Board Recommendation of Suspension Likely Coming for Meyer - report from Columbus Dispatch

Submitted by Indy Pete - Go Blue on

Siegel and Sullivan provided the latest update, and I found this excerpt to be quite compelling:

"Two sources connected to the investigation said the likely recommendation to university President Michael V. Drake is a suspension for Meyer. Drake and the board could also opt for a “time served” punishment since Meyer has been removed from football activities for more than two weeks."

http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180820/urban-meyer-investigation-ohio-state-trustees-to-meet-Wednesday

I personally consider it unsurprising that the board is reportedly recommending a slap on the wrist.  Perhaps the president will take matters into his own hands.  Time will tell...

Maize4Life

August 20th, 2018 at 5:18 PM ^

As expected.....OSU is goint to let it side why? because beating MICHIGAN is more than anything and everything in the entire world....integrity honesty and deceny be dammned

I Like Burgers

August 21st, 2018 at 10:44 AM ^

Nah, it'll be a 4-game suspension so he's back in time for Penn State in week 5.  Been my call from the get go.  4-games feels strong enough and he doesn't miss any tough games.  I mean, TCU is a power 5 team, but this ain't exactly a powerhouse TCU team like they've had in years past.  Ohio State should be able to breeze through that one with or without Meyer.

Arb lover

August 20th, 2018 at 5:23 PM ^

Wonder if they are even considering how he had to have been part of removing the subordinate employee from the program that had the unfortunate experience of being forced upon in the coaching offices by Smith. 

Likely they will have blinders on, but here's hoping OSU does the right thing.

redjugador24

August 20th, 2018 at 5:48 PM ^

Was there a report that the staffer was "forced upon in the coaching offices by Smith" as you claim? 

The guy is clearly a douche and it wouldn't be surprising if true, but probably not a fair accusation to make without a source.  I don't recall seeing any accusations like that and they'd change the entire situation.

Arb lover

August 20th, 2018 at 6:43 PM ^

Do you think you can have purely consensual sex with someone who's job you directly influence?

From "Hey, get me a coffee" (you have to, it's your job), to "You should wear that skirt again, the clients were into your presentation", to "Let's do a working lunch or dinner", segway to "Does this feel okay?", it's all done under the guise of power of the employer. Sure, they could say no, but let's be honest, they are putting the employers good favor on the line whenever they do, and power (read: a force) is involved in every step of the process.

That is why it's not strictly speaking, fully consensual (unless there are mitigating circumstance such as the activity pre-dated the direct report, etc). In fact, there is little required of any victim/report to have a valid claim that she/he was taken advantage of if they can show the activity took place while there was a subordinate relationship. If this happens you, as a superior, are almost fully at the mercy of any claim against you. That's why you just don't even go there. There are so many fish in the sea. 

And that's why if this activity takes place under your (Urban's) watch, the absolutely last thing you would do is do anything to the victim/report. You fire the manager, and done. The fact that he did nothing to Smith and the employee was kicked out of the football program (mind you, being a football program employee is one of the coolest/best jobs in the university; nobody wants out of there) (exclusive access, lots of travel, good pay/hours/perks, free games, behind the scenes, etc). Being pushed out of the program was almost without doubt a huge emotional and career hit for this lady.

stephenrjking

August 20th, 2018 at 5:23 PM ^

I actually think a suspension might be the proper discipline, depending upon the facts.

But a "time served" suspension isn't a suspension at all. It's a poorly-timed vacation. A meaningful suspension has to cost multiple games. 

SpilledMilk

August 20th, 2018 at 10:04 PM ^

Wtf does "social awareness" have to do with it? 

Imo, it's as simple as "did Meyer actually report the allegations that he learned of, as he claims he did?". If he did and it's documented, they'll reinstate him immediately... If he didn't, they'll fire his ass. I'm not sure if OSU will bow down to the online SJW's or not though.

xtramelanin

August 20th, 2018 at 8:26 PM ^

you know wyandot,  you started out okay yesterday, but you couldn't pass up the cheap shot, could you?

was 3-0 worth your football soul?  i wouldn't make that trade but i guess it was easier for you.  a dirty program, a joke of a 'skool' for the players, and a coach who isn't just dirty, but the biggest imaginable hypocrite i can think of right now.  you good with that?  that what you want your kids to be immersed in, win no matter what?  i'd love to hear the mental gymnastics that justify that: 

"well son, ah, you know, when it comes to winning all that honesty and ethics stuff, the whole respect women and be a leader, well, ah, that's total skin deep cow scat.  i don't believe a bit of it.  just win" 

evenyoubrutus

August 20th, 2018 at 9:34 PM ^

Urban Meyer has a great record, that's undeniable. But he's also been fortunate to coach against Michigan during its proverbial Dark Ages, just like Dantonio. 3 games against Hoke, and 3 games against Harbaugh trying to dig out of Hoke's program. I'm not saying Harbaugh has done a flawless job nor am I guaranteeing future success, and I'm not saying your fanbase doesn't have a right to enjoy the success, but I'd love to revisit this discussion in 5 years.

xtramelanin

August 20th, 2018 at 9:51 PM ^

okay.  well i'm pretty sure i was 'starting' a number of facts when i said your school is dirty, way dirty.  you sold your soul to football-satan and the devil always extracts his price.  

trueblueintexas

August 20th, 2018 at 9:16 PM ^

XM, I love your balanced takes, but you are giving OSU fans way too much credit here. They will not try to justify anything, they will deny everything. The conversation will go more like this.

“Urban Meyer is one of the greatest coaches of all time. Anyone who says otherwise is just jealous and trying to tear him down. Don’t you believe a word any of those fans from that school up north say, none of it is true. Meyer is a decent and good person. Just look what he did for that one kid once.”

Ron Utah

August 20th, 2018 at 8:59 PM ^

Strongly disagree. Meyer put “Honesty” and “Treat Women with Respect” on the wall. He lied about treating women with respect and knowingly employed a man in an abusive relationship. He did not fire that man until the misbehavior became public knowledge. 

There are details that a good lawyer will try to distract you with: he followed protocol, he didn’t know about all the bad stuff, he’s really sorry, etc. But the above facts cannot plausibly be refuted. Violating his own rules blatantly and publicly?  He should be gone.

the only argument for keeping him is that he’s a great coach. If he was average or even just good, he’d already be gone. 

BeatIt

August 20th, 2018 at 9:01 PM ^

taking a head coach away from his team for half of fall practice is pretty severe imo. and could have ramifications through out the season. it punishes the players that have worked their asses off the whole off season and absolutely nothing to do with this while urbs been playing 36 holes a day and lounging by the pool. osu will be lucky if he agrees to come back imo. 

greatlakestate

August 20th, 2018 at 10:13 PM ^

I do think we are underestimating how disruptive this is to the team at a crucial point of their season.  If he comes back, he will have a job getting everyone re-focused.  Actually the worst thing that could happen for them is for the investigation to continue indefinitely.  It might actually be better for the team for them to cut Meyer loose and get on with it, because even if Meyer returns, he will be looking over his shoulder and the program will have a cloud over it.

StraightDave

August 20th, 2018 at 5:25 PM ^

Yeah. Meyer will be suspended for two weeks and will receive a two week credit for time served.    

njvictor

August 20th, 2018 at 5:26 PM ^

While this article seems to have more traction then others, the amount of OSU "connected sources" we've heard from that were full of shit is so many that I can't take this article completely seriously

evenyoubrutus

August 20th, 2018 at 6:31 PM ^

While it's looking grim that OSU will do the right thing, I'm still holding out hope that this is similar to the Harbaugh/NFL rumors. There were countless "insider" reports that Harbaugh would choose to stay in the NFL over going back to a college team. Why? Because those supposed insiders couldn't fathom that anyone would ever pick the NFL over college, so they projected their own slanted opinions into whatever information they were passing along. There appears to be a similar culture of denial in Columbus. The wording is interesting. They will "likely" recommend... similar to "insider says that Harbaugh prefers NFL over college"...

s1105615

August 20th, 2018 at 8:40 PM ^

Considering this article cites 2 sources and isn’t just a post on a blog/chatroom, I’d give it more credence.  

That coupled with the fact that many non-OSU fans expected that this would never lead to Meyer’s firing (just because they could fire for cause doesn’t automatically mean they ever would) means this all makes too much sense to dismiss.

gruden

August 20th, 2018 at 10:53 PM ^

From what I've heard he does have something and was waiting to see what OSU did. 

Even if he doesn't, you can bet there will be journalists trying to get a peek into Meyer's closet, I'm betting he has a few more skeletons in there since his time in Florida. 

If OSU doesn't fire Meyer and McMurphy or someone else comes up with another big clump of dirt, this will trash OSU's reputation much more.

LSAClassOf2000

August 20th, 2018 at 5:30 PM ^

I could be crazy, but if we hear nothing else tomorrow, and this meeting happens, then I would imagine that this is the final confirmation that Meyer is still around, even if not on the sidelines for a game or two. I would simply be shocked if the recommendation were in fact his removal, but I would love to be wrong. 

Blue from Ohio

August 20th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^

Not to mention, with my wife being an OSU fan, we had a discussion over the weekend when it was revealed by McMurphy that Zach Smith was doing what he was doing in the way of the affair / white house / sex toy delivery.  I implied that this could be damning to Meyer as well and she basically implied that has nothing to do with Meyer.  My wife is pretty intelligent, so it just goes to show how deeply OSU fandom goes.