“The university is conducting an investigation into these allegations. During the inquiry, Urban Meyer will be on paid administrative leave. Ryan Day will serve as acting head football coach during the investigation. We are focused on supporting our players and on getting to the truth as expeditiously as possible.” Meyer put out a statement of his own, giving his blessing to the decision, in the hopes that “being on leave during this inquiry will facilitate its completion,” and “allows the team to conduct training camp with minimal distraction. I eagerly look forward to the resolution of this matter.” In the meantime, assuming his Ohio State salary continues uninterrupted, he will continue making $20,822 per day until his contract is terminated or he eventually goes back on the job. As far as sitting out on your job goes, that’s not a bad way to do it, but of course if the investigation finds that Meyer did have prior knowledge of Smith’s actions, a fact which he has denied, his job could be in jeopardy in a more indefinite sense. In the meantime, Ryan Day will handle head coaching duties, while the Buckeyes’ season opener against Oregon State is coming in less than a month, scheduled for September 1st.
