Urban Meyer acknowledges harm he's done to Ohio State reputation

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Urban Meyer acknowledged Monday that his actions when handling former assistant Zach Smith damaged the reputation of Ohio State football program and university.

Meyer held his first news conference since Ohio State announced his three-game suspension in late August for failing to uphold the standards of the university.

"I've had conversations with recruits and families of our players... But to say there is not damage, there was," Meyer said. "I'm hoping the clarity of the damage is why I was suspended and what the report came back [with]."

Meyer underscored several times that he believes his suspension and his ensuing apologies were not because he knowingly ignored domestic…