Meyer makes statement to Smith’s ex-wife

UCLA Indiana

By The Associated Press

Amid withering criticism of his failing to more directly address domestic abuse issues at a news conference earlier this week, suspended Ohio State coach Urban Meyer issued an apology Friday to the exwife of a former assistant coach who was suspected of abusing her.

Meyer, who is serving a three-game suspension for his handling of abuse allegations and other misdeeds from former receivers coach Zach Smith, was criticized because he declined to address Courtney Smith in a question-and-answer session Wednesday night with reporters.

“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,” the statement said.

New head coach Chip Kelly said any decisions about personnel, including who will be the starting quarterback for the season opener Sept. 1 against Cincinnati, will not be made until after the Bruins conclude training camp Saturday. “We’ll go through the weekend,” Kelly said. “Then we’ll sit down as a staff on Sunday and go through everybody. We haven’t talked about anybody here, there or anywhere at any position right now.”

Sophomore running back Morgan Ellison was suspended indefinitely and linebacker Mo Burnam is suspended for the opener. Indiana did not say why it benched Ellison, who led the Hoosiers with 704 yards rushing as a freshman a year ago, including 149 yards in a win against Rutgers in late November.

Elsewhere

Comcast and the Fox Networks Group announced they have reached an agreement for the cable carrier to continue to make the Big Ten Network available to its customers. The companies announced Friday they also agreed Comcast will carry all Big Ten Conference games that are shown on Fox’s all-sports network, FS1.