In a not unexpected move Thursday afternoon, the Ohio State football sports information department sent out a release stating that Friday’s previously scheduled media availability with coordinators and players has been canceled. Also, the practice — which was supposed to be open — has now been closed.
Here is the release in full.
The university is committed to supporting our student-athletes as they prepare for the upcoming semester. Due to the ongoing investigation, football coaches and student-athletes will not be available for interviews until further notice and all practices will be closed. We anticipate providing an update on availability Monday.
While some may want to read into the Monday update, keep in mind that Tuesday was supposed to be the second media availability of fall camp. The Monday update could simply be to let the media know whether or not Tuesday’s session is canceled as well.
This is not an unusual move for Ohio State. When former receiver Noah Brown broke his leg in practice in 2015, OSU canceled that day’s availability rather than have their players deal with the questions of the day.
At some point, however, the gates will open and players and coaches will begin to talk.
Player check-in is also not expected to take place at all this week. That has always been the plan. As to when it will be, OSU isn’t yet confirming any rumors.
It seems that Mr. Mills sees himself as the be all/end all on every topic posted. Sir, you are too wordy and really should take a break.
It’s a lose-lose-lose situation for all the people involved. Reputations, careers, young people’s lives. All damaged. There are ” shoudas-coudas” for everyone involved. But I think one person will pay the biggest cost.
What a sad situation. Does anyone doubt that if the assistant coach had NOT been Earle’s grandson and/or Earle had not been in deteriorating health over last 2-3 years that Coach Meyer would have dealt with whole thing differently years ago? I would also be shocked if both Earle and Urban didn’t privately have a ” Come to Jesus Meeting” with the kid in the past! It probably won’t make any difference. Loyalty is going to prove costly.
In a past life I had several face to face talks with Coach Bruce. If there was one thing he stressed above all else it was loyalty. Just like little things back to when people were sick and tired of Jim Tressel’s offense, Earle stood behind every single thing Tress was doing. To him the head ball coach needed to be religiously followed by those in his charge, which included players. ANYTHING done in any negative situations should be dealt with behind closed doors and out of the public’s eye. It becomes an irony that it very well “could” be the undoing of Urban Meyer. Of course Earle had direct affinity for his own grandson, but, Urbans long term duty MUST be to honor his word to players and player families in his job. If a staff member isn’t DOING honorable things it can call into question every single thing Urban has told the players and those mother and fathers who have entrusted their kids to him. If it turns out that Urban has lied about this????? Well, lets just hope that he hasn’t.
Unfortunately I suspect Coach Bruce would be in the same pickle that Urban finds himself in. Blind loyalty can be a really stupid thing for many more than those directly involved when situations turn sour. Not to detract or make light of this situation, but a wise comment came from an old Star Trek movie quoted by Spock. “The needs of the many, outweighs the needs of the one.” It’s a great axiom to live by. There are times when loyalty can become blind loyalty and more people are harmed because of that folly. In the end………..DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
Loyalty got tress too, it’s a good trait unless it is blind loyalty. Still it is easier said than done, when you love someone, it is so much harder to be the iron hand of justice.
Can we NOW get back to talking about the TEAM? It’s much more fun arguing about starting quarterback and even dissing posters who have a different take on individual positions ON the team.
The other crap will take care of itself in due process.
As the offensive line goes, so goes the transition from JT Barrett to Dwayne Haskins who just had his likelihood of finishing the season as the Buckeyes starting quarterback exponentially increased.
Good for them. The less distractions the better. There is nothing the media can do, but stir the hype and the stir the pot.
Agreed…. not it’s all about the team and not the coach(es).
Exactly right Kurt.