Urban Meyer Got a Slap on the Wrist

Welcome back to the world of college football. Before the season's opening kickoff, the Ohio State University Buckeyes elected to punt on a crucial display of integrity. The university's football coach, Urban Meyer, has been suspended without pay for failing to take appropriate action when allegations of spousal abuse were made against his former assistant coach, Zack Smith. With a perfunctory suspension for head coach Urban Meyer, Ohio State University sent a clear message to the college football world: Nothing will stand in the way of our quest to win another national championship. With a slap on the wrist - a three-game suspension for Meyer - and a pathetic press conference, Ohio State enters the season as 0-2 in the court of public opinion. Coach Meyer's maxim that "leaders create culture" is absolutely right. Unfortunately, the culture of plausible deniability to protect coaches - and the heightened scrutiny to police athletes - continues to shield bad behavior and produce poor results.