Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
If somebody asks me if one of my employees beats his wife (after I hear a rumor of this at an office Christmas party), I’m going to say, “No, I have no knowledge of that.”
How long before something like this hits NU?
You may actually have some degree of responsibility to investigate as an employer.
“I was never told about anything, anything never came to light, never had a conversation about it, so I know nothing about that,” Meyer said last week.
The cover up is more relevant than the “crime.”
There is a train of thought that this is a Title IX violation. I don’t know the details of the Regulation, but some are saying that employees of the University are required to report any incident where they have knowledge a sexual assault or domestic violence brought to their attention.
My honest guess, and it's just a guess, of how this all went:
Urban knew Smith had problems at home...slept in the office, stressed, etc. Younger member of the staff...mentor him, support him.
Urban's wife tells him a gentler version of what Smith's wife told her. Urban is 20% sympathetic, 40% defensive, and 40% man-splaining to his wife that they're a young couple dealing with the pressures of coaching life. "You remember how it was with us. I'll talk to him."
Urban is the CEO of a football program with over 100 players, countless assistant coaches and staff, and their families...he's responsible for acknowledging literally hundreds of people. He spares a quick second to warmly ask Smith's wife how things are going. She says ok, knowing it's the equivalent of being asked "how was your weekend?" on Monday by a co-worker in the office - he doesn't want to hear your bad news. He pats himself on the back for remembering to give her the time of day. Onto the next thing.
...Anyone who has ever been a manager of many staff, along with an endless stream problems to solve at work knows you don't go looking for trouble because there's more than enough to worry about without seeking more. In this respect, I'm actually a little sympathetic to Urbs. But honestly and hopefully, this is a turning point in what we consider priorities. If one of the all-time greatest coaches in the history of college football might be in jeopardy because he didn't really care about whether or not one of his assistants may or may not be physically harming his spouse, as long as it didn't interfere with the program...well...if Urban is on the ropes, then literally everyone else in college football should think twice about what they ignore, and what they prioritize. Sadly, the case of Joe Paterno wasn't enough.
If he did know about it in 2015, and lied about it, do you think he did so for innocent reasons?
In statements under oath? That will likely be an important point and as others have suggested there could be a grey area where his statements (if not under oath) rose to the level of interfering with a legal investigation - but that seems to be speculation at this point.
Luke Fickell already has a job, at Cincinnati.......it takes a terrible coach to make OSU average again.
You may actually have some degree of responsibility to investigate as an employer.
I agree, but the question is always, “To what degree?” I don’t think any one of us want our employers investigating our actions beyond what is public information. In this case, the case was sealed, and the charges were dropped, so there was title that the employer could access.
I bet the holy fathers are trying to figure out a way to get him to South Bend.
By becoming public, do you mean charges were filed? Whether he was forthcoming or not (about what he heard via rumor, second hand or what his wife may have told him), if cops investigate in 2015 and did not file charges, it’s none of Meyer’s business.
No kids. No allegation it occurred at work. Police investigation with no criminal charge. None of his business. If he fired an employee over a rumor (via second/third hand via texts) or unsubstantiated allegations (that were investigated by police), he’d be wrong.
To fire someone for something that happened 3 YEARS AGO is pretty bad. Then to fire him only because the incident was becoming public is hypocritical. Finally lying about what you knew and when you knew it.
It kind of reminds me of the ray rice incident. The NFL gave him a suspension but AFTER the tape went viral, they effectively ended Rice’s career.
Of course he knew something. Probably heard about his wife’s text. Probably heard from Smith that he and his wife had a terrible fight. Unless he was a witness to the violence (and only heard conflicting stories), it was absolutely not his business.
If somebody asks me if one of my employees beats his wife (after I hear a rumor of this at an office Christmas party), I’m going to say, “No, I have no knowledge of that.”
If I see the guy slap his wife, however, I’ll fire him, call the police and then go footballphil on the guy myself.
I'm in.....the Columbus area
This would not be good.
I'm in.....the Columbus area
I get what you're saying. I'm not interested in having my work supervisor playing Big Brother and over seeing my private life but doesn't he have an obligation to protect the reputation of the program? What happens when she ends up in the hospital with a broken jaw or worse? Then it all comes out that everyone in their very tight community knew this was going on but took little or no action.I was with you entirely until you brought up Urban Meyer’s duties. I certainly hope he cares about his staff and family, but I do not want a coach to be given the duty/task of investigating bad marriages by members of his staff. They’re not terribly uncommon...
Investigating an assistant coach’s bad marriage also ought not ever be mentioned in the same ball park as investigating an assistant coach’s numerous amorous infatuations with children.
The third thing is ironically something that got me banned for saying on the PSU BWI board. I said, “I don’t think that Paterno encouraged or thought sexual assault on children was ok. I don’t know if he actively or even passively covered anything up. He may be completely innocent, but sometimes, the guy in charge just has to take the fall.” That May apply here as well.
And I would have taken you up on it. BTW I know a kid who is going to try to walk on next spring.Too bad you're clear out there. I was going to invite you to a Ship game if you were anywhere near.
Hang in there.
Stay under cover and don't reveal yourself.
We will be there to extract as soon as practical.
Godspeed and don't forget your training in case you are exposed.
Hang in there.
Stay under cover and don't reveal yourself.
We will be there to extract as soon as practical.
Godspeed and don't forget your training in case you are exposed.