After the Ohio State football team’s historic national championship win last month, head coach Ryan Day became a beloved figure in Columbus. However, his journey to success hasn’t been without controversy, particularly after a heartbreaking loss to Michigan last November. The loss stirred harsh criticism from some Ohio State fans, with some going as far as referencing Ryan Day’s father’s tragic suicide when Day was just eight years old.
Nina Day, Ryan’s wife, shared the painful story with The Columbus Dispatch, revealing that some of the hateful comments directed at her husband suggested he follow in his father’s footsteps. One post, made by Ohio State podcast host @B1G_Ryan on X (formerly Twitter), stood out. The now-deleted post, which read, “Our head coach needs to take some advice from his father,” ignited backlash. The post was largely overlooked during the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff run but resurfaced following Nina Day’s comments in late January, drawing public criticism from fans and former players.
The podcast host, who co-hosts High Street Freaks and operates the Meet at Midfield website, initially apologized for the post but found himself embroiled in several social media arguments. On Tuesday, he made a more sincere apology on his podcast and announced a $500 donation to the Kids Mental Health Foundation, a charity supported by Ryan and Nina Day. The host expressed deep regret for the insensitive tweet, acknowledging that it crossed several lines and was inexcusable.
“I am embarrassed and ashamed of what I said,” he admitted on the podcast. “It was beyond the pale, and I’m genuinely very sorry for having said it.”
While the donation may not fully erase the damage caused, the podcast host’s attempt to make amends by contributing to a cause the Day family cares deeply about offers a positive outcome from a regrettable situation.
