I know that the board desperately needed another thread on the pre-season fiasco with Zach gate. I'd rather be talking about the OL and LBs and what we need to do to establish game control, but that will have to wait.
First, this isn't a "witch hunt" and the world isn't out to get Ohio State. There are some really bad apples in the media, just like in the human race. Stupidity and greed etc etc. Unfortunately, these assholes have a forum... but in the current age anyone with a twitter and FB account have one too. So be it.
The reporting in the last week has not been the media's finest hour, but OSU has NO ONE to blame but themselves here.
The "me too" movement and recent behavior at multiple schools - including it appears OSU wrestling - have the following narrative: Rich powerful MEN along with piss poor local law enforcement have allowed serious sexual abuse and misconduct to go unchecked for decades... or more.
On the face of it, this situation looks really similar to the narrative and the entire media took the "obvious" but incomplete information hook, line and "stinker".
An employee was cited with DV claims for over 10 years.... nothing is done and then summarily after the most recent claim... he's fired. Then when a reporter asked a mis(leading) question, Urban gave what is at best described as a misleading answer.
There were in fact no arrests, so Urban didn't outright lie to a poorly worded question. But there were multiple claims of DV over a decade and the narrative suggests that local law enforcement aren't necessarily on the woman's side. Especially, when the male perpetrator is a well known "celebrity" or part of the power base.
Also not hard to imagine that with the number of claims that are part of the public record that at some point things got physical... and so the fire storm started.
It appears today, that no one at OSU did anything illegal, or even likely immoral.
But that said, the handling of Zach Smith's employment from pillar to post has been a complete cock up.
First, he never should have been hired as a position coach at THE Ohio State University. His resume is weak. Not Nick Siciliano weak, but not Larry Johnson strong either.
His position unit has been a matter of concern since day one. The "Clown Show" became the "No Show". Even as recently as last season we had the same problems as 2012. Poor routes, bad drops, lackluster effort on 50/50 balls, kids who clearly weren't playing up to expectation.
The lack of a consistent passing game has been a problem that has hurt us in 2013, part of 2014, 15, 16 and 17. I'm not saying it was all the WR's but they were a big part of the problem and even the best position coach in CFB would have been challenged to get the best out of his unit given the shit storm Zach was apparently living through.
The police records will only tell part of the story, and given the frequency, its safe to assume that Zach was struggling with his home issues for the entire time. I can't imagine how hard that was.
Second, a coach with borderline coaching skills was retained even though it was well known he was having severe off the field marital problems. I'm not assuming he was an abuser. I am assuming he was distracted as hell.
It would take an iron willed SOB to compartmentalize the BS that's been reported, and Zach doesn't come across as an iron willed SOB. In fact he comes across as a really nice guy... and we know where they finish.
In the end. I don't think anyone gets fired, or should be fired.... unless there is more to the story than we know now.
I do think Urban owes Buckeye Nation an apology. I think we deserve better.
First, this isn't a "witch hunt" and the world isn't out to get Ohio State. There are some really bad apples in the media, just like in the human race. Stupidity and greed etc etc. Unfortunately, these assholes have a forum... but in the current age anyone with a twitter and FB account have one too. So be it.
The reporting in the last week has not been the media's finest hour, but OSU has NO ONE to blame but themselves here.
The "me too" movement and recent behavior at multiple schools - including it appears OSU wrestling - have the following narrative: Rich powerful MEN along with piss poor local law enforcement have allowed serious sexual abuse and misconduct to go unchecked for decades... or more.
On the face of it, this situation looks really similar to the narrative and the entire media took the "obvious" but incomplete information hook, line and "stinker".
An employee was cited with DV claims for over 10 years.... nothing is done and then summarily after the most recent claim... he's fired. Then when a reporter asked a mis(leading) question, Urban gave what is at best described as a misleading answer.
There were in fact no arrests, so Urban didn't outright lie to a poorly worded question. But there were multiple claims of DV over a decade and the narrative suggests that local law enforcement aren't necessarily on the woman's side. Especially, when the male perpetrator is a well known "celebrity" or part of the power base.
Also not hard to imagine that with the number of claims that are part of the public record that at some point things got physical... and so the fire storm started.
It appears today, that no one at OSU did anything illegal, or even likely immoral.
But that said, the handling of Zach Smith's employment from pillar to post has been a complete cock up.
First, he never should have been hired as a position coach at THE Ohio State University. His resume is weak. Not Nick Siciliano weak, but not Larry Johnson strong either.
His position unit has been a matter of concern since day one. The "Clown Show" became the "No Show". Even as recently as last season we had the same problems as 2012. Poor routes, bad drops, lackluster effort on 50/50 balls, kids who clearly weren't playing up to expectation.
The lack of a consistent passing game has been a problem that has hurt us in 2013, part of 2014, 15, 16 and 17. I'm not saying it was all the WR's but they were a big part of the problem and even the best position coach in CFB would have been challenged to get the best out of his unit given the shit storm Zach was apparently living through.
The police records will only tell part of the story, and given the frequency, its safe to assume that Zach was struggling with his home issues for the entire time. I can't imagine how hard that was.
Second, a coach with borderline coaching skills was retained even though it was well known he was having severe off the field marital problems. I'm not assuming he was an abuser. I am assuming he was distracted as hell.
It would take an iron willed SOB to compartmentalize the BS that's been reported, and Zach doesn't come across as an iron willed SOB. In fact he comes across as a really nice guy... and we know where they finish.
In the end. I don't think anyone gets fired, or should be fired.... unless there is more to the story than we know now.
I do think Urban owes Buckeye Nation an apology. I think we deserve better.
