COLUMBUS, Ohio — The first preseason practice of 25 is in the books for Ohio State football.
That suggests the Buckeyes have 24 more sessions to determine who the starters will be come Aug. 31 when OSU opens the season at home against Akron.
But for coach Ryan Day and his staff, compiling the starting lineup extends beyond August. It comes from a system labeled, “champions.”
We have three different areas of champions,” Day said Thursday.
“We have the winter, we have the summer and we have during the season.
You have to grade out over 80% to be a champion. You have to play over 15 plays.
The goal of every assistant coach and their unit is for their players to grade out the champion.
It’s the goal for their unit to be champions.”
As he tends to various duties on the shoulders of a head coach, Day must trust his assistants to determine who the best option is in their respective rooms.
“Ultimately, it’s their job,” Day said. “They’re hired to do that.
The first thing they’ve got to do is take care of their family, their health and their character.
The next thing they’ve got to do is recruit. The next thing is taking care of their unit to make sure that their guys are doing their part.”
Production is part of the process, according to Day. Leadership and unselfishness play a key role as well.
When the process reaches decision-making time, Day wants his assistants to hold a firm answer.
“They’ve got to pound their fist on the table and say, ‘This is who I want,’” Day said.
