Gene Smith is one of the most respected sports administrators in the country. Andy Geiger, that class act hounded out of his job on spurious allegations "loss of control", set the stage for a golden era in Ohio State sports. Under Gene Smith's administration, it has born fruit--not only in football and basketball but across the panoply of Ohio State sports.
Live long enough and you will see the circle of life more clearly. At a time when Ohio State University athletics is enjoying one of it's greatest golden eras, it is not surprising to see the bile that some folks seem so willing to spill. As a boy, I sat in the barber shop on Oakland Park Avenue, listening to the old men talk down Woody Hayes. They all knew better than Woody.They were embarrassed when his teams did not win the Big Ten. They bayed for his job with a great passion, which would be exceeded by their impassioned grief whenhe stood before them with tears in his eyes "after dotting the i" and they remembered what they had done. I never forgot the things that they said and how they argued with my father while I waited for my haircut. How strange it was to hear how they remembered the things they said so long ago, when they told stories about their undying support for Woody and John Cooper "not getting it".
These great "Ohio State fans" spoke with even more passion about the need to fire Fred Taylor, Ohio State's first baseball All-American and coach of a national championship team. As I write, Fred Taylor stares back from a few feet away, as he was when I snapped the picture courtside during an Ohio State game. Looking at the picture reminds me of his incredible generosity but I also see a sadness in his eye and a weariness that I was too young to see as a child.
What might Taylor have achieved if Athletics Director Ed Weaver supported him after his team was attacked and beaten up at Minnesota? What would have been the destiny of the only coach who rivaled the great Adolph Rupp in his day?
How will Buckeye fans remember their behavior today when this golden era comes to its end, as all golden eras must?
For any fan to be embarrassed by Gene Smith's behavior is quite frankly ridiculous. Feeling that Smith's handling of this affair impugns one's self-image suggests a need to think clearly about the distinctions one makes between being a fan, on one hand, and the team, sport administrators, and University, on the other hand. We're talking about college sports here, one needs to keep perspective.
A friendly reminder. We do not allow bashing of Ohio State players, coaches, or sports administrators at BP. It is possible that briefings given to the players did not make the infractions clear. Can they sell a pair of their shoes? If Boom Herron buys a used car with his summer job earnings, can he sell it? Did the person who gave a particular brief just do a bad job on the day?
The point that I make is that there are a few folks riding very high horses on BP. As I read their posts, it seems very clear that none of them have any personal experience of what happened.
Do I personally think that the players must have suspected that what they were doing was wrong? Yes, but that is irrelevant. Do I think that Gene Smith may have been covering for his team by throwing his compliance team under the bus (possibly with their permission, they also are part of the team) and that he might have chosen a poor joke to bring the offense into perspective? Yes, it's possible, but that gives me no basis for questioning his integrity or, more importantly, intent.
But to be embarrassed about his behavior? Think about what you are saying folks, just think about it. Perhaps a few people of like mind are repping you but how will you rep yourself years from now?
If you have objective information that proves Gene Smith lied about the content of the briefings given to players, then by all means bring it forward for us all to see. If not, and you'd like to bash Ohio State players, coaches, or administrators, then I suggest you take the discussion to that other board or ESPiN. This is not the place.
