There wasn’t much to write home about for Rutgers on Saturday, as they led 7-0 but then took the business end of a Top 5 thumping in a 49-10 loss at Ohio State – but perhaps the most fireworks from the Scarlet Knights came from their head coach and one of his former colleagues on the other side.
During the fourth quarter of the game, the Buckeyes and Scarlet Knights got into it after Ohio State executed a fake punt…while up 39 points with less than 10 minutes left. Schiano was understandably heated – although Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said after the game his punter went into business for himself – and things got testy when Rutgers returner Aron Cruickshank crushed Mirco after he ran out of bounds on the OSU sideline, and got flagged for a late hit.
That’s when the scrum happened and Schiano came running…but instead of breaking up the fracas, he began jawing at Day:
Schiano and Day were on the Ohio State staff together in 2017 and 2018, the last two of three years Schiano was the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator; Day was the quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator in 2017, then technically Schiano’s boss in 2018 when he was named acting head coach after Urban Meyer was suspended.
Day actually praised Schiano for his work that season, and it appears all was well that ended well, as the two shook hands at midfield after the game and Day was seen apologizing (likely explaining the play).
Said Schiano after the game: “We’re both very competitive guys. I have the utmost respect for him. We're good friends."
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Day, too, said there are "no hard feelings at all" with Schiano, whom he has “unbelievable respect for."