Ohio State Bowl Ban: Urban Meyer's Comments Show How Committed New Coach Is

The hammer has fallen at Ohio State, and the rebuilding process begins now.

The NCAA announced on Tuesday that the school will face a one-year postseason ban, a loss of scholarships and three years of probation.

Now the heavy lifting begins for new head coach Urban Meyer.

He has already been lighting up the recruiting trail and can now officially give kids an idea of when they can compete for a national championship. It’s not as bad as the one handed to the USC Trojans, and this is not going to completely derail the program.

Meyer’s statement reaffirms everyone’s believes about just how much he wanted this job despite the setback:

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I agreed to become the head football coach at The Ohio State University because Shelley and I are Ohio natives, I am a graduate of this wonderful institution and served in this program under a great coach. I understand the academic and athletic traditions here and will give great effort to continue those traditions. 

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His history in the state is hard to ignore, and the passion he has for the school is conveyed in these comments. I’m sure Meyer had an idea this sort of penalty would be coming, and his willingness to stick it out speaks volumes.

In a shocking turn, Meyer plans on actually using this tough situation as a learning experience:

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The NCAA penalties will serve as a reminder that the college experience does not include the behavior that led to these penalties. I expect all of us to work hard to teach and develop young student-athletes to grow responsibly and to become productive citizens in their communities upon graduation.

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Bam.

I know that’s what he had to say, but you have to like what you’re hearing if you’re a potential recruit. What’s the harm in concentrating on the adjustment to college life and the difference in speed and not being concerned with what bowl game your heading to in your first season?

The difference between a one-year and two-year bowl ban is astronomical.

Meyer is in it for the long haul, and his new school dodged what could have been a much bigger bullet. He is fresh after a one-year hiatus, showing incredible dedication/loyalty already and will end up being an incredibly successful coach in Columbus.