Ohio State suspends Meyer for first three games of season
Ohio State on Wednesday night suspended head football coach Urban Meyer three games for mishandling domestic violence accusations, punishing one of the sport’s most prominent leaders for keeping an assistant on staff for several years after that coach’s wife accused him of abuse.
The move followed a two-week investigation into how Meyer reacted to allegations that former Buckeyes assistant Zach Smith abused his ex-wife, Courtney Smith. Zach Smith was fired last month after she asked a judge for a protective order.
She alleged her husband shoved her against a wall and put his hands around her neck in 2015. The university put Meyer on paid leave and began its investigation after she spoke out publicly, sharing text messages and photos she traded in 2015 with Meyer’s wife, Shelley Meyer.
“I followed my heart and not my head,” Meyer said during a news conference after his punishment was announced. “I should have demanded more from him and recognized red flags.”
Trustees discussed the decision to punish Meyer in a marathon meeting of more than 12 hours Wednesday. Athletic director Gene Smith — who is not related to Zach or Courtney Smith — was also suspended from Aug. 31 through Sept. 16.
Ohio State’s investigation concluded Meyer and the athletic director mismanaged Zach Smith’s misconduct and kept him even though he was not an appropriate role model for OSU student-athletes. The review found neither Meyer nor Gene Smith condoned or covered up the alleged actions.
Investigators found that Meyer and
the athletic director failed to report the claims against the coach and seemed to misunderstand their obligation to tell compliance officials about alleged misconduct.
Meyer said he was not aware of the text messages Courtney Smith sent to his wife. When asked if he had a message for Courtney Smith, Meyer said: “I have a message for everyone involved in this: I’m sorry were’ in this situation.”
Meyer will miss Ohio State’s first three games against Oregon State, Rutgers and No. 16 TCU.
• Texas A&M says it is reviewing allegations of possible NCAA violations by football coaches made by a former player who transferred to Arizona.
Santino Marchiol, a linebacker who signed with the Aggies in 2017 when Kevin Sumlin was coach, told USA Today that Aggies assistant Bradley Dale Peveto gave him cash to entertain recruits on unofficial visits to campus. Schools are allowed to pay expenses for recruits on official visits and NCAA rules allow student hosts to be paid $40 per day to entertain recruits. Marchiol also claimed new A&M coach Jimbo Fisher’s staff possibly violated NCAA rules by running mandatory team activities at impermissible times.
Texas A&M says it is reviewing the situation with the NCAA and the SEC Office.
Tennis
NA UP FOR INTERNATIONAL HALL OF FAME >> Li Na could become the first player from Asia elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The two-time major champion from China is one of eight Grand Slam title winners who are candidates for the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019, a list that includes Goran Ivanisevic, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Conchita Martinez.
Also on the slate revealed Wednesday for the Hall’s first election that will include a fan vote: Jonas Bjorkman, Sergi Bruguera, Thomas Muster and Mary Pierce.
Li retired at age 32 because of recurring knee injuries in 2014.
Bits & Pieces
WOODS, MICKELSON TO BATTLE IN PAY PER VIEW >> The winner-take-all match between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson is on. WarnerMedia says it has secured the rights for a pay-per-view event it is promoting as “The Match.” It will be 18 holes between Woods and Mickelson held Thanksgiving weekend at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. The winner will receive $9 million.
• Mallory Pugh and Kelley O’Hara returned from injuries to the U.S. Women’s national team in advance of a pair of exhibition matches against Chile. The two were among 23 players named to the training camp roster for games against Chile on Aug. 31 in Carson, and Sept. 4 in San Jose.