Scarlet Sunrise: Ryan Day says 'I completely disagree' with targeting no-call in Peach Bowl

On3 imageby:Andy Backstrom02/02/23

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Ohio State head coach Ryan Day says ‘I completely disagree’ with targeting no-call in Peach Bowl

After a full month, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day was asked about the Marvin Harrison Jr. targeting no-call in the Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal: a no-call that could have very well cost the Buckeyes a trip to the national title game, and even a national title.

First, a refresher…

Harrison was having a CFP semifinal to remember. The Biletnikoff Award finalist had five grabs for 106 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. But, with less than a minute left in the third quarter, Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud was pressured on 3rd-and-Goal. Stroud backpedaled before lofting a pass to the back of the end zone. Harrison tried to make a play on the ball, despite being smothered in coverage by Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo. In the process of trying to make another highlight-reel catch, Harrison was drilled by Bulldogs rover Javon Bullard.

A flag was thrown for targeting, but, after review, that call was overturned. No personal foul was assessed, and Ohio State had to settle for a 25-yard Noah Ruggles field goal. Instead of going up 42-24, the Buckeyes remained within two scores of top-ranked Georgia ahead of the fourth quarter. Harrison left the game and was put in concussion protocol. He didn’t return, and Ohio State was outscored, 18-3, and outgained, 187-97, in total yards over the final frame.

Postgame, Day said losing Harrison “absolutely” had an impact on the game, which the Buckeyes ended up losing, 42-41. The now fifth-year head coach said he’d have to look at the replay.

Well, over the last month, Day has done that and more.

“Yeah, I mean, I made a lot of calls after the game,” Day said Wednesday, when asked about the explanation he’s received on the targeting no-call. “I felt like it was targeting. In the moment, and 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 see and understand that and have our medical staff let us know that he was knocked unconscious. And that’s why we’re not going to put him back in the game. Yet the flag gets picked up for targeting.”

Day continued to say that he spoke with Big Ten coordinator of football officials Bill Carollo. He said he then reached out to the Pac-12, where the Peach Bowl’s officiating crew came from. Day said he also talked to national coordinator of officials Steve Shaw.

Shaw said Bullard’s hit wasn’t a shot to Harrison’s head, according to Day.

“I spoke with the officials in the Big Ten,” Day said. I had a great conversation with Bill. I then called at the Pac-12 to find out an explanation there. The explanation that was told to me was that it wasn’t forceable enough. 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 — that it wasn’t a shot right on his head, it was to the shoulder.

“I completely disagree with that. But that was the decision that was made, and those are the two explanations I was given.”

Offseason Report: Lessons learned from jam-packed winter media session with Buckeyes

Ohio State hosted its first media availability since the Buckeyes’ agonizing Peach Bowl defeat to eventual national champion Georgia Wednesday. In addition to Day, 10 Ohio State assistant coaches, not to mention a few other key staffers, were at the ready to answer questions about the Buckeyes.

Lettermen Row was inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to cover it all. The crew of Spencer Holbrook, Tim May and Andy Backstrom have updates and thoughts from the unofficial start of the 2023 campaign, for the media anyway.

To find out about Ohio State’s newest offensive line plans, the Buckeyes’ quarterback battle or the possibility of Day giving up his play-calling duties, check out the latest Offseason Report, presented by Byers Auto.

Ohio State releases list of players out for spring

Day announced Wednesday that eight Buckeyes players will be out for spring ball. It’s a list that includes four of the biggest impact starters from the 2022 Ohio State team, as those playmakers are recovering from postseason and in-season injuries.

Here are the Buckeyes players who will be unavailable for the 15 practices and the annual spring game:

  • WR Julian Fleming
  • WR Emeka Egbuka
  • LB Tommy Eichenberg
  • RB TreVeyon Henderson
  • DE/LB Mitchell Melton
  • RB Evan Pryor
  • C Jakob James
  • S Kourt Williams

Find out more here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 212 days

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 296 days

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