Current Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has gotten defensive about the subject of Aaron Hernandez who he coached at the University of Florida.
Meyer has stated “relating or blaming these serious charges to the University of Florida, myself or our staff is wrong and irresponsible.” The question is why not point a finger at him? He’s the leader of the team and during his time with the Gators from 2005-2010 there were 31 arrests of players. In some situations the offenses were minor and others that weren’t.
For the most part either the charges got dropped or plead out to a lesser charge. Ensuring that the cases never went through the court system.
While that’s great for the players not having a criminal record it showcased the lackadaisical approach of Meyer when it came to discipline. Examples such as:
During the 2010 college football season running back Chris Rainey sent a text message threatening the life of his girlfriend, which resulted in him being dismissed from the team. A month later and after losing consecutive games Meyer reinstated Rainey.
- In 2007 Hernandez apparently punched a waiter causing a burst eardrum. Meyer knew of the incident as Tim Tebow witnessed what happened. There was no punishment handed out even though police recommendations were to charge him with felonious battery.
- Hernandez did have a one game suspension while at Florida this was for allegedly failing a drug test (marijuana).
- Jamar Hornsby charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief in 2007 and in 2008 charged with misdemeanor credit card theft and fraudulent use of a credit card a third-degree felony. He got caught using credit cards of a young woman who died in a motorcycle accident.
- Dorian Munroe charged with a third-degree felony for stealing a boot
- Ronnie Wilson punched and spit on a victim outside a night club and fired an AK-47 that he grabbed out of his trunk into the air. After he completed community service Meyer let him back on the team as a walk-on the following year.
- Cam Newton bought a stolen laptop and when police went to search his room he threw it out a window. He wound up leaving the school and transferring to Auburn.
- Carlos Dunlap charged with a DUI did get suspended for one game the SEC title game in 2009
- Janoris Jenkins arrested for marijuana possession though after Meyer was gone add two more arrests for possession and he then got kicked off the team by Will Muschamp who took over as head coach in 2011 when Meyer stepped down. Jenkins had this to say ““If Coach Meyer were still coaching, I’d still be playing for the Gators. Coach Meyer knows what it takes to win.”
- There’s also an in-game incident that showcased Meyer’s refusal to discipline his players and that came when Brandon Spikes attempted to eye gouge Georgia running back Washaun Ealey. The punishment handed out a half-game suspension against Vanderbilt, fortunately the media made an issue of it and Spikes asked to sit for a full game, which still was a slap on the wrist.
It’s blatantly obvious that the school administration cared more about winning National Championships. Meyer gives coaches a bad name and illustrates everything that is wrong with the win at all costs mentality as he sacrificed integrity and discipline for wins. He continues to showcase why he’s a terrible leader by not accepting responsibility for his actions while at Florida. What’s even more ironic he took over at Ohio State after Jim Tressel got forced to resign after rule violations got uncovered.
Just a matter of time before the arrests start to begin and if the Buckeyes administration was smart should fire him now and not wait until later.