According to reports, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has been suspended for the first three games of the 2018 football season. He will not be paid for the duration of the suspension.
Urban Meyer is suspended for three games. Gene Smith is suspended from Aug. 31-Sept 16.
— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) August 23, 2018
The three games Meyer will be suspended for are as follows.
Meyer will return to the Buckeyes for their September 22nd matchup against Tulane.
MORE DETAILS FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE:
Although neither Urban Meyer nor Gene Smith condoned or covered up alleged domestic abuse by Zach Smith, they failed to take sufficient management action relating to Zach’s misconduct & retained an Assistant who wasn't performing as an appropriate role model for student-athletes
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 23, 2018
Mary Jo White: Urban Meyer was aware of 2015 domestic violence allegations, he was informed of them by Gene Smith; both Meyer & Smith monitored the investigation for months. Gene Smith didn’t contact Ohio State compliance about the Smith domestic violence allegations
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 23, 2018
Gene Smith: “I want to express my sincere apologies for the situation we’re in."
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 23, 2018
Urban Meyer: “I am fully aware of the situation that has harmed the university as a whole. I followed by heart, not my head. I gave Zach Smith the benefit of the doubt. I didn’t know everything about what Zach Smith was doing. I should have recognized the red flags"
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 23, 2018
Urban Meyer: "Most of what I know about Zach Smith is work related. The biggest regret is I wish I knew more. If so, I would have taken action much quicker"
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 23, 2018
Gene Smith said Urban Meyer did not tell him Zach Smith had been arrested at Florida in 2009 for domestic violence before OSU hired him in December 2011
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 23, 2018
Urban Meyer’s message to Courtney Smith: “I have a message for everyone in this, I’m sorry we are in this situation.” Urban also said he was “not aware of Shelley’s text messages” from Courtney, detailing the abuse
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 23, 2018