Today, Buckeye Nation’s Lunatic Fringe (reportedly) gets its wish.
I seem to recall The Ohio State University saying it would not make any determination of who would be coaching football until after the season. Then again, the same school also said Jim Tressel's job was safe. Obviously, circumstances changed there.
Apparently, the circumstances changed in this case, too.
Obviously, the Buckeyes didn’t do as well as expected. They lost a couple games they really should have won, and even fizzled when they actually had an outside shot at managing to make the very first Big Ten Championship Game.
Still… did even the biggest Buckeye fans think they were just going to roll over everyone? Of course not. Five of the team’s best players were suspended… well, four after Terrelle Pryor bolted like the classless coward that he is. The first starting quarterback was so bad, it was an accomplishment for some of his passes to even hit the ground. Your next guy’s a true freshman who had his mistakes, while also having his moments of brilliance… kind of reminds me of another recent true freshman starting at OSU.
Hopefully Braxton Miller’s similarities to Pryor end there.
Look at what was handed to Luke Fickell. Was he ready to be a head coach? Probably not. But he is an “Ohio State man,” and seemingly blameless in the whole tattoo/improper benefits controversy. He can motivate these guys. It seemed even Buckeye Nation’s Lunatic Fringe would back him.
Then the Buckeyes lost to Miami. I thought Twitter was going to crash from the sheer volume of the fan comments immediately calling for Fickell’s head and the hiring of Urban Meyer. Those cries intensified with every loss.
It all (allegedly) culminates (according to “sources”) in the announcement of the (alleged) hiring of (“sources” say) former Earle Bruce graduate assistant (that part’s confirmed) and former Bowling Green and Florida head coach (also confirmed) Urban Meyer as OSU’s new head football coach. The (rumored) compensation is (allegedly) substantial.
Note, we don’t know any of this for sure, since the Columbus Dispatch only cites “sources,” but wow… with so many people reporting this before the Dispatch “confirmed” it with “sources,” it’s probably a safe bet that something’s going on.
Here’s the problem with all this… what’s also going on this week – and among Buckeye Nation, I figured this was actually more important – is that the Buckeyes are playing Michigan.
Now, aside from the obvious distraction news like this would cause… does this whole thing strike anyone else as a “jerk” kind of move? Again, I don’t think anyone expected Fickell to stick as head coach, given that he inherited a decimated team and OSU never removed that whole “Interim” from his job title. However, I seem to recall Gene Smith (or somebody in charge) said no decisions were going to be made on a coach until after the season.
Well, I know the Buckeyes are 6-5, but there’s a shot at a seventh win. So, we’re still within the boundaries of “the season.”
So, if this (alleged) hire is a done deal (in priniciple, according to “sources”), then Ohio State has been doing some “back room” dealing, although these “sources close to the situation” are more than happy to share with the media (although apparently the Dispatch didn’t get priority… oops).
So… is it safe to conclude that Gene Smith is as good at controlling media leaks within his own athletics department, as he is at keeping players from accepting money for an appearance at a charity event?
While his athletics department is already under an NCAA investigation?
I said back in December that Smith was making a big mistake in appealing that “too harsh” five-game suspension against the Tattoo Five, and that his grandstanding was just going to bite him later. He should have left it alone… but didn’t. And the situation got worse. And worse.
Urban Meyer was still denying his (alleged) hire this afternoon. Why? Well, maybe he was trying to take the high road, to try and not cause the inevitable distraction that this would stir up… because it’s Beat Michigan Week.
Too late for that, Coach… if you were part of the discussions, there’s no way in hell you’re not at least somewhat responsible now. If you’re coming to Ohio State… give up, and just say so. Smith’s athletics department is leaking like Steve Mason in front of the Blue Jackets’ net.
Urban Meyer is not the answer to Ohio State’s problems, because hiring Urban Meyer doesn’t address the problem of Gene Smith.
The apparent defiance in the face of NCAA punishment. Continued violations by already-suspended players. Doing back-room negotiations with a coach before the head coach’s seat is even VACANT, let alone COLD.
Absolutely classless.
If this is official, than this is Luke Fickell’s last regular season game as the Buckeyes’ football coach (obviously, we don’t know what will happen, bowl-wise, with the NCAA).
And the game is against Michigan. Michigan was supposed to be the focus of this week.
I still remember when Earle Bruce was fired before the Michigan game. I still remember that game, and that win, and the sight of that team carrying Bruce off the field on their shoulders.
I hope that on Saturday, not only does Luke Fickell get the win over Michigan (carrying off the field optional), but that he walks up to Gene Smith afterwards and tells him where to put those Gold Pants.
Don’t think me too much of a tool in invoking Woody Hayes here… but I do have one final point, and I don’t think it counts as taking Woody’s name in vain.
We’ve heard Coach Hayes’ mantra for decades: “You win with people.”
Urban Meyer is a good choice. He has been a winner everywhere he has coached. I think he can build the Buckeyes back into a national power sooner rather than later. I think he’ll recruit young student-athletes with character who deserve to wear the uniform… and avoid the Terrelle Pryors, Devier Poseys and Jaamal Berrys.
Luke Fickell is a winner, and what happened when he coached what was left of this team doesn't change that fact. He doesn’t deserve to go out like this.
But… (alleged) Coach Meyer, congratulations, I guess.
Maybe, just maybe, with the coaching search (allegedly) out of the way… perhaps President (this part’s confirmed) Gee can start a search for a new athletics director. If you’re going to start clean… do it with the right people.
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