What’s up with Ohio State football’s Ryan Day, TreVeyon Henderson and Bryson Shaw? Buckeye Bits

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ryan Day said the significance of playing on the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks would not be lost on Ohio State football.

Day planned to discuss the events with his team this week. While some of the Buckeyes were not born yet when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City and The Pentagon in Washington, D.C., Day could relate his own experience as a student-athlete that day.

Day remembers getting ready for a day of school and practice on a Tuesday during his junior year at New Hampshire.

“All of a sudden it came on the TV screen, and I didn’t end up going to class because we just couldn’t believe what we were seeing,” Day said. “I just remember calling home and, for a few days after that, not feeling safe. They canceled our game that day, and I went off to practice and wasn’t even sure what to do.

“We had a player on our team who lost a family member. It was just very, very real being in the Northeast, and so that day doesn’t seem that long ago to me.”

Welcome back

Saturday’s home opener officially kicks off the 100th season of games at Ohio Stadium.

Yet the opener has additional meaning since the Buckeyes have not played in front of a stadium full of home fans since Nov. 23, 2019 — a span of 658 days. Only family member of players, coaches and staff were allowed to attend Big Ten games last season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Crowds were also limited in the Sugar Bowl and the national championship game.

“Just playing in the Shoe again in front of fans, 100,000 — I’m excited,” senior receiver Chris Olave said. “Being able to have Buckeye nation behind us, cheering on us during the game, it’s going to be fun. We’re all looking forward to that as a team.”

Day said the team will do the Skull Session and Stadium Walk as usual for noon kickoffs such as Saturday. However, for later kickoffs the team will bus over from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center for those events.

What else did we learn this week?

Day said the running back rotation could tighten this week. TreVeyon Henderson touched the ball only three times on offense, turning them into a 10-yard run, a 5-yard run and a 70-yard screen pass touchdown. “I was juiced up the whole time — just excited for my my teammates,” Henderson said. “They were doing a great job. So I was just excited for them.” ... What was Day’s reaction when Miyan Williams ran the wrong way and still ended up with a 71-yard touchdown run at Minnesota? “You’re like, ‘No, no, no, no, yes, yes, yes, yes,” Day said. “... It was just funky enough an it caught them off guard a little bit.” ... Day called Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell “one of the best linebackers in the country.” ... Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown in the season-opening victory over Fresno State. That pushed him over 500 rushing yards for his career between Boston College and the Ducks. “Obviously, they’ve got an athletic quarterback,” OSU safety Bryson Shaw said. “He’s a great player. We’ve got to be ready for every tool he brings to the table.”

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