Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer met with the media Wednesday after practice. Here’s everything he had to say:
- Meyer said Noah Spence, whose status remains in jeopardy after failing another drug test, sources told Eleven Warriors last Friday, is practicing with the team. “He actually practiced today, he’s doing things to get healthy. But he’s also — you know — we’re supporting him.” Spence missed a 66-0 blowout of Kent State. He was supposed to return to action Saturday after serving a three-game suspension.
- Meyer said he hopes senior tight end Jeff Heuerman, who missed the Kent State game because of a lingering foot injury from last spring, is ready by next Monday. “We sat him the last two weeks, it’s a stress reaction on a bone in his foot. There’s no cure other than to rest — I shouldn't say there’s no cure, there’s no answer of than rest.” Meyer said Heuerman has been “training in the pool, but he can’t slam (his foot) into the ground” yet.
- Meyer said Ohio State’s using its off week to prepare for a nighttime bout with Cincinnati in two weekends. “We jumped right into to UC. Pass defense is gonna be the call to arms, they’re really good. And they got a really good quarterback.” Meyer added this isn’t a normal bye week, considering how early in the season it is. “This is Week Three, too. It’s a much different bye week, it’s not like Week Eight where you’ve got fatigue issues and all that so we’ve gotta be smart in how we handle our business, but this is all prepare for UC.”
- Meyer said he was impressed by the Bearcats’ season-opening 58-34 win against Toledo last week. Notre Dame transfer quarterback and former five-star recruit Gunner Kiel threw for 418 yards and six touchdowns. “You think there’d be more first game mistakes with a new quarterback, but they were outstanding.” Added Meyer: “I’m worried they’ll catch it 75 times or whatever is because they’re really good, they’re gonna throw it 150 times. The receiving crew is interesting, when I heard Coach (Tommy) Tuberville say it’s the best he’s had that’s when you’re like ‘Wait a minute, now.’ I’ve known where he’s coached and kind of watched his teams. I’ve coached against his teams and they’ve been real. So when he says that, he catches my eye and I made my team aware of that as well.” Meyer and Tuberville played each other while at Florida and Auburn, respectively. Meyer is 0-2 in that series.
- In light of domestic violence issues in the NFL, Meyer was asked whether or not such things can be used as teaching moments for his players. “Every day. Every day. Because they know it, they see it. How do you not see it? … They’re all teachable moments. And if you don’t use that, I think everybody in the country’s used that.”
- Meyer also reiterated the Buckeyes have a zero tolerance policy on domestic violence. “Oh yeah. We had a couple issues that we had to evaluate, but that’s one of the core values.”
- Meyer on redshirt sophomore wide receiver Michael Thomas, who leads the Buckeyes in receiving with 214 yards and four touchdowns on 11 catches: “He’s a California guy that we kind of inherited his commitment and I got very close with Mike and he’s a good guy. He was a mistake guy — every third play, he’d screw it up and that’s why last year he wasn’t ready to play and that was really hard for him last year. But he’s come out and he’s not the same mistake guy and he’s playing much better. It’s not surprising the success he’s had because he’s practiced that way.”
