Former Ohio State defensive back Marcus Williamson made some disturbing claims about Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes football program on Saturday, and Meyer was quick to deny one of them. The former coach has since changed his stance.
Williamson, a fifth-year senior who says he has retired from playing, went on a Twitter rant during the Rose Bowl between Ohio State and Utah on Saturday night. He bashed Ohio State fans and the team’s coaching staff. He also said Meyer once used a photo of Trayvon Martin in a PowerPoint slide that informed Buckeyes players of the team’s “no hoods” policy.
Meyer responded on Sunday. He told author Jeff Snook that the claim about the Martin photo was “absolutely false.” He did, however, confirm that Ohio State had a no hats, hoodies or sunglasses rule for team meetings. Meyer has since learned the photo was used, though he insists he had no prior knowledge of it.
On Monday, former Ohio State safety Tyvis Powell took to Twitter to provide some context for Williamson’s troubling claim.