Is It Time To Fire Gene Smith?

One down, one to go?

There are many who feel that Gene Smith needs to move on. From the mishandling of Tatgate, to the odd way that Coach Tressel was forced to leave, and the bowl ban that might not have happened had he self-imposed for 2011, Athletic Director Smith has committed many egregious errors in judgment and management that have much of Buckeye Nation calling for his head. I wonder if the Buckeye faithful would be more forgiving of someone with significant Buckeye roots.

When a new Ohio State football coach is needed, one major factor to consider is whether he is an Ohioan. Whether the man played for the Buckeyes, coached here as an assistant, or simply was born in the area, most fans can agree that having lived the history of the Bucks as a youth is really the only way someone can begin to understand the passion surrounding this program.

Anyone who remembers the John Cooper era can attest to the importance of being a Buckeye. Why don’t we demand a true Buckeye in the big chair?

Gene Smith grew up in Cleveland, but went to Notre Dame. He coached in South Bend in the late 70’s under Dan Devine. He worked his way as AD through such programs as Eastern Michigan, Iowa State, and Arizona State. Does anyone think that being a director in Ypsilanti or Ames is appropriate training for the “same” job in Columbus? 

Smith’s predecessor, Andy Geiger, has no Ohio ties. He may have spearheaded many great building projects on campus, such as the Schottenstein Center, the Jesse Owens track facility, and Bill Davis Stadium, but left under a cloud due to improprieties in basketball and football. Remember Jim O’Brien and Maurice Clarett?

Handy Andy built an arena, but later crawled out of town.

We’ll skip Jim Jones’ time as AD for a moment, as he was a nearly lifelong OSU Athletics Department employee. He and his family are having a hard enough time right now with the tragic loss of their son, Associate AD Bill Jones. 

Prior to Jones, we had Rick Bay. While I personally respect the integrity and resolve he showed when he resigned to protest President Ed Jenning’s firing of Coach Earle Bruce, Rick Bay was a Michigan man! How can hiring a Michigan man to run the Ohio State program honestly be a great option?

Before and after Rick Bay, we had ADs that spent the majority of their careers in the Ohio State Athletic Department. Jim Jones started with the department in the 60’s as a Physical Education teacher, and worked his way up, though he saw several people get hired over him over the years until he took over in 1988. Hugh Hindman, Ed Weaver, Dick Larkins, and Lynn St. John all had long careers as Buckeyes.

So we can see that Bay, Geiger, and Smith are the outliers. The non-Buckeye Buckeye ADs have had significantly more scandal and problems under their reign than the others. Isn’t it time we move on, and find a Buckeye to run this program? One suggestion: #45?

How can a man with such epic hair NOT be the Bucks' next AD?

Ok, it’s your turn. Comment below on your thoughts about the AD situation—assuming Gene Smith moves on in some fashion, who should replace him?