At 12:40 a.m. ET Tuesday, after Ryan Day signed off from an on-field ESPN interview with Scott Van Pelt and finally headed toward the Mercedes-Benz Stadium locker room, it was time to ask the question. Time to ask the coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes about his profound act of celebration at the end of winning the national championship.
With the final seconds ticking down and victory secure against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Day set off at a half jog along the sideline. He pulled off his headset and yanked the equipment off his belt. He wound up and heaved the entire communication device—cathartically and perhaps defiantly—into the air like an Olympic hammer thrower. It flew over the Ohio State Buckeyes bench and toward the stands like he was releasing himself from shackles.
