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Posted on Mon, Jun 18, 2012 : 4:59 p.m.

Urban Meyer's Ohio State contract gives him an out clause if past major NCAA violations arise

By Nick Baumgardner

If more trouble surfaces from the Jim Tressel era at Ohio State, the Urban Meyer era reserves the right to end immediately.

With a hefty paycheck, too.

On Monday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer outlined the details of the recently released employment contract between Ohio State and Meyer, who will begin his first season on the OSU sidelines this fall.

According to Meyer's deal, the coach could receive bowl-game bonuses next season despite the program's postseason ban. Additionally, if any major NCAA violations (from before Meyer's hiring) come out, the coach has the right to leave the job immediately and receive $1.5 million per year for the remaining years on the contract.

"We're very confident we have no issues," Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith told the Plain Dealer on Monday. "We scrubbed everything very hard, so when his attorneys asked for that, we felt comfortable doing that."

Meyer's six-year pact will pay him $4.4 million per year, which would rank him behind only Texas' Mack Brown and Alabama's Nick Saban nationally.

Presently, Michigan football coach Brady Hoke is paid $3.25 million per season.

And, despite the fact that OSU will be under a postseason ban next season, Meyer can earn a $50,000 pay increase if the Buckeyes finish the season with enough wins to qualify for a spot in the Big Ten title game.

Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.

Comments

michboy40

Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 2:09 a.m.

Lol, good job Ohio! I wonder if hoke has the same clause for the rr years...I bet not. If urban ever left, he would get another job and collect from o$u at the same time. Classic! They deserve to lose until gee and smith are ousted.

Wally the Wolverine

Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 6:02 p.m.

Smart move by anybody stepping into a situation where the program was under major sanctions from a previous coach's tenure. The hatred out there overshadows logic sometimes.

Poorman

Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 9:17 p.m.

Urban and Smith told recruits that there is no chance of any further issues. This confidence Urban portrayed appears to be disingenuous if he demanded for a backup plan for himself but requires a student athlete to commit.

umgoblue47

Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 1:51 p.m.

in english speak, gene smith said. . . we're very confident we have no issues? in o$u speak, gene smith really said. . . PAY no attention to what or who is behind the curtain!! HOKE is MICHIGAN. . .GO BLUE!!!!!!

heartbreakM

Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 1:28 p.m.

This is just typical of what's wrong with NCAA $port$ these days (at least the high profile sports).

Poorman

Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 2:45 a.m.

This says that even Urban doesn't trust Ohio. Asking for guaranteed millions if OSU was lying to him. Meanwhile, Coach Hoke commits without any financial agreement, saying he would have walked to Michigan from Cali, because he believes in the program and trusts "Michigan Men" like our AD to do what is right. I like our choice better. Go Blue!

azwolverine

Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 2:42 p.m.

The Way, I would argue that Hoke's agent did that, while Hoke simply went about his business of improving the program without a second thought as to what the two parties were working out.

TheWay

Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 7:41 a.m.

Committing without a solid agreement is one thing. You can bet once they were at the bargaining table, Hoke tried to get the biggest/best contract he could.

Terry Star21

Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 1:02 a.m.

Wonder if there's an 'out clause' for not beating Michigan ? He is currently 0-3, looking @ 0-4.

Arborcomment

Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 10:59 p.m.

T - It's called the Cooper Clause.

azwolverine

Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 2:39 p.m.

Yeah, there's an out for that. It's called getting fired.

Tru2Blu76

Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 12:49 a.m.

Hey! It's Ohio! What could go wrong?! (LOL!)

The Black Stallion3

Mon, Jun 18, 2012 : 11:42 p.m.

Ohio State at its finest !!!!!

Terry Star21

Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 1:03 a.m.

ohio....

Poorman

Mon, Jun 18, 2012 : 10:32 p.m.

So be sure to tune in next week, when Terrelle Pryor finally talks about the cars and payment for autographs, after getting cut from the NFL, while Urban makes $1.5 million per year for the rest of a six year contract....on as the Buck Turns. Same Buck time, same Buck channel.. This is what OSU had to offer for his trust and commitment. It would be a raise over the $4.4 mill if it happened this year. I wonder why the recruits would trust this place.

Hailmary

Mon, Jun 18, 2012 : 9:15 p.m.

Woody would roll over in his grave cause for Woody, it wasn't All about money.

Terry Star21

Tue, Jun 19, 2012 : 12:59 a.m.

You got that right !