The Ohio State Buckeyes are approaching spring ball as a testing ground to see what freshmen recruits are about the OSU culture. As Cleveland.com's Stefan Krajisnik noted, because of the rapid movement of the transfer portal, players already on the roster are being brutal with the newcomers.
Even the most highly-touted ones like Legend Bey.
Per Cleveland.com, "Jermaine Mathews — a veteran defensive back who knows what he’s doing — casually waltzed over during a drill and punched the ball right out of freshman Legend Bey’s hands. Was it a joke? Sort of. But it was also symbolic of what veteran players have learned to value."
Certainly, the exercise also heightens the senses in spring practice as well. There was a long-term reason for the nature of these practices, as Krajisnik relayed.
“On Tuesday (Day) was like, ‘So here’s how we practice at Ohio State to you 51 new guys.’ And then Thursday, his speech was like... ‘Here is how you hold the football,’” Krajisnik said on the Buckeye Talk podcast. “Because of the portal, you kind of have to expedite the process of, ‘Is this a guy who’s going to be here for three years or not?’ I think you kind of have to throw them into the fire right away."
Ryan Day upholding intensity in an age of intense scrutiny for College Football coaches
Day cannot keep his foot off the gas pedal at any point in his current seat. The Ohio State University demands excellence, and in this sport, excellence can be bowling shoe ugly. Football is not for the weak of heart.
These are the kinds of stories that define a great College Football program. Nick Saban didn't build a dynasty in Tuscaloosa and lead the Alabama Crimson Tide to six championships in 17 seasons by being nice. Tough love is nicer in the long run in football than going easy on someone.
Day was another loss to TTUN in 2025, which, of course, was never a true possibility given how "The Game" played out last November, from being on the hot seat again. Day is always a loss to the Wolverines and a disappointing CFP finish away from being let go from here on out. The Ohio State machine does a lot of the work for whoever is in the coaching seat, between endless donor pockets and a reputation that precedes itself.
So with that said, let the kids loose this spring. Better to know who you could go to war with in the fall now, and get a feel for who takes lessons from the tough love coaching.