Ohio State head coach Ryan Day spoke with Paul Keels and Jim Lachey on 97.1 The Fan during The Ryan Day Radio Show.
Day reflected on Ohio State’s performance against Nebraska and how the Buckeyes are preparing for their matchup with upset-minded Purdue on Saturday.
RYAN DAY COMMENTS AND QUOTES
On Nicholas Petit-Frere:
Day said Petit-Frere missed a few practices last week due to a loss in his family.
On C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba connection:
“Jaxon had a big day.”
“It was good to see.”
On Tyreke Smith:
“He’s shown up in a big way.”
On Ronnie Hickman:
Day said the defense “kind of revolves around him.”
“The production speaks for itself.”
“Ronnie Hickman can do a lot of things.”
On Stroud, his leadership:
“He’s taken more of a command of the offense.”
Day said he is starting to realize the value of each rep in practice.
On Ohio State offering so many Buckeye Leaves:
“It’s inflation — the dollar’s different than it is now.”
On Purdue wide receiver David Bell:
“David Bell is one of the best wide receivers in the country.”
“They do a really good job moving him around.”
“We have to do a good job sticking to our plan and knowing where he’s at.”
On Purdue quarterback Aiden O’Connell:
“He is one of the hotter guys in the league right now.”
On Purdue’s defense:
“Karlaftis is probably a first-round pick.”
“You’ve seen what they’ve done to some of the top-five teams in the country. They’re dangerous.”
On Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis:
“For Nick and Dawand, this is by far the strongest guy we’ve played.”
“Any competitor looks at that like a challenge.”
“Saturday we will find out where we’re at.”
On keeping focus week-to-week:
“It’s the biggest challenge for our staff right now.”
Day said his team has to fight distractions and look ahead to future games and possibilities.
“If you want to be great, you have to be consistent. I don’t think we’re great yet.”
“You have to find ways to win.”
On Steele Chambers:
Day said the team got Chick-Fil-A sandwiches on the plane ride to Lincoln and he almost joked with Chambers saying he “would get half a sandwich” for missing half the game.
On the ride home, Day told Chambers he could have a whole sandwich “because he played that good.”
Day said Ohio State was happy to take the ball to start the game against Nebraska because it would give them an extra defensive possession with Chambers in the second half.
On Denzel Burke:
“For a freshman, he’s done a good job.”
Day said outside of Jahan Dotson of Penn State, Bell is the best wide receiver Ohio State will face.
“Not gonna win every battle.”
On the run game:
“We’re gonna need those guys. We’re gonna need them to be healthy and play for us.”
“As the weather keeps turning the way it does. we’re gonna need the run game.”
On Veteran’s Day:
Day said service members come to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, giving the players an opportunity to thank them for their sacrifice.
He said the players are taught the meaning of Veteran’s Day and how it impacts them and the Ohio State program.
