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Ohio Football Topic
Topic: Smith has been fired
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BobcatBurner
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Posted: 12/17/2025 3:07 PM
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Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
Could he argue that since he didn't have a signed employment contract until relatively recently he would have no way of knowing what was/wasn't a violation?
He never stopped being an employee of Ohio University though, so he always had an employment agreement. He'd have to make the case that the behavior was somehow acceptable when he was an assistant coach, but not as head coach. Seems unlikely to me.
I agree, but his contract does have some ethics language in it your typical Ohio University employee does not have as an at-will employee.

https://x.com/MattBrownEP/status/2001343827920195617
Last Edited: 12/17/2025 3:08:18 PM by BobcatBurner
Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 12/17/2025 3:08 PM
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mid70sbobcat wrote:expand_more
Oh boy...This could be interesting for a long while yet.
spongeBOB CATpants
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Posted: 12/17/2025 3:09 PM
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mid70sbobcat wrote:expand_more
Wow, sounds like this is going to get ugly.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 12/17/2025 3:11 PM
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mid70sbobcat wrote:expand_more
This is threatening a wrongful termination suit. It’ll be interesting to see if they actually follow through. That would air all the dirty linen!
mid70sbobcat
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Posted: 12/17/2025 3:13 PM
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Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
Just saw this from Brian's attorney:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G8ZOBoSWUAEEom-?format=jpg&na...
Oh boy...This could be interesting for a long while yet.
And Elliott is a trial attorney.

https://cooperelliott.com/our-attorneys/rex-h-elliott /
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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Posted: 12/17/2025 3:33 PM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
Just saw this from Brian's attorney:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G8ZOBoSWUAEEom-?format=jpg&na...
This is threatening a wrongful termination suit. It’ll be interesting to see if they actually follow through. That would air all the dirty linen!
He'll definitely file one. He'd be crazy not to given the amount of money at play and the impact this will have on his future earning potential.

Those very, very often result in a settlement. They take a very long time, neither party wants details out in the world, and the legal fees alone are often more expensive than the settlement amount.

It may play out differently because of how much Smith is theoretically owed here.
RufusCat09
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Posted: 12/17/2025 3:50 PM
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Cats5
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Posted: 12/17/2025 5:29 PM
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10tv just said it’s because of him drinking some bourbon in his office with assistants. OU is about to lose a lawsuit I think.
mid70sbobcat
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Posted: 12/17/2025 6:00 PM
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I'm thinking a lawsuit will happen for sure. Between the attorney's comments and the fact that just one week ago Smith had an expedited hearing to be able to access co-owned funds (with his wife) so he could close on a house on 12/15 doesn't seem like a logical thing anyone would do if they felt job termination was impending.
spongeBOB CATpants
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Posted: 12/17/2025 6:02 PM
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The Athletic is also reporting on the alcohol in the building. Still not certain if that is the actual reason for firing.

What a bizarre twist of events and we're still left with more questions than answers.
giacomo
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Posted: 12/17/2025 6:04 PM
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What always happens in a situation like this is that somebody wanted him gone for whatever reason. They then look for something that may hold up or it may not. Did they consult with their attorneys before making the move? You would think they would, but I've seen stranger things.
GoCats105
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Posted: 12/17/2025 6:04 PM
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Cats5 wrote:expand_more
10tv just said it’s because of him drinking some bourbon in his office with assistants. OU is about to lose a lawsuit I think.
LOL if true. LMAO even. I mean it's not right, but I couldn't think of anything funnier to be honest.
Cats5
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Posted: 12/17/2025 6:08 PM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
10tv just said it’s because of him drinking some bourbon in his office with assistants. OU is about to lose a lawsuit I think.
LOL if true. LMAO even. I mean it's not right, but I couldn't think of anything funnier to be honest.
Frank gets caught drinking and driving but damn you for taking a shot of bourbon after a game Brian!
ExCat21
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Posted: 12/17/2025 6:17 PM
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Cats5 wrote:expand_more
10tv just said it’s because of him drinking some bourbon in his office with assistants. OU is about to lose a lawsuit I think.
LOL if true. LMAO even. I mean it's not right, but I couldn't think of anything funnier to be honest.
Frank gets caught drinking and driving but damn you for taking a shot of bourbon after a game Brian!
Definitely not about alcohol.
Mike Coleman
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Posted: 12/17/2025 6:57 PM
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New York Time$ article mentioning the alcohol reprimand.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6896890/2025/12/17/brian... /
L.C.
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Posted: 12/17/2025 7:18 PM
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Well, the risk for Smith in filing a lawsuit is that he will have to air all the dirty laundry, and if it is substantial, he may become unemployable. Get your popcorn, I guess.
BryanHall
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Posted: 12/17/2025 7:28 PM
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Mike Coleman wrote:expand_more
New York Time$ article mentioning the alcohol reprimand.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6896890/2025/12/17/brian... /
This sounds like the university was investigating him and started asking questions to the staff. This came out and was logged as an incident. It probably doesn't get logged unless they are looking for something else. Could this be leaked by Smith's attorneys to change the narrative?
Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 12/17/2025 9:11 PM
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BryanHall wrote:expand_more
New York Time$ article mentioning the alcohol reprimand.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6896890/2025/12/17/brian... /
This sounds like the university was investigating him and started asking questions to the staff. This came out and was logged as an incident. It probably doesn't get logged unless they are looking for something else. Could this be leaked by Smith's attorneys to change the narrative?
Good theory, and good strategy if true. This is exactly the type of story our dumb social media culture will make a national story and conversation in less than 24 hours, and we'll end up looking ridiculous. If untrue or misleading, the university needs to respond quickly.
HeHateMiami
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Posted: 12/17/2025 9:41 PM
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Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
New York Time$ article mentioning the alcohol reprimand.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6896890/2025/12/17/brian... /
This sounds like the university was investigating him and started asking questions to the staff. This came out and was logged as an incident. It probably doesn't get logged unless they are looking for something else. Could this be leaked by Smith's attorneys to change the narrative?
Good theory, and good strategy if true. This is exactly the type of story our dumb social media culture will make a national story and conversation in less than 24 hours, and we'll end up looking ridiculous. If untrue or misleading, the university needs to respond quickly.
It's already happening. The headline on "Today's News" on Twitter says this: Ohio University Fires Coach Brian Smith Over Alcohol Policy Breach. The Athletic, and a few prominent Ohio sports talk guys are running with this.

I go back to my comment from last week that the University was dropping the ball with their vague statements that would lead the public to fill in the blanks. I believe that there's a reprimand in Coach's file for having a bottle of alcohol in his office, but I do not believe that's the main reason behind his dismissal. As this rumor spreads we looks stupid and silly and the university has their own vague PR strategy to thank for it.
hoddy
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Posted: 12/17/2025 10:11 PM
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Amen...I agree 100 percent.
Alan Swank
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Posted: 12/17/2025 10:36 PM
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If this is university policy, there have been lots of university functions in university buildings through the years where alcohol has been consumed.

Ohio University employee policy 41.133 states that it is strictly prohibited for an employee to “use, possess, manufacture or distribute drugs and/alcohol, or be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, while in the workplace or in university vehicles and equipment and while on duty.”
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 12/17/2025 11:15 PM
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As I said in another thread, this is misdirection by someone -- probably one of Smith's lawyers -- from the real major issue, which they very well know at this point. This is going to get very ugly before it gets better. I know the university does not want to totally tarnish Smith's public image and keep him from ever getting employment ever again as a coach, but they are going to have to come clean sooner or later, and sooner is better.
OUohYeahBobcat15
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Posted: 12/18/2025 12:08 AM
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BryanHall wrote:expand_more
New York Time$ article mentioning the alcohol reprimand.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6896890/2025/12/17/brian... /
This sounds like the university was investigating him and started asking questions to the staff. This came out and was logged as an incident. It probably doesn't get logged unless they are looking for something else. Could this be leaked by Smith's attorneys to change the narrative?

It’s a FOIA request. This is what OU was willing to become public. They’re the holders of the information, and good on the journalists who requested his personnel file. This means they withheld everything that may have been entered since the request was made. I used to be an editor at The Post. We’d be all over this. Hopeful the student journalists have done their due diligence, because this is how they’ll get a job and it’s not like the News or Messenger has done anything. Otherwise we’re lucky it’s now of national relevance. A shame it wasn’t sooner.

I was so excited about OU football entering this year. We were becoming a football school. Idk anymore.
Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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Posted: 12/18/2025 1:01 AM
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I want to call the ticket office and buy season tickets in the box just to see the reaction when I say my name.

Or if it could be arranged that I cause an entire athletic department to have a seizure when they see a guy named Brian Smith is sitting courtside at the Convo on Saturday.

Between this and those Emmanuel Clase giveaway jerseys my family got in Cleveland this summer, I’m on a roll.

I’m gonna change my screenname to Matt Lauer.
Last Edited: 12/18/2025 1:11:16 AM by Brian Smith (No, not that one)
Mike Coleman
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Posted: 12/18/2025 6:20 AM
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Compare this to Michigans statement:

Statement from University of Michigan Athletic
Director Warde Manuel
U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately. Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior.


You can see the difference.
Last Edited: 12/18/2025 6:21:28 AM by Mike Coleman
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