Kirk Herbstreit doesn’t need to hear the Ohio State hate.
The “College GameDay” mainstay and former Buckeyes quarterback put critics of Ohio State coach Ryan Day on blast Saturday after the group’s 42-17 dismantling of Tennessee within the first spherical of the Faculty Soccer Playoff — simply weeks after followers had been calling for Day’s firing following a Nov. 30 loss to unranked rival Michigan.
“I can’t speak on behalf of the lunatic fringe. I’m not sure how they operate,” stated Herbstreit, who was offering coloration commentary for the sport on ABC. “The lunatic fringe at Ohio State is as powerful as anywhere in the country. … I don’t know, I’m sure they’ll be happy tonight and be fired up about what the Ohio State team did. But God forbid they lose to Oregon. They may want to fire him again.”
Play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler additionally chimed in, saying the followers don’t possess the facility to name for Day’s firing.
“But that’s not reality,” Fowler stated to Herbstreit. “When you hear pundits on this network or other places talk about that with certainty, it’s nonsense, frankly. The public doesn’t pull the trigger and get rid of a coach. The administrators do, and they’re behind him [Day].”
That’s when Herbstreit referred to as consideration to his ESPN colleagues.
“’First Take’ tried to fire him. They thought he was done, so I’ll be excited to see what they talk about on Monday after this performance,” Herbstreit stated. “They had him out and were trying to find replacements, but here he is. He’s still got his hat on, and he’s still coaching.”
Herbstreit’s feedback adopted Stephen A. Smith’s scathing remarks about Day throughout Friday’s version of “First Take.”
“Are you kidding me? With a $20 million roster, you came into 2024 talking national championship… The mandate is to beat Michigan and put yourself into a position to win a national championship… If this man gets bounced out of here this weekend, he got to go,” Smith exclaimed.
Though Day’s teaching report improved to 67-10 after Saturday’s spectacular victory over Tennessee, Michigan followers have continued to poke enjoyable on the coach because the Wolverines entered the sport as double-digit underdogs.
Michigan alum and Barstool Sports activities founder Dave Portnoy has been shelling “Extend Ryan Day” swag, whereas a aircraft banner with the identical message was seen earlier than kickoff Saturday.
Day is 1-4 towards Michigan in his profession, with all however this yr’s recreation coming towards now-Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh.
Ohio State will face top-seed Oregon within the second spherical of the CFP.
