Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer took part in Tuesday’s weekly Big Ten coaches teleconference. Meyer was asked by Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch for his reaction to the story published Tuesday morning by college football reporter Brett McMurphy alleging the “cover up of a racially-charged practice altercation” between former OSU receivers coach Zach Smith and former Buckeye receiver Trevon Grimes.
Here is how Meyer answered.
“Last week we were made aware. I believe [OSU football sports information director] Jerry [Emig] was made aware and Gene Smith was made aware, that there was a story by this reporter that was going to be printed and Gene and the administration acted. We were getting ready for the Michigan State game, I believe it was, and they acted aggressively and were very involved immediately with it. They interviewed up to 10 people and I was just kept abreast of it as it was going.
“My first reaction was like everyone’s around here, it was irate. Our players were over the top irate. They came to see me. They were extremely upset that that kind of accusation would be made about something that is absolutely not tolerated, and quite honestly the most preposterous thing I’ve ever heard being involved in college athletics.
“Then to see a reporter go after a player and his mother like that. To call out his mother and list some of the things that has happened in her past, I just don’t quite understand what that’s all about. The personal attacks is something that…because I did read it. I wasn’t going to read it, but I did read it because I knew I would get asked that question. We made a trip to Florida like we did any player, like we would any player. We have in the past, to go visit a mom that was recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Her and her son were in distress. We went to go spend about five hours with them. Gene was very aware and everybody was aware and it was the right thing to do.
“We’ve done that kind of thing in the past and we would do that again, for any player that’s in distress and show our support because we love that family so much. And how that became a story, I think they were trying to say that we made up a story about cancer or something. Once again, I’ve never heard of anything like this before in my life.
“We’ve got a big game this week and then we move on, but I’m certainly looking into legal action. I just don’t know how that’s allowed to… I don’t know. I don’t understand the rules and the laws of the land that say you can just accuse people of something that did not happen.”
Meyer wasn’t the only person to weigh in on the matter, as both Gene Smith and OSU president Michael Drake released statements.
Gene Smith
“The accusations made today by Brett McMurphy regarding our coach and the reasons for the transfer of Trevon Grimes are unequivocally false. Urban Meyer embraces diversity and would absolutely never support an environment of racism. It simply isn’t tolerated here. And as an African-American, football player and collegiate administrator, I personally can say that our coaches, student-athletes and support staff know there is no place for any such behavior within our programs, at The Ohio State University or anywhere.”
University Statement on Brett McMurphy story
The Ohio State University unequivocally and vehemently disputes the unfounded allegations by Brett McMurphy. Any allegations of racism are outrageous and false. The university told McMurphy that we have found no evidence to support these allegations. Reporting in this manner is irresponsible, inflammatory and a severe invasion of privacy of a student athlete and his family as well as a baseless personal attack on Coach Meyer. It is regrettable that McMurphy and his employer would use such poor judgment in running this inaccurate story.