Nick Saban backs coach Ryan Day, tells Ohio State fans to ‘stop all this bad bulls—‘
During his storied coaching career, Nick Saban he rarely shied away from an opportunity to share his thoughts on hot topics surrounding college football.
Saban and the rest of ESPN’s “College GameDay” crew were in Indiana ahead of the 12-team College Football Playoff opener between Notre Dame and the Hoosiers. While the high-profile game was the main topic during the pregame show, embattled Ohio State coach Ryan Day was also discussed.
Saban defended Day and directed his anger at Buckeyes fans, suggesting they at least bear some of the blame for the negative cloud surrounding the program.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH ONE OF THE GAMES ON FOXNEWS.COM
Nick Saban sits on ESPN’s “College GameDay” set before the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa., Nov. 2, 2024. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Saban said that the noise about the program is disturbing for the coaches and players and he also made it clear that he respects Suku and his program.
DEION SANDERS ADAMANT HIS SON SHEDEUR WILL BE WITH YOU. 1 OVERALL PICK IN THE NFL DRAFT
“I think every coach has to explain how he wants to do it, and I have a lot of respect for Ryan Day and how he tried to do it,” Saban said. “For me, I always wanted every player in the organization to reach their full potential. It didn’t matter about the result, it was about what you had to do to make everyone better.
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day and Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban before the College Football Playoff national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium Jan. 11, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
“But a big part of that was to protect the players from outside things – the criticism, the internet. I used to tell the players all the time, ‘Why do you care that some fat guy on the internet in his underwear lives in his mother’s basement? Why does that mean anything to you?’
“It’s the same thing with the fans. I would tell the fans the same thing. If Ohio State wants to beat Michigan, they have to have a positive attitude about their coach and their players. Nobody wants to beat them more than their players and their players.” Coaches. That’s number 1. No. 2, they have a chance to win the national championship. Everyone should support hell to have a better chance to do it and stop all this negativity. bulls—.”
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day before the game against the Akron Zips at Ohio Stadium. (Joseph Maiorana/USA Today Sports)
While Day compiled a 66-10 record at Ohio State, his Buckeyes lost four straight to the Michigan Wolverines.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
The day’s poor results against Michigan drew criticism and raised concerns about the coach’s job security. The day focused on the Buckeyes’ upcoming game against Tennessee in the College Football Playoff. The Buccaneers host the Volunteers on Saturday.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on Xand subscribe to Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
