OSU’s interim coach not interviewed in Meyer probe
COLUMBUS, OHIO » The coordinator filling in for Urban Meyer while the Ohio State head coach serves a three game suspension said on Monday that investigators did not interview him as part of their probe on what Meyer knew about domestic violence allegations made against another assistant coach.
Co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ryan Day in a news conference he had nothing to say about the investigation involving his boss as well as fired colleague Zach Smith, who had coached receivers.
Day declined to answer questions about the scandal, saying he was choosing not to comment “out of respect for everybody involved.”
Day has run the team since Meyer was put on leave two days before training camp opened Aug. 3.
Investigators said in a report released by Ohio State that they interviewed at least 40 witnesses, including key football staff members. Ohio State didn’t immediately respond to messages on Monday seeking comment on why Day wasn’t interviewed and which coaches were.
“Regarding the details of the investigation, I know everyone in here has a job to do, but I was not part of the investigation, I was not interviewed, so I have nothing to add,” Day said during his first media availability of the preseason.
Meyer was suspended Wednesday following a two-week investigation that found Meyer and athletic director Gene Smith tolerated bad behavior for years, including allegations of domestic abuse against Zach Smith, the grandson of former Ohio State coach and Meyer mentor Earle Bruce.
“I understand there’s been a lot of pain and stress for a lot of people surrounding the last few weeks,” Day said. “Our program has been working hard, our coaches and team have been working hard during that time to get ready for the season.”
Regarding the uncertainty of the past three weeks over Meyer’s future with the program, Day said he didn’t see any signs of that wearing on players until Thursday morning when their demeanor made it clear they had stayed up late watching the televised news conference announcing the suspension.
Day is trying to prepare the Buckeyes for the first home opener in six years without Meyer on the sideline. It helps that they likely won’t have to do much heavy lifting. The Buckeyes host Oregon State, a 1-11 team last year that comes in as 38-point underdogs.
Day said he has gotten important support from cooffensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, both of whom have experience as head coaches.
“It has been a whirlwind,” Day said. “But my goal in this was not to replace Coach (Meyer). That’s not what I wanted to do. What I wanted to do was empower the coaches, empower the leaders and just keep this thing moving, and I think we’ve done that.”
Day said he’ll coach from the sideline and call the offensive plays in conjunction with Wilson. He said the team is being led as if Meyer was still present.
“Ryan is certainly qualified to do this,” Schiano said. “Kevin Wilson, myself and the rest of the staff have done this a long time. That all said, we have to step it up. We’re missing our leader, we’re one down right now.”
Day said former guard Michael Jordan will start at center, following the departure of Billy Price, who was an All-American last season. Brady Taylor, who seemed to be the one to take over the starting role, also will play.
Baron Browning will start at middle linebacker while Tuf Borland continues to recover from a leg injury, although Schiano said Borland may play. Pete Werner and Malik Harrison will be the starting outside linebackers.
Herman says blame him if Texas offense bad again
AUSTIN, TEXAS » Tom Herman spent an entire offseason swatting away questions about who will call the plays for Texas, him or beleaguered offensive coordinator Tim Beck.
His latest answer came Monday
“We’ll all be calling plays,” Herman said, and he will have veto power. “The responsibility of the offense and its performance ultimately lies with me.”
That led to more questions as No. 23 Texas heads into its season opener Saturday at Maryland. So when he was asked about it again a few minutes later, Herman looked straight into the cameras at his weekly news conference.
“Fans. The minute this offense gets a hangnail . blame me and the entire offensive staff. We good?” Herman said.
Since 2010, Texas has had three head coaches and seven offensive coordinators. Herman’s predecessor, Charlie Strong, had three play callers in three seasons. Strong literally swore — in a civil lawsuit, no less — that play calling was a collaborative effort. But when things got bad, he didn’t fire himself.
Herman, who made his bones as a national championship-winning coordinator at Ohio State in 2014, hired Beck from Nebraska last season and they struggled through 2017 together in a 7-6 finish. The Longhorns averaged 29 points per game and scored 24 or less six times.
Arizona dismisses Marchiol after video surfaces
TUCSON, ARIZ. » Arizona transfer linebacker Santino Marchiol has been dismissed from the team after a video surfaced of him appearing to use a racial slur to describe former teammates at Texas A&M.
Wildcats coach Kevin Sumlin said during his Monday news conference that Marchiol is no longer with the team, but did not give a specific reason why.
The Dallas Morning News reported last week that a video showed Marchiol using a racial slur to describe teammates while he was at Texas A&M.
Marchiol transferred to Arizona this year after Sumlin left the Aggies to take the job in Tucson. Marchiol told USA Today last week that he was given cash on two occasions by a Texas A&M assistant coach to entertain recruits on official visits.
Baylor QB spot up for grabs between Brewer, McClendon
WACO, TEXAS » Baylor’s depth chart lists returning starter Charlie Brewer or graduate transfer Jalan McClendon as the quarterback, and coach Matt Rhule still isn’t ready to say which one will take the first snap of the season.
“I probably won’t name a starter until Friday night to the guys. I’m going to see how they prepare all week. I think both guys have been awesome,” Rhule said Monday. “Both guys have played at such a high level all camp, they’ve pushed each other.”
The Bears open their second season under Rhule on Saturday night at home against Abilene Christian.
No. 14 Michigan faces 16-game road skid vs. ranked teamd
ANN ARBOR, MICH. » Jim Harbaugh was coaching the San Diego Toreros the last time Michigan won a true road game against a ranked team. Yeah, that was a long time ago.
The 14th-ranked Wolverines have an opportunity to stop their 12-year skid on Saturday night at No. 12 Notre Dame.
“We’re a better team than last year and we just can’t wait to prove it,” Michigan safety Tyree Kinnel said Monday.
Harbaugh and his players haven’t had a lot to do with Michigan’s 0-16 road mark against Top 25 teams since beating the secondranked Fighting Irish 4721 Sept. 16, 2006.
The streak started under former coach Lloyd Carr and rolled on with Rich Rodriguez, Brady Hoke and Harbaugh on the sideline.