Ryan Day Press Conference: 'Everything in the entire program has been built to win this game'

COLUMBUS — Ohio State head coach Ryan Day met with reporters for his only media session this week as the Buckeyes get ready for Saturday’s game against Michigan. Day discussed his team, the rivalry, the importance of a win this week, and much more. The highlights of everything that was said can be found below.

Michigan’s defensive scheme is similar to years past, but there’s maybe more pressure. Wink Martindale has his own flavor to it, but there’s more aggression in terms of pressure.
This part of the week you’re putting the plan together and focusing on the process right now. You can’t focus on the things that don’t matter. You don’t want the emotions get to you early in the week. Just go to work and trust the process.
When they recruit out of the transfer portal they tell those players that they have to embrace the rivalry. It’s the No. 1 thing that has to happen here every year. It’s talked about every day.
On Will Howard’s completion percentage: stats are great but winning is more important. Will needs to go get his first pair of gold pants.
Carson Hinzman and Austin Siereveld had a good week of practice last week and gave great energy and effort on Saturday. This week will be a big challenge for them, “but they’ll be up for it and we’ll have a good plan.”
Did last year’s Michigan game convince him to be more aggressive on fourth down? You take every game as it comes and you always want to be aggressive but you also have to do what’s smart. You take the emotion out of the decision.
On the weather and cold: When you get to this time of year, you’re going to deal with weather. It will be the same for both teams. You’re expecting cold weather so you have to be ready for it. “We’ll be ready for it.”
Do you have to talk to the seniors about managing emotions this week? When you are focused on the process, it helps to avoid distractions. To say the seniors want to win the game would be one of the biggest understatements of all time. They just need to trust their training. “You fall to the level of your training.” “Everything in the entire program has been built to win this game.”
Concerns on third down efficiency? “We want to be great on third down.” “Conversion on third downs is gonna be critical in this game.” A big part of that success will take place on first down. Want to stay out of third and long.
What do you see in a freshman to know they’re ready for big moments in this game? You don’t know it until you’re in it. Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson are two examples of that. “Ultimately, you just need to do your job at a high level and play with emotion.” It’s still football.
The team that runs best wins, so how do you approach your offense with that in mind? That’s how you control the game, but that’s not the only thing. There’s a lot that comes with it. They will always do what it takes to win the game, but the team that runs the ball and the team that stops the run will win the game.
What kind of image do you try to portray to your team this week? When you live it year round, you don’t have to put anything extra on it this week because everybody knows what it means. “We’ve been training all year for this moment.” “They know what’s at stake.”
“I think there is” still something to be had at kickoff return for the Buckeyes. “We have our best players on special teams. They’re believing right now they can make a difference.”
What do you attribute the defensive rise to? “We know what we need to do and our guys are trying to win every single play, and that’s it.” The staff and players are working together for a great plan this week. Every week you have to upgrade and get better. That’s just the process of the season, and when something doesn’t go well, you have to address it. Even coming out of this past game. But the defense is playing with confidence and they’ll have to get after Michigan from the jump.
As a coach, you try to control everything you can. You get more worked up right now than during the game. Then as it gets closer to the game, it’s a player’s game. “I’m gonna be right there with them. Swinging as hard as we can.” Making sure they have answers during the game and are in an environment to be successful.
Jelani Thurman has made some big blocks this season. Good to see him get that touchdown last week. You never know when your number is going to be called. No matter who it is, everybody’s gotta step up this week.
“There’s nothing quite like this game or this stage, but it has been good for us to get tested this year.” They have been up, down, been through some adversity, down 10-0 to Penn State, 7-0 to Indiana. It adds to the character and resilience to your team. “But this one’s different.”
Players say this game is personal to them, how does that affect you? The past doesn’t matter. The focus is on each other and playing really hard for each other.
What would it mean for you to get a win on Saturday: “I think you know what it means…”
How does early signing impact replacing decommitments and how you operate during the season: It’s always changing. “This is probably as unstable as it’s ever been in recruiting.” Based on when signing day is right now. There is no good answer. “We’re so focused on winning this game that it’s so hard to think about anything else…” but you still have to recruit and get ready for signing day next week. “I feel really good about the class that’s committed to us and where we’re headed on signing day.”
Where should signing day fall? He wanted it moved up as much as possible, but HS coaches were worried about players opting out of their senior seasons.
Why have the losses to Michigan been so hard on you? Not to get into too much of it, but this game is a war and there are always casualties and there is always plundering. “I’m excited about the fact that our guys are here now.” There is only so much talking that you can do about it. “I’m excited about this game. I’m excited about this team. I love the look in their eye. I love this team.”
On running the ball: “I don’t think we have a choice. We have to.” It comes down to everybody executing. Gotta get downhill. The offensive line has to handle their front. They have a good front, “but that’s not gonna change our front.”