First let me state that I am an attorney, not a PR professional, however, it doesn’t take much more than common sense to figure out that OSU made a bad choice to hold a press conference after 12 plus hours of intense negotiation and deliberations. It was clear that patience had run out hours ago.
But the past is the past, so what’s next? My initial response with the media was to say “screw them” go win football games and ignore the noise. Unfortunately, I’m not sure this creates an environment that is healthy or sustainable for OSU, Coach Meyer, or the players and staff. The reputation must be restored on some level. I realize you are never going to win over some, but the mainstream types at ESPN (think Golic, Greenberg, SVP) can turn the conversation from demonizing Urban to the story of a guy who was too deferential to his mentor’s grandson and learned his lesson.
How do you do it? This is just one man’s opinion but I would have Urban do a 1 on 1 with Herbstreit. I would make the focus of that interview on everything that Urban did when he and Gene found out about the 2015 incident. I would talk about the police involvement and the reporting to Title IX representatives. He should vehemently deny that he was protecting an abuser because he had no credible evidence to believe the allegations were true. Would he do things differently today, absolutely, but he truly thought he was doing right by everyone by reporting and monitoring but not getting involved in a police investigation.
Next, I would talk about Big Ten media days. Admit that you were trying to keep the Smith’s personal problems private and in doing so you came off as dishonest. State that was not the intent but be contrite.
Lastly, I would finish by admitting failure in managing Zach Smith but reiterate there was zero intent to protect an accused abuser.
I know many of you will disagree with cowing to the media but I think Urban needs to let go of his pride. We are where we are at this point, so how do we fix it. Not going to win going toe to toe with the media.
Disclaimer: this was typed on my phone, please forgive spelling, grammar, and any over-simplification (due to impatience with typing on the freaking text keyboard).
But the past is the past, so what’s next? My initial response with the media was to say “screw them” go win football games and ignore the noise. Unfortunately, I’m not sure this creates an environment that is healthy or sustainable for OSU, Coach Meyer, or the players and staff. The reputation must be restored on some level. I realize you are never going to win over some, but the mainstream types at ESPN (think Golic, Greenberg, SVP) can turn the conversation from demonizing Urban to the story of a guy who was too deferential to his mentor’s grandson and learned his lesson.
How do you do it? This is just one man’s opinion but I would have Urban do a 1 on 1 with Herbstreit. I would make the focus of that interview on everything that Urban did when he and Gene found out about the 2015 incident. I would talk about the police involvement and the reporting to Title IX representatives. He should vehemently deny that he was protecting an abuser because he had no credible evidence to believe the allegations were true. Would he do things differently today, absolutely, but he truly thought he was doing right by everyone by reporting and monitoring but not getting involved in a police investigation.
Next, I would talk about Big Ten media days. Admit that you were trying to keep the Smith’s personal problems private and in doing so you came off as dishonest. State that was not the intent but be contrite.
Lastly, I would finish by admitting failure in managing Zach Smith but reiterate there was zero intent to protect an accused abuser.
I know many of you will disagree with cowing to the media but I think Urban needs to let go of his pride. We are where we are at this point, so how do we fix it. Not going to win going toe to toe with the media.
Disclaimer: this was typed on my phone, please forgive spelling, grammar, and any over-simplification (due to impatience with typing on the freaking text keyboard).
