So it appears like Ohio State isn’t going to waste anytime and drag out this Urban Meyer thing.
Brett McMurphy tweeted Sunday night saying the University would look to wrap up the investigation into what Meyer knew about Zach Smith‘s domestic violence issues by the beginning of the football season. More specifically, OSU will look to get the investigation completed within 14 days.
Ohio State announces Urban Meyer investigation will be completed “within 14 days. Ohio State is committed to a thorough & complete investigation. We look forward to sharing the results of this investigation & any action the university may take.”
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 6, 2018
If the 14 day window is what the University is looking to work within that means the investigation should be wrapped up sometime around August 19th, less than two weeks before Ohio State is scheduled to kick off the season against Oregon State.
Urban Meyer is currently on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into his former longtime assistant Zach Smith who who’s accused of beating his ex-wife Courtney, a story McMurphy also broke. During Big Ten media days Urban Meyer denied any knowledge of Smith’s actions only to come forward Friday stating that he did in fact know about the 2015 alleged incident but followed ‘proper protocol and procedure. This despite Smith being able to remain on the job for another two-plus years.
The investigation is being led by a group including Ohio State trustees Alex Fischer, Janet Porter and Alex Shumate as well as former Ohio House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson, former acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Craig Morford and former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Carter Stewart.
Per Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel, the investigation is being led by former Securities and Exchange Commision chair Mary Jo White, who has previously led the NFL’s investigations into former Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, the New Orleans Saints’ “BountyGate” scandal and Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. All three investigations led to serious penalties for their subject, with Richardson eventually selling his team, several Saints coaches and personnel receiving significant suspensions and Elliott receiving a six-game suspension after a protracted legal fight.
Meanwhile, Boston College head coach Steve Addazio said he was aware of an ‘issue’ between Zach and Courtney back in 2009 when both coaches worked under Meyer in Florida.
“While an assistant coach at Florida in 2009, I was aware that there was an issue in the personal life of Zach and Courtney Smith,” Addazio told the Boston Globe. “I did not know specifics, and I knew the matter was in the hands of university personnel and that the couple was involved in counseling.
“As a husband, father and coach, I have zero tolerance for domestic abuse. There is no place in our program at Boston College for any member of our staff involved in domestic violence.”
If Meyer knew about the 2009 incident and the extent of its seriousness then that would mean that the Ohio State head coach would eventually hire a suspected women beater once he made his way north to Columbus and continue to retain him long after the other suspected 2015 incident.
