This is a rebuilding year. You ain't nothing special until you prove it on the field.
Day should have been lowering expectations before the year. He should have reacted to a #1 ranking with some questions in public and challenged his players to own it quietly. There is a LOT of talent on both sides of the ball, but the team lacks battle hardening as units and have inexperienced cogs in the wheel this early in the season. Day could have managed public expectations much more strategically so that Ohio State didn't walk onto the field in Texas with so much to lose and much less to win.
The beginning of that game gifted Ohio State two scores, in large part. Day should have told his team at half time that the game was not won and that they needed to come out winning. Pre-season, we heard was that Julian Sayin was leading the team and performing at a higher level than ever. In truth, he performed well below expectations in the 4th quarter when the pressure rose. We could say the same thing about the defensive line.
Perhaps I am wrong, and I understand and agree with the central premise, but Coach Day needs to rethink his strategy of cutting the number of plays to save his players for the final championship run. We all know that he has stud ponies that want to be ridden but rotating more players on the field accomplishes the same player health goals. If there aren't more players ready to play, even in a rebuilding year, then recruiting and readiness strategies need attention.
This is a disappointing loss because of the way it happened. Championships are still on the table, but so is the possibility that they roll into The Game with three losses.
Day should have been lowering expectations before the year. He should have reacted to a #1 ranking with some questions in public and challenged his players to own it quietly. There is a LOT of talent on both sides of the ball, but the team lacks battle hardening as units and have inexperienced cogs in the wheel this early in the season. Day could have managed public expectations much more strategically so that Ohio State didn't walk onto the field in Texas with so much to lose and much less to win.
The beginning of that game gifted Ohio State two scores, in large part. Day should have told his team at half time that the game was not won and that they needed to come out winning. Pre-season, we heard was that Julian Sayin was leading the team and performing at a higher level than ever. In truth, he performed well below expectations in the 4th quarter when the pressure rose. We could say the same thing about the defensive line.
Perhaps I am wrong, and I understand and agree with the central premise, but Coach Day needs to rethink his strategy of cutting the number of plays to save his players for the final championship run. We all know that he has stud ponies that want to be ridden but rotating more players on the field accomplishes the same player health goals. If there aren't more players ready to play, even in a rebuilding year, then recruiting and readiness strategies need attention.
This is a disappointing loss because of the way it happened. Championships are still on the table, but so is the possibility that they roll into The Game with three losses.