Former Ohio State assistant coach Zach Smith blasts media

Zach Smith, the former Ohio State football assistant coach whose behavior ended up getting Urban Meyer suspended, blasted college football reporter Brett McMurphy and other media members in a Twitter tirade Wednesday afternoon.

Hey @Brett_McMurphy - Ready to start being a real journalist? Ya know... vetting a story?

Oh... no... you don’t know what I mean. Sorry!https://t.co/1skw7lSDBl
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) August 29, 2018

Silence = over. I tried. But I cant watch 🤡 like @Brett_McMurphy @finebaum & others at @espn continue 2 run their mouths-not only w/o knowledge but w/ complete disregard 4 my children. Their mother had plenty of disregard 4 them in this. Time 4 u all 2 face the damage ur causing
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) August 29, 2018

Hey @Brett_McMurphy @finebaum & EVERYONE @espn - Look at these faces. You heartless and moral-less clowns. Every LIE or dramatic version of the truth you report, you hurt THESE precious children! Just like their mom has and continues to. Do you have families? Kids? pic.twitter.com/9XyIhKrGzx
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) August 29, 2018

Not a shield. A reminder to scum like you that your reckless & complete disregard for human beings hurts innocent children. Sorry you viewed it as a shield-but that further proves your ignorance given to you by a laminated piece of cardboard hung around your neck by a lanyard. https://t.co/OyDR8PX42z
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) August 29, 2018

Hey @Brett_McMurphy - quick few questions... because you’re an OUTSTANDING “journalist”

1. How’d you get that interview with @CoachTomHerman as your first interview at @WatchStadium?

2. How come you didn’t ask him about the alleged strip club incident that you reported about?
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) August 29, 2018

Furthermore... @Brett_McMurphy

3. Did you ask him about the ensuing few days?

4. Have you vetted any credibility in ANY of your reports?

I am waiting for one thing that is accurate beyond a name change or photoshop session. I will see you in court you clown.
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) August 29, 2018

Let’s talk FACTS since so many people (mainly opposing fanbase’s fans) want to talk.

1. My kids are suffering because of all of this (most important)
2. I never beat my wife
3. OSU botched the investigation and worse off the “punishment”
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) August 29, 2018

4. They forced @OSUCoachMeyer into his statement, I hope at least... because he knows what’s real and would have never apologized.
5. President Drake is either the cause of the joke of an “investigation” or “punishment” or he allowed it.
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) August 29, 2018

Let’s talk about who was LEGITIMATELY hurt in this:

1. My children
2. The Buckeye Players
3. Ohio State Staff
4. The fans

Talk about victim shaming! But nobody wants the TRUTH when it comes to stuff like this-Hypocritical people-keep tweeting-you’re hurting innocent people.
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) August 29, 2018

It is very hard to be silent when falsehoods & half-truths are said about you and there is no way to defend yourself. I’ve made mistakes in my life but being a domestic abuser is not one of them! I’ll answer every question in court and under oath when the time comes & cant WAIT!
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) August 29, 2018

Except she involved them by ruining their lives... based on revenge. And NO domestic violence. Can you imagine watching them suffer and not knowing how to stop the media from pouring gas on the fire? I don’t know what else to do other than show people who they are hurting!! https://t.co/pa65LMIMOS
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) August 29, 2018

Smith was fired in late July after McMurphy brought to light accusations he had abused his wife in 2009 and ‘15.

Although charges were dropped in 2009 and never brought in ‘15, Meyer cited “an accumulation of events” for terminating Smith, including a trespassing charge and a restraining order being granted against him.

Ultimately an independent investigation commissioned by Ohio State found that Meyer had appropriately handled the domestic violence accusation but failed to properly manage Smith in light of “a pattern of troubling behavior” including “promiscuous and embarrassing sexual behavior, drug abuse, truancy, dishonesty, financial irresponsibility, a possible NCAA violation, and a lengthy police investigation into allegations of criminal domestic violence and cyber crimes.”

Full Ohio State report on Urban Meyer answers some questions while raising others https://t.co/MFt6ugatl5
— Marcus Hartman (@marcushartman) August 23, 2018

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About the Author

Marcus Hartman

Marcus Hartman has been a digital sports columnist and reporter at Cox's Ohio newspapers the Dayton Daily News, Springfield News-Sun and Journal-News since 2016.