Ohio State: Ryan Day explains K'Vaughan Pope dismissal from team

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day met with the media on Tuesday for his weekly press conference.

Day was asked about the decision to dismiss linebacker K’Vaughan Pope following an incident on the sideline during Saturday’s game vs. Akron.

“It was an incident there that we addressed. He’s removed from the team so our focus right now is on Rutgers,” Day said. “But there has to be consequences for actions.”

The Buckeyes frontman did acknowledge Pope’s effort to own his actions.

“For him, his emotions got out of hand there,” Day said. “I thought he’s done a good job of taking accountability and we will focus on moving forward.”

Ohio State picked up a 59-7 win over Akron on Saturday night in Columbus, but Pope’s exit was the bigger story, as he had to be escorted off to the locker room after an outburst on the sidelines and subsequent eruption on Twitter.

Saturday’s drama began when Pope appeared to head back to the locker room on his own, but was then brought back to the sidelines where he started to take off his jersey. When he first returned to the locker room and got a hold of his phone, however, Pope began posting on Twitter.

The senior linebacker on Sunday tweeted an apology for the tweets, which read, “Fucc Ohio State,” before it was deleted, and, “Good lucc to my teammates.”

On Sunday, Pope took to social media to issue an apology.

“Last night I let my emotions get the best of me. For that I want to apologize to my teammates, coaches and Buckeye Nation,” Pope said via Twitter on Sunday. “I made a mistake and know that I need to be better and do better. I’m going to take this time to reflect and work on my mental well-being.”

According to Lettermen Row‘s Austin Ward, Pope was trying to run out on the field in a substitution package when he was waved off by teammate Teradja Mitchell. Once getting back to the sideline, a visibly upset Pope started walking down the sideline by himself. He then went back into the locker room unaccompanied.

“A lot of guys, they want to play and you can’t play everybody,” the Ohio State coach  continued. “And frustration kicks in. Again, I don’t want to comment on that particular situation, but I certainly think it’s very isolated.”

Eventually corralled by Buckeyes staffer C.J. Barnett in the south end zone, Pope was guided back to the sideline. Once there, however, Pope took off his gloves and threw them into the stands and began removing his Ohio State jersey — which apparently caught the attention of Day. After another conversation with staffers, Pope was led to the locker room while the game was ongoing.

Pope has shown his not-so-subtle displeasure on playing time on social media before. He has played in 33 games for Ohio State, but he has never carved out a starting role on the unit. He did flash a couple years ago with a pair of interceptions, showing the athleticism that made him a four-star prospect in the Class of 2018.