Urban Meyer admits Trayvon Martin image used to enforce ‘no hoodies’ rule at Ohio State but denies knowing about it

Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer is going back on his word and now says an image of Trayvon Martin was used to enforce a “no hoodies” rule while at Ohio State.

During the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day, former Ohio State defensive back Marcus Williamson accused Urban Meyer and his coaching staff of presenting an image of Trayvon Martin to enforce a “no hoodies” rule during his time as the head coach of the Buckeyes.

The accusation from Williamson quickly spread on Twitter and the viral claim was the latest stain on Meyer who was fired before his first season with the Jacksonville Jaguars ended.

Meyer initially denied the claim from Williamson that the racially insensitive image was used in a 2017 meeting to enforce the rule.

Urban Meyer reveals Ohio State did use Trayvon Martin image to enforce ‘no hoodies’ rule at Ohio State

“We did not, and never would show a picture of Trayvon Martin,” Meyer said. “My gosh, no.”

However, on Tuesday, Meyer changed his story after a conversation with former Buckeye Tyvis Powell who told his former coach that the Martin image was indeed shown during a meeting.

“I didn’t know about it until one hour ago,” Meyer told The Columbus Dispatch, “until after talking to (Powell).”

Meyer stopped short of taking any accountability for the use of the image of Martin, saying he didn’t order it, wasn’t in the meeting when it was shown and laid the blame at the feet of a support staff member who said apologized for the error.

“I wasn’t there (in the meeting),” Meyer added. “None of the coaches were present. It was a support staffer who was in error and apologized.”

This account is corroborated by Powell who said he and the former players in the meeting said the OSU staff member was “uneducated on that situation” and didn’t have any idea about the “story behind the image.’

He added the person apologized and they accepted his apology.

Martin was 17-years-old when he was walking home and was fatally shot by George Zimmerman who thought the unarmed Black teen wearing a hooded sweatshirt “was a real suspicious, guy.” In 2013, Zimmerman was found not guilty on all charges in the killing of Martin.

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