@Texas-Hawk-10
Nice summary and I agree that in Tressel’s case the lying to the NCAA and ensuing cover up that included playing athletes that would have been otherwise ineligible made things exponentially worse.
In Meyer’s case, absent a detailed morals clause in the assistant’s coach contract, can the HC or the school really do something about what happened outside working hours, off school grounds, did not involve any thing related to the school and in the privacy of his home? This recent article on ESPN ↗ appears to indicate there is a gray area in the subject.
Meyer's contract states that if Ohio State is considering terminating with cause, he has the right to "explain the circumstances with his point of view before termination, unless the circumstances are so heinous that, in Ohio State's reasonable judgment, it would be impossible for [Meyer] to justify his actions."
It's not clear that what Courtney Smith is alleging would amount to a Title IX violation. A judge in Colorado dismissed a lawsuit about a similar case earlier this year. In that instance, the judge said University of Colorado officials were not legally obligated to act when they learned about a domestic abuse situation between an assistant football coach and his significant other. Courtney Smith is not an Ohio State employee, and the alleged incidents did not occur on campus.
The assistant was fired anyway when the story came out. There is no confirmation that Meyer’s wife told him about it but seems highly unlikely that he would not have known so the lying part is what might do him in.
I read that if they just fire him they are still responsible for the remainder of his huge contract unless they show cause. His new contract that was signed last April has specific clauses about reporting as per ESPN...
Meyer's contract extension signed in April includes language requiring him to report any violations by staff members of Ohio State's sexual misconduct policy to the university's athletics Title IX coordinator. Also, as an Ohio State employee who supervises others, Meyer is required by the university's sexual misconduct policy to report knowledge of domestic abuse by a university employee. According to the policy, "An individual need not be charged with or convicted of a criminal offense to be found responsible for domestic violence pursuant to this policy."
Meyer's original contract required him to promptly report any violations of university rules by assistant coaches to Gene Smith and the Office of Compliance Services. Failure to do so could result in termination with cause.
Since his previous contract was in effect when the incident occurred and he claims that he learned about it recently, it might come down to the definition of “promptly” if they fire him for cause.
Note. My comment above does not indicate or imply that I condone or tolerate domestic violence in any way, shape or form, I do not.
