Ohio State football: What have we learned from Urban Meyer, Zach Smith fiasco?

The Ohio State football program and its keepers put the entire nation on notice Wednesday night, notice that short of federal indictments, Urban Meyer and company aren’t going anywhere.

Many Ohio State football fans are nauseatingly pleased after learning their beloved coach was only suspended for three games for his part in the cover-up of former assistant coach Zach Smith’s numerous atrocities and breach of public trust.

Many other fans (some Buckeyes included) listened incredulously to the press conference that amounted to poor readings from pre-prepared statements, canned PR answers, and more (sniffing the air)…well, you know.

The Ohio State Board of Trustees cast a spell of protection over their president, athletic director and head coach, who all wielded verbal broadswords and halberds to further their cause. It was like watching a heel wrestling clique join forces in the ring to stave off an assault on one of their own.

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In the end, what did we really learn from all this? What lessons can be taken and applied from this steady diet of milquetoast justice?

We learned that, as a player, it’s much worse to sell your autographs or game memorabilia than it is for a head coach to harbor a known abuser.

We learned that, as a coach, it’s much worse to allegedly allow your players to receive some improper benefits (you know, like, tattoos?) than it is for a head coach to repeatedly mislead the public about his knowledge of domestic abuse within his own staff.

We learned that a moral compass apparently only costs around $430,000 (the approximate amount of money Urban Meyer will lose as a result of his suspension).

We learned that a .912 winning percentage bears more weight than the potential safety of eight and six-year-old children.

We learned that victim-blaming is still a thing, as much as we’d all like to see it go away.

We learned that the words “treat women with respect” so boldly painted on the wall at Ohio State’s football facility should have an asterisk next to it.

We learned that wins matter more than character, and trophies matter more than ethics.

We further solidified our learning that money is the ultimate game-changer in college football, and if you are responsible for bringing in enough of it for your program then practically anything can be forgiven.

Unless you’re a student-athlete.

Thanks for the lessons, Ohio State.