Ryan Day hopes for fans in Ohio Stadium this fall, talks 5th-year impacts
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Come this fall, Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day hopes to see the seats in Ohio Stadium host plenty of Buckeyes faithful.
Day said Monday that he hopes the fall “looks as normal as possible” for his team to compete come August and September. The now-third-year skipper said he hopes for two things to unfold in the months leading to Week 1.
“I think the most exciting thing as a coach is two things: one, we’re able to work to get better without having any interruptions and have a normal lead-up to the season,” Day said. “And then two, having fans back in the stands for our players. To get that response and feedback after a great play and that support when you walk in the stadium because, call it for what it is, that’s part of the reason why these guys play. They love it, they love playing in front of fans.”
Select family members of Buckeyes players and staff were allowed to attend games last fall with a 1,000-person limit. A health advisory issued in mid-November prohibited their attendance to only essential personnel, which withheld spectators at ultimately Ohio State’s final home game against then-No. 9 Indiana.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced in late-February that he expected baseball stadiums in the state to host at 30% capacity, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. How teams such as the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians adjust to protocol may have a trickle effect in terms of programs like Ohio State learning how to maneuver the re-welcoming of fans at sporting events.
COVID-19 vaccinations became available for Ohioans ages 16 and older on Monday. Day said March 16 that the Buckeyes won’t be required to receive COVID-19 vaccines, and said Monday that they would have to sign up on their own in order to receive an immunization.
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One difference regarding the 2021 season, however, will be apparent in terms of roster size. The NCAA Division I Council voted in August to allow all fall sports student-athletes to receive an additional year of eligibility.
The Buckeyes have several players who will take advantage of their extra year for 2021. Graduate defensive tackle Haskell Garrett and senior offensive tackle Thayer Munford are two veterans who opted to return to Ohio State for their fifth seasons
"I think there’s gonna be some teams that probably have some more fourth- and fifth-year seniors, and that’ll be significant," Day said. "Certainly, the fourth- and fight-year guys that are in our program, really, they bring the leadership and maturity that you need to make championship runs. We try to really foster their leadership.
"The more of those guys we can have around, the better for us."
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Day said there are still travel restrictions in place for his team in terms of complying with existing social distancing and medical protocol. He said the Buckeyes anticipate having 85 scholarship players on the roster and may push north of 90 in terms of total roster size.
Ultimately, Day said the major impact of having those fourth- and fifth-year Buckeyes, or 'super seniors,' will be their leadership they bring with them in practice and on the field. His and the rest of Ohio State's hope, though, will be having fans in the stands to watch their talent and brotherhood on display.