Meyer adds to apology
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Amid withering criticism for failing to more directly address domestic abuse issues at a news conference this week announcing his three-game suspension, Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer issued an apology Friday to the ex-wife of a former assistant coach who was suspected of abusing her. Meyer, who was suspended for his handling of abuse allegations and other alleged misdeeds by former receivers coach Zach Smith, was criticized because he did not mention Courtney Smith by name during a question-and-answer session with reporters Wednesday night. “Let me say here and now what I should have said on Wednesday: I sincerely apologize to Courtney Smith and her children for what they have gone through,” Meyer said in a statement he tweeted and university officials emailed. “My words and demeanor on Wednesday did not show how seriously I take relationship violence. This has been a real learning experience for me. I fully intend to use my voice more effectively to be a part of the solution.” An investigative report released soon after Meyer answered questions about his suspension showed he tolerated bad behavior for years from the receivers coach before firing him last month, including domestic violence accusations, drug addiction, lies and other acts that directly clash with the values Meyer touts publicly. During Wednesday’s news conference, when Meyer was asked if he had a message for Courtney Smith directly, he demurred: “I have a message for everyone in this: I’m sorry we are in this situation.”
› COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Former University of Maryland basketball star and congressman Tom McMillen and former Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich have been added to the commission to investigate the culture of the university’s football program. The Board of Regents announced five additions to the commission Friday, bringing the total to eight. Also added were former NFL quarterback Doug Williams;
sports journalist Bonnie Bernstein, a Maryland grad; and orthopedist Frederick Azar.
They will join three previously named members: retired U.S. District Court judges Ben Legg and Alex Williams and former federal prosecutor Charlie Scheeler. The commission was formed in the wake of alleged bullying behavior by the school’s football staff. The matter came to light after offensive lineman Jordan McNair collapsed during practice from heatstroke in late May and later died.
BASEBALL
› SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Those who had hoped to see a rematch of last week’s 11-inning thriller between Hawaii and Georgia at the Little League World Series got their wish. The two teams will meet again today, this time with a championship berth on the line. The winner of the game for the U.S. title will face the victor of Japan and South Korea on Sunday. As Hurricane Lane nears landfall back home, Hawaii is making the most of its dream 4,000 miles away in South Williamsport. The team from Honolulu is undefeated through three games and has outscored its opponents 20-3. Coming off of an impressive 10-0 victory over New York’s Staten Island, Hawaii has all of its pitching available and is the only team on the American side of the bracket with more than one home run in the tournament. While Georgia’s 2-0 loss to Hawaii last week made its run to the U.S. championship round more difficult, the team from Peachtree City has reeled off three consecutive victories.