Since clinching the fourth and final spot in the College Football Playoff, Urban Meyer has been adamant in his efforts to mitigate the inevitable financial burden on families who want to be there to watch their kids play.
After beating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, the Buckeyes will travel to Dallas later this week for the national championship. It means another roundtrip flight, a hotel for multiple nights, and various other expenses that come with any trip across the country.
"What are we doing for these players that they have to go one more week and their families," Meyer said during his postgame press conference.
"Are we going to get their families to Dallas? We should. That should happen immediately. There should be an immediate committee meeting somewhere ... let's get them to Dallas and watch their sons play in college football history.
"And I hope you all write that. That's more important than anything else being said today. How do these two players who played their hearts out for the Ohio State University, for the Big Ten Conference and for college football, let's get their families there so they can watch them play."
Now, his athletic director, Gene Smith, offered his public support Saturday afternoon:
STATEMENT: I have always been in agreement with Coach Meyer. I wish we could help the families of players more than we currently can... More
— gene smith (@OSU_AD) January 3, 2015
CONTINUED: ...I will initiate NCAA legislation to allow us to provide more financial assistance in the future for postseason trips.
— gene smith (@OSU_AD) January 3, 2015
It's unclear whether such a push will change anything in the immediate future.
