Jeff Hamms is better known as “Tennessee Jeff” by fellow OSU fans for his appearances on Ohio sports talk radio.
An Ohio native, “Tennessee Jeff” now lives in Surfside Beach, but he traveled all the way to Ohio stadium this weekend. There he has organized a rally Monday night to stand behind embattled head football coach Urban Meyer.
Right now the University is investigating whether Meyer knew about domestic abuse allegations against a former assistant.
“I want Urban to see this,” Hamms said in an video posted to his Facebook page. “I want everybody in Buckeye Nation to see this and to show, ‘listen man, we’re Buckeye Nation.”
The video is going viral amongst Buckeyes. In it, Hamms shares this message: “We’re Ohio State strong. We’re Urban Meyer strong. This man has done nothing wrong, period.”
Meyer first denied to reporters in July any knowledge of the 2015 abuse allegations against recently-fired assistant football coach Zach Smith.
“I got a text late last night that something happened in 2015,” Meyer said in a July press conference. “And there was nothing. I don’t know who creates a story like that.”
But in a statement on Twitter Friday, Meyer appeared to acknowledge that he had known saying, in part:
“I have always followed proper reporting protocols and procedures when I have learned of an incident involving a student-athlete, coach or member of our staff by elevating the issues to the proper channels. And, I did so regarding the Zach Smith incident in 2015.”
Hamms said that Meyer following protocol is why he thinks Meyer did nothing wrong. “He lied to the media,” Hamms told News13 in an interview over the phone. “That’s for sure, but you can’t lose your job for lying to the media.”
Meyer was placed on paid leave, a move that shocked many. But others are saying times have changed in sports.
“There’s been no accountability for people that perpetuated this, because they may have been the top player on a team, or they may have been a winning coach,” Vicki Bourus, Executive Director of the Family Justice Center of Horry and Georgetown Counties, said.
Bourus said the days of teams and coaches turning a blind eye to domestic violence are coming to an end.
“I think it sends a very powerful message to the general public and the people who follow sports in particular,” Bourus said, “That this will no longer be a problem that will be swept under the rug.”
Hamms said the rally he organized isn’t about Smith, Smith’s ex-wife or anyone else.
“This has nothing to do with domestic violence whatsoever,” Hamms said. “This is specifically to support and show support of our head football coach Urban Meyer.”
The rally is at 6:00 p.m. Monday at Ohio Stadium. Hamms said it is meant to be short and peaceful.
Over 100 people marked on Facebook they are attending the “Friendly Support Coach Urban Meyer Rally” with close to 1,000 saying they are interested in the event.
Ohio State University’s investigation of Meyer is expected to be finished in two weeks. The school made the announcement Sunday.
