Bonds Beyond the Field: Buckeyes Open Doors for Student Appreciation Day
4/5/2026 6:21:00 PM | Football
Players, students, coaches, staff and alumni connect during an inside look at Ohio State’s spring practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon, the barrier between students and student-athletes disappeared. For a few hours, Ohio State students traded the stands for the sideline—watching practice up close, interacting with players, and experiencing the program from the inside.
Ohio State's Student Appreciation Day offered fans a rare look behind the scenes of the Buckeye football program, granting access to a live spring practice along with opportunities to meet players and coaches. As part of spring football, the event served as both an early glimpse of the team and a way to strengthen the connection between the program and its fan base ahead of the upcoming season.
That connection was at the heart of the day.
"You know, there's sort of this mantra that everyone's a Buckeye," said AD Ross Bjork. "With that comes a responsibility to open our program and let people see inside. The really neat thing about Ohio State is, as big as it is, it's still about relationships."
Bjork emphasized that even a single interaction can leave a lasting impact.
"If there's one relationship formed out of this, or 500, or 5,000, it all adds up," he said. "That's what we have to continue to cultivate as part of what being a Buckeye means."
Throughout the facility, that message played out in real time. Players lingered after drills, taking photos, signing autographs, and engaging with students long after practice ended.
For many in attendance, that access made the experience stand out.
"I think it was really awesome to see the inner workings of how practice goes," said one Ohio State student. "Seeing the players take time for the students really means a lot. It makes you feel like you're part of the team."
That sense of connection extends beyond just one day. For players, it reflects what the program represents on and off the field.
"It's been everything," said Jermaine Matthews Jr. "It's the place you want to come to develop and achieve your goals. I'm from Ohio, so it means a lot to be here."
Matthews also pointed to the impact of the fan base, especially in moments like this.
"Fans are one of the best parts about it," he said. "The way they embrace you and show love—I love it."
Saturday's event also brought together multiple layers of the program's past, present, and future. Former players, including Ryan Shazier, attended alongside recruits, families, and current players preparing for the next level.
Asked to describe Ohio State in one word, Shazier kept it simple:
"Amazing."
From future draft prospects like Carnell Tate and Davison Igbinosun to young fans attending their first event, the day reflected the full scope of the program's reach.
And at its core, it reinforced a simple idea:
At Ohio State, the connection between the team and its fans isn't built only on Saturdays in the fall, but in moments like these—when access, interaction, and relationships bring the Buckeye community together.
