transfer went down for the year with an injury. Now, he's leaning on guys he was calling out not long ago.
Day has now basically called out the entire offense for not helping out Fahey. It doesn't seem like he's even considering turning to Tavien St. Clair if things don't work out with Fahey.
Day needs to make sure he gets this decision right. He's put all his eggs in the Fahey basket, and he's potentially sacrificing players who don't want to be publicly called out if this gamble doesn't work out.
Of course, if things work out, Day will look like a genius for seemingly picking locker room fit over talent fit. If things don't work out, though, Day's demeanor and actions after Sayin went down won't soon be forgotten by the players or the fanbase.
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