During his storied coaching career, Nick Saban has rarely shied away from the opportunity to share his thoughts on hot topics centered around college football.
Saban and ESPN's College GameDay staff were in Indiana ahead of Notre Dame's opening game of the 12-team College Football Playoff against the Hoosiers. While the high-stakes game was the main topic of conversation during the pregame show, struggling Ohio State coach Ryan Day was also talked about.
Saban defended Day and directed his anger at Buckeyes fans, suggesting they were at least partially to blame for the cloud of negativity surrounding the program.
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Nick Saban sits on ESPN's “College Gameday” set before the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Ohio State Buckeyes on November 2, 2024 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Saban also said he respects Day and his program, saying the noise surrounding the program is a distraction for coaches and players.
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“I think every coach has to define how they want to do it, and I have a lot of respect for Ryan Day and how he tried to do it,” Saban said. . “For me, it was always about wanting every player in the organization to reach their full potential. It wasn't about the results, it was about what we had to do to make everyone better. .”
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day and Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban before the College Football Playoff national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 11, 2021. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
“But a big part of that was isolating the players from outside factors like criticism and the internet. I always tell my players, 'Why would a fat guy who lives in his underwear post what he posts on the internet?' Are you in his mother's basement? Why does it matter to you? Why does it affect you in any way? We should focus on what we can control and what we can do.
“It's the same thing for the fans. I would say the same thing to the fans. If Ohio State wants to beat Michigan, they need to be positive about their coaches and players. The players want to beat them as much as they do. No one thinks so, and that's number one. Number two, they have the best chance to win a national championship. May they have the best chance to do so and quit all this negative bullishness. Everyone needs to support them to the best of their ability.”
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day before a game against the Akron Zips at Ohio Stadium. (Joseph Maiorana/USA Today Sports)
Day has a 66-10 record at Ohio State, but his Buckeyes have lost four straight to the Michigan Wolverines.
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Day's underwhelming performance against Michigan drew criticism and raised concerns about the coach's job security. The focus of the day is the Buckeyes' next game against Tennessee in the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes will host the Volunteers on Saturday.
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