Instead of punishing Ezekiel Elliott, Urban Meyer let him tear Michigan apart

Urban Meyer did not suspend Ezekiel Elliott for his critical comments about Ohio State’s playcalling in their loss to Michigan State. Although some columnists and maybe even some fans called for Elliott’s head, Meyer didn’t pull Elliott’s scholarship, or kick Elliott off the team, or send Elliott to prison, or fire Elliott into the sun, or order lackey to permanently destroy any evidence Elliott ever existed.

Instead, he let Elliott beat Michigan. The running back had 30 carries for 214 yards and two touchdowns as the Buckeyes demolished the Wolverines, 42-13. He gashed a better rushing defense than Michigan State’s and had the third-best outing by any opponent ever in Michigan Stadium. The Buckeyes didn’t punish Elliott. In fact, according to ESPN’s Holly Rowe, they were trying to get him the record for most rushing yards by an OSU player in the history of the Michigan rivalry.

Meyer hugged Elliott after the game, and promoted Elliott’s Heisman campaign in his postgame interview.

Meyer was probably unwise to keep the ball out of Elliott’s hands against Michigan State, considering he’s been their best option for two years. He’s even acknowledged that. But it’s in the past. Elliott was probably unwise to publicly criticize Meyer for his play calling. He’s even acknowledged that. But that’s in the past.

College football teams shouldn’t suspend their players for disagreeing with coaches publicly because college football players are human beings, and should be allowed to express opinions about football. But more to the point, college football teams won’t suspend college football players for disagreeing with them publicly because it’s not in their interest.

Over the past two years, Elliott has proven his nearly unrivaled talents. He had 100 yards in every game this season before playing Michigan State, 200 yards in last year’s Big Ten championship game as well as both College Football Playoff games. The MSU loss will be an anomaly in Elliott’s career, both in terms of how rarely he was given the ball in a close game and in terms of how poorly he produced when he got the ball.

Asking Meyer to bench Elliott or whatever against Michigan was asking Meyer to help Michigan win. And, well, Meyer’s job is to make Ohio State win. It’s especially his job to win when Ohio State is playing Michigan, and when they have a potential Big Ten championship game bid and College Football Playoff spot on the line.

College football coaches need good college football players to win college football games. Like it or not, that buys college football players some agency. Meyer knew that, and he was smart not to overreact by turning an internal molehill into an external mountain.

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