“We had an opportunity to discuss a number of issues with each other and conference staff, including those that have arisen this week,’’ Meyer said in a statement issued after the meeting on Friday. “It should be noted that my coaching staff is in full compliance with our recruiting efforts, and no one on this staff did anything illegal or unethical.’’
He said his staff would continue to be “relentless.’’
Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema has been quoted expressing his displeasure with Ohio State raiding other team’s recruits. Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio also reportedly questioned Meyer’s recruiting tactics, but he said Friday his comments were taken out of context and were not directed at Meyer.
Bielema was upset over losing out on offensive lineman Kyle Dodson, who had said he was coming to Wisconsin, but then ended up signing with the Buckeyes.
“There’s a few things that happened early on I made people be aware of that I didn’t want to see in this league that I had seen take place at other leagues,’’ Bielema said on Wednesday’s first day for the signing of national letters of intent in football. “Other recruiting tactics, other recruiting practices that are illegal. I was very up front and was very poignant to the fact. I actually reached out to coach Meyer and shared my thoughts and concerns with him and the situation got rectified.’’
Bielema did not go into further detail.
On Friday, Michigan State issued a statement from Dantonio in which he said he wanted to “correct some inaccurate news accounts that have appeared over the last two days.’’
“The timing of my comments was a reflection of an occurring matter on signing day and had nothing to do with Urban Meyer and Ohio State,’’ the statement said. “My comments regarding ‘unethical’ behavior were general in nature, according to my current coaching philosophy, and not directed toward any particular institution.’’
The Buckeyes signed defensive end Se’Von Pittman from Canton, Ohio, on Wednesday. He had verbally committed to Michigan State.
