Ryan Day: 'We do respect the rivalry' as buildup for The Game mounts
COLUMBUS — Ohio State coach Ryan Day and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh were both asked a similar version of the same question this week in the buildup to The Game this weekend.
For Harbaugh: Do you respect Ryan Day and the Ohio State coaching staff?
For Day: Do you respect Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan staff?
The rivalry was built on respect, stemming all the way back to the 1920s, into the 10 Year War and all the way through Harbaugh vs. Urban Meyer.
But since 2021, the animosity has grown. There was the Michigan staff calling Ohio State soft. Harbaugh’s ‘third base’ comment about Day. The flag plant in Columbus last season after a Wolverines upset win in the Horseshoe. And of course, there’s the ongoing investigation Michigan Men are certain Day has something to do with — despite there being no proof of that.
So it’s pretty simple — with a long way of saying the same thing. Do Harbaugh and Day respect each other in the rivalry?
Make your own opinions from the answers.
Harbaugh on Monday in his weekly presser: “It’s all about our preparation for Ohio. The days, the minutes, the hours, everything leading up to this game. You know, that’s where our focus is. Preparing ourselves and planning. Going to practice and then execute. So I mean, anything else is irrelevant when you get into this kind of big game week.”
Day on Tuesday during his: “With everything going on, and the things that are out there, we’ve just kind of stayed away from all the distractions. We have — and just focused on our team. And I think our guys have done a good job of it. When you talk to our guys, I have talked to them a couple of times about what’s gone on this season and going into the game. But they’re focused on this game, they’re focused on this season, they’re focused on their preparation. And we’re just going to continue on that.”
Consider that dodging the question as well as each of them could ahead of No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Michigan, a game Harbaugh can’t even coach in because of a suspension levied by the Big Ten.
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Even if Day isn’t singing the praises of Jim Harbaugh anytime soon, he certainly respects the rivalry and what it means to both sides of the Buckeyes northern border.
Day doesn’t have to respect Harbaugh, who has a losing record against the Buckeyes. And Harbaugh doesn’t have to respect Day, who has a losing record against the Wolverines.
But the rivalry demands respect. Day knows that all too well.
“I was taught that the way you respect the rivalry is to work in every day,” Day said. “Whether it’s in the weight room, whether it’s in game planning, talking to your players, periods in practicing and during the spring periods and practicing, the preseason. And that’s it.
“So we do we respect the rivalry, and certainly excited to play here on Saturday.”
Day and Harbaugh don’t have to answer questions about respecting each other. They don’t have to show it Saturday because they won’t even see each other.
But the rivalry needs respect. Ohio State is showing it this week ahead of the colossal matchup.
