Urban Meyer makes a bold statement about Ohio State HC Ryan Day that fans might agree with
Urban Meyer sure knows what it takes to win in Columbus and what it means for the Ohio State football program when things don't go their way. The Buckeyes were triumphant in their road voyage to Penn State, pulling out a 20-13 win that helped rejuvenate the energy around the program. For head coach Ryan […]
Urban Meyer sure knows what it takes to win in Columbus and what it means for the Ohio State football program when things don't go their way. The Buckeyes were triumphant in their road voyage to Penn State, pulling out a 20-13 win that helped rejuvenate the energy around the program. For head coach Ryan Day, it might have been a performance that can now be the template for how big games play out.
Meyer made a strong statement after the win, saying this was a critical win for Day. It wasn't just about winning, but rather how the Buckeyes took care of the No. 3 team in the country. Listen to Meyer below.
"That's one of the most impressive wins in the Ryan Day era. To come into this kind of environment…you get questioned about your toughness, offensive line get questioned…All you gotta do is show a 59-yard drive, 11 straight runs against a Penn State team in this stadium to close out a game, that's called a four-minute drill to perfection. Their toughness was there. Their offensive line, to me, won this football game. Their offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage for 60 minutes."
Wow. Imagine thinking this Ohio State team, which has been called soft for years because of the lack of development in the trenches and inability to run when it matters, would hear that type of praise. Meyer, who infamously built trench-heavy teams that ran the ball effectively, hired Day, but has been clear the head coach has needed to improve this aspect of the team.
The Buckeyes ran for 176 yards on 40 attempts, including the aforementioned 59-yards that ran out the clock on the final drive. Against Nebraska, the Buckeyes averaged just over two yards a carry. An offensive line switch made a world's difference.
With Indiana and Michigan left as key opponents before the conference title game, the Buckeyes now look more like the Playoff force we expected before the season. It's amazing how things can change so quickly.
