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Urban Meyer shoots down rumors of ‘tension’ with AD Gene Smith, coaching staff
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Urban Meyer is denying the report that there is friction between the Ohio State head coach and athletic director Gene Smith. He shot down the claims during the B1G coaches teleconference on Tuesday.
According to FootballScoop.com, there has been some tension between Meyer and Smith since the scandal involving former assistant coach Zach Smith’s alleged abusive past surfaced in the summer. It was also reported that there was some issues among the coaching staff, as well.
Tuesday, while on the B1G coaches teleconference, Meyer was asked about the reported tension. The head coach denied the validity of those reports.
“There’s no tension,” Meyer said, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. “I talk and work with Gene darn near on a daily basis.”
Meyer on report of tension between him and AD Gene Smith: "There’s no tension. I talk and work with Gene darn near on a daily basis."
And with coaching staff: "There's things that need to be fixed. … There’s no tension. Urgency, I’d call it."
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 23, 2018
Meyer also said there are things that “need to fixed” in the Ohio State locker room, but that he’d call it “urgency” among the coaching staff, rather than tension.
Ohio State is coming off a blowout loss to Purdue. It was the first defeat the Buckeyes have suffered all season.
Also on the conference call, Meyer said that coaches stayed in Columbus this weekend rather than hitting the recruiting trail. He said the goal was to figure out a way to run the football more effectively.
#OhioState coach Urban Meyer says the open week will give the coaches a chance to tweak schemes more than a normal game week. Meyer kept his coordinators in the office Sunday. Most of staff went out recruiting but Meyer, coordinators spent 12 hours Sunday on scheme.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 23, 2018
Meyer and the Buckeyes are still in good position in the East. If they’re able to win out, they’ll earn a spot in the B1G Championship Game and can still make a case for the College Football Playoff.
Ohio State has to figure out its rushing attack, though. The team’s rushing yardage have seriously declined since the first two weeks of the season and the ground game was non-existent against Purdue.
The Buckeyes have an off week to try and correct the issues before taking on Nebraska on Nov. 3.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB