Eleven Warriors

Sounds like a bitter player to me and a writer who says "mutiple" sources but doesn't name any other than Thomas.  Interesting article but no problems with the NCAA and that's ALL I care about.

eh, im not even that bothered if some of this stuff is true.  gotta get some things tightened up, but this seems to be somewhat common stuff to me. 

Is SN jealous that Yahoo breaks all the stories?

I don't think that it is a secret that Urban was not happy with the direction of the Florida program going when he left. I think that the "character issues" on the UF roster were a factor in Urban's decision to leave. So I don't know how much credence to give to the report, but even if there are grains of truth I don't think that will be a trend we see continued at tOSU. 

The evidence has already been seen, in that Urban has been very selective in the type of player he wants. Any hints of character issues have been dealt with swiftly. For example Devante Neal was all but a lock and because Urban didn't like what he saw for whatever reason he rescinded Neal's offer. The Foster news from last weekend is another example that Urban is looking to build a program the right way. While I think the Foster situation has been over hyped, and is an example where a kid was just a tad immature. The staff clearly wasn't impressed and they obviously have cooled a bit on their recruitment of Foster, that said I do think that Foster will have time to rebuild the relationship. 

In the end Urban is trying to do things differently than he did at Florida, and I think it will show on and off the field. 

I don't take too much from this article.  It appears that Matt Hayes is based in Orlando from what i've been able to find out about his background.  Sounds like a jilted Gator fan who wants to air his dirty laundry by taking advantage of his position with the Sporting News.  Time will tell if this is the right decision by the powers that be at tOSU, but I think UFM may have learned a few things from his time at Florida and may change things around this time due his past experiences.  I also wouldn't quote anything that came out of Biff Bielema's mouth as well.

My position is this:

Have there been issues with multiple arrests and/or drug use under UM here? No.

Has any player attacked a coach (which someone attacking Vrabel/Fickell/Drayton/etc is comical) here? No.

Have any players been forced out of the program here instead of leaving on their own terms? No.

Are there any players here who are repeatedly dirty for drug tests? No.

Did Urban possibly lose some control of the team when Asst. Coaches were moving laterally, left and right? Yes.

Is UFM a relatively young HC in terms of "coaching cycle," and might have had to learn as he went as well (discipline and/or keeping up with replacing coaches)? Yes.

--

If the above becomes a recurring problem here, then I will care. Until then, it's white noise.

I'm taking a 5 year approach with Meyer.  I knew about most of this stuff already before reading this article.  It's likely somewhat true.  If he has learned from his mistakes then there won't be problems like that here.  If he hasn't, then there will be problems within the next 5 years. 

I haven't jumped on board with Meyer being the greatest thing ever at OSU, but I'm ready to give him a clean slate and a restart.  He had a lot of character issues at UF, and said he doesn't want that at OSU.  The recruits we've passed on has seemingly been a step in the right direction, but who knows.

Aside from unnamed sources, the claims in the article are supported by one disgruntled former player, Bryan Thomas; an incident in which Harvin supposedly went after Coach Gonzalez, which Gonzalez says has been overblown; and SN listing the arrest and drug violation reports (which were already very well trodden). The remainder of the article is all fluff - possibly true, but weakly-sourced material from an unreliable media purveyor. 

We also do not know if Meyer attempted to take a more aggressive disciplinary approach at Florida, but had his hands tied by the administration - Meyer dropped a few hints to that effect.

I don't know. Some of these allegations might be true. But I do know that the SN story, as constructed (or fabricated) is very weak tea. They can make all the excuses they want about current/former players being afraid of going on the record - as written, their article is mostly garbage. So, if they want to "play results" and hold Meyer singularly accountable for Florida's results in 2010 and 2011 (under Mauschamp) - i.e., "scoreboard!" - well, scoreboard says that this piece of journalism had a batting average of about 3 (supported claims) for 32 (allegations). Well below the Mendoza line.

I think that even if some of this is true I think Urban will use his experience at Fl and his year away to correct some of his mistakes with the bucks.  I'm not possitive but I thought one of the first things that was mentioned when he got here is his policy on drugs and how marijuana would not be tolerated.  I think he is aware that in college that stuff happens but realized at FL that it was a major problem and that here he wouldnt let it become a problem here.  The other good sign is that He seems dedicated to making sure he gets the right recruits now.  Not just superstar players but superstars with the right mental make-up.  The recruitment of Neal and Rumors of Rob Foster atest to that.  

The only thing that only slightly worries me from that article is playing favorites.  I think he loves all his players but it has been mentioned even in this years recruiting class that he raves about some of his recruits and at times forgets the names of Fickells recruits.  And I know he wants to foster competition with his winners/losers but i hope he is careful and does not alienate part of this team and create animosity.

That being said that article is garbage.  Another writer selling rumours as facts while quoting "anonymous sources".  The one source he did quote directly, was obviously a player who did not pan out and is a little bitter about it.  He admitted that he had a bad knee and it wasn't working out and when he wanted to stay and get his degree from FL they let him and when he recovered he went and played at a small school.  Im sure it sucks in his eyes that he did not become a pro football player but not everyone can make it.  

Besided any writer who can mention medical hardships and roster managment and not even mention Nick Saban or oversigning has no credibility in my book.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N5p8IXzNdc

Well how did he handle things at Utah? I didn't hear a lot of liar accusations from their fanbase when he left.  I don't recall a ton of arrests there or at BG either.  I don't recall problems of other sorts either. Whereas you look at a guy like Calipari who is constantly being called a scumbag and he had 2 Final fours vacated at his last two schools.  I've always heard that staying on top is much harder than getting there in the first place.  After the second title was also the first time Urban really had to deal with his staff getting snatched up and starting over from scratch when he likely didn't have the drive to do that again there due to burnout and other issues.  We will see what kind of guy he is in 5 years.  Either way he hasn't forced out guys like Cris Carter, who was 390 last year and doesn't at all fit our system of play anymore.  Or recruits like Cardale Jones who don't necessarily fit his ideal either. 

Seriously my whole world just went bizarro http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Arend

One of my fears is that all this negativity that seems to be pouring from the media regarding anything OSU will somehow wear Urban down in time. It would be hard for anyone to be positive and enjoy what they do when you are consistantly pounded into the ground at every turn.

Damned if you do damned if you don't.

Guess that's a named source for information. Hope many more come forward.

honestly, that was one of the least balanced pieces of "journalism" ive ever read. i spent all afternoon countering trolls on yahoo and sporting news, because as much as i try not to, i cant help myself from defending the ohio state. honestly, if all of that article is true, it is disheartening. that said, id put about 90% of that information as coming from someone who thought they were better than they were, and got mad at urban for him not playing. guys just too scared to confront urban face to face. until i start seeing real disciplinary issues, i will reserve judgement. 

also, this is a random sidenote. ive found that a good way to shut people up about the "urban liar" nonsense is to ask them if theyve ever quit a job that they didnt like. because 9 times out of 10, theyre a. a 14 year old whose never worked a real job, or b. a 14 year old trapped in a 50 year old's body who got bored of a job and quit.

The bias in that piece is overwhelming. The one example that really jumped at me was that when players left under Urban, it was all a part of his diabolical roster management schemes-- when players left under Muschamp, they weren't buying into his holy philosophies and therefore, they surely, did not deserve to play at Florida. You get what I'm saying....

Where's Chris Berman? CMON MAN!

@Brutus I think you nailed all of my thoughts about this.

Love this especially:

I thought that about him at Florida, so I'm not going to just assume all that has changed.

Some of our fans either have no memory past last year or didn't mean anything they've said or thought in the past. I certainly don't forget our fans thinking Urban was a scumbag and a snake.

Most Buckeye fans had some choice words in regards to Urban after the UF/OSU NC game, but those words didn't apply to him in general. If you were to evaluate him straight up, without being prejudiced with a preconception of "scumbag and a snake", the most important stat would be 2 National Championships in 6 years. 

sporting news  huh yeah they want me  to suscribe  at  80%  off

The article is nothing more than horse shit from a still jilted UF fan with an axe to grind. How much is true or not true wasn't what struck me as much as how completely slanted this thing is...The article reeks of Angry Gator. As a tOSU fan living in FL, I thought this crap was over with & that all the anti Meyer sentiment would die down. Seems to me like this article is setting Meyer up so that if he has success - he cheated & if he doesn't have success - well it's because he's a no good loser. In some peoples minds, the guy will always be wrong no matter what.

Meyer did have Chris Rainey sending his girlfriend a text message saying he was going to kill her.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5570905 

Meyer had like 30 arrests on his watch @ Florida in 6 years. How many did Tressel have @ OSU?

I dont' need Urban to be a saint or a likeable guy, any more than I needed Tressel to be a stand up guy.  These guys are paid very well to do one thing, win football games.  Tressel did a lot of good, I never bought that he was as squeaky clean as many wanted to believe and that's ok. There has always been smoke around his programs, it was only a matter of time til there was fire.  Don't get me wrong along the way a lot of games were won and he was able to do good with his position.

Do I think it'll be the same with Urban?  Probably not, but I have no doubt that he does a lot of good for the communities he's in as well.  Whether it's insincere or mission drive I don't really care, his dollars will spend the same either way. 

Maybe I'm foolish for thinking it, but I want a coach to win ball games and dominate.  He doesn't have to be a guy I want as a friend or neighbor.

Thanks Bass. 

one source reportedly, "laid on the floor and kicked his feet in the air screaming, 'not fair, not fair'", followed by a request for his pacifier.  SOLID reporting...

WARNING: Long winded post ahead. My dad was involved at BGSU in admin and also teaching. I will say that my dad is one of the most principled men I know. He knew the vast majority of the coaches on a first name basis, and would go to practices on occasion, and games all the time. He was (still is) a big men's and women's basketball, football, and hockey fan. Although he had been retired for a couple of years before Urban was hired, he still was very involved with the Falcon Club and the university. He thinks highly of Urban as a person and as a coach.  If he saw this article, he would laugh. BG did not hire Urban becasue he was a sweet guy who would become a beloved father figure to his players. Heh. He was then, as now, a very intense, detail oriented, my way or the highway kind of coach who could recruit the pants off anyone. Twenty guys left the football team the first year Urban was head coach. Believe me, it wasn't because he had a line of guys who had always dreamed of playing for the Falcons waiting at the door. Far from it. He turned that team around from a team that was circling the drain to a winner. To get there, the players had to buy into his program. Now has he been muddied a bit by his time with Florida and the SEC? No doubt. To compete successfully in the SEC, there has to be some soul selling and muddying of priorities. The question is, how much, and at what point do you say enough? I have to believe that was part of his reason to quit at Florida- the loss of trusted assistant coaches who had been with him since OSU and BG, burnout, soul selling, stress and physical manifestations of the stress must have been pretty crushing after a while. So Urban, good luck, God bless, and Go Bucks.

The guy hit the nail on the head to the point that if Urban was still coaching in Florida the article wouldn't have been written. Too bad it doesn't matter much as far as facts go now as the article accomplished what was intended. If you read the comments below the article there was one fan that wanted to continue in that Matt Hayes direction in order to feel vindicated for Meyer leaving and having Muschamp as their coach.