Urban Meyer, the former head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, has spoken out against the NCAA’s response to the Michigan football program’s involvement in a sign-stealing scandal. In a recent episode of his podcast, ‘The Triple Option,’ Meyer compared the NCAA’s decision to penalize Michigan to the 2011 sanctions that Ohio State faced for a similar but different violation. He expressed frustration that Michigan’s head coach, Sherrone Moore, faced additional suspensions, with one added to his existing two-game ban, despite the broader consequences affecting the program as a whole.
Meyer highlighted the impact of the 2011 sanctions on Ohio State’s senior class, who were denied the chance to compete in a national championship after allegations of improper benefits involving players. At the time, the NCAA imposed a one-year bowl ban, which caused significant disruption to the team’s season. In reflecting on that experience, Meyer described the moment as one of the ‘most difficult things I have ever done,’ emphasizing the emotional and strategic challenges it presented to the team and its coach.
While Meyer admitted that the NCAA’s choice to protect players who weren’t involved in the sign-stealing scheme was appropriate, he suggested that the organization’s enforcement mechanism has been weakened. ‘The recent NCAA ruling to not punish players that weren’t involved is correct,’ he noted. ‘However, this ruling also proves that the NCAA as an enforcement arm no longer exists,’ adding a critical tone to his remarks about the current state of the organization.
Other individuals associated with the Michigan program, including former head coach Jim Harbaugh, staffer Connor Stalions, and assistant coach Denard Robinson, also faced penalties for their roles in the scandal. The NCAA’s penalties, which include hefty fines and suspensions, have been detailed in recent reports, underscoring the severity of the situation and the organization’s determination to address such violations. This incident raises broader questions about the NCAA’s ability to enforce its rules consistently and effectively, an issue that continues to draw attention from coaches and fans alike.