The situation involving Urban Meyer at Ohio State has sent shockwaves across the sports world, and many of the coach’s former players have been asked to weigh in on it. On Thursday, New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple shared his thoughts.
While speaking with reporters at training camp, Apple described Meyer’s administrative leave and the investigation as “unfortunate.”
“It’s a crazy, unfortunate situation,” Apple said, via Matt Lombardo of NJ.com. “I just hope it gets worked out.”
When pressed further and asked if he believes Meyer knew of the 2015 domestic violence allegations against his assistant, Zach Smith, that he claimed to have no knowledge of, Apple stopped short of supporting his former coach.
“I can’t say. I don’t know,” he said. “It’s very surprising. Definitely. He was one of my coaches when I played. You don’t really know somebody outside of football, like you want to. Hopefully, they can get the situation worked out.”
Others who played for Meyer or at Ohio State were far less reserved. Zach Boren, a free agent fullback who went to Ohio State, said the allegations against Smith from his ex-wife have nothing to do with Meyer. Former Buckeyes defensive end Matt Finkes took a similar stance.
This is a Zach and Courtney issue. No one else's. Everyone is trying to bring down the Meyer Family and the rest of the Ohio state staff/program based off of incidents that involved TWO people at their home. This issue will get settled in court between those TWO. END OF STORY!
— Zach Boren (@ZBoren44) August 1, 2018
My take on #UrbanMeyer issue from a practical standpoint. This is an issue btw Zach and Courtney that will play out in court. If Courtney didn’t report anything directly to Urban, how is he supposed to report on it to the university. Saying “you believe he knew” doesn’t cut it.
— Matt Finkes (@MattFinkes) August 1, 2018
I have no idea what Shelley told Urban and neither does anyone else, but in today’s world, especially on twitter and Facebook, assumptions quickly become “facts”. Everything is being assumed at this point until investigated and sworn testimony is given. https://t.co/aOKIAxfwvE
— Matt Finkes (@MattFinkes) August 2, 2018
Buckeyes alumni weren’t all supportive of Meyer, however.
how do you keep coach meyer out of it? His coach, his players, his team. He’s their leader, no?
— jake stoneburner (@jake_STONEYY) August 1, 2018
It’s crazy how that one quote changed everything. https://t.co/PMB6v7rNgi
— Dustin Fox (@DustinFox37) August 1, 2018
Smith was the longest-tenured member of Meyer’s staff prior to his firing last Monday. Meyer admitted that he knew of domestic violence allegations against Smith from 2009 but claimed what was reported about them was inaccurate. He then said he had no knowledge of any other incidents between Smith and his ex-wife, but some text messages uncovered by Brett McMurphy on Wednesday seem to indicate otherwise.
H/T Eleven Warriors
