Nina Day, OSU's First Lady of Football gets her own team ready for the football season

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — As Ohio State head coach Ryan Day gets ready for the big game this Saturday, another team is up for the challenge this football season too, his family.

Day's wife, Nina knows football season means Ryan will be spending a lot of time at The Woody, and it all kicks off against the Irish.

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"That Notre Dame game has been circled on our calendar for a long time," said Nina Day.

Day is Ohio State's first lady of football. She knows all too well the magnitude of this first game.

"It's something we've been talking about," she said.

"I think it's exciting to open up with a game like that. It gets everybody into the swing of things quickly. And if you get a win like that, it puts the team in a good position for the rest of the year."

And just as the Buckeyes ready themselves, Nina says she and the kids have their game faces on, too.

"Daddy goes back to work early August and we sit down, the kids and I, we become a team. And they help me, and I help them. It's funny, last night I was moving furniture and I said, I need my team, come help me," she said.

It's the fourth season for Ryan Day as the head coach of the Bucks.

Nina says she and the family are now more than ever, ready to embrace their role.

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Although, the title of The First Lady of Ohio State Football is still something she's learning to get used to.

"I don't know if I'll ever feel comfortable with that, but I definitely was a deer in headlights the first year and then covid hit and it kind of slowed everything down," said Day.

"But now, more than ever as a family we're ready to tackle everything that comes with being the head coach of Ohio State."

So, grab the scarlet and gray. For Nina, that means her lucky necklace, she's just a little superstitious.

"I lost my necklace once and I was running around a hotel trying to find it. But I found it and that's the important thing. And we won," said Day.

So as the madness of gameday builds, Nina says she and the family feel blessed to be a part of The Ohio State University.

"Thank you for all of your support. Plan on a great season. And it's going to be exciting and Go Bucks!!" said Day.