Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer, who is currently on paid administrative leave while the university continues its investigation into what he knew about former assistant coach Zach Smith’s alleged domestic violence, released a statement via Twitter late Friday afternoon.
Here it is in its entirety.
There is an Ohio State fan from Myrtle Beach planning a rally to support Urban Meyer on the OSU campus. The school has given him permission to do this. He will drive to Columbus to do this. Everyone is welcomed. Keep an eye out for the details of when and where.
It’s amazing that the media is still saying Urban didn’t really help himself with this letter and one guy even totally dismissed the Zach Smith interview saying you can’t believe him. ESPN really hates OSU. This goes back to the Clarett investigation and the tattoo gate with Jim Tressel too. I think they even sued the school because they could not get some information they wanted.
They are so scared to even sound like they support Urban or Zach because it would go against the me too movement and they don’t want to answer to their girlfriends or wives when they get home from work.
The three Big Ten commentators Dave R- Howard G- Gerry D all need to be fired after Urbans statement came out all three were throwing Urban under the bus and backing it back over him. They were awful not waiting for more information ..watch it made me sick..then when Zach came out and talked they were backpedaling like they were being chased by a bear oh Urban did report it ..These are BIG TEN network guys, I understand ESPN bashing because they are SEC lovers but our own network bashing is BS..
Let’s not rush to judgement. Placing Urban on administrative leave was an indication that he’s in hot water. Now we know that Gene Smith played a major role from the beginning. If you watch Courtney Smith’s entire interview and consider the timing, it’s obvious that she has a financial angle. Don’t rush to condemn the media. We should all realize that it’s not their job to present all the facts but rather to sell stories and you must take their stories with a large grain of salt. We’ll learn most of the truth eventually. The sad bottom line is that we can’t be totally supportive of friends and colleagues but MUST pass the buck to legal and administrative entities.
So what do we know now?That either or both Urban Meyer AND The Columbus Police contacted Gene Smith, and Gene Smith subsequently called Zach Smith OFF of the recruiting trail in 2015. If the Title IX Board was NOT contacted directly by Gene Smith, the wrong person is on Administrative leave and this press release by Urban Meyer puts Gene Smith on notice that Urban isn’t taking a fall for something he properly handled. Adios Gene if you failed to report. IF Gene Smith DID report this to the Title IX Board there WILL be a massive Administrative shake-up at Ohio State. That’s a level of corruption and incompetence that is disturbing and intolerable.
What’s the next move? Urban Meyer will be back on the sidelines at some point next week if these events unfolding are true. Gene Smith won’t be.
Agree James……But then again, Gene Smith did reprimand Zach Smith by sending him back from a recruiting trip to get his side of the story (which proves Meyer at least told him, or that he was aware of the potential Tilte IX violation)…He got Zach’s story, which indicates that He did not commit Domestic violence, that his actions were defensive, and the Powell PD did not press charges, nor did Mrs. Smith….So Urban and Gene both did the right thing. The University could have been liable and involved in a lawsuit of their own, had they decided to takes action against Zach Smith in 2015, based on “he said, she said”..this is all gonna blow over this week, Urbs will be back, and The Ohio State football team should now have a chip on their shoulder based on the way the media witch-hunt already had Urban Meyer fired….ESPN went so far as to write an article titled “As The World has Evolved, Urban Meyer has Not” written by some lackey named Andrea Adelson…here is a link to this hideous article.http://espn.go.com/college-football/….All the Ohio State haters came our of their shells as this story transpired and jumped to conclusions damning Urban Meyer without even waiting to hear his side of the story….They will all eat crow, and now the Buckeyes have extra incentive to kick some serious AZZ this YEAR….GO BUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love my Coach Meyer.
Agree James……But then again, Gene Smith did reprimand Zach Smith by sending him back from a recruiting trip to get his side of the story (which proves Meyer at least told him, or that he was aware of the potential Tilte IX violation)…He got Zach’s story, which indicates that He did not commit Domestic violence, that his actions were defensive, and the Powell PD did not press charges, nor did Mrs. Smith….So Urban and Gene both did the right thing. The University could have been liable and involved in a lawsuit of their own, had they decided to takes action against Zach Smith in 2015, based on “he said, she said”..this is all gonna blow over this week, Urbs will be back, and The Ohio State football team should now have a chip on their shoulder based on the way the media witch-hunt already had Urban Meyer fired….ESPN went so far as to write an article titled “As The World has Evolved, Urban Meyer has Not” written by some lackey named Andrea Adelson…here is a link to this hideous article.http://espn.go.com/college-football/….All the Ohio State haters came our of their shells as this story transpired and jumped to conclusions damning Urban Meyer without even waiting to hear his side of the story….They will all eat crow, and now the Buckeyes have extra incentive to kick some serious AZZ this YEAR….GO BUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love my Coach Meyer.
Bob Gustin……….AMEN!
Who is Brett?
I agree Gene Smith needs to go. I never did like him for his handling of the Tressel “resignation”. I don’t know too much about the school president Michael Drake and what he would do. He did fire the band director Waters.
How many of us here have ever been inside of Bricker Hall and watched or been party to how the Administrative process works at Ohio State? While it makes mistakes and sometimes confuses things, it is a non stop advancement forward in all processes. That includes any and all allegations which calls Title IX into question. They can move painfully slow at times but they DO act on ALL reports. On Title IX complaints they act quicker AND prioritize them more aggressively. If someone under tham reports, they respond. If someone doesn’t report that’s a problem for the lower echelons of the chain of command.
This press release by Urban Meyer could easily be a public passive aggressive warning to Gene Smith directly. One that says that he is going to be honest, so those up the chain of command had better follow suit. Which would be a brilliant move by Urban if there was doubt. Jim Tressel “played ball” with the chain of command and where the final pain would end up. Urban Meyer is more aggressive. and will stand his ground.
Gene Smith definitely needs to go and did long before this–the 2011 bowl decision alone was ridiculous and pathetic and cost OSu a shot at a national title.
Read the Title IX rules that govern college sports – more than one person it can be reported to and more than one way to report it.
I have a couple complete copies of Intercollegiate rules and regulations. Meyer stated that he followed protocol and procedure in reporting this. Either he did, or he lied about doing so in his latest press release. He states that he reported it UP the proper channel. Gene Smith IS the next person UP the chain. If Urban didn’t take it directly TO the Title IX Board it could simply be because he reported to Gene Smith and perhaps Gene Smith told Urban that he would handle it and wound up sitting on it. Gene Smith is Urbans direct boss, so would it be a wise or even proper to go OVER Gene Smiths head? IF Urban DID in fact report it to the PROPER next level, he in fact DID therefore report it to the Title IX Board by way of the chain of command up.
Now if Urban just reported it to an assistant than the fault lies with Urban because those Administrative ASSISTANTS are not a step up the proper chain of command.
Please stop the hate and let this finish. Many of you hating the media and rush to judgement are now wrong for spewing hatred toward the administration and Gene Smith. We still do not know how to to whom Coach Meyer reported the incident or where it went. If there was clear evidence of wrongdoing Coach would be gone but if there is clear evidence of doing right he would be back with team. Independent committee now suggests there is a larger number than one that is being looked into.
Gene Smith is the next guy up in the “proper” chain for a Head Football Coach. Urban states he handled it properly and reported it up the food chain. Sorry Happy Buckeye but that calls a guy with a weak history, Gene Smith into question.
But there is still the possibility that Urban lied about reporting it up that food chain. Doesn’t change the fact that Gene Smith should never have been at Ohio State. EVER.
I take a lot of flack on here for saying things and I’m going to again. Gene Smith was a STUPID hire from the very beginning. 100% he will put HIS best interests above any and EVERYONE else’s.
Gene Smith is a power seeker for himself and he’s not even half as smart as he thinks he is. Political reasons are the ONLY reason was even hired by Ohio State and NOTHING more.
A very simple litmus test, and one he’s NOT required by contract to do is be a pure shill TO or FOR Ohio State. But he is the Athletic Department leader and he should have the PROGRAMS best interest in mind in all situations. Last year when he recused himself from the Playoff Conversation on the Committee, he was woefully wrong. Even if his vote wasn’t FOR the Buckeyes, he had no business shirking the responsibilities he accepted with that appointment. Go back through his history everywhere he’s been and you’ll see similar situations where he should definitely been involved but turned his back because of his affinity to hide from his duties. He was a clueless DF throughout the entire Tatgate incident, and a MORON when he decided to put that 2011 team in a Bowl game at the expense of the following season. The ONLY plausible reason for doing that was the color green.
It wouldn’t be the slightest bit surprising OR out of his character to shirk a hard choice decision once a situation like Zach Smith’s was reported to him. He LOVES being in the camera spotlight, but he hates doing the hard things in his job capacity.
The table has flipped with more knowledge coming to light. IF those above Urban on the food chain knew and didn’t tell Urban that Smith had to go, Urban isn’t required to fire anybody for cause. Especially since no charges had been filed. Urban reported the event properly and would have abided by any decision his boss, Gene Smith would have recommended, including termination of Smith. Of course with the knowledge that Smith had a known past and a continuing history of the same, I think Urban had a DUTY to represent his often cited core values. As a Psych student he should know that innately and proceed accordingly. He’s the guy at the top of those core values for the Program below the Administrative level even if he likes to say that he’s more of a CEO than a Coach. Maybe THAT’S where the problem comes in. A coach is a blue collar worker. That’s where his responsibilities for his hire belong, not donning the white collar of administration.
This whole thing HAD the potential of derailing the Buckeye Program. Urban can now USE this situation to get back into being the coach everyone knows he can be, and the Buckeyes will become the most lethal program on the field of College Football. The TEAM needs a coach, not a CEO.
Good can yet come out of this whole sick mess. The Buckeye Nation and Ohio State deserve that COACH Ohio State hired, not another suit.
Spot on Mr. Mills!!!
I’m still on Brett’s FB wall. This is FUN!!!!!
I am so glad this bullshit is almost over.
WELCOME BACK, COACH. GET TO WORK!!!!!
Biggest question is, if Gene knew about this in 2015 and even called ZS back in from a recruiting trip… why would he stand pat for 4 days letting Meyer wallow in speculation that he did not report it? Gene could have ended this by stepping up like a man and simply saying Coach Meyer fulfilled his contractual reporting duty.
It really makes you wonder what Gene Smith is all about. He let one Legendary Coach get burned at the stake… and it looks like he was geared up to let another meet the same fate. Maybe he doesn’t want big name coaches around for too long for fear they become too powerful? Maybe he sees job security in being the guy to survive the turmoil and thus lends no support to the coaches when they encounter some.
Gene Smith needs to go. He is the worst leader in crisis I have ever seen. He does not get out in front of anything. He never has an offensive… he is totally reactionary! The man does not have a spine at all. We all knew he was a human punching bag… but this seems even worse (cowardly back stabber)
i ‘m glad that Urban issues this statement. I will wait for the commission to report before passing judgment. I do question why Urban wasn’t prepared to speak to this issue on Tuesday. He had to know this would be the first question he would get.
Who would he have known that this would be the first question?
There is a difference in misspeaking because you were not prepared to address a subject and lying. However you slice it, making an inaccurate statement to the media is not a new thing for college football coaches and if we start “canning” them for that (as opposed to their substantive actions – like reporting to proper channels) then we might as well do away with D1.
Rick, save us the virtue signaling. People that do so are just disingenuously trying to prop themselves up so as to look good for the P.C. mob. You’re around safe company here, no need for the show… besides, none of us believe you anyway (as I am sure you have misspoke before as well).
Rick (or first day Ric) has been all over this board posting his “you hate women” and “you are not a man” BS to anyone who suggested we take a measured approach and let the process unfold. Now that he might be wrong he’s simply trying to save his own manhood because based on the vitriol he has been spewing, he doesn’t ever think he is wrong.
If what he says here is true, he MUST have reported it to Gene Smith. If that’s the case and Smith took no action, then it’s HIS ass that’s in trouble. An investigation should reveal all of this. Let’s not have a rush to judgement.
Can his lying ass. He is a mentor to these kids, and he lied in front of everyone. And, let’s not rush to judgement here. We will see how he “reported it”. He has lied once, maybe he is lying now. Can him, and save the institution’s reputation.
There is no way he issues this statement without university approval. If he reporeted it to compliance he fulfilled his responsibility. Plus the fact this was released at 5 pm on a Friday and the wording used has lawyer speak all over it. This should be over. His statements at media day are irrelevant.
Two phrases describe the entire Urban Meyer fiasco to this point: “Rush to judgment” and “trial by media.”
In today’s era of instant news reporting – and commentary – there’s a total disregard for taking the necessary time for gathering all the pertinent facts for fear some other media outlet will get the “scoop.”
The high and mighty, self-righteous media pontificating went from zero to 60 in minutes Wednesday following the initial article, and the media jury had already pronounced the guilty verdict before facts were known. My hope is that the powers that be at OSU will have the sense – and courage – to stand with Meyer and not bend to the #metoo pressures just because they are currently fashionable.
buckeyebob–I couldn’t have said it any better..it’s scary and crap how the pc media rushes to judgment just for a headline–no ethics left in the media these days sadly
Gene Smith, get your resume ready. And Brett McMurphy needs to lose his credentials as a so-called journalist. And Cynthia Smith needs to understand that her Alimony and child support payments may take a dive now that her batterer of a bastard husband will never coach again. This was all an attempt to sue Ohio State on her behalf…..
Gene Smith is the one who should be on paid leave… Gene Smith is the one who should terminated! And its long overdue!!!
Sounds to me like Gene Smith better get his resume ready…..
HELL YES!!!!!
If his statement that he reported above is true, who ever it is he reported it to, Gene Smith………whoever needs to be person or persons facing the outrage and Urban Meyer back on the field getting his team ready for the 2018 season.
Makes me proud that he stepped forward and taken his wife, and other coaches wives OUT of the conversation entirely. The investigation belongs aimed above Urban. I certainly hope that Urban kept a record of that reporting. If so he’ll be on the field come Monday morning because he would have fulfilled his obligation to his contract since no corrective action from those above him were apparently ever given. Someone from Gene Smith – the BOD’s have some questions that need answered by allowing Urban Meyer to be put in this position to begin with.
I believe that when the truth comes out, that Urban will be vindicated. My main fear is that Ohio State’s gutless administation will try to use Meyer as a scapegoat. If they do that, they will damage the Ohio State brand for a long time.
As a teacher and a coach, I am very upset with how the media rushed to judgment over Coach Meyer. In the last couple of days, I have listened to XM radio, ESPN, and other outlets. In this country, you are incident until proven guilty. We should not deal in the court of public opinion. All the facts were not in during the course of the last couple of days. After reading all the reports and viewing Urban’s statement, I am in conclusion that Brett McMurphy should be removed as a reporter from the Stadium website. I really believe if you report something without all evidence or facts from all parties involved, you need to be held accountable. With that being said, I believe that Brett needs to be removed immediately as a reporter. I believe a petition to “Stadium” is in order.