Ohio State is feverishly trying to look for ways to either sever ties with Urban Meyer without having to pay out the reminder of his deal, or exonerate him in some capacity in order to keep him after the legendary coach has come under intense fire for allegedly knowing one of his assistant coaches, Zack Smith, was beating on his wife in 2015 & still allowing him to remain on staff, until his firing on July 23, 2018.
While Meyer has been placed on paid administrative leave, OSU has hired Mary Jo White to determine what Meyer knew, when he knew it, and how he reacted. If any of those questions lead to him knowing a member of his staff abused his wife in 2015, Meyer will be likely fired on the spot. With the Buckeyes primed for another championship run, this would obviously be a worst-case scenario, not to mention knowing that a woman was put at further risk by someone who is obligated to report & protect his players AND staff. This includes families.
If you’re thinking the name ‘Mary Jo White’ is familiar, it’s because it is. She’s the investigator who famously uncovered the pay-for-blows Bountygate scandal, in which Brett Favre was injured by Saints defenders who allegedly asked for “their money” in exchange.
She was also lead investigator in the Jerry Richardson scandal which resulted in Richardson being forced to sell the Carolina Panthers to billionaire David Tepper.
It will be interesting to see what she uncovers in this case.