Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer was allowed to meet with the team and members of the coaching staff Aug. 23, a day after he was given a three-game suspension regarding his handling of former assistant coach Zach Smith’s employment, a university spokesperson told BSB.
Meyer met with the players and coaches for about 45 minutes that day, the spokesperson said. He also had “limited conversations” with members of the program between Aug. 23 and Aug. 25, which were not in violation of his suspension because he did not receive the terms until Aug. 26.
With his suspension now underway, and with the terms delivered, Meyer is prohibited from performing any of his duties as head coach, including attending practices, meetings and other events. He is also prohibited form communicating with members of the coaching staff, players, recruits or others within the program.
Those terms will stay in place through Sept. 2, the day after Ohio State’s season opener against Oregon State. On Sept. 3, he can resume his normal coaching duties, but the terms of his suspension will be enacted for 24-hour periods around Ohio State’s games on Sept. 8 (home vs. Rutgers) and Sept. 15 (vs. TCU in Arlington, Texas).
Meyer will not be allowed at any pregame activities or in the stadium on the dates of the first three games, either. He will also forgo six weeks of pay.
Meyer received notice of the terms of his suspension by way of a letter from Susan M. Basso, the senior vice president in the Office of Human Resources at Ohio State. Basso also confirmed via email that Meyer had been authorized to meet with the team, along with athletic director Gene Smith, on Aug. 23 at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. A copy of that email can be found here.
