What to expect from training camp access under Ryan Day

The speculation, debate and conversations about Ohio State never end, and Lettermen Row is always ready to dive into the discussions. All week long, senior writer Austin Ward will field topics about the Buckeyes submitted by readers and break down anything that’s on the minds of the Best Damn Fans in the Land. Have a question that needs to be tackled, like the one today about access to Ohio State under Ryan Day? Send it in right here — and check back daily for the answers.

How will access to @OhioStateFB fall camp be different under @ryandaytime for the writers?

— Jeff Ward (@Knowmadz) July 29, 2019

Ohio State might never be the most open program in college football, and there are probably good reasons for that — even just logistically, since the program has one of the largest media contingents in the nation. It can get tricky to pack all of the beat writers, photographers, television cameras and radio folks into the Woody Hayes Athletic Center when the Buckeyes are working out inside, and even on the multiple outdoor fields it’s a large pack to corral.

But Ryan Day is working to restore some access to the media contingent, and that is great news for anybody wanting to know more about the Buckeyes. It’s also, of course, warmly accepted by Lettermen Row, because we want to provide as much accurate, in-depth, noteworthy coverage for our audience as possible. Allowing stories to be told about the Buckeyes works out for everybody: Fans are more engaged, reporters have chances to do meaningful work and the coaching staff and players get the kind of exposure they deserve.

The cracking of the doors during spring practice was a sign that Day understands that, and a handful of those workouts were opened up to give a glimpse at the early stages of his first couple months in charge of the program. The changes this August aren’t necessarily dramatic compared to what Urban Meyer provided during his tenure, but Day is certainly taking steps in a more open direction with four practices that will have viewing periods — one of which can be watched in its entirety by the media.

Ohio State sports information director Jerry Emig coordinates the media access to the Buckeyes. (Birm/Lettermen Row)

Ohio State is scheduled to have every position group and assistant coach talk during training camp leading up to the season opener on Aug. 31, and Lettermen Row will cover every single availability with stories, analysis and video interviews. Whenever possible, the press conferences with the coaching staff will be streamed live. Tim May, Spencer Holbrook and I will continue handling the day-to-day beat coverage of the Buckeyes, and Jeremy Birmingham will add his sharp photography skills to the mix while continuing his stellar work on the recruiting trail.

Just for the sake of one head-to-head comparison, the Buckeyes still have room to grow to catch up with another program that isn’t known for tremendous access, since even Notre Dame will have five open practices in the weeks ahead. There was some guarded optimism coming into camp that Day might open up even more access to the Buckeyes given his experience in the NFL, where preseason practices are also a fan-friendly affair.

That’s not really something Ohio State can manage for the public at large, but it’s also why allowing the media to cover the team is so important in keeping one of the largest, most passionate fan bases in the country informed about the team. Maybe this is just an initial step for Day as he goes through this process for the first time, gets a feel for the situation and has a chance to continue putting his own stamp on the program.

Either way, Ryan Day and his ace sports information director Jerry Emig deserve credit for trending in a more positive direction with the media schedule. Lettermen Row is thrilled to get started with its second season covering the Buckeyes and can’t wait to kick it off on the practice field on Friday.

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