The only thing hotter than the playing surface during Texas' stunning, come-from-behind win over Ohio State this past Saturday has been the heat Ryan Day is facing following a third-straight loss against a top-10 opponent. Making the 24-23 loss especially painful for Buckeye fans was the sight of their team blowing a 20-point lead and their coach making a controversial decision that ultimately backfired when Day gave his offense less time to try to win the game after not allowing Texas to score on their initial play from the 1-yard line. Day should take accountability for his team's lack of recent success against other top-tier programs.
Once again, Day's team fell victim to self-inflicted wounds and an inability to make a big play when it mattered most. Players need to make plays, but the overall performance of a team falls on the head coach. Day shouldn't, however, apologize for trusting his defense to stop Texas late in Saturday night's game.
It was the right decision even though it didn't lead to the desired result. Just ask Urban Meyer, Day's former boss, who won three national titles during runs at Ohio State and Florida. "I would have a really hard time letting them score," Meyer said.
I have enough confidence in my defense. I almost worry, if I throw up the white flag on our defense, what am I telling them down the road, too? "I know people are gonna say, 'Let them score.' I never would have let them score there.
I would have been all over the defense, trying to get them to make a play, make a stop. All you've got to do is make a stop, and you win the game." Meyer is right, and so was Day, even if he has somewhat walked his decision back. There are countless examples of teams losing big games after allowing a team to score.
In the NFL, the heavily-favored Packers lost Super Bowl XXXII after Mike Holmgren let the Broncos score with 1:45 left. Bill Belichick made the same mistake 14 years later after he allowed the Giants to score the go-ahead -- and ultimately -- game-winning touchdown late in the Giants' second Super Bowl win over the Patriots. As Meyer alluded to, Ohio State's defense could have come up with a game-winning play.
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