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That is like saying Gurley received 4 games for autographs.

but, that was an NCAA infraction

lol...

for some perspective.... Pryor received 5 games for tattoos.  

A discount on tattoos, he was suspended 5 games for receiving a discount on tattoos. Trading a gold trinket for a lower price on a tattoo, was a privilege gained by being a football player that wasn't extended to non-student athletes. 
That's apples to oranges comparison though.
More apt would be comparing this to Tressel getting fired for signing a form stating he was unaware of any infractions being committed by his team. 

but, that was an NCAA infraction

and also not self-penalized.

The irony in the decision and punishment, if there is one, is that by trying to take the middle ground with a suspension Ohio State has appeased virtually no one. That is why I thought it was all or nothing from the get go.

On one side you have the die hard scarlet & gray now calling for the President’s job, feeling like Meyer is a scapegoat to align with the SJW crowd. See former player and well regarded alum Matt Finkes for an example.

On the other side you have the national media and everyone outside of Ohio marching with their pitchforks, including some former players for Ohio State.

The problem now is this story will persist. David Pollack noted as much. Media members will poke and prod at every angle. They will revisit Chris Rainey, Percy Harvin, and Aaron Hernandez. They will dig deeper on Carlos Hyde and if Zeke had any history while in Columbus. They will seek the admin assistant or her ex-spouse / spouse for an expose. This isn’t Baylor, but with the decision made, there is significant risk that this hangs like a cloud over the school for some time. Death by a thousand paper cuts.

BS
I could see something in his eyes, but it wasn't principles he espouses
his eyes told me he believes people should leave him alone to run his program and stay out of his way

This.

The s*** you have to deal with being a big time college football coach.  The travel, the limited family time, the win-at-all-costs, how you have to kiss the a** of some 17 year old who never did a damn thing in his life, and turn around and kiss the a** of a 70 year old who never played a down in his life.  I'm sure there's a spectrum, but I'm guessing to be a big time head football coach kind of necessitates being a not great guy because of the nature of the job description.  Probably why a couple of good guys I know within the profession have no desire to be head coaches.

That said, it's his program.  Whatever Zach Smith did or didn't do, he's not in jail.  He's free to be employed.  I don't think employing someone like that is a firable offense.  But it speaks to the type of program you want to run.  If Meyer is ok with that, that's his prerogative.  It's not how I'd run my program, but it's not my program.  I don't think it speaks to OSU fans for continuing to root for their school, nor should they feel obliged to if they don't want to.  I know MSU coaches have often done things that I would not do if it was my program, most recently reinstating Reschke.  But it's not my program, and absent any sort of cover up of a crime, I sort of think these guys can put whoever they want on their staff or their rosters, but then deal with whatever harm comes to their reputation for doing so.  I'm long past thinking these guys are motivating by molding young men or any BS like that.  They want to win football games.  They are all egotistical enough to probably do just enough that it doesn't harm their legacies, but not for any sort altruistic reasons.

No doubt the media will be all over this looking for more dirt, any dirt, even at times speculative made up dirt.

I don't know if Meyer will survive as HC past this season because of the barrage of questions and revelations that he will face.  I'm sure he will say "I am here to talk about OSU football, nothing else.", but the questions will be hammered at him anyway, even at half time when they usually use coachspeak.

this type of pressure caused Doctor Tom to retire after the 97 season