Urban Meyer Ohio State: Decisions by ESPN Hints at Meyer Coaching Buckeyes

Allow me to play Sherlock Holmes with a bit of college football news for a moment here.

So Urban Meyer has been in contact with Ohio State, in some form or fashion, about taking over as a proper successor to the disgraced Jim Tressel as the Buckeyes' football coach. Meanwhile, Meyer was supposed to be in the booth at the Big House on Saturday, providing color commentary on The Game for ESPN/ABC.

That is, until ESPN decided that "the studio in Bristol was the best place for him given the many storylines and top matchups going on in college football this weekend."

A coincidence? I think not. Perhaps the Worldwide Leader doesn't want Dave Pasch and Chris Spielman spending the afternoon grilling the former coach at Bowling Green, Utah and Florida about whether or not he'll be packing his belongings for shipment to Columbus. Perhaps the network thought it a bit too uncomfortable to have such a big elephant parked in the middle of Michigan Stadium.

Perhaps the folks in Bristol didn't want the speculation about Meyer and OSU detracting from the gravity of one of college football's most storied rivalries.

Or maybe, just maybe, they know something that we don't and would rather not have Meyer's impending association with the university color his commentary varying shades of Scarlet and Grey.

Whatever the case may be, the whole situation stinks to high heavens of something or other. That "something or other" may well be Meyer's future as an employee of the state of Ohio.

Of course, Meyer makes perfect sense as the choice to lead Ohio State through the current NCAA fog lingering around the Horseshoe. He's a native of Toledo, spent two years coaching wide receivers and tight ends for the Buckeyes and, most importantly, is a tremendous coaching talent. His seven bowl wins, including two BCS titles at Florida, are a testament to that, as are his many triumphs on the recruiting trail over the years.

For now, though, we'll just have to wait and see whether Meyer is called in for that interview he says he hasn't had and is extended that offer he claims he has yet to see.

And if official word does get out, we can be sure that it won't be coming from Urban Meyer on site during the Ohio State-Michigan game.