Video: Urban Meyer Denies Accepting Ohio State Job
ESPN college football analyst Urban Meyer denied that he’s accepted the Ohio State head coach’s job. The former Florida head coach made his denial during live TV coverage of the Michigan vs. Nebraska game.
Check out the video and read between the lines.
“There’s no truth to that, “ Meyer said. “I know it’s that time of year. I’ve not been offered any job and I certainly haven’t accepted any job.”
That would be a factually accurate statement, especially if Meyer is talking with Ohio State. You can talk and work out details before an official “offer” is made. It happens all the time with personal services contracts.
In fact, ESPN is reporting that Ohio State has been in contact with Meyer about becoming the school’s head football coach. ESPN says there is no contract and no announcement would be made until after the regular season, but there is strong interest on both sides.
One potential roadblock is the pending NCAA ruling on Ohio State. The school will meet with the NCAA’s infractions committee on Dec. 10.
Earlier this month, the NCAA hit Ohio State with a charge of failing to monitor its violation-plagued football program. That’s the second-worst allegation it can make. Ohio State said it would cut five scholarships over a three-year period beginning in 2012.
The five scholarships are in addition to the school’s self-imposed sanctions stemming from the tattoo parlor-memorabilia scandal that took place under former coach Jim Tressel.
Ohio State’s self-imposed sanctions included vacating the 2010 season and its Sugar Bowl victory, giving up the Big Ten football championship and putting its program on a two-year probation. The university also forfeited its share of the Big Ten’s payment for playing in the 2011 Sugar Bowl.
As for Meyer, he has close ties to Ohio State. He’s an Ohio native and he started his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach for the Buckeyes in 1986.
Meyer resigned as Florida’s coach last December.
He’s won 104 games and two national championships over the last ten years.
