Ryan Day glad Ohio State prevailed after being disrespected entering Notre Dame game
Ryan Day made no secret about how good it felt defeating Notre Dame on Saturday night, especially after everything many people, in particular Lou Holtz, said about his program in the leadup to the 17-14 victory.
The Ohio State head coach addressed Holtz’s comments on the field during his post-game interview and reiterated the same sentiment during the postgame press conference.
“It was brewing for a couple of days,” Day said postgame. “I said it earlier and I’ll say it again: a lot of people took a lot of shots at this team over the last 48 hours. It really hit home to me. The way that our team played — not only did we physically get after (Notre Dame) last year, but we did it again here at the end of the game. And I think it says a lot about this time.”
After piecing together the game-winning drive that saw running back Chip Trayanum punch the ball into the end zone as time expired. Day was visibly fired up after the game and said that the last drive alone proved his team’s toughness and physicality.
On Friday before the game, Holtz said that Notre Dame had the roster, staff and fan support that was needed to be able to take down the Buckeyes — specifically saying that every team that has beaten Ryan Day does so because they’re more physical than his Ohio State teams. That’s the comment that Day took exception with.
“I’m really upset and disrespected by what Lou Holtz said publicly about our team and Ohio State and Buckeye nation. We’re not going to stand for that, because that’s not even close to true,” Day said. “We had one bad half a couple of years ago up in Ann Arbor, but we did in the second half. But every game we play in, we’re physical. We are. I don’t know where that narrative comes from, but that ends tonight.
“This team right here showed toughness, they showed grit, they didn’t give up and they found a way to get that last yard.”
Ohio State has a few more opportunities to prove its abilities against two additional Big Ten opponents before its next real test against a top 10-ranked Penn State on Oct. 21. This coming weekend’s matchup against Maryland‘s high-powered offense will serve as a test of its own before traveling to Purdue the following weekend.