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Topic: What’s up with Smith?
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SBH
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Posted: 12/9/2025 7:19 PM
Alaska Cat wrote:expand_more
This situation and the way OU has handled it, is definitely already detrimental to next years team.
What damage have we sustained thus far? Strong recruiting class and just picked up a kid who flipped from Toledo.
Doc Bobcat
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Posted: 12/9/2025 7:32 PM
SBH wrote:expand_more
This situation and the way OU has handled it, is definitely already detrimental to next years team.
What damage have we sustained thus far? Strong recruiting class and just picked up a kid who flipped from Toledo.
I am also confident that Hauser can keep the ship from sinking.
StevenTimothyVitte
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Posted: 12/9/2025 7:56 PM
Alaska Cat wrote:expand_more
Does the school have a contingency plan, for a permanent coach if Brian is not back?
Have they privately already hired a different (and next coach)?

Has someone behind the scenes been talking to portal players, and players already signed?

If not, this can set the teams' future years behind.

This situation and the way OU has handled it, is definitely already detrimental to next years team.
Don't you think the Ohio U. athletic department is aware of all that, and that they took that into account before doing this?

If we have to move on to the John Hauser era, so be it.
BryanHall
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Posted: 12/9/2025 8:36 PM
According to this article, making the decision when they did might have saved the school money. I don't quite understand the details based on the article.

https://frontofficesports.com/ohio-brian-smith-paid-leave /
cbarber357
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Posted: 12/9/2025 9:00 PM
Did anyone catch Hauser on the Jeff Boals show tonight?
GoCats105
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Posted: 12/10/2025 12:42 PM
BryanHall wrote:expand_more
According to this article, making the decision when they did might have saved the school money. I don't quite understand the details based on the article.

https://frontofficesports.com/ohio-brian-smith-paid-leave /
From the article:

"If the school had fired Smith without cause before Dec. 1, it would’ve owed him the entire base salary left on his deal, equal to $2,511,250. Starting Dec. 1, if Smith decided to leave, he or his new employer would’ve owed that amount back to the university.

The timing suggests that Ohio could be trying to avoid paying a full buyout. And, by placing Smith on paid leave without firing him, the university could be trying to avoid a wrongful termination lawsuit—like the one filed by former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, whose agent was “very, very satisfied” with the settlement he reached with his alma mater."



Pretty cut and dry if you ask me. They're covering their bases in case they do have to end up firing him.
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Posted: 12/10/2025 3:12 PM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
According to this article, making the decision when they did might have saved the school money. I don't quite understand the details based on the article.

https://frontofficesports.com/ohio-brian-smith-paid-leave /
From the article:

"If the school had fired Smith without cause before Dec. 1, it would’ve owed him the entire base salary left on his deal, equal to $2,511,250. Starting Dec. 1, if Smith decided to leave, he or his new employer would’ve owed that amount back to the university.

The timing suggests that Ohio could be trying to avoid paying a full buyout. And, by placing Smith on paid leave without firing him, the university could be trying to avoid a wrongful termination lawsuit—like the one filed by former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, whose agent was “very, very satisfied” with the settlement he reached with his alma mater."



Pretty cut and dry if you ask me. They're covering their bases in case they do have to end up firing him.
Piecing together bits and pieces of info (both on the record and off the record), I think we are probably in negotiated settlement territory. As I said before, I'd be extremely surprised if he ever coaches another down at OHIO. In some previous posts I said that I hoped that I was wrong in that assessment. Now, I think it best for both parties to part ways.
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rpbobcat
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Posted: 12/10/2025 3:35 PM
Smith came here in 2022.

Didn't O.U. do any vetting before making him the head coach ?
mid70sbobcat
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Posted: 12/10/2025 4:00 PM
rpbobcat wrote:expand_more
Smith came here in 2022.

Didn't O.U. do any vetting before making him the head coach ?
"During the course of a national search that attracted several outstanding candidates, Coach Smith ultimately stood out above the rest. He presented a plan for not only sustaining our culture and foundation but also building upon it in the evolving landscape of college football."
cbarber357
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Posted: 12/10/2025 4:52 PM
Will be interesting to see if this news speeds up the timeline at all if Smith is on leave for similar reasons as many have speculated - Michigan football fires coach Sherrone Moore for cause after 2 seasons

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/12/10/mi... /

If this is what happened national media definitely won’t pick up Smith’s story at the same time
BryanHall
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Posted: 12/10/2025 5:34 PM
OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
According to this article, making the decision when they did might have saved the school money. I don't quite understand the details based on the article.

https://frontofficesports.com/ohio-brian-smith-paid-leave /
From the article:

"If the school had fired Smith without cause before Dec. 1, it would’ve owed him the entire base salary left on his deal, equal to $2,511,250. Starting Dec. 1, if Smith decided to leave, he or his new employer would’ve owed that amount back to the university.

The timing suggests that Ohio could be trying to avoid paying a full buyout. And, by placing Smith on paid leave without firing him, the university could be trying to avoid a wrongful termination lawsuit—like the one filed by former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, whose agent was “very, very satisfied” with the settlement he reached with his alma mater."



Pretty cut and dry if you ask me. They're covering their bases in case they do have to end up firing him.
Piecing together bits and pieces of info (both on the record and off the record), I think we are probably in negotiated settlement territory. As I said before, I'd be extremely surprised if he ever coaches another down at OHIO. In some previous posts I said that I hoped that I was wrong in that assessment. Now, I think it best for both parties to part ways.
It explains the timing. To me somebody said "we need to do something now" because it may cost the program. It points to potential severity, but I'll say it may be more precautionary.
MiamiBlowsChunks
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Posted: 12/10/2025 5:38 PM
This message has been deleted.
Last Edited: 12/10/2025 7:23:34 PM by Mike Coleman
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 12/10/2025 5:42 PM
Please remove the above baseless rumor! How can some of you call yourselves fans with such lack of class.
OU812812
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Posted: 12/10/2025 6:53 PM
From a very reliable inside source, Smith has coached his last game at Ohio.
BryanHall
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Posted: 12/10/2025 8:28 PM
OU812812 wrote:expand_more
From a very reliable inside source, Smith has coached his last game at Ohio.
You posted this in 2022.

OU812812 wrote:expand_more
It's a done deal...Boals is heading to Butler.
I'm guessing your very reliable inside source is actually a very unreliable inside source.
GoCats105
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Posted: 12/10/2025 8:48 PM
BryanHall wrote:expand_more
From a very reliable inside source, Smith has coached his last game at Ohio.
You posted this in 2022.

It's a done deal...Boals is heading to Butler.
I'm guessing your very reliable inside source is actually a very unreliable inside source.
The source: trust me bro.
SBH
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Posted: 12/11/2025 8:08 AM
It would appear the school has made the decision to postpone announcement until after the bowl game. Assuming the coach has already been informed and is abiding by a settlement agreement to remain silent. This strategy has its merits:

1. It apparently did not affect our early signing day;
2. Gives the AD and assistants the opportunity to solidify these signings over a multi-week period before the ultimate announcement;
3. Keeps current players on the team through the bowl game;
4. Enables Hauser and staff to implement their policies/culture and to prove themselves to current players;
5. Does not terribly affect bowl game preparation;
6. Allows university to release the news during the busy holiday season, after (hopefully) a decent bowl showing.
Last Edited: 12/11/2025 8:08:56 AM by SBH
L.C.
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Posted: 12/11/2025 9:01 AM
SBH wrote:expand_more
..
2. Gives the AD and assistants the opportunity to solidify these signings over a multi-week period before the ultimate announcement;
...

I thought about this one. While the letters they signed are binding, like anyone else, they could enter the portal in January. This is something new, where a recruit potentially can transfer without setting foot on campus.
“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” ― Epictetus
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Posted: 12/11/2025 9:10 AM
SBH wrote:expand_more
It would appear the school has made the decision to postpone announcement until after the bowl game. Assuming the coach has already been informed and is abiding by a settlement agreement to remain silent. This strategy has its merits:

1. It apparently did not affect our early signing day;
2. Gives the AD and assistants the opportunity to solidify these signings over a multi-week period before the ultimate announcement;
3. Keeps current players on the team through the bowl game;
4. Enables Hauser and staff to implement their policies/culture and to prove themselves to current players;
5. Does not terribly affect bowl game preparation;
6. Allows university to release the news during the busy holiday season, after (hopefully) a decent bowl showing.
I agree with all the above.


The lack of urgency (at least, publicly) is still what gets me. First thing I said when it happened. What I said at the end of the last week. Still what I think now.

The situation is bad enough we need to remove you from our university, but not bad enough we need to pull the rug immediately like Michigan.

These situations are never easy to deal with, and there is no clear playbook, but the lack of urgency around removing Brian, and starting a coaching search that is now at the tailend of options, has moved me from 80% gone, to 60% gone and Lars has likely been impressed in the few moments he's spent with Hauser.

Too early for this, but did Lars hire Dan Jackson at SDSU? That might also be an angle why he's comfortable with letting this playout as well.
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Posted: 12/11/2025 10:54 AM
L.C. wrote:expand_more
..
2. Gives the AD and assistants the opportunity to solidify these signings over a multi-week period before the ultimate announcement;
...

I thought about this one. While the letters they signed are binding, like anyone else, they could enter the portal in January. This is something new, where a recruit potentially can transfer without setting foot on campus.
With current lack of rules, they can essentially go at anytime and get a free portal ride when Coach is fired. That will open after a new coach is hired and now have a 15 day window instead of 30. So Portal timing will not matter to any of our signings or rosters.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 12/11/2025 10:56 AM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
It would appear the school has made the decision to postpone announcement until after the bowl game. Assuming the coach has already been informed and is abiding by a settlement agreement to remain silent. This strategy has its merits:

1. It apparently did not affect our early signing day;
2. Gives the AD and assistants the opportunity to solidify these signings over a multi-week period before the ultimate announcement;
3. Keeps current players on the team through the bowl game;
4. Enables Hauser and staff to implement their policies/culture and to prove themselves to current players;
5. Does not terribly affect bowl game preparation;
6. Allows university to release the news during the busy holiday season, after (hopefully) a decent bowl showing.
I agree with all the above.


The lack of urgency (at least, publicly) is still what gets me. First thing I said when it happened. What I said at the end of the last week. Still what I think now.

The situation is bad enough we need to remove you from our university, but not bad enough we need to pull the rug immediately like Michigan.

These situations are never easy to deal with, and there is no clear playbook, but the lack of urgency around removing Brian, and starting a coaching search that is now at the tailend of options, has moved me from 80% gone, to 60% gone and Lars has likely been impressed in the few moments he's spent with Hauser.

Too early for this, but did Lars hire Dan Jackson at SDSU? That might also be an angle why he's comfortable with letting this playout as well.
Look at how long other organizations and people have been suspended. The University does not seem to care about the fans or stakeholders urgency, and the past history shows that.
OakStreet
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Posted: 12/11/2025 11:09 AM
It's not just whispers anymore. In the last day, stories about the mysteriousness of Smith's sudden leave have hit the New York Post, Yahoo Sports, the Daily Mail, and US Weekly - probably others, too, that I haven't seen.
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Posted: 12/11/2025 11:16 AM
BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
..
2. Gives the AD and assistants the opportunity to solidify these signings over a multi-week period before the ultimate announcement;
...

I thought about this one. While the letters they signed are binding, like anyone else, they could enter the portal in January. This is something new, where a recruit potentially can transfer without setting foot on campus.
With current lack of rules, they can essentially go at anytime and get a free portal ride when Coach is fired. That will open after a new coach is hired and now have a 15 day window instead of 30. So Portal timing will not matter to any of our signings or rosters.
I guess you could argue that Smith was not the coach of Ohio on signing day since he was on leave. The commits/signees knew that. it really doesn’t make much difference though because players can always leave during any portal period anyway.
SBH
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Posted: 12/11/2025 11:18 AM
I was told that our AD personally called every recruit and his parents prior to the announcement.
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Posted: 12/11/2025 11:38 AM
SBH wrote:expand_more
I was told that our AD personally called every recruit and his parents prior to the announcement.
Wonder what they were told?
The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org
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