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Ohio Football Topic
Topic: Smith has been fired
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Doc Bobcat
12/19/2025 8:21 AM
Mike Coleman wrote:expand_more
Could this come down to a court determining if OU's employment clauses and its enforcement of them were sufficiently well-crafted to sustain scrutiny with regard to vagueness and/or adhesion to current pubic standards? I suppose case law could also figure in.

Additional reading:

https://law.usnews.com/law-firms/advice/articles/what-is-...

https://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?...

Agree that the 41-year-old would not seem to be a problem, so is this a factual dispute about what Smith said about what someone may have observed at the OU Inn?
From what I've been told the incidents referred to in the prez's letter are just the tip of the iceberg. If this goes to court, or if there is a settlement, the facts will come out and this will get even more messy. As others with more legal training then I have said, under Ohio FOI law there is no way that the university can keep this all under wraps. The university appears to have been trying a "modified, limited hangout." If they had remembered their watergate history they would have known that often doesn't work out too well.
Since you seem to be in the know, and you don't have to get specific, but is everything that has been reported so far everything that you've been told? Checking off boxes essentially? I'm only asking because in small towns like Athens, rumors spread like wildfire and it's hard to tell what's true and what isn't. I'd be curious to know if what you've heard is dead on with what has been reported so far (from either OU or Smith's attorney).
So far everything I've heard over the last few months from reliable sources has been consistent with what's been released so far, but why the University is allowing it to all drip out so slowly is beyond me. Another poster used the analogy of "ripping off the bandaid." I think that's appropriate -- endure a little intense pain and have it over with; rather than having continuing pain over, weeks, months, or even years. In fairness, in my reflective moments, I think the university is trying to tell Smith that he should go away quietly by not revealing everything at once, but he doesn't seem to be getting the hint.
To be honest I hope Smith and his attorney pursue a lawsuit. He was cited for alcohol use on university property yet Gonzalez' husband provided in on at least one occasion. And as far as I know a sexual relationship with anyone of legal age is not a crime. Instead of maybe hundreds or even thousands of people being aware of this "horrible" behavior now the entire USA and worldwide will see the dysfunctionality that exists at our alma mater. So, we may as well terminate any of the assistant coaches who also drank alcohol on University property with Smith.
An enterprising reporter might submit an FOIA request for the personnel files of the other staff members to see if they were also reprimanded for Bourbongate.
Bourbongate…..gallows humor but you have to something to make you laugh during this mess.

I hate it for everyone involved and just wish it was over.
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spongeBOB CATpants
12/19/2025 8:35 AM
Mike Coleman wrote:expand_more
Could this come down to a court determining if OU's employment clauses and its enforcement of them were sufficiently well-crafted to sustain scrutiny with regard to vagueness and/or adhesion to current pubic standards? I suppose case law could also figure in.

Additional reading:

https://law.usnews.com/law-firms/advice/articles/what-is-...

https://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?...

Agree that the 41-year-old would not seem to be a problem, so is this a factual dispute about what Smith said about what someone may have observed at the OU Inn?
From what I've been told the incidents referred to in the prez's letter are just the tip of the iceberg. If this goes to court, or if there is a settlement, the facts will come out and this will get even more messy. As others with more legal training then I have said, under Ohio FOI law there is no way that the university can keep this all under wraps. The university appears to have been trying a "modified, limited hangout." If they had remembered their watergate history they would have known that often doesn't work out too well.
Since you seem to be in the know, and you don't have to get specific, but is everything that has been reported so far everything that you've been told? Checking off boxes essentially? I'm only asking because in small towns like Athens, rumors spread like wildfire and it's hard to tell what's true and what isn't. I'd be curious to know if what you've heard is dead on with what has been reported so far (from either OU or Smith's attorney).
So far everything I've heard over the last few months from reliable sources has been consistent with what's been released so far, but why the University is allowing it to all drip out so slowly is beyond me. Another poster used the analogy of "ripping off the bandaid." I think that's appropriate -- endure a little intense pain and have it over with; rather than having continuing pain over, weeks, months, or even years. In fairness, in my reflective moments, I think the university is trying to tell Smith that he should go away quietly by not revealing everything at once, but he doesn't seem to be getting the hint.
To be honest I hope Smith and his attorney pursue a lawsuit. He was cited for alcohol use on university property yet Gonzalez' husband provided in on at least one occasion. And as far as I know a sexual relationship with anyone of legal age is not a crime. Instead of maybe hundreds or even thousands of people being aware of this "horrible" behavior now the entire USA and worldwide will see the dysfunctionality that exists at our alma mater. So, we may as well terminate any of the assistant coaches who also drank alcohol on University property with Smith.
An enterprising reporter might submit an FOIA request for the personnel files of the other staff members to see if they were also reprimanded for Bourbongate.
Yupp, I would've requested the files for everybody at once.
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
12/19/2025 8:45 AM
SBH wrote:expand_more
Disappointed in all parties here. It's becoming increasingly difficult to be a college sports fan.

Disappointed, too, that no one has linked to the classic Seinfeld scene where George Costanza is confronted by his boss for having sex with the cleaning lady, on his desk. "Was that wrong? Should I not have done that? 'cause, I gotta tell you, if there were any mention of that rule in the employee manual..." This was my immediate thought when I heard the affair was with an undergrad.

Stupid on Smith's part. Poor decision making by the student. But a really bad look for the administration. Did anyone ever sit down with Smith and urge him to clean up his behavior...people are talking, etc.? If this goes to court, it's going to be highly embarrassing.
Both letters reference a conversation between the AD and Smith; in the University's letter that say that Smith acknowledged an affair with a student at the OU Inn, while in the letter from Smith's attorney they reference the conversation and imply that Smith admitted to being seen with a 41 year old woman in that conversation.

My guess is that was the conversation you're asking about. That that conversation is referenced by both parties also calls into question the assertion from Smith's lawyer that he was completely unaware of the grounds here. At least some conversation was had about Smith's behavior. How direct the AD was is unclear, obviously. But something was discussed.
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Mike Coleman
12/19/2025 10:12 AM
Smith was fired for the Ick.

But he will make plenty of money for it.
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
12/19/2025 10:46 AM
Mike Coleman wrote:expand_more
Smith was fired for the Ick.

But he will make plenty of money for it.
Yep, I think this is probably how it plays out. Seems like a lot of people were unhappy with how he handled himself around town and the choices he made in his private life.

But barring evidence that 1) He was actually drunk in a manner that was out of line at events where he was representing the university, and/or 2) evidence that his affairs crossed over into University business (like, for instance, if she travelled with the team or university funds were used to book hotel rooms or whatever) there'll likely be a settlement.
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BryanHall
12/19/2025 10:51 AM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
Disappointed in all parties here. It's becoming increasingly difficult to be a college sports fan.

Disappointed, too, that no one has linked to the classic Seinfeld scene where George Costanza is confronted by his boss for having sex with the cleaning lady, on his desk. "Was that wrong? Should I not have done that? 'cause, I gotta tell you, if there were any mention of that rule in the employee manual..." This was my immediate thought when I heard the affair was with an undergrad.

Stupid on Smith's part. Poor decision making by the student. But a really bad look for the administration. Did anyone ever sit down with Smith and urge him to clean up his behavior...people are talking, etc.? If this goes to court, it's going to be highly embarrassing.
Both letters reference a conversation between the AD and Smith; in the University's letter that say that Smith acknowledged an affair with a student at the OU Inn, while in the letter from Smith's attorney they reference the conversation and imply that Smith admitted to being seen with a 41 year old woman in that conversation.

My guess is that was the conversation you're asking about. That that conversation is referenced by both parties also calls into question the assertion from Smith's lawyer that he was completely unaware of the grounds here. At least some conversation was had about Smith's behavior. How direct the AD was is unclear, obviously. But something was discussed.
If he really was with a 41-year-old woman there, what would the conversation be that would have communicated to him that his job was in jeopardy?

I feel like the two issues that are important are:

Was the relationship with the student part of a pattern of behavior?

Was he intoxicated during school events?
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
12/19/2025 11:01 AM
BryanHall wrote:expand_more
If he really was with a 41-year-old woman there, what would the conversation be that would have communicated to him that his job was in jeopardy? [/QUOTE]Smith and the AD clearly have different stories about this conversation. It's clear from the President's letter that the AD came away from it believing that Smith had acknowledged an extra-marital affair with a student at the OU Inn.

Smith's lawyer suggests that all Smith acknowledged occurring at the OU Inn was his running into a player's parents with a 41 year old woman.

I have a feeling that this all began with those parents saying something about what they saw at the OU Inn. Just a hunch though.



Was the relationship with the student part of a pattern of behavior?
I'm not convinced this matter if the University doesn't have a policy against it. If there's no policy, he can date nothing but students if he wants to. Would I do that? No. But his life's his life.

[QUOTE=BryanHall]
Was he intoxicated during school events?
Definitely relevant.
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Alaska Cat
12/19/2025 1:23 PM
https://nypost.com/2025/12/19/sports/fired-ohio-coach-ins... /
A good read

Who is right, who is wrong?

The school decided to fire him.
He might sue & challenge, he might not.
However, next week the team plays UNLV in the Frisco Bowl. lead by Coach John Hauser.

Let's get behind Coach Hauser for this game.
The school has had a long time already since dismissing Brian Smith.
Either Hauser will be named as Coach after this game or I am sure (@ least hope) the athletic director & school have already decided on the next Coach in Athens. It has to be before the upcoming portal for student athletes to transfer. Let's hope!
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Brian Smith (No, not that one)
12/19/2025 2:55 PM
Ohio needs to settle as fast as it can unless it has more on him than whst has been reported.

What a debacle.
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OhioCatFan
12/19/2025 3:37 PM
No new information here, but the best summary I've seen of the Smith firing scenario. This from the WaPo:

https://tinyurl.com/4de92fsc

Note: Though this is behind a paywall, with a little fiddling you can reat this one article free, but you have to give them your email address.
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berniebobcat
12/19/2025 7:02 PM
It appears Coach Smith has not lost his touch as a recruiter. His attorney is at least a four star performer. https://cooperelliott.com/our-attorneys/rex-h-elliott /
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L.C.
12/19/2025 7:07 PM
Brian Smith (No, not that one) wrote:expand_more
Ohio needs to settle as fast as it can unless it has more on him than whst has been reported.

What a debacle.

I agree, but I'm not sure what to make of it. As you point out, either the University was crazy in how they handled this, and they should settle immediately, or there is significantly more that hasn't been reported.

One other detail makes me suspect that may be more out there. Smith's attorney made the statement that "...it is likely that he can never come back from this, and his career may well be over." If all that is alleged is that he dated a student, and that he dated a 41 year old woman, and that he drank some bourbon, that should have no impact on his ability to get coaching jobs. Just as it would be crazy to fire him for those reasons, I can't imagine it preventing him from getting another job.

I still think the best thing we can do is be patient. This seems likely be get ugly, and the only winners will be the attorneys, unless sanity prevails and they reach some sort of settlement. In the meantime, I'm going to try not to leap to conclusions, and wait to see what additional facts come out.
Last Edited: 12/19/2025 9:02:45 PM by L.C.
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SBH
12/19/2025 7:33 PM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
If he really was with a 41-year-old woman there, what would the conversation be that would have communicated to him that his job was in jeopardy?
Smith and the AD clearly have different stories about this conversation. It's clear from the President's letter that the AD came away from it believing that Smith had acknowledged an extra-marital affair with a student at the OU Inn.

Smith's lawyer suggests that all Smith acknowledged occurring at the OU Inn was his running into a player's parents with a 41 year old woman.

I have a feeling that this all began with those parents saying something about what they saw at the OU Inn. Just a hunch though.



Was the relationship with the student part of a pattern of behavior?
I'm not convinced this matter if the University doesn't have a policy against it. If there's no policy, he can date nothing but students if he wants to. Would I do that? No. But his life's his life.

Was he intoxicated during school events?
Definitely relevant.
I've seen him drink in a social setting. He really likes his cocktails.
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Doc Bobcat
12/19/2025 7:39 PM
SBH wrote:expand_more
If he really was with a 41-year-old woman there, what would the conversation be that would have communicated to him that his job was in jeopardy?
Smith and the AD clearly have different stories about this conversation. It's clear from the President's letter that the AD came away from it believing that Smith had acknowledged an extra-marital affair with a student at the OU Inn.

Smith's lawyer suggests that all Smith acknowledged occurring at the OU Inn was his running into a player's parents with a 41 year old woman.

I have a feeling that this all began with those parents saying something about what they saw at the OU Inn. Just a hunch though.



Was the relationship with the student part of a pattern of behavior?
I'm not convinced this matter if the University doesn't have a policy against it. If there's no policy, he can date nothing but students if he wants to. Would I do that? No. But his life's his life.

Was he intoxicated during school events?
Definitely relevant.
I've seen him drink in a social setting. He really likes his cocktails.
I wonder if he was ever reprimanded for drinking or offered help if they thought he had an alcohol problem?
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BryanHall
12/19/2025 8:37 PM
Doc Bobcat wrote:expand_more
If he really was with a 41-year-old woman there, what would the conversation be that would have communicated to him that his job was in jeopardy?
Smith and the AD clearly have different stories about this conversation. It's clear from the President's letter that the AD came away from it believing that Smith had acknowledged an extra-marital affair with a student at the OU Inn.

Smith's lawyer suggests that all Smith acknowledged occurring at the OU Inn was his running into a player's parents with a 41 year old woman.

I have a feeling that this all began with those parents saying something about what they saw at the OU Inn. Just a hunch though.



Was the relationship with the student part of a pattern of behavior?
I'm not convinced this matter if the University doesn't have a policy against it. If there's no policy, he can date nothing but students if he wants to. Would I do that? No. But his life's his life.

Was he intoxicated during school events?
Definitely relevant.
I've seen him drink in a social setting. He really likes his cocktails.
I wonder if he was ever reprimanded for drinking or offered help if they thought he had an alcohol problem?
If that was suspected why would he be given bourbon as gift.
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ExCat21
12/19/2025 9:38 PM
Well done gentleman. Well done. You guys are good. Too bad you might not ever get the last part though.
Last Edited: 12/19/2025 9:39:15 PM by ExCat21
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BillyTheCat
12/19/2025 11:27 PM
SBH wrote:expand_more
If he really was with a 41-year-old woman there, what would the conversation be that would have communicated to him that his job was in jeopardy?
Smith and the AD clearly have different stories about this conversation. It's clear from the President's letter that the AD came away from it believing that Smith had acknowledged an extra-marital affair with a student at the OU Inn.

Smith's lawyer suggests that all Smith acknowledged occurring at the OU Inn was his running into a player's parents with a 41 year old woman.

I have a feeling that this all began with those parents saying something about what they saw at the OU Inn. Just a hunch though.



Was the relationship with the student part of a pattern of behavior?
I'm not convinced this matter if the University doesn't have a policy against it. If there's no policy, he can date nothing but students if he wants to. Would I do that? No. But his life's his life.

Was he intoxicated during school events?
Definitely relevant.
I've seen him drink in a social setting. He really likes his cocktails.
So did Frank and we named a field after him.
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BillyTheCat
12/19/2025 11:27 PM
BryanHall wrote:expand_more
If he really was with a 41-year-old woman there, what would the conversation be that would have communicated to him that his job was in jeopardy?
Smith and the AD clearly have different stories about this conversation. It's clear from the President's letter that the AD came away from it believing that Smith had acknowledged an extra-marital affair with a student at the OU Inn.

Smith's lawyer suggests that all Smith acknowledged occurring at the OU Inn was his running into a player's parents with a 41 year old woman.

I have a feeling that this all began with those parents saying something about what they saw at the OU Inn. Just a hunch though.



Was the relationship with the student part of a pattern of behavior?
I'm not convinced this matter if the University doesn't have a policy against it. If there's no policy, he can date nothing but students if he wants to. Would I do that? No. But his life's his life.

Was he intoxicated during school events?
Definitely relevant.
I've seen him drink in a social setting. He really likes his cocktails.
I wonder if he was ever reprimanded for drinking or offered help if they thought he had an alcohol problem?
If that was suspected why would he be given bourbon as gift.
+1
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SBH
12/20/2025 2:36 PM
Perhaps there's a woman (or women) scorned element to this. Sounds like he ended the relationship with the undergrad in November. Maybe she (or her parents) started making threats to the University.
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HeHateMiami
12/20/2025 3:28 PM
L.C. wrote:expand_more
One other detail makes me suspect that may be more out there. Smith's attorney made the statement that "...it is likely that he can never come back from this, and his career may well be over." If all that is alleged is that he dated a student, and that he dated a 41 year old woman, and that he drank some bourbon, that should have no impact on his ability to get coaching jobs. Just as it would be crazy to fire him for those reasons, I can't imagine it preventing him from getting another job.
I just took this as lawyer posturing. If planning a lawsuit, the lawyer is going to be thinking about how to quantify the damages for their client.
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Doc Bobcat
12/20/2025 3:43 PM
SBH wrote:expand_more
Perhaps there's a woman (or women) scorned element to this. Sounds like he ended the relationship with the undergrad in November. Maybe she (or her parents) started making threats to the University.
Ding ding ding…..winner winner chicken dinner
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mf279801
12/21/2025 12:33 PM
ChiCat2018 wrote:expand_more
Just to lay it all out, as far as I can tell right now. . .

The letter from the University states the following as their rationale:

1. Smith had an extra-marital affair/
2. Smith had a relationship with an undergrad.
3. Smith had a relationship with a 41 year old woman.
4. He was witnessed at the OU Inn -- which I think is University property -- by a football player's parents. He seems to have acknowledged this to the AD.
5. He was intoxicated at a public event where he was representing the University.

The response to that letter from his lawyer claims:

1. There was no extra-marital affair because he was separated from his wife.
2. Smith had a relationship with an undergrad for 4 months.
3. He didn't know she was an undergrad.
4. There's no policy against that.
5. He also had a relationship with a 41 year old woman, and the parent of a football player saw him with that woman at the OU Inn.
6. He was living at the OU Inn
7. He wasn't drunk at any events.

I think that's the full range right now.
not sure I want some 40 year old guy that can't figure out his 20 something girlfriend is a college student when she goes to a nursing program in a college town
I haven’t seen an age reported for the undergrad. Big difference between an 18-22 year old traditional student and a 30 or 40 year old non-traditional undergrad. Apologies if i missed an updated version of the story
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BillyTheCat
12/21/2025 1:42 PM
mf279801 wrote:expand_more
Just to lay it all out, as far as I can tell right now. . .

The letter from the University states the following as their rationale:

1. Smith had an extra-marital affair/
2. Smith had a relationship with an undergrad.
3. Smith had a relationship with a 41 year old woman.
4. He was witnessed at the OU Inn -- which I think is University property -- by a football player's parents. He seems to have acknowledged this to the AD.
5. He was intoxicated at a public event where he was representing the University.

The response to that letter from his lawyer claims:

1. There was no extra-marital affair because he was separated from his wife.
2. Smith had a relationship with an undergrad for 4 months.
3. He didn't know she was an undergrad.
4. There's no policy against that.
5. He also had a relationship with a 41 year old woman, and the parent of a football player saw him with that woman at the OU Inn.
6. He was living at the OU Inn
7. He wasn't drunk at any events.

I think that's the full range right now.
not sure I want some 40 year old guy that can't figure out his 20 something girlfriend is a college student when she goes to a nursing program in a college town
I haven’t seen an age reported for the undergrad. Big difference between an 18-22 year old traditional student and a 30 or 40 year old non-traditional undergrad. Apologies if i missed an updated version of the story
Legal is also legal. Don’t enforce your moral code upon others.
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BobcatSports
12/21/2025 2:40 PM
As sure as the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, do stupid things win stupid prizes!!!
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L.C.
12/21/2025 6:32 PM
BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
I haven’t seen an age reported for the undergrad. Big difference between an 18-22 year old traditional student and a 30 or 40 year old non-traditional undergrad. Apologies if i missed an updated version of the story
Legal is also legal. Don’t enforce your moral code upon others.

So long as they were consenting adults, and so long as no University rules prohibited it, I don't see that age matters. The man I bought my business from many years ago had a wife who was 40 years younger than he was, and they were a very happy couple. Sadly, she passed away at 58, while he lived to 102, and he missed her tremendously.
Last Edited: 12/21/2025 6:33:41 PM by L.C.
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