Chants of “Urban Meyer” and “O-H-I-O” rang out as more than 100 Ohio State football fans rallied outside Ohio Stadium to show support for the embattled football coach.
Meyer is on paid administrative leave after admitting he was not truthful with the media two weeks ago when he denied any knowledge of domestic violence allegations against former assistant coach Zach Smith in 2015.
Fans like “Tennessee Jeff” Hamms and Stacy Elliott, the father of former Buckeye running back Ezekiel Elliott, pumped up fans with stories of Meyer’s success at Ohio State, which includes a 2014 national title when Elliott was among the team’s best players.
“Urban Meyer is one of the best things that could ever happen for the university, and definitely for our family,” Elliott told WCMH.
Ezekiel Elliott, a current Dallas Cowboys running back, was suspendedfor six games while the NFL investigated domestic violence accusations against him. He was never charged.
Many of the fans in attendance took aim at Brett McMurphy, the independent journalist who first reported that Meyer likely knew about the allegations against Zach Smith in October 2015. Smith was investigated but never convicted.
Ohio State trustees announced last week that a special “independent board working group” would direct the Meyer investigation, which is expected to last about two weeks. The group includes three current trustees, a former Ohio House Speaker, a former Deputy U.S. Attorney General, and a former U.S. Attorney. They’re contracted a national law firm to handle the investigation.