2018 Buckeyes Football

[Ohio]

Ohio State investigators have preliminary talks with police about Zach Smith case

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Investigators have sought information from local police and members of the Ohio State athletic department this week as they begin a review of how the football program and others at the university handled allegations of domestic assault made against a former assistant coach.

The university appointed a special working group late last week to review allegations made by Courtney Smith, the ex-wife of former wide receivers coach Zach Smith. She said in an interview with college football reporter Brett McMurphy that several high-ranking members of the Buckeyes' athletic department, including coach Urban Meyer, knew about Zach Smith's abusive behavior and did not attempt to intervene. Meyer was placed on paid administrative leave pending the results of the investigation.

Police in Powell, Ohio, have had preliminary conversations with the investigators, according to Chief of Police Gary Vest, and are willing to help as much as the law will allow. The Powell police visited Courtney Smith's home twice in the fall of 2015 to respond to complaints about habitual domestic violence and stalking. Neither visit resulted in an arrest or any charges against Zach Smith.

Vest said he is not at liberty to share the details of what his officers discovered about those incidents in 2015 because of confidentiality laws designed to protect the identity of people accused of crimes. Because Smith was not charged with a crime as a result of those incidents, the details of what police found while responding to those cases are not public record, according to Powell's city attorney. Vest said he also denied a request from the investigators working on behalf of Ohio State to see the same records based on advice received from the city's attorney.

Courtney Smith's attorney said in a statement earlier this week that her client was willing to help the investigators at Ohio State if they wanted to speak to her. The statement said that as of Tuesday morning, Ohio State had never contacted Courtney Smith to ask about her allegations. The attorney declined to answer follow-up questions this week.

"I can tell you that Ms. Smith is cautiously optimistic that The Ohio State University's investigative committee will determine if proper reporting protocol was followed upon learning of the ongoing, abuse allegations against Zach Smith," the statement said. "We believe the university must prioritize the safety and well-being of others above all else."

Police reviewed recent statements made by both Courtney and Zach Smith via different media outlets to decide whether anything they said three years after the alleged incidents would warrant re-opening the 2015 case. At this time, it does not appear the case will be reopened.

Ohio State's investigative team -- led by Mary Jo White, who previously has directed several high-profiles inquiries for the NFL -- was formed late last week. A statement released by the university on Sunday said that the committee expects to be done with its review in two weeks. Ohio State started its preseason football practices Friday without Meyer present. Co-offensive coordinator Ryan Day, who joined the program in 2017, is acting as head coach in his absence.

http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...rs-seeking-information-police-zach-smith-case

 

[AZ_]

You can't fire someone who hasn't committed a crime. He was never arrested by the police. So how does Ohio State or Meyer fire Smith? You have to have a reason. You and I both know what happens on assumption

Could have called it whatever they want.

Get rid of him. It’s not as though his place on staff was cemented with elite performance.

You know the guy is a drunk, at best. At his worst, a guy in a volatile marriage with a woman who says he abuses her.

 

[Stark]

We have an established ETA on when this investigation is planned on being wrapped up? There’s a football game in Ohio Stadium at noon on September 1st.

 

[I'mWithDan]

You can't fire someone who hasn't committed a crime. He was never arrested by the police. So how does Ohio State or Meyer fire Smith?

Why do people keep saying this?

Aren’t coaches at will employees?

Or are all the coaches who get fired committing crimes?

 

[col63onel]

You can't fire someone who hasn't committed a crime.

And thus, every bad employee who never committed a crime can now sleep easy, as they are unfireable.

 

[Cavsfan1985]

Why do people keep saying this?

Aren’t coaches at will employees?

Or are all the coaches who get fired committing crimes?

They can fire him, but would have to pay his contract out.

 

[ajz20]

Could have called it whatever they want.

Get rid of him. It’s not as though his place on staff was cemented with elite performance.

You know the guy is a drunk, at best. At his worst, a guy in a volatile marriage with a woman who says he abuses her.

If this is the only thing they are guilty of than it is “poor judgment and possibly depending on the facts we don’t have a poor moral decision” but not a covered up crime or ncaa violation in any way. I think this does not fall under the category “as of now according to what we know” that the AD, head coach and assistant coaches involved should all lose thier jobs. Honestly it is not even that hard of a call at this point.... Again this is just based on what info available from the police.

I think the Admin and coaches hopefully learned a very valuable lesson but it is as of now hard to demand they all be fired based on the actual evidence available. The anger from the media and twitter has already died down, and part of me wonders if that is why it will “ take two weeks” It will be much less scrutiny when they announce no one violated any rules and will not lose thier jobs.

 

[AZ_]

If this is the only thing they are guilty of than it is “poor judgment and possibly depending on the facts we don’t have a poor moral decision” but not a covered up crime or ncaa violation in any way. I think this does not fall under the category “as of now according to what we know” that the AD, head coach and assistant coaches involved should all lose thier jobs. Honestly it is not even that hard of a call at this point.... Again this is just based on what info available from the police.

I think the Admin and coaches hopefully learned a very valuable lesson but it is as of now hard to demand they all be fired based on the actual evidence available. The anger from the media and twitter has already died down, and part of me wonders if that is why it will “ take two weeks” It will be much less scrutiny when they announce no one violated any rules and will not lose thier jobs.

I agree, the general point is that you can still be wrong even though you didn’t violate NCAA rules.

 

[SixPACK]

We have an established ETA on when this investigation is planned on being wrapped up? There’s a football game in Ohio Stadium at noon on September 1st.

On August 5th, the "independent working group" that are investigating this said they will wrap this up and have a decision within 14 days.

So, at the latest, August 19th.

 

[SixPACK]

Vest said he also denied a request from the investigators working on behalf of Ohio State to see the same records based on advice received from the city's attorney.

That's freakin' huge.

Don't see how this isn't over here real shortly.

 

[1B4IGO]

Why do people keep saying this?

Aren’t coaches at will employees?

Or are all the coaches who get fired committing crimes?

You can fire him but you're opening yourself and the university for lawsuits. I posted this way back in this thread without any criminal charges all you have is "he said, she said."

 

[Ohio]

That's freakin' huge.

Don't see how this isn't over here real shortly.

It absolutely is huge. It basically confirms that this is truly a police issue. Ohio State likely asked for details in 2015 too and were likely denied then as well.

So, in summary:

1) Courtney accuses Zach, Zach denies
2) Police investigate, find no evidence
3) Police tell Ohio State the above, can't/won't provide details due to law

There just isn't a whole lot left for Ohio State to do in this situation.

 

[MGMT]

It absolutely is huge. It basically confirms that this is truly a police issue. Ohio State likely asked for details in 2015 too and were likely denied then as well.

So, in summary:

1) Courtney accuses Zach, Zach denies
2) Police investigate, find no evidence
3) Police tell Ohio State the above, can't/won't provide details due to law

There just isn't a whole lot left for Ohio State to do in this situation.

I thought the piece was referring to the current committee leading the investigation — was denied detail. Is there any clarification if they meant then or now?

Can I read?

 

[Ohio]

I thought the piece was referring to the current committee leading the investigation — was denied detail. Is there any clarification if they meant then or now?

Can I read?

The story was referring to the present, but the same thing likely happened in 2015. If they can't share, then they can't share.

 

[inliner311]

We have an established ETA on when this investigation is planned on being wrapped up? There’s a football game in Ohio Stadium at noon on September 1st.

They said it was going to take 2 weeks on August 6th so it should be done by the 20th.