An Ohio State Fan's Top 5 Replacements For Ryan Day Should The Buckeyes Decide Losing To Michigan 3x In A Row Is A Fireable Offense
Anyways, if Gene Smith does decide to make his parting move from Ohio State to get rid of Ryan Day (or if Ryan succumbs to the pressure of a fan base that simply wants to beat their rival), I have my list of replacements / recommendations ready to go. One thing you'll note about all 5 of these candidates is they are all from OHIO. That is the issue that I have determined is the number one key factor we've lost in this rivalry, leading to us losing 3 years in a row. We've got a Head Coach from New Hampshire leading a Quarterback from Pennsylvania being represented on camera at Barstool by an oversized punching bag of fan from New Jersey that transferred in for the last month of college all acting like this game is really important to them. All nice enough guys, but hey foreigners, !!!!
But the fact of the matter is that losing to Michigan 3x in a row is a fireable offense at Ohio State. And I would argue that we wouldn't even need to pay him a buyout fee if we did fire him, seeing as this would likely fall under a "with clause" part of his contract. Like, and I don't mean to be insensitive, who has been the Big 10 coach that committed the worst act this season: Pat Fitzgerald, Mel Tucker, or Ryan Day?
Let me say this, and I truly do mean it: it hurts my heart to write this blog. I really like Ryan Day. I feel awful for him. I think he's an EXCELLENT head coach and leader, and I think that while he didn't realize it at first, I truly do think he understood the magnitude of this rivalry. I'm sure he's reading this, because he's the type of guy that hears everything, and I just want you to know Ryan that I do care about you and your feelings. I'm sure you feel empty right now because you put everything you had into that game on Saturday except your balls on 4th and 1 and also when we drained the clock to try a 52 yard field goal, and I'm sorry you lost and now I have to blog this.
Talk about a name that would instantly turn the tide of this rivalry and instill fear into not just the other team but the citizens of the other state. It's like that villain in Harry Potter or whatever, Voldemort? Michigan people can't even say the name Urban Meyer without shuttering. The man is 7-0 in The Game and still has plenty of life left in him. Again, I'm not saying Ryan Day NEEDS to go, but if Urban would come back, I'll personally deliver to pink slip to Ryan during my lunch break today. We would win in recruiting, we would win the community, and most importantly, we would win ON THE FIELD.
#2. Mike Vrabel
Birthplace: Akron, Ohio
Physicality. Toughness. Blood runs SCARLET. You want to dominate the line against THEM? Bring Vrabel home. The man grew up here. The man played here. The man coached here. And the man has significant head coaching experience in the highest level of the sport. I wouldn't mind shaking out the cobwebs today to see if uhh, hypothetically, he was interested.
#3. Jim Tressel
Birthplace: Mentor, Ohio
I don't care that he's 70 years old. I don't need a coach for the next decade, I just need someone to come in here and remind everyone how to beat Michigan. The man did it 9x out of his 10 chances. And he made it known IMMEDIATELY upon his hire that that's what he was here to do. I know that lied when his players got tattoos and deservedly served 25 years in a federal prison for doing so, but it appears the NCAA and apparently the Big 10 are letting all criminals walk free these days. I'd take Jim Tressel back TOMORROW. And we wouldn't even need to change the playbook. Day loves to punt!
#4. Luke Fickell
Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio
Look, I was a freshman when Coach Fickell led the Buckeyes to a 6-7 record as an interim head coach. And I know he lost his only chance vs. Michigan. But that was with a team that was in turmoil and beaten and bruised by the NCAA. This version of the Buckeyes has just as much talent as any team in the country, and they just need a leader of MEN that will instill some pride back in the program. I can tell you this: a Luke Fickell coached team would not be dancing in a circle before kickoff. A Luke Fickell coached team will punch you in the mouth and keep swinging.
#5. Justin Buttermore
Birthplace: West Branch, Ohio
Listen, I know he is only a high school coach, but the best man for the job might be teaching Gym right down the road from campus. I realize that not every reader of this website keeps up to date with the ins and outs of Ohio High School Football, but for those of you that do, you understand what this man has done at Tri-Valley, Granville, and now Upper Arlington. If you lined up Upper Arlington across from Pickerington Central or Gahanna, 100% of people with brains would take the opposition by 4 scores. But he beat them both? And he consistently does it with little white dudes that go on to be doctors and lawyers. Could you imagine what he could do with 5 star talent? When he would walk into 99.999% of games with the clear talent advantage? Plus, Ryan Day does this job for $10 million a year. I bet Buttermore would do it for 150K!
Honorable Mentions: Matt Campbell (Massillon) , Mark Stoops (Youngstown), Jim Harbaugh?? (Will be looking for a job this off-season, can win The Game, and is from Toledo?)
People I DON'T WANT: Lane Kiffin, Dan Lanning, Anyone that cannot present a birth certificate with the word OHIO on it!!!
!
