Urban Meyer defends the expectations of the 'Lunatic Fringe' Ohio State fans

When it comes to Ohio State football, few understand the weight of expectations and the intensity of the fanbase like Urban Meyer. In a world where media members such as Kirk Herbstreit and Dennis Dodd have been quick to criticize Buckeye fans for their fervor, Meyer has come out in their defense, offering a candid and unapologetic stance on what it means to be part of the Ohio State community.

In response to growing criticism of Ohio State fans after Ryan Day's fourth consecutive loss to Michigan, many media figures have painted a picture of the fanbase as unreasonable or toxic for demanding excellence. But Meyer, a man who knows the Ohio State culture better than most, had this to say on the most recent episode of his podcast, The Triple Option:

"Fan bases are the bloodline for programs... I'm going to speak about the Ohio State fan base... Are they rugged? Are they tough? Are they high expectations? Do they expect you to win every game? Do they expect you to beat your rival? And win a National Championship? I'll help ya; you're damn right they do. And I can tell you, every person that puts on a scarlet and gray helmet better believe, want, and demand that they do too, because that's not for the timid."

Urban Meyer

Meyer’s words hit directly at the heart of the matter. He understands the mindset of Buckeye Nation, a fanbase that lives and breathes for its team, and he embraces it fully. Meyer, a Buckeye himself, doesn’t shy away from the intensity that comes with being part of this football juggernaut, and that’s what sets him apart from others in the media who seem eager to paint these passionate fans as the problem.

Ryan Day himself has said, "Pressure is a privilege," so why, then, have figures like Kirk Herbstreit and Dennis Dodd taken such issue with the expectations placed on Day? After the Michigan loss, a large segment of the Ohio State fanbase wanted Day fired—not because they didn’t respect his achievements, but because the Michigan game is everything. When you’re favored by as much as Day was and lose to your biggest rival four times in a row, frustration is a natural and understandable reaction from a fanbase accustomed to excellence.

A Disappointing Turn from Kirk Herbstreit

As a former Ohio State quarterback and someone who was born in Ohio, Kirk Herbstreit should know better than to turn on the fanbase that shaped his career. His criticism of Ohio State fans for being upset after another Michigan loss shows a disappointing disconnect from the program’s culture. Herbstreit, more than most, should understand that at Ohio State, beating Michigan isn't just a goal; it's an expectation.

Urban Meyer captured the essence of this when he said:

"You realize when you're born in Columbus, Ohio, they give you a Beat the Team Up North shirt as a baby... In Canton, Ohio, you're born, and in Massillon, they put a football, if you're a boy, in your crib when you're born. And people say that's insanity. I agree with you. You're out of your mind. You're out of your mind. But I tell you one thing—you can never worry about an open seat at Ohio Stadium. You can never worry about a program that's not going to be funded by the people because they are complete, absolute nut jobs."

Urban Meyer

Herbstreit seems to have forgotten what Meyer said, "[Ohio is] where football is born into your blood." When the team falls short of expectations, fans have every right to voice their displeasure. It doesn’t make them ungrateful—it makes them invested. Herbstreit, who benefited from the passion and support of these very fans, should be standing alongside Urban Meyer in defense of this spirit, not denigrating it.

Dennis Dodd’s Soft Mentality

Dennis Dodd’s recent article suggesting that Ryan Day should win the national championship and then quit to spite the Ohio State fanbase is nothing short of ridiculous. It reflects a soft mentality, one that contrasts sharply with the ethos of true winners and Buckeyes. The notion that Ryan Day should walk away because the pressure is too high or because the fans demand too much is an insult to what Ohio State football stands for.

As Urban Meyer pointed out:

"When I hear people say, 'Well, you know, why would you?' Or attack the fan base or something like that; I'm the opposite... Every staff meeting I made it very clear that where you're at, the expectations will never change. There's no media member, there's no assistant coach, there's no one that's ever going to say, 'You know, we got to temper this down a little bit.' Not the way it works. You know, same thing—there's not a player going to come and say, 'Man, these guys are loud here.' You know, 'I dropped the ball' or 'I fumbled,' or 'I did this. Man, they're pissed off, and my social media is getting attacked.' I know. I mean, don't drop the ball."

Urban Meyer

In Meyer’s view, the Ohio State fanbase should be demanding. They should expect greatness. That’s how winners are forged. It's how Meyer himself led Ohio State to a national championship in the 2014 season, and it’s how Ryan Day has gotten the program within one game of another national title. Pressure creates diamonds, and the Ohio State program thrives in this environment.

Dodd’s suggestion that Ryan Day should "quit" after achieving the pinnacle of college football only highlights a soft, defeatist attitude that has no place in Buckeye Nation. True Buckeyes, as Urban Meyer so perfectly articulated, embrace the pressure. They don’t run from it. They rise to the occasion because they know what is at stake.

Urban Meyer: A Champion of Buckeye Culture

Urban Meyer’s understanding of the Ohio State fanbase comes from years of being in the trenches and living the pressure firsthand. He knows what it means to be a Buckeye, and he has no patience for those who would seek to diminish the passion that fuels the program. As he finished his statement, he said:

"I just love passionate fan bases because I've seen the opposite. I'm very defensive of the Ohio State fan base, because I'm one of them. I grew up a Buckeye. [Football] it's not a pastime. Is it America’s pastime? No, it's a way of life."

Urban Meyer

Meyer’s words are a rallying cry for Buckeye Nation and a reminder that being part of this storied program means embracing the expectations that come with it. Ohio State isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for those who demand greatness, who understand that winning is the standard, and who refuse to apologize for wanting the best.

Ryan Day has taken Ohio State to the brink of a national championship, and instead of condemning the fans for wanting more, we should praise them for holding the program to the high standards that have made Ohio State one of the premier institutions in college football. Meyer gets it. And true Buckeyes get it too.

So to the Kirk Herbstreits and Dennis Dodds of the world: this isn’t just a game. It’s a way of life. If you can’t handle the heat, perhaps Ohio State isn’t for you. But for the rest of us, the passionate, unrelenting, and sometimes "out of our mind" Buckeye fans, the expectations remain clear—win every game, beat Michigan, and bring home the national title. Anything less is simply unacceptable. And that’s how it should be.