2018 Buckeyes Football

I'mWithDan said:

Assuming we sit two weeks from now, report is released and there's not a whole lot there.....

A 1 game suspension and Meyer donating his week check to a charity that reps / helps domestic violence victims would quash everything IMO. Meyer can make a statement he and others can always do better, etc. and it can be put to bed.

I think the worst thing OSU can do, regardless of personal thoughts, would be to just re-instate him and get behind the "there were no arrests" line. I'm not saying it's right but that will be a PR disaster......or I would guess it would be.

To do nothing, in a situation like this, requires every box be checked (every person did the right thing, Courtney was or is likely lying, Zach went to counseling, etc, etc, etc) and if you are OSU, anything less than that is not worth this being litigated by the media / general public all season.

You can argue whether the above is fair or not but it's probably the reality of situations like this.

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I think if they were to suspend him, it would have to be more about the media misleading part. There is no way they would admit he did anything wrong and suspend him because of it, just because of the liability it could open up to the university.

I'mWithDan said:

Assuming we sit two weeks from now, report is released and there's not a whole lot there.....

A 1 game suspension and Meyer donating his week check to a charity that reps / helps domestic violence victims would quash everything IMO. Meyer can make a statement he and others can always do better, etc. and it can be put to bed.

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It's a fine line though. If you suspend him you are essentially admitting some level of guilt. Which, if Urban's not guilty of anything, would just be silly. I can see it now: "If he did something wrong why is he only suspended for one game!!"

I think the worst thing OSU can do, regardless of personal thoughts, would be to just re-instate him and get behind the "there were no arrests" line. I'm not saying it's right but that will be a PR disaster......or I would guess it would be.

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I don't completely disagree here, but I think you avoid this by explaining just how much coverage the police have in these situations. Explain that, by law, they are required to make an arrest if they find any evidence that domestic violence happened, regardless of whether the abuser or the abused try to convince them otherwise. Explain that Ohio State was in contact with the police to figure out the details of what did or didn't happen. Explain that, by not making an arrest, the police are essentially saying nothing happened. Explain that, given those realities, there isn't a whole lot more Ohio State can do in the given situation. Explain that you spoke with Zach and stressed to him the seriousness of this. Explain that you told him he was done if he screwed up. Explain how you backed that up a couple weeks ago when you fired him after he screwed up.

I know it's not what people want to hear, but it really shouldn't be that difficult for them to understand.

To do nothing, in a situation like this, requires every box be checked (every person did the right thing, Courtney was or is likely lying, Zach went to counseling, etc, etc, etc) and if you are OSU, anything less than that is not worth this being litigated by the media / general public all season.

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They didn't do nothing. They put Meyer on leave. They conducted an investigation.

McMurphy has been out for blood since media days, he's not going to stop regardless. He'll keep going until he finds something or until people stop giving him a platform.

You can argue whether the above is fair or not but it's probably the reality of situations like this.

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I just think you're potentially opening up a can of worms by suspending him for a game or two. Either he did what was required or he didn't. I just don't see a whole lot of middle ground here when it comes to Urban. Just my .02

cavsfan1985 said:

I think if they were to suspend him, it would have to be more about the media misleading part. There is no way they would admit he did anything wrong and suspend him because of it, just because of the liability it could open up to the university.

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Exactly. And suspending him for not being upfront with the media is just stupid.

I suppose, if you felt like you just HAD to suspended him, you could sell it as "conduct detrimental to the team/university" or something like that.

I'mWithDan said:

Assuming we sit two weeks from now, report is released and there's not a whole lot there.....

A 1 game suspension and Meyer donating his week check to a charity that reps / helps domestic violence victims would quash everything IMO. Meyer can make a statement he and others can always do better, etc. and it can be put to bed.

I think the worst thing OSU can do, regardless of personal thoughts, would be to just re-instate him and get behind the "there were no arrests" line. I'm not saying it's right but that will be a PR disaster......or I would guess it would be.

To do nothing, in a situation like this, requires every box be checked (every person did the right thing, Courtney was or is likely lying, Zach went to counseling, etc, etc, etc) and if you are OSU, anything less than that is not worth this being litigated by the media / general public all season.

You can argue whether the above is fair or not but it's probably the reality of situations like this.

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It’s difficulr for me to disagree with any of this (not that it’s my goal or anything). I’m not a PR expert by any means but under the major assumption there’s not much, number 1 is probably the most productive for all parties — media, fans, university etc.

The only reason I’m beginning to think there isn’t a ton there is because this thing looks like it’s on life-support and the original author has posted a couple sophomoric items (the background on Twitter, the Shelly Jab — imo we’re NOT a good look). It’s nowhere to be found on the ESPN home page; it isn’t even that high on its NCAAF page.

Maybe I’m wrong; but it just flat out seems like it’s losing steam; it really seems like this has become limbo until facts are brought forth.

cavsfan1985 said:

I think if they were to suspend him, it would have to be more about the media misleading part. There is no way they would admit he did anything wrong and suspend him because of it, just because of the liability it could open up to the university.

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Sure. You could officially state that is the reason but you could also additionally go the donate the game check to a charity route and make a statement on DV.

If nothing happened, there's an opportunity for OSU to win a lot of free PR here by making a small gesture. That is all I was getting at. Even if many people think it is them "biting their lip".

MGMT said:

Maybe I’m wrong; but it just flat out seems like it’s losing steam; it really seems like this has become limbo until facts are brought forth.

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I think that is right at this point. Unless Courtney has some really damning evidence to be released later, the facts in this case seem a little murky (as we come down from the apex of the story).

It could end up being a story nobody really feels good about but there isn't a clear avenue to a resolution. Guess we'll see.

If they suspend him for 1-2 games just to try and appease the media members, Twitter hecklers, "safe space"/PC hardons, that would be the dumbest thing ever.

As Ohio said, if the members are sitting in there and all come to an agreement a suspension HAS to happen, then look up some dumb rule/guideline and say he broke that.

If it comes out Urban is clean and followed all the correct protocols - you do nothing. But everyone better make sure there are no damn windows left open that some Fortnite, stay-at-home beefaroni journalist will spend his entire month to dig up something.

Thought this segment of a piece in the Athletic really nailed it.

Regardless of what you think about McMurphy's reporting:

Journalist thinks journalist should not be held accountable.

More at 10.

Ohio said:

Journalist thinks journalist should not be held accountable.

More at 10.

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That’s not his point.

Dust yourself off and try something better.

AZ_ said:

Thought this segment of a piece in the Athletic really nailed it.

Regardless of what you think about McMurphy's reporting:

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I get the authors point...I just still struggle with the 2009 incident combined with how Powell Police reacted.

In 2009, Meyer claims an arrest happened, he spoke with Zach and Courtney, and what he was told didn't match the police report. Ultimately, charges were dropped. Allegedly Meyer’s longtime admin assistant was also a witness and was interviewed after charges were initially brought forth. They were having a rough time so he and Shelley provided support and helped them get into counseling.

In 2015, the Powell PD had numerous opportunities to arrest and had a duty to do so if they felt Zach committed violence towards her.

Personally, I think he's an abuser. My belief isn't substantiated by the facts though. Zach wasn't convicted in 2009 and the charges were dropped. Zach hasn't been convicted on anything to date, and his trespass case sounds like it will dropped at their next hearing in September (if you take Zach's lawyer's word for it which may be a mistake).

I guess my counter-point to the Athletic piece would be this...we don't know what was told to Meyer in 2009, and we don't know what Meyer was told in 2015. A lot of this rests in the hands of those who actually have the authority to charge and convict. It didn't, and still hasn't happened.

Is Meyer really going to be fired over a guy who's never been convicted of anything? If Ohio State does that, I think they're opening themselves to a huge counter-suit, b/c it doesn't seem like Meyer is going away quietly.

I'm personally for a suspension of Meyer, but not firing. I think beyond the clear nepotism of hiring Zach because he felt indebted to Earle, he did show a lack of judgment in retaining him on staff. Beyond spousal abuse, I think Zach may have had a DUI while on staff, when looking at his public record. There was enough there, to at a minimum, just not re-hire him the way Meyer continually did. At this point, outright firing Meyer for another man's reputation and accusations seems/feels outrageous to me. Ultimately tOSU is a $500B yearly institution.....the football program is a drop in the bucket of the overall budget. I trust tOSU will make the right decision.

And beyond everything stated above, if Smith was truthful that Gene Smith called him to leave a recruiting trip (will be very easy to prove or disprove) Meyer likely had already fulfilled his obligation. As all of this conjecture comes out about Title IX and Sexual Misconduct....the one constant seems to be, you report it to your superior, and say/do nothing. It just seems Meyer has a pretty decent case to keep his job, IMO.

AZ_ said:

That’s not his point.

Dust yourself off and try something better.

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Relax titty, it was just a shitpost.

He could have done better though. "Just obsess over Meyer!" when there's essentially zero information regarding Meyer in this situation right now. Lazy.

AZ_ said:

Thought this segment of a piece in the Athletic really nailed it.

Regardless of what you think about McMurphy's reporting:

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The problem is that Zach Smith has 1 report of domestic abuse 9 years ago, and a whole lot of unverified rumors and innuendo pushed by . . . Brett Mcmurphy. A guy who published the whole narrative speaking only to Courtney Smith and making claims of evidence which he refuses to release.

Now the Atlantic is admitting that this guy is either incompetent, or a complete shitbag who keeps changing his story, but we should just take his story (whatever it is at this moment in time) at face value.

Blink said:

The problem is that Zach Smith has 1 report of domestic abuse 9 years ago, and a whole lot of unverified rumors and innuendo pushed by . . . Brett Mcmurphy. A guy who published the whole narrative speaking only to Courtney Smith and making claims of evidence which he refuses to release.

Now the Atlantic is admitting that this guy is either incompetent, or a complete shitbag who keeps changing his story, but we should just take his story (whatever it is at this moment in time) at face value.

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Well no, it was pushed by Courtney Smith.

Told to Shelley Meyer and Lindsey Voltolini, in 2015 and has been discussed for a pretty long time.

Zach Smith was kept on, and that’s a terrible look.

AZ_ said:

Well no, it was pushed by Courtney Smith.

Told to Shelley Meyer and Lindsey Voltolini, in 2015 and has been discussed for a pretty long time.

Zach Smith was kept on, and that’s a terrible look.

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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

AZ_ said:

Well no, it was pushed by Courtney Smith.

Told to Shelley Meyer and Lindsey Voltolini, in 2015 and has been discussed for a pretty long time.

Zach Smith was kept on, and that’s a terrible look.

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From what I have seen, it looks to me that the Smiths had a mutually abusive relationship. Had Mcmurphy bothered to do his due diligence, he may have found that there were others who had doubts about how their conflicts played out. Since he blew the story up, no one can question CS without being labeled an enabler of domestic violence. McMurphy knows that, that's why he's not bothering to be forthright. He doesn't have to, just play on the outrage, and let the mob silence the other side.