Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer says he was “just as shocked as everybody” to find out earlier this week would Chase Young would be suspended for an NCAA violation.
In an appearance on FS1 on Friday night, Meyer – who still works for Ohio State as assistant athletic director of athletics initiatives and relations – said he learned the news of Young's suspension from Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith earlier this week, but he is confident that Young is taking the right steps to rectify the situation.
“I first found out earlier in the week. I talked to Gene Smith and was just as shocked as everybody,” Meyer said. “But from my understanding is the transparency, Chase and his family have been very forthright, which is the key whenever you’re dealing with NCAA issues. He’s working with Ohio State, with the NCAA to get this thing wrapped up.
“My understanding is once again, the most important thing is transparency, honesty. He realized he made a mistake. This is what I always appreciate about a guy like Chase: He made a mistake, he owned it and he’s working to get it corrected.”
Chase Young dominated the headlines today.@CoachUrbanMeyer reacts to the news of the Ohio State star's eligibility concerns. pic.twitter.com/JRbMKU0Mr4
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 9, 2019
In a statement on Twitter on Friday, Young said he “made a mistake last year by accepting a loan from a family friend” that he knew since the summer before his freshman year at Ohio State, but repaid the loan in full last summer and is working with Ohio State and the NCAA “to get back on the field as soon as possible.”
According to a report by The Athletic's Bruce Feldman on Friday night, the violation occurred in December 2018, when Young “borrowed money from a family friend to fly his girlfriend to California to attend the Rose Bowl.” He “paid that money back in April,” according to Feldman's source.
