Cotton Bowl Head Coaches Ryan Day, Eli Drinkwitz Preview Top 10 Matchup

ARLINGTON, Texas — Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz took part in the final press conference before Friday’s Cotton Bowl matchup between the No. 9 Tigers and the No. 7 Buckeyes. They answered questions about the game, their individual teams, and more. The highlights of everything that was said can be found below.

Drinkwitz: To have 34 days off between games is a challenge, so they need to focus on fundamentals and playing a clean game.
Drinkwitz: Ohio State has all of the makings of being a championship team. It’s probably the most explosive offense they’ve faced. The front six on defense is as good anybody they’ve faced. Jordan Hancock is a special player at nickel for his ability to play so many different coverages.
Day: Had a great week of practice here at a first-class facility. They had their fundamental phase and game plan phase of practices back in Columbus. It’s been exciting to see the team rally around Devin Brown.
Day: Missouri is good in all three phases. “We know it’s gonna be a battle tomorrow night.”
Day on watching his three sixth-year guys Matt Jones, Xavier Johnson, and Josh Proctor preparing for their last games as Buckeyes: Those guys embody what it means to be a student-athlete. They have each left a legacy behind in their respective rooms. “That’s the sign of somebody who takes pride in where they’re at.”
Day on Proctor’s time at Ohio State: He’s been resilient and persevered. He just kept going forward and now you’re seeing him play his best football.
Day: Teams can use helmet technology in this game but both OSU and Missouri have declined to use it because this month has already been crazy enough.
Drinkwitz: The helmet technology just didn’t make sense for them right now in such a short turnaround.
Drinkwitz: On next year not needing to win every game because of the playoffs: “I don’t know what world you’re living in, man.” Every game will still be must-win because this is college football. There will still be variables about which game did you lose.
Day: Getting a bye next year in the playoffs will be a significant bonus. It will be important to be playing your best football down the stretch.
Day: Devin Brown has been competitive since he’s been on campus. He’s been on the sideline for big games so he’s seen what the preparation looks like. “He’s prepared at a high level and the guys believe in him because of the way he’s played in practice.”
Day: On who is playing or not playing: No comment. Those are decisions that the players make and they can announce it if they want.
Day: What is Marvin Harrison’s legacy: “Marv’s been a pro since he stepped in our building.” He’s got a Hall of Fame dad but he’s been his own man. He spends so much time off the field working on his craft. That’s the legacy he will leave behind — his habits.
Day: How much credit does Gene Smith deserve for what OSU football is now? Day has tried to get a collection going to get Gene back for four more years but it didn’t work. Smith has had such an impact on so many people. That’s what it’s all about. “He’s done that to me and my family.”
Drinkwitz: What has Luther Burden meant to this program? Two years ago Missouri was a 6-6 program that had a lot of talk but not a lot of results, so for Burden to believe in Missouri and then for Missouri to back him up and support him. Other players have seen that in-state players can stay at Missouri and know that they will be successful and supported.
Drinkwitz: RB Cody Shrader is one of the best stories in college football. Last year he walked on from a Division II school and started out eighth on the depth chart.
Drinkwitz: The offense found its identity in the run game mid-way through the season. Getting TreVeyon Henderson back was a big reason for that. This game will be won in the trenches just like all the others. Left tackle Josh Simmons has continued to get better. Center Carson Hinzman gained more experience as well.
Drinkwitz: There’s no way to be in a 12-team playoff next year and still have the same kind of recruiting calendar that they have this year. “We’ve got to start it all over and built it all out again.” The decisions that have been made have never included thoughts about the unintended consequences.
Day: On the recruiting calendar next year with the playoffs: Big decisions from the NCAA has caused struggles for programs to figure out how to make things work. “December’s not working.” Moving the signing day has to be looked at, but Day doesn’t have a date because there are other consequences from dates. You can’t just patch it up. You’ve got to look it over and start from scratch.
Day: Regarding getting young guys playing time: “We want to win the game.” But there will be opportunities for new guys to play in larger roles.
Drinkwitz: On giving up play-calling this year: “I wasn’t doing what was best for the program.” He wasn’t doing what was best for the team by being the play-caller. He was doing what was best for his ego. He wanted to find more time to be around his players and coaches, so this was one step to make that happen. He did it to help build a more connected team. It was about living his integrity and not just talking about it.
Day: How much does Devin Brown’s performance determine the offseason? Devin is in the situation that he wanted. He’s taken the opportunity and run with it the last few weeks. The team feels it.
Drinkwitz: When Day was introduced today, they said he’d been at a NY6 bowl every year he’s been a head coach, which is about the most impressive note he’s ever heard about a head coach. Day has set the tone for leadership around the college football world. When you watch OSU, you see a team that is very similar to the elite teams in the SEC. They will play man-to-man in-your-face defense. “It’s going to be a tremendous matchup.” They have to play clean football. “This is why you coach college football.”
Day: Where is this sport going? “We can probably talk about this for hours.” Chip Kelly’s ideas are very well thought out. He’s always been outside the box, and it will take that kind of thinking to fix it and execute it and eforce it.
Drinkwitz: Where is this sport going? “I’m just trying to beat Ohio State.” This is the greatest game in the country. “I just don’t want to see it disappear.” There are so many financial thoughts about the game that people have forgotten why we do this. Like Chip Kelly said, at some point football is going to have to make decisions that ONLY impact football. “We don’t live in the same realm” as the other sports.
Drinkwitz: They looked at every play that Devin Brown was in for, and will apply what they saw to everything that Day and Brian Hartline like to do offensively. The defense will be reactive and they can be multiple up front to contend with OSU’s style of offense, whatever it will be.