A columnist's seemingly innocuous question about the impact of the expanded playoff reignites the memory of Jim Harbaugh's infamous 'triple' comment directed at Ryan Day three years ago.
The air inside the Savannah Ballroom at The Westin Peachtree Plaza buzzed with a peculiar energy on Sunday morning. It wasn't the usual pre-game anticipation that surrounds a national championship matchup between Notre Dame and Ohio State . No, this energy stemmed from a seemingly innocuous question posed by a columnist from the Houston Chronicle to both head coaches, Ryan Day of Ohio State and Marcus Freeman of Notre Dame .
'For both coaches,' the columnist began, 'Ryan, y'all start a home-and-home with Texas next year; and, Marcus, you have a return match with A&M. Are we in danger of seeing fewer marquee games like this because of the playoff, and do you think the College Football Playoff hit a home run, or is it more like a triple?'The last word, 'triple,' hung in the air like a misplaced note. Many in the room, particularly those who follow Ohio State closely, couldn't help but be transported back to November 27, 2021, the day then-Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh delivered a verbal jab at Day following his team's 42-27 victory against the Buckeyes. 'Sometimes people that are standing on third base think they hit a triple, you know,' Harbaugh said with a smug grin. 'But they didn't.'Coupled with the Wolverines' dominant performance, Harbaugh's words ignited a period of intense scrutiny and pressure for Day. The insinuation that he wasn't deserving of the Ohio State job led to three consecutive losses to Michigan, three failed attempts to reach the Big Ten title game, and an emotional toll that manifested in death threats and calls for his dismissal. The specter of Harbaugh's 'triple' seemingly loomed large over Day, especially in the context of the rivalry's growing intensity. However, when the columnist posed his question, Day remained remarkably composed. While a flicker of unease might have crossed his face briefly, he quickly regained his composure and expertly deflected the question, focusing on the present moment and the upcoming game
College Football Playoff Ryan Day Jim Harbaugh Ohio State Notre Dame Rivalry
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