In a recent statement, Lou Holtz called into question the toughness of The Ohio State Buckeyes. This is not a new notion, as the team has been criticized in the past for their lack of physicality, particularly in their last two losses to rival Michigan. In those games, the Buckeyes were outplayed on both sides of the ball, leading some to question their ability to compete in high-stakes matchups. Despite the team’s overall success under head coach Ryan Day, there is a growing concern that they struggle to win in the biggest games.
Day has only lost six games in his career, but all of them have come in high-pressure situations against top-tier opponents. These losses include matchups against Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, and Oregon, as well as two defeats at the hands of Michigan. It is worth noting that Day has had some success in these types of games, having beaten Clemson in the past and coming extremely close to defeating Georgia. However, the fact remains that the Buckeyes have not been able to consistently perform at their best in these crucial moments. As a result, there is a sense that the team needs to find a way to step up their game in order to compete with the best teams in the country.
It’s evident that the statements questioning Buckeyes’ toughness have been bothering him. He decided to express his feelings after defeating Notre Dame on the road.
“I’m really upset … about what Lou Holtz said publicly about our team, and Ohio State, and Buckeye Nation,” Day said of Holtz, who was honored with Notre Dame’s 1988 national championship team during Saturday’s game. “We’re not going to stand for that. That’s not even close to true. We had one bad half a couple of years ago up in Ann Arbor, the second half. Every game we play in, we’re physical, we are.
“I don’t know where that narrative comes from, but that ends tonight.”
Here is the epic post game rant that Day went on.
And here’s Ryan Day fired up over Lou Holtz: pic.twitter.com/kYkGAn5BAt
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 24, 2023
Despite his impressive coaching record, Day still faces scrutiny from critics who question his ability to win big games. Many argue that a victory against Michigan and a National Championship title are the only two things that will silence these doubts. Until these feats are achieved, Day’s reputation as a big game coach will remain in question and he will continue to face criticism from those who doubt his abilities.