It’s way too early to get excited about these sorts of things, but as the Ohio State football season hits its midway point (believe it or not), head coach Ryan Day has made it onto a pretty significant Watch List.
On Wednesday, the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award announced its Watch List for coach of the year, and Day is among the 24 names to follow.
It’s hard to get a gauge on what type of job Day has done on the field thus far with only three games under his belt, but he did an outstanding job steering the program and conference through all the uncertainty of a fall football season. His leadership within his team and with the Big Ten had a big impact on the conference reinstating the season. More than anything he fought for his players and allowed them to have a voice in all that was going on.
Day has also embraced measures put in place for the coronavirus pandemic and has been a supporting voice towards social injustice.
The Award has been handed out annually since 1957 as the College Football Coach of the Year Award, but renamed to honor Bryant in 1986. The American Heart Association recognizes the honoree and it all culminates with a ceremony and banquet in Houston, TX in January each year.
The Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards announced our Coach of the Year Watch List today! Who's at the top of your list? The winner will be announced in January…stay tuned! #BryantAwards pic.twitter.com/0vyETtydS8
— Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award (@bryantawards) November 17, 2020
Jim Tressel is the only Ohio State coach to win the award. He did it back in 2002 when the Buckeyes went 14-0, capped off by a stunning upset of the Miami Hurricanes for the national championship.
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