How Ryan Day calling out Lou Holtz has galvanized Ohio State roster

For just a few minutes, we were going to remember Ohio State‘s win against Notre Dame by Chip Trayanum scoring a touchdown in the final seconds. Things changed when Ryan Day stepped up to do his postgame interview with NBC. Day had some words for Lou Holtz, who previously questioned the toughness of the Buckeyes.

The moment has stuck with Ohio State over the past few weeks, especially during Saturday’s massive win against Penn State. Spencer Holbrook of On3’s Lettermen Row says it proved to the players that Day could step up as a real leader for the team. Sure, guys like Tommy Eichenberg and Kyle McCord have shown flashes but something is different about that kind of passion from a head coach.

“I think it had a good effect on this team,” Holbrook said during Thursday’s episode of Andy Staples On3. “It made them believe, even more, in Ryan Day. Every team says they believe in the head coach but when he goes out and does something like that, I think you have to latch on to those kinds of things… It’s galvanized the leadership in this group.”

Holbrook believes the main thing Day’s rant has done is keep them focused. There could have been a lot of emotions following the Notre Dame win and there still was. But the message was completely different afterward, telling them to continue proving why they are a tough, physical team.

“There is a lot out there about Ryan Day still,” Holbrook said. “There is a lot out there about Ohio State still. But the Buckeyes have remained focused. I think that’s a big deal. After the Penn State game, they feel like they were more physical than Penn State, which is a huge deal.

“You think you’re more physical than Penn State, you think your leadership is starting to come around, and it’s all on the back of the Notre Dame win. Which, we’re all going to remember for how Ryan Day reacted… They’ve run with the ‘Ohio vs. the world’ mentality.”

Penn State was a great start but Ohio State still has a few more tests on the schedule. Sure, Wisconsin on the road has been tricky in the past but let’s not kid ourselves. Everyone knows the game Day needs to win this season. Nov. 25 is where the entire country will find out if Holtz’s comments wound up being true or not.