August 22nd, 2018 at 3:41 PM ^
ND if he gets the boot.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:38 PM ^
Probably a lot of argument over the exact wording of Urban's statement upon leaving the room. They probably asked him to apologize publicly and he's throwing a fit demanding they apologize to him instead.
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:48 PM ^
There are two likely explanations for the length of the meeting...
The Board is divided which means there is a bloc that either wants Meyer gone or on lengthy probation or
Meyer is unwilling to accept a suspension and says reinstate me or buy me out.
Or both.
From the point of view of optics how can the board make the decision to keep Meyer on Meyer's terms when such a decision is opposed (I am supposing rather vociferously) by a minority bloc? It will get out that a minority wanted him gone with the leak likely coming from said minority.
Usually board level decisions are made in advance with the actual meeting merely ratifying the already agreed upon decision. Clearly NOT the case here. To me the longer the meeting lasts the less likely it is that Meyer survives.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:03 PM ^
You wait to deliver BS news to Friday evenings.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:21 PM ^
Agreed. My thought has been that nothing will be announced until late afternoon/early evening on Friday.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:06 PM ^
ONLY @wkyc: “Progress being made” by trustees on #UrbanMeyer hearing according to @OhioState trustee @ClarkKelloggCBS. No word on timeline for a decision. pic.twitter.com/WbjPmbo9rI
— Chris Tye (@TVTye) August 22, 2018
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:36 PM ^
Maybe they are discussing the “spurtability” of Zach Smiths actions and how Meyer didn’t “share the sugar” with other OSU employees.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:07 PM ^
I guess McMurphy can take his finger off the "send" button
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:09 PM ^
My out of left field prediction: Meyer is fired and OSU makes a play for Dantonio in the offseason.
I don't think OSU wants Schiano or Wilson long term without Urban.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:13 PM ^
Mark D is too old. He would only be a stop gap. Also Mark wouldn't know what to do with himself not being able to play the DISREPEKT card with his team.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:20 PM ^
Yeah... no.
If by some miracle that does happen, I will be crying laughing. And not because I think Dantonio is a bad coach, which he is not, but for many MANY other reasons.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:16 PM ^
Honestly, this is more interesting than an insta-answer. Sounds like real debate is ongoing.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:19 PM ^
You may be looking at a Friday afternoon news dump here ...
"We're reinstating Urban ... It's 4:50 p.m. Friday ... Byeeeeeeeeee!!!!"
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:08 PM ^
So this is what I do not understand throughout this entire fiasco. I live in Boise, Idaho. UM Class 1972. Whenever anybody is arrested, their name and photo is published on the Ada County Arrest Report within a few hours, a website of the Ada County Sheriff. The local newspaper reviews the reports several times a day and will publish an article whenever a local physician, lawyer, corporate officer, BSU or even high school coach, player, government official, etc. is arrested and have the story behind. I am a physician on staff at a local hospital and our medical staff office also reviews the reports daily to see whether or not a local physician is arrested. Nobody is exempted from the process, even our current governor had a DUI a ways back. I would guess that athletic departments and likely football departments have appointed administrative staff to also review their local reports. Keep in mind that UM had a couple staffers under Harbaugh who had arrests for driving while impaired, the Major I believe being one.
If Smith was arrested in 2013 and 2015, regardless of final charges, I would expect that the local Ohio counties, be it in Columbus or Powell, or wherever, would have a similar reporting and listing function. He was arrested, and if his name was not listed at that time, there is a strong suggestion that either law enforcement and/or the local newspaper were complicit with the AD office or football office to not list or publish these infractions.If so, who initiated that arrangement? I hope the investigators looked at the law enforcement process, the "chain of custody" of Smith's arrest to confirm that his arrest was handled just like any other citizen's arrest. Wonder if there is a quid pro quo arrangement with various Columbus departments.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:19 PM ^
They are going to delay this and hope some other big news breaks, like the Maryland mess or Texas A&M so they can try to get their weak news buried when they reinstate Meyer.
August 22nd, 2018 at 4:43 PM ^
Something bigger than the conviction/guilty plea of 2 of the president's associates??
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:20 PM ^
If meyer isn't punished, the BoT would be saying he didn't do anything wrong. If he didn't do anything wrong, Zach Smith's behavior wasn't found to be an offense worth of termination.... Since he was only fired after a known even was published in the media...
So Zach can sue for wrongful termination and backpay..... plus getting his $2,200 worth of cockrings, ball lifters and double dongs back.
wow....this sounds like the makings of a Cinamax movie.
August 22nd, 2018 at 6:30 PM ^
I think that Zach got the required buyout and so has no grounds to sue. He was under a yearly contract with no expectation of long-term retention.
I suspect that the cockrings, ball lifters and double dongs were in the box they handed him as he went out the door, and that the staffer that loaded that box was the one the AD was most pissed at.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:28 PM ^
I know this has been discussed before, but I have a feeling this all comes down to the affair that was conducted within the OSU football offices by ZS and a staffer, and what Urban knew about that situation.
The board wants to have their ducks in a row, because I fully expect questions to be asked around that incident.
The crazy thing is that this only came to light just recently. What other skeletons are in OSU's closets that haven't come to surface yet?
It's a lose/lose for OSU and Meyer even if he gets reinstated. The media will not just brush this aside once the season starts.
And who knows, maybe McMurphy already has an interview lined up with the staffer who had an affair with ZS.
Shit's gonna get crazy.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:33 PM ^
I kinda doubt it, but we can hope.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:32 PM ^
Didn't they have 14 days to figure this out?
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:34 PM ^
meyer's been in there for 4 hours, that's unexpected. I would have guessed they call him in to inform him of the decision and then they go out and tell everyone.
him being in there for 4 hours could be:
- him just not leaving after the decision was told
- him refusing to accept the decision and pushing back
- the whole group working on all the announcements and writing the statements regarding coaching, policies, changes, etc.
- everyone in the room being made to bow to king meyer
- maybe fulfilling a contractual obligation to let him respond to notice to terminate
- maybe negotiating a buyout
- maybe waiting for mcmurphy to drop the next thing /s (sort of)
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:41 PM ^
If I'm Urbz and won't accept a suspension, I make them give me a generous buyout, sit out a year and then fall ass backward into another prime gig.
LSU may be open next season and I'm sure someone would can their coach to get their hands on Urban.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:42 PM ^
I doubt they would do a buyout negotiation without lawyers present. I guess it could be conducted over conference call, but I don't think it is likely.
My guess is still either he is waiting to get the decision told to him or they are prepping their PR for the news conference. I am betting on PR.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:54 PM ^
agree, buyout discussion would take days of back and forth with lawyers. no way they try to do it with the entire world waiting outside the door.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:44 PM ^
Dan Murphy of ESPN said that Meyer wasn't in the room while the board discussed the investigation.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:47 PM ^
Shelly Meyer just showed up to the building now too.
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:36 PM ^
Don't overthink it, it's OSU.
There are probably simply too many reporters waiting in the building.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:35 PM ^
My guess: they are working on the public relations and statement to get their story straight. Probably want to avoid another disaster of a press conference like what happened with Tressel and Gordon Gee ( “No, are you kidding me? Let me be very clear. I’m just hoping the coach doesn’t dismiss me.” ) Wear the media out by forcing them to wait for hours. Run the press conference at the end of the day when there will be limited time for questions and everyone is tired.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:50 PM ^
you're probably right, but why wouldn't this work have already been mostly done? Some PR person should have come to the meeting with about 6 different versions of statements prepared. Maybe the board meeting caused some changes but it shouldn't take them hours to rewrite the PR.
I'm not saying you're wrong, though, that seems the most plausible to me, but sheesh that's ridiculous.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:52 PM ^
The trustees and president still have to rehearse it. And we are working with the belief that the full investigative results and recommendation were just made to them. It is hard to craft a response prior to having the results and details of the investigation.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:37 PM ^
Shelley Meyer just showed up per Pete Thamel.
Doesnt tip which way it’s going, but I’d say it means the announcement is sooner rather than later.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:40 PM ^
Hmm. I'd be surprised why she'd show if (1) there weren't an upcoming presser and (2) that presser weren't to fall in Urban's favor.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:47 PM ^
It could be argued she’s here to support him while he tenders his resignation.
i have no read on why she’s there, but support for his reinstatement is just as likely imho
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:01 PM ^
I couldn't agree more. They will announce soon and Meyer will likely not even get a slap on the wrist.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:56 PM ^
The BoT should punish her too for ignoring pleas for help.
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:20 PM ^
They aren't going to make her the fall guy, are they?
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:40 PM ^
Meyer may be a liar and scumbag, but I don't think any of us would put up with one of our coaches taking a suspension for PR reasons (if that is what, in fact, they are discussing) if they did not find any wrongdoing other than lying to the media.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:46 PM ^
You do realize Gary Moeller was fired for being drunk at a restaurant?
Urban hired and continued to employ a person accused of domestic violence for over a decade. Not even a suspension or any kind of punishment that we know of. That should be an issue for any program even if "he reported to his superiors." He may have not done anything legally wrong, but he sure as heck did something morally wrong. Technically, Joe Paterno didn't partake in any "wrongdoing."
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:10 PM ^
The times they are a'changin'.
Said the same thing about Mo to neighbor 2 days ago.
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:21 PM ^
Paterno probably told the AD Curley not to report Sandusky to the authorities in 2001. Curley went into his meeting with Paterno ready to notify the DPW (department of public welfare or something) and left the meeting deciding not to notify the DPW.
Later at Curley's trial he was asked what was said in that meeting with Paterno and Curley claimed he couldn't remember.
So if 'technically' means never charged legally, then I would have to agree, but did Paterno actually commit a crime then? Absolutely yes.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:43 PM ^
She is in the building.
Urban Meyer’s wife, Shelley, just arrived at Longaberger Alumni House. pic.twitter.com/WDffs15evP
— Tim Bielik (@timbielik) August 22, 2018
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:49 PM ^
He's staying. Shelly will stand by her man as he spews out more lies during the presser and he will ultimately thank his loving wife for being by his side during this whole ordeal - especially since she was dragged into it by the media.
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:19 PM ^
Could be wrong, but I see her appearance as the Board sorting through the facts of what happened, who knew, and when.
If that's the case, catch y'all Friday.
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:34 PM ^
why would they wait until today to do this?
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:50 PM ^
Because you finally have all the decision-makers in the same room, you've been through the report together, and now it's time to get the important questions answered from those with the information. It's not an information gathering process at this point, but a chance to judge credibility in light of the whole picture, give them a chance to fill in any gaps that might jump out.
It would be like a jury asking for a transcript of a witness' testimony or a 911 tape during deliberations in a criminal trial. You've had it in front of you, but it wasn't immediately, obviously relevant until you got through to the underlying issues.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:45 PM ^
Is it me - or does it feel like the longer this goes the more of a chance he's getting fired?
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:48 PM ^
i think there was a tipping point. first couple hours, i would say yes, but now that urban's been in there for 5 hours and Shelley showed up too, I don't think so anymore. You don't hang out with folks who just fired you for 5 hours.
August 22nd, 2018 at 3:34 PM ^
It could mean a lot of things. They could be negotiating a buyout. Or he could be just arguing his case.
Edit: didn’t see your other post.
August 22nd, 2018 at 2:48 PM ^
He would not have his wife show up to be at a presser where he's fired... he wouldn't even be at a presser where he is fired.
He will either be resigning, or they'll announce some suspension.