Urban Meyer suspended for 3 games (Oregon State, Rutgers, @TCU)
Source Dan Hope:
Urban Meyer has been suspended for Ohio State's first three games.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 23, 2018
Gene Smith has also been suspended from Aug. 31 through Sept. 16.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 23, 2018
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:11 PM ^
Oh yeah all of my lies have been accidents too. Didn't realize that was an excuse.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:11 PM ^
The investigator said that Urban Meyer believed the reports/questions were saying Zach Smith was arrested for a felony charge in 2015, and he was trying to respond saying that was not something that happened.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:56 PM ^
BiSB had it best:
From: "I was never told about anything and nothing ever came to light. I’ve never had a conversation about it. I know nothing about it. First I heard about that was last night … and I asked some people back at the office to call and say what happened, and they came back and said they know nothing about it."
to
"He forgot"
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:08 PM ^
CitizenKaneClap.gif
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:08 PM ^
No surprise. I’m bummed but no surprise. Honestly... just wishing that SOB had been gone.
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:01 PM ^
I understand why you would feel that way.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:09 PM ^
We knew he would slip and slide outta any real punishment.
Is this a full suspension from all team function and the school?
August 23rd, 2018 at 2:22 AM ^
He is suspended for the Oregon State game all together but he may coach practices for the next two weeks but not coach the next two games.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:09 PM ^
I feel bad for both of them. There is a slightly reddened area on each wrist where they were slapped.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:09 PM ^
Reactions from OSU fans likely falls somewhere along the following spectrum:
Pure unbridled rage / Seeking Drake's ouster <----------------------------------->*feigned outrage*/*relief* "Time to move on/Let the healing begin"
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:09 PM ^
Just another day in Columbus....
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:09 PM ^
‘I deeply regret if I have failed in my words’
good enough for osu
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:10 PM ^
He is done and OSU is a joke. The investigation concluded that Meyer knew about the abuse in 2015 and did not report it to anyone at OSU. Yet, he gets to keep his job. He is done eventually.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:39 PM ^
He knew about the allegations but Gene smith is the one who dropped the ball
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:48 PM ^
Really? Meyer did not have the courage or power to do something for that many years. Gene may be to blame also but Meyer could have absolutely canned Smith.
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:10 PM ^
An employer needs a reason to fire an employee. They can't go off half-cocked, firing every employee that's in a dysfunctional marriage.
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:13 PM ^
There you go again. He knew and he could have canned. At the very least, he didn't want to know, which is worse. Sucking at being a boss, but being a good football coach, should not be an option. But that is sad state OSU is in.
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:39 PM ^
Half-cocked? Is that something the sex toys can help with? Asking for a friend.
August 22nd, 2018 at 11:10 PM ^
Actually, that's not true. Ohio is an at-will employment state, like most in the US. An Ohio employer needs no reason to fire an employee.
Now, that's nuanced a bit because Smith was under contract; OSU still could have fired him, but would have had to pay the remainder of his contract or a specified buy-out unless they could show that he was terminated for cause.
Many contracts have a morals clause -- I don't know if Smith's did -- that is used as justification of a "for cause" dismissal in this sort of case.
Having said all of that -- if Urban Meyer wanted the dean of the physics department fired, I expect he'd get his way. It would have been no problem at all for him to fire the wide receivers coach -- a coach who was notably bad at his job, no less. Pretending otherwise is just silly. Swap places for a second: if Jim Harbaugh fired Roy Roundtree, and then there were a series of revelations about his character like there have been about Smith's, would you be saying, "Oh, Harbaugh couldn't fire Roundtree. His hands were tied. He needed a reason."
Besides, if Meyer couldn't fire Smith in 2015 for allegations of abuse that fit in with information he already knew... why did Smith get fired in 2018? Only two things changed: Smith violated a protection order -- in a manner that strongly suggests a set-up -- and the news leaked.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:42 PM ^
I see those esophageal spasms coming back in the near future.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:10 PM ^
Weak. Sauce.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:11 PM ^
Like everyone else... Who didn't see this shit coming? I mean seriously. We all know they couldn't give a shit about anything except the all mighty $ and the all important W
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:11 PM ^
Probably added the 3rd game vs TCU to the suspension to give the impression that the punishment was taken seriously. Fuck Ohio.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:11 PM ^
LOL. This is 3 fewer games than I predicted, and that by the way SHOULD HAVE been the minimum. OSU is a joke of an institution. Fuck I hope we house them this season at the Shoe.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:12 PM ^
"Coach Meyer did not, in our view, intentionally lie"
"We're impressed by Coach Meyer's commitment to respecting women"
-For fuck's sake.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:17 PM ^
Yet, he did not report anything about Zac Smith even though he was beating the shit out of his wife. OSU can’t ever claim that is anything other than a football school.
Edit — Meyer’s statement makes Ryan Leif’s apology look great in contrast.
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:18 PM ^
His micromessages were clear that he thinks having to apologize is bullshit. Just reading what someone wrote for him and trying to get through it as fast as possible. No indication of real remorse or regret for his actions.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:36 PM ^
Really disappointed no reporter brought up that respect comment, his stupid values wall, and his bold face hypocrisy.
August 23rd, 2018 at 7:06 AM ^
Why are you posting news from The Onion without attribution? Wait...those are actual quotws? HAHAHAHAHAHA
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:12 PM ^
I know a lot of people on this board wanted him fired (myself included) but I can’t argue with a true 3 game suspension based on the facts (that Urban reported Smith’s misconduct but failed to take any action).
BUT... the fact he can rejoin the team on Sept 2nd is bullshit and not really a “suspension” if he is allowed to oversee practices and do all the behind the scenes work while somebody else calls the plays on Saturday. So I’m very curious to know just what he is allowed to do once he rejoins, I hope there are some limits.
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:06 PM ^
If the findings of the independent investigation are to be taken as fact, neither Smith/Meyer reported their knowledge of the 2015 incidents to compliance. How is that not in violation of Title IX?
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:11 PM ^
It was fun to entertain the notion that Meyer would be canned for sure, and at first I thought that mere suspensions would be a joke.
Upon further reflection, though, I am very pleased with this result. Meyer would have litigated termination, the suspension he probably can't do much about.
Whatever he does in terms of "rejoining" the team is less compelling to me, than the fact that he will have a 3 game suspension in his personnel record.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:13 PM ^
Well, stronger penalty than I thought would be handed out, though not as strong as I feel he, and AD Smith should have received.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:13 PM ^
Ha ha. 8 hours to decide 3 game suspension. I really hope this is not over. Sad that they Don't value integrity and morals.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:16 PM ^
10 hours. They specifically brought up that number as if they wanted sympathy for coming up with this "punishment."
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:14 PM ^
Somehow I like Drake. He could have easily caved and went with no suspension and claimed Meyer did nothing wrong. He issued a stern reprimand to Meyer and Smith.
Smith is a clown and Meyer is an evil liar. Both will get their just desserts in the end.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:24 PM ^
I think more than anything Drake was concerned about the University’s image as a whole and knew if there was no suspension they would be torn apart by the media, they still are though...
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:14 PM ^
I don't get it. They say he's suspended until September 2, but also for 3 games. For games 2 & 3 he can coach during the week, but not be on the sidelines at the games?
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:39 PM ^
Yes he still is going to be coaching/prepping the team for TCU. Even the "3 game suspension" part is a lie.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:15 PM ^
So Urban was aware he was lying, just not fully aware. Gotcha.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:15 PM ^
After giving that summary, how can the lead investigator say that they didn’t feel that he intentionally lied, or that he impressed them with his commitment to the “respect women” core value?
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:15 PM ^
Did they specify what Urban’s suspension bonus would be?
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:15 PM ^
I respect Ohio State as much as Urban Meyer respects women.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:15 PM ^
There has to be some kind of fallout in the program for this, right? I mean this looks bad, to everyone outside of Columbus.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:20 PM ^
As someone living in the 21st century, you have to know there's no way that will be the case.
August 22nd, 2018 at 9:23 PM ^
No way. There won’t be any negative consequences from this. OSU gets all the breaks.
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:04 PM ^
(OSU fan)
I don't think we get all of the breaks. Look what happened to Jim Tressel. One false signature and he's gone.
As president Drake stated, there was no one decision that would make everyone happy. It had to be in the middle.
OSU and UM have the two largest fanbases and alumni associations in the country. No punishment for Meyer = UM and media outcry. Firing Meyer = huge backlash from the OSU faithful.
August 22nd, 2018 at 11:02 PM ^
Tressel got canned for what could be documented, proved and airtight.
Drake, I give some credit for being willing to do something.
August 23rd, 2018 at 11:48 AM ^
OSU fired Tressel because it had to and then Urban Meyer fell right into your lap.
Don't fucking tell me you all don't get all the breaks.
August 22nd, 2018 at 10:40 PM ^
Haha, that’s a good one. People will be pissed about this until the next controversy du jour comes along, and then from there the media circus leaves Columbus and everything there goes back to normal.