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Tom Herman addresses reports linking him to Ohio State situation
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Texas coach Tom Herman was in the headlines Saturday and it had nothing to do with his 2018 Longhorns squad.
Jeff Snook, Ohio State journalism graduate and author of multiple Buckeyes books, posted to Facebook Saturday that Herman tipped off reporter Brett McMurphy about former Ohio State assistant Zach Smith’s arrest at Florida in 2009 for domestic violence. While Urban Meyer and Smith were at Florida in 2009, Herman was not. He was an Iowa State assistant at the time.
Snook also reported that Herman assisted Courtney Smith, Zach Smith’s ex-wife who has accused him of domestic abuse on multiple occasions since 2009, financially.
He addressed both reports with Texas media.
Via spokesman, Texas coach Tom Herman tells me about the Jeff Snook story: “It is absolutely untrue. Neither I, nor anybody in my family, has ever communicated with Brett McMurphy about the situation at Ohio State.” 1/2
— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) August 11, 2018
Herman also addressed the Snook claim that he and Michelle helped pay Courtney Smith’s legal bills: “In March of 2017, my wife assisted her friend Courtney Smith during a time of financial need. We have not provided any financial assistance since then.” @statesman
— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) August 11, 2018
Herman’s wife, Michelle, humorously addressed the report on her own Twitter account.
Nope, wasn’t me either! pic.twitter.com/OUjbn5iOJv
— Michelle Herman (@belletjh) August 11, 2018
McMurphy tweeted that Tom Herman was not his source.
For those who have asked for my response to Jeff Snook’s claim Saturday: “I have never revealed my sources in my nearly four decade journalistic career & I am not going to start now. However, I will say unequivocally that Tom Herman was not my source.”
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 11, 2018
A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.