Urban Meyer understands what his successor Ryan Day is dealing with as head coach at Ohio State.
Meyer reached incredible heights during his seven years with the Buckeyes before turning the reins over to Day following the 2018 season. Day has won plenty since then, but has failed to deliver a national championship, and after suffering his fourth-straight loss to Michigan last week, he finds his seat getting hotter.
On Wednesday’s edition of his “The Triple Option” podcast with co-hosts Rob Stone and Mark Ingram, Meyer got very honest about what Day is facing and the possibility his job might be on the line.
“It’s uncomfortable to hear the fired word and it’s uncomfortable to hear about pressure, but it’s also reality that you’re compensated very well, you get all the resources,” Meyer said. “I talked to someone, I said ‘Man, it’s a rugged job but it’s also arguably the best job.'”
“It’s uncomfortable to hear the fired word and it’s uncomfortable to hear about pressure, but it’s also reality…”
Urban Meyer on his podcast @3xOptionShow today reacting to the Ryan Day rumors pic.twitter.com/VHosaZXSTx
— Anthony Lima (@SportsBoyTony) December 4, 2024
Meyer also emphasized that when he was at Florida and Ohio State, he ran things differently than coaches do at other programs, with a constant focus on being No. 1.
“People say this is drastic, but every waking moment you have, if you’re not the best? Find a way to become the best. That’s your job description,” Meyer said. “If you don’t like that, go pay your taxes and be a good person, but leave here.”
Meyer’s candidness certainly caught the attention of the Ohio State fanbase.
“This is more honest than I ever would have expected Meyer to be about the state of the Ohio State program,” said OSU fan Ben Axelrod of Awful Announcing.
“He wants back so bad,” another person said.
“He ain’t built for it, we know Urban we know,” another fan added.
“Jesus he’s so good,” said another Buckeye supporter.
“That just seems like a guy who’s itching to coach again IMO,” a fifth commenter wrote.
The people alluding to Meyer wanting to come back to coach are referring to a report from longtime broadcaster Jay Crawford, who said this week on the “Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show” that Meyer would be open to a return to OSU.
“Urban never wanted to leave Ohio State,” Crawford said. “His hand was forced, because the administration at the time, did not like how powerful Urban had become at the university. And so there was a real power struggle.”
“Note that the two main players that forced Urban out – and that’s what it was – are gone.”
Despite last week’s loss, Ohio State is still expected to be in the College Football Playoff when the 12-team bracket is revealed on Sunday.
Related: Urban Meyer Breaks His Silence On The Ohio State Rumors