Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

how could he possibly know that unless McMurphy or Herman told him? Why would Herman out himself if it was in fact him, and I highly doubt McMurphy would give up a source and name him in public or to someone else. That's not what good journalists do, and McMurphy is a good journalist.
This Jeff Snook character seems like a clown.

Oh really and your posts are rock solid and accurate because it fits your narrative.Courtney's less credible than you at this juncture.She never opened her yap until her payday disappeared.We've ascertained  what she is and now were figuring her price.You just jumped the gun and are now eating some crow - just leave some left for "good journalist McMurphy".So good ESPN left him go and kept Stephen A.And you would know a good journalist how?Because he runs with a hatchet job you find riveting.Again I'd love to see all this go to court.Urban being an ignorant,arrogant ass isn't a crime against humanity.If he had handled his answers better the University/Program wouldn't have a black eye

They are estranged? That detail is central to taking Snook's post at face value. How can we know if it is true? My expectation of good journalism is that those kinds of matters of source credibility be asked and reported.

Well let’s be consistent.   Are we saying that people who are estranged sling mud or potentially lie?
So  Courtney and Zack are estranged.   Which one, or both, are telling the truth.
So far the only people close to the situation, the two moms, are totally rejecting her story, and furthermore, saying she openly stated she bring Zack down and take down Urban too.   The only factual evidence is police reports which fall in Zacks favor.  At no time while he was at OSU did they feel a preponderance of evidence called for an arrest.
All she has is her version and some texts- with no clear context, and some pics which don’t prove anything, and may in fact support Zacks and his mom’s claim that he had to remove her so he could exit.
Look, I am not saying I don’t believe her, but it seems pretty obvious there really is two or even three sides to this, as there almost always is.  This was a volatile relationship it seems, and both were pressing the others buttons.
Haven’t you wondered why she saved texts from 2015? Why was she waiting on the porch with a camera when he dropped his kid off, after (according to him, and verifiable) he could not reach her when she was not at the designated drop off spot for their kid?
I am still waiting for facts about reporting and protocol before I develop any final opinions.  But saying McMurphys journalism is good is kind of stretch, and questioning Snook is too.  
Where it sits now, I don’t even think of this as a Meyer issue unless someone produces facts that show otherwise.  

For sure, HB! People who are estranged may not lie but have motive to lie that others don't. Yes this applies to everyone. 

We all knew that potential of Courtney when the story hit. But then there were these text messages to corroborate, which increased her credibility. 

When the "counter evidence" interview with Courtney's mom came out, Snook never told us they are estranged. If true, he either withheld it or, more innocently, failed to ask.

I'm now asking whether it is true. If it is true, then her mom's take has less credibility than we initially wondered and since it is the bedrock detail from Snook's first Facebook post, Courtney's credibility would remain unchanged from what we first expected when we ALL thought "Hmm but wouldn't she want to lie? But ew, how to explain those text messages with Shelley and from Zach?"

So that's a key crossroad. And we shouldn't cross it until we actually know if she and her mom are estranged. I have no idea. I have only read a rumor that Super heard from someone else.

Trying to make heads or tails of all this?  Good f'n luck.  

BTW, as someone with rather a lot of experience with defending and prosecuting domestic violence, this is the status quo for these things.  While the national media had the fixation of the doting fawn being manhandled by the evil abuser, it's hardly surprising that as new details emerge and new facts arise that the national types shrivel up, the preferred narrative having evaporated away.

One can simultaneously say that Courtney Smith probably got pretty crazy on Zach Smith, and that Zach Smith has no business putting his hands around his wife's neck for any reason (outside of the fun reasons).  Zach Smith is no innocent victim, but I'm also not going to crucify the coach or athletic department for not knowing how to deal with this kind of stuff.  It's hard to deal with this kind of stuff - that's why it's a problem.  

Very fair.

Well let’s be consistent.   Are we saying that people who are estranged sling mud or potentially lie?

That wasn’t the point at all. If I’m on good terms with my mom and we’re to go through a divorce and my mom took her side, that would be completely different than the same scenario but my mom and I hate each other and haven’t spoken in two years.  Many folks were making the argument that even her mom was defending Zach. That’s a less powerful fact knowing they aren’t on good terms.
This entire thing is a giant mess and honestly, there may be a lot of batshit crazy people involved. This feels like day time televisions not a powerhouse football program. I’m interested to hear more facts about what was reported, not a bunch of crazies trying to throw each other under the bus.
My stance is that domestic abuse is a terrible thing and often when the law gets involved it’s very messy. My only issue from known facts was UM being dishonest in his statement which I know you and I disagree on, but it seems like the vast majority think at best he mislead with his answers.
If Meyer goes, think of how absurd the end of the last two osU coaches is. Tattoos and bad relationship ending the careers of possibly the two best coaches in OSU history? It’s just bizarre. Thank god football starts in 3 weeks.

Maybe not Herman, but possibly someone in his coaching circle that he mentioned Smith’s history to previously. That to me is a semi realistic possibility. 

It’s semantics, but the individual is more a tipster than a source. All they appeared to do is point McMuprhy towards police reports. 

Herman did say he has supported Courtney Smith financially, which is an interesting nugget.

At this point I wouldn’t be surprised to hear tomorrow that this is a master plot by Putin, Saban or the ghost of Aaron Hernandez. Crazy soap opera!