Ryan Day's Son Talks Threats from Fans to Family After Ohio State's Loss to Michigan

Even though the vibes are incredibly strong for Ohio State fans toward Ryan Day following Monday's 34-23 win over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff Championship Game, there were dark times for the head coach not that long ago.

R.J. Day, Ryan's son, told The Athletic's Bruce Feldman about the impact that threats from Buckeyes fans toward their family after the Nov. 30 loss to Michigan had.

"We had security at our house. School was really bad," R.J. said. "I didn't really leave the house much 'til after the Tennessee game (three weeks after the Michigan game, in the CFP first round). It was rough, but you've gotta hang on in those rough times because eventually things will turn back around again."

R.J. also said "it was not easy" everything they had to go through in the aftermath of the Michigan game:

"It was some of the hardest stuff I've ever had to deal with in my life; dealing with really grown men coming after me for something I didn't have a part of but just to see the joys and the tears in my sisters' face and my mom's and see the joy in my dad's face. It's a testament to how you just have to hang on when things are bad, and I'm just so happy for my dad and my family. I know how hard he works. I see the nights when he comes home at 1 a.m. and then goes back to work at 5 a.m. I see how much he puts into these kids, and to see the results and see him hoist that trophy with the smile on his face is something I'll never forget."

Stan Spirou, Day's father-in-law, told Feldman the threats "had a tremendous impact" on the immediate family, but that Ryan "never put any of it on the players or the coaching staff, and he just went to work."

Ohio State was on track to play Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game before the 13-10 loss to Michigan. Day has a 70-10 record as head coach, but he has lost four to the Wolverines in four consecutive years.

There were calls among analysts and fans for Day to be fired that got so prominent he was asked about it during a Dec. 4 press conference.

"I don't think I need to have a sales pitch. I feel their frustration. There's no way to defend losing four years in a row," Day said. "Sometimes, when you're really close and feel frustrated, you got to push through. And that's what we're gonna do."

Ohio State hasn't had a losing streak of at least four games against Michigan since a six-year winless streak in the rivalry from 1988 to '93 (0-5-1).

Thanks to the expanded 12-team playoff field this year, the Buckeyes made it in as the No. 8 seed. They made it through the playoff with relative ease, winning four games by a combined total of 70 points.

Monday's victory over Notre Dame gave Ohio State its first national title since the 2014 season.