Tebow may be part of inquiry into NCAA violations

GAINESVILLE - The ongoing inquiry by Florida's compliance office into possible secondary NCAA violations in the recruitment of wide receiver Carl Moore may include quarterback Tim Tebow, according to a report out of California.

According to a story in the Sacramento Bee, Florida coach Urban Meyer called Moore from the Heisman Trophy ceremony on Dec. 7 aand later gave his phone to Tebow to talk to Moore.

NCAA rules prohibit student athletes from contacting or talking with recruits at the suggestion of coaches. An athlete currently enrolled at the school can only make contact with a recruit on his own.

Jamie McCloskey, Florida's senior associate athletic director for compliance, has acknowledged that his office is looking into whether Meyer committed a secondary NCAA violation by telephoning Maranda Smith, Moore’s girlfriend, during his recruitment asking her to help convince Moore to transfer from Sierra Community College. Moore and Smith have both transferred from community college and enrolled at UF.

Smith was quoted in a newspaper article as saying Meyer called her every day in November to talk about Moore. Smith has since said Meyer only contacted her because Moore gave her number to Meyer for times when he couldn't be reached on his cell phone.

McCloskey said his office is reviewing Meyer's phone records, but he does not have a timetable for concluding the ongoing investigation.

Comments

The more they dig, the worse it will get. Meyer has been more than shady going back to Bowling Green. The way that he lies to recruits has been overlooked, because its not against the rules. But since he makes such a habit of it, there's a chorus of complaints. Other coaches, especially from the SEC will stand in line to tell the NCAA about possible recruiting violations.

The NCAA doesn't have time for this. They are too busy investigating USC and Reggie Bush (tic).

Who cares, the only thing that matters in the end is winning. Not how you do it. Look at the NFL, the coach of year gets caught cheating and now he's in the Super Bowl.

[Mike]

That's funny 8:14. I never hear of ANY players calling Meyer a liar. As a matter of fact they seem to talk about him as a second father figure. Parents love him and every recruit I have heard recruits talk about the reasons that they chose Florida was the family atmosphere there. The only negative thing was from Patrick Johnson when he got called out for allegedly cheating on his ACT. So I will patiently wait for examples of your allegations. Get Facts!

[Lewis]

Another UF scandal? me shocked!

Nothing to see here, move along . . .

[tebow]

Unless Florida can quickly sweep this under the rug they normal do, this will turn out to be a mess.

[Bob]

No matter what happens with this, it can NEVER top Meyer's recruiting of Jevan Snead. From the book Meat Market by Bruce Feldman

"Snead had watched outside the lines special on Tebow in which it showed Meyer and OC Dan Mullen in the stands. Problem was, Meyer had told Snead, committed at the time, that he was the only quarterback they were going after. When Snead asked Meyer about it, Meyer responded, "We are recruiting him for linebacker."

This tells you all you need to know about Urban Meyer.

[Mike]

Yeah, he should go with the guy who couldn't even beat out Colt McCoy for a job. Sounds like sour grapes to me. Whatever, take away a sholarship or two next year and we will still have a top ranked class.

[Steve]

What a revelation; an NCAA coach illegally recruits a player for another sport, illegally recruits a player for his own program, and people have the audacity to claim there is no wrong doing in either case.... and people wonder what has gone wrong with society

[HOMER]

Another UF incident that will go unnoticed nationally, and be swept under the rug b/c the Florida state attorney is a UF Grad. Wow, no wonder FSU gets all the attention in the State.

[Jay]

"No wonder FSU gets all the attention in the State"... Homer, you are right. I guess half of a football team cheating is not a big deal. That's right. Everyone does it! Let's keep everything in perspecive and count phone calls! I do not advocate any NCAA infraction and think, if guilty UF should be appropriately penalized. But if anyone is going to chastise someone, back it up with facts. Anything less makes the poster seem like, well, a chump.

[Tom]

So, Mike you're saying that it was okay for Meyer to lie to the Snead kid because he wasn't as good a QB as Tebow?

And this was proven to be, because Snead didn't even win the starting QB job where he ended up going to school.

So, its okay for Urban Meyer to lie to 18/19 year olds about their college (and perhaps NFL) future, but all's well that ends well as long as Meyer is able to get a better player (in this case Tebow) to commit (and enroll). Got it. No problem.

[Paul]

Actually Homer, only crimes are swept under the rug. (See Joiner, Cunningham, Brandon James, etc.)

[Mike]

What I am saying Tom is that Meyer has a job to do. When an opportunity arises, you go after it. Snead along with every other recruit talks to hundreds of coaches throughout the recruiting process. The deciding factor for both the athlete and the coach is what is going to fill their needs the best. It is the same thing as an athlete giving an oral commitment and backing out at the last minute. He has made a promise and broke it when something better arrives. It leaves the coach hastily trying to find someone to fill that position. But hey, Just because it is a coach who has worked to get to this position all his life shouldn't matter, right? He can find another job somewhere. Oh and it is ok for the student to change his decision but not the coach?

[Mike]

Sounds to me like there is some Gator haters here. That's ok though, When Florida takes care of UM AND FSU next year we will see how many more haters we can get!

[MikeHeartsTebone]

Mike....there is a huge difference in an "oral commitment" by an 18 yr old kid (nothing signed and the coach is fully aware of this) and a coach who is a "father figure" as you called Urban Meyer Weiner in a previous post. We're talking about a man making millions and who is supposed to be setting examples for these kids, getting a reputation as a liar and a cheat....DO you lie to your kids Mike? When you get a chance, go see "We Are Marshall" and you'll see a portrayal Bobby in an amazing light....that's the kind of examples you want to set for these young men. Not the "do what it takes even if it's bending the rules" attitude.

[Mike]

PLEASE DON'T USE BOBBY BOWDEN AS AN EXAMPLE OF A ROLE MODEL! Are you kidding me? You are using something you saw in a freaking movie as true facts? The scandals that have taken place at FSU and THAT is who you want to use as an example? You Criminoles are something else. You want a real example of a role model and father figure? Look at Tony Joiner. He was going down the wrong path early in his enrollment at UF when URBAN MEYER brought him into his home to live and direct him down the right path. That is being a role model. Bowden doesn't even know his players names! He stands in a booth during practice and watches his assistants teach these kids. Its a good thing you have a new coaching staff that actually cares about the well being of those kidsotherwise they would most likely end up like the thugs from the U.

[Mike]

When a student makes a commitment to a coach it is supposed to be that which the coach and his staff can rely on. It is just as much about teaching responsibility as it is about the sport. Things change and everyone realizes that but if your word is that shallow then maybe you are not ready for the responsibility of being a teammate.

[GoodPointMike]

Mike,
Excellent example of a kid who really "turned it around"!!! Tony Joiner!!!Ha, that's laughable. What he should have done is called his Dad (Meyer) and asked if he had a key to the tow lot to get his girlfriend's car out for him instead of breaking and entering....luckily the owner was a Gator fan. I look forward to your next excellent example.

By the way Mike, I am a graduate (twice) of UF but grew up an FSU fan and stayed true. Seeing everything that goes on at UF first hand, and seeing it constantly swept under the carpet makes it easy to remain a Nole. Yes, we have had our problems, but we investigate them thoroughly and impose punishments before the NCAA has to even get involved. UF is the other way around. Remember this????

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4D9133EF930A35752C1A96F948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

[Bill]

Mike,

Let's see if you're still working at age 78.....and let's see if you even know you're name.

[Mike]

Tony Joiner now has a degree because of the efforts and dedication of Urban Meyer. I consider that "turning it around". Although I don't condone his actions, Joiner did refrain from any violence or disruption unlike Geno Hayes and Surratt. But hey, sitting Hayes down for the first drive of the next game is considered suffice in Bowden's program. I'm sure that taught him a lesson. Not to mention the scandal that has plagued your entire athletics program. Don't think that the NCAA is not currently investigating it.

[Mike]

Bill, what???

[Cunningham]

You're a joke Mike

[Mike]

Keep the faith cunningham.You and your noles will be cool enough again to have haters post on your blog!