What Urban Meyer should have said….. IF he were honest….IF he had integrity…..IF he were truly a Christian….
“Before I am a football coach, before I am an employee of Ohio State University, before anything else I might profess to be, I AM A PERSON. I have known Zach Smith since he was 2 years old. I considered his family a part of mine. We had a relationship that extended beyond the X’s & O’s. And I saw a young man with incredible talent, both on the field coaching and in recruiting, struggling. He was struggling in a toxic marriage and was under intense pressure as he tried to prove himself to the hundreds of people questioning his abilities daily. Zach worked harder than most people in life to prove himself to the critics who said he only got his position on my staff because of his grandfather. NOT TRUE – I hired a young, talented coach that I had mentored and watched excel in the profession. The fact that his grandfather was my mentor was simply a bonus.
I was fully aware that Zach was having personal problems AND very aware that his wife was prone to excessive drama and very erratic in her behavior. Zach didn’t want to bring those problems to work but it was obvious there were serious issues at hand. Anyone who has gone through a serious personal problem and tried to work at a VERY HIGH PRESSURE job can only imagine the struggle. And, as a person and a Christian – I believe in trying to help and that is what I did. You don’t give up on someone, you don’t condemn someone, you don’t destroy someone who you know, in your heart, is a good person. And, we all knew that he did not commit domestic violence – and in fact – believed he was a victim himself of relentless emotional abuse.
Did he act out in inappropriate ways – absolutely. OVER 3 YEARS AGO – and since receiving the help he needed he has not acted out inappropriately and has been on a path of redemption and success.”
That’s what he should have said….but he did not. Most people believe that the university required Urban to say the things he did. I’m just wondering where his mentor was in his thinking. The Earle Bruce I know would be disappointed at best. My father was fiercely loyal – to a fault I will agree – but he would never compromise his integrity by apologizing to someone who has lied and brought so much damage to HER OWN CHILDREN and so many others. He would never bow down to anyone if it meant being dishonest.
So this leaves me right back where I was in 1987 – a place I had worked so hard to get away from – extreme disappointment in people. I will forever be changed – again. Fortunately, I have found a faith that gets me through ALL things and I will be fine – and so will my family – but we will be forever changed.
Think about it – this woman – who we welcomed into our family, supported and accepted – has forever altered the landscape of our lives. So very sad, but most importantly sad for my two beautiful grandchildren. We can only imagine how this will impact them in the future. And I will have to see this woman at the typical events that families gather to celebrate. Graduations. Weddings. Every time we are to gather – there she will be. How do you forgive and move forward, which is what I am to believe is the right thing to do – there is my challenge – AGAIN.
I try not to read all the horrific comments and bullying that has gone on through all of this ordeal. But some slip through and it makes me realize how blessed I am with the support and love we have from the folks who really matter. And how people who have no insight, no knowledge, are so quick to put in their 2 cents. But that has taught me a lesson as well – good and bad.
But I do want to thank the people who have searched for the truth and not simply accepted the tainted reporting and falsehoods that apparently are rampant in the media – both supposed journalistic and social. Don’t ever believe everything you read – it often isn’t even close to factually correct.
Zach Smith is my son. I love him unconditionally and always will. HE IS NOT A WIFE-BEATER. He made mistakes and I don’t condone his behavior, but I understand it. I understand it because I saw what he was living and going through – even though it was from a distance – because his wife had managed to eliminate all of his family support from his life. Typical abuser behavior. And even before she lied and manipulated to remove us, she told me repeatedly that she would do this to us, to Urban and to the university. This was all very calculated and planned – and the trigger was pulled when Zach had finally moved on with his life.
If you have a negative comment or opinion, please keep it to yourself – I really don’t care. I know the truth – YOU DO NOT. Try and question why you feel the need to be a hater and why you feel the need to spew garbage and hate. It really is very sad. If you feel the need to hurt others – might want to look at yourself and figure that out. You aren’t going to hurt me – that’s already been done.
My dad once told me – after he had been fired and I was angry and wanting vengeance – “The best revenge is living a good life”. And that is what I intend to do.
