Wednesday, August 01, 2018

Two BC people probably need to address the Zach Smith situation

If you haven't been following the Zach Smith story, here is the short version. Ohio State fired Zach Smith after his history of domestic violence incidents became public. Urban Meyer publicly claimed he was not aware of a 2015 issue. That claim is now being challenged and Ohio State has put Meyer on leave. Former BC Assistant Ryan Day is the Interim Head Coach. While this is a Ohio State issue, because of the old boys network running college sports, this story does touch BC in two obvious ways.

First, Zach Smith worked for Addazio at Temple during the 2011 season. This was after Smith's 2009 arrest in Florida for beating his then pregnant wife. It would be nearly impossible in a town like Gainesville and with the type of organization that Meyer's runs, that this arrest was not known among all the football staff. I don't know what sort of relationship Addazio had with Smith then. I don't know what the Temple policy was on domestic violence nor background checks. I don't know what either Mr. or Mrs. Smith told Addazio about the abuse. The only thing we do know is that Addazio hired him after an arrest. My suggestion is that Addazio prepare a factual statement about the hire, his sympathy for the victim, how he has learned from it and how that experience has shaped his and BC's policy now.

Martin Jarmond never hired Zach Smith, but he was a key leader in the department that oversaw football at Ohio State. Jarmond may be technically off the hook since he never would have been in direct position either as an AD or Head Coach to fire any of Meyer's staffers. But having seen firsthand how sweeping something under the rug hurts the victim and all those who are impacted by the coverup, should lead to Jarmond establishing a clear policy on domestic abuse issues and prior criminal arrests. He should also prepare a factual statement on the issue and how it will influence BC's actions going forward.

I would like to think BC does thorough background checks on all employees. I know of past athletic staffers with DUIs who still got hired, but I have never heard of any issues related to violence that were pushed through. I suggest a strict policy -- managed by HR -- be established. Ignoring these sorts of things are never worth it and don't help the victims. We rarely take a leadership position in College Sports. Why not be the first to take a stand on something like this?

Based on current information, I don't think anything Addazio or Jarmond did related to Smith would put their BC positions in jeopardy. However, that doesn't mean they shouldn't clarify their roles and explain how that will never happen at BC.

16 comments:

MrMasterSkam said...

Do you know of any past coaches that had a history of infidelity?

mod34b said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Knucklehead said...

All bullshit from a mind perpetually under a dark cloud.

Only an asshole would put a statement out distancing himself from something he doesn't have anything to do with, right now.

However, if you want to know how it is done ask Alex Guerrero.

NEDofSavinHill said...

Guilt by association. An arrest is not a conviction. What about the Duke lacrosse case? If someone admits their guilt or it is proven in Court then action is required. If in 2009 the case was dismissed no penalty should be imposed. So no explanation is required of Daz and MJ.

BCAlum2000 said...

I dont think this spills over to BC by any means, though it doesnt look good on Adazio. That said, I think Meyer is done. Why he protected this guy I dont know. Supposedly everyone knew he was beating his wife for years. The first time one of his assistants talked her out of pressing charges saying it would ruin his career. Meyer's wife knew every detail and was trying to help her. I find it impossible to believe she never mentioned anything to her husband about it. Why then flat out lie about when asked? Just stupid.

ATL_eagle said...

Thry will be asked. They should be ready to answer in an intelligent factual way.

Knucklehead said...

He is a douche as I have said before and his wife is an idiot.

All Addazio has to say is "I don't comment on circumstances at other Universities." Done. The media deserves nothing.

mod34b said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
CvegasEagle said...

Northwestern's new football facilities.....

https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/1024793610246651909

compare that to ours...

Knucklehead said...

Mod is your name Gideon? You love the crybaby aspect to this situation. Cannot wait until Dazzler OSU and BC trade coaches after this season. For you, the impaired that means we will have Ryan Day as head coach next season

JBQ said...

The question of "do you still beat your wife" is applicable here. Meyer will pay the price for looking the other way. This guy was the grandson of Earle Bruce. He was entitled. Urban bought into his own resume' and was "a legend in his own mind". From what I have read, he will be hit with a suspension and rise again.---The Dazzler and "Mighty Mouse" have no connection and no responsibility. Eventually, the college football empire will implode. So far, Mark Emmert has been very clever even with the whistle blower at North Carolina, Mary Willingham. That should have been enough to send someone to jail. A major in Swahili for those who could only speak Ebonics.---The problem at BC is mediocrity. This is year six of five plus three at 2.5 mill per. This is all about 7-6. I just don't get it. --- John Fish was chair of the board. He ran Suffolk Construction which is in Forbes top 200. He has a brother in Phoenix or so with the same resume'. He just looked the other way. Why? ---I thought that it was "Ever to Excel". Maybe, it will take an incident like Cocoanut Grove in 1942 to set the Eagles back on track.---Everyone knows the game plan. Give it to Dillon and keep it close with your defense. It didn't work at Temple and it hasn't worked here.---It is all about @Wake, @Purdue, Temple early. UMass and HC are gimmes. He has the honeymoon but "the torches are ready" to go.

BCEagles2014 said...

I think JBQ is trolling at this point. Hit on 2/3 of his favorite stories in one post (John Fish and Coconut Grove). All he missed out on was the Brad Bates dentist office story to get the trifecta.

Knucklehead said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Knucklehead said...

Yeah. Do you want a peak into the future of an 80 year old Mod when he has lost the rest of his faculties? Read JBQ.

Geezer eagle said...

Lol. Now that's funny,Knuck.

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