Urban Meyer responds to former Ohio State player’s troubling allegation

Former Ohio State defensive back Marcus Williamson made some disturbing claims about Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes football program on Saturday, and Meyer felt the need to respond to one of them.

Williamson was one of several scholarship players who did not join Ohio State for their Rose Bowl game against Utah. He then went on a Twitter rant during the game in which he revealed he has retired from playing. Williamson, a fifth-year senior, bashed Ohio State fans and the team’s coaching staff. He also said Meyer once used a photo of Trayvon Martin in a PowerPoint slide that informed Buckeyes players of the team’s “no hoods” policy.

Jeff Snook, an author who has written several books about Ohio State, reached out to Meyer to ask him about Williamson’s claims. Meyer admitted he had a no hats, hoodies or sunglasses rule for team meetings, but he said it is “absolutely false” that he used a photo of Martin.

“Our team rule was no hats or hoodies or sunglasses of any kind but only in team meetings, just so we could see their eyes and make sure they were paying attention and not asleep. We did not, and never would show a picture of Trayvon Martin. My gosh, no,” Meyer said. “That is absolutely false and you can check with any other player on my teams during that time to confirm what I am saying. Other players know what he is saying is false. I would never do that. He is crossing the line here. It seems people are just piling on now. But that never happened.”

Other players who played under Meyer defended the coach.

Meyer was fired by the Jacksonville Jaguars last month following a brief yet disastrous tenure with the team. There have probably been more negative headlines written about him in recent months than in all of his previous coaching years combined. Williamson managed to add to that.

Photo: Joseph Maiorana-USA Today Sports