Will Urban Meyer survive at Ohio State following damning report? Many call for his firing if details are true

It didn’t take long for social media to become abuzz after a report was released by college football reporter Brett McMurphy on Wednesday morning that claimed Ohio State coach Urban Meyer lied about his knowledge regarding several domestic abuse allegations against his former assistant.

Meyer denied having knowledge of those allegations against former Ohio State wide receivers coach Zach Smith — who was recently fired from the Buckeyes’ staff — at Big Ten Media Days last week. But this report claims Meyer actually did know, along with many wives of coaches on Ohio State’s staff, as well as knowing the extent of Smith’s abuse toward his now ex-wife.

You can read McMurphy’s full extension report on the subject here.

If everything included in this extensive report turns out to be true, will that mark the end of the Meyer era at Ohio State? That’s what many in the college football world on Twitter think will happen, as well as what they believe should happen.

Here are some of the reactions that poured in on Twitter after the report was released:

Somebody's family is about to have a lot more time spent with them https://t.co/2yuH0jvNmC

— Bunkie Perkins (@BunkiePerkins) August 1, 2018

Almost any college coach in America would be fired for this. Incredibly damning. Imagine Ohio State will try and cover up for Urban Meyer, but this is different level lying. Bold faced to media, Big Ten, fans and everyone. Inexcusable behavior. https://t.co/PugaoQZdPB

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) August 1, 2018

Jim Tressel was once suspended for 2 games (later extended to five) as Ohio State’s head coach for knowing his players received improper benefits from a tattoo shop.

Urban Meyer reportedly knew one of his assistants abused his wife and denied any knowledge of it until recently.

— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) August 1, 2018

Yeah…so…if this is true, Urban Meyer won’t make it to the 2018 season opener. https://t.co/AXgK8PSKbY

— Barrett Sallee ?? (@BarrettSallee) August 1, 2018

Brett McMurphy's reporting on Urban Meyer story will be a real test for ESPN and Fox Sports, which share the conference football media rights and employ a ton of college football commentators, many of whom are tight with Meyer.

— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) August 1, 2018

https://twitter.com/AllbrightNFL/status/1024674673857110016

This is a really bad look for Urban Meyer and Ohio State. There's really no way around it.

— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) August 1, 2018

https://twitter.com/ZachOnCST/status/1024669105574567942

https://twitter.com/IanKenyonNFL/status/1024677720389836800

This simple. If Urban Meyer was aware of this despicable behavior, then he must go. That simple.

— jordan cornette (@jordancornette) August 1, 2018

Let me help y'all: Urban Meyer is an awful person. https://t.co/6kl4TRwjJz

— Josh Moon ?? (@Josh_Moon) August 1, 2018

The conversation will revolve around Urban Meyer, but my first thought is the courage Courtney Smith exhibited in bringing this forward when she was reportedly threatened by Zach Smith and pressured by those close to Meyer not to bring forth charges.

— Drew Hallett (@DrewCHallett) August 1, 2018

https://twitter.com/DownWithDamon/status/1024675343603400704

Remember Ohio State is the school that fired Woody Hayes and Jim Tressel. They WILL fire Urban Meyer for this https://t.co/WPIXEAdkGG

— Jason Horowitz (@HorowitzJason) August 1, 2018

More information on the Urban Meyer, Zach Smith situation continues to come to light. Stadium, a digital sports network, has now released an interview with Zach Smith’s ex-wife, Courtney Smith, in which she confirms many of the details provided by Brett McMurphy’s post. You can see the interview below:

EXCLUSIVE: Longtime Urban Meyer assistant Zach Smith's ex-wife, Courtney Smith, opens up about reported domestic violence and what she believes Meyer knew. pic.twitter.com/dNWA9x2F4y

— Stadium (@Stadium) August 1, 2018

It’s worth noting that Urban Meyer has admitted to knowing about some incidents going back to 2009. From ESPN, “Urban Meyer said July 24 that he was aware of the 2009 incident and that he and Shelley “got involved” by talking to the Smiths after police finished their investigation. Meyer said he called his boss after learning about it and then waited to hear back from the investigators. He said the recommendation made to him at that time was counseling for Smith and to move forward.”

However, incidents from 2015 seem to be the acts now in focus, as Meyer has indicated he didn’t know about them.

Jake Rill

Jake Rill contributes to news coverage for Saturday Down South. He has covered the SEC since 2016.