Ohio State good ol’ boy network? Judge that reduced Zach Smith’s drunk driving charge a Buckeye booster
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The plot thickens in Columbus as Brett McMurphy, the reporter with information regarding seemingly every single angle of the Urban Meyer-Zach Smith saga, is back with his latest revelation: the judge that reduced Zach Smith’s 2013 drunk driving is not only a graduate of the school but a member of school’s “most loyal and generous” donor program.
If you missed the original story, Kyle Rowland of the Toledo Blade broke the story of Smith’s 2013 arrest for drunken driving on Monday. The charges against Smith were later reduced after the former Ohio State assistant was stopped for speeding — he was going 17 over the limit at the time. Smith refused a breathalyzer and was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
It’s unclear if Ohio State disciplined Smith or if they were aware of this arrest.
Following that report, McMurphy revealed that the unnamed judge is a member of the Ohio State President’s Club and a graduate of the school. According to the official website for the club, the President’s Club is a booster program for Ohio State:
Since 1963, President’s Club has recognized the most loyal and generous donors to The Ohio State University. These donors offer their philanthropic and leadership support and share a continuing commitment to this great institution.
President’s Club recognizes personal contributions from individuals 18 years of age and older who support The Ohio State University with non-athletic cumulative annual giving of at least $3,000 each calendar year. Gifts from others may not qualify an individual for recognition.
Here’s McMurphy’s comment on the news:
Judge that reduced Zach Smith’s 2013 drunken driving charges is a 1968 Ohio State graduate & member of The Ohio State University President’s Club https://t.co/GPYnoyicVD
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 13, 2018
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
