Ryan Day is all too familiar with Ohio State football’s ability to blow a lead down the stretch, which caused him to go nuclear on his players during an angry tirade on Saturday. He knows that every point counts and didn’t want to see an opportunity to score go to waste.
It all went down late in the second quarter with a 20-0 lead.
The Buckeyes committed offensive holding on a punt return, which gave the offense the ball with 1st-and-20 at their own 30-yard-line. A pass attempt on first down fell incomplete. As did another pass on second down.
Ohio State had 3rd-and-20 with 3:31 left in the first half. However, it quickly became 3rd-and-25.
The offense could not get lined up properly, did not get the snap off in time, and was called for a delay of game. As a result, Ryan Day chose to run the ball and punt instead of risking a turnover.
He was not happy about it.
Quarterback Kyle McCord — who was playing very well — jogged back over to the sideline. Day lost his mind and asked his signal-caller what happened.
McCord tried to plead his case, but the head coach was having none of it and continued to chew him out. And then it was offensive lineman Josh Simmons‘ turn for an earful.
Although the words aren’t entirely clear, it appeared as though Day called Simmons a “fat a$$” and told him to get onside. Here is how it looked in real time so you can be the judge:
Even though Ohio State was up by three scores, Day wanted more from his guys. He expects perfection. He is often criticized for not lighting a fire under his players.
That was not the issue during the Big Ten college football game on Saturday! Day laid into his quarterback and 310-pound lineman for messing up a 3rd-and-20 with a 20-point lead over a bad team late in the first half.