Ohio State AD backs coach Ryan Day despite losses to Michigan

COLUMBUS, Ohio — In spite of back-to-back losses to rival Michigan, Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith reiterated his confidence in coach Ryan Day, telling ESPN on Tuesday that «he's my CEO» and that they've talked about everything from personnel to playcalling and what they «need to do better.»

«My standards are high; our team standards are high,» Smith said in a wide-ranging interview in his office. «So we talk about how do we get better and how do we make sure we are able to win the championships that we aspire to win? We look at each individual contest that got in the way of that, and we're trying to figure out what's the strategy to mitigate that. When we lose, it's highly disappointing, but I break things down and look at things objectively, and we have good conversations about what we need to do better.»

After Ohio State's stunning 45-23 home loss to Michigan this past season, Wolverines defensive back Mike Sainristil planted a huge maize and blue flag in the block «O» in the middle of the Ohio Stadium turf. Fans were quick to criticize Day, although Smith said more of it comes at them through social media now than through his inbox or voicemail.

«It's really not that bad,» he said.

The players have heard it, star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. said.

«We love the coaches, so we want to go out there and protect them and do our best for them, more so than ourselves,» Harrison Jr. said. «Sometimes we're just going out there and playing for them so they look good. I think that's what kind of drives us a little bit from an offense and defense players' perspective. Just going out there playing for your coaches because you're seeing the stuff that's said about our coaches, and we see them every day and we love them so