Urban Meyer and Ohio State: Tit, Meet Wringer.

First, there is the Dr. Richard Strauss molestation scandal, a long-running disgrace which was well-known by everyone in the Ohio State University Athletic Dept. (except for Jim Jordan).

Now comes another "situation."  Head football coach Urban Meyer may have known of and tolerated a wife-beating assistant coach on his staff for years.  

Meyer and the late former OSU coach Earle Bruce were close friends.  Zach Smith is Bruce's grandson.  Smith was on Meyer's staff at Florida in 2009 when he was first arrested for domestic battery against then-wife Courtney.  Meyer was aware of this.  Smith had been as assistant on Meyer's OSU staff since 2012, until he was fired on July 23rd.

During his time at OSU, the police were called to the Smith's home nine times for domestic abuse complaints.  After alleging a serious physical attack in 2015, Courtney divorced Zach and eventually obtained a restraining order against him.  Which he violated repeatedly, for which he was arrested in May, which resulted in his July dismissal.

Going back to the 2015 assault, Courtney Smith poured her heart out to Shelley Meyer, Urban's wife, with texts and photos.  Not only did the head coach's wife know all about it, but so did a number of wives of other assistants.

Meyer first said he knew nothing about any of the charges against Smith during his time at OSU, then said he only recently found out about the 2015 incident.  This seems, shall we say, implausible.  (I'm not drawing any conclusions just yet, although Mr./Ms. Anonymous may flog me for leaping to them.)

Meyer has been placed on paid leave by OSU, pending their internal investigation of what he knew and when he knew it.

Is it conceivable that Ohio State could fire one of the most accomplished coaches in the history of college football over this mess?  We shall see, but given that Jim Tressel was canned because some players sold their rings and got some free tattoos, I'd say yes, it's conceivable.