In the inaugural year of the College Football Playoff format, Ohio State pulled off a shocking upset.
The Buckeyes earned a spot as the No. 4 seed and entered the Sugar Bowl against No. 1 Alabama.
It was a match-up the country was eager to watch, and the national media was abuzz with what was sure to be a battle between two of college football’s greatest coaches. For the first time since Urban Meyer and Nick Saban squared off in two unforgettable SEC championship games in 2008 and 2009, the two would once again be patrolling opposite sidelines.
In fact, the previous SEC title games were so unforgettable, Meyer claimed to remember “every snap.”
That quote should come as no surprise to anyone who follows football. To be a successful head coach at a high level of the collegiate game, one should be armed with an impressive memory and outstanding analytical skills.
Being a head football coach is simply not a job for a forgetful man.
However, maybe it’s possible to forget important details every now and then. That’s the argument Ohio State’s Board of Trustees recently made in their summary of the investigation into former Buckeye wide receiver coach Zach Smith’s alleged domestic abuse.
The Board found “a pattern of troubling behavior” by Smith including “promiscuous and embarrassing sexual behavior, drug abuse, truancy, dishonesty, financial irresponsibility, a possible NCAA violation and a lengthy police investigation into allegations of criminal domestic violence and cyber crimes.”
When he’s not fulfilling his duty as a role model and steward of the community, Smith coaches football on the weekends.
Reports of misbehavior go as far back as 2009 when Smith, an assistant coach for Meyer’s Florida team at the time, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated battery against his wife.
Smith brought his detestable conduct with him to Ohio State when Meyer once again hired the embattled coach in 2012.
During the Big 10’s recent media days, Meyer was asked about his knowledge of a specific incident of abuse reported by Smith’s wife Courtney in 2015. Meyer responded saying, “There was nothing, I don’t know who creates a story like that.”
After Brett McMurphy revealed texts between Meyer and his wife contradicting Meyer’s media day statement, the Buckeye coach admitted to knowledge of Smith’s 2015 incident during a recent press conference.
So, what was Meyer’s explanation for his dishonesty during media days?
According to the Board’s report, Meyer apparently “has significant memory issues” and “has periodically taken medicine that can negatively impair his memory, concentration, and focus.”
So much for that sharp memory Meyer claimed he had.
Interestingly enough, Meyer’s memory seems to work every now and then. He seemed to have no issue remembering the problematic texts his wife sent him regarding Smith’s domestic abuse.
According to the Board’s investigation, Meyer even went so far as to meet with Ohio State football operations director Brian Voltolini to discuss how to adjust the setting on Meyer’s phone so that text messages older than one year would be deleted.
While your physics teacher may not buy the “I forgot” excuse come the day of the final, Ohio State’s Board of Trustees certainly bought Meyer’s excuse.
For his failure to adequately report his knowledge of Smith’s trouble with the law, Meyer will be suspended for the first three games of the year. After all, there is nothing worse than derailing a storied football program’s chances at winning a national title, including knowledge of allegations that your assistant coach was abusing his spouse.
As Buckeye fans flocked to the defense of Meyer, it would be wise for us all to take a step back and realize the dangerous effects of the cult-like mentality that consumes modern sports.
Football is a religion and the mentality to win at any means necessary is its god. All that’s asked of disciples as they march into their cathedral-like stadiums is to leave alcoholic beverages, items that don’t fit in a small, clear tote bag and basic human decency at home.