COLUMBUS — Ohio State has made it a routine for as long as many can remember: the Buckeyes stay at the Blackwell Inn on Tuttle Park Place on Friday night before home games, then wear suits to the Skull Session and into the Horseshoe. That routine, though, is changing in a big way this season.
During his weekly radio show Thursday, Buckeyes coach Ryan Day revealed that the routine is undergoing major changes. Every Buckeyes player will wear team-issued sweatsuits while walking through the Skull Session and to Ohio Stadium after being bussed in from a downtown hotel. The thought behind the change is that, now, Ohio State will be more uniform on game day instead of having each player wear their own suits.
Not everything will change, however. Day revealed that Fridays will continue to include a trip to the Ohio State Golf Club for a team dinner after the Buckeyes wrap their “Best Fridays in Football” practice.
“We want to be relaxed, but we also want to lock in when it’s time to lock in,” Day said about the “Best Fridays in Football.”
On Friday nights, Ohio State will have offense and defense meetings. That’s something Day said the Buckeyes haven’t done in the past.
The routine for home games this season is much different. Ohio State is making some changes that Day believes will help them.
Veteran WR Jayden Ballard to start at kick returner for Buckeyes
More of Ohio State’s opening spots are being answered. Including a pivotal special teams spot.
Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day announced Wednesday that wide receiver Jayden Ballard will start as kick returner ahead of their season opener against Akron. Ballard has mostly seen time at the end of games in blowouts, but has been a front-of-mind guy ever since he signed with Ohio State.
“JB is going to take the first kick off return and Carnell Tate is also going to be right there,” Day said. “Those are our two guys there.”
Ballard has nine catches for 159 yards and one touchdown in his three seasons at Ohio State. Tate, a second-year wide receiver originally from Chicago, provides another layer of intrigue both offensively and now on special teams. The former five-star wideout had 18 receptions for 254 yards and one touchdown in his freshman season.
READ MORE: Veteran wide receiver Jayden Ballard to start at kick returner
ICYMI: Chip Kelly, other Buckeyes assistants to call offense from press box
Plans for game day are being finalized quickly. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day made the announcement this week that offensive coordinator Chip Kelly , the former head coach of Oregon, the Philadelphia Eagles, the San Francisco 49ers and UCLA, will be coaching from the press box this season.
Day explained his reasoning.
“His plan is to be up in the box,” Day said about Kelly . “I think, for him, being able to get organized up there. He’s got the tablet up there. He’s got his call sheet up there. He can really be clean after every series. I think that’s one of the things two that he and I were talking about was that when you’re on the sideline and you’re the head coach, you have your call sheet, but it’s hard to get your next series ready when you’re doing all these other things.”
Joining Kelly in the box will be offensive analyst and quarterback assistant Billy Fessler, offensive line assistant Tim Drevno and offensive analyst Tony Johnson. Running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, wide receivers coach Brian Hartline, offensive line coach Justin Frye and tight ends coach Keenan Bailey will be on the sideline.
Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Akron: 1 day
Ohio State at Oregon: 43 days
Ohio State at Penn State: 64 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 92 days
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