Urban Meyer responds to media critical of Ryan Day for fighting for his team

Following a heated back-and-forth in the media between former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz and current Ohio State coach Ryan Day, at least one person fully believes Day was well within his right to voice his displeasure over the whole thing.

After Holtz noted that Ohio State wasn’t a very physical team ahead of last week’s Notre Dame game, Day took exception following the win.

And former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said he was absolutely within his rights to do so.

“If someone criticizes Ryan Day for fighting for his team and fighting for himself, dude, you’re an idiot,” Meyer said. “I hate to be so prompt, but I get so angry sometimes when someone’s going to criticize Ryan Day for saying what’s on his heart, but media or some other buffoon can say (whatever) — I’m not saying coach Holtz is a buffoon, I love coach Holtz — that’s between those two.”

Meyer seemed to be in the camp of live and let live on the Urban’s Take with Tim May program on Thursday.

“Let Ryan Day say what he wants to say and move on. If you don’t like it, that’s fine,” Meyer said. “But do you understand Ryan Day, they just won a game that his life would be different if they lost that game. And someone sticks a microphone in his face, probably four minutes after it happened. He is allowed to say what he wants to say. And you respect that, because he did it.”

Meyer expanded on the comment about Day’s life potentially being different, and while it sounds dramatic, it probably isn’t in reality. For all the good Day has done for the Ohio State program, you can still hear whisperings about how he’ll be on the hot seat if he can’t beat Michigan this year.

There’s just a different set of expectations when you’re the coach at Ohio State.

Meyer would know better than most. He lived them first-hand as the Buckeyes coach.

“My admiration and respect for Ryan Day is immense. We hired him,” Meyer said. “I hear things once in a while, and once again, I get it, because you’re getting paid a lot of money, you’re at the ultimate place. I told you the job description now, Gene handed it to me, Gene Smith. And it said, ‘Win every game you play.’ Like at Florida no one ever said that to me, but I actually had a sheet of paper that said, ‘Win every game you play.’ I’m not sure how many schools can say that. Alabama would be one, and I don’t know.

“So the reality is the pressure is immense. It’s your choice to be the coach at Ohio State, and a player. With that comes enormous scrutiny. So that’s fine. But also he’s a human being.”