I witness the whole altercation and this didn’t happen.. You think a group of African American young men will sit there and let something like this happen? Say what you want but this isn’t true at all. https://t.co/FrteEDIa9H
— Johnnie L. Dixon III (@YoungKing_JD5) November 13, 2018
There’s no way that anyone would believe this. NO WAY. This lie is just out of hand. I was present during the entire altercation and what’s said in this article NEVER HAPPENED. I can guarantee it. Crazy how social media gives people platforms just to spread nonsense. https://t.co/FRBLucb9WY
— Parris Campbell (@PCampbell21) November 13, 2018
Wow... so you really think a room filled with Black athletes would still be apart of this University if any racial slurs were used to degrade another Black man!! Every one of us Wide Outs we’re right there and saw the whole thing. @Brett_McMurphy you continue to lie everyday! https://t.co/kOFwssniAX
— Austin Mack (@Austin_Mack10) November 13, 2018
Johnnie Dixon, Parris Campbell and Austin Mack are all Ohio State receivers who played for Smith.
Former Buckeye captain Josh Perry also defended Meyer on social media.
Never in my life have I heard ANY @OhioStateFB coach use a racial slur, and there is NO CHANCE Coach Meyer would ever allow that. You're trying to kill Urban's career and I'm not here for it. https://t.co/Suxhzn8Jiv
— Joshua E Perry (@RIP_JEP) November 13, 2018
Y’all should know by now that I would be the first person to call out something even remotely racist. I spend 4 years of my life in that building. No racism. https://t.co/KoKeGQgvoz
— Joshua E Perry (@RIP_JEP) November 13, 2018
So did fellow former linebacker Darron Lee, among others.
Yep. I woulda been right behind him. Along with our entire team. https://t.co/vOpETUPKcI
— Darron Lee (@DLeeMG8) November 13, 2018
Grimes, a 2017 top-100 recruit from Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas who transferred to Florida in January, refused to comment in the story. Zach Smith, who was fired in August after publication of the existence of a domestic protection order obtained by former wife against him, said in the report, "I've never said that word (N-word) in my entire life. I've never been in a fight with a player in my life. Never. That never happened."
Eli Goins, a former Ohio State receiver, said he witnessed an incident between Smith and Grimes in practice but that he did not hear Smith use a racial slur.
According to the article, the incident between Smith and Trevon Grimes is what led him to transfer, contradicting the widely publicized reason: He needed to be closer to his mother, Leah, who had been diagnosed with cancer. That situation was a factor in Grimes' being granted an NCAA waiver allowing him to play right away this fall rather than sit out a year.
Leah Grimes also declined to be interviewed for the story and apparently obtained legal representation as a result of continued efforts by the reporter to reach her.
She also released a statement asking her health to be kept out of the story and indicating neither she nor Trevon have anything to do with his father.
The claim was first reported this week by Brett McMurphy, a former national reporter at ESPN and CBS Sports who now works for startup digital television network Stadium.
Ohio State considering legal action over report school officials covered up alleged racial incident, Meyer says https://t.co/YQU8qzU0zQ
— Marcus Hartman (@marcushartman) November 13, 2018
Ohio State president Dr. Michael Drake and director of athletics Gene Smith issued strongly worded statements defending Meyer and condemning the report.
“The Ohio State University unequivocally and vehemently disputes the unfounded allegations by Brett McMurphy,” Drake said. “Any allegations of racism are outrageous and false. The university told McMurphy that we have found no evidence to support these allegations.
“Reporting in this manner is irresponsible, inflammatory and a severe invasion of privacy of a student athlete and his family as well as a baseless personal attack on Coach Meyer. It is regrettable that McMurphy and his employer would use such poor judgment in running this inaccurate story.”
Gene Smith (no relation to Zach Smith) called the accusations “unequivocally false.”
“Urban Meyer embraces diversity and would absolutely never support an environment of racism,” Smith said. “It simply isn’t tolerated here. And as an African-American, football player and collegiate administrator, I personally can say that our coaches, student-athletes and support staff know there is no place for any such behavior within our programs, at The Ohio State University or anywhere.”
Michigan game looming, Meyer tells Buckeyes to focus on Maryland https://t.co/Zohiy3Cdna
— Marcus Hartman (@marcushartman) November 13, 2018
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