Saturday night probably was as united as the United States can get.
If you didn't go to Ohio State or live in Ohio, you probably were pulling for Purdue for the first time in your life. The Boilermakers made it a sweet night for those who think Urban Meyer got off easy for employing an assistant coach he knew had domestic-violence issues.
Against Purdue, his team looked undisciplined and shell-shocked during the 49-20 beat down the Boilermakers put on the Buckeyes.
A reputation for coaching teams lacking discipline has followed Meyer since he was the head coach at Florida, where there were reported drug-test failings and other assorted troubles such as 251 traffic violations by Gator football players.
Meyer obviously needed to recruit better drivers or impose some discipline.
He resigned at Florida, where he won two national championships, for health reasons. It took him one year to get well enough to leave a TV job he was absolutely terrible at and get back into coaching.
With some irony, Jim Tressel resigned at Ohio State because of off-the-field problems, but the Buckeyes turned to Meyer without due diligence.
If Meyer thought expectations at Florida caused him too much anxiety, he shouldn't have gotten within 1,000 miles of Ohio State, where a 10-2 season is considered rebuilding.
As Purdue drove 98 and 80 yards for a 14-3 lead, it seemed likely the powerful Buckeyes -- with one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Dwayne Haskins -- would storm back in the second half. But as the final 30 minutes unfolded, TV cameras caught shots of Meyer looking like he couldn't quite comprehend what was happening.
The Boilermakers had touchdown drives of 73, 76, 75 and 46 yards. Just to cap an incredible night, Markus Bailey had a pick-six with 2:08 to play that set the final margin.
Ohio State, with two running backs likely to be drafted by the NFL, had 76 yards rushing and converted only two of five possessions in the red zone.
Kirk Herbstreit, an ESPN analyst and former Buckeye quarterback, has said he thought Meyer looked "anguished" during the game. Other media outlets are reporting there is friction on the staff, which wouldn't be surprising.
How many of the assistant coaches got an earful from their wives abut Meyer's hiring and protection of a coach who had a history of hitting his wife? Just a guess, but most likely all of them.
In the summer when all of that ugliness was being reported and investigated, many pundits around the nation called for Meyer to be fired. Instead, he was given a three-game suspension, but in his own testimony he threw his athletic director, Gene Smith, under the bus.
To no one's surprise, there have been reports of issues between Smith and Meyer ever since.
The Buckeyes were 3-0 without Meyer, and now they are 7-1. Purdue is 4-3, by the way.
Only Alabama has more talent than Ohio State. There was no excuse for the Buckeyes to lose to Purdue -- which started the season 0-3 -- other than a lack of discipline, preparation and coaching.
Meyer, who has complained about headaches, appeared to lose control of his team Saturday night. Along with anguished looks, he had some of bewilderment.
Many football fans have disliked the Buckeyes because of their success and arrogance. When it was discovered a wife abuser was on the staff, the dislike deepened and spread.
Saturday night, and maybe just for that one time, was a big night for a mostly united football world.
Sports on 10/24/2018