At a weekend “Life Surge” event in Columbus, Ohio, former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer shared a surprising story from his Buckeye days — one that involved his faith, his players, and an ultimatum to his boss.
Speaking to a crowd alongside former and current OSU players such as Kirk Herbstreit and Caleb Downs, Meyer explained how he fought to bring Sunday church services to his football program. Meyer told attendees that he initiated regular Sunday morning services before team meetings because players didn’t have time to attend church during the week.
“We’re gonna have church service,” Meyer said. “Because, the whole week, players don’t have time to go run to church, so I wanna bring church to them.”
According to Meyer, university attorneys stepped in and said he couldn’t hold Bible study or church services with the team, citing separation of church and state. Meyer wasn’t having it. “We’re doing it,” he told the school’s lawyer, who then brought in Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith.
That’s when Meyer made it clear: let the players attend church, or he was leaving.
“I said, ‘Gene, we’re doing this. If not, you gotta let me go,’” Meyer recalled. “He’s like, ‘we’re good, let’s go talk.’”
The resolution? The sessions were rebranded as “reflection” time to avoid legal concerns while still offering players an opportunity to spiritually recharge.
“How do you not do that?” Meyer asked rhetorically. “We take every second of their time. That’s more of the question.”
The story highlighted Meyer’s unwavering belief in faith as a cornerstone of leadership and personal development — even in the face of institutional pushback.
