It’s always tough to replace a legend.
That’s what Ohio State head coach Ryan Day was tasked at doing when Urban Meyer handed him the whistle after a victory in the 2019 Rose Bowl. Since then, all Day has done is win every single game by double digits and put his team in position to win the Big Ten Championship again. After that, a spot in the College Football Playoff likely awaits.
So, needless to say, Day is likely to get a good review on his year-end assessment from Gene Smith. There may also be a decent raise in there somewhere in the very near future.
But that’s this year. Many won’t get on the Day train until he shows he can do these types of things on a consistent level with his own players.
And that’s were we are with this week’s Buckeye Battle Cry Roundtable discussion. We asked a few of our writers to weigh in on what kind of job he’ll have done after five years. Will it be more of the same, or will this level of success be hard to keep up with?
We’ll open it up to Mark first.
Next … Mark’s take
Contact/Follow Mark Russell
If you’re asking if Ryan Day will be in the same category as Urban Meyer in five years… that’s a rather large weight to throw on anyone’s shoulders. Urban has three national championships. THREE! For Ryan Day to be in that kind of conversation, he’d have make trips to the top of the mountain top at least two of the next five years. Given what we’ve seen this team do in year one under Day, it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
You can only judge a man based on what we see. And thus far, Ryan Day looks like the real deal. But we’ve seen these one year wonders before. Charlie Weis at Notre Dame anyone?
With that said, I think Ryan Day understands X’s and O’s really well, but more importantly he understands 18-22 year olds in a world where coaches challenging one’s manhood on the field doesn’t necessarily fly any longer.
Ohio State is set up for success for years to come. And I believe Ryan Day, even if he doesn’t get multiple national championships, will have the Buckeyes in contention year in and year out. That may not get him to the same level as Urban, but he’ll at least be in the conversation.
Oh, and it also looks like he’s sprinting down the path of continuing domination over TTUN… which puts you at “Ohio State Legend” status real fast.
Next … Brock’s thoughts
Contact/Follow Brock Netter
It’s a little wild how smoothly the transition from Urban to Ryan Day has gone. Nothing has really changed, and if anything, things have only gotten better.
It’s very possible that Day could viewed in the same breath as Urban, Jim Tressel and others five years from now. But he’ll need a national championship to do so.
Titles are the standard that the last five coaches have primarily set, and Day seems to firmly be on his way to that mark whether it’s this year or next year.
We already know he’s a heck of a recruiter. He maintained nearly every recruit Urban got for 2020, and then flipped a few more players. Not to mention, the 2021 class is off to a very solid start as well.
Day’s legacy is going to be judged by Big Ten titles, National titles and his record against TTUN (1-0 already). He’s most certainly on his way up, it’s just a matter of how long can he maintain this level of greatness. Hopefully for the next 10-15 years.
Next … Phil says…
Contact/Follow Phil Harrison
It’s tough to think there’s any new head coach that can match the level of success Urban Meyer enjoyed, but with what Ryan Day has done this first year, it’s a fair question.
I’m not saying Day is going to take this team to three national titles in five years, but it’s clear he has the makeup to get the job done at Ohio State. There’s a lot of built in advantages in Columbus, but it’s not like just any coach can win, and win big there.
But with his ability to still recruit at a high level so far, the eye and desire in hiring coaching talent, and his confidence in play calling, he has all the tools you want in someone that can steer the Buckeye ship at a high, high level.
All that being said, I think Ryan Day will be known as one of the best coaches in college football if we fast forward five years from now. He’s a bright one, and he’s a star in the making in the same cloth as Urban.
I tried to tell some Michigan fans that he was a star, people just didn’t know it yet. I wonder if they know it now?
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.
