As many Ohioans know, Meyer has been tangled in a scandal regarding his relation to the domestic abuse allegations against his former assistant coach, Zach Smith. Though Urban fired Smith on July 23, there is a wealth of evidence showing that he should have done so sooner. Considering the police reports by Smith’s wife, the frequent communication between the wives of Smith and Meyer and Smith’s history of behavioral problems, there’s no doubt that Urban was well aware of Zach Smith’s off-field misconduct.
And here lies the issue: the moment Urban obtained proof of Smith’s violent ways from his wife, he should have been dialing Zach’s number to wish him luck in all of his future endeavors. Whether Meyer notified authorities of the circumstances is irrelevant. He’s the one sitting at the head of the table. He’s the one getting paid millions of dollars to lead a football program. He’s the one setting an example for 114 young men. He’s the one that should’ve pulled the plug.
Urban, however, let Smith slide. Maybe it was because Smith was consistently developing NFL wide receivers. Maybe it was because Smith’s grandfather, legendary Ohio State head coach Earle Bruce, was Meyer’s mentor until he passed away earlier this year. Maybe Urban simply values winning over morality. Whatever the reason, Urban Meyer failed to cut ties with Zach Smith when the time was right, and it should have cost him his job.
Meyer denied any wrongdoing when Courtney Smith filed a protection order against her husband on July 20, causing the issue to resurface. Ohio State launched an investigation into the incident, and as the result of a board discussion on August 22, Meyer was dealt a pathetic three-game suspension. In a Twitter statement, Meyer responded that his “fault was in not taking action sooner against a troubled employee.” No kidding. The university serving up a “punishment” that makes a slap on the wrist look severe is not only embarrassing, it’s a cop-out.
Furthermore, it reinforces the idea of an “anything to win” mentality that presides over the fundamental values of sportsmanship and integrity that the game is built upon. Evidently, this train of thought has steamrolled its way through Columbus, as there are Buckeye fans who believe Urban should not have been punished at all. Are they really convinced that their beloved coach is clean, or do they just want to exit the Horseshoe happily on Saturdays? Smart money is on the latter.
Ohio State fans cannot view this situation with scarlet-colored glasses and rejoice just because their championship hopes are still intact. The manner in which the university handled this ordeal was selfish and humiliating, and it’s only to be outdone by Urban Meyer’s refusal to prove that he truly is a man that values the treatment of women.
