Ohio State University coach Urban Meyer heads to the showers after it was revealed he knew about domestic violence |
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) is also ensnared in this as well. Over 30 men claim that Jordan, then assistant coach of Ohio State's men's wrestling team ignored the sexual abuse of a former doctor.
Jordan is trying to become the House Speaker. He is not resigning from Congress, yet.
Urban Meyer is trending tonight. The Buckeyes football coach was placed in the freezer after he failed to follow up on a protocol involving an assistant coach.
Meyer was placed on paid after it was revealed he knew about a former coach's domestic violence allegation against his wife.
Zach Smith physically abused his wife, Courtney and coach Meyer knew about it and done nothing to stop it.
The allegations were bad enough to have Ohio State administrators send Meyer to the showers and Smith to the firing cannon.
University of Michigan, the longtime rivals of Ohio State are having a field day with this. Matter of fact, this could hurt the national rankings of the team given that Meyer isn't there to assist them.
Ohio State University announced it is investigating Courtney Smith's claims that several people close to the coach knew of a 2015 allegation of domestic violence against her ex-husband, former Ohio State assistant football coach Zach Smith, who was fired in July.
Offensive coordinator Ryan Day will be the team's acting head coach during the investigation.
"We are focused on supporting our players and on getting to the truth as expeditiously as possible," the school said in a statement.
Courtney Smith told college football reporter Brett McMurphy her allegations in a story posted on his Facebook page earlier Wednesday.
"All the [coaches'] wives knew," Smith told McMurphy. "They all did. Every single one."
Smith told Stadium, a multi-platform sports network, that she believes that Meyer also knew at the time.
"I do believe he knew, and instead he chose to help the abuser and enable the abuser and believe whatever story Zach was telling everybody," Smith said.
Zach Smith was fired out the cannon in May. |
"[Athletic director] Gene [Smith] and I agree that being on leave during this inquiry will facilitate its completion. This allows the team to conduct training camp with minimal distraction. I eagerly look forward to the resolution of this matter," Meyer said in a statement.
Meyer's contract extension signed in April includes language requiring him to report any violations by staff members of Ohio State's sexual misconduct policy to the university's athletics Title IX coordinator. Also, as an Ohio State employee who supervises others, Meyer is required by the university's sexual misconduct policy to report knowledge of domestic abuse by a university employee. According to the policy, "An individual need not be charged with or convicted of a criminal offense to be found responsible for domestic violence pursuant to this policy."
Meyer's original contract required him to promptly report any violations of university rules by assistant coaches to Gene Smith and the Office of Compliance Services. Failure to do so could result in termination with cause.
Meyer's contract states that if Ohio State is considering terminating with cause, he would have the right to "explain the circumstances with his point of view before termination, unless the circumstances are so heinous that, in Ohio State's reasonable judgment, it would be impossible for [Meyer] to justify his actions."
Courtney Smith is in fear of her life. She is getting death threats from crazed fans of the Ohio State Buckeye community for speaking out. |
"Shelley said she was going to have to tell Urban," Courtney Smith said. "I said: 'That's fine, you should tell Urban.' I know Shelley did everything she could."
But in the Stadium interview, Courtney Smith said that Shelley Meyer never confirmed that she told her husband about the abuse.
"She did not. She did not," Courtney Smith said of Shelley Meyer. "She would reach out to me, ask me how I'm doing, tell me she was worried, if I needed anything, she was there."
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