Ohio State Football: Buckeyes don’t need Urban Meyer to stay relevant
By John Scimeca
Ohio State football head coach Urban Meyer’s retirement isn’t the end for the storied program. Expect the Buckeyes to steam ahead full-throttle in 2019.
Urban Meyer is retiring. The announcement regarding his future doesn’t come as a huge shock for many college football observers. The Ohio State head coach, age 54, faced heavy scrutiny this season following his mishandling of former assistant Zach Smith’s domestic abuse allegations. In addition, Meyer stepped down as Florida head coach after the 2009 season after citing concerns about stress and his emotional well-being.
Meyer will leave Ohio State after seven seasons at the helm in which he won one national title and three Big Ten championships. The Buckeyes compiled an 82-9 record and defeated archrival Michigan in all seven tries with Meyer as the head man. Meyer’s career coaching mark now stands at 186 wins, 32 losses, and three national championships after runs at Florida, Utah and Bowling Green before coming to Columbus.
Losing a head coach with Meyer’s pedigree is no small blow. The Ohio State program, however, will weather this storm and emerge as strong as ever after its Jan. 1 Rose Bowl date with Washington. Consider these three reasons: