Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer underwent a minor surgical procedure over the weekend to remove fluid from a congenital arachnoid cyst. It is a problem that has bothered Meyer at times in the past, but now he hopes to have it behind him. On Tuesday Meyer returned to doing what he is best known for, coaching. Meyer addressed his medical operation to the media and says he is optimistic moving forward.
“It surfaced a couple times,” Meyer said according to Cleveland.com. “Once in ’98, once in ’04 and a couple other times. It’s just something I have to manage. They were great at the medical center, relieved some pressure and I am good to go.”
Meyer made a point of addressing this concern quickly, rather than holding off as he has done in the past. Knowing his background by now, that is a wise decision. As long as the health issues are put to a minimum, Meyer will be able to focus on finding a way to get Ohio State back on track. After winning the first 24 games since being hired as head coach, Meyer’s Buckeyes dropped two straight to end the 2013 season with a Big Ten Championship Game loss to Michigan State and an Orange Bowl defeat at the hands of Clemson.
Ohio State loses ten starters from the 2013 team and quarterback Braxton Miller is coming off a medical procedure of his own this offseason. Miller was in a sling at the first practice but doing what he could to go through reps mentally. Ohio State held off on operating on Miller’s throwing shoulder because there was a chance it would have healed before the spring. Once it became clear Miller was not going to be healed as they had hoped, the decision to send Miller to the operating room was made.
Miller will still be the starting quarterback for the Buckeyes in the fall, that is pretty much guaranteed. He will lose some snaps this spring of course, but he will have plenty of time to put work in to improve his passing skills ahead of the 2014 season.