OSU President (Drake) will not make the final decision on Urban Meyer
Instead, the Board of Trustees (BoT) will.
Kyle Lamb per Twitter “The press release yesterday stated that the BoT would be convening and going into executive session”. According to Lamb, if this is indeed the case, the Board of Trustees would have the final say in reinstating Urban Meyer and not President Drake like many seem to believe.
August 18th, 2018 at 9:14 PM ^
He'll be on the sideline for week 1.
August 18th, 2018 at 9:47 PM ^
Of course he will. At first this was a major situation for OSU. Then they started scheming to find ways to blame anyone else because football wins are more important to OSU than ethics and morals.
Meyer better remove that “respect all women” thing from the locker room because at this point, it’s just a slap to the face of women. Clearly that fucker doesn’t believe in that saying.
August 18th, 2018 at 10:35 PM ^
Well in fairness, at their most important time of year it says "Respect woxen"
August 19th, 2018 at 11:48 AM ^
Here are the internal politics of the situation (I speak not from inside information, but from my intricate knowledge of political intrigue and infighting as a Commie, and because I have infiltrated the media/political establishment):
1. President Drake reports to the OSU Board of Trustees. Hence, if it's the Trustees' opinion (either unanimously or as an overwhelming majority) that Meyer should be retained, then if Drake goes a different direction, he will be on the hot seat if the search for a successor doesn't end well.
2. On the other hand, if the Trustees want Meyer gone, my sense is that Drake will take him down, because he knows that if things don't end well with the successor, he has the backing of the BoT in firing him. (This scenario is highly unlikely; see how MSU's board adamantly resisted firing their president until they had no political choice.)
3. If the Board is split, Drake will have to decide what to do. This is the worst case scenario for him, because the trustees who agree with his decision won't stand up for him if things go wrong, and the ones who disagree will call for his ouster.
4. MGoReaders hoping that "McMurphy is saving ammo for later" are hoping in vain. He is reporting this story with facts as he is able to substantiate them. He certainly has more ammo in terms of allegations that he has received off the record, but his practice thus far has been solely to publish what he can get people to say on the record. He is highly unlikely to change this practice, because it protects him from being subject to a libel suit.
My assumption at this point is #1 and a suspension, with fallout for OSU that eventually fades over time as what's in the headlines changes (see PSU).
August 18th, 2018 at 10:35 PM ^
Well in fairness, at their most important time of year it says "Respect woxen"
August 19th, 2018 at 12:18 AM ^
Well played, my brother.
August 19th, 2018 at 10:41 AM ^
That would explain why they get treated like oxen.
August 19th, 2018 at 7:55 AM ^
LOL, the way it is actually:
Honesty? Treat women with respect? NO! Drugs! Stealing! Weapons!
So, in essence, they're telling their team not to be honest and don't treat women with respect. However, do drugs, steal, and carry weapons. LOL ZS was just following directions.....
August 19th, 2018 at 2:56 AM ^
Potentially. But I think a lot of people are underestimating the firestorm that's going to occur when they announce a slap on the wrist for him. I think it's going to play out like the Ray Rice suspension where everyone was so astounded that he only got 4 games that they ended up releasing him. Not to mention, it seems like Brett McMurphy has been releasing stuff every week or so to keep it in the news. I have a feeling he has one more bombshell in him that will release as soon as the report drops.
August 19th, 2018 at 4:09 AM ^
I need to get some more popcorn for the next McMurphy drop.
August 19th, 2018 at 11:00 AM ^
I think you're right about people underestimating the firestorm. It's easy to say, "well, their fan base won't care, and recruits that want free reign won't care, so how bad will it be? What does Ohio State care if the talking heads on the Today Show lambaste them?"
There's logic in that. But if you look at the Baylor example, where much of the citizenry is basically Ohioans in stetsons and ropers, and in which Baylor is a much lower profile private institution that has a lot more leeway to do whatever the heck it wants, they STILL managed to get the savior coach (Art Briles) fired, and <sort of> clean house when the scandal there unfolded. It was a slower burn, still smoldering in fact, but I think the Buckeye apologists for Urban Meyer are going to be surprised at the level of external pressure.
August 18th, 2018 at 9:15 PM ^
Lol of course. He will be coaching on Monday.
August 18th, 2018 at 9:16 PM ^
Why waste all the time and money? If the Borad has the final say then there is no way he is gone.
August 19th, 2018 at 6:13 AM ^
Why are people believing this OSU slappy?
No one else is reporting this because OSU's official statement said that Drake will make the final decision after the board meets in executive session. That statement was released Friday night.
"The independent investigators, lead by Mary Jo White and attorneys from the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton, will then prepare a report to be shared next week with the working group appointed by the Ohio State Board of Trustees. That working group, led by former Ohio House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson, will share the report with the board during an executive session next week.
The university is required by state law to provide 24-hour public notice of any Ohio State Board of Trustees meeting.
Following that meeting, and after time for consideration, Ohio State President Michael Drake will announce his decision based on the findings of the investigation."
August 19th, 2018 at 9:27 AM ^
Thanks for providing the actual text of the release.
How does Kyle Lamb twist that into 'BoT, not Drake, is the decider'? Motivated reasoning.
August 19th, 2018 at 10:03 AM ^
His reporting on the scandal has mostly consisted of attacking McMurphy. OSU's statement was published lots of places, probably every major outlet in Ohio, and it's apparent he never read it. He seems like a hack.
August 18th, 2018 at 9:17 PM ^
Why don't they just implement the Dantonio Discipline System and let the players decide.
August 18th, 2018 at 11:11 PM ^
Meyer is just in Red-Lock. He will be rejoining his team soon...nothing to see here.
August 18th, 2018 at 11:37 PM ^
In a nod to Mork, the players will pick up Urb and drive him to practice.
August 19th, 2018 at 12:40 AM ^
Will they have a separate vote for the women bot members after a unanimous vote of the whole bot?
August 19th, 2018 at 8:07 AM ^
On their shoulders
August 18th, 2018 at 9:19 PM ^
"As The World Turns"
August 18th, 2018 at 9:19 PM ^
Did anyone really believe Michael Drake was going to be making the final call on this? The Board of Trustees and the donors who write the checks will have the final say. Drake will probably make a recommendation, but he will fall in line with whatever they end up deciding. Probably wouldn't be much different at Michigan either.
August 18th, 2018 at 9:50 PM ^
Going to go out on a limb to say that you probably haven't been around the university over the last 10 years or so to understand the climate in Ann Arbor. Harbaugh would have been crucified with anyone and everyone fighting to get a hand in on his termination.
August 18th, 2018 at 11:27 PM ^
I never said he wouldn't. I was talking about who makes the decisions. Michigan has a very vocal and active alumni base who make themselves heard (see Dave Brandon). The journalists and local newspapers that cover Michigan usually do it very critically with few flunkies. Both of those things keep pressure on the people at the top to do the right thing. But at the end of the day, the real decision makers in big time athletic programs are not the presidents.
August 19th, 2018 at 9:25 AM ^
Uhhhh.... its the regents who answer to the press and voters, not Schlissel.
August 18th, 2018 at 10:15 PM ^
Mark Schlissel has proven quite thoroughly at this point he doesn't back down when the situation demands him to take a stand for the integrity of this university.
August 18th, 2018 at 11:15 PM ^
Ding ding ding. Exactly.
Mark Schlissel is a different breed from the Drakes and Lou Anna Simons of the world. He cares about the entire University of Michigan and our considerable reputation in the world. We have a lot more to lose than an OSU/MSU and he knows it.
Harbaugh would be fired for cause.
August 19th, 2018 at 12:20 AM ^
Sadly I would lump Mary Sue Coleman in with Drake and Simons. I feel lucky to have Schlissel.
August 19th, 2018 at 5:58 AM ^
I concur in MSC but I'm not ready to throw Drake in that pile.
August 19th, 2018 at 1:40 PM ^
Agreed. That YouTube interview showed that he was a thoughtful person, and seemed to be focused on improvement of the University. Now we'll see what cards he is dealt by his board, but so far he has proven to be professional.
August 19th, 2018 at 9:35 AM ^
I think its premature to put Drake in the bin with Simon until this has played out.
August 19th, 2018 at 12:52 PM ^
Read Drake's bio. It's very similar to Schlissel's. Nothing he's done suggests he is any more like Simon than Schlissel is.
If there was a major dispute over ethics vs football money at Michigan, Schlissel wouldn't be worried about losing his job. Michigan would be worried about losing their president. Schlissel's reputation wouldn't be damaged in academia, Michigan's might be.
I think the same would be true for Drake. He's going to be the public face for this decision. We don't know what's in the report, but keeping Meyer and having it blow up in his face is Drake's worst possible outcome.
Like Schlissel, if he aspires to a more prestigious job, it's very likely to be at a place where they don't care much about football.
August 18th, 2018 at 10:43 PM ^
Ask Gary Moeller how that works.
August 18th, 2018 at 11:21 PM ^
Gary Moeller wasn't fired or forced out by the President. My point wasn't about whether or not a school would do the right or moral thing. It was about how the power structure works in a big time athletic department.
August 18th, 2018 at 9:24 PM ^
At least the College Gameday signs will be epic!... They will never live this down.
August 18th, 2018 at 10:51 PM ^
Nor should they.
August 18th, 2018 at 9:25 PM ^
Looking at Lamb’s twitter page, he doesn’t seem necessarily certain of this. It seems more like his best guess.
August 18th, 2018 at 9:29 PM ^
I just go by what Ohio State said yesterday in its statement:
"Following deliberations with the board, and appropriate time for consideration, President Michael V. Drake will announce his decision."
August 18th, 2018 at 9:27 PM ^
President walks away slowly and tries to save face with his public comments: The investigation will take as long as it takes. The final decision is up to the board of trustees.
Color me not impressed. He made the comment that it will take as long as it takes, and hen 24 hours later a spokesperson says it will end on Sunday - 14 days as originally stated by the unnamed AD source. The president slinks away in cowardly fashion trying to save his political/academic tail.
I am so excited to beat urban Meyer and the dirty buckeyes on the field THIS year.
August 18th, 2018 at 9:31 PM ^
earlier, prompted by a now deceased post, i checked the 11W website for news about meyer. they had an interesting vote going on about what would happen to meyer. it went like this:
1. dismissed from team = 11%
2. suspend > 6 games = 1%
3. suspend < 6 = 42%
4. no discipline = 45%
at the time there were 5,000 votes.
August 18th, 2018 at 10:32 PM ^
My vote was suspension less than 6 games
August 18th, 2018 at 10:53 PM ^
Thank you for that juicy nugget of information.
August 19th, 2018 at 9:41 AM ^
This is a black and white situation. Meyer is either fired for cause or hes cleared completely. A suspension admits wrong doing with a suspension only there to placate the masses. I think if OSU suspends him they are in for more trouble than if they clear him. A suspension is a clear indication that OSU just doesnt give a flying fuck about the rules and the only thing that matters is wins.
The right thing to do is to fire someone. Probably three someones. The ADs culpability is as apparent as Meyers and his wifes.
August 19th, 2018 at 5:06 PM ^
What if he's cleared of breaking the reporting rules specified in his contract? There's still the matter of his poor judgment in retaining Smith and for lying at media days as OSU's official rep. I could see a suspension for that being negotiated.
August 18th, 2018 at 9:33 PM ^
This does not indicate that the BoT has the 'final say.' That may be what happens. But the press release seems to only say that they will meet in executive session. This does not necessarily mean that the BoT will discuss and then vote on Meyer's fate.
However...if it does end up that the BoT is the final decision maker, that would be very, very odd.
Not many University Presidents would tolerate the Board taking important management decisions away from the President. Highly unorthodox for a BoT to be the entity that decides whether to retain the football coach.
If the BoTs dictate a decision to Drake, he should resign.
August 18th, 2018 at 9:37 PM ^
Remember John DiBiaggio, former MSU President? He did just that when the board overruled him on Perles being athletic director.
August 18th, 2018 at 10:01 PM ^
I remember DiBiaggio. Did not recall the controversy over Perles as AD part (other than Perles did not last long as AD).
So DiBiaggio wanted Perles as AD and the Board overruled him? Or vice versa?
Either way, a University President at a serious place really can't stay if the BoT dictates or vetoes things that are typical administrative decisions (such as firing, retaining, discipline) within the job of the President.
It is like saying 'dude we will only let you make the inconsequential decisions.' Would be as weird as the AD dictating who starts at QB to the head coach. [BTW the image of Schissel calling up Harbaugh and saying 'start that Milton guy' is...mind bending].
No serious University President can stay under those circumstances.
August 18th, 2018 at 10:11 PM ^
If you think that's mind bending, boy oh boy does John U. Bacon have a scoop for you