Urban Meyer - Can Someone Please Explain To Me?

[judzeehawk]

I agree with this and every situation is different. But this instance/case this guy has always had wealth and money and she had avenues for help most do not and stayed. And staying and accepting because you might get killed is an insane thought process/way to live.

He’s totally wrong and a POS to the fullest degree of all is true(looks that way but who really knows but them as is most cases like this) I glad she walked away if true but she also choose to forgive and go back/stay as well.

I feel worst for the kids who most likely witnessed this on numerous occasions.

I feel for the kids also but the kids are pawns for him. Not saying he did use them to get her back/stay but this sort of thing is very complicated and ugly. Just because he's got money doesn't mean much. Very unfortunate for all involved. I know if it was me that knew and something terrible happened to her or the kids and I didn't say anything Id' never be able to live it down. I'm glad it's out in the open an UM has brought a lot of discussion about it. That's good.

 

[uihawk82]

But what if Meyer didn't know the entire story or have all the facts. What if Courtney Smith is really out to bury Zach because it is a custody battle. Maybe she is bat shit crazy. Who knows. Is it Urban's job to figure all this out, be Jury and Judge and fire the guy. I mean let the court system work out this private matter. Meyer can fire after being found guilty by the courts.

Man you are way out there on this. First, we dont know the whole story but you act like Urban has already been fired. Two, this is a public university which accepts federal tax money and there are federal laws against this kind of shit whether it is a married couple. Your argument about your boss at a private company is a totally different situation of "what about-ism". Jesus, the UI has to follow fed law when it comes to equal access to sport participation etc so I think hiring and maintaining a work relationship with a wife beater, if that was the truth is, is enough to get Urban fired or penalized if he knew about it and especially if he lied about it.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

As stated previously, the specifics of the crime, and who is culpable, really isn't the point.

As OSU employees with standard Title IX wording in their contracts, Urban and his wife both are designated mandatory reporters of any applicable instance of abuse that involves employees, regardless of where the incident occurred.

At this point, unless she has proof that she did report, his wife has essentially no ground to stand upon. She almost certainly will be terminated "for cause."

The question is whether there is any evidence that Urban was aware, and whether she will be completely forthright or take an arrow. It's pretty obvious that in all likelihood, Urban was aware. If the investigators determine that there is direct evidence, he also will be terminated "for cause," and his contract will become null and void.

My personal guess is that his wife will be terminated and that he will be allowed to resign "without cause," thereby maintaining eligibility for his buyout. OSU will see that as a way of placating him and saving embarrassment for the university. If they make a case "for cause," and he fights the termination, it could get ugly and drag on, and, that's the last thing the regents want.

 

[PCHawk]

Stop while you're behind. Trust me here.

I haven't read the whole thread but how can someone who is asking questions be behind? He hasn't even formed a final opinion yet as far as I see.

 

[pootspot]

Your first paragraph shows you know little about abuse.

Or maybe I know more. Each case is its own dynamic but always saying the abuser is 100% guilty when victim continues to go back is crazy.

And saying he’s 100% guilty before his side is heard is also crazy. People do weird/crazy stuff to Berger position in a custody/divorce(not saying this is he case but like you who really knows?)

There are shelters and homes/help for victims. Ideal, no. But they are available so staying/majority of the time is a choice. Now people get stuck and dependent but it does not make what I say incorrect, just cold and straight forward.

I’m for none of it but it doesn’t mean there isn’t accountability both ways for doing/choosing to accept/not leave.

 

[PCHawk]

Most abusers will say something like I'll kill you if you say anything. Believe it or not this really happens. The odds are they will eventually kill them. This is a very serious deal.

Maybe Urban didn't want to live with the responsibility of starting the process of something that could end in her death. I highly doubt that's the case but it is a tough situation for someone. It's easy to say "I would for sure tell on someone" but it's not that easy. You will be making the decision to end someone else's relationship which isn't really your decision to make. You're breaking up a family. You have to make the decision on how bad it is. Is it dangerous? Does he grab her arm too hard? Is he actually defending himself from her? Does the lady actually want you to say something? A guy has to juggle a lot of questions in his head before he decides to tear apart a family.

I know I had a bat shit crazy girlfriend once and it was all I could do to not pummel her and I'm a pretty mellow guy. I think she even wanted to get pummeled.

 

[Northside Hawk]

Leave the morality out of this for a second. I don’t understand why UM would put his career and reputation on the line for his guy.

You cut him loose, regardless. If you care about the dude, you work the back channels and make sure he lands on his feet, if you don’t let him twist in the wind.

Before people come at me I stated leave morality out of this for a brief moment.

Is it possible that the assistant coach had something on Urban? With all the time they've spent working together? A little blackmail at work here? Both ways?

It's obvious that Urban had something on Smith. And denied knowledge until the bitter end.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

Seems like a pretty high standard, but when you're making that kind of $$$ more is expected. That's why it's in the contract.

 

[VTHawk]

Yeah, and he pissed that reporter off royally. Now, 20 years ago you piss off a reporter, no big deal because the newspaper or radio station will just bury the story he digs up with 1 phone call. Not this guy, though, he took it straight to social media.

Great point.

It truly is different times for the way things are today compared to 20 years ago.

The media is an echo chamber like never before, at least in some ways.

 

[skinnykilmer17]

Is it possible that the assistant coach had something on Urban? With all the time they've spent working together? A little blackmail at work here? Both ways?

It's obvious that Urban had something on Smith. And denied knowledge until the bitter end.

My thoughts exactly. These two have worked together a long time. Meyer has seemed very reluctant to cut this guy loose. Why?

 

[Seth53]

Liberal college campuses are unique animals. And are fishbowls.

Duke Lacrosse comes to mind. All fabricated stories vs the players were found to be false and the charges dropped. Men were presumed guilty before the facts came to fruition.

Where I work, there are no Title IX requirements for reporting anything. A guy is having trouble at home or gets picked up for DUI, there's no requirement for our CEO, local General Manager or any other person to take any action other than if he can't make it to work and perform as expected.

 

[hwk23]

Seems like a pretty high standard, but when you're making that kind of $$$ more is expected. That's why it's in the contract.

It’s in his 2018 contract. He got a new contract recently but I don’t think that clause applies to 2015.

 

[theboat]

Do you have employees or manage anybody at your job?

Yes, and if I find out one of them was beating his wife I don’t sit down with her to convince her to sweep it under the rug for her own good.

 

[theboat]

Yes, I agree. But, legally, are you on the hook if you don't?

I don’t think I’ve seen anyone say that Meyer will have legal consequences, but keeping his job is not a legal issue. He had a moral and ethical and contractual responsibility that he failed.

 

[Fryowa]

My thoughts exactly. These two have worked together a long time. Meyer has seemed very reluctant to cut this guy loose. Why?

Because Smith is Earle Bruce’s grandson. UM has said ad nauseum how Bruce was his mentor and that he had more influence on his life than anyone other than his dad. UM worshipped the ground he walked on. He felt a duty to protect the kid, however fucked up that may be.

 

[judzeehawk]

Maybe Urban didn't want to live with the responsibility of starting the process of something that could end in her death. I highly doubt that's the case but it is a tough situation for someone. It's easy to say "I would for sure tell on someone" but it's not that easy. You will be making the decision to end someone else's relationship which isn't really your decision to make. You're breaking up a family. You have to make the decision on how bad it is. Is it dangerous? Does he grab her arm too hard? Is he actually defending himself from her? Does the lady actually want you to say something? A guy has to juggle a lot of questions in his head before he decides to tear apart a family.

I know I had a bat shit crazy girlfriend once and it was all I could do to not pummel her and I'm a pretty mellow guy. I think she even wanted to get pummeled.

Glad you didn't pummel her and since you used the word had I bet your also glad you didn't. I can see where you'd think you might be breaking up a family and wouldn't want to say anything.There are some women out there that was raised in this environment and don't know anything different and that's sad. If they have kids that's when it's crucial it all stops. Not a good environment for anybody let alone children. The cycle needs to be broken.

 

[ThunderHawk]

Well, it is fair to inquire as to whether Urban is going receive due process and note that we don't have all of the facts.

This is true...but McMurphy's reporting looks so airtight (the documentation reminds of admissible evidentiary exhibits) that I don't see how Meyer weasels out of it.

 

[ThunderHawk]

Yes, it's totally weird but this is the legal process these schools have created to cover their own asses. The wife beater is an employee of OSU, not of Urban personally, but OSU wants to foist the blame for anything he does onto Urban so as to protect OSU. That's why they have all this mandatory disclosure shit in the contracts now. It's so if something goes astray, you can throw Urban under the bus and protect the institution.

Come on, man. We both know that the first rule of life is DON'T DO STUPID SHIT. Beating your wife is stupid shit. Harboring a known wife-beater on your elite college football program's staff is PED-fueled stupid shit. Especially when your own wife is the wife beater's wife's texting buddy.

Urb violated this rule like Bubba on cellblock three violates fresh prison meat.

 

[ThunderHawk]

Yea, it's really dumb when you think about it. Why didn't they? Wasn't like you can't replace a WR coach, no matter how good they are. When coaches try covering crap up is when shit goes completely south.

I created this post to create some discussion and bring out view points. I thank all for the discussion. I really wanted to know what university policy they had or what was stated in his contract to show what made him required to report.

Bottom line here is that Urb thought that having a volatile known domestic abuser in his employ was worth the risk

Looks like it wasn't.

 

[PCHawk]

Glad you didn't pummel her and since you used the word had I bet your also glad you didn't. I can see where you'd think you might be breaking up a family and wouldn't want to say anything.There are some women out there that was raised in this environment and don't know anything different and that's sad. If they have kids that's when it's crucial it all stops. Not a good environment for anybody let alone children. The cycle needs to be broken.

I agree that it needs to stop. My point is its a bad situation that you have to be the guy who forces it to stop or you might get fired. It's a weird situation to be in. Especially when there is a decent chance that 5 years down the road, you're still without a job and that couple is still together.