Nearly a week ago, former Ohio State assistant coach Zach Smith was chomping at the bit to share his side of the story. Perhaps most importantly, he was eager to potentially clear his name after being at the epicenter of an expensive investigation and college football's biggest offseason story.
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"Can't wait 2 disclose the 2.5 hr "investigative interview I gave 2 the people OSU employed 2 find out if Cch Meyer/Gene Smith did anything wrong," Smith tweeted on August 23. "Questions were bizarre & VERY clear they weren't investigating ANYTHING they were supposed to be... Investigating media backlash."
The wait is over, and it's still going on.
On Wednesday — in the aftermath of Athletic Director Gene Smith getting suspended, and Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer being suspended three games by the Ohio State University Board of Trustees following an investigation into what Meyer knew and did with domestic abuse allegations involving Smith and his ex-wife, Courtney Smith, in 2015 — the former receivers coach, who was fired in late July, unleashed a barrage of Tweets to break his silence.
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
Smith's main point of attack was against now Stadium reporter Brett McMurphy, who seemingly broke the story wide open with the damning allegations in a Facebook post.
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
It already got ugly. Ask my kids. Straight scumbag. https://t.co/81XwCIelth
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) August 29, 2018
Shortly after, in the middle of what now has nearly 20 original tweets and six other retweets, Smith disclosed even more of his side of the story.
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 fansTalk 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
Smith even fired back at those who did not take too kind to his original tweets.
And that’s the point of my tweets. People like you need to just “log off” and “not hit send” with hurtful tweets that you have no knowledge about being based on fact or vengeance. Take you’re own advice, Chris. https://t.co/zZfjtzZK3k
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) August 29, 2018
Oh am I? Brenda... I’ve been a huge supporter of everything you’ve ever done. And so sympathetic to what happened to you. But if you can’t see that things aren’t always black and white, or that there is NEVER a false accusation... you’re really working on your own agenda. https://t.co/yaTviV603J
— Zach Smith (@CoachZachSmith) August 29, 2018
Lol wow... you just proved you’re a one sided clown. THEY GOT USED WHEN THEY HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL AND DEAL WITH FALSE ACCUSATIONS AGAIBST THEIR DAD!!!!! Please stop tweeting at me. I used to be a huge fan and supporter... but you just proved you’re not a truth seeker... https://t.co/n7FNz0i99t
— 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
Going back to Smith's first tweet of this tirade, the one with a Facebook link, has his mother, Lynn Bruce, blasting Meyer for what he should have said at the infamous press conference following the announcement of his suspension.
This has all gotten completely out of hand. The statements, the rally outside Ohio Stadium, the investigation, the punishments, it is all over.
There is no way to erase the past month, and even if Smith deletes those tweets, the content he posted won't go away.
No matter what, threatening to sue a reporter and lashing out at critics on social media is likely the worst possible thing to do during a time when pretty much everyone else wants it to be over.
