GENEVA, Ohio — Urban Meyer claimed he was on vacation.
His mannerisms suggested otherwise.
For the fourth straight year, Meyer found himself spending a July morning standing in front of a rather sizable crowd at the impressive SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio—just outside of his hometown of Ashtabula.
And for the fourth straight year, the Ohio State head coach found himself interrupting his own speech, making sure that he had the attention of every member of his audience.
“Eyes up here, eyes up here,” Meyer repeated. “No. 5, eyes up here.”
Only Meyer’s directions to the person in the No. 5 scarlet and gray jersey weren’t aimed at Braxton Miller or Jeff Heuerman but rather a child who couldn’t have been any older than six or seven years old. This hasn’t been an uncommon occurrence at the annual youth camp that bares Meyer’s name—along with that of childhood friend and Eastern Kentucky head coach Dean Hood—where campers grades 1-8 enjoy the full Meyer experience at no cost.
But as opposed to last year’s camp, where Meyer’s keynote speech—and presence for that matter—felt more like a mere formality, Wednesday’s seemed as if he were accepting a lifetime achievement award. Announced as the reigning national champion that he is as camp came to a close, Ashtabula’s favorite son didn’t only relay his message by reflecting on the Buckeyes’ run to the college football crown but spoke to the resurgence of the region that raised him.
“In…
Continue Reading: Urban Meyer’s National Championship Homecoming Celebration in July
