Ohio State football: Day says Buckeyes managing great expectations

Ohio State coach Ryan Day had his final meeting with the media Thursday ahead of the Buckeyes' season-opening game against Nebraska.

Here are the highlights:

  • The daily testing plan the Big Ten has implemented for players and staff should alleviate concerns about Nebraska being a state that is under a travel advisory from the state of Ohio because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Although parents are part of the small group of people allowed to attend the game Saturday at Ohio Stadium, players are encouraged to keep their distance from loved ones before and after games. That is a lesson learned from other teams that have been playing since last month and have experienced outbreaks within their locker room. Visitors present a chance for exposure that can spread quickly.
  • However, Day acknowledged that is a rule the coaches can’t really enforce.
  • Day said how Thayer Munford played last year at left tackle is remarkable considering he missed the offseason recovering from a back injury. He will look like a different player this year.
  • The offseason provided more time for coaches to reflect than usual, especially since Day is not staying with his family at night now in an effort to avoid getting coronavirus and being unable to continue coaching or risk spreading it to others.
  • He thinks the players are doing well with managing expectations, but that won’t be certain until the games start. They can’t try to win the national championship or the Heisman Trophy on Saturday but have to take the season step by step.

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