ESPN’s SportsCenter host John Anderson is receiving push back for comments that he made about former Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer during the Ohio State-Clemson Fiesta Bowl game.
Meyer was featured on ESPN just seconds before Justin Fields’ game-ending interception to end the College Football Playoff semifinal.
“Look at Urban Meyer,” Anderson said, according to TMZ. “He was going to spend time with his family, but went to this game instead.”
While at the University of Florida. Meyer shared the reason for him deciding to leave was because he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Members of Urban Meyer’s Family Rips Anderson for Comments
Meyer was spotted on the sideline Saturday, but he was there with his family. Meyer’s son-in-law, Corey Dennis, is a member of Ryan Day’s coaching staff. His other son, Nate was standing next to him on the sideline.
Meyer’s wife Shelley took to Twitter and slammed Anderson for his remark.
“I am DEEPLY offended by this off-hand rude/ignorant comment by someone who knows NOTHING about our family-We were ALL together this bowl trip-urbans job was limited to a couple hours the 26th/27th and more on the 28th (not that it’s anyone’s biz)-still WAY less than coaching,” Urban’s wife, Shelley, said.
Meyer’s oldest daughter Nicki also weighed in on the remark.
“How is this type of commentary even acceptable? The entire family, including grandkids, went to support my husband and the buckeyes. We had the best week in AZ. ESPN have some class. This is bad. I’d @ this guy but don’t know who it is. Pass it along friends.”
Meyer’s other daughter Gigi also responded to Anderson’s remark.
“But we were all there the entire week… In fact, probably been spending too much time together but keep ‘em coming ‘ESPN.’
In 2011, Urban Meyer spent time with ESPN before deciding to take the head coaching job at Ohio State. The three-time National Champion coach is now working for Fox on their Big Noon Kickoff, which is the competitor of ESPN’s College GameDay.
Urban Meyer is expected to draw a lot of coaching interest in the NFL this offseason, with the most attractive job potentially being the Dallas Cowboys If they decide to part with Jason Garrett.
Is Urban Meyer Interested in Dallas Cowboys’ Coaching Job?
Earlier this month, Heavy.com’s Zack Kelberman broke down an appearance by Meyer on FS1’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd. He was asked about the possibility of Lincoln Riley coaching the Cowboys and if he was interested in the job.
“Pure speculation, because I know [Riley], but I don’t know him like that, but that’s the one [job],” Meyer said, via Sports Illustrated. “That’s the New York Yankees, that’s the Dallas Cowboys, that’s the one. Great city, you got Dak Prescott, you got Zeke Elliott, you got a loaded team, and I can’t speak for [Riley] obviously—I hate to even speculate—because I don’t know him, that’s really not fair, but to me, that’s the one job in professional football that you kind of say, ‘I gotta go do that.’”
When asked directly about his interest in the job, Meyer couldn’t help but admit his intrigue.
“Absolutely. Absolutely,” he said, per SI. “That one? Yes.”
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