Wilbert Johnson is a U.S. Army veteran who has been working for the U.S. Postal Service for 22 years. He delivers the mail in Miller’s neighborhood, and he couldn’t help but notice the stacks of envelopes with college logos being sent to that brick house.
Coincidentally, Johnson is the father of Trey Johnson, a former four-star linebacker from Lawrenceville (Ga.) Central Gwinnett — who signed with Meyer and Ohio State in the 2013 recruiting class.
Though Trey’s career didn’t pan out — he eventually had to give up football because of injuries — Wilbert still has a love and respect for Meyer and Ohio State. He concedes that when he’d deliver those stacks of letters to the Miller house, he always put the Ohio State letters on top. He wanted those to be seen first.
“Ohio State took care of Trey,” Johnson said, “even after football was no longer an option.”
One day when Johnson was on his route, he saw Kristina in front of her house, so he struck up a conversation about his son and his football experience. The conversations turned into a friendship, one that began before Meyer’s leave of absence. Kristina and Johnson would speak frankly about Ohio State, and Johnson had the perspective of a parent who sent a son to Columbus but didn’t have a heartwarming story for the way his football career turned out.
The Millers saved most of the mail Harry received from colleges who were eager to get his signature on a letter of intent. (Ari Wasserman / The Athletic)
Johnson also had his son’s view on how seriously Meyer takes domestic violence.
“When I asked my son about all the (Meyer news), he said that’s one thing coach Meyer did not tolerate — guys putting their hands on young ladies,” Johnson said. “He didn’t and doesn’t condone that at all. I told my son that doesn’t sound like him, and my son agreed. He also said, ‘coach Meyer has so much on his plate all the time between taking care of all the guys and making sure none of the players get in trouble, then here goes one of the people on his staff has a problem. That’s got to be overwhelming. There’s only so much one man can do and know because it’s a whole lot to be responsible for.’
“I thought that made sense, and none of the stuff they were saying about coach Meyer sounded like the man I knew.”
The man Wilbert Johnson said he knew was a powerful coach who was strong and stern but also deeply caring. After Trey Johnson’s career ended, Ohio State continued to give him access to all the resources he always had, including academic support and tutoring, exposure to people of influence in business and the potential for internships.
Wilbert Johnson is real about the football element — “When it comes down to playing, you better play well,” he said — but also said Meyer was a key figure in Trey Johnson’s professional development. Trey Johnson has an Ohio State degree, lives in Columbus and is in management at Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
“That insight is valuable,” Kristina said......
https://theathletic.com/581278/2018...IZvaw4mTuYX3zOyBfQRLaAd3YydKCZUbmcbCupVvYIstk
players from other Cleveland public school districts playing at Glenville
