Meyer claims he acted properly
After being placed on administrative leave amid an investigation into his conduct, embattled Ohio State coach Urban Meyer released a statement Friday afternoon denying wrongdoing in regards to former receivers coach Zach Smith.
Smith, who allegedly abused his wife, Courtney, while on Meyer’s staff at both Florida and Ohio State, was not fired until last month despite Meyer’s wife knowing about the abuse, according to a bombshell report.
At Big Ten Media Days last week, Meyer said he and his wife knew about an incident in 2009 at Florida and addressed it with both Zach and Courtney Smith but knew nothing about the alleged 2015 incident that came to light recently.
Meyer denied any intention to deceive in the statement released on his Twitter account, saying that he, “was not adequately prepared to discuss these sensitive personnel issues with the media.” He apologized for his words at Big Ten Media Days, but ultimately stopped short of saying he swept anything under the rug.
“I have always followed proper reporting protocols and procedure when I have learned of an incident involving a student-athlete, coach or member of our staff by elevating the issue to the proper channels,” Meyer said. “And, I did so regarding the Zach Smith incident in 2015. I take that responsibility very seriously and any suggestion to the contrary is simply false.”
Meyer said he believes he will be vindicated once all of the information comes out.
“Please know that the truth is the ultimate power and I am confident that I took appropriate action,” he said.
At the same time Meyer released his statement, Zach Smith was giving an interview to ESPN. When read the statement, Smith told the interviewer: “It’s as heartfelt, honest and as true a statement as I’ve ever heard. That’s who he is right there.”
Smith then was asked why he thought Meyer did not admit to knowing about the 2015 incident.
“I don’t know what he was thinking,” Smith said. “Not really. He knows everything that has gone on in my marriage that he needed to know.”