Business as usual at Ohio State despite Urban Meyer’s pending retirement

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“Coach Meyer is still Coach Meyer,” the junior defensive tackle from Wayne High School said. “We’re still out here working hard. He’s still out here pushing us on a day-to-day basis to not only become better football players but better people as individuals so who he is, his morals, his character, his personality, it’s not going to change. It hasn’t changed.

“He’s still a Buckeye through and through and still a part of this team.”

Wednesday marked the first time players met with local media since the Dec. 4 press conference in which Meyer announced he will step down after the Rose Bowl and be replaced by Ryan Day.

The decision was driven by the return of stress-induced headaches caused by a cyst on Meyer’s brain.

Landers said the announcement “was kind of out of nowhere,” but he understands personal health is nothing to mess with.

The team learned of the decision in a 7 a.m. meeting prior to an announcement going out to the media.

“It was emotional,” Landers said of the press conference, “but at the same time it was one of those things where we understand why he made the choice that he made. I look at it like if you care about a person like that you would understand why he took the route that he took and like I’ve said and will say many times I appreciate everything he’s done for me and everything he’s taught me.”

Ohio State will take on Washington in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif.