Chicago — The Big Ten Conference’s coaches gathered at the Hilton Chicago for the annual Big Ten Media Day as they do prior to each season to address all of the pressing questions.
With the retirement of legendary Ohio State coach, Urban Meyer, after the Rose Bowl, it is “a new day” for the buckeyes. Entering head coach for Ohio State, Ryan Day, makes his media day debut bringing along with him three seniors KJ Hill, Jordan Fuller and Jonathan Cooper.
“I look at it as an honor. To be honest, being able to represent that block “O” is just really special” says Fuller. The captain says he “takes that on his shoulders and takes pride in it”.
Cooper understands the responsibility being a captain requires and brought that along with him to Big Ten Media days, “we don’t take it lightly at all that we are always the target, the measuring stick, the one that people are out to get. That’s why we work as hard as we do and why we train as hard as we do.” Hill agrees with his co-captain calling the privilege “a blessing to be here with all of the great players and the tradition around here”.
Being hand selected to attend Big Ten Media Day by head coach, Ryan Day, certainly has its perks. The seniors arrived to Chicago in style as they took to their Instagram, showing their flight on a private plane. Not only did they travel in style, they dressed the part as well. The trio displayed their swagger during photoshoots for dozens of reporters covering various teams in the conference.
After all of the coaches address the media and sweat out the press conference, they sat down with the Big Ten Network and join their players with more interviews from the press. On top of that, fans came far and wide to enjoy an exclusive luncheon where they took pictures with their favorite mascots and received autographs from the coaches.
The jam packed 2-day media frenzy was quite the experience but there’s nothing like stepping foot at The Shoe for the first game of the season. The group is ready to get to football. The buckeyes’ season kicks off at Ohio Stadium August 31 against Florida Atlantic.
Stephanie Otey 