Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day Talks Health Of Team, Final Preparations For Clemson Game In Thursday Zoom Call

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day spoke to the media Thursday over Zoom call in his final joint press conference with Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney before the Buckeyes and Tigers take the field Friday.

Day opened his press conference by saying that his team is excited to get down to New Orleans and talked about the bizarre times with not yet being down there for a bowl game that is tomorrow.
Day also credited Clemson’s football team and called them a great team and again said that the team is excited to play.
“We’re looking forward to putting on a great show.”
Said after such a weird and uncertain season, “this is the stage we wanted to be on.”
On if being an underdog in the game is a motivator: “I don’t think you need any more motivation other than you’re two games away from winning the whole thing.”
Day on losing to Clemson last year: “I think after last year’s game, it was fresh on our mind.” Also said that the team is overcoming so much in general with COVID-19 this year and that it would be a great story for how much this team overcame to get here.
Day said that it’s a “floating target right now” when asked about being full strength against Clemson. He said there are guys back but to say they are 100 percent, “it’s different this year.”
On the running back situation, Day said it is a much different year compared to what J.K. Dobbins did as the bell-cow running back last year. Said that both Trey Sermon and Master Teague both had to recover from injuries and that “I think you saw the best version of Trey” in the Big Ten Championship.
Day laughed and said he was happy that Swinney was not on the College Football Playoff committee after seeing he placed the Buckeyes No. 11 in the coaches poll.
Said that “the line of scrimmage is critical” in every game, but especially against teams like Clemson.
Having a plan and then constantly having to change it was what Day said was likely the biggest challenge of handling this season. Also said it gave him perspective on what not to take for granted.
“There’s going to be a certain level of electricity” at the start of the game in such a highly anticipated matchup, but that usually after a couple hits the game starts to slow down.
Said he doesn’t think the team or Justin Fields have played their best game. He said the challenge is for the Buckeyes to do that tomorrow against Clemson.

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