Desmond Howard On Ryan Day's Postgame Rant: 'I Thought That It Was Thin-Skinned'

As one of the prominent figures on ESPN's College Gameday show, Michigan Football legend Desmond Howard isn't one to hold back when he has an opinion. Speaking Saturday ahead of the matchup between No. 17 Duke and No. 11 Notre Dame, Howard reflected back on Ryan Day's postgame conduct following Ohio State's narrow win over the Irish last weekend.

"I thought that it was thin-skinned, they were hypersensitive, and it wasn't their best moments at all."

Desmond Howard criticizes Dickert, Leaf, as well as Ohio State's Ryan Day for going after Lee Corso and Lou Holtz. pic.twitter.com/RDDq9FNw1Q
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 30, 2023

"You're looking at a big game, Ohio State vs. Notre Dame, the last thing he should have done was come after Lou Holtz," Howard said. Enjoy the moment, talk about the success of your team, but don't come after an elderly old man the way that he did."

"I was turned off by it. I thought that it was thin-skinned."

Although the folks in Columbus seemed to love Day's postgame rant following the win over Notre Dame, Ohio State's head coach has also received plenty of criticism from a national perspective.

Ryan Day never doubted his team's toughness. pic.twitter.com/bPfyp1CvqA
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) September 24, 2023

"I'd like to know where Lou Holtz is right now," Day said. "What he said about our team, what he said about our team...I cannot believe. This is a tough team right here. We're proud to be from Ohio, and it's always been Ohio against the world. It will continue to be Ohio against the world. But I'll tell you what, I love those kids and we've got a tough team."

When asked what his team proved about themselves following the victory, Day continued his rant with a wild assertion, claiming the Buckeyes have played just one bad half of football over the last couple of years.

"Toughness. Everybody's questioning these kids all of the time. We had one bad half the last couple of years, that's it."

Meeting with the media during his postgame press conference, Day elaborated on his "one bad half" comment, saying that he was referring to the 2021 loss against Michigan in Ann Arbor.

"We had one bad half a couple of years ago up in Ann Arbor, we did in the second half. But every game we play in, we're physical...we are. I don't know where that narrative comes from, but that ends tonight."

Although Day did his best to convince the nation that his team is tough, his postgame comments seem to have had the opposite effect.