Urban Meyer had tremendous success at Florida with two national titles in six seasons. But underneath the sterling record, there were significant issues that have led the program into decline the past two years.
According to a story by the Sporting News, Meyer created a culture where star players received preferential treatment and allegedly overlooked positive drug tests.
Percy Harvin, Brandon Spikes and Aaron Hernandez did not play in the 2008 season opener due to injuries, according to the team, though it was reportedly for failed drug tests for marijuana. A former player said the three practiced all week with the team before showing up in walking boot for the game.
Harvin also was reportedly involved in a fight with wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales during the season in which he grabbed the coach's neck. Harvin was not disciplined.
Meyer told the Sporting News, ""Something did happen and something was handled. I don't think it's fair to Percy Harvin or Billy Gonzales to talk about it."
Former player Bryan Thomas said Meyer tried to force him off the team after the 2008 season. Thomas had been dealing with knee injuries and the school eventually put him on medical hardship so he wouldn't count against the team's 85 scholarships.
"I told (Meyer) I was on track to graduate, I wasn't a problem and I did everything I was supposed to do?I just had a knee injury," Thomas said. "I told them I wasn't leaving, and if they tried to force me to leave, I was going to tell everyone everything."
Thomas eventually graduated and played two seasons at North Alabama.
Meyer left Florida after the 2010 season that saw the Gators go 8-5. Several former players were removed from the team by new coach Will Muschamp for off-field issues and the team struggled to a 7-6 season.
Meyer was hired by Ohio State in November after a year with ESPN. While recruiting Stefon Diggs, according to the story, he told Diggs that he would not let his son play for Florida due to character issues in the locker room.
Amazingly, many of those issues were caused by players that Meyer recruited before he left.
While the Gators rebuild under Muschamp, who would not comment in the story, Meyer will look to replicate his success with Ohio State.
Even if he is successful, there are questions about whether the similar issues from Gainesville could migrate to Columbus.
"As far as coaching, there's no one else like (Meyer); he's a great coach," Thomas said. "He gets players to do things you never thought you could do. But he's a bad person. He'll win at Ohio State. But if he doesn't change, they're going to have the same problems."
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/iOGFqdSHfCM/1
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