<
>

Buckeyes dismiss LB Storm Klein

Just one day after a charge of domestic violence and another of assault were filed against Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Storm Klein, and only hours after his arraignment in Franklin County Municipal Court, coach Urban Meyer dismissed the senior from the program citing the serious nature of the case.

"The charges filed against Klein violate the core values of the Ohio State football program," Meyer said in a school release. "As a result, Storm has been removed from the team. It has been made very clear that this type of charge will result in dismissal.

"If there are any changes in the charges, we will re-evaluate his status."

Klein entered a plea of not guilty in court on Saturday morning, with a temporary protection order issued that keeps him away from the unnamed complainant, bars him from using drugs and alcohol and prevents him from possessing a firearm as a condition of his bond.

First-year Ohio State coach Meyer hasn't wasted any time establishing disciplinary standards for the Buckeyes, and he didn't take long to make up his mind in the face of the latest alleged violation of them, either.

Based on the precedent Meyer already has set from another offseason incident with players on his two-deep, Klein appeared likely to face additional punishment outside of the courtroom as soon as the police report was filed.

Meyer took a proactive approach with starting tight end Jake Stoneburner and offensive tackle Jack Mewhort last month in a case stemming from public urination, initially suspending the players indefinitely before ultimately stripping them of their scholarships for the summer and setting requirements for reinstatement.

But that issue doesn't seem to be quite as severe of a violation as the one Klein is currently accused of, particularly based on the rapid response from Meyer that ended a career that spanned 38 games and included 10 starts last season.

And judging by Meyer's swift decision, he appears to be leaving little doubt about the standards set early in his tenure with the Buckeyes.