Ohio State University football coach Ryan Day and his family experienced this after the Buckeyes victory brutal defeat against Michigan.
“We had security in our house,” Ryan’s son said. RJ dayshared with Athletics in an interview published Tuesday January 21. “The school was really bad. I didn’t really leave the house until the Tennessee game (three weeks later). It was difficult, but you have to hang on in these difficult times, because eventually things will get better again.
In November 2024, Ohio State lost to arch-rival Michigan for the fourth straight time. Ryan, 45, – who also shares daughters Grace and Nia with wife Nina Day – and his family received threats that led to 24-hour police protection.
Two days ago, however, Ohio State redeemed itself by winning the national title after beating Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
“I learned lessons last month that I will use (for) the rest of my life,” RJ explained. “I learned so much about integrity in people and how to get up and work every day. »
While Ryan’s stepfather, Stan Spirouhad his own experience dealing with unhappy fans – he is the former basketball coach at the University of New Hampshire – he couldn’t believe what he witnessed after Ohio State’s loss to the Michigan.
Through it all, he praised Ryan’s wife, Nina, for staying strong for the family.
“She knows the ups and downs, but she had never experienced what they have experienced over the last month and a half,” he explained. “Certainly, I had my share of setbacks, but it got personal there for a while (for the Days). This had a huge impact on the immediate family and children.
RJ, who is a sophomore in high school, also praised his mother, calling her “amazing.”
“She moved nine or ten times on her own while my dad would already be ahead working in this other state,” he shared. “We call him the rock of the family.”
As Ohio State fans continue to celebrate a major victory, Nina hopes her children learn a valuable lesson after the heartbreaking loss less than two months ago.
“No matter what happens, we always have each other,” she said. “We just stayed together. The most important thing is that you learn to fail but you have to get back up. That’s the most important thing they’ve learned through all of this: everyone fails, but you have to get back up and keep swinging.