COLUMBUS — Some members of the media showed up to the Longaberger Alumni House well over an hour before Wednesday’s 9:00 a.m. Ohio State Board of Trustees executive session.
The purpose of the meeting was to determine Urban Meyer’s fate. And now 12 hours after some of those reporters meandered on in, there is still no news to report.
The executive session has now stretched into its 11th hour.
And by the time you are reading this, who knows what hour we’ll be in at that point.
Despite the long day and very little news, it has still been an eventful day, which you can relive via our tweets while waiting around for absolutely anything.
And maybe while you’re taking a look at the day that was, some news will actually break.
We start early this morning.
The site of today’s Board of Trustees meeting. pic.twitter.com/6hdzz9x8N9
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
There is an OSU Police officer standing outside this room. It’s where the meeting started. The Board of Trustees is now in a closed-door Executive Session. pic.twitter.com/aB2jXCe7qW
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
There is plenty of media here, including TV stations from Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/jn83HRr6dv
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
Urban Meyer is apparently now here at the Longaberger Alumni House where the Board of Trustees is now meeting. https://t.co/BzuNeKyUDf
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
Ohio's Open Meetings Act requires that all public bodies conduct their meetings in the open/public. Exec. session is an exception to that requirement, BUT all meetings must BEGIN & END in open session. So after exec. session, they'll come back in open to conclude the meeting.
— Brodi Conover (@brodiconover) August 22, 2018
THERE IS BREAKING NEWS ABOUT A PERSONNEL CHANGE AT OHIO STATE: a different OSU police officer is now standing in front of the door to the BOT meeting room. pic.twitter.com/Zq3wyk9nWb
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
And, NO decision (no vote, no straw poll, etc.) can be made in exec session. Can only be board discussion. Have seen tweets about the motion (discuss personnel matters regarding employment/discipline)- that's direct language from statute for 1 of 9 reasons to enter exec session.
— Brodi Conover (@brodiconover) August 22, 2018
Safe to say Urban Meyer is not going to be able to sneak out of the same loading dock he came in virtually unseen. pic.twitter.com/2dnMybxgl6
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
If you’re not familiar with the location where the Board of Trustees is meeting today, it’s right across the street from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, OSU’s football practice facility. You can see the light towers from the practice fields in the background. pic.twitter.com/QSpMvMuTf8
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
There are signs that OSU may be preparing for a press conference here at some point today. A backdrop was visible inside the public meeting room a moment ago. That was not there earlier this morning, from all indications.
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
Former OSU kicker Vlade Janakievski, who operates Easy Living Deli near campus is apparently catering lunch for today’s Board of Trustees meeting. If you’re reading the tea leaves, that means we’re probably not getting an answer in the next 30 minutes. https://t.co/cx7ZZbE21O
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
The Board of Trustees has bought us pizza.
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) August 22, 2018
Clark Kellogg appears and states "progress being made."
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) August 22, 2018
People walking out of the Longaberger Alumni House, igniting questions from a reporter. pic.twitter.com/znjO8wdOVZ
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
Meanwhile, you can hear the sounds of OSU football practice across the street. pic.twitter.com/8N36WnuoUM
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
An OSU spokesman was just seen driving out of the parking lot. Interpret from that whatever you will.
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
BREAKING: Players at OSU practice being encouraged to “hydrate if you’re not in.”
EXCLUSIVE – must credit @theOzonedotnet
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
OSU Athletic Director Gene Smith reportedly just walked into the building.
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
There is still no definitive word on Urban Meyer’s future, but the Board of Trustees and OSU President Michael Drake may be getting closer to a decision. Via @TomOrr4 https://t.co/DOWJ8stV6N
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
The crowd of reporters and onlookers has grown substantially outside the loading dock since this morning. pic.twitter.com/USc2eJa7uc
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
Two OSU police officers just came outside the loading dock, prompting speculation that someone might be coming out soon. Then they went back inside and closed the door. pic.twitter.com/6kIUlhDDYu
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
Things that you would have sworn was a joke six hours ago: There is a guy in an Event Staff Supervisor shirt here for the theoretical “event” at the loading dock. pic.twitter.com/nqGBxIt6K1
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
BREAKING: A security guard just told someone to stop touching one of the cars in the loading dock.
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
UPDATE: Touching the cars is an established violation of Loading Dock policy, but leaning on a dumpster is apparently permissible. pic.twitter.com/9WMC5WrPpo
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
GUYS GUYS GUYS WHAT IF WE ALL GO HIDE IN THE BUSHES AND THEY THINK WE ALL LEFT THE LOADING DOCK AND THE COAST IS CLEAR AND THEN THEY COME OUT AND THEN WE JUMP OUT AND ARE ALL “MAKE A DECISION ALREADY!”
Would totally work imo
— Tom Orr (@TomOrr4) August 22, 2018
Someone just came out to drive Urban and Shelley Meyer’s cars out of the loading dock. pic.twitter.com/4uPAsZc2wk
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT UPDATE: They were actually just turning them around so they could be driven out without having to back up.
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
The Board Of Trustees meeting began 11 hours ago.
Enjoy Arby’s.
— Ozone Communications (@theOzonedotnet) August 22, 2018
This has the feeling of sitting through a 20-inning baseball game.
— Tom Orr (@TomOrr4) August 22, 2018
This day won’t be complete until Urban and everyone else somehow slips out a side door and leaves everyone out here waiting for nothing.
— Tom Orr (@TomOrr4) August 22, 2018
What if… hear me out here… they’re going to stay here all night and only come out after sunrise because this is all a publicity stunt to announce Urban’s reinstatement as Head Breakfast Coach?
— Tom Orr (@TomOrr4) August 23, 2018
You don’t want to read what CBS has to say about all of this. Ohio State is going to get dragged through the mud for a long time over this. Needless to say, this is way worse than a couple of Tatoos. Basic human decency and empathy is being questioned.
Meyer should go. Smith should go.If you love Ohio State , fall on your swords dudes. There should be a penalty for not doing your jobs and you guys are set for life. The University is tarnished forever, there is nothing your names can ever bring to the table that can make up for that. In my mind, this is way worse than what Tressel did.
Personally, having grown up in Columbus, and having bene an Ohio State fan for 62 years, I will never again watch an Urban Meyer coached team, or a game played by a Gene Smith lead athletic department.
Nothing will ever save me from the embarrassment this will involve. I won’t be wearing my jerseys in public for a while. But if the dynamic duo resign, at least I’ll be able to say, in the end the University did the right thing. Even if in the end, they are dragged into it kicking and screaming. As they were with Tressel.
Just take a read over at CBS sports. There’s just no way these guys survive with the University’s reputation intact. IN fact with Tressel’s indiscretion, it makes you wonder. Repeat offender? Lack of institutional control? .Or in Ohio Staes mind is covering up the behaviour of a cheating, drug using wife beater on staff better than a few guys getting unsanctioned tattoos?
It would appear the University and I hold very different values.