Meyer should have protected the vulnerable
This week, millions who follow college football waited with bated breath to hear the fate of Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer. We knew the university took its procedures and actions seriously when it fired its band director, faulting him for not stopping sexual hazing incidents. Four years later, the school is faced with another severe challenge, but within its beloved football program — domestic violence.
Meyer fed the media with a lot of empty phrases — “should have,” “I wish,” “I didn’t know.” What he didn’t address is how this became a learning experience to better handle his job representing the university. He also skirted any apology to the survivor, Courtney Smith — the innocent victim who simply wanted the violence to end. There was absolutely no concern for the safety of Smith and her children by Meyer in any statement or when he was asked the direct question. His answer spoke volumes to the integrity of his character.
What we’ve started hearing, and will continue to hear at the start of the college football season and after Meyer’s suspension, is a whole litany of questions. Should he have been suspended for more games? What does this mean for his legacy? Can Ohio State still make the playoff ? Does the interim coach have enough experience? Honestly, this is what any discussion of violence against women in the sports world looks like. It turns women into objects debated in sports terminology of missed games, impacted statistics, and how it will affect a man’s career.
I have no interest in what length of suspension would have been appropriate. I’d like to challenge everyone to focus on what positive result can come out of this. Athletic departments across the United States should take this as an opportunity to look at their hiring practices and policies on domestic violence — for both the victims and perpetrators.
This includes the recruitment of any athletes. It is no longer than 20, 10, even seven years ago when a blind eye was turned on domestic violence. Guess what? Times have changed.
A situation that occurred three years ago within the University of Alabama is a prime example. Head football coach Nick Saban brought nose guard Jonathan Taylor onto his team after Taylor was kicked off the University of Georgia team for aggravated assault and domestic violence. The coaching staff should’ve known this information, and if the homework had been done and proper protocols had been in place, the coaches should never have welcomed him to the team in the first place.
Eventually, Taylor was dismissed by Saban after he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence for the second time in less than one year; but it shouldn’t have taken this arrest in the first place. Every university must ensure its athletes, student bodies and communities are safe.
Men in leadership are being held accountable, and there are punitive actions for not doing the right thing. Those individuals are being held accountable by society and their employers. Can we do more? Absolutely. We do it by speaking out and holding people in any position – entry level or leadership – accountable for their actions. These behaviors should not be tolerated; and it takes all of us working together for it to end.
Let’s focus on that and how we can all better handle this type of situation; and let’s not give the attention to those who thrive in the limelight to shift the focus and conversation onto themselves.