J.T. Barrett Suspended One Game by Urban Meyer After Arrest
By Kyle Koster
J.T. Barrett has been suspended for Ohio State’s Nov. 7 game against Minnesota by coach Urban Meyer, the university announced in a statement. The Buckeyes’ first-string quarterback was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated early this morning.
Because Barrett is underage, he could be subject to a two-week suspension under the Ohio State Student-Athlete Drug & Alcohol Testing Program. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said Barrett’s arrest is not subject to the policy because it is a misdemeanor. The universities policy does not explicitly state it applies only to felonies. In fact, specific misdemeanor offenses are directly mentioned as examples of the types of things covered in the policy.
It’s safe to say there will be further discussion if this is an accurate interpretation of the policy — especially if Barrett returns to action on Nov. 14 against Illinois.
Barrett’s arrest is the latest swerve in what has been a very volatile fight for the starting quarterback position. Meyer promoted Barrett to the job before last Saturday’s game against Rutgers after seven starts from Cardale Jones.
Meyer is fresh off a week-long media blitz which included an appearance on The O’Reilly Factor in which he was asked if he’d have cut Jameis Winston after his crab leg theft. Meyer said he would “have had a hard time letting it go.”