Meyer talks ban again

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer is pushing back on the reasons for his three-game suspension with claims that don’t fully square with details laid out in the investigation that led to his punishment.

Meyer tweeted a statement Friday that he said intends to clarify what he called incorrect media reports about his suspension.

Meyer was suspended three games for mismanaging former wide receivers coach Zach Smith, who has been accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wife, Courtney Smith. Investigators said Meyer didn’t properly handle the abuse claims and other bad behavior from the assistant coach.

Meyer said it’s not accurate he was suspended because he “knew about or condoned Zach Smith’s alleged domestic abuse.”

Investigators said Meyer knew about several allegations against the coach before Smith was fired. The report also said Meyer didn’t think there was enough to report Smith’s issues to compliance officers, which investigators called a misunderstanding of the reporting requirements.

Meyer also said: “I did not lie at Big Ten Media Days” when he told reporters he didn’t know about accusations against Smith.

Investigators said they do not believe Meyer “deliberately” lied, but said they can’t rule it out and that he clearly intended to not disclose details about Smith’s issues to media. The report said Meyer took that intention too far even after conversations with the athletic director and others about how to respond to questions.