Lawyer: OSU Has Never Contacted Courtney Smith to Investigate Allegations
Courtney Smith mentioned this in the initial reporting, but we now have more detailed comments from her lawyer, Julia Leveridge, to Brett McMurphy (emphasis added):
Courtney Smith is currently involved in two legal matters, criminal trespass involving her ex-husband Zach Smith, and a domestic violence civil protection order she has obtained to ensure her ongoing safety. Ms. Smith will have no further comments until these matters have been resolved. Her focus remains on caring for her two small children and continuing her nursing studies.
As her attorney, I can tell you that Ms. Smith is cautiously optimistic that The Ohio State University’s investigative committee will determine if proper reporting protocol was followed upon learning of the ongoing, abuse allegations against Zach Smith. We believe the University must prioritize the safety and well-being of others above all else. While The Ohio State University has never contacted Ms. Smith to discuss these allegations, she will fully cooperate with the university’s current investigation.
What's striking about this is that this statement was made yesterday. That is to say, even with an investigation ongoing, OSU hasn't yet contacted Courtney Smith to get her side of the story, though they may do so within the next week.
I feel like none of this matters. It’s going to be the same thing as the Msu thing where all these threads come up saying omg they did this or they didn’t do this and nothing’s going to happen. I hope I’m wrong.
MSU's Nassar scandal resulted in the MSU president losing her job.
A lot more heads should have rolled at msu given the culture that has been allowed to perpetuate there.
August 7th, 2018 at 10:42 AM ^
it's not over yet in E Lansing.
August 7th, 2018 at 11:39 AM ^
I'll believe that when I see it.
August 7th, 2018 at 11:48 AM ^
It'll never be over...
Very well played, indeed.
Going to be interesting what's the big story that's supposed to come out close to the season kick-off with dirt on MSU football, confirmed by Chris Balas, UMBig11, ect.
She clung to that post with the full support of the board for a long time; it took untill there was sustained national attention showing her inadequate response for that to change. Don't expect that here.
August 7th, 2018 at 11:04 AM ^
But was there any direct evidence showing that she knew about it? I mean, we all know she knew, but plausible deniability is a powerful defense. Urban has already admitted he knew, and that he lied. That's the biggest difference here.
August 7th, 2018 at 12:44 PM ^
that will come out most likely after the criminal investigations are done on the women's gymnastics coach, Dean strampel, et al.
Lol what are you talking about? Where are you getting your info? What did Urban know please tell me since you know everything about this case
Where am I getting my info?
Um, Urban Meyer.
I really try to be objective but holy cow Buckeye fans are a special breed.
Simon spent her entire career at MSU and was close to retirement. She was close to their board to the AD, etc. They were very much inclined to protect each other.
OSU's president spent his career in California and was hired by OSU in 2014. The previous schools he worked at don't even field football teams.
If you were an OSU fan counting on him to protect to protect your football team, how much would that last fact worry you?
August 7th, 2018 at 10:10 AM ^
He's probably talking about Izzo and Dantonio, though I'm baffled that Engler is still there.
August 7th, 2018 at 10:19 AM ^
I thought I read somewhere yesterday that UMBIG11 states there was some more bad news coming for MSU in the not so distant future. Regarding Dantonio possibly. I read this on 24/7 .....
anyone have any additional info on this? I’d love to see MSU squirm a lot more. It seems as tho rules are often broken with little or no consequences....
August 7th, 2018 at 10:46 AM ^
In the interest of answering your question but furthering unsubstantiated gossip/rumor, someone speculated on one of the innumerable threads lately that it involved an assault of a women's basketball player assuming by a football player. Without going back that's all I remember.
August 7th, 2018 at 12:07 PM ^
Wasn't she allowed to retire with full golden parachute and major cushy benefits package?
Yes, she was. As a matter of fact, she still has an office on campus although apparently she doesn't use it often.
August 7th, 2018 at 10:04 AM ^
None of this matters? You are legally required to do a proper investigation if there is a reporting.
Urban claimed he didn't report it (you can't report something you just said you didn't know about) and then he claimed he did.
If he truly reported this and OSU didn't contact Courtney Smith then they likely didn't do a proper investigation and OSU could very well lose some federal funding. That is a big deal and it matters.
August 7th, 2018 at 11:25 AM ^
I'm sure this will come off as OSU homerism, but I really don't think Urban intended to lie about the 2015 incident. He answered the question very poorly to be sure. But keep in mind, at that time, it was reported that Smith was arrested in 2015, and it is my belief that Meyer was referring to that when he claimed to have not known about the 2015 incident, not that he had no knowledge of an accusation or that there was an incident in general. This isn't to absolve him of blame or say he handled things right, but only to say that there may have been a misunderstanding between what Meyer said, and what he was actually referring to. Let the bashing begin in 3...2...1...
August 7th, 2018 at 11:41 AM ^
Seems like a reasonable enough take, but I find sheltering an abuser far more repugnant than lying to the press regardless. That guy just gives me the creeps.
August 7th, 2018 at 11:48 AM ^
I agree, I'm not condoning anything, I was referring specifically to him "lying" to the media. Meyer is too smart to deny an incident he so clearly knew about, so to me, it's quite obvious he misspoke, which is ridiculous in its own right.
August 7th, 2018 at 12:22 PM ^
Even Meyer admitted he lied. Did you even watch the video? He clearly lied, nobody mentioned anything about the arrest. This is just sad.
August 7th, 2018 at 12:50 PM ^
He never admitted he lied, he admitted that he misspoke and didn't handle the questions right, and was ill prepared. And once again, that in of itself is ridiculous, and I'm not condoning anything. My point was never about whether or not he mentioned the arrest, but what he was referring to when he answered the question, or what he thought the question was referring to. And I'm just guessing, I don't claim to know for sure what he meant. Nobody does, other than you know-it-alls I guess
WTF are you talking about? What do you think "misspoke" means? Do you have ears? Did you not hear what he said during the press conference? How do you even conclude that it was not a lie? Dude, you need to see how ridiculous you sound right now.
Why are you pretending to care about domestic violence?
August 7th, 2018 at 11:42 AM ^
There was a study done that concluded that humans tend to be irrational about things they have strong emotions over....one example might be loving Urban Meyer.
#1 Urban Meyer was asked nine different questions about this situation and lied each time - including to questions not about specifically the arrest. There is no rational explanation other than he was lying. Mind you, Urban had to be lying in his statement he released when he claimed he didn't expect to get a question about a national story of him firing an assistant for domestic violence less than a week before his press conference at a media event. He is playing you for a fool with his continual stream of deceptions.
#2 The initial 2015 police report stated that Smith was arrested - in a weird coincidence - the police changed it after the Urban blow up to reflect what Urban said happened - he wasn't arrested. So Meyer then improperly didn't read the police report when making a decision on Smith in 2015 (nor did he contact Courtney) if the "arrest" comment threw him off - which still doesn't explain the other lies. So if this latest version of what Urban is saying is true, in 2015 he reported it to OSU, neither of them contacted Courtney showing a proper investigation wasn't done, he didn't read the police report, and apparently just gathered his information from Zach Smith the alleged perp and any rumors among the staff and texts his wife got were put to the side.
August 7th, 2018 at 11:47 AM ^
He didn’t just say he didn’t know about it, he ripped on the reporter and said he made everything up. There is a big difference between a misunderstanding and playing dumb about anything ever happening, going so far as questioning what type of person makes a story up like that. Face it, your coach is a sleazy shitbag and OSU fans don’t care because they are morally bankrupt assholes
August 7th, 2018 at 11:59 AM ^
I care plenty, but don't let that stop you from claiming to know me and how I think, and certainly don't let that stop you from stereotyping millions of Buckeye fans, and claiming they all think as one. As I've already said, many of you high and mighty Michigan fans on here(see how that works, many, not all) hide behind some moral compass, when all you care about is the team that kicks your ass every year is in turmoil, and Urban may lose his job, in hopes maybe you can win a game against their temporary coach. And your reply changes nothing about my original comment, if he was referring to an arrest that didn't happen, it would make sense for him to question where that story came from. I've already stated that wouldn't; absolve him of blame anyway, only that it may explain his comments a bit. What's sad is so many on here know every minute detail of this story. I know, you just care so deeply for Ms. Smith, right?
August 7th, 2018 at 12:25 PM ^
If you don't want to be "stereotyped" then go back to 11warriors and get people to stop victim shaming. It is full on blame the victim mode over there now and it is disgusting.
I couldn't care less about our record. Urban is sleazy liar and everyone now knows it. It is fine if you guys are okay with having someone like that as your head coach, sine we never expected better from OSU fans anyway.
August 7th, 2018 at 12:44 PM ^
While I don't want to admit it, if this exact scenario happened at Michigan, we'd have our own share of victim shaming going on at mgoblog. Sports has an inherently tribal aspect, and it comes out in ugly ways sometimes.
FWIW, the OSU fans at r/cfb on reddit seem way more balanced on this issue than what I have seen on 11W.
Part of why I am here is because I like to read and hear the point of view of those without OSU bias, or in this case, those with bias against OSU. But stop with the you don't care about your record. You aren't on this board so passionately speaking out against OSU if not for caring about your school and team in some way. Acting like your entire fanbase has such a higher level of morality is absurd. If/when a similar incident happens to Harbaugh or whomever at your school, we shall see how quickly your opinions change. And no, I'm not fine with it, I personally prefer to let some more facts come out
Go back and read my posts over the years. I have been very consistent about how winning is not everything and that morals matter (including Gibbons incident and Taylor Lewan).
There is no doubt anymore that your fanbase is no better than PSU or MSU. Sports is just a game, a hobby, entertainment at the end of the day. The behavior on 11warrirors right now is EXACTLY why victims of domestic violence do not step forward.
Football is a game, for sure, but it's also a business, one that rakes in $$$ for both M and OSU. That's why Meyer has his job, because he keeps the revenue stream going, and why we have Harbaugh instead of Hoke right now.
It says a lot about our society and culture that football fans are willing to tolerate an enabler for the sake of wins and $$$. That's the bottom-line: institutions (universities and others) care more about the money than other facets of humanity.
Nobody is buying your shit dude. You care about wins and losses, just like every other person on this board. You aren't losing any sleep over Ms. Smith
Clearly, it’s one thing to talk about Core Values, and another to live by them,
but it’s also interesting to see WHICH Core Values various leaders have deemed MOST IMPORTANT:
John Beilein: Unity, Passion, Appreciation, Integrity, Diligence.
Nick Saban: Commitment, Discipline, Effort, Toughness, Pride
Urban Meyer: Honesty, Treat Women with Respect, No Drugs, No Stealing, No Weapons
Are you running for office? This is grade A bullshit. Urban knew exactly what was being referenced and it wasn’t just one question—he was asked about it several times. He denied having any knowledge repeatedly and directly. If you and he want to pretend that semantics are a worthy defense, please go ahead and continue in your self delusion. But don’t peddle that bullshit where there are reasonable people.
Reasonable enough perspective, but if this is true and Urban did simply "misunderstand" the question as he was unaware of any arrest being made, etc...then why in the holy hell did his statement not say as much?? He, well his attorney, authored a statement that could have spelled out what you are saying and I guess I could have somewhat bought it. But instead, he claims he answered poorly as he was not prepared, and he feels bad about it, blah, blah, blah.
I have no idea what he did or did not know or if he did or did not report properly, but he certainly kept an extremely low character guy (best case scenario) on his staff for many years after he knew he was a low character guy. As the man in charge of these very large football programs Urban has got to understand that, fair or not, he is defined by the actions of his staff and players. Society more and more has had enough of domestic abuse and he is now looked upon as someone who has enabled an abuser keep a job and potentially helped keep him out of more serious trouble.
The optics are horrible and OSU has some soul searching to do.
So did Urban Meyer lie when he said he lied about the question?
August 7th, 2018 at 12:20 PM ^
I did read one cogent point about OSU not contacting Courtney. It could be utter BS, but I think it is plausible. Given that there was an open investigation by the Powell PD, the reason for why they did not contact her was for appearances sake in that it could be argued that they could be seen as trying to influence her to not pursue charges (like 2009).
However, that does not explain why they didn't talk to her after Powell PD decided to stop pursuing charges.
August 7th, 2018 at 12:30 PM ^
It is clear from her statement that no one in OSU AD contacted title IX department. The basically buried the domestic abuse within the athletic department, hoping that no one else would notice.
Seems like all the pieces are in place for Gene Smith to take the fall. I am guessing Urban will get away with a slap on the wrist.
Doesn't Urban have a mandatory Title IX reporting duty? Not just Gene Smith?
August 7th, 2018 at 10:16 AM ^
Nah...he's going to get a 4-game suspension. So he'll be back just in time for game 5...against Penn State.
August 7th, 2018 at 11:59 AM ^
Nope. 2 games against those power teams of Oregon State and Rutgers. They'll have him back before the TCU game since it's on the road and they won't want to take any chances...
Difference is MSU needs slimy Izzo and Dantonio to stay relevant.
This is not true for OSU, which is much bigger than Urban Meyer and can win without him.
McMurphy seems to have so many cards left to play...
Can't wait until OSU announces the investigation is over and Urban is reinstated as the head coach, for 5 minutes, until McMurphy releases a video of Urban beating Courtney with a Bible and yelling "I'll kill you if you talk!"
It really does seem like McMurphy has about 20 cards up his sleeve, but at the same time, I'd hope OSU's investigative committee would be able to find those cards during their investigation and make the right move. However, I don't exactly have much faith in them
I found this article this morning (it's "old" so SIAP): https://deadspin.com/how-espn-ended-up-paying-brett-mcmurphy-to-post-the-yea-1828089258
tl;dr: "Brett McMurphy, who is about as plugged in as any college football reporter can be, was always going to scoop ESPN on the Urban Meyer-Zach Smith story. But that the Worldwide Leader paid him to not publish the scoop on their own website, well, that’s the result of a very particular kind of corporate derangement."
In the day and age of "first to report", not sure why ESPN took a pass on this bombshell. Although I'm not surprised.
I run across this at work from time to time. Famous or successful and or powerful people or companies can be attractive targets for news organizations. There is definitely value in reporting on these: public interest. However some organizations/people are willing to buy and Grant future access in exchange for buy and squash.
I.e. "we will give you a $200,000 finding fee to purchase exclusive rights to this story, and will compensate your loss of a story by giving you two exclusive interviews with an osu coach of your choice over the next year".