It’s easy to hurl criticism at someone. Especially when they fail to live up to the expectations. Ryan Day has had his fair share of ups and downs at Ohio State this past season. His failure to change the history of The Game mainly led to intense scrutiny and negativity by fans and analysts alike. But he isn’t the only one bearing the stress and pressure of being the Buckeyes’ HC. All that affects him affects his family, as his wife revealed in a brutally honest confession. 

Being the wife of a head coach of a prestigious college football program comes with its challenges. In a YouTube episode on WBNS 10TV on January 17, Nina Day didn’t cover up the struggles she faces on game days. While most might expect it would be a fun aspect, she calls it “high stress” and “high anxiety.” Even in the years down the road, she feels that it doesn’t get any easier. She confessed, “I don’t think the pressure ever goes away. You know, I started talking to our therapist about it, because either it was gonna ki-l me or I was gonna be able to learn to live in the moment and live with the stress.”

Imagine yourself in the shoes of Nina Day as her husband fought through hate comments day in and day out! And it’s not just the harsh media narratives she has to deal with. As she revealed, game days are equally stressful and difficult. But as much as she would love a more peaceful life, she also knows it’s all a part of Ryan Day’s job. And she’s trying to embrace it without so much stress as she revealed that she’s “gotten better at channeling” her anxiety and stress throughout the season. 

It’s not like every football HC has a sports-oriented wife. After all, football is a violent sport. We’ve seen this sport serve as one of the reasons for the split between NFL GOAT Tom Brady and ex-wife Gisele Bündchen. Nina Day also dropped a somber reality check, saying, “I don’t think it ever gets easier. It’s just your approach has to change because it’s just so overwhelming at times.”

We can’t blame her for feeling the way she does. But for her to step out of her comfort zone to support her husband’s passion shows her strength and attempt to adapt, which is admirable. And if she carries so much weight upon her, what about Ryan Day?

Ryan Day rises above pressure with resilience

Perhaps no one understands pressure better than Ryan Day. After taking up the HC job in Columbus in 2019, there’s one record that’s driving him crazy. And that’s not winning a single game against their arch rival Michigan. Before this season’s rivalry game, the 45-year-old called their three losing streaks against the Wolverines as “one of the worst things” to happen to him aside from losing his father, who took his own life when he was a child.

He said then, “Quite honestly, for my family, it’s the worst thing that’s happened. We can never have that happen again. Ever.” But it happened. Again. 

We can only imagine the emotions that Ryan Day had to go through with that 13-10 loss. But resilience is his middle name. As Nina Day said, “The morning after we lost to the team up north, there was just a different look in his eyes. He got out and he just looked at me and he’s like, ‘I have no other choice but to fight my way out of this.’ So, all he’s done for the last month is fight himself out of it.”

Ohio State was a formidable team in the playoffs, beating high-end opponents like Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas with a combined record of 111-52. Now the Buckeyes advance to the National Championship game against Notre Dame. Can Ryan Day bring home the ultimate college football trophy to make up for the stress and anxiety Nina Day constantly deals with?