Urban Meyer started a group text thread the night before his Big Ten media days appearance. At 10:25 p.m. on July 23, hours after he fired wide receivers coach Zach Smith and hours before he was expected to address hundreds of media members for the first time in months about the upcoming season, he sent an urgent message to a few trusted Ohio State administrators: athletic director Gene Smith, sports information director Jerry Emig, director of football operations Brian Voltolini and director of player development Ryan Stamper.
Earlier that day, college football reporter Brett McMurphy had published a report of two accusations against Smith on his Facebook page: a 2009 arrest for aggravated battery against his pregnant wife Courtney, and a 2015 arrest stemming from an investigation of a domestic violence incident.