Urban Meyer tries to clear up the game tape debacle, but questions remain
Urban Meyer is ready to put any issues about the game film his staff sent to Michigan State to bed.
After Saturday's 17-16 Ohio State win, Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi told media that Ohio State sent the Spartans game film with pre-snap motions and shifts cut out. Narduzzi said Michigan State had to contact Ohio State's four opponents to get accurate film.
[Related: UFC coach says Nebraska asked for his unedited Ohio State game film]
"We had tape cut off all week, where they changed the tape, I'm not gonna lie to you," Narduzzi said. "They send you tape and they've got it all cut off and you don't get to see shifts or motions or anything else."
Meyer maintained during his press conference Monday that he had no idea there were problems with the film until after the game and that after speaking with his video staff, he was told that the correct film was ultimately sent to Michigan State.
"The first I heard about that was after the press conference," Meyer said. "Guy grabbed me and said, what about the videotape? I said I have no idea. He asked my guy and said I have no idea either. So I went back on Sunday and asked again. I asked our video staff. They said there was an issue on Tuesday, it was corrected immediately, and that's all I was told. There was no intent or deception or hiding anything, nothing like that."
Meyer may not have known about the game film, but there was clearly something amiss especially if Michigan State didn't get corrected film until Thursday. By then, preparation for the game is pretty much over. Why was the film cut that way in the first place? If it was straight up film, like the one the Ohio State coaches review, then it would have never been edited.
While the athletic directors solved the matter without Big Ten involvement, there are still some question marks about why edited tape was sent out in the first place. Not saying it would have changed the outcome of the game — Michigan State did obtain corrected tape from opponents as noted above — but it does reek of some gamesmanship.
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