Ryan Day’s predecessor, Urban Meyer, possibly turned up the heat on the Ohio State Buckeyes head coach.
This offseason, Ohio State boosters reportedly spent $10M-$13M to upgrade the roster. Clearly, Meyer thinks shelling out money has paid off.
“As of now, this is one of the most talented rosters in the last decade, maybe ever,” Meyer told Adam King of WBNS-TV in Columbus on Tuesday. “I mean, that’s a big statement. They’ve got to play. But you look at the quality of athlete at every position. … I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Another former Ohio State HC, Jim Tressel, agreed with Meyer, telling King, “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that many great players in that building all at once.”
Of course, those are bold statements from Tressel and Meyer. But both won a national title while at Ohio State, so it’s safe to assume they know what they’re talking about.
An incredible roster bodes well for Day. It could help him win his first title and snap a three-game losing streak against archrival Michigan. However, it also creates more pressure.
“Rat poison is what [recently retired Alabama HC] Nick Saban used to call this,” wrote Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel. “A big heaping serving that does nothing but increase expectations on Day and the Buckeyes to win the national championship or explain what the heck happened.”
Day has posted a 56-8 record in six seasons with the program. Suggesting that his seat is getting warmer seems ridiculous. Ohio State last won a national championship in 2014, though. Boosters may be growing impatient and want Day to deliver, especially after pumping boatloads of money into the program.
“There aren’t many excuses available,” wrote Wetzel. “Anything less than everything — a national title — will probably feel like a failure. That’s a brutal standard. It’s only getting cemented, though, with comments about all-time roster talent.”
