Muschamp gets dig in at Meyer
The current Florida coach took at verbal jab at a former Gators coach on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Southeastern Conference media days in Hoover, Ala., Florida coach Will Muschamp offered his take on Ohio State and coach Urban Meyer apparently turning in Florida for a secondary recruiting violation last month.
"That's really a dead issue with me," said Muschamp, who replaced Meyer as Florida's coach after the 2010 season. "In both situations, we were turned in by Ohio. We didn't do anything wrong. The University of Florida didn't do anything wrong. And so we appreciated our friends from Ohio making sure we're compliant with NCAA rules. They certainly know a little bit about that subject."
Muschamp was referring to the 2011 scandal at Ohio State that cost Jim Tressel his job as Buckeyes coach and eventually led to the hiring of Meyer later that year.
Pressed further on the subject of why Meyer allegedly would turn in his former team, Muschamp responded, "Big Ten media days are next week. Ask him."
According to reports, Meyer has turned in Florida, which he led to the national championship in 2006 and 2008 before resigning after the 2010 season, for two secondary recruiting violations. The latest involved what is called a bump, when a coach makes illegal contact with a recruit.
The "bump" was reported to be between Florida running backs coach Brian White and recruited running back Curtis Samuel of Erasmus High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. Meyer denied reporting it to the NCAA.
"It is absolutely not true that I turned in the University of Florida," Meyer told the Gainesville Sun in early July. "Weeks after, I learned our compliance guy (without any coach involvement) forwarded an article to the conference office. This is standard procedure. Once again, zero coach involvement."
ESPN reported that the SEC and the NCAA found no violation occurred.
Meyer led the Buckeyes to a 12-0 record last year in his first season as coach, but Ohio State was barred from playing in the Big Ten championship game and a bowl as a result of the NCAA sanctions.
