Ryan Day sounds like he’s upset about losing David Gabriel Georges to Tennessee and now he’s sending not-so-subtle messages to the 5-star RB
2027 five-star running back David Gabriel Georges committed to Tennessee over Ohio State last week, and Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day doesn’t seem to be taking it well.
2027 five-star running back David Gabriel Georges committed to the Tennessee Vols over the Ohio State Buckeyes last week and no one in Columbus seems to be taking it well.
And that includes Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day.
Day made the rounds at Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday and he dropped some comments during a conversation with 97.1 The Fan that certainly seemed like they were in response to Gabriel Georges’ recruitment.
Before Gabriel Georges committed to the Vols, his uncle spoke to On3 and he explained how the five-star recruit could become a legend at Tennessee while suggesting that Ohio State would still be Ohio State either way (the comments were actually a compliment to OSU’s program). Another comment Gabriel Georges’ uncle made was about the goal of getting to the NFL.
“We played the long game to benefit him so he can basically maximize his earning potential but that was just a good business strategy. We want him to get that second NFL contract,” said Gabriel Georges’ uncle.
There was also a lot of talk about the superior NIL package that Tennessee offered Gabriel Georges, as well as the promise the Vols made to him that he could wear the No. 0 as a true freshman (Ohio State couldn’t offer that because of a relatively new tradition that started in 2019).
“We have to come together for one common purpose as a team,” said Day while discussing Ohio State’s culture and the type of players the Buckeyes recruit. “It can’t just be a bunch of individuals worried about the next NIL check or going to the NFL or anything like that. It has to be that we want to be the best team in America and leave a legacy behind. So how do you do that? You leave the jersey in a better place than you found it, and then win games. If you want to leave a legacy, you’ve got to win a championship at Ohio State. That’s just how it goes. It’s hard to leave a legacy if you’re not winning a championship.”
“Even just thinking about the Block O award,” added Day. “We don’t just give that to anybody. To earn the Block O award, that means a lot to so many people.”
(Gabriel Georges, for what it’s worth, said that wearing the No. 0 had nothing to do with his decision to commit to Tennessee.)
I guess Day just can’t understand that a player chose Tennessee simply because he felt it was the better fit (which is a healthy reason for a player to choose a school).
Secondly, I think what Day is saying about championship and legacy is actually awful. He’s basically saying if a player gives their all for Ohio State — literally blood, sweat, and tears — but they don’t win a championship in Columbus, then it was all for nothing. What a horrible message to send to athletes.
Tony Vitello said it best in 2024 when he went on an epic rant about the same idea.
Legacy isn’t about a championship, it’s about stepping up and doing what needs to be done every day during your journey at whatever school you end up. That’s how you leave a legacy. Reducing legacy down to a single achievement is one of the weakest things I’ve ever heard from a coach. I’m astonished Day went there.
This is all rich, by the way, coming from a head coach who gave a questionable offer to Gabriel Georges’ best friend, an unrated recruit with no other Power-4 offers, just to try to land the five-star running back.