Probe shows Meyer allowed bad behavior for years
COLUMBUS, OHIO » Urban Meyer may have weathered scandal at Ohio State, but not without a lasting stain as an exhaustive report detailed behavior that could easily have taken down a coach of lesser stature.
The investigation released soon after Meyer answered questions from reporters about his suspension Wednesday night showed that he tolerated bad behavior for years from assistant coach Zach Smith, including domesticviolence accusations, drug addiction, lies and other acts that directly clash with the values Meyer touts publicly.
The findings represent a new turn in the saga, showing how the superstar coach — who preaches “core values” like honesty, treating women with respect and not using drugs or stealing — failed to live up to those ideals when handling several issues squarely within his control while dealing with the grandson of legendary Ohio State coach Earle Bruce.
Ohio State issued Meyer a relatively light three game suspension — granting enough leeway to still let him prep the Buckeyes for two games. He will also lose six weeks of salary in a year he’s slated to earn $7.6 million under a deal that runs through 2022.
“Do I think 73-8 (Meyer’s record at Ohio State) had something to do with it?” former UCLA coach and CBS analysts Rick Neuheisel said of Meyer’s punishment. “The answer is yes. The answer is absolutely.”
“The rules are not the same for everybody. That’s no secret. The fact that Urban has been so good in terms of win-loss over the years certainly played in.”
Meanwhile, his football team was back at practice without him on Thursday, preparing for the opener against Oregon State on Sept. 1. Cooffensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ryan Day will continue to coach the team during Meyer’s absence.
An Ohio State spokesman on Thursday declined to expand on the contents of investigative report, referring The Associated Press back to comments made by Meyer and others at the news conference Wednesday night.
Smith has denied being aggressive with his ex-wife. His attorney said Wednesday that Meyer and athletic director Gene Smith were “collateral damage” from Courtney Smith’s desire to hurt her exhusband. Courtney Smith’s attorney did not comment on Thursday as Ohio State’s decision reverberated through the sports world.
“I knew (firing) wasn’t going to happen because it’s too big of a program, and he’s too much of a high-profile coach,” Ohio State student Justin Johnson said Thursday. “So I knew he wasn’t going to get fired and I knew that they weren’t going to keep him off the field for too long.”
For some, the punishment won’t be enough.
“He is so influential and so many people listen and adore him, and for the fact that he’s just like sliding it off and focusing on the football team and his career is kind of selfish,” Ohio State student Natalie Sanchez-Carrillo said.