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URBAN MEYER'S FUTURE COULD BE DECIDED WEDNESDAY AS OHIO STATE'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETS

By Dan Hope on August 22, 2018 at 7:35 am

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-stat...-trustees-meets

The uncertainty that has loomed over Urban Meyer’s future as Ohio State’s head football coach for the past three weeks could come to an end on Wednesday.

Ohio State’s Board of Trustees is meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday to "discuss personnel matters related to the investigation involving Urban Meyer," which presumably means a decision on Meyer’s future – or at least, a recommendation to university president Michael Drake, who holds the final say in the matter, on what that decision should be – will be made.

At this point, it hasn’t been confirmed whether a decision will be announced by the end of the day, or whether Drake and the university will wait until Thursday or Friday to make an announcement. Wednesday morning’s meeting, though, could provide insight into what Ohio State found in its investigation – which was launched to examine what Meyer knew about and how he handled domestic violence allegations made against former wide receivers coach Zach Smith – and ultimately determine whether Meyer will be immediately reinstated as coach, forced to serve a suspension or lose his job altogether.

In accordance with the Ohio Open Meetings Act, Wednesday’s meeting at the Longaberger Alumni House (2200 Olentangy River Road) will be open to the public. However, “the entirety of the personnel matters discussion” will be held in executive session, which means that the majority of the meeting – which has no defined end time – will likely take place behind closed doors.

Nonetheless, Eleven Warriors will be on the scene to provide live updates (follow me on Twitter) and report on any information that is revealed during the public portion of the meeting.

Ohio State also confirmed to ESPN’s Dan Murphy on Tuesday that although the Board of Trustees met with the investigative team in an informational briefing behind closed doors on Monday, the university will “share a written report and the public records the investigative group used in its review when a decision is made, or perhaps even before the final decision comes.”

So even if all of the relevant discussion in Wednesday morning’s meeting takes place in executive session, those public records could shed light on what Ohio State found in its investigation and why Drake and the university ultimately make the decision they do.

Going into Wednesday’s meeting, here’s what we know: Meyer, as well as Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, both met with investigators multiple times over the past two weeks, as reported Tuesday by The Columbus Dispatch. Zach Smith, as well as his ex-wife Courtney Smith – who made the domestic violence allegations against him – both met with investigators last week, according to statements from their attorneys.

Meyer, in his only public statement since being placed on paid administrative leave on Aug. 1, said he has “always followed proper reporting protocols and procedures” when he has learned of incidents involving Ohio State football players, coaches or staff members. Zach Smith, who has maintained that he “never committed domestic abuse,” said in an interview with ESPN on Aug. 3 that Meyer told Zach he would be fired if Meyer ever found out that Zach did hit his ex-wife.


We don’t know, however, what all Ohio State found in its investigation, or how broad the scope of that investigation ultimately became. While it’s presumable that Ohio State looked into everything that was reported publicly about the situation over the last three weeks, investigators have likely also gathered additional information that has not yet been made public – and that information could either help or hurt Meyer’s case.

Beyond that, we don’t know exactly what all will factor into Drake’s decision. If Meyer did, in fact, always follow proper reporting protocols and procedures, will that lead to an unconditional reinstatement? Or could Meyer still lose his job, or be suspended for a number of games, if the university determines he should have handled the situation better even if he did what he was required to do?

It’s also uncertain at this point whether the personnel matters discussed at Wednesday’s meeting will be exclusive to Meyer’s future, or whether the jobs of Gene Smith or any other Ohio State employees could also be on the line. Ohio State has only described its probe as an “investigation involving Urban Meyer,” but if anyone else was implicated for failing to act appropriately over the course of the investigation, it’s certainly possible that other personnel actions could be considered.

All of those questions, though, could start to be answered tomorrow – and if not, they should be answered by the end of the week.

Eleven Warriors will be covering every development as it unfolds, so stay tuned as we find out what Ohio State decides and how the football program will proceed forward – with or without Meyer – from here.

I am really hoping that Urban is reinstated today or tomorrow.

Ohio State will announce its decision on Urban Meyer's status today, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.

https://twitter.com/11W/status/1032275056825651200

sounds like the decision has been made today

Rodney Dunigan
‏ @RodneyWSYX6

Breaking- @OSUCoachMeyer spotted by @wsyx6 crews on campus. Right now university trustees are discussing outcome of investigation. @TheFeverABC6 Decision on his future will be made by @OSUPrezDrake

Here's the entire transcript of the public session of Ohio State's Board of Trustees today.



https://twitter.com/11W/status/1032263872479211520

Longaberger Alumni House officials have confirmed that lunch is coming for the media, food that has been paid for by the Board of Trustees. We’ve been instructed to thank them. So far, that’s the news of the day.

https://twitter.com/dw1509/status/1032312667812364288

An Ohio State spokesman just came out told us this could go on for while, and no promise decision will be revealed today. Oh, and that they ordered pizza for the media.

https://twitter.com/TIM_MAYsports/status/1032319290635112448

they're really dragging this out today

I don't think they have a choice. I feel most of us know the NCAA will be watching this as if it's under a microscope. They will scrutinize all of it. I believe that if OSU doesn't do a full and honest investigation and revue of this, the NCAA will destroy them.

I believe it's being done the way it should be. A full investigation and a full review of all the facts in the case. Sometimes being thorough isn't something achieved in an hour or a day. But for all involved, having it done right is the only thing that's important here.

If they want to really fix problems , do something about the NCAA !

CliffsNotes version (from what I've been told): Ohio State's BoT wants to reinstate Urban Meyer immediately. University president Michael Drake is balking at that; wants Meyer to serve a suspension. Meyer refuses to serve suspension since he thinks he did nothing wrong.

Important to keep in mind Drake works for the BoT ... and not the other way around.

It's not really Drake's decision. That was just falsely reported for the last 3 weeks. He works for the board. It's really their decision. So, if it comes down to Drake v the BoT, the board will win.

https://twitter.com/davebiddle

thanks for the info, that sounds viable

Bucknuts
‏ @Bucknuts247
15m15 minutes ago

#OhioState athletic director Gene Smith has arrived to the Longaberger Alumni House.



just arriving?

Dave Biddle
‏Verified account @davebiddle
26m26 minutes ago

Dave Biddle Retweeted VA Buckeye!

Because you don't want the board and the university prez at odds publicly; it doesn't look good. They're trying to get on the same page, but Drake is being stubborn about it from what I've been told.


Seems like the president is the one holding it up

Wow will they just freaking announce it... as stated, this is dragging on big time.

Seems to me he's going to stay, but it's whether it means reinstated or suspended

Here is my guess. I think the facts of the case dictate that Urban be reinstated immediately. However, Drake [and maybe others] know that if they reinstate Urban, media outlets and many, many viewers of college football across the land will say stupid stuff like: "Winning football games at Ohio State trumps spousal abuse."

This witch hunt has never been fair. As someone who was once falsely accused of a crime I did not commit, stories like this make my blood boil.

I am going to be very upset if they suspend Urban for a couple of games and tells them to shove it and quits.

Not at Urban, but at the university and all of the stupid media outlets that have unfairly reported this particular case.

Ohio State just announced an 8:50 pm news conference.

President Drake, Mary Jo White, Gene Smith and Urban Meyer will be at the press conference

https://twitter.com/BillLandis25/status/1032428293042126853

ESPN 2

Urban Meyer has been suspended for the first three games of the season.

A three game suspension for Urban Meyer. Will miss Oregon State, Rutgers and at TCU.

https://twitter.com/DanWetzel/status/1032431309803712517

Gene Smith has also been suspended without pay from Aug. 31 to Sept. 16.

https://twitter.com/11W/status/1032431994720927744

It could be worse, but this is BS!

But you know what this is, right? Perception. It's a cya by the admin.

Do nothing? Get ridiculed and raked over the coals, regardless of facts.

I am a dumb ass, but if I were Urban............I would have quit. Screw that decision.

It's obvious that his speech and Gene Smith's speech were written by the university. That will just add to more ridicule.

so the president clearly went for suspension to cover his own PR butt

Not surprised he go to suspended but was hoping for only two games...

No doubt. That is why Urban got 3 games instead of 2. The TCU game was our toughest test. If we only suspended him for 2, the talking heads would have railed.

I'm serious............if I were Urban, I would have played along and then quit right then and there. He did not deserve to be suspended.

Fair punishment. Ohio State had a chance to set a good precedent and they did just that. While I personally believe, he should've been suspended for 2 games + time served, I understand the optics of the TCU game. I believe that's why he can be the coach at practice and not in the games. Without pay is a cold move btw.

Mary Jo White said in her introductory remarks that Urban and Gene should've turned Zach Smith's DV incident into the compliance office.

https://youtu.be/NC-q-SKNVkE

link to the press conference

j/c:

So, ESPN is trashing Urban for his answer regarding Courtney Smith. They keep calling her the "victim." That has not been proven. I think Urban feels that Courtney used him to get her way. I think he feels like the victim.

there were reports all day that the majority of the board and Urban were strongly against suspension ... they felt it was conceding that "something" incorrect happened procedurally and OSU was culpable.

The president wanted the PR and was firm on it.

I agree.

I also want to add that Paul FinAlabma is a moron.

However, Kirk Herbstriet is a very smart man. His comments on universities hiring ex-FBI guys to be in charge of issues on coaches, players, relationships, etc is an excellent one. I think coaches need to focus on coaching. Hire someone to oversee conduct matters.

What blows my mind is that Urban is being crucified for knowing about the allegations involving Smith but instead relying on police reports.

I have no idea what is wrong w/that.

I have been consistent on this. You should not be able to fire people before due process is taken. Administrators should not be allowed to fire people due to "allegations." However, if an investigation finds the accused guilty, that party should be fired and prosecuted.

Public and private institutions should be able to run their own investigations to determine if their was any wrong doing. Clearly there are a lot of unanswered questions in this case, so maybe a separate investigation would've helped a lot more for all parties involved, Zach Smith included.

j/c:

I think Urban is pissed. I think his answers and the way he read his speech indicate that he thinks that this is BS. If I were him................I would tell Ohio State to shove it up their collective asses and I would resign.

Here is a real-life example. Clem and ddubia know about this and that is about it.

Several years ago I was accused of a crime. I was innocent. However, I was immediately placed under paid administrative leave. I didn't stand a chance because no way would a school district want to be associated w/a person accused of a crime. I fought the [censored] because I was all about fighting for what is right. I had a ton of support from former students, parents, and teachers. The district ignored it all and treated me like a freaking criminal.

Later, the accuser admitted that ___ lied. The police said that the report was bogus and cleared me of the charge. Guess what? The school district didn't really want me back. They talked about board hearings and appeals. They talked about my "rights"...LOL

I told them to shove it up their freaking ass and that I did not want to work for such an unethical institution. I'm pretty sure Urban is contemplating the same damn thing. It was beyond obvious that he does not agree w/the decision.

It'd take a lot to walk away from $6million a year... especiallknowing that it would likely be tough to get a comperable job right now..

If the buckeyes go 3-0 no one will think much of this at the end of the year

I was really worried while Urban was speaking that he was going to resign. The university completely threw him under the bus in an attempt to save face. To me, it was Gene Smith's responsibility to investigate the allegations, not Urban's.