Ryan Day Has 'Heard' Outside Criticisms Before Fighting Irish Game
The No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes came in fired up, and they'll need to play with that emotion if they want to upset the No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day said on the NBC broadcast that Ohio State has prepared for this game "all year."
“Our guys had a great couple days of preparation," Day said. "Quite honestly, we’ve had to listen to some people over the past 48 hours make a lot of comments about this team. We’ve heard it all. It’s time to go play the game.”
The comments he may be talking about could include those of former quarterback Brady Quinn, ex-linebacker Manti Te'o and former national-championship-winning head coach Lou Holtz.
"It's been a long time since a Notre Dame team has had this much talent on a roster," Quinn said on "The Zach Gelb Show" Wednesday. "I think they will surprise a lot of Ohio State people. This group feels very similar to Michigan as far as how this team is built."
Te'o understood the test that the Buckeyes presented for the Fighting Irish but felt confident in his alma mater.
"Ohio State's got that brand, they got that name, and sometimes when you're in that transition period, you don't know whether guys are going to look at the Ohio State brand and that name and be intimidated by it or if they're going to come out and swing," Te'o said on "The Pat McAfee Show" Thursday. "I have no doubt that they're going to come out there swinging."
Then, Holtz dropped the hammer and called out Ohio State's physicality and Day, himself.
"You look at coach Day," Holtz said on "The Pat McAfee Show" Friday. "He has lost to Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, and Michigan twice and everybody beats him because they’re more physical than Ohio State.
"Forget who in the hell we're playing. You take this message to Ohio State. You tell them they better bring their lunch because it's going to be a full damn day's work."
