the Lantern

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Tuesday November 29, 2011 year: 132 No. 46

the student voice of

The Ohio State University

www.thelantern.com

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Urban hire Urban Meyer accepts OSU’s offer for 6-year, $24M contract

cheLsea casTLe / Managing editor for content

Urban Meyer

cody cousiNo / Photo editor

paT bReNNaN Sports editor brennan.164@osu.edu

Luke Fickell

It took a year of reflection, days of contemplation and prayer with his family, but Urban Meyer was finally introduced Monday as the new head coach of Ohio State football team. Athletic director Gene Smith introduced Meyer, the 24th head coach in the history of OSU football, at the Fawcett Center on OSU’s campus Monday night after extending an offer to the former Florida coach and ESPN analyst. Meyer accepted the job Monday morning. “I am deeply honored and humbled that Dr. (E. Gordon) Gee, the trustees and Gene Smith have selected (me) to lead the Ohio State football program,” Meyer said. “If it was but for the coaching position at the Ohio State University, I would not have coached this coming year.” Smith had praise for the athletic department’s newest hire, saying, “Meyer is without a doubt one of the premier leaders in football.” “(Meyer’s leadership) is represented in his record, but also in him as a man. He gets it. This is the right time for Urban Meyer to lead our football program,” Smith said. “We’re blessed to have him as our football coach.” A release from the OSU athletic department sent prior to the Monday press conference said Meyer, who was first contacted about the coaching position by Smith at OSU on Nov. 20, will make $4 million annually for six seasons. Meyer comes to OSU as it awaits a final ruling from the NCAA on its rules infractions. The Buckeyes’ new coach said he did his research before agreeing to terms with the university. “I think that’s where the faith and trust has to come in,” he said. “I have faith in (Smith) and (Gee) and knew that that conversation was had. I asked the same question you did. ‘Is there anything behind

The Contract

• 6-year, $24 million contract • $4 million a year base salary • if Meyer stays on staff through certain points in time, he will receive scheduled bonuses. • Jan. 31, 2014 - $400,000 • Jan. 31, 2016 - $750,000 • Jan. 31, 2018 - $1.2 million • incentives for certain coaching ‘milestones’

Courtesy of MCT

continued as OSU on 3A

chRis poche / Design editor

1986-1987 • Assistant coach at Ohio State • Coached under Earle Bruce

2001-2002

2003-2004

• Head coach at Bowling Green • Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year • 17-6 record overall at BGSU

2005-2010

• Head coach at University of Utah • Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year • 22-2 record at Utah including 12-0 season in 2004 • BCS victory over Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl

2011

• Head coach at University of Florida • Won two National Championships, one over Ohio State • Amassed a record of 65-15

• Took a leave of absence from coaching • Worked as analyst at ESPN

Students pitch ‘Tent Town’ in anticipation of Duke game MichaeL peRiaTT Asst. sports editor periatt.1@osu.edu

cheLsea casTLe / Managing editor for content

Three tents were pitched outside of the schottenstein center in columbus, ohio, on Monday afternoon. about 11 students camped outside since sunday to be first in line for the osu men’s basketball game Tuesday night.

The No. 2-ranked Ohio State men’s basketball team is set to take on No. 3-ranked Duke Tuesday night, and some students are already camping out to make sure they get a front row seat. As of Monday night, there were five tents pitched outside the Schottenstein Center to save their spots in line for the 9:30 p.m. matchup. The campers call their community “Thad’s Tent Town” after head basketball coach Thad Matta and some of its residents have been camping out since Sunday night. Taylor Cooper, a second-year in business marketing, is in the tent that’s first in line and said he’s been camping out since 5 p.m. Sunday. “We’re just trying to make a statement that we’re turning into a basketball school, just like anybody else, like Duke,” Cooper said. This isn’t the first time students have camped out for a basketball game, but Chris Nance, event services manager at the Schottenstein Center, said it’s definitely the earliest he can remember.

“I started as a student here back in 2005 and (last year’s) Wisconsin game was the earliest before this,” Nance said. “We had people the night before for the Wisconsin game, but I think having them Sunday night is pretty sweet.” The weather hasn’t been cooperating for the dedicated fans. Rain has been coming down at a fairly steady rate, but the campers are making the most of their experience. They’ve insulated their tents from the rain and even have a series of extension cords to give them power. “It’s not that bad,” said Kaleigh Patrick, a fifthyear in financial planning. “The tent’s waterproof. We got a tarp in it so the water doesn’t come in too much.” But Patrick has done more than brave the elements, she is also battling her own health. Patrick said she has the stomach flu, but heard people were waiting in line so hustled over to grab her spot in line. “I’ve been in my sleeping bag, with two blankets on me like huddled up trying to take some naps,” she said. “I’m trying to do some homework, but I can’t really do it.”

continued as Naps on 3A 1A


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