Will Muschamp sarcastically takes jab at Ohio State, Urban Meyer

Florida Gators head tutorWill Muschamp talks with the media during the 2013 SECfootballmedia long timeat the Hyatt Regency.(Photo: Marvin Gentry, USA TODAY Sports)

Story Highlights

• The covertand forraderbetween Florida and Ohio affirmover perceived recruiting violations took center spirit levelTuesday
• Florida civilizeWill Muschamp sarcastically thanked Ohio State for turning in his program to the NCAA
• Ohio State was banned from postseason play last fall, the program's runnerunder antecedentFlorida coach Urban Meyer

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HOOVER, Ala. — Florida coach Will Muschamp fired a shot Tuesday afternoon at Urban Meyer and Ohio State, which recently cancelledin the Gators for an alleged utility(prenominal)recruiting violation.

"That's really a dead issue with me," Muschamp said at an interview at minutemedia days — but indeedkept talking about the dead issue.

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"In both situations we were falsein by Ohio," he continued. "We didn't do anything wrong. The University of Florida didn't do anything wrong. And so we appreciated our friends from Ohio making truewe're compliant with NCAA rules.

"They certainly know a little speckleabout that subject."

The Buckeyes are on NCAA probation for violations committed under former coach Jim Tressel and his staff; Ohio State was banned from postseason play last fall, the program's runnerunder former Florida coach Urban Meyer.

Ohio State has turned in the Gators for two secondary violations since Meyer joined the university before the 2012 season. In early July, The Gainesville Sun reported that OSU had turned in Florida for a "bump" recruiting violation involving Gators running backs coach Brian White and Brooklyn, N.Y., running back Curtis Samuel, meaning White had contacted Samuel during prescribed non-contact recruiting periods. Last year, OSU notified the NCAA about a situation with 2013 defensive end recruit Jordan Sherit, who rode to Florida's campus with a friendthen on the Gators football team.

VIDEO: MUSCHAMP AT SEC MEDIA DAYS

 

Gators coach Coach Will Muschamp addresses the media for the start of the 2013 football season at media daysAs a result of the claim, Muschamp had to pull White away from recruiting for ternarydays while an investigation was conducted.

While not denying that OSU had notified the NCAA of the possibility of a recruiting violation, Meyer denied responsibility for the university's accusation.

"It is absolutely not true that I turned in the University of Florida," Meyer said, according to The Gainesville Sun. "Weeks after, I learned our compliance zany(without eithercoach involvement) forwarded an article to the conference office. This is standard procedure. erstwhileagain, zero coach involvement."

However, ESPN.com, citing sources, said that although Meyer was not initially consciousof Ohio State's allegation, he "was aware of it and endorsed it."

In each case, both with Samuel and Sherit, Florida was cleared of any wrongdoing by the NCAA and the SEC. Although Sherit would eventually sign with Florida, Samuel has since eliminated the Gators from his list of possibleschools; according to the New York Daily News, Samuel is down to Ohio State, Alabama, Notre Dame, Miami (Fla.) and Rutgers.

Though Meyer denied doing it, someone at Ohio State apparently notified the NCAA. Asked if he found it odd that Meyer's originalschool turned in his former school, Muschamp didn't bite.

"Big Ten media days are next week," Muschamp said. "Ask him."

Whether or not the issue is "dead," it distinctlydidn't sit well with Muschamp. Don't miss his reference to "Ohio" rather than Ohio State — like Michigan coach Brady Hoke, who intentionally refuses to call the Wolverines' foeanything else.

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Materials taken from USA Today