What Ohio State coach Ryan Day said about Lou Holtz, Notre Dame football after Buckeyes win

Ohio State coach Ryan Day flung his arms in the air a few times before heading up the visiting tunnel at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday night. That was after a very spirited interview on the field after Ohio State’s 17-14 win over Notre Dame and just before he sounded off even further in his postgame press conference.

This is everything Day said about Notre Dame football and some comments made by former Notre Dame head coach, 86-year-old Lou Holtz, on Friday during a hit with The Pat McAfee Show.

On if his team had a “lunch pail” performance

“It was grueling for a couple days. 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 had really hit home with me. The way that our team played, not only did we physically get after these guys last year, but we did it again at the end of the game. And I think it says a lot about this team.

“I’m really upset and disrespected by what Lou Holtz said 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. We had one bad half a couple years ago up in Ann Arbor. The second half. 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. I’m sick of those short yardages that we didn’t finish, but that’s the game. The last matchup game we were in we were one play short, this play we finished it the right way. And I’m really proud of our team.”

On failing on fourth and one with just over four minutes remaining

“We didn’t get the one before and I’m really upset about that. We got to get that yard. And then on that play, in particular, we had the look that we wanted. We got three for three right there and we thought we could just knife it in for one yard. They’re inside playing defense. It’s an opportinity to get the ball outside. We didn’t do it. There were a few opportunities where the whole game would be different if we converted in situations.

“So, upset about that, but I’m not going to be upset about the win. That was one heck of a win for our team. It was a great win for Ohio State. It’s always been Ohio against the world, and it continues to be to this day. I hope everybody in Buckeye nation enjoys this win because to come in here and win like that after winning the way we did last year because we physically got after it last year. We did. Put the film on. A lot of people make a lot of comments who don’t watch film. Put the film on. Watch the film. And for us to hang in there because the momentum was going with Notre Dame at one point. And our guys stuck their foot in the ground. JT [Tuimoloau] makes a big play. The guts of our team to win that game on the road. If You say we’re not physical, not tough, you’re wrong.”

On Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord

“You judge your quarterback on third down, in the red zone and two minute. Third down, 10 of 17, so nice third down conversions there. And then to win the game in that two minute drill, that’s what great quarterbacks do. His first top 10 road game, to be put in that situation and come through, it says a lot about his future. There were some big-time throws in there. To come in there, hung in there, he’s poised, and what a great win for our program. For Kyle to come in that spot, that’s big.”

On his “biggest win at Ohio State” and “getting some things off his back”

“i’m happy for our team because a lot of people were taking shots at this team. When it’s one play away, it hurts. But we just finished it with one play right there. It’s very fitting. That’s what we celebrated in the locker room, and we’ll continue to celebrate for a little while.”

On being so emotional leaving the Notre Dame Stadium field

“I’ve been emotional, the team will tell you that, for the last couple days. The team will tell you that. The things people were saying, first off, it’s not true. I don’t know where people get off just saying things. It really upsets me. People make comments and they don’t watch film. Our guys are tough. They’re physically. They do. They get after it. And they did again tonight.

On former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz’s comments upsetting him in particular

“Yeah, it was. And I don’t know where he gets off saying those types of things. I don’t. I don’t. I got some other things I’d like to say too but I’m not going to say that because I’m more respectful than he is.”

On being as emotional as ever

“There is no doubt, I am emotional. Because in life when people start talking at some point you have to put a foot in the ground. And our team did that. And it was a life lesson. It was. We always say ignore the noise but every once in a while when someone is poking at you, you have to stand up for what you believe in. That’s the way I was raised and that’s the way I’m going to be moving forward. I got a bunch of guys in there that I love that I work with every single day and to hear some of the things that were said, I get Ohio against the world, but we needed to go play like that today. We needed to win like that to stop that narrative because it’s not true. To win like that the way we did, i think it’s going to do that.”

On wanting to send a message to Notre Dame and the world with a run on the game-winning touchdown

“Yes, 1000 percent. I think it’s going to go down as one of the big wins in Ohio State history. Clutch, fourth quarter comeback on the road in a top 10 environment. We had this home and home against Notre Dame, it say a lot about this team.”

On the way Notre Dame defended wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

“We were trying to get it to him as best we could but when they decide to double him in those situations we have to continue to try to find ways. I thought he showed toughness to come back. He got his ankle pretty good. He was down there for a minute. To tape it up and to play the way he did. But it’s a two minute situation, and if going to double him someone is in a one on one. Every time we talk about bracket, what do we say, find the one on one. Someone is going to be in a one on one, so they got to win. Marvin doesn’t get the catch to win the game, although we tried to get it to him in the sprint out. But his presence made a huge impact on the game. If he doesn’t come back, he sprained his ankle, if he doesn’t come back after that, maybe he doesn’t draw the attention that opened up Emeka [Egbuka]. You talk about toughness, that was toughness by 18.”

On the review of the final touchdown

“Touchdown. Touchdown. Touchdown. I don’t know what I would have done. I mean, I was like, ‘There has to be someone watching right now. You can’t take this away from us.'”

On what truly upset him

“That people said we weren’t physical. They said we weren’t physical and that they wrre going to run the ball all over the place on us. Where do people get off saying that? There wa sa half of football that i agree with up in Ann Arbor two years ago that was not well done at all. When else has that happened? That’s not true. I take offense to that. I know everybody else in buckeye nation does too. So we weren’t going to let that happen to us tonight.”