OT: Big 10 releases official statement on OSU situation (spoiler: they support them)
“We support the findings of the investigative team led by Mary Jo White, the recommendations of the Board of Trustees and the decision made by President Drake in consultation with the Board.”
August 24th, 2018 at 4:08 PM ^
Perhaps we need to push our school to explain to us its role (if there was one) in the decision by the Big Ten to support the OSU "investigation" and results. It would be nice to force our leaders to take a position.
August 24th, 2018 at 4:57 PM ^
Wards Manuel’s email is on the University website: [email protected]. I sent an email. Though I doubt it will do anything or ever be read, worth a shot.
August 24th, 2018 at 5:45 PM ^
I just sent this to him:
Mr. Manuel,
I am appalled the Big Ten has made a statement supporting OSU’s position on the Urban Meyer situation. It is incomprehensible that Urban Meyer showed no sympathy for the alleged victim, wiped his cell phone of potentially damning texts (according to the investigation), and claims his wife never told him of the continued texts to her about the alleged abuse.
You and I and all who are honest with themselves know that is not the case, that even if it could be argued by a lawyer it is clearly not plausible in any eventuality, especially when Meyer’s wife said she would tell him. Even if it were, it’s Urban Meyer’s responsibility to know the condition and character, especially with long-term widely-communicated domestic abuse issues, of his staff.
I would’ve remained silent if this were merely an Ohio State issue. But the moment the Big Ten released a statement in support of Urban Meyer and OSU’s decision, claiming it is a fair decision despite clear tone-deafness and lying, that makes us involved. It became our issue, mine as a University of Michigan alumnus and yours as a representative of our esteemed institution. We are implicated in agreement by remaining silent at the Big Ten’s official assent. The honor and principle upon which our institution was founded requires that we stand up against domestic violence — and a culture that minimizes truth over profit and success — and separate our voice from the Big Ten’s.
Please take a stance against this recent statement by the Big Ten. Even if it is simply stating publicly that individual institutions within the Big Ten were not represented by that statement or their opinions were not included, please say something.
Thank you for your consideration and for your leadership.
August 24th, 2018 at 7:04 PM ^
Thanks for finding that. I have emailed my thoughts.
I hope that the University shows some integrity when it's perhaps not the easy thing.
August 24th, 2018 at 5:34 PM ^
Haha. I love it, RDD
August 24th, 2018 at 3:39 PM ^
The needle dick Jim Delany is just a cog in Ohio State's system.
August 24th, 2018 at 3:40 PM ^
This actually makes me more sick than reading the actual investigative report. An absolute shame and more evidence of the cultural divide and collusion within the athletic division of the Big Ten. This is the same culture of ignorance and skewed morals which has cost our football organization and fanbase irreparable harm. I am truly disappointed. (long Sigh)
maybe we should just play by our own rules given the NCAA diary post
August 24th, 2018 at 3:54 PM ^
A simple tweet from Warde would be nice.
Something like: "The Big Ten's support of the investigation does not speak for every member in the conference"
August 24th, 2018 at 3:57 PM ^
Dollar bills, y'all
August 24th, 2018 at 4:00 PM ^
They are always supportive of everything OSU... god is OSU's biggest fan.
August 24th, 2018 at 5:36 PM ^
Yeah it’s called social and political capital. Hard to argue against OSU having the most in the NCAA.
August 24th, 2018 at 4:14 PM ^
Anyone have contact emails handy to pressure U of M to make a statement that we were not involved in the Big Ten statement?
I think we need U of M to know there is vast opposition in our fanbase and alumni to this decision.
August 24th, 2018 at 4:15 PM ^
Sweet Jeebus.
They were better off saying absolutely nothing about the situation, honestly.
Fuck Jim Delaney.
August 24th, 2018 at 4:19 PM ^
This conference has really gone down the drain the past decade. It’s really embarrassing. When I was living in Florida I would give my SEC friends shit about their conference but ours is just as bad if not worse now. I’ll watch Michigan on Big 10 that’s it. Don’t give a shit about the rest of the programs.
August 24th, 2018 at 4:26 PM ^
B1G sucks. Michigan saying nothing does not bode well. Hope they put out a disclaimer. Better yet, start a movement to condone violence against women. Disgusting. Delaney should be ashamed of himself. Asshole.
August 24th, 2018 at 4:34 PM ^
Of course they support their findings. Firing Urban would've hurt their bottom line. They don't want to lose one of the best coaches in CFB to another conference and lose their best chance at a team in the CFP
August 24th, 2018 at 5:34 PM ^
Delany's pride was injured by Bo, he has never forgiven Michigan all these years no matter that we are his leading cash cow. To me, this makes Delany something far less than a man.
August 24th, 2018 at 4:39 PM ^
Is it time for UM to add purple ribbons to their uniforms for MSU and OSU games?
August 24th, 2018 at 4:57 PM ^
I'm not starting another "hot take" thread, but as I've tried to do a pretty good job at keeping up on all of them and haven't seen this to date, here is a Facebook statement from counsel for OSU's AD Rex Elliott directly after the suspension although he deleted it after realizing what he had done. (Reported from 11 warriors and the washington post): (short version: they did nothing wrong and were only suspended to appease the "lynch mob")
(the sloppiness of this post is his own, emphasis mine as he doesn't get a free pass)
The biggest problem in this OSU matter is the rush to judgment and the erroneous reporting of details by some irresponsible media and the amateur reporting of false information on social media. So, as a lawyer deeply involved in the investigation on behalf of Gene Smith, I am compelled to simply state the facts.
The investigation was commenced to determine 2 issues*: did OSU cover-up domestic violence and did Urban lie to the media in furtherance of a cover-up. After an exhaustive** investigation that involved 40 witness interviews and thousands of documents, the investigators who were searching for information to enable them to answer these questions yes, answered them both NO.
But to justify the 500k investigation, you have to find something. The facts established that Gene Smith learned fo the 2015 allegations and immediately pulled Urban off the practice field to inform him and ordered the Assistant back to Columbus not to Ohio State but to go directly to the Powell police to answer their questions.
He then discussed the matter with the Title XI Compliance Official and Public Safety liaison and Human Resources and he ordered OSU police and OSU officials to monitor the Powell investigation. No OSU official can interfere in a criminal investigation or take steps to make it appear they are influencing an investigation. Powell concluded there was no evidence to support the allegations and we now know this person made false reports on other ocassions.
But the investigation had to find something so they said Gene and Urban should have reported it to Compliance. Really? Compliance handles NCAA matters not domestic violence.
And try as they might investigators could not find any evidence that Urban lied to anyone. They concede that Urban was confused by the question and thought he was being asked the same thing he was asked the day before when someone suggested Zach Smith had been “arrested” for domestic violence which to this day has never occurred. Despite digging deep, the investigators concluded Urban misspoke and did not lie to anyone.
So, why the sanction? Well, isn't it obvious? The country was lathered into a frenzy based on erroneous information and a long delay and OSU needed to appease the lynch mob that had formed as soon as the unproven allegations were made.
As a result, two great men fell on the sword for a University they dearly love. And both men faced a room full of reporters and admitted they failed in their duties to better manage and react quicker to a troubled employee even though they had no idea about the information that has since come out about some of the things he may have been doing.
Those are the facts.
Two men who don't deserve the public flogging but who agreed to take one for the team so this great University can move forward with all of its amazing athletic and academic initiatives. Sorry for the length of this and I am not looking fore debate. Just waned to make sure the facts are straight.
*it was formed to look at three issues, according to the investigative report. You forgot to mention that it was also formed to look at your client's role in this fiasco.
**If that was exhaustive, please never, ever use Rex Elliott for even employment law.
That's my hot take.
August 24th, 2018 at 5:36 PM ^
They don't learn, do they? This led to a second day of legendary media flogging.
August 24th, 2018 at 5:01 PM ^
Delaney and the Big Ten have been bending over backwards for Ohio State ever since their BCS title win over Miami.
August 24th, 2018 at 5:10 PM ^
Of course.
Although I understand that the Big Ten probably doesn't want to denigrate one of its member schools in the open, if there were ever an opportunity for the conference to say to its members, "This will not be tolerated", trust Jim Delany to completely miss it.
August 24th, 2018 at 5:15 PM ^
Delaney and his team are on the same level as OSU. Dirtbags
August 24th, 2018 at 5:34 PM ^
Shocking. I recall Delaney having 3 Ohio refs officiate a game in 2016 that was kind of important to us.
August 24th, 2018 at 6:10 PM ^
Delaney is not going to go at odds with his biggest cash cow. Seriously, why even make a statement at all?
Guy needs to fucking retire.
August 24th, 2018 at 6:38 PM ^
I'm done with the big ten. Fuck the big ten. SEC SEC
August 25th, 2018 at 1:15 AM ^
Delany has to go. The Eastern Division has brought shame to the conference under his leadership. The fish rots from the head.