BREAKING NEWS: TRAGEDY STRIKES OHIO STATE BUCKEYES AS HEAD COACH RYAN DAY LOSES HIS WIFE FOLLOWING CHILDBIRTH
COLUMBUS, OHIO – THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE ENTIRE COLLEGE FOOTBALL COMMUNITY ARE IN MOURNING FOLLOWING THE HEARTBREAKING NEWS THAT RYAN DAY, THE HEAD COACH OF THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES, HAS LOST HIS WIFE, NINA, AFTER COMPLICATIONS ARISING FROM CHILDBIRTH.
THE NEWS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE OHIO STATE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT EARLY THIS MORNING. ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS RELEASED, NINA DAY PASSED AWAY LATE LAST NIGHT DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS OF MEDICAL STAFF. THE BABY, A HEALTHY GIRL, IS REPORTED TO BE DOING WELL AND REMAINS UNDER OBSERVATION AT A COLUMBUS HOSPITAL.
“IT IS WITH THE HEAVIEST OF HEARTS THAT WE CONFIRM THE TRAGIC PASSING OF NINA DAY,” SAID OHIO STATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR GENE SMITH. “SHE WAS A BELOVED MEMBER OF THE BUCKEYE FAMILY, AND HER LOSS IS IMMEASURABLE. OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH COACH DAY, HIS CHILDREN, AND ALL WHO LOVED NINA DURING THIS UNFATHOMABLE TIME.”
RYAN AND NINA DAY, WHO MET IN COLLEGE AND HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR OVER 15 YEARS, HAVE BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO MANY. THEIR DEEP BOND AND COMMITMENT TO FAMILY WERE OFTEN CELEBRATED PUBLICLY, WITH COACH DAY FREQUENTLY SPEAKING ABOUT THE ROLE NINA PLAYED IN HIS LIFE AND CAREER. THE COUPLE ALREADY HAD THREE CHILDREN BEFORE WELCOMING THEIR NEW DAUGHTER.
THE NEWS HAS SENT SHOCKWAVES THROUGHOUT THE SPORTS WORLD, WITH SUPPORT AND CONDOLENCES POURING IN FROM COACHES, PLAYERS, AND FANS NATIONWIDE. JIM HARBAUGH, HEAD COACH OF RIVAL MICHIGAN WOLVERINES, ISSUED A STATEMENT EXPRESSING HIS HEARTFELT SYMPATHY, SAYING, “THIS IS A DEVASTATING LOSS FOR RYAN, HIS FAMILY, AND THE ENTIRE FOOTBALL COMMUNITY. OUR RIVALRY PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE GRAVITY OF SUCH A TRAGEDY. MY HEART GOES OUT TO HIM AND HIS CHILDREN.”
THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES HAVE ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT COACH DAY WILL BE TAKING AN INDEFINITE LEAVE OF ABSENCE TO GRIEVE AND ATTEND TO HIS FAMILY. OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BRIAN HARTLINE IS EXPECTED TO STEP INTO AN INTERIM HEAD COACHING ROLE.
IN THE WAKE OF THIS TRAGEDY, THE OHIO STATE COMMUNITY HAS MOBILIZED TO OFFER SUPPORT. FANS HAVE GATHERED OUTSIDE OHIO STADIUM, LEAVING FLOWERS, CANDLES, AND NOTES OF CONDOLENCE. AN ONLINE FUNDRAISER HAS ALSO BEEN STARTED BY THE UNIVERSITY TO SUPPORT THE DAY FAMILY, WITH DONATIONS ALREADY SURPASSING $1 MILLION WITHIN HOURS.
NINA DAY WAS KNOWN FOR HER INVOLVEMENT IN CHARITABLE WORK AND HER UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF HER HUSBAND’S CAREER. SHE WAS OFTEN SEEN ON THE SIDELINES DURING GAMES AND AT COMMUNITY EVENTS. HER LOSS IS BEING FELT BEYOND THE FOOTBALL FIELD, WITH MANY REMEMBERING HER AS A LOVING MOTHER AND A POSITIVE FORCE IN THE COLUMBUS COMMUNITY.
AS THE DAYS AHEAD BRING BOTH GRIEF AND HEALING, THE OUTPOURING OF LOVE AND SOLIDARITY FROM THE BUCKEYE NATION WILL UNDOUBTEDLY SERVE AS A TESTAMENT TO THE IMPACT THAT RYAN AND NINA HAVE HAD ON THE LIVES OF MANY.
THE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS OF THE ENTIRE SPORTS COMMUNITY ARE WITH THE DAY FAMILY DURING THIS TRAGIC TIME.
