Urban Meyer recalls asking Ohio State AD Gene Smith to mutually part ways for shocking reason
Urban Meyer, former Ohio State football coach, recounted a controversial moment in his coaching career when he attempted to implement church services for his players. His idea was to hold these services every Sunday to impart life lessons relevant on and off the field, as players often lacked time to attend church during the week. However, the plan faced legal challenges due to the separation of church and state, with the school's attorney advising against it. Meyer was adamant about proceeding and told Athletic Director Gene Smith to let him go if a resolution couldn't be reached, leading to a compromise where the sessions were rebranded as 'reflections'. Despite the initial conflict, Meyer managed to implement his idea, although it could have significantly altered his coaching legacy had it not been resolved.
Context:
Urban Meyer, former Ohio State football coach, recounted a controversial moment in his coaching career when he attempted to implement church services for his players. His idea was to hold these services every Sunday to impart life lessons relevant on and off the field, as players often lacked time to attend church during the week. However, the plan faced legal challenges due to the separation of church and state, with the school's attorney advising against it. Meyer was adamant about proceeding and told Athletic Director Gene Smith to let him go if a resolution couldn't be reached, leading to a compromise where the sessions were rebranded as 'reflections'. Despite the initial conflict, Meyer managed to implement his idea, although it could have significantly altered his coaching legacy had it not been resolved.
Dive Deeper:
Urban Meyer attempted to introduce custom church services for his Ohio State football players to teach life lessons applicable both on and off the field, but faced legal pushback on the grounds of separation of church and state.
The idea was to hold these services every Sunday before team meetings, as players were often too busy during the week to attend church, but the school attorney informed Meyer that such religious activities were not permissible.
Meyer insisted on proceeding with the plan, leading to a confrontation with the school's legal team and involving Athletic Director Gene Smith, whom Meyer challenged to release him if a compromise wasn't reached.
The issue was resolved by changing the name of the sessions to 'reflections', which allowed Meyer to continue without further administrative resistance, though the potential fallout from a different outcome could have impacted his career significantly.
Ryan Day succeeded Meyer as Ohio State's head coach in 2019, continuing the team's pursuit of consecutive titles, while Meyer transitioned to roles in sports analysis and media, frequently appearing on Fox Sports and the Big Ten Network.
The course of Ohio State football history alongside the coaching career of Urban Meyer would be drastically different if a failed ask from then-coach Meyer had actually gone as planned.
Meyer has swiftly transitioned away from college coaching in favor of analytical work in recent years, which includes frequent appearances on Fox Sports and the Big Ten Network alongside his work on "The Triple Option" podcast.
During a Christian-centered event called "Life Surge," Meyer recalled wanting to bring his players together to create custom church services to discuss life lessons that could be applied on and off the football field.
Whether affiliated or not, it seemed like a good idea on the surface until it ultimately wasn't, Meyer said reluctantly.
"Every Sunday, right before our team meeting, we’re going to have church service because you take the whole week; players don’t have time to go run a church, so I’m gonna bring church to them,” Meyer said.
Then, things got awkward.
"And so the school attorney comes over to me and said, ‘Coach, you can’t do that.’ And I said, ‘I can’t do what ?’ She says, ‘you can’t have the Bible study and you can’t have the church service,'" Meyer continued. “And I said, ‘well, we’re gonna do it.’ She said, ‘well, you can’t. Separation of church and state. You can’t do that.’ And I said, ‘I’m really busy. We’re doing it.”
Meyer added the Buckeyes' Athletic Director, Gene Smith, had to get involved after Meyer retaliated against the school's attorneys, telling Smith to "let me go" if a compromise wasn't agreed upon.
Meyer changed the name to "reflections," and thus, the Ohio State administration didn't think twice about it.
“In this day and age, you’re 18 to 21 years old. We take every second of their time. How do you not do that?” Meyer said. “That’s more the question. “It’s instead of saying, ‘how do you do it?’ How do you not do that?”
Luckily for Meyer, he got his way. But if it was another twist of fate, his coaching legacy may still be questioned.
Since 2019, Ryan Day has succeeded Meyer as the Buckeyes attempt to win back-to-back titles this season.