Meyer back on sideline

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State giftwrapped a blowout for Urban Meyer in his return to the sideline, making sure the coach didn’t have to get too stressed or too mad at anybody and didn’t have to make any monumental decisions.

The No. 4 Buckeyes played like, well, like they played while Meyer was watching the first three games on TV while serving a suspension. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins continued to throw touchdown passes at a furious rate, and Ohio State routed outmanned Tulane 49-6 on Saturday.

Meyer didn’t seem too up or too down on the sideline but might be more animated next week when Ohio State travels to play No. 10 Penn State in the annual “white out” game at Beaver Stadium that ended in an upset by the Nittany Lions two seasons ago.

Meyer didn’t reveal much about his feelings after the game but said the most emotional moment was between the third and fourth quarters when the marching band played “Hang on Sloopy,” a longtime tradition at Ohio Stadium.

“It’s been that way for seven years now,” Meyer said.

“Being able to have him in the locker room, being able to have him, to talk to him, before the game, you miss that not having him,” said Haskins, who threw five touchdown passes in the first half. “Being with him before we go out on the field together, the excitement he brings, the energy he brings, it was definitely missed.”

Meyer was back this week after serving a suspension for his mismanagement of former assistant Zach Smith, who was accused of domestic violence and other questionable behavior while working under Meyer at Florida and Ohio State.

“He’s always a fired-up dude,” Ohio State cornerback Jeffrey Okudah said. “I feel like you could feel his energy. You could really feel his energy today. You could tell that he was glad to be back with the team.”