Ryan Day nonetheless upset with concentrating on no-call in Ohio State’s CFP semifinal loss

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day revealed in a press convention with native media Wednesday that he’s nonetheless not proud of a controversial ruling throughout his crew’s 42-41 loss to eventual nationwide champion Georgia in a Faculty Soccer Playoff semifinal within the Peach Bowl.

Star Ohio State vast receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. left the sport within the third quarter after a tough hit ultimately zone from Georgia security Javon Bullard. The Bulldogs defensive again was allowed to stay within the sport when officers dominated after a replay evaluation that he didn’t commit a concentrating on penalty.

Day spoke at size concerning the play — and his fury on the no-call — for the primary time Wednesday, revealing that Harrison was not solely knocked out of the sport however actually knocked out on the play.

“I made a lot of calls after the game,” Day mentioned. “I felt like it was targeting. In the moment, when things are moving fast, and you can’t see the replay, it’s very hard to see. The hard thing for me is to have our medical staff let us know that he was knocked unconscious and that’s why we’re not gonna put him back in the game, yet the flag gets picked up for targeting.”

Day revealed he went on to talk with referees from the Large Ten in addition to the Pac-12, the convention whose referees labored the sport. (It’s common follow in school soccer bowl video games, particularly main ones, to have referee crews from a convention not represented by both crew within the sport.) He additionally spoke with Steve Shaw, the NCAA’s nationwide coordinator of soccer officers.

“The explanation that was told to me [by the Pac-12] was that [Bullard’s hit] wasn’t forcible enough,” Day mentioned. “I then asked to speak with the head of the officials, Steve Shaw. He explained to me that the hit didn’t go right to Marvin’s head. It wasn’t a shot right on his head, it was to the shoulder.

“I utterly disagree with that, however that was the choice that was made and people had been the 2 explanations I used to be given.”

Day made it clear he was taking a filtered approach with his answer, even double-checking with an Ohio State sports information official to see if he had permission to talk about the play. During the game, he was visibly furious on the sideline after the no-call, and it appears that fury has not fully abated in the month since that game.

[R.J. Young: Ohio State is primed to reload in 2023 even with C.J. Stroud bound for NFL]

He had cause to be. Whatever the legality of Bullard’s hit, Harrison’s departure was an enormous loss for Ohio State. After a 2022 common season through which he had cemented himself as probably the greatest vast receivers in school soccer, Harrison had already racked up 106 yards and two touchdowns on 5 catches within the Peach Bowl earlier than his damage.

The excellent news for Day and Ohio State is that Harrison is about to return to the Buckeyes in 2023. Nevertheless, he may have a brand new quarterback throwing him the ball after Heisman Trophy finalist C.J. Stroud declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. 

Redshirt sophomore Kyle McCord and redshirt freshman Devin Brown, each former blue-chip prospects popping out of highschool, will compete for the beginning quarterback place in spring practices, and Day mentioned Wednesday that he wish to title a starter by the point the crew’s spring camp ends. 

Day additionally revealed that he’s contemplating relinquishing playcalling duties on offense to newly promoted offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, who’s broadly thought to be one of many high assistant coaches within the nation. Hartline will name performs throughout spring practices, Day mentioned.

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