Cleveland, OH

Ohio State’s Ryan Day nearing most important decision of his Buckeye future

Published

2 years ago

January 7, 2024

Ohio State’s Ryan Day nearing most important decision of his Buckeye future

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Maybe Ohio State football coach Ryan Day’s answer to giving up control of his offense simply calls for finding another version of himself.

According to a Football Scoop report on Friday, Day told his assistants he will hire a new offensive coordinator to evaluate the staff and potentially make new hires. The report was not specific as to whether this would mean a co-coordinator role for Brian Hartline, though it did say the receivers coach and first-year OC’s job should be safe regardless.

Such a move would be a full step beyond Day’s flirtation one year ago with giving up play calling duties — something he ultimately decided against. This would mean installing a “head coach of the offense” as he did with Jim Knowles on defense. It would presumably take oversight of the offense off Day’s plate and complete a transition to a more chief executive-like role.

While Day considered stepping back from day to day control of the offense after last season, the staff makeup made that difficult.

Hartline’s accomplishments and rising status in the industry warranted a promotion. Yet giving full control of the offense to a first-time coordinator with no play calling experience — while conducting a quarterback competition between two first-time starters — always seemed like a stretch. No one else on the offensive staff had play calling experience, either.

Adding any offensive coaches means someone currently on staff will not return. That may not be the only personnel change in the next couple of weeks. As we have seen before, who exits the staff matters less than how Day replaces them.

When Mike Yurcich left after one season as quarterbacks coach in 2020, Day promoted Corey Dennis from the quality control ranks. Urban Meyer’s son-in-law had spent his entire coaching life in the program, from intern to graduate assistant to QC. The former receiver in a Georgia Tech offense which rarely threw the ball might have seemed especially out of place if not for Day’s continued influence in quarterback development.

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When Matt Barnes moved from special teams coordinator to secondary coach after 2020, Day again promoted from the QC room. Parker Fleming had worked primarily with receivers and quarterbacks at prior stops before Day made him the special teams coordinator. That created an offense-defense imbalance on the staff.

If you did not notice, instability at quarterback and communication and execution issues on special teams have become evident over the past year.

So we can rule out internal promotions from the QC ranks as part of whatever changes come next for Day’s staff. Dennis and Fleming moved into their jobs immediately after Big Ten championship and playoff seasons. Same for Keenan Bailey’s promotion from special assistant to tight ends coach last year (after he turned down jobs at other programs).

When Day faced a small crisis after 2021, though, he went with experience and gravitas.

Knowles was the most sought-after defensive coordinator in the nation that offseason. Ohio State paid more than it ever had for an assistant to land him. Tim Walton, while a former Buckeye, had also been an NFL defensive coordinator along with his many years as a defensive backs coach. Perry Eliano had proven himself by developing multiple NFL defensive backs for Cincinnati’s playoff team.

Knowles’ scheme, Walton’s cornerbacks and Eliano’s safeties all played pivotal roles in OSU redefining its defense as one of the nation’s best. (That has not happened yet for offensive line coach Justin Frye, hired in the same cycle. Yet he also came with over a decade of Group of Five and Power 5 coaching experience.)

As he gears up for this potentially significant staff shift, Day does not have time to groom a novice play caller. He does not have time for on-the-job training of oversight of the most important positions on the field.

He needs to find someone with a track record of both and let him do his thing. He needs to find another Ryan Day.

If the stakes were high after 2021, they have only risen exponentially since. The athletic director who hired Day, Gene Smith, leaves his position at the end of the school year. Day’s buyout — currently over $46 million — provides a certain measure of security. That doesn’t mean he can definitely afford a fourth consecutive loss to Michigan, especially if coupled with a disappointing postseason.

Some of the reaction to constant 11-win seasons has been over the top. At the same time, the end product has too often been less than the sum of its parts in the most important moments.

Some fans may have picked out their favorite punching bags on the coaching staff. There is no addition by subtraction here, though. The most important decision of Day’s coaching future at Ohio State may come in a matter of days.

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Cleveland, OH

Iran strikes spark debate among Northeast Ohio residents

Published

8 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Iran strikes spark debate among Northeast Ohio residents

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cleveland Liberation Center and nearly 100 other organizations rallied in Cleveland Sunday to protest the U.S. strikes on Iran, demonstrating significant grassroots opposition to the military action.

The recent U.S. military strikes on Iran and the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have ignited passionate discussions across the nation, and Northeast Ohio is no exception.

While state political leaders express support for President Donald Trump’s actions, local activists are raising urgent questions about the impact on American communities.

Dallas Eckman, a public school teacher and volunteer coordinator with the Cleveland Liberation Center, is taking a clear stance against the recent attacks.

“We need to step up as Americans and say violence is not going to be the way we solve out world’s problems,” Eckman said.

The frustration runs deeper for Eckman, who sees a disconnect between military spending and domestic priorities.

“It’s absurd that for me as a public-school teacher I am struggling to get funding for chrome books and books. I can wake up one morning and see we have spent millions and millions of dollars to bomb another country,” he explained.

Eckman questions whether these military actions actually benefit working people in Cleveland.

“Which does nothing for the working people here in Cleveland. It does nothing to make my schools safer. It does nothing to improve the road right outside the liberation center,” Eckman said.

Eckman’s concerns are shared by many in the region.

Despite local opposition, several Ohio’s political leaders are backing the Trump administration’s decision.

Senator Bernie Moreno released a statement expressing his support, stating, “President Trump sought for months to avoid conflict and negotiate with Iran to prevent them from rebuilding their nuclear program. I fully support his decision.”

Secretary of State John Husted also voiced his approval.

“For 47 years, the Iranian regime had ample opportunity to be a productive member of the global community — instead, it chose to export death, terrorism, extremism, and instability against America and our allies,” Husted said.

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Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets prediction, pick for Sunday 3/1/26

Published

20 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets prediction, pick for Sunday 3/1/26

Cooper Albers takes you through his preview, prediction and pick for Sunday’s NBA matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets.

Eastern Conference rivals close their regular-season series on Sunday, as the Brooklyn Nets host the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Center.

The Cavaliers (37–24, 4th East) have dropped back-to-back games without Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, albeit against far superior competition. They’ll aim for the three-game sweep of Brooklyn without Mitchell, while Harden remains questionable.

The Nets (15–44, 14th East) are mired in a brutal seven-game losing streak, including a 112–84 thumping in Cleveland on February 19.

Here’s a look at the Injury Report:

Cleveland Cavaliers

Out: Donovan Mitchell (Groin), Max Strus (Foot), Dean Wade (Ankle)
Questionable: James Harden (Thumb), Keon Ellis (Finger)

Brooklyn Nets

Out: Egor Demin (Heel), Drake Powell (G-League Assignment)
Questionable: Nic Claxton (Thumb)

Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. Cleveland enters as a hefty 11.5-point road favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Brooklyn sits as a +410 underdog. The game’s total is set at 222.5 points.

Cavaliers vs. Nets Preview

Cleveland Cavaliers Preview

The Cavaliers went all in at the NBA trade deadline, sending Darius Garland to Los Angeles for superstar guard James Harden. The gamble seemingly paid off, as the former MVP has fit seamlessly into the lineup alongside Donovan Mitchell. Cleveland went 6–1 after Harden’s debut, its lone loss coming against the defending champs in Oklahoma City.

But the momentum quickly stalled when both Harden and Mitchell hit the sidelines to nurse injuries. Cleveland has dropped back-to-back games in the star duo’s absence against Milwaukee and Detroit. And while Harden is listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest with a thumb fracture in his non-shooting hand, Mitchell remains out with a groin strain.

The Cavs are just 2–4 without Mitchell this season. If Harden stays out, they’ll likely keep relying on their accomplished frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Cleveland also features a solid veteran backup point guard in Dennis Schroder, along with a reliable sharpshooter in Sam Merrill.

Brooklyn Nets Preview

Brooklyn has won five games in 2026. Five.

Were any of these wins particularly impressive? Hardly. They beat a Nikola Jokic-less Denver Nuggets, the spiraling Chicago Bulls twice, the lowly Washington Wizards, and the tanking Utah Jazz.

The Nets rank dead last on both ends of the floor since January 1, disappointing even by their standards. They’ve lost seven games in a row, punctuated by a 37-point walloping in Boston on Friday night.

Michael Porter Jr. will continue trying to carry an increasingly strained offense without rookie standout Egor Demin. Brooklyn will also lean on its burgeoning frontcourt, comprising Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton (questionable).

Cavaliers vs. Nets Pick, Best Bet

Keep an eye on the injury report for this one. If Harden remains sidelined, Cleveland may lack the offensive firepower to pull away. But if the former MVP suits up, expect him and the Cavs to carve up Brooklyn’s porous defense and comfortably cover the 11.5-point spread.